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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1938-09-08, Page 14PAGE SIX. THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, 'SEPTEMBER 8, 1938 Bois Brules - "She may not he there! She may be this woman's torn shawl appdared elrownh' whispered Donis, "but we reddish in the .fire glow. creep on, quiet like hare, no noise like 'Let's go !boldly up and offer to deer, stiller than mountain cat, hist— buy the slaves," 'I suggested; but what that?" Louis' grip tightened forbiddingly The night 'breeze set the leaves all and Little 'Fellow's forefinger pointed atrenvble--,elapp'ing their hands, as the 'towards a big creature, who was or- Indians call it --and a whiff of burn- dering the others about. "Twas a wo- ing .bark tainted the air. ratan ,of giant, bronzed ,form, with the '"That's it," said I under any 'breath, bold stride 'of a conquering warrior The smoke was blowing from and a trophy -decked ]belt about ,her wooded flats between us and the riv- waist. The fire shone against her giv- er. Cautiously parting interlaced dle 'and the stones in the leather strap branches and as careful! replacing glowed !back !blood -red, Father Hol - each 'bough to ;prevent backward Rand breathed only one word in my snap, we turned down the sloping ear, "Agates;" and the fire of the red bank. I suppose necessity's training stones 'flashed like some mystic flame in the wilds must produce the same through my' being till brain and heart result in man and beast; and from were hot with vengeance and my that 'fact, faddists of the various ''oso- hands burned as if every nerve from phies" and "alogies" may draw what palm to finger-tips were a blade point conclusions they please; but I affirm reaching out to destroy that creature that no panther could creep on its of cruelty. prey with more stealth, caution and "Dia'ble's squaw, I gasped out, 'be - cunning than the trapper and Indian side myself with anger and joy. "Let on the enemy's camp. I have seen wild one but within arm's length of her—" creatures approaching a foe set each foot down with noiseless tread; but I -Hold quiet" the priest hissed low have never seen such a combination of and angry, gripping my shoulder like instincts, 'brute and human, as ,Louis a steel winch. "'Vengeance is mine,' and Little Fellow displayed. The In- said the Lord! See that you save the dian felt the ,ground for tracks and white woman! Leave the evil -doer to pitfalls and sticks, that might crackle. God! The Lord's with us, but I tell Louis, with hit whole face pricked youdon't you bungle!" forward, trusted more to his eyes and rBungle!" I could have shouted out ears and that sense of "feel" which is defiance to the whale :band, 'Let go!" —contradictory as it may seem—ut- terly I ordered, trying to struggle up; fm --contradictory intangible. Once the Indian pick- the iron hand still held me ."Let go, ed up a stick freshly broken. This or I'll—" was examined by 'both, and the In- But Louis Laplante's palm was dian smelt it and tried his tongue on forcibly slapped across my mouth and the broken edge. Then both fell on all his other hand he laid significantly on fours, creeping under the 'branches of his dagger, giving me one threatening the thicket and pausing at every look. By the fire light I saw his lips NM. mechanically counting the numbers of "Would that I had taken lessons in the enemy and mechanically I audited forest lore before I went among the his count, Sioux," I thought to .myself. •Now I `Twenty men, thirty squaws and knew what had been incomprehensi- the slaves," said he tinder his ,breath. While a rising wind set the 'branch- ble before—why all my well -laid plans An Indian left the fire and ap- es overhead grating noisily, he had had been detected. proached the captives. risen and darted away, Louis La - A wind rustled through the foliage. "See! Watch! Is that woman Miri- plante, contrary to the priest's orders, That was in our favor; for in spite of am?" demanded the priest. "She'll also rose and disappeared in the our care the leaves crushed and crink- take her hands from her face now." woods. Little Fellow still lay by me, led beneath us. At intervals a glim- "'Of .course it isl' I was furious at but I could not rely on him for intel'li- mer of light shone from the beach. the restraint and hesitancy; 'but as I gent action, and there came over the Louis paused and listened so intently said before, the experienced intriguer that sense of aloneness in danger, our breathing was distinctly audible. proceeds as warily as a cat. which I knew so well in the Mandane A vague murmur of low voices—like "You not cure—not for sure—no," country. The child's slightest cry the "talking of the trees" in Little muttered Laplante; and he was right. might alarm the camp, and I shiver - Fellow's language—floated up from With the forest shadows across the ed when he ,breathed heavily, or