38 Sketches of the 



Canadians undertook to seize and carry off Menessino frora 

 his lake. They tracked him into one of its deep bays, 

 which we were shown, and whence they concluded he 

 could not escape. Menessino was, however, aware of 

 their intention ; he left his canoe, and stealing along among 

 the trees, the wary Indian took deliberate aim at the men, 

 as they were cautiously passing, and killed either one or both 

 on the spot ; at all events, neither returned from the lake, 

 if my memory is correct. 



But it is now time for me to leave this extraordinary 

 character and indeed to close this paper. 1 will, how- 

 ever add. that for several years no communication has 

 existed between this lone man and old Majcshk, his father. 

 He had some years ago a half brother, whose grave we 

 visited on Lake Nemicachingue, a murderer also, whose 

 catalogue of crime exceeds in horror even that of Menes- 

 sino, and who himself Avas at length destroyed by another 

 Indian, whose wife he had repeatedly endeavoured to carry 

 off, and three times attempted to murder the husband. — 

 In the last of these encounters (a dreadful one) Menessino's 

 brother was at last killed by a blow from the axe of his 

 enemy, and the ruffian lies buried on the very spot where, 

 seven years before, he had shot a Canadian woman in cool 

 blood, and afterwards dashed out the brains of a poor child 

 on a rock hard by, who had witnessed the deed; the little 

 fellow lies buried very near the grave of his brutal murderer. 

 Fear of Menessino obliged the Indian who, in self defence, 

 had killed his brother, to leave that part of the country, 

 and he has ever since remained an engage at Lac du Sable 

 post, whither the other has never thought fit to follow him. 



Such are some of the lawless acts that have been perpe- 

 trated in that wild region, Avhcre human life seems scarcely 



