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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1938-04-28, Page 6,i. 11 PAGE SIX. THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY,, APRIL 28, 1938 Bois Brjles A running fire of such comments ing to our department at 'Font !Gibral- went along the spectators lining each side of the path. There was a sad side to the 'clamorous welcomes and hand- shakes and. surprised recognitions. Had not these men gone north young and 'full of hope as I was going? Now, news of the feud with the Hud- son's Bay brought them out old 'be- fore their time and mare like the na- tives with whom they' had traded than the white race they had left. Here and there, strong men would fall in each other's arms and embrace like 'school- girls, covering their emotion with rounded oaths instead of terms of en- dearment. ,All day the confusion -of unloading boats 'continued. The dull tread of moccasined feet as I:nd'ians carried pack after pack from river bank to the fort. was ceaseless. Faster than the clerks could sort the furs great bundles were heaped on the floor. By noon, warehouses were crammed from basement to attic. Ermine taken in midwinter, when the fur was spotless- ly white, but for the jet tail -tip, otter tut so deftly scarcely a tuft of 'fur had been wasted along the open seam, sil- ver fox. which had made the fortune of some lucky hunter -these and oth- er rare furs, that were to minister to the luxury of kings, passed from tawny carriers to sorters. Elsewhere, coarse furs, Obtained at greater risk, but owing to the abundance of 'big game, less valuable for the ,hunter; were sorted and valued. With a reck- less underestimate of the heaver -skin, their unit of currency, Indians hung over counters bartering away the sea- son's hunt. 1 frankly- acknowledge the 'Company's clerks on :such occassions could do a rushing business selling tawdry stuff at fabulous prices. Meanwhile, in the main hall, the Bourgeois. or partners, of the great North-West Company were holding their annual General Assembly be- hind .closed doors. Clerks lowered their voices 'when they passed that room, and well they might; for the rulers inside held despotic sway over a domain as large at 'Europe. And what were they decreeing? Who can tell? The archives of the great fur companies are as jealously ,guarded as diplomatic documents, and more remarkable for what they omit than what they state. Was the policy, that ended so tragically a year afterwards, adopted at this meeting? 'Great corp- orations have a 'fashion of keeping their mouths and their council doors tight shut and of leaving the public to infer that catastrophes come causeless. However that may be, I know, that Duncan Cameron, a fiery Highlander and One of the 'keenest men in the North-West service, suddenly flung out of the Assembly room with a pleased, determined look on his ruddy face. "'Are ye Rufus 'Gillespie?" he asked. "That's my name, Sir." "Then buckle on y'r armor, lad; for yell see the thick of the fight. You're appointed to my department at Red River." ,And he left us. "Lucky dog! 1 envy you! There'll Ste ware sport between Cameron and McDonell, when the two forts up in Red !River 'begin to talk :back to each other," exclaimed a !Fort William man to mc. "Are you letillesaflell asked a low, mellow, musical voice by my side. I turned to face a tall, dank, wiry man, with the swarthy complexion and in- tensely !black eyes of one having strains of native blood. Among the voyageurs, I had !become accustomed to the soft-spoken, melodious speech that betrays Indian parentage; and 1 believe if ;I were to encounter a des- cendant of the red race in China, or among the Latin peoples of Southern 'Europe, 11' .could recognize Indian !blood 'by that rhythmic trick of the native tongue. I'm 'Gfll'espie," I answered my keen -eyed .questioner. "Who are you?" "Cuth'bert Grant, warden of the plains 'and 'leader of the Bois -Brutes," was his terse response."You're corn- tar, on tar, and I want you to give Father Holland a place in your canoes to come north with us. He's on his way to the Missouri." At 'that instant Duncan 'Cameron carte up to'Grant .and muttered some- thing. Both