HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1938-08-18, Page 6PAGE SIX.
THE SEAFORTH NEWS
TH'UIRSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1938
At last the Nor'-Westers' Fort Wil- than resort to violence. Nevertheless,
Barn !brigade with its sixty mem and we called in every .available 'hand of
numerous well -loaded oanoes—those the !Nor'=West staff to man Fort
Douglas against attack, But summer
dragged into autumn and autumn .into
winter, and no Lord Selkirk. Then
we began to think ourselves secure;
for the streams were frozen to a depth
of four feet like adamant, and unless
Selkirk were a madman, he would not
attempt to bring his soldiers north by
dog -train during the bitter cold of
midwinter. But 'tis ever the policy of
the astute madman to discomtt the en-
emy`s calculations; and Selkirk utter-
ly discounted ours by sending his
hardy, dare -devil De :Vermeils across
country under the leadership of that
prince of braggarts, Captain 'D'Orson-
nens. Indeed, we had only heard the
rumor of their coating, when we
awakened one morning after an ob-
scere, stormy night to find then en-
camped at St. Janes, westward on the
Aaeiniboine River. Day after day the
menacing force remained quiet and in-
offensive, and we began to look upon
these notorious ruffians as harmless.
For our .part, vigilance was not lack-
ing. Sentinels :were posted in the
towers day and night. Nor' -West
spire shadowed every movement of
the enemy; and it was seriously con-
sidered whether we should not open
communication with D'Orsonnens to
ascertain what he wanted; but, truth
to say, we knew very well what he
wanted, and had had such a surfeit of
bland, we' were not anxious to re -open
hostilities,
As for Hamilton, I can hardly call
his life at Fort Douglas anything
more than a mere existence. A blow
stuns, but one may recover. Repeated
failure gradually benumbs hope and
will -power and effort, like some ghoul-
ish vampire sucking away a man's
life -blood till he faint and die from
very inanition. The blow, poor Eric
had suffered, when he lost !Miriam;
the repeated failure, when we could
not restore her; and 1 saw this strong,
athletic man slowly succumb as to
some in;idiaus, paralyzing disease.
The thought of effort seemed to bur-
den him. He would silently nope by
the hour in same dark corner cif Fort
Douglas, or wander aimlessly about
the courtyard, muttering and talking
to himself. He was weary and fatigued
without a stroke of work; and what
little sleep he snatched from wakeful
vigils seemed to give him no rest. His
food, he thrust from him with the
petulance of a child; and at every eu;;-
gestirn I could make, he sneered
with a quiet, .gentle insistence that
was utterly discomfiting. To be sure,
I had Father Hoaand's 'boisterous
goad cheer as a counter -irritant; for
the priest had remained at Fort Doug-
las, and :res ministering to the tribes
if the Red and Assiniboine. But it
was -n her, who, had been any ;guid-
ing -tar and ho;e and inspiration from
the first, that I mainly depended. As
hard, merciless wioter closed in. I
could not think of those shelterless
colonists driven to the lake, without
s•hudderin,g at the distress I knew
they must suffer; and I despatched a
runner, urging them to return .to Red
River, and giving personal guarantee
for their safety, Among those who
came back, were the Sutherlands; and
if my quest had entailed far greater
hardship than it did, that quiet inter-_
val with leisure to spend much time
at t be Selkirk settlement would have
repaid all suffering. After sundown, I
was free from fort duties. Tying on
snow -shoes after the manner of the
natives, I would speed `over the whit-
ened drifts of billowy snow. The sur-
face, melted •by the sun -glare of mid-
day and ''encrusted with brittle, glist-
ening ice, never gave under my
weight; and, oddly cnough, nay way
ale -says led to the Sutherland home-
stead, After the coming of the De
Meurons, Frances used to expos.tii
late against what she called my fool-
said, that his victories were 4e:eyeless; hardiness in staking these evening
but they were, .bloodless because the; visits; but their presence made mo (1if-
Nor'-Westers had no mind 'to unleash Terence to me,
those redslcin bloodhounds a second' "I don't believe those drones intend
time,preferring to suffer loss rather doing anything very dreadful, after
cargoes had Ibsen the bone of conten-
tion 'between Hudson's Bay and Nor' -
Wasters at Seven Oaks—arrived et
Fort Douglas. The newcomers were
surprised to find us in 'possession of
the enemy's fort. The hast news they
had heard was of wanton and success-
ful aggression on the part of Lord
SelkIrk's Company; and I 'think the
extra crews sent north were quite as
much for purposes of defence as swift
travel. But the gravity of affairs start-
led the meal from Fort William; for
they, themselves, had astounding
news; Lord Selkirk was on his way
north with munitions of war and an
army of mercenaries formerly of the
De Meurons' regiment, anunebering
two hundred, some said three or four
hundred sten; but this was an exag-
geration. For what was he corning to
Red River in this warlike fashion?
