Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1938-05-12, Page 6PAGE SIX. THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY,' MAY 12, 1938 Bois Brules "Henry," whispered my ,companion. its junction with the Assinitoine and "Stark these fern's round 'somewhere- here •disemt'arked at Fort Gibraltar, Hurry! She'll he ]back." And leaving the headquarters of the Nor-Westers me to do the arranging he bolted for the 'tent flaps. "Ohl Open earth and swallow mel" he almost screamed, and I 'heard the sound of two per- sons corning in violent 'collision at the entrance. "The babe, as d live! The rascally young 'broth of a babel Ye rogue, ye!" burred the deep !bass tones nt the trader whom I had met over Denis Lapdante, "What are ye doin' here?" "Oh, is it only you? Thank for- tune!" -ejaculated the boy, dodging back. "What are you doing yourself? Great guns! You scared the Kits out of me! Hol Here's a lark! Gillespie, my pal, look here!" I turned eo see the sheepish, guilty, smirking faces of the trader, the rough -tongued, sun- burned trapper and the ragged gamb- ler 'grouped at the entrance, and each man's arms were full of 'flowers, "Well, I'm durned!" began the rough man. 'les she's jack -spotted tie all," drawled the gentle, liquid tones of the gambler, "we'd 'better go ahead and—" It was a long lent, like the booth of a fair, with supports at each end, and we were .festooning it from pole •to pole with mess and ferns when sonme- body'rasped at the door. "Mon alive' What's goin' on here?" '\\'e star ted from our work with the •!silty alacrity of burglars. There stood 'Frances Su- therland's father, much apha t as the proceedings, and by his side ^.vas a face with ehceks flaming poppy red and lips twitching it merriment. There was a sudden: . r,c w storm of flowers being tossed down, and fire men brushed past the two spectators and dashed into the hiding of gather- ing dusk. At the foot o? the knoll I ran against the priest. "That," soared Father Holland, shaking with laughter. "That's what I call good stuff in the rough! Faith, but ye'll give me good stuff in the rough. I wammt none o' yer gilded chiv- alry from the tinsel towns!" There 'was a wreath of night -shades in her 'hat when the canoes set out next morning.•Mayflowers were at her throat, violets in her girdle and I know not what in a 'basket at her feet. The face was unconscious of us as ever, but ahem the downcast eye- lids played a tender gentleness which was not there .before. ,Once I caught her glancing back among ue as if she would pick out the :culprits; and when her eyes for a moment rested on me, my heart set up a silly thumping. Bat she looked just as pointedly at the others, and I know every man's heart of them responded; •for the boy began such a floundering I thought he would spill his canoe, A quick trip brought us to the mouth of Red River, where the Hurlsor'; Bay voy- ageurs tinder Colin Robertson were resting. Here I was surprised to learn that Eric Hamilton had not waited but had hastened up ,Red River to 'Port Douglas. I could not but connect this southward move of his with the sudden flight of Le Grand Diable from 'Fort William. After brief pause at the foot of Lake Winnipeg, our brigade turned southward and nnade speed up the Red through the nush-grown sedgy swamps which over -flood the river bed, (Farther south the banks towered high and smoke curled up :from the huts of Lord Selkirk's settlers. Wom- en with nets in their hands to scare off myriad !blackbirds that clouded the air, and men from the cornfields ran to the river edge and cheered vs as we passed, Here the .Sutherlands landed. .Some ,of the traders thought it a good omen, that Hudson's .Bay settlers' .cheered INor'-Wester bri- gades; but in one bend of the muddy Red, the bastions of 'Fort Douglas where 'Governor McDonell of the rival company ruled, loomed up and the guns pointing across the river wore anything ,but a welcome look. We passed tllort Douglas enm.olest- ed, 'followed the Red a milefarther to first on one side of Grant and then on in Red (River. CHAPTER X. "So he laughs at our ,warrant?" ex- claimed Duncan ,Cameron. "Hmttetutl We'll teach him to respect warrants issued under !authority of 1413h'•d King George III.," and the dictator of Fort ,Gibraltar .fussed angrily among the papers of his desk and beat a threat- ening tattoo with 'knuckles and heels. The Assiniboine enters the Red at something like a right angle and in this angle was the ,Nor'-W;esters' fort, named after an old-world stronghold, because we imagined our position gave us the same •command of the two wa- terways by which the voyageurs en- tered and left the north country as Gibraltar has of the Mediterranean, Governor McDonell had thought to outwit us by .building the Hudson's Bay fort a mile eurther down the 'cur- rent of the Red. It was a sharp trick, for !Fort Douglas could intercept Nor' - West brigades 'bound from Montreal to Fort Gibraltar, or from Fort Gib- raltar to the Athabasca. Two days af- ter our arrival, Cuthbert 'Grant, with a band of Bois-Brules, had gone to Fort Douglas to arrest Captain Miles MoDonell 'for plundering Nor' -West posts The doughty governor took Grant's warrant as a joke and scorn- fully turned the whole 'North- est part out of Fort 'Douglas; On the stockades outside were proclamations commanding settlers to take up arme in defense of the Hudson's Bay trad- ers and forbidding natives to -ell furs to any but our rivals. These things added fuel to the hot anger of the chafing Bois-Brules. A curious race were these mongrel plain -rangers, with all the savage instincts of the wild beast and a few of the brutal im- pulses of the beastly man. The des- cendants of French fathers and In- dian mothers, they inherited all the quick. fiery daring of the Frenchman, alt the endurance, craft and courage of the Indian, and all the indolence of both white man and red. One might cut his enemy's throat and wash his hands in the life blood, or -spend years in accomplishing revenge; :but it is a question if there is a single instance on record of a Bois -Brute molesting an enemy family. When the French- man married a native woman, he cast off civilization like an ill- fitting coat and virtually became an Indian. When the Scotch settler married a native woman, he educated her up to his own level and if she did not +become entire- ly civilized, her children did. One was the wild man, the Ishnmaelite of the desert, time other, the tiller of the soil, the •Israelite of the plain. Such were the tameless men, of whom Cuthbert Grant was the leader. the leader solely from his fitness to leach. It was late in the afternoon when the warden returned front Fort Doug- las. I was 'busy over my desk. Father Holland was =till with us awaiting the departure of traders to the south, and Duncan Cameron was stamping about the room like a caged lion. There came a quick, angry tramp 'from the hall. "That's Grant 'back, and there's no ane with him," muttered Cameron with suppressed anger; and in ,burst the warden himself, his heavy brows dark with fury and his eyes Bashing like the fire at a pistol point, Involun- tarily I stopped work and the 'priest glanced across at me with a look which bespoke expectation of an ex- plosion. Grant did not storm . That was not his way. ..Me took several turns about the root, mastered him- self, and speaking through his teeth said quietly, "There be some foals that enjoy playing with gunpowder. I'm not one of 'them! There be some idiots that like.•teasvng tigers. 'Tis not sport to my fancy! There he some pot - valiant ,braggarts that defy the law. Let them enjoy the breaking of the law!" "What — what—what? sputtered the Highland governor, springing the other, ;all the 'whi'le aiunth1i ag out maledictions on Lotd ;S'el•kirk, and Governor McDonell .and (Fort"•Doug- las. "What do ye say, mon? Do I un- derstand ye ,clearly, there's no prison- ' ye?" "Laughs at 'the Bois -$rules. The. !fool 'laughs at the Bois-Brules! I've ' seen gophers cook their :eye at a Wolf, 'before that same wolf made a !break- fast of,gophers! The fool laughs at your warrant, Sirl• Scouted it, Stir! Bundled 'us out of ,Fort Douglas .like cattier The warden went on in a bit- ter strain .to tell of ,the effeot of the Posted praclamiations on .his followers 'So the lordly Captain Miles Me - Donal of the !Queen's Rangers, gen- eralissimo .of all creation, defies us, does he?" demanded Cameron in great dudgeon, scarcely ,crediting his ears. "Aye!" answered Grant, 'but he cam int afford to be so high and mighty. We went through the settlement and half the people are with us—" "That's good! That's 'good!" re- seonde'd Cameron with keen relish. , "They're heartily sick of the coun- try," continued the warden, "and would leave to -morrow if we'd supply the' boats. 