men at once +wetnt back to the council hall of the Genera 1 As- sembly. I heard the courtyard gossips vowing that the •Hudon'a Bay would cease its aggressions, now that Cam- eron and Cuthbert Grant were to lead the Nor'-Westers; but I made no in- quiry. Next to keeping his own coun- sel and giving credence to no man, the fur trader learns to gain informa- tion only with ears and eyes, end to ask no questions. The scurrying tur- moil in the fort lasted all day. At dusk, natives were expelled from the stockades and work stopped. Grand was the foregathering around the supper table of the great dining hall that night. Bourgeois, clerks and traders from afar, explorers, from the four corners of the earth -assembled 'four hundred strong, buoyant and un- restrained, enthusiastically loyal to the company, and tingling with hilar- ious fellowship over this, the first re- union for twenty years. Though their manner and 'clothing be uncouth, men who have passed a life -time exploring northern wilds have that to say, which is worth hearing. So the feast was prolonged till candles sputtered low and pitch -pine fagots flared out. Indeed, before the gathering broke up, flagons as'well as candles had to he renewed. Lanterns sw.i ng from the black rafters of the ceiling. Tallow candles stood in solemn rows down the centre of each table, showing that men, not women, had prepared the banquet. Stuck in iron brackets against the walls were pine torches, that had 'been clipped in some resin- ous mixture and now' flamed brightly with a smell nut unlike incense. Tables lined the four walls of the hall and ran in the form of et cross athwart the middle of the room. Backless benches were on both sides of every table. At the :end, chairs were placed, the seats of honor for famous Bour- geois. British flags had been draped across windows and colored bunting hung from rafter to rafter. "Ah, mon! Is no this fine? '!'his is worth living for! This is the company to serve!" Duncan Cameron exclaim- ed as he sank into one of the chairs at the head of the centre table, The Scotchman's heart softened before those platters of venison and wild fowl, and he almost 'broke into geniai- ity. ".Here. Grant, opposite !Gillespie! Aye/ an' is that you,' Father Holland?" he cried to the stout, • jovial priest. with shining 'brow and cheeks wrink- ling in laughter, who followed Grant, 'There's a place o' honor for men like yau, Sir. Here!" and he gave the priest a chair beside !himself. The Bourgeois seated, 'there was a scramble for the benches, Then the whole 'company with great zest and much noisy talk dell upon the viands with a will. "Why, Cameron," began a northern winterer a few places below me, "it's taken me •three months fast travelling to come from 'MIdKenzie River to Fort William..By Jovel Sir, 'twas cold en- ough to freeze your words solid as you spoke them, when we left 'Great Slave Lake. I'll bet if you men were up there ,now, you'd hear my voice thawing out and yelling' get-epp to my huskies, and my huskies yelping ba'ckl Used, a dog train, . whole of 'March. Tied myself up in a bag of 'buffalo rdbes at night and made the huskies lie across it to' keep me from freezing. Got so hot, every pore in my !body was a spouting fountain, and in the morning that moisture would freeze my 'buckskin stiff. Couldn't stand that; so I tried sleeping with my head out of the ,bag and froze my nose' six nights out of seven,' The unfortunate nose 'corroborated his evidence, "Ice was sloppy on the Saskatche- wan, and I had to use pack -horses and take the trail. I was trusting to get provisions at Souris. You can imagine,. then, how we felt towards the Hud - eon's Bays When Hudeon'sBayswhen we found they'd plundered oivr fort. We were without a bite ,for twig days. Why, we took !half a dozen Hudson's Bays in our quarters ''up .north last winter, and saved them from starvation; and here we were, star3ing, that, they might ,p'Itinder and rob. 