His purpose would probably show it-
self. Also, if his intent were hostile,
would not Seven Oaks massacre af-
ford him the very pretence he wanted
for chastising'Nar'-Westers out of the
country? The canoe -men had met the
ejected settlers 'bound up the lake:
and with them, whom did they see but
the bellicose Captain Miles McDonell,
given free passage but a year before
to Montreal and now on "the prrsper-
•ous return," which he, 'himself, had
prophesied?
The settlers' news of Seven Oaks
sent the brave captain hurrying
southward to inform Lord Selkirk of
the massacre.
'We had had a victory; but how
long would it last? Truly the sky was
darkening and few of us felt hopeful
about the bursting of the storm,
CI-IAPTER XXV
Even at the hour of our triumph,
we .Nor'-Westers knew that we had
yet to reckon with Lend Selkirk; and
a speedy reckoning the indomitable
nobleman brought about. The massa-
cre at Seven Oaks afforded our rivals
the very pretext they desired. Clothed
with the authority of an officer of the
law, Lord Selkirk hurried northward;
and a personage of his importance
could not venture into the wilderness
without a strong body -guard. At
least, that was the excuse given for
the retinue of two .or three hundred
mercenaries decked out in all the regi-
mentals of war, whom Lord Selkirk
brought with him 10 the north. A
more rascally, daring crew of raga-
muffins could not have been found to
defend Selkirk's side of the gentlemen
adventurers' feud. The men were the
offscourings of European armies en-
gaged in the 'Napoleonic wars, and
Dame directly from the old De Mier -
ons' regiment, The information which
the Fort William brigade brought of
Selkirk's approach, also explained
why that same 'brigade hastened back
to the defence of Nor' -West quarters
an Lake Superior; and their help was
needed. News of events at Fort Wil-
liam came to us in the Red River de-
partment tardily. First, there was a
vague rumor among the Indian voya-
geurs, who were ever gliding back and
forward on the labyrinthine 'waters of
that north land like the birds of pas -
'sage overhead. Then tante definite re,
ports from freemen who had been ex-
pelled from Fort William; and we
could no longer doubt that Nor' -West
,headquarters, with ;all .the wealth of
furs and ,provisions therein had fallen
into the hands of the Hudson's Bay
forces. .Afterwards .oam,e warning
'from our (Bourgeois,driven out of
Fort William, for Fort Douglas to be
prepared. Lard Selkirk would only
rest bang enough at Fort William to
take possession of everything worth
psossessing, in the mane of the law—
for was he not a justice of the peace?
—and in the name of the law would
he move with like intent against Fort
Douglas. To the earls credit, be it
- ll, sir," I remarked one night to
Frances Sutherland's father, referring
to the soldiers.
Following has •daughter's .directions
I
had been coming very early, also
very ,often, with the objeot of accus-
toming the dour Scotohntan to any
staying late; and he had softened en-
ough . towairds me to take part do oc-
casional argument.
"Don't believe 'they intend doing a
thing, sir," I reiterated.
Pushing his spectacles up an his
forehead, he closed the book of ser-
mons, .which he had been reading, and
,puckered his brows as if he were com-
promising a hard point with con-
science, which, indeed, I afterwards
knew, was exactly what he had !been
doing,
"Aye," said he, `aye,' .aye, young
man. But frit thinking ye'1l no :do y'r
company any harm by speerin' after
the designs o' dightin' men who make
ladders."
