THE KEV. LAUEENZ LAUTIGER. 



97 



heard the dogs and looked out in expectation of seeing 

 the missionary approach, but as the dogs soon ceased to 

 bark they thought it was a false alarm, and did not go to 

 meet and assist him. 



It was painfully interesting to watch the Indians relate 

 the narrative of this short but terrible journey from the 

 information they had gathered on the almost trackless ice 

 and snow. The imitation of the actions and motions of 

 the poor missionary, his attitude of prayer, his drooping 

 head touching the cold ice, his backward wanderings, 

 were all so faithfully represented, so true to nature, that 

 the reality seemed to be occurring before me, rather than 

 the solemn mimicry of a savage. 



After the Indian, who was most active in impersonating 

 the missionary, had finished his mournful tale, he quietly 

 took a lighted pipe from one of his companions standing 

 by, and drawing his blanket over his head seated himself 

 upon the prostrate trunk of a tree, and without any ex- 

 pression of feeling covertly glanced in my face to see the 

 effect of his narrative ; and when I asked him through 

 the half-breed interpreter where the body was lying, he 

 coldly pointed with one finger to a log-hut close by, with- 

 out withdrawing the pipe from his mouth or showing any 

 further interest in the matter. 



The name of the missionary was Laurenz Lautiger, 

 from Krainburg in Carniola ; he had been placed by the 

 half-breeds in a rough coffin made from half-a-dozen pine 

 boards, and, as he lay robed in his priestly vestments, calm, 

 and without any trace of suffering, it seemed almost im- 

 possible to realize that he had just met with death in such 

 a terrible form. 



When we arrived at Crow Wing, a few days after this sad 

 occurrence, I went to see his brother missionary stationed 



VOL. II. H 



