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The Seaforth News, 1938-07-28, Page 6i PAGE 'S'IX, THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1938 Bois Brules How Louis Laplante was for 'fight across the room and •sit on the 'hair- ing a duel en route with the man, who spoke of "French 'brag" and was only .dissuaded from his purpose by the raft suddenly teetering at an angle of forty-five degrees with the water which threatened to toboggan us all into mid -river; how 'I was then sta- tioned in the 'centre and the other men distributed equally on each side of the raft to maintain !balance; how we swung out into the Red, rocking with each shifting of the crew and were treated to a volley of objurga- tions from the red-faced man—I do not intend to relate. This sort of melo- drama may seen wherever there are. drunken men, a raft and a river. The men poled only fitfully, and we were driven solely by the current. It was dark long before we had reached near Fart Douglas and the waters swished past with an inky, glassy sheen that vividly recalled the murky pool about the beaver -dam. And yet I had not fear, ,but drifted along ut- terly indifferent to the termination of the freakish escapade in which I had •become involved. !Nature mercifully sets a limit to human capacity for suffering; and I felt I had reached that limit. Nothing worse could hap- pen than had happened, at least, so I told myself, and I waited with cyni- cal .curiosity what might take place inside the Hudson's Bay fort. Then a shaft of lantern light pierced the dark, striking aslant the river, and the men began poling hard for Fort Douglas wharf. We struck the landing with a hump, disembarked, passed the senti- nel at the gate and were at the en- trance to the main building. 'You kick me here," said Louis. "I pay you back here!" "What are you going to do with him?" asked the soberest man of the red-faced leader. "Hand him over to Governor Sem- ple for a spy." "The governor's abed. Besides, they don't want him about to 'hear H. B. secrets when the Nor' -West !brigade's a-comingl You'd better get sobered up, yez hedl That's my advice to yez, before going to Governor Semple," and the prudent trapper led the way inside. To the fore was the main stairway, on the right the closed store, and on the left a small apartment which the governor had fitted up as a private office. For some unaccount- able reason—the same reason, I sup- pose, that mischief is always awaiting the mischief-maker—the door to this office had been left ajar and a light burned inside. 'Twas Louis, •ever alert, when mischief was abroad, who tip- toed over to the open door, poked his head in and motioned his drunken companions across the sacred pre- cincts of Governor Semple's private room. 'I was loath to be a party to this mad nonsense, but the fly and the fish should have thought of re- sults before venturing too near strange coils. The red-faced fellow gave me a push. The sober man mut- tered, "Better come, or they'll raise a row," and we were all within the for- bidden place, the door shut and bolted. To city folk, used to the luxuries of the east, I dare say that office would have seemed mean enough, But the men had !been so long away from leather chairs, hair.cloth sofa, wall mirror, wine decanter and other odds and ends which furnish a gentleman's living apartments that the very mem- ory .of such things had faded, and that the small room, with its old - country air, seemed the vestibule to another world, "Sump—too—'uss—ain't it " asked the sober man with' bated breath and obvious distrust of his tongue. "Mag—nee—fcquel M. Louis La- plante, look you there," cried the Frenchman, catching sight of his lull f,ure in ,the mirror and instantly striking .a pose of admiration. Then he twirled fiercely at both ends of his mustache till it stood out with the wire finish of a Parisian •dandy. The red-faced fellow had .permitted me, with arms still tied, to walk cloth sofa, He was lolling back in the governor's armchair, playing the lord and puffing one of Mr. 'Semple's fine pipes. "We are gentlemen adventurers of the ancient and honorable Hudson's Bay Company, .gentlemen advent- urers," he roared, bringing his fist down with a thud on the desk, "We 'hereby •decree that the Fort William !brigade be captured, that the whisky be freely given to every dry -throated lad in the Hudson's •Bay Company, that the Nor'-Westers be sent down the Red on a raft, that this meeting raftify this dissolution, afterwards moving—seconding—and unanimously amending— "Adjourning—you mean," interrupt- ed one of the orator's audience. "I say," tailed one, who had been dazed by the splendor, "how do you tell which is the lookin' glass and which is the window?" 