'Ohl" I cried, all alert for informa-
tion. "Hese they been making lad-
ders?"
He pulled the speotecles down on
his nose and .deliberately reopened
the book of sermons.
'Of that, I canna say," he replied,
Only ante again did he emerge
from his readings, S had risen to go,.
Frances usually accompanied me to
the outer door, where 3 tied my snow-
shoes and took a farewell unobserved
by the father; but when I.ope•ned the
door, such a blast of wind and .snow
drove in, I instantly clapped it shut
again and began tying the racgtrets
on inside.
'0 Rufus!" ,exclaimed Frances,
'you can't go back to Fort Douglas
an that .storm!" - -
Then we both noticed 'for the first
time that a hurricane of wind was
rocking the little house to its founda-
tions.
"Did that spring up all of •a sud-
den?" I cried. "I never saw a blizzard
do that before."
"I'm afraid, Rufus, we were not no-
ticing."
"No, we were otherwise interested,"
said I, innocently enough; but she
laughed.
"Yeti can't go," she declared.
"The wind will be on my back," I
assured her. "I'll be all right," and 1
dent an lacing the snow -shoe thongs
about niy ankle.
The book of sermons shut with a
snap and the father turned towards
us.
"Let no one say any man left the
Sutherland hearth on such a night!
Put by those senseless things," and he
pointed to •the snow -shoes.
"But those ladders," I interposed.
'Let no one say when the enemy
came Rufus Gillespie was absent from
his citadel!"
The wind roared round the house
earners like a storm at sea; and the
father looked down at me with a
strange, quizzical expression.
"Ye're a headstrong young man,
Rufus Gillespie," said the hard -set
Mouth. "Ye ntatan knock a hole in the
head, or the wall! Will ye go?"
"Knock the hole in the wall," I
laughed back. "Of course I go."
"Then, tak' the dogs," said he, with
a sparkle of kindliness iii, the cold
eyes. So it came that 1 set out in the
Sutherlands' dog -sled with a supply
of robes to defy 'biting frost.
And I needed them every one. Old
settlers describing winter storms have
been accused of an imagination as ex-
pansive as the prairie; but I affirm
no man could exaggerate the fury of
a blizzard on the unbroken prairie.
To one thing only may it be likened
—a hurricane at sea. People in lands
boxed off at short compass by moun-
tain ridges forget with what violence
a wind sweeping half a continent can
disport itself. In the boisterous roar
of the gale, my shouts to the , dogs
were a feeble whisper caught front
lips and lost in the shreiking wind.
The fine snowy particles were a pow-
dered tee that drove through sears
of clothing and crit one's skin like a
whip lash. Without the fringe of
woods along the river bank to guide
me, it would have been madness to
set out by day, and worse than mad-
ness to set out by night; but f kept
the dogs close to the woods. The
trees -broke the wind 'and prevented
nae losing all sense of 'direction in the
tornadowhirl 'of open prairie, Not
enough snow had fallen on the hard -
crusted drifted to impede the dogs,
They scarcely sank and with .the
wind on their backs, dashed ahead till
the weeds were passed and we were
on the hare ;plains. No light could be
seen through the storm, but 'I knew I
was within a short distance of the
fort gate and wheeled the dogs to-
ward the river (fiats en the left. The
creatures seemed, to scent human
presence, They leaped forward and
brought the sleigh .against the wall
with a knock that routed the out.
"Gond fellows;" I cried, springing
up, uncertain where •I was.
The hit skies crouched .around any
feet almost tripping me and I felt
through the snowy darkness against
the stockades, stake by stake.
Ahl There was a post! Here were
close -fitted 'boards -here, iron -lining— priest.
- his must be the gate; but where was
'he lantern that diung'behind? A .gust
of .wind nti,ght have extinguished the
light; so I 'drubbed loudly on the
gate and shouted to the sentry, who
should havebeen inside.
