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The Seaforth News, 1938-07-14, Page 6PAGE SIX. THE SEAFORTH NEWS MIITYRSDAY, JULY 14, 1938 Bois Brules "Ho -hal My knight-errant has op- ened bis eyes! Great sport for the 'braves, say It Fine mouse -play for the at, ho -hof" and .Louis looked down at me with laughing Msolence, that sent a chill through my veins. 'Twas to save his own scalp the rascal was acting and would have me act too; but I had no wish to betray hint. Striking at 'her ceptives and rudely ordering them out, the Sioux led the way and left Louis to bring •ep the rear. 'Leave this, lady," said Louis with an air that might have been impud- ence or gallantry; and he grabbed the bundle from Miriam's hand and threw it •over his shoulder at me. This was greeted with a roar •of laughter from the Sioux woman and one look .of un- speakable reproach from Miriam. Whistling gaily and turning back to wink at rne, the 'Frenchman disap- peared in Diable's lodge, For my ipart, I was puzzled, Did Louis at from the love Of acting and trickery and in- trigue? Was he befooling the daugh- ter of L'Aigle, •or me? They tore down Diable's tepee, stringing the poles on the bronchos stolen from me and leaving .Miriam's white tent with the Sioux. I saw them mount with my horses to the fore, and they set out at a sharp trot, From the hoofsbeats, I should judge they had not gone many paces, When one rider seemed to turn back, and Louis ran into the tent where I lay. I did not utter one word of pleading; but as he stooped for Miriam's bundle, be whisked out a jack-knife and my heart bonnded with a great hope. I suppose, involuntarily, I must 'have lifted my arms to have the bonds severed; for Laplante shook his head. "No—mine frien'—not now—I not scalp Louis Laplante for your sake,— no, never. Use your teeth—so!" said he, laying the blade of the knife in his own teeth to show ale how; and he slipped the thing into hiding under my armpits. ''The warriors —they come back to -day," he warned. "You wait till we are far, then cut quick, or they do worse to you than to La Robe Noire! I leave one horse for you in the valley beyond the beaver -dam. Tra-la, comrade, but not forget you. I pay you beck yet all the same," and with a whistle he va.nished. I hung upon the Frenchman's words as a drowning sailor to a life- line, and heard the hoof -beats grow fainter and fainter in the distance, hardly daring to realize the fearful peril in which I lay. By the light at the tent opening, I knew it was day- break. Already the Sioux were stirring in their lodges and naked urchins came to the entrance to hoot and pelt mud. Somehow, I got into sitting pos- ture, with my head bowed forward on my arms, so I could tase the knife without being seen. At that, the im- pertinent brats 'became 'bolder and swarming into the tent began poking sticks. I held rny arm closer to my side and felt the hard steel's pressure with a pleasure not to be marred by that tantalizing horde. There seemed to be a gathering hubbub outside. In- dians, squaws and .children were rush. ing in the direction of the trad to the Mandanes. The children in my tent !forgot me and dashed out with the rest. I could not doubt the cause of the glamor. This was the morning of the warriors' return; and getting the knife in my teeth, I 'began Sling furi- ously at the rapes whoa nen wrists. Man is not a rodent; but under stress of necessity and with Instruments of his own designing, he can do some- thing to remedy his hunlian helpless- ness, To the din of clamoring voices outside were added the shouts of ap- proaching warriors, the galloping of a multitude 'Of horses and the whining yells of .countless dogs. While all the Sioux were on the outskirts of the encampment, I Might yet escape unobserved, but the re- turning braves were very near. Plat- ting all my strength in my wrists, I burst the half -out bands; and the Test was easy. A slash !of the knife and my feet were free and. I had rolled down !the cliff and was running with !breath - leafy' ,coverts, across noisy creeks; through the wooded valley to the beaver dam. How long, or how ;far, •ran in this desperate, heedless .fashion I do not know. The !branches, tha reached out like the hands of pursu ers, caught and ripped my .clothing t shreds I had been bootless, when started; but my feet were now bar and bleeding A gleam of water flash ed through the green foliage. Thi must be the river, with the beave dam, and to my eager eyes, the street; already appeared muddy and sluggisl as if obstructed. My heart was beat ing with a sensation of painful, burst ing !blows. There was a roaring in m ears, and at every step 1 took, th landscape swans black before me an the trees racing into the ;backgroun staggered on each side like drunket men. Then I knew that I had reache the limit Of nty strength and wit the domed mud -tops of the !beave dam in sight half a mile to the lore, sank •down to rest. The river wa marshy, weed -grown and brown; be I gulped down a drink and felt breath returning and the labored pulse eas ing. Not daring to pause long, I wen forward at a slackened rate, knowing I must .husband my strength to swim or wade across the river. Was .it the apprehension of fear, or the buzzing in my ears, that suggested the faint, far -away .eoho of a clamoring multi- tude? I stopped listened, 'There was no sound but the lapping of water, or rush af wind through the leaves. I went on again at hastened pace, and distinctly down the valley eoho of the Sioux war -whoop. I was pursued. There was no mis- taking that fact, and with a thrill, which I have no hesitancy in confess- ing was the most intense fear I have ever experienced in my life, I brake into a terrified, panic-stricken run. The river grew dark, sluggish and treatherous-looking. By the blood flowing from my feet, Indian scouts could track me for leagues. I looked to the river with the vague hope of running along the water 'bed to throw my pursuers off the trail; but the .wa- ter was deep and I had not strength to swim. The beaver dam was hud- dled close to the clay bank of the far side and on the side, where I ran, the current spread out in a flaggy marsh. Hoping to elude the Sioux, I plunged M and floundered 'blindly forward. But blood trails marked the pond behind and the soft ooze snared my feet. I was now opposite the beaver dam and saw with horror there were branches enough 'floating in mid- stream to entagle the strongest swim- mer. The shouts of my pursuers sounded nearer. They could not have known how close they were upon me, else had they ambushed me in silence atter Indian custom, sheeting only when they sighted their quarry. The river was not tempting for a fagged, breathless swimmer, whose dive must he short and sorry. I had nigh count- ed my earthly course, run,- when T caught sight of a hollow, .ptanky tree - trunk standing high above the bank. I could hear the swiftest runners be- hind splashing through the marsh bed. Now the thick willow -bush screened me, but in a few moments they would be on my very heels. With the super- natural strength of a last desperate effort, I bounded to the empty trunk and like some hounded, treed creature, clambered up inside, digging nay wounded feet into the soft, wet wood - rot and burrowing naked fingers through the punk of the rounded sides till I was twice the height Of a man above the blackened opening at the base. Then a .piece of wood crumbled in my right hand. Daylight broke through the -trunk and I found that 7 had grasped the edge of a rotted knot -thole. Bracing my feet across beneath me like tie beams of mitered scaffolding, I craned .up till my .eye was on a level with the !knot -hole and peered clown through my lofty lookott. Either the ,shouting of the Sioux warriors had ceased, which indicated they had found my tracks and knew they were less .haste over fallen logs, under close upon me, or my shelter shuf. out the, sound Of approaching foes. I. !broke more bark from the hole and gained Tull view of the scene below. A crested savage ran out from the .artgled 1 aliage of ;the, river bank,. saw Ile ,turgid settlings of the rippling marsh, where I had ibeen !floundering„ and .darted past nay !hiding -place with a shrill yell of triumph, Instantar,ie: ously the ',,,voods were ringing, echo - 'ng and re-echoing with the hoarse, wild war -cries of the Sioux, Band af- ter band 'burst from the leafy convert of forest and marsh iI1iowe,, and dashed in lull pursuit after the lead- ing Indian. 