'And he look- ed tom the window on one side to its exact reflection, length and width, directly opposite. The puzzle was left unsolved; for just then Louis Lap'lante found a flask of liquor and speedily divided its contents among the crowd—which was not calculated to- clear up mys- teries of windows anid mirrors among those addle -pates. Dull wit may be sport for drunken men, 'bit it is mighty flat to an onlooker, and I was out of patience with their carousal. "The governor will be 'back here presently, Louis," said I. "Tired of being a tombstone, Na— ha! Better be a champagne bottle!" he laughed with slightly thickened articu- lation and increased unsteadinness in his gait. "If you don't hide that bottle in your hand, there'll be a big head and a sore head for you men to -morrow morning" I rose to try and get them out of the office; but a sober man with tied arms among a drunken crew is at a disadvantage. "Ha—old—wise—sh—head! To—the —sh—shure! Whur—d'—y'—hide it?" "Throw it out of the window," said 1, without the slightest idea of lead- ing him into mischief. "Whish—whish—ish—the window, Rufush?" asked Louis imploringly. The last potion had done its work and Louis was passing from the jovial to the pensive stage. He would pres- ently reach a mood which might be ugly enough for a companion in bonds. Was it this prospect, 1 wonder, or the mischievous spirit pervading the very air from the time I reached the ruins that suggested a way out of any dilemma? "Throw it out of the window," said I, ignoring his question and shoving him off. " Whiah—ish—the window--dam- mie?" he asked. holding the battle ir- resolutely and looking in befuddled' distraction from side to side of the roam. "Thur—both—windows—fur as 1 see I see," said the man, who had beta -cher, but was no longer so, Throw it through the back win - dew! Folks corrin' in at the door w an't see it." The red-faced man got up to in- vestigate. and all faith in my plan died within me; but the lantern light was dusky and the red-faced man conld no longer navigate a course from window to mirror. "There's a winder there," said he, scratching his head and looking at the window reflected in perfect .pro- portion on the mirrored surface. "And there's a winder there," he declared, pointing at the real wind- ow. 'They're 'both winders and. they're both lookin'-glasses, for I see is all in ,hath of them, This place is haunted. Lem -me but!" "Take thish, then," cried Louis. shaving the bottle towards him and flomtderint; acrosstothe -door to bar the way. "Take thigh or tell me whish —islr--the window." "Both winders, I tell you, and ,both loakin'-glasses," vowed the 'ran. The other four fellows declined to express an opinion for the very good reason ttat two were asleep and two lbefud- dded beyond questioning. '''See "here, Loads," 1 exclaimed, "there's only one way to tell where to throw that bottle," "Mesh, 'Rufush," and he caitie'to'me as if I were his .only friend on earth. "llhe bottle will go through the window and it won't go through the mirror," I began. "Damhue—I knew that," he snap- ped out, ready to weep.' "Well -you 'undo. those 'thiii,gs," nodding' to •the ropes about my arms, opens, "and I'll find out which and the one that opens is the window, and yoe scan throw .out 'the !bottle." "The very thing, Rufush, wise—sh —head—old—old—al' solennrcholy," and he ripped the Topes off une. Now I offer no excuse for wh'a't 1 did. I could have apened'.that. window and let myself out some distance ahead of the 'bottle, without involving Louis and his gang in !greater' mis- chief. What I did was not out of spite to the governor of a. rival com- pany; but mischief, as I said, was in the very air.' Besides, the 'knaves had delayed pie far into midnight, and I had no scruples about giving each twenty-four 'hours in the fort ,guard- room. I took a precautionary inspec- tion 'of the window -sash, Yes, 'I was sure I could leap through, carrying out sash and all. "H•arry—o'l' tontbshtone--governor —sh—corrin'," urged Louis. I made towards the window and fumbled at the sash. "'Thus doesn't .open," said I, which was quite true, for I did not try to 'b'udge it. Then 1 went across to the mirror. "Neither 'does this," said I. "Wha'—wha'—we d,o Rufush?" "I'll tell you, You can jump through a window but not through a glass. Now you count—one two—three," —this to the redafaced man—"and when you say 'three' I'll give a run and jump. If I fall 'bark, you'll know it's the mirror, and `fling the bottle quick through the other. Ready, count!" 