'I'rn with you, Sir! I'm with you to ibhe hilt 'against the thieves! There's a`time for peace and there a time 'for war, and I say this kik avery good time for war! "Here's 'conf'u'sion to the old H.Br, C.'s! Confusion, .short life, no pros- perity, and 'death to the Hudson's Bay! yelled the young 'whiskered Nor' -Wester, sprin'ginlg to his fleet on the bench and waving a 'drinking -'cup round his head. Some of the youthful clerks were disposed to take their 'cue from this fire-eater and began strum- ming the ta'b'le and 'appiauding; but the Bourgeois frowned on forward conduct. CCheek him, Grant!" 'growled Cam- eron in disapproval. "Sit down, 'bumpitioms babel" said the priest, mug'gin'g the lad's coat. "Here, you young show-off," whis- pered !Grant, leaning across the priest, and he knocked the boy's feet from under him bringing him down to the bench with 'a thud. "I•Ie nods more outdoor life, that young one! I't .goes to his head mighty fast," remarked 'Cameron. "What were yolt saying about your hard luck?" and he turned to the northern winterer again, "Call that hard luck?" broke in a mountaineer, laughing as if he 'con- sidered hardships a joke. "We lived a mouth last winter on two meads a day; soup, out of snow -shoe thongs, first Course; fried skims, second go; tea- spoonful shredded fish, by way of an entree!" The man wore a •beaded buckskin suit, and this mellow intonation of words in the manner df the Indian tongue showed that he had almost :lost English speech along with Eng- lish customs. this recital caused no surprise. "Been on short rations myself," re- turned the northerner. ','Don't like it! Isn't safe! Rips a man's nerves to the raw when Indians glare at him with hungry eyes eighteen hours out of the twenty-fotur." ',What was the matter?" drawled the maiuutaineer. ''Hudson', Bay 'heen tampering with your Indians? Now if you had a good 'Indian wife as 'I have, you could defy the !beggars to turn trade away--" "Ayr:, that's so," agreed the winter- er, "1 heard of a fellow on the Atha - beset' who had to marry a squaw be- fore he could get a pair of naequets made; 'hent that wasn't my trouble. Game was scarce." 'SGane scarce on MacKenzie Riv- er?" A chorus of voices vented their surprise. To the outside world game is always scarce, reported scarce on MladKenzie River and everywhere else by the jealous fur traders; but these deceptions are not kept up among hunters fraternizing at the sane :ban- q,uet board. "Mighty scarce. Some of the tribe died out •front starvation. The Head - son's Bay in our .district were in 'bad plight. We took six of them in- Had- n't heard of the Souris plunder, you may be sure." "More fools they go into the Atha- basca," declared the mountaineer. "Bigger fools to send another bri- gade there this year when they need- n't expect help from us." interjected a third trader. "You don't say they're sending an- other lot of men to the rAthatbascal" exclaimed the winterer. "Yes I do -under Colin Robertson," affirmed the third man. • "Colin 'Robertson -the Nor' -West- er?" • "Robertson who used 'to be a IN'or'- Wester! It's Selkirk's work since he got control of the H. B." ".Robertson should know 'better," said the northerner. '"He had experi- ence with as !before he resigned. I'll wager he doesn't undertake that sort of venture! Surely it's a yarn!" "You lose your bet," ,cried the irre-. p•ressi'ble (Fort William lad, "A run- ner came in at six o'clock and report- ed that the Hudson's Bay !brigade front Lachine woundpass here before midnight. They're sooners, they are, are the H. B. C.'s.," and the clerk en- joyed the sensation 'af rolling a big oath from his boyish -lips, "Eric Hamilton passing within a stone's throw of 'the fort!" In aston- ishment I leaned forward to catch ev- ery word the Fort William lad might say "To Athalb!asca by our route -!past this fort!" Such temeeity amazed the winterer !beyond coherent expression. "Good 'th'ing ,for them they're pass- ing in the night," continued the .clerk. ',The half-breeds are hot about that Souris affair. There'll be a 'collision yet!" The young fellow's importance increased in proportion to the surprise of the elder men. "There'll be acollision anyway when Cameron and Grant reach Red River=eh, `Cuthhert?" and the moun- taineer 'tattled to •th'e dark, sharp -fea- tured •wamd'en of the plains, Cuthbert Grant laughed pleasantly. "'Oh, I hope 'not -for (heir sakes! he said, and went on with the story' of •a'buffalo hunt. The story I missed, for I was creep in my own thoughts. 