'Same of the .braves still wore ,the !buckskin !taggery of 'their visit to the !Mandanes; but the 'Swift- est runners had cast off all ,clothing and tore forward unimpeded. The last coppery form disappeared_ among the trees of the river bank and the shoutings were ,growing fainter, when, suddenly, there was such an omninous calm, I knew they were 'Would they. return to the last marks of •my trail? That thought sent the !blood from my head with a rush that left are dizzy, weak and shiver- ing. 1 looked to the river. The float- ing !branches turned lazily over and over to the lapping of the sluggish current, and the green slime oozing from the clugtered beaver lodges of the far side might hide either a miry bottom, or a treacherous hole.' A naked Indian came pattering back through the .brush, looking into every hollow log, under fallen trees, through clumps of shrub growth, where a man might bide, and into the swampy •river bed. It was only a mat- ter of time wlien he would reach my hiding -place, Should I wait to be smoked out of .my hole, like a badger, or a raccoon Again I looked .hope- lessly to the river, A .choice of deaths seemed my only fate. Torture, iburn- Mg, or the cool wash of a black wave gurgling over one's head? broad.girthed lpg lay in the swamp and stretched out over mid- stream in a way that would give a quick diver at least a good, clean, clear leap. A score more savages had emerged from the woods and were eagerly searching, from the limbsof trees above, ,where I might be perch- ed, to the black river -bed below. However much I may vacillate be- tween fwo courses, once my decision is taken, I have ever lbeen swift to act; and I slipped down the tree - trunk with the hound of a ibullet throngh a gun -barrel, took one last look 'from the opening, which reveal- ed pursuers not 'fifty yards away, plunged through the marsh, dashedto the fallen log and made a rush to the end. A sebre of brazen throats screeched out their baffled rage. There was a twanging of bow -strings. The hum- ming of arrow flight sung about my head. I heard the crash of some sav- age !blazing away with his old flint- lock. A deep -drawn breath, and I was cleaving the air. Then the murky, greenish waters splashed in my face, opened wide and closed over me. A tangle of green was at the soft, muddy bottom. Something, living, slippery, sliky and furry, that was nei- ther fish, nor water snake, got be- tween my •feet; but countlessarrows, knew, were aimed and ready for me, when I came to the surface. So I held down for what seemed an intermina- ble time, though it was only a few seconds, struck for the far shore, and presently felt the green slime of the upper water matting in my hair. Every swimmer knows .that rich, sweet, full intake of lifggiving air af- ter a long dive. I drew in deep, fresh breaths and tried to blink the slime from my eyes and get my bearings, There were the howlings of ;baffled wolves from what was now the far side of the river hank; but domed clay mounds, mossy, floating ibrattches and a world of willows shrtths were about nay .head, Then 1 knew what the furry thing among the .tangle at the river 'bottom was, and realized that I had come, sip among the beaver lodges. The dam must have 'been an old one; for the clay bonses were all overgrow.ia with moss and water - weeds. A perfect network of willow - growth interlaced the different lodges. I heard the Splash as of a •diver from the opposite side. Was it a beav- er, or my Indiam ,purstiers? Then I could .distinctly make out the strokes of some one swimming andsplashing about. 'My foes were determined to have rne, dead, or 'alive. I ducked un- der, found shallow, soft bottom, half Paddled, • half waded, a pace more shoreward, and came op with my head in titter darkness. Where was. 1? 1 drew !breath. Yes, assuredly, I was 'abcive water; but the air was fetid with ' heavy, animal breath and teeth SnaTlect shut i n my very face. Somehow, I had come ,up through the broken bottom of an old beaver lodge and was now in the lair of the 'living creatures. What was in- side, 1 cannot record; for to nay eyes the tblaokness was positively thick, 1 felt 'blindly out through the palpable darkness and caught tight hold of a pole, that seemed to reach from side to side. This gave me leverage and I Mated myself upon it bringing 013 '0'wn a; mighty sharp crack as n,otat.lwl the perch; Ior the beaver lodge sloped down like an egg shell. 