'Last .winter they nearly starved. The eom'pany's generous sup- ply was rancid grease and wormy flour." ',Fine way o' colonizing a country," stormed Cameron, "bring men out as settlers and arm' them to fi:ghtl We'll spike his guns by shipping •a score more away." "We've spiked his guys in a better way," said Grant .dryly. "Some ,of the friendlies are so afraid he'll take their guns away and leave them defenceless unless they ,fight us, they've sent their arms here 'for safekeeping, 'We'll keep them safe, I'll warrant," Grant smiled, showing his teeth in a way that was not pleasant to see,'a'nd somehow re- minded me of a dog's snarl. "Good! Good! 'Excellent, Grant" Such strategy pleased Cameron. "See here, mon, Cuthbert, we've the law on our side—we've the warrants to back the lawn We'd better give yon dour fool a lesson. He's broken the peace. We haven't. Come out, an' I'll talk it over with ye!" The two went out, (Grant saying as they passed the window—"Let him tamper with the fur trade among the Indian; and all not answer for it! That last order not to sell—" The rest of the remark was lost. ""1—would serve him well right if they did," returned Cameron, and both men walked beyond hearing. Father Holland and I were left alone. The fort became ominously still. There was a distant clatter"af re- ceding hoofs; but we were on the south side of the warehouse and could not see which way the horses were galloping. "I'm afraid—I'm afraid both sides will he rash," observed the priest, The sun -dial indicated six o'clock. I closed and locked the office desks. We had supper •in the deserted dining -hall, Afterwards we strolled to the north- east gate, and lookinte in the direction of Fort Douglas, wondered what scheme was afoot, Here my testimony need not be taken for, or against, eith- er side, All I saw was Duncan Camer- on with the other white omen of the fort standing on a knoll some dis- tance from Fort Gibraltar, evidently gazing towards Tort Douglas. Against the sky. above the settlement, there were clouds of rising smoke. "Burning hay -ricks?" I .questioned. "Aye, and houses! 'Tis shameless work leaving people exposed to the blasts of next winter! Shameless, shameless work! Y'r company'll gain nothing by it, Refuel" :!cross the night came faint, short mappings like a fusillade al shots, "Looting the neutrals," said the priest. "God grant there he no blood on the plains this night! These fool traders don't realize what it means to rouse blood in an Indian! They'll get a lesson yet! Give the red devils a taste of blood and there won't be a white unscalped to the Rockies! I've seen y'r fine, clever rascals play the Indian against rivals, and the game always ends the same way. The Indian is k weapon that's quick to cut the hand of the .user," Little did •I realize my part in the terrible fulfilment of that prophecy.. "Look alive, 'lad! Where are y'r wits? What's that?" he cried, sudden- ly pointing to the river bank, Up from the cliff ,sprang a form as if by magic. ,Ili came leaping straight to the fort gate. "Some ,frightened halfebreed wen.ch," surmised the 'priest. I saw it was a woman with a 'shawl over her !mead like a native. 'Bon soirl" said I after the manner of traders with Indian women; but she rushed .blindly on to the gate. The fort was ,deserted, .S,uspicion of treachery flashed on me. How many more half -breads were beneath that cliff? "'Stop!" I ordered, springing for ward and ,catching her so tightly by the wrist that she swung hale -way round before she could theok herself. She wrenched 'vigorously to get free. "Stop( Bee still, you," 1 "Be s'til'l—you wh'a't?" asked a low, amazed ;voice that ibroke in ripples aud'froze my blood, A shawl Bettered to the ground,.anei there stood 'before us the apparition of a'maible 'face. 