turn - the river; and in the moonlight I saw captives, it was impossible to dis- ed in his sleep. The Indians might Laplante laugh noi•ele,sly. Trees tmguish the color of their faces. miss the boy and searoh the woods. stood farther apart on the flats and Taking a knife from his belt, the Instinctively my hand was on my pis - brushwood gave place to a forest of Indian cut the cords of all but the wo- .tol. It was well to' be as near Miriam's ferns, that concealed us in their deep man with her hands across her face. A tent as possible; and I, too, took ad foliage; but the thick growth also hid girl brought refuse of food; ,but this vantage of the wind to change my the enemy, and ,we knew not at what woman took no notice, never moving place. I moved 'back, signalling the moment we might emerge in hull view her hands. Thereupon the young Indian to follow, and skirted round of the camp. So we stretched out fiat. squaw sneered and the Indian idlers the open till I was directly opposite spying through the fern stalks before jeered loud in harsh, strident la-ughter. Miriam's wigwam, Why had Louis we parted the stents to draw ourselves This roused the big squaw. She strode gone off, and why did he not come on a single pace, Presently. the mur- nip. Little Fellow all the while with back? Had he gone to keep secret mur separated into distinct voices, glistening teeth following her oto- guard over the priest, or to decoy the with much low laughing and the bitter mons as a cat's head turns to a mouse. vigilant Sioux woman? In his inten- jeers that make up Indian mirth. We with the flat of her hand she struck tions I had confidence enough, but not could hear the crackling of the fire, the silent woman, who leaped up and in his judgment. At that moment my and wormed forward like caterpillars. ran to a wigwam. In speechless fear, speculations were interrupted by a There was a glare of light through the child ,had scrambled to its feet and loud shout from the beach. Every In - the ferns, and Louis stopped, We all backed away from the angry group dian in camp started up as if hostiles three pulled abreast of him, tLying towards the ferns; 'but the light was had tittered their war -cry. there as a cat watches a mouse, we 'fitful and shadowy, and we could .rec-' "Hallo, there! Hallo! there!" called parted first one and then another of ognize neither woman, nor child, the priest. Indians dashed to the the fronds till the Indian encampment "I can't stand this any longer," I river, while bedraggled squaws and could be .clearly seen. declared. "I must know if that's Miri- naked children rushed from wigwams "Is that the tribe?" I whispered! am. Let's draw closer." and stood in clamorous groups be - but Louis gripped my arm in a vice Father Holland. and I crawled steal- tween the lodges and the water. The that forbade speech, thily to the very border of fern topmost 'branches of the trees swayed The camp was not a 'hundred feet growth, Louis and the Indian lying back and forward in the wind, ahem - away. Fire blazed in the •centre. Poles still and muttering over some action, ately throwingshafts of moonlight were up for wigwams, and already Hist," said the priest, "We'll try and shadows across the opening of skins had )been overlaid, completing the child." Miriam's wigwam. When the light several lodges. Men lay in lazy atti- Unlike naked Indian children, the ;flooded the tent a solitary, white-faced tudes about the fire. Squaws were little thing had a loose garment .band- forst appeared in dark, sharp outline, taking what was left of the evening .ed about its waist; but its feet were The 'bare arms were tied at the meal and slave -women were putting 'bare and its hair as raven 'black as wrists, and ,beat aimlessly through the things to rights for the night. Sitting that of any young savage. It stood darkness. .And there was a sound of apart, with hands tied, were other like some woodland elf in the maze of piteous weeping. slaves, chidfly young women taken in heavy sleepiness, at each harsh word Should 1 make the final, desperate some recent fray and not yet trusted from the camp, sidling shyly closer dash now "Don't ,bungle . His lans" unbound, Among these was one ,bet- to our hiding -place, We drap ggecl For- came the priest's warning; and �I ter •clad than the others. Her wrists ward till I could have touched the waiter!. The squaws were very near; were tied; but her hands managed to child, abut feared to startle it. and the angular figure of Diable's conceal her face, which was ,!towed Putting his hand out slowly, Fa- wife hung on the rear of the low. In ,her lap was a sleeping.child. then Holland caught the little crea-gr cup,. Shc was .scolding like a termagant. in Was this Miriam? Children were with tures arm. It gave a start, jerked the Sioux tongue, ordering the other the other captives; but to my eyes back and looked.. in mute wonderment women to the fray; but still she kept at our strange hiding place. Pretty boy," crooned the .priest in low, •coaxing tones, gently tightening his hold;, "'Is it white?" I whispered, "1 can't_ See." "Good • little man," he went ,qua, slowly folding his hands about it. Drawing quickly hack, die lifted the child completely into his arms, • "Is boy sleepy?" he asked, "Call him 'Eric," I lunged. • "I•s Eric sleepy?" The, child's head •fell wearily against the priest's shoulder. 