The wind lulled for a moment and
up burst wild shouting from the
courtyard intermingled with the jeers
of Frenchmen and cries of terror
from ,our people. Then I knew jud'g-
meet :heti -conte for the deeds at Seven
Oaks. The gale broke again with a
hissing of serpents, or red irons, and
howling wind rose in shrill, 'angry
bursts. Hugging the wall, while ,the.
dogs whined behind, I ran towards
the rear. Men jostled through- the
snowy dark, and I was among the De
Meurons. They were too 'busy scaling
the stockade on the ladders of Which
I had heard to notice an intender,
Taking advantage of the storm, I
mounted' a ladder, vaulted over the
pickets and alighted in the courtyard.
Here all was noise, "flight, ,pursuit and
oonfusioe. I made for the main hall,
where valuable papers ;were ,kept, and
at the door, cannoned against one of
our men, who shreuked with fright
and .begged for mercy.
"Cowardl" said S, ,giving °hint a cuff.
"What has happened?"
"Hark!"
The DeMeuroivs' leaders were
shouting orders to their mein. Above
the screams of people fleeing in terror
through passage -ways, came .a shrill
bugle -call. ,
"Go—go—go—Rufus!" begged Fa-
ther Holland in a paroxysm. of fear.
"Got" lie°'pleaded, pushing me towards
the door.
"I won't!" .and l jerked away from
him, "There, snow," Icaught op :aclub
and loaded pistol.
The 'Nor'-Wester's had no time to
defend themselves. Almost before my
s'tulbbarn defiance was nattered, the
building was filled with a snob of in-
toxicated De Meurons. Rushing ev-
erywh'ere with fixed 'bayonets and
cursing at the top el their voices,
they threatened death Po all Nor'-
Westers. There was a loud scuffling
sof men forcing their way through the
defended hall downstairs.
'Go,. Rufus, got Think of Frances!
Save yourself," tinged the priest.
It was tem late. I 'could not escape
by the hall. Noisy feet were already
trampling up the stairs and the alank
of armed sten filled every passage.
e lJ'ee-ales-peel Tee -Teepee! Seven
Oaks!" bawled a Free'ch voice from
the half -sway daatdeng, and a multitude
of teen with torches dashed up the
stairs. I book a stand to defend any -
.self; forIthought I might be charg-
ed with implication in the massacre,
'""Jeeles-jpee," roared the voices.
'Where is 'Gillespie?" 'thatndered :a
leader,
"That's you, Rufus, lad! Down
with you!" muttered the priest. Be-
fore I knew ]tis purpose, he bad
tripped my feet front under me and
knocked me flat on the dloor. Over-
turning the empty coffin -box , he
clapped it above eny whole length,
imprisoning me with the snap and
celerity of a mouse -trap. Then I heard
the thud 'of two hundred avoirdupois
seating itself on top of the case. The
man above my person had whisked
out a book of prayers, and with lan-
tern an the desk was conning over
devotions, which, I am sure, must
have been read with the manual up-
side down; for 'bits of the pater nes-
ter, service of the mass, and vesper
psalms were tittered in a disconnect-
ed jumble, though I could not but ap-
ply the words to my own case,
"Libera mos— " came from. the
priest with torrent speed.
"Jee-les-pee! jee-lespee!" roared
a dozen 'throats above the half -way
landing. Then carte the stamp of
many feet to the door.
"Wait, men l" Hamilton's voice
commanded. "I'll see if he's here!"
"Simtilacra gentium— " like hail-
stones rattled the Latin words down
on any prison.
"One moment, men," came Erc's
voice; but he could not hold then
back. In ;burst the door with a rush,
and immediately the room was crowd-
ed with vociferating French soldiers.
"Manus habent— "
"Is Gillespie here?" interrupted Ha-
milton, without the slightest recogni-
tion of the priest in his tones.
"Pedes habent— "muttered the
priest, finishing his verse; then to the
men with a stiffness which .I did not
think Father Holland could ever as-
sume—
"How often must I be disturbed
by men seeking that young scound-
rel? Look at this place, fairly .topsy-
turvy with their hunt! Faith! The
roans is before you. Look and see!"
and with a great indifference went on
with his devotions.