1 must have seemed some , water monster to the poor beaver; ..ficir there was a !scurrying, scampering and gurgling off into the river. Then my oWn !breathing and the drip of my clothes were all that disturbed the lodge. Time, say certain philosophers, is the measure of a man's ideas march- ing along in uniform procession. But I bold they are wrong.sTime is noth- ing of the sort; else had time stopped as I hang panting over the pole in the beaver lodge; for one idea and one only, 'beat and beat and beat to the pulsing of the !blood that throbbed through my brain—"I am sale—I am safe—I am sate!" • How c!an 1 tell how long I hung there? To me it seemed a century. I do not even know whether I lost con- s,ciousness. I Am sure I repeatedly awakened with a derk back from some hazy, far-off, oblivious realm, shut off even in memory from the things of this life. I am sure 3 tnied to burrow my hand through the clammy moss - wall of the beaver lodge to let in freth air; but any spirit would be sud- denly rapt away to that other region. I am sure I felt the waters washing over my head and sweeping me away From this world to another life. Then I would lose grip of the pole and come to anyself clutching at it with wild terror; and again the drowse of life's borderland would overpower me. And all the time I was saying over and over, "I am sale! I am safel" . How many of the things called hours slipped past, I do not know. As I said before, it seemed to me a cen- tury. Whether it was mid-day, or twi- light, when I let myself .down from the pole atad crawled like a bedrag- gled water -rat to the shore, I do not know. Whether it was morning, or night when 1 .dragged myself under the fernbrake .and fell into a death- like sleep, I do not know. When I awakened, the forest was a labyrinth of shafted moonlight and sombre sha- dows. All that had happenesi in the past twenty-four hours came back to me with vivid reality. I remembered Laplante's promise to leave a horse for me in the valley beyond the beav- er dam, With this hope in my heart 7 crawled cautiously down through the silent shadows Of the night. At daybreak I found Louis had made good his promise, and I vea's speeding 'On horsebadk towards the trail, where Little Fellow awaited me. CHAPTER XX He who would hear that paradox of hnisossibilities—silence 'become vocal --must traverse the 'vast wastes of the prairie by night. As a mother quiets a fretful child, so the illimitable calm lulls tumultuous thoughts, The wind moving through empty solitudes comes with a sigh of unutterable lone- liness. 'Unconsciously, men listen for some faint rustling from the gauzy, wavering streamers that fire northern skies. The .dullest ear can .almost fancy sounds from the noiseless wheeling of planets through the over - spanning vaulted blue; anti human speech seems sacrilege. Though the language of •the prairie be not in words, some message is surely uttered; for the people of the plains wear the far -away look of com- munion with the unseen and the un- heard. The tine sensibility af the white woman, perhaps, shows the im- press of the vast solitudes most readi- ly, and the gravely repressed nature of the Indian least; but all .plain - dwellers have learned to catch the voice of the 'prairie. ,I, myself, know the message well, though I may no mare put it into words than the song love sings in .one's heart. Love, says the poet, is infinite. So is the space of the prairie. That, 7 suppose, is why both are too boundless for the limita- tion of speech. Night after night with only a grassy swish .and deadened tread over the tenf breaking stillness, we jour- neyea northward. Occasionally, like the ,chirp of cricket in a dry well, life sound through emptiness. .Skulking coyotes, seeking prey among earth mounds, or night hawks, lilting soli- tarily in vaulted mid -heaven, uttered cries that pierced the 'Vast blue. Owls /flapped stu.pidly up from Our horses' feet. .1-Iutigry kites wheeled aibove lonely Indian graves, or perched on the scaffolding, where the dead lay swathed in skins. Reflecting on nay experiences with the Mandanes and the Sioux, I was disposed to