He loved the wilds with the passion of his mother's race.

His nature revolted at the thoughts of a great city with its crowded streets, its noise, and bustle, and dirt.

It was then that Minnetaki pleaded with him, begged him to go for just one year, and to come back and tell her of all he had seen and teach her what he had learned.

Wabi loved his beautiful little sister beyond anything else on earth, and it was she more than his parents who finally induced him to go.
For three months Wabi devoted himself faithfully to his studies in Detroit.

But each week added to his loneliness and his longings for Minnetaki and his forests.