The summer following the visit of Oowikapun, Kistayimoowin had taken his
wife and his niece and gone out to an island in one of the large lakes
to hunt and fish. Theirs was the only wigwam on that island that
summer. While out in a small canoe on the lake one day shooting ducks,
his gun, which was an old flintlock, unfortunately burst, and, not only
severely wounded him, but caused him to upset the canoe while out about
half a mile from the shore. His wife and Astumastao heard his wild
whoop of danger, and quickly realised the sad position he was in.
Unfortunately they had no other canoe and no friendly helper was within
range of their voices. Astumastao, however, like all Indian girls,
could swim like a duck; and so without hesitancy she sprang into the
lake and as rapidly as possible swam out to the rescue of her wounded
uncle, who sorely needed her assistance. The explosion of the gun had
nearly blown off one of his hands, and some pieces of the barrel had
entered into his body. The result was that he was very helpless and
weak from the loss of blood.
Astumastao reached him as soon as possible, and finding it impossible to
right the canoe, she succeeded in tying a deerskin thong around the
wounded wrist, and then resolved to try to swim with him to the shore.
It was a desperate undertaking, but she knew just what to do to succeed,
if it were possible. The wounded man could do nothing to help himself,
so she placed him so that he could put his unwounded hand upon her back,
and thus keep afloat, then she bravely struck out for the distant shore.
Only those who have tried to rescue a helpless person in the water can
have any correct idea of the fearful task she had to perform; but buoyed
up by hope and her naturally brave, true heart, she persevered, and,
although at times almost exhausted, she succeeded in reaching the
shallow water, out into which her feeble aunt had ventured to come to
assist her. As well as they could, they helped or carried the almost
exhausted man to the wigwam, and immediately made use of every means at
their disposal to stop the wounds from which his life's blood seemed to
be ebbing away.
The poor man was no sooner laid on his bed, weak and exhausted, than he
turned his eyes toward Astumastao and startled her, although he spoke in
a voice that was little above a whisper.