3 must see 'Eric, and let him know what I had deemed; (but how comtnun•icate with the Hud- son's `Bay brigade witlront !bringing suspicion of double dealing on myself? I was .turning things over in my mind in a stupid..soat •of way like one new. at intrigue, when T heard a talker, vowing ,by all that was holy that he had seen the rarest of hunter's rarities -a 'pare white boffalo. The wonder had appeared in Qu'Appeile (Valley.. "I can cap that story, man," 'crud the portly Irish priest who was ,to go north in my boat. "I saw a white squaw less than two weeks 'ago!" He paused for his words to take effect, and 1 started from my ohair as if I had been struck. 'sWhat's wrong, young man?" asked the winterer. "We :lonely 'fellows up north see visions. We leap out of our moccasins at the .sound of ,our own voices; but you young chaps, with all the world around you" -he waved to - wands the crowded hall as, though it were the metropolis of .the uniwerse- "s'huldn't see ghosts and go imaging marc!." I sat down abashed. "Yes, a white aqua•w," repeated the jovial rpriest. "Sure now, white ladies aren't so many in 'these regions that I'd be likely to make a mistake." "There's a difference between squaws and white 'ladies," persisted the jolly father, all ,trnconscions that he was 'emphasizing a d'ifferenrce which maty of the traders were spell- ing out in hard years of experience. "I've seem ,papooses that were white for a -day or two after they were born--" "Effect of the christening," 'inter- rupted the youth, whose :head,'be- tween flattered earthy and 'emptied contents of his drinking cup, was very light indeed. "Take that idiot out and put him to bed, somebody," .commanded 'Cam- eron. ",For a day or two after they were born," reiterated the priest; 'Shut I never saw such .'a white -skinned squaw'" "Where olid you see her?" I inquir- ed in a voice which was not my own. "'Oat Lake Winnipeg. Coming down two weeks ago we ,camped near a'bancl of Sioux, and 1 declare, as I passed a tepee, I saw a woanan's face that look- ed as white as snow. She was sleep- ing, and the curtain had blown np. Her child mac in her:. arms, and I tell you her hare arms were -as white as snow." "Must have been the effect of the moonlight," explained some one. 'Moonlight didn't give the other Indians that complexion," insisted' the priest. It was my turn to feel my head'sud- denly giddy, though liquor had trot passed my lips. This information could have only once meaning. I was close on the track of Miriam, and Eric was near; yet the slightest blunder on my part might ruin all chance of meet- ing hint and rescuing ,her. +CHAAPTElR •'V77T. The men 'began arguing about the degrees orf whiteness in a squaw's skin. Those, married to native women, averred that differences of complexion were purely matters 'of tentperantent. and compared their dusky wives to Spanish belles. The priest was now talking across the -table to Duncan Canterani, advocating a renewal el Worth -West trade with the Man•danes on the Missouri, whither he was bound on his missionary 'tour. To ven- ture out of the fort •through the In- dian encampments, where natives and outlaws were :holding high carnival, and my sleepless foe could have a free hand, would the to risk all ohance of using the information, tli.at had come to me.• I did not fear death -fear of death was left east Of the Sault in those days. .Orn my preservation depended Miriam's rescue. Besides, if either Le Grand Diable or myself had to die, I 'came to the conclusion :of other men similarly situated --that my enemy was the one who should go. Violins, !flutes 'and bag -pipes were striking up in different parts of the hall. Simple -ballads, smacking of old delights in an older land, songs, with which home -sick white men 'comfort- ed .themselves in !far-off !lodges --were marred -out in strident tones. Feet were cheating time to the rasp of the .fiddles, Men rose and danced wild jigs, or deftly executed some intricate Indian step; and uproarious applause greeted every performer. The hall throbbed 'with 'conftused sounds and ''the din deadened my thinking faculties. 