"Sonne one here before us?" inter-
rupted an Englishman with some sus-
picion.
"Two parties here 'before ye," an-
swered the priest, icily, as these re-
peated questions rumpled ecclesiasti-
cal dignity, and he gabbled on with
the psalm, similes Dais— "
"If ye lift that box," answered
Father Holland with massive solemn-
ity—and I confess every hair on my
body bristled as he rose—"I•i ye lift
that box there might '6e a powr-dead
—body-," which was very thee; for I
still held the cocked pistol in hand
and would have shot the first man
,daring to molest me.
But the priest's indifference was not
so great as it appeared. I could tell
from a tremor in his voice that he
was greatly disturbed; and he certain-
ly lost his place altogether in the ves-
per psalm.
"Requiescat in pace," were his meat
wards, uttered in funereal gravity.
Singularly enough, -they seemed to fit
the situation.
Father Holland's prompt offer to
have the rough box examined satis-
fied the searchers, and there' were an
further demands,
'10h," said the 'Englishnt.an, taken
aback, "I beg your pardon, sirs No
offence meant,"
"No offence," replied the .priest, re -
seating himself. "Ben.edicite—"
"Sittan' an the coffin!" blurted out
the voice of 'an English youth as the
weight of the priest again came down
heavily on nay prison; and again I
breathed easily..
"Conte on, men!" 'shouted Hamil-
A Aare fell .on us both, and he re
oagnized tae.
'Tine De Meurons!" he gasped.
"The De Meuronsl"
I left hint bawling out his fear and
rushed inside.
"\7rhat has happened?" I asked,
tripping up a clerk who was flying
through the hallway.
"The De Meuransl" he gasped.
"The De Meurons!"
"Stop!" I commanded, grasping the
lap of his coat. "What—has—hap-
pened,
"The De Meuronsi" This was fair-
ly screamed.
I shook hint 1111 he sputtered more.
"They've captured the fort—our
people didn't want to shed blood—"
'And threw down their guns," 1
interjected, disgusted beyond word.
"Threw down their guns," he re-
peated, as though that were a praise-
worthyy action. "The s -s -sentinels
—saw the court—full—full—full of s-
soldiers1
"Full of soldiers!" I thundered,
"There are not a hundred in the
gang."
Thereupon 1 gave the caitiff a toss
that sent ,him reeling against the wall,
and dashed up -stairs for the papers.
All was darkness, and 1 nigh broke
my neck over a coffin -shaped rough
box made for one of the trappers
who had died in the fort. Why w•as
the thing lying there, anyway? The
man should have been put into it and
buried at once without any drinking
bout, I reflected with some sharp-
ness; as I rubbed my bruised shins
and shoved the box aside. Shouts rang
up from the courtyard. Heavy feet
trampled in the hall below. Hamilton,
as a Hudson's 'Bay man, and Father
Holland, I knew, were perfectly safe,
But I was far from safe, Why were
they not there to help Inc, I wond-
ered, with the sort of rage we all ,vent
on our friends when we are concerned
and they at ease. I fumbled across the
apartment, found the right desk,
pried the drawer open with any knife,
and was in the very act of seizing the
documents when 1 saw my awn sha-
dow on the lfloor. Lantern •light burst
with a glare through the gloom of the
doorway.
CHAPTER XXVI
Behind the lantern was a face with
terrified eyes and gaping mouth, 'It
was the priest, bis genial countenance
a very picture of fear.
"What's wrong, Father?" I asked.
"You needn't be alarmed; you're all
right."
"But I am alarmed, for you're all
wrong! Lord, boy, why didn't ye stay
with that peppery Scotchanaat? What
did Frances mane by lettin' you out
to -night?" and he shaded the light of
the lantern with his hand.
"1 wanted these 'things," I explain-
ed.
"Ye want a broad thuntpin,' I'm
thinkin', ye rattle -pate, to risk y'r pre-
cious noodle here to -night," 'he whisp-
ered, conning forward'.
"Listen," said I. "The whole mob's
coating int"
"Go!" he urged, pushing me from
the desk over which I still fumbled.