upbraid fate as a senseless thing with no thread of purpose through lifes hopeless jumble. Now, something in the calm of the plains, or the certainty of our unerring star - guides, quieted iny unrest. Besides, was I not returning to, ane.who was peerless? That hope speedily eclipsed all interests. That was purpose enough for my lif e. Forthwith; I began .cono paring lustrous gray eyes M the stars, and tracing a woman's figure in the diaphanous northern lights, One ..face ever .gleamed through the dusk at my horse's head and /beolconed northward. I do not think her presence left tale Inc ,an instant on that honieward jour ney. But, indeed, I should not se dowh these extravagances, which eac may recall in his own oase, only would have others •judge whether sh ireltienced me, or 1, her, Thus we traveled northw.ard, jour neying by night as long ,as we wer in the Sioux territory, lOnce in th land of Assiniboines, we rade da and night to the limit of our horse endurance. Remembering the Hut son's Bey outrage at ,the Souris, an having, also heard 1 sons Marrelane rut ners of a raid planned by our rival against the North-West fort at Pem bine, I steered wide of both places, !following the old. Missouri. trail naid- way between the Red and Souris riv- ers. It may have been because we traveled at night, but I did not en- counter' a .single person, native or white, till we came close to the Red andwere less than 'a day's journey from Fort 'Gibraltar. On the river trail, we overtook some Hudson's Bay trappers.. The fellows would not an - &War a single questiot about events during 'the year !and scampered away front us as if we carried' smallpox which had thinned the population a few years before. "That's .bad!" said I alotol, as t men fied down the river bank, whe we could not .follow, Little Fello loo'ked ad solemn as a grave-ston He shook his head with ominous w 'dom that foresees all evil but refus to' prophesy. "Bother to you, Little .Fellowl" exclaimed. 'What do you mea What's up?" Again. the Indian shook his he with clark mutterings, looking migh solemn, but he would not share h foreknowledge. We met more lita son'l Bay men, and their conduct w unmistakably suspicious. On a su den seeing Us, they reined up Cia horses, wheeled and galloped off wit out a word. I don't like thatl 3 emphatical donql" I piloted nay broncho to slight roll of .the prairie, where could. reconnoitre. Distinctly the was the spot where the two rive met. Intervening shrubbery conies my bearings. I rose in my stirrup while Little Fellow stood erect on is horse's 'back. "Little .Fellowl" I cried, exaspera ed with myself, "Where's Font .Git raltar? I see .where it ought to b where the towers ought to be high itoh2a.atir, that brush, but where's ; The Indian .screened his eyes an gazed forward, Then .he came don with a thud, abruptly re-straddlin his horse, and uttered one explosi word--"Smake." "Smoke? I don't see smoke I Where's the fart?" "No fort," said he. ''.'You're daft!" I informed him, with the engaging frankness *of a master for a servant. "There—is—a fort, ind you know it—we're 'both lost—that's more A .fine Indian you art, to get lost!" Little Fellow scrambled with alac- rity to the ground. Picking tip two small switches, he propped them against each other. "Fort!" he said, laconically, palm- ing to the switches. "L'anglaisl" he cried, thrusting out his foot, which signified Hudson's By. '"No .fort!" 'he shouted, kicking the .switches into the air. PIN° .fort!" and he looked N'vith speechless disgust at the vacancy. 'Now I knew what he meant. Fort Gibraltar had .been destroyed by Hud- son's Bay men. We had no alternative but to strilee west along the Assini- boine, 011 Ole .chen ce of meeting some Nor'-Westers belore reaching the company's lquarters at the Portage. That post, too, might be destroyed; but where were Hamilton and Father Holland? Danger, or no danger, I 331'llgt learn more .of the -doings in Red River, Also, there were reasons why I wished to visit the settlers of Fort Douglas. We camped on the 'south side of the Assinithoiee few miles to some neighboring half-breeds for a cfraonnthe Red, and Little ,Fellow went ote.. m And a strange story he ibrough back! A great 111311, second only to the king—so 'the half-breeds