'Even now, Eric might' be slipping ,past, In that deafening tumult I -could decide nothing, and when I tried to ,leave the table, all the -lights swam dizzily, "]Excuse me, Sir!" I whispered, clutching the priest's elbow. "You're '!Father -Holland and are to go north in my !boats. 'Com'e out with me for e moment." • Thinking Mme tipsy, he gave me a droll glance. "'!Pon my soul! Strap- ping fellows like you shouldn't need last rites—" "Please say 'nothing! Come quick- ly!" and I !gripped his ern. "Bless .us! It's a touch of the head, or the !heart!" land he rose and follow- ed me ;from the hall: In the fresh air, dizziness left me. Sitting down on the !bench, where I had lain .the night 'be'fore, I told him my 'perplexing mission, At gni, I am sure he was convinced 'that i was drunk or raving, but my story had the directness of truth. He saw at once how easily he 'could leave the fort at that late hour w'ith'out arousing suspi- cion, and rfinallly 'offered to come with me to tine river'banik, !where we might intercept 'Ham'il'ton. "Bait we must 'have a boat, a light, cockle -shell thing, so we -can dart ,out whenever .the brigade appears," de- claredthe priest, casting about in his mind for means to forward our ob- ject. "The canoes are all locked cup. Can't you borrow one from the In - diens? Don't you know any of them?" I asked with a sudden simlcing of heart. "And have the whale pack of them sneaking after 'us? 'No=no- that won't 'do. Where are your wits, -boy! Arrahi Me hearty, but 'tvha't was that?" We !both heard the shutter above our heads suddenly thrown open, but darkness hid anyone who might have been listening. "'Hen!" said the .priest.- ',Overheard! Fite conspirators we arel Some eaves- dropper!" "Hush!" -and remembering whose window it was, I held hien; for he would' have stalked away. "Are you there?" -came a clear, gentle voice, that 'fell from.' the win- dow in the ,breaking ripples of a foun- tain plash. The bit of statuary had become suddenly animate and was not so ntar'ble-colt! to 'mankind as it looked. Thinking we had been taken far an expected lover, 1, too, was moving off, when the voice, that sounded like the dropping 'golden notes of a eremana, called ,cut in tones of vibrating alarm: 'Don't -,don't got Priest! .Priert! Father! It's you I'm speaking to. I've heard every word!" 'Father Holland and I were -too much amazed to do aught but gape front each outer to the dark window. We could now see the outlines of a white face there. "If you'd please put one !bench on top of another, and 'balance a bucket on that, I think I could get down," pleaded the low, thrilling voice. "An' in the name of the seven won- ders of 'creation, what for would you be getting -down?" asked the aston- ished priest. 'Ohl Hurry! Are you getting the bench?" coaxed the voice, "Faith an' we're not! And we have no thought of doing such a thing!'be- gan the good man 'with severity. ""'1' -hen I'll (jump," ,threatened the voice. "And break your pretty .neck," an- swered the ungallant father with in- dignation. There was a rustling of skirts 'being gathered across the window sill and outlines of .a white face gave place to the figure of frail girl 'preparing for a 'leap. "!Don't!" I -cried, genuinely alarmed, with a mental vision of shattered sta- tuary on rine ground. "Don't! I'm get- ting the benches," and 1 piled- thein up, with a rickety 'bucket .on top._ "Wait!" I implored. stepping up on the bottom bench. "'Give .me your hand," and as 1 cau'gh't her hands, she leaped front -the window to the ibu'ck- et, and the 'bucket to the grobnd, with a daintiness, which 1 thought savored of experience in saroh escapades. "Wh'at -do you meal, young wo- man?" demanded !Father Holland in anger, "I'!l have none" of your frisky nonsense! 