Run for those .dogs of mercenar-
ies!" I protested,
"Ye swas'h-buckler! Ye stiff-necked
braggart!" 'bawled the priest. "Out
wid y'r nonsense, and what good are
y' thinkin' ye'll cin—? Stir your
stumps, y' stoopid spalpeenl"
"Listen," I urged, undisturbed by
the tongue-thrasliing that stormed
about my cars. In the babel of vokce
I thought I had heard some one call
my name.
"Run, Rufus! Run for y'r dale,
hay!" :urged Father Holland, appar-
ently thinking the ruffians had come
solely for me,
"Run yourself; run yourself, and see
how you like it" and .I tu'c.ked the
documents inside my coat,
"Divil a 'bit" I'I'I run," rettirnecl the
PROFESSIONAL CARDS
Medical
SEAFORTH CLINIC
Dr, E, A. McMaster, M.B, Gradu-
ate of 'University of 'Toronto,
J. D, Colquhoun, M.D., C.M„ Grad-
uate of 'Dalhousie. University, Halifax,
The Clinic is fully 'equfppped', with
complete .and modern x-ray and other
up-to-date diagnostic and .thereuptic .
equipanant,
Dr. Margaret K. Campbell, M,D.,
L.A,B,P,, Specialist In Diseases in
Infants and Children, will be at the •
Clinic 'last Thursday in every month
froti 3' to '6 p.m.
Dr, F. J. R. Forster, Specialist in
Diseases of the Ear, Eye, Nose and
Throat, will be at the Clinic the first
Tuesday' in every month from 4 ,to
6 p.m.
Free welhbaby clinic will he held
on the second and last Thursday in
every month from 1 to a pan.
W. C. S'PROAT, ,M:D., F.AC.S.
Surgery
Phone 90-W. Office John St., Seaforth
DR. H. HUGH ROSS, Physician
and Surgeon Late of London Hos-
pital, 'London, England. Special at-
tention to diseases of the eye, ear,
nose and throat, Office and residence
behind Dominion Banka Office Phone
No. 5; Residence Phone 104.
DR. F. J. R. FORSTER— Eye
Ear, Nose and Throat. Graduate in
Medicine, University of Toronto 1897.
Late Assistant New York Ophthal-
mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's
Eye, and Golden Square throat hospi-
tals, London. At Commercial Hotel,
Seaforth, third Wednesday in each
month from 1,30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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
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Sales Solicited, Terms on' Application,
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property, R. R. No, 4, Mitchell.
Phone 634 r 6. Apply at this office.
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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.
TIIE McKJLLOP .�.
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HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont.
OFFICERS
President, Thomas Moylan, Sea -
forth; Vice President, Wiliam Knox,
Londesforo; Secretary Treasurer, M
A. Reid, Seaforth.
AGENTS
F. McKercher, R.R.d, Dublin; John
E. Pepper, 12,12.1, Brucefield; E. R. G.
Jarmouth, Brodhagen; James Watt,
Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine;
Wm. Yeo, Holmesville.
DIRECTORS
Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth No. 3;.
James Sholdice, Walton; Wm. Knox,
Londesboro; George Leonhardt,
Bornholm No. 1; Frank McGregor,
Clinton No. 5; James Connolly, God-
erich; Alex McEwing, Blyth No, 1;
Thomas. Moylan, Seaforth No. 5;
Wnt, 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 -
offices.
caping by the ;basement ,windawl"
'4Jant hiems transift, sober abiit et
recessit; surge, arnica mea, et venil"
clraned the priest, and the whole com-
pany clattered downstairs.
"Quick! — Oat with you!" com-
manded Father! 'Holland. ",Speed to
y'r heels, and 'blessing .on the last o'
yeln
I clashed down the -stairs and ,was
bolting 'through the doorway when
some shouted, "There he asl"
(To be continued,)
The city, girl had !just returned
from a two weeks' visit to the
country.
A friend said to 'her, "'Did you see
theist milk the cow?"
ton, apprehensive of more curiosity. No, replied fine girl, doubtfully;
i1We're wasting time! He may be es "but I saw them arnntilk one!"