'eThe Little 'Statue!" I gasped in sheer horror at what I had 'done. "That '..little --what?" asked the rip- pling voice, that sounded like ookl water'flowinlg ender ice, and a pair of eyes loolced 'a»grig ,down at the hand with which S was still enconsciously gripping .her amu. "I'd thank you, Sir," she began, with a mock oourtesy to the priest, 1'd thank you, Sir, to call off your mastiff." 'Let her go, boy!" roamed the priest with a hammering blow across my forearm that 'brought me to any'seuses and convinced me she was no wraith, 'Mastiff. That epithet stung to the quick, 'I !fling her wrist from one as if it had been ''hot coals. Now, a wo- man may tread upon a man -also stamp upon him if she has a mind to —but ,she must brig it 'daintily. Other- wise even a worm may turn against its tormentor. To have idolized that marble creature by day and night, to have laid our votive offerings on its shrine, ;to have 'hungered for the sound of a .woman's lips for weeks, and to hear those 'lips ¢uttingly call nee a dog—were more than S' could stand. "Ten thousand 'pardons, Mistress Sutherland!" I said with a pompous stiffness which I intended should be mighty crushing. "But when ladies deck themselves out as squaws and climb in and out of windows,"—that was 'brutal of meg she had done it for Miriam and me—"and announce them- selves in unexpected ways, they need not hope to be reoognized " And did she flare back at Hie? Not at all, "You waste time withyourlong speeches," she said, turning .from me to Father Holland, Thereupon I strode off angrily to the river 'bank.. ''''Olt, (Farber Holland," I heard her say as I 'walked away, "I must go to Pembina! I'm in such trouble! There's a Frenchman—" Trouble, thought I; she is in trou- ble a nd d have been thinking only of my own dignity, And I stood above the river, torn between desire to rush back and wounded pride, that bade me stick it nut. Over the plans came the shout of returning .plunderers. I could hear the throb, throb of gallop- ing hoofs 'beating nearer and nearer over the turf, and reflected that 1 might make the danger from, returning Bois-Brules the occasion of a recon- ciliation. "Conte here, lad!" called Father Holland, I needed no urging. "Ye must rig up in tam-o'-shanter and tar- tan, like a Highland settler, and take 'Mistress Sutherland back to Fort Douglas. She's going to Pembina to meet her father, lad, when I go south to the Missouri. And, lad," the priest hesitated, glancing doubtfully from Mies Sutherland to me, '"I'm thinking there's a service ye night do her." The Little Statue was looking straight at Inc now, and there were tear -,narks about the heavy lashes, Now, I do not pretend to explain the power, or witchery, a gentle slip 'of e. girl call wield with .a pair of gray eyes; but when I met the furtive glance and saw the white, veined fore- head, the arched brows, the tremulous lips, the rounded chin, and the whole face glorified by that wonderful mass of hair, I only know, without weapon or design, she dealt nee a wound which I hear to this day. What a ruffian d had been! I was ashamed, and my eyes fell before hers. If a 'lobation of blushes could appease an offended goddess, I was livid evidence of re- pentance. epentance. I felt myself flooded in a heat of shame. She must have read my confusion, for she turned away her head to hide mantling forgiveness. "There's a crafty Frenchnnan in the fort has :been troubling the lassie. I'm thinking, if ye worked off same o' your anger on him, it moight be for the young man's edification. Be quick! I hear, the breeds returning!" "But I have a message," she said in choking tones. , "From whom?" I asked aimlessly enough. "Eric Hamilton!" she answered. "Eric Hamilton!" both the priest and I shouted. "Yes—why? What—what—is it? He's wounded, and he wants a !Rufus Gi•1]espde, who's with the 'Nor'iWest- ers. The Bois-Brules fired on the fort. Where is 'Rufus Gillespie?" "Bless you, lassie! Here—here-- here he is!" The holy father'thumnped my back at every .word, "Here he is, crazy as a March hare for news of Hamilton!" "You=:Rufus—tGill.espie!" So she did not even 'know mei manie, Ehvident- ly, if she troubled my thoughts, I did not trouble hers, "He's told: me so Muth about you,"' she went on, with a little pant of es- tonishment, "How 'brave and .good--" "Pshaver I interrupted roughly, "What's the 'message?" 