said— had come from England to rule over Assiniboia. He boasted the shocic of his power would he .felt from Mont- real to ;Athabasca. He .would driwe out all Noe-Westers. This personage, I afterwards learned, was the amiable 'Governor Semple, who succeeded Captain Miles McDonell. Already, as a hunter .chases a .deer, had the great governor chased INor'Westers feom Red 'River. Did ,Little Fellow doubt their word? Where was Fort !Gibral- tar? Let Little Fellow look and see Inc himself .if aught but = y SAXsoils 1 charred walls stood where Port Gib- raltar had. been! Let him seek the rafters esf thVV e !Nor' -esters' fort in the new walls of Font Douglas! Pem. .lsina, too; had .fallen 'before the Mad - ion's Bay m.en. Since the coming !of the great governor, nothing ,coti Id standliefore the English, Btat !Wahl It was not all over! The PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical . I DR. E. A, McMASIT'ER—Graduate e of the Faculty of Medicine, Univers- ity of Toronto, attd of the New York - Post .Graduate Sehool and Hospital. e Member of the College of Physicians e and Surgeons of 'Ontario. Office on y High street. Phone 27, Office fully s' equipped for x-ray diagnosis and for 1- ultra short .wave electric treatment, d tiatreatment ands violet sun lamp treatent and int.nd tfrearaeadeelx) e. eetric treatment. Nurse i e he re e. is - es n? ad ty is as d- eir h- ly a we re TS ed, s, is 1- b. sr he ve R. IGILBERIT C. JA'R'ROTT — Graduate of 'Faculty of Medicine, Un- iversitY of Westesn 'Ontario. Member of .0ollege of Physicians and'Sm•geons of Ontario. Office 43 Goderich street west. Phone 31'. Hours 2-4.30 p.m., 7.30-9 pm. Other hours by appoint- ment. Successor to Dr. Chas. ilvtarckafy, DR. II. .HUGH ROSS, Physician and Surgeon Late of London 'Hos- pital, London, England, Special at- tention to diseases of the eye, ear, nese arel throat. Office and nesidence behind Dominion Bank. Office Phone No. '5; Residence Phone 1014. DR, F. J. BURROWS, Seaforth. Office and. residence, ,Goderich street, east of the United Church. Coroner for the County of Huron. Telephone No. '46. DR. F. J, R ,PORS'TER— Eye Ear, Nose and Throat. 'Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto 1097. 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 6 p.m. W. C. SPROAT, +M.D., F.A.C.S.. Surgery Phone 90-W. 10ffice 'John St., Seaforth Auctioneer. GEORGE BLLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. !Arrangements can he made for Sale Date at The 1Seaforth Naws. Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed. F. W. AHRENS, Licensed Attrition: eer for Perth. and Huron. Counties. Saks Solicited. Terms on .Application. Farm Stock, chattels and rettl 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 Firelusurance Co HEAD OFFICE--SERFORTH, Ont. OFFICERS President,, Thornes Moylan, Sea - forth; Vice President, William Knox, Londesboro; Secretary Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth, AGENTS MoKercher, Dublin; John E. Pepper, R)11.1, Brucefield; E. R. G. Jarmouth, Brodhagen; James Watt, Blyth; C, F. Hewitt, Kincardine; Wm. Yeo, Holmesville. DIRECfPORS Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth No, 3; James Sholdice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Londeslioro; George Leonhardt, Bornholm No. 1; Frank 'McGregor, Clinton No. 5; lames Connolly, God- erich; Alex !McEwing, Myth No. 1; Thbmas Maslen, Seaforth No. 5; Wm. R. Archibald, Sealforth 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. war dram was beating in the tents of all the Bois-Brules! The 'great gov- ernor should be taught that even the king's arms .could not 'prevail against the Bois-Brules1 Was there sino.ke of 'battle? The Bois-Brules wouldhe there, The Bois-Brules had wrongs Vo avenge. They would not be turned out of their forts for nothing! Knives would be unsheathed. There were lull powder-kegsl There was a grand gat- thering .of Bois-Brules at the Portage. They, themselves, were on the way there. Let Little Fellow and the white trader 'join them! Let them be wary; (for the English were .watchfull Great things wereto be done by the Bois- Brules 'before another moon—and Lit- tle Fellow's eyes snapped fire as he related their mountings. (To 'be .contirmed) Want and 'For Salt ads. 1 week 2I5ie