'Snuggling clos- er, he lisped back in 'perfect English "'Eric tired." At once once Father Holland's free hand caught my arm as if he feared I might rush out. For a moment neither of us spoke. • " Then he said, 'Give pie your coat, I ripped off my buoks'kin smook. Wrapping the sleeping boy about, the priest' laid him gently among the ferns. "Where's the mother?" asked Fath- er Holland with a catching intake of breath. I pointed to the wigwam, The big. squaw had come out, leaving Miriam alone and was engaged in noisy tis Mute with the men, Louis .and 'Littl Fellow had now wriggled abreast F US. "Ha, ha, mon !brave—your time, i come note! You .save the white wo man! I pay my devoirs to the lady, ha ha—I owe her much—I pay you both book• with one stroke, 'one grand stroke. Little Fellow, he watch for spring surprise and .help .us ;both! Swoop—snitch—snatch—snap her up! Tis done-tra-la!" and Louis drew up for all the world dike a tiger about to spring, 'but` the priest drew him down. "Listen," commanded the church- man, in the slow, tense way of one who intended to be obeyed, "I'll go back and come up by the 'beach. I'll :brow -'beat them and tongue-whackthem for having slaves. They'll offer to fight; so'il I. They'll all run down; that's your chance, Wait till they all go. I'll make them, every one. That's your chance. You rush! Try that! I1 it fail, in the name of the Lord, have y'r weapons ready—and the Lord be with usl" "They'll kill you," I protested. "Let me go!" "You? What about Frances?" "Pahl" said Louis. "I go myself— I trick—I trap—I snare "Hush to ye, ye braggart," inter- rupted the priest. "Gillespie is a !flab- by as dough from an illness. 'Tis Isere you sit quiet, and help with Miriam as' ye'd save y'r soul! Howld down with y'r bouncing nonsense, lac!, and the saints be with ye; for it's a fight there'll be, and there is the fightin' stuff of a soldier in ye! Never turn to me—mind ye never turn to help me, or the curse of the fool nbe on y'r head —and the Lord he 'with us!" "Amen." But 1 snake in vacancy. e of back, looking over her shoulder sats- piciously at Miriam's .tent, uncertain whether to go or stay,, We had failed in every other attempt to rescue iam. If the Lard5asthe priest. 'be- lieved—had planned the sufferer's aid,. His instruments 'had !blundered bad- ly. There must be no more feeble - fingering. "Thieves iThieves! T neves 1 Thieves! Cut-+Yltraats!" bawled Father Holland in a storm of abuse. "Ye rascals," he thundered, cutting the air .with Itis stick and pur- posely ,backing away from the camp to draw the Indiansff. 'h: his a Then . a ts voice was lost in a chorus of shrill screams The moonlight 'shone across the wigwam opening. The captive', had heard the 'English tongue, and was listening. But the Sioux squaw bad also heard and recognized the voice df a former prisoner. She Fan forward a pace, then hesitated, locking back doubtfully. As she turned her head, out from the gloom .of the thicket with the leap of a lynx, 'lithe and swift, .sprang the crouching form of Louis Laplante, II felt Little Fellow a1Yl• in a tremor thy 'my side; the tremor not of fear, but ,of the ,couch- ant panther; and he uttered the most vicious snarl I have ever heard from human throat. 'Louis alighted' neatly and noiselessly, directly behind the Sioux woman, She must have felt his presence, for she turned round and round expectantly. Louis, silent and elusive as a shadow, circled about her, tripping from side to side as she turned her head. ,But the ,fire 'betrayed him..'She had wheeled towards the forest as if .spying for the unseen pre- sence annpng the foliage, and ,Louis deftly dodged behind, The move put him between the fire and his antago- nist, and the full profile of his queer, bending •figure was shadowed clear past the woman. She turned like some vengeful, malign goddess, and I thought it all a'p with with the daring trapper; but he doffed his red toque and swept the advancing fury the low bow of a French courtier. Then he drew himself erect and' laughed insol- ently in the woman's face. His care- less assurance allayed her suspicions. 