A LABRADOR SPRING 



Manitou River, hid their canoes in the woods 

 and stole towards the falls of the Manitou, to 

 lie in ambush until the Montagnais should 

 descend to the portage. The Montagnais knew 

 their strength, and in the dim morning light 

 began the fight at once, and after severe loss 

 succeeded in killing or taking all but the leader 

 of the Micmacs' band, a noted warrior and 

 conjuror, and one whom the Montagnais were 

 most anxious to take alive. Finding escape 

 hopeless, he sprang to the edge of the cataract, 

 and, crouching behind a rock, began to sing 

 a defiant war-song, occasionally sending an 

 arrow with fatal effect at those who were bold 

 enough to show themselves. The Montagnais, 

 sure of their prey, contented themselves with 

 singing their songs of triumph. The Micmac 

 chief and conjuror suddenly jumped upon the 

 rock behind which he was hidden, and ap*. 

 proached the Montagnais, telling them to 

 shoot. But the Montagnais wanted their 

 prisoner alive, so they let their arrows rest. The 

 conjuror next threw away his bows and arrows, 

 and invited them to come and attack him with 

 their knives. The Montagnais chief, anxious 

 to display his courage, rose from his conceal- 



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