from the rather rude advances of a white man," said Shefford, and he
proceeded to tell of the incident that occurred at Red Lake.

"Willetts!" exclaimed Withers, with much the same expression that
Presbrey had used. "I never met him. But I know about him. He's--
well, the Indians don't like him much. Most of the missionaries are
good men--good for the Indians, in a way, but sometimes one drifts
out here who is bad. A bad missionary teaching religion to savages!
Queer, isn't it? The queerest part is the white people's blindness--
the blindness of those who send the missionaries. Well, I dare say
Willetts isn't very good. When Presbrey said that was Willetts's way
of teaching religion he meant just what he said. If Willetts drifts
over here he'll be risking much. . . . This you told me explains Nas
Ta Bega's friendliness toward you, and also his bringing his sister
Glen Naspa to live with relatives up in the pass. She had been living
near Red Lake."

"Do you mean Nas Ta Bega wants to keep his sister far removed from
Willetts?" inquired Shefford.

"I mean that," replied Withers, "and I hope he's not too late."

Later Shefford went outdoors to walk and think. There was no moon,
but the stars made light enough to cast his shadow on the ground.
The dark, illimitable expanse of blue sky seemed to be glittering
with numberless points of fire. The air was cold and still. A
dreaming silence lay over the land. Shefford saw and felt all these
things, and their effect was continuous and remained with him and
helped calm him. He was conscious of a burden removed from his mind.
Confession of his secret had been like tearing a thorn from his flesh,