40h, 'tis you!" she growled. "'Tis :I, •fleet -foot, winged messen- ger, hutitb'le slave," laughed Louis, with another grotesque bow; but the rogue had cleverly put himself be- tween the squaw and 'Miriam's tent. I should have rushed to Miriam's rescue long since, instead of watching this •by-play (between trapper and mountain cat; but as the foray waxed hotter with the priest, the young braves had run back to their tents for guns and clubs, "Stand off, ye scoundrels," roai-ed the priest, in tones of genuine anger; for the Indians were closing threaten- ingly about him. "Stand back, ye knaves, ye sons of Satan," and every soul but Louis Laplante and the Si- oux squaw ran with querulous shouts to the river. "Cruel! Cruel! Cruel!" sobbed a voice from the wigwam; and there was a straining to break the thongs which bound' her. "Cruel! Cruel! Hast Thou no pity? 0 my God! Hast Thou no pity? Shall a not a sparrow fall to the ground without Thy knowledge? Is this Thy pity? 0 my God!" The voice broke in a torrent of heart -piercing cries. I could endure it no !longer. "Have at ye, ye villianisl Come out like men! NOW, me bhoyss, show the stuff that's in ye! A fig for y'r valor if ye fail! The curse o' the Lord on the coward heart! Back with ye, ye red divils! Out with ye, Rufus! The Lord shall deliver the. captive! What, 'an wuld ye stare strike a servant o' the Lord? 'Let the deliverer appear, I say," he shouted, weaving in con: stands to us as he dealt stout blows about him and receded down the river bank. 'Take that—and that—and that," I heard him shout, with a rat - rat -too of sharp thuds front the staff accompanying each word. Then I knew the quarrel on the beach was at its height; and Louis Laplante was still foiling 4te Sioux's approach to Miriam's wigwam like a deft fencer. "Follow, nue, Little Fellow," I com- manded. "Have your knife • ready,' and I had not finished speaking when three shrill whistles came from Louis. 'Twas his old-time signal of danger. Above the hub -bub at the river the Sioux squaw was screaming to the braves, Bounding from concealment, I tore off the layer roofing of the wigwam, plunged through the tapering pole frame, shaking the frail lean-to like a house of cards, and was 'beside Mir- iam. Again I heard Louis' whistle and again the squaw's angry scream; but. Little Fellow had followed on my heels and stood with 'knife -blade Blit- tering 'bare at the tent -entrance, "Hush," I whispered, slashing my dagger through the thongs around her hands and cutting the rope that held her to he •central stake, ''`We've: found you at last. Gomel Corel" and I caught her up. '"0 my God!" she cried. "At last! At last! Where is the child? They 1ta.ve taken little Eric!" "'We .have hint safe! His father is, waiting! 'Don't hesitate, 'Miriam!" "Rum, Little :Fellow," I ordered, "Across the camp, Get the child," and b sprang front the wigwam,', which crashed to the ground 'behind rite, I had thoeight to save skirting the woods by a ram across the camp- in'g-'ground; 'bit when my • Indian dashed r for the child and the Sian! saw rine undefended with the white woman in my arms, she nmade a des- perate, Lunge at !Laplante and called at the top of her voice for the braves. Louis, with weapons in hand, still kept between the fury and Miriam; but I think his French chivalry must have been restraining him, Thau!gh the Sioux offered hint many oppor- tunities and was doing her best to sheathe a knife in his heart, he seem- ed to refrain from using either dag- ger or pistol.. An insolent laugh was on his Mace, 'The life -and -death game'. which he was playing was to his •dar ,in.g spirit something novel and, amusing,_ "The lady is—perturbed," he laugh- ed, dodging a thrust at his neck; "She fences wide, tra-4a," this as the barrel of his pistol parried a drive of her knife; "she hits afar ho—ho—not`so fast, my fury—not so furious, my fair, —zipp, ha-aha-ha—another, miss— another miss—the ,lady's a -miss," for the squaw's weapon struck .fire against his 'own. °Leak out for the braves, havea care," I shouted; for a dozen young bucks were running up 'behind to the woman's aid. "Ha-ha—,prenez garde—my tiger- cat has 'kittens," he laughed; and he looked over his shoulder. That lbaCkward look gave, the fury her opportunity. I.n the 'firelight blue steel flashed bright. The Frenchman reeled, threw up his arms, and fell. One sharp, deep, broken draw of, breath, and with a laugh on his lips, Louis Laplante died as he had lived. Then the 'tiger -cat leaped over the dead form at Miriam and me. What happened next I can no mare set down consecutively than I can distinguish the parts in a confused picture with a red -eyed fury striking at pie, naked Indians brandishing war -clubs, flashes of powder smoke, a circle of gesticulating, screeching dark faces in the 'background; my In- dian fighting like a very fiend, and a pale -faced woman with a little curly= headed boy .at' her feet standing against the woods. "Run, Monsieur; I keep bad In- dians off," urged Little Fellow. "Run —save white squaw and papoose— run, Monsieur." Now, whatever may be said to the, contrary, however brave two men may be, they cannot stand off a horde of armed savages. I let go my whole pistol -charge, which sent the red de- utons to a distance and