'Do you know, you baggage, that you are delaying this young man in a matter that is • of life -and -death importance? Tell me this instant, what -do you want?" "I want to save that -woman, Mir- iam! You're both so slaw and stupid! Come, quick!" and she caught as by the arms. "There's a skiff down among the rush -es in the ;flats. I 'can guide you to it. Cross the river in it! Oh! Quick! !Quick! Some of the Hud- son's 'Bay 'briigades have already pass- ed!" "How -do you know?" we both de- manded as in one !breath. •Frances Sutherland. My father is one of the Selkirk settlers and he had word that they would pass to- night! I0h1 'Comet 'C'ome!" This girl, the daughter of a man who was playing double to !both com- panies! And her service to ,me would compel me to the loyal to him! Truly, w,'as: 'becoming involved in a way that 'complicated simple duty. Rut the girt °,had darted ahead of as, we follow- ing ,by the ;flutter of the white gown, and she led us out of the courtyard by si PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical! DIR. E. A. MoMlAS!TIER--'Graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, Univers- ity of 'Toronto, and of the New ;York Post 'Graduate rSchiool and Hospital. Member of the College of Physicians and. Surgeons ofOntario. Office on High street. Phone 217. 'Office 'fully equipped for, x-ray diagnosis and for ultra 'short wave eleotmic treatment, ultra violet sun lamp treatment and infra red electric treatment. Nurse in attendance.. DR. GILBIERT C. JIAR'ROTT - Graduate of 'Faculty of Medicine, Un- iversity of Weston. 'Ontario. rMember of College of Physicians and'Spurgeons of Ontario. 'Office 43 Goderich street west. Phone 3p. rHbnns 2-4.30 lam.,. 7.30.9 pan. Other hours by appoint- ment .Successor 'to Dr. Chas. 'Miaekay. DR. H. HUGH ROSS, Physician and' Spurgeon . Late of London Hos- pital, London, England. Special at- tention to diseases o'f the eye, ear, ,nose ori throat. Office and residence `behind Dominion Bank. Office Phone No. 5; 'Residence ,Phone 104, DR. F. J, BURROWS, 'Seaforth. Office and residence, •Goderloh street, east of the, United' Church. Coroner for the County of Huron. Telephone No. 46. DR. F. J. R. ,FORSTER-•Eye Ear, Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto. 11897. Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moore'field's Eye, and 'Golden Square throat'hospi- tais, London, At Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each month from 1.30 p.m, to '5 •p.m. DR. W. C. SPROAT Physician - Surgeon Phone '90-W.'Office John St. Seaford• Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, ' Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed. F. W. AH'RENS, Licensed Auction- eer for Perth and Huron C•o:unties. Sales Solicited. Terms on Application. Farm Stook, chattels and real estate property. R. R. No. 4, .Mitchell. Phone 634 r 6. Apply at this office. • WATSON & 1REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (S'uccessors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEA -FORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in first -Class Companies. THE McKILLOP Mutual Firelusurance CR HEAD OFFICE-SEAFORTH, Ont. OFFI CERS President, Thomas Moylan, Sea - forth; Vice President, William Knox, Londesboro; Secretary 'Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth. A1GtENTS F. Md&ereher, 12.12.11, Dublin; John E. Pepper, RR.1, Brucefield; E. R. G. Jannouth, Brodhagen; James Watt, Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine; Wm. Yeo, .Eolmesville. ` DIRECTORS Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth No. 3; James Sh•oldice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Land'esboro; George Leonhardt, Bornholm. No. 1; Frank 'McGregor, 'Clinton No. 5; James Connolly, (od- erich; Alex 'McEwing, Blyth No. 1; Thomas Moylan, Seaforth No. 5; Wrn. R. Archibald, Seaforth No. 4. Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named officers addressed to their e-especjive post- offices, ostoffices. a sally -port to 'the rear of a block- house. She paused in the shadow of some •s'hrulbberry. "Get fagots -from the Indians .to light us across the flats," she whisper- ed to Father Holland. "Theyt think nothing 'of you're coming. 'You're al- ways among therm!" "Mistress Saitherland!" 1 'began, as the 'priest hurried -forward 'to the In- dian camp -fires, '"1 hate to think of you risking yourself in this way for—" "Stop thinking, then," she interrupt- ed abruptly in a voice that somehow reminded me of nsy first vision of sta- tuary, "I beg your pardon," 1 blundered on, "Father.IHolland and !L 'have !hoth. forgotten to, apologize for our rude- nessabout helping you down."' (To be co•rstinued)