'Mr. Hamilton wishes to see you. at once," she answered coldly. • "Then ,ki'tl two birds with one. stone! Take her 'home and see Hamil- ton—and hurry!" urged 'flue priest. The hallfsbreei's were now very near. "Tut it over your head!" and Father Holland claplped the shawl about Frances Sutherland after the Ifas•hion Of the half-breed women. She stood demurely behind. 'hum while I ranup-stairs in the warehouse to disguise myself in tartan plaid. When •I ,came out, Duncan Cameron was in the, gateway .welcoming Outh- bert 'Grant and the Bois-Brules, as if pillagmng ,def'en'celess ,settlers were he- roic Victors from war may be inspir- ing, het a half-breed rabble, red -hand - ;ed 'from deeds ,of violence, is not a sight to edify any man, "What's this ye have, IFlather?" bawled one impudent fellow, and he pointed sneeringly at the .figure in the folds .onfthe shawl, "Let the veench .be!" was time priest's reply, and the half 'breed lounged past with a laugh. I was about to offer .Frances 'Suther- land my arm to escort her from the mob, when :I felt Father Holland's hard 'knuckles dig viciously into my ribs. eYe fool ye! (Ye blundering idiot!" he whispered, "she's a halfsbreed Ochi Bores time y'r eastern greenness was tannin' a good western russet! Let her 'follow with, bowed head, or you'll have the whole pack an y'r hee'ls!" With that admonition I strode bold- ly out, she (behind, humble, with downcast eyes like a half-breed girl. We ran down the river path through the willows and jumping into a canoe swiftly rounded the 'forks of the Assi- tniboine and Red. There we deft the canoe and fled along a trail- ,beneath the cliff till .the shouting of the half- breeds could be no longer heard. At once I turned to offer her my ann. She mast have bruised her ,feet through the thin moccasins, for the way was very rough. I saw that she was trembling Seam fatigue, "Permit me," I said, offering my arm as 'farmatly as 1f she had been some grand lady in an eastern draw- ing -room. "Thank you—I'mm afraid I must," and she reluctantly placed a light hand on my sleeve. I did not like that condescending compulsion, and now out of clanger, I became strangely embarrassed and angry in her presence. The "mastiff" epithet struck like a barb in my 'boy- ish chivalry. Was it the wind, or a low sigh, or a .silent weeping, that I heard? I longed to know, but would not turn my head, and my companion was lag- ging just a step behind. I slackened speed, so did she, Then a voice so low and soft and golden it night have melted a heart of stone—but what is a heart of stone compared to the wounded pride of a young man?— said, "Do you kion•, I think I rather like mastiffs?" "Indeed," said I icily, in no mood for raillery. "Like them for .friends, not enein- ies, to be protected by then; not—not bitten," time voice continued with a provoking emphasis of the plural "them." "Yes," said 1, with equal emphasis of the obnoxious plural. "Ladies find them useful at times." That 'fling silenced her and I felt a shiver run down the arm on my sleeve. "Why, you're shivering," I blunder- ed out, "Yoti meet let me put this round you," and I pulled off the plaid and would have placed it on her shoul- ders, but she resisted. "I am not in the least cold," she an- swered frigidly—which is the only un- truth I ever heard her tell—"and you shall not say 'must' to me," and she took her hand from my arm. She spoke with a tremor that warned me not to insist. Then I knew why she she had shivered. "Please forgive, 'Miss Sutherland," I 'begged. "I'ni .such a