intended dash- ing for the woods, when the Sioux woman put her hand in her ,pocket and hurled a ,flint head at Little Fel- low. The brave Indian sprang aside and the 'thing fell to the ground. With it fell a crumpled sheet of paper. I heard rather than saw Little Fellow's crouching leap, Two' forms rolled over and over in the camp ashes; and with Miriam on nmyshoulder and the child under the other arm, I had dashed into the thicket of the upper ground. Overhead tossed the trees' in a swelling wind, and up from the shore rushed the din of wrangling tongues. screaming and swearing in a clamor of savage wrath, The wind grew more boisterous as I ran. Behind the In- dian cries died faintly away; ,but still, with a strength not my own, always keeping the river in view, and often mistaking the pointed 'branches, which tore clothing and flesh from head to feet, for the hands of enemies —I filed as if wolves had been pursuing. Again and again sobbed Miriam— "10, my God! At last! At last! Thanks he. to Got!! At last! At last!" We were on a hillock above our camp, Putting Miriam down, I gave. her my hand and carried the child. When I related our long, futile search. and told her that Eric was waiting, agitation overcame her, and I said no more till we were within a few feet. of the 'tents, 'Please wait" I left her a short distance from 'the .camp that I might go and forewarn Eric. Frances Sutherland met nue in the way and read the news which I could not speak. "Have you—oh—have you?" she asked, "Who is that?" and she point- ed to the child in my arms. 'Where's Hamilton? Where's your father?' I demanded, trembling from exhaustion and all undone. "Mr..Hamilton is in his tent prim- ing a gun. Father is watching the river..And oh, Rufus! is it really so?" she cried, catching sight of Miriant's. stooped, ragged figure, Then she dart- ed past me. Both her arms encircled Yliriam, and the two 'began weeping on each other's shoulders after the fashion of women. • I heard a •cough• inside Hamilton's tent, 'Going forward, I lifted the can- iras flap and found Eric sitting gloom - PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical SEAFORTH CLINIC Dr. E. A. McMaster, M,B,, G'radu-• ate of 'University of Toronto, .• J. D. Colquhoun, M.D., C.M., !Grad_, nate of Dalhousie University, 'Halifax. The Clinic is fully equipped with, complete and modern x-ray and other up-to-date diagnostic .and thereuptic equipment. Dr. Margaret; K. Canspbeli, M.D,,. LAB.P, Specialist st In Diseases in Infants and Children, will he .at the Clinic last Thursday in every month foam 31. 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 welPbaby clinic will 'be iheld. on the second and last Tharsday int every month from 1 to C p.m. W. C. SPROAT; IM.D., Surgery Phone •90-W,'Office John St., Seaforth• DR. H. HUGH ROSS, Physician and Surgeon Late of. London Hoe- pital, London, 'England. Special at- tention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Office and Residence behind Dominion Bank, Office Phone' No, 5; Residence Phone 104. DR. F. J. R. FORSTE'R—Eye Ear, Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto 11997. Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural :Institute, Moore'field'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 F. W. AHRENS, Licensed Audtiot eer for Perth and Huron Counties. SalesSolicited, Terms on Application. Farm Stock, chattels and red! estate property. R. R. No. 4, 'Mitchell, Phone 634 r 6. Apply at this office. WATSON & REID REO.L ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successdrs to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in 'First -Class Companies. THE McKILLOP Tutu al Fire Insurance Co HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont. OFFICERS President, Thomas Moylan, Sea - forth; Vice President, William Knox, Londesboro; Secretary Treasurer, M A. Reid, Seaforth, Alli•ENTS F. Mal(eroher, R.R.11, Dublin; John E. Pepper, R.R.1, Brucefieid; E. R. G. ilarmouth, Brodhagen; James Watt, Blyth; C. P. Hewitt, Kincardine; Wm, Yeo, Holmesville. DIRECTORS Alex, Broadfoot, ,Seaforth No. 3; James S'holdice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Landes 'boro; George Leon hardt,' 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, ily on a ,pile of robes. "Eric," I cried, in as steady a voice as I could command, which, indeed, was shaking sadly, and I bold the child back that Hamilton might not see, "Eric, old man, I think. at last we've nun the 'knaves down. ' "Hullo!" he exclaimed with a start, not. knowing what I had said. "Are you stein 'back? Did you find out anything?" "Why—yes," said I: 'we found this," and. I signalled Frances to bring Miriam, This was no way to 'prepare a man for a shock that might •unhinge rea- son;'•but my mind had 'become a vac- uum and the warns breath of the child nestling about my ,neck ,brought a mist 'before my eyes. "What did you say you had (Concluded oil next page)