SOLON ROBINSON, 1841 197 



"You spoke of seeking a Lake," said I addressing the 

 old man." "Yes." "And do you know the name?" 

 "Alas, I think it has neither name nor existence ; it is like 

 those singular illusions upon the burning sands of Africa, 

 we never can reach it. The Indian name is said to be 

 something that sounds like Mus-qua-ock — or some such 

 thing, though really I do not think it would be very easy 

 to translate into English." "Nothing more easy, sir," I 

 replied, "the name signifies the Lake of Red Cedars, and 

 it is only a few miles — " Here a sudden start behind me 

 from the young lady, who seemed suddenly electrified at 

 my words, interrupted my sentence; and next an excla- 

 mation of surprise from my wife, who was bending over 

 her, and the wild cry as she held her hand in hers, "the 

 ring — the ring — look — 'tis the same." Winter as it was, 

 had a sudden peal of loud thunder reverberated over the 

 house, the electric fluid could not have produced a more 

 sudden and wonderful effect upon the inmates, than did 

 these simple words. 



To the three strangers under that roof, they were full 

 of import and meaning. To two of them, the similarity 

 of sound, and sudden excitement on beholding that ring, 

 were so similar to such sounds and such a manner of ex- 

 pression, to those which once before had broken upon 

 their ears in the same wild startling manner, that if they 

 had ever doubted the truth of their companion, those 

 doubts were now forever removed. Connected with the 

 translation of the name of that Lake, those words told 

 to them, that the beacon light which had a few hours be- 

 fore guided them to a place of comfort for their bodies, 

 had also guided them to a place of joyful relief to their 

 minds. Their hurried and confused questions were as 

 rapidly answered as language could convey the desired 

 intelligence. The double name of the Indian had caused 

 them great difficulty, and to the inquiry why none of the 

 Indians seemed to know him by the name mentioned in 

 the "treaty," the answer was easy. They had always 

 pronounced it according to the spelling, when in fact 