maladroit animal' "I quite agree 'with you, a maladroit mastiff with teeth!" Mastiff! That insult again! I. did not reproffer my arum. We strode ,ior- ward once more, she with her face turned sideways remote from me, I with my face sideways remote from her, and the plaid trailing from my hand by way of showing her she could have it if she wished. We must have paced along in this ..amiable, post -ma- trimonial :fashion for quite a quarter of the mile we had to go, and I was awkwardly conscious of suppressed laughing front her side. It was the rippling voice, that always seemed to me Jike fountain splash in the sun- shine, which 'broke .silence again. "Really," said the low, thrilling, niru sisal witchery by my side, "really, it's the most womdesful story I have ever heard!" "Story?" I queried, stopping stock stilt and gaping at her. 'Pei -fully wonderful! So intensely interesting .and delightful," "Interesting and delightful?" I in- terrogated in sheer amazement, This girl utterly dumfounded me, and in the conceit of youth I thought it strange that any girl could dumfound, me. PROFESSIONAL "CARDS Medical DIR. E. A, MoMASTIER— Gradeate of the `,Faculty of Medicine, 'U'nivers- ity of Toronto, and of the New York Post 'Graduate iSohool and Hospital. Member of the 'College ,of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. 'Office on High street. 'Phone Z7. 'Office ,fully equipped q pped for x-ray diagnosis and for ultra 'short wave electric treatment, Ara violet sten lamp ,treatment and infra red electric treatment. Nurse in attendance. DIR. ,GIL'BERT C. JAR'ROT'T — Gamaduate of 'Faculty of Medicine, Un- iversity 'of Western !Ontario. 'Member of College of .Physicians and.'Swrgeons of Ontario, 'Office 43 Goderich street west. Phone 317. ,Hours 2-4.30 'Man., 7.30.9 'p n, 'Ocher hours by appoinit- ment. Successor to •Dr, Chats. 'Mackey, DR. H. H'UIGFI EJOSS, Physician and Surgeon Late of London' Hios- ,pital, London, 'England. Special at- tenbion to diseases Of the eye, ear, nose age throat. Office and eesidenee behind Dominion Bank. Office Phone No. 5; Residence •Phone 104. DR. F. J. BURROWS, Seaforth. Office and residence, Goderidh 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, Moorefineld's Eye, and Golden Square throat 'hospi- tals, London, At Cammeroial '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•Jo'hn St. !Seaford' Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIiOTT, 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. AHRENS, Licensed Auction- eer for Perth and Huron Counties. Sales Solicited, Terms on Application. Farm Stook, chattels and reit estate property. R. R. No. 4, •Mitchell. Phone 634 r 6, Apply at this office. WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies. THE McKILLOP Mutual Fire Insurance Co HEAD OFFICE-SEAFORTH, Ont. OF1FI CERS President, Thomas Moylan, Sea - f orth; Vice President, William Knox, Londesboro; Secretary 'Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth. AGENTS F. McKeroher, RJR,II, Dublin; John E. Pepper, RRA, Brucefield; E. R. G. Jarmouth, Brodhagen; James Watt, Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine; Wm. Yeo, Holmesville, DIRECTORS Alex. Broadfo'ot, Seaforth No. 3; James Sholdice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Londesboro; George Leonhardt, Bornholm No. 1; Frank 'McGregor, 'Clinton No. 5; James Connolly, God- erich; Alex evicEwing, Blyth No. 1; Thomas Moylan, Seaforth No. 5; Wm- 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 respective post- office'S. "What an interesting life you have had, 'to be store!" "I have had?" "Yes, doa''t you know you've been talking in torrents for the ,past ten minutes?, .No? Do you forget" and she 'laughed tremulously either from embarrassment, or cold, "Well!" said I, befooled into geed - humor and 'Laughing .back, "If you ,give time a day's warning, 1I'11 try to keep 'up with you•" "A'hl There!' •I've put you through the ice at last! •It's been such hard work)" "And I come uptad'ly doused!" "Stimulated Mood You're doing ,well eke ady1" (To be :continued) Send urs the names of your visitors.