9One," said the red-faced man. Louis raised his arm and I 'prepar- ed for a dash. "Two-!„ Louis •brought back his arm to gain stronger sweep. "Three!" I 'gave a leap and made as though I had fallen back. There was the pistol - shot splintering of bottle and mirror crashing down to the Boor. The win- dow frame gave with a burst, and I was outside rushing past the sleepy sentinel, who 'poured out a volley of eurses after me, CHAPTER XXII As well play pussy -wants -a -corner with a tiger as make-believe war with an Indian. In 'both cases the fun may become ghastly earnest with no time for cry -quits. So it was with the great fur -trading 'companies at the be- ginning of this century. Each held the Indian in subjection and thought to use him with daring impunity against its rival. And each was caught in the meshes of its 'own merry game. I, .as a Nor' -Wester, of course, con- sider that the lawless acts of 'the Hud- son's Bay had been for three years educating the natives up to th'e tra- gedy of June .10, [11&115. But this wholly a partisan opinion. Certainly both companies have lied ,outrageously about the results of their quarrels. The truth is Hudson's Bay and lNor'- \ Testers were playing war with .the Indian. •Consequences having exceed- ed ail calculation, both companies would fain free themselves of blame. For instance. it has .been said the Hudson's Bay people had no intention of intercepting the North-West bri- gade bound up the Red and Assini- boine for the interior—this assertion despite the fact our rivals had pillaged every 'North-West for that could be attacker!. Now I acknowledge the Nor'-Westers disclaim hostile purpose in the rally of three hundred Bole- Brules to the Portage; but this Site not well with the warlike appearance of these armed plain rangers, who sal- lied forth to !protect the Fort !William express, Nor dose it agree with the expectations of the Indian rabble, who flocked on our rear like carrion bird, keen for the spoils of 'oattle. Both companies had—as it were—leveled and cocked their weapon. To send it off needed but a spark, and a slight misunderstanding ignited that spark, My arrival at the Pprtage had the instantaneous effect of sending two strong battalions of Bois-Bratles hot- foot across country to meet the Fort William express before it could reach Fort 'Doug -las. They were to convoy it overland to a point on the Assini- boine where it could he reshipped. To the second of these parties, 1 attach- ed myself. I was anxious to attempt a visit to I$amilton. There was some ane else whom 1 hopes] to find at Fort Douglas; so 1 refused to rest at the Portage, though I had ,been in niy saddle almost constantly for twenty days. When we set out, I confess I did not like the look of things, Those In- dians smeared with paint and decked out with the feathered war -cap .kept increasing to our rear. There were he eagles! . Where was the carcass? l'he Presence of these sinister fellows, hot with the lust of 'b'lood, had omi- nous significance. Among the half- breeds there was unoo.ncealed' excite- men•t, Shortly before we strucic ,oil •Nlre As; siniboine trail northward for the Red, in order to meet the expectedbrigade beyond Fort Douglas, some of our people slipped back to the hidian tab - 'We, When. they :reappeared, they 'were togged out in native war -gear with boo many 'tomahawks and pistols for the P,' • ood of those who might interfere with our mission. There was no mis- understanding the sagly temper of .the men. Here, I Wish to testify that ex- plicit ,orders were .given for the forces to avoid passing near Fort Douglas, or in any way provoking conflict. There was placed iar charge of our 'di- vision the most 'powe'rful .plain -ranger in the 'service of the ,company, the one person of all others, who might con- trol the natives in case .of an outbreak —and .that man was Cuthbert Grant. Pierre, the minstrel, and six .clerks were also in the party; but what could a handful of moderate men do with a horde ,of Indians and Metis wrought up to aifury of revenge? "Now, 'deuce take 'those rascals! Wlhat are they doing?" exclaimed Grant angrily, as we left the river trail and skirted round a slough of Frog Plains on the side remote from Fort Douglas. Our forces were fol- lowing in straggling disorder. The first 'battalions of the Bois-Brules, which 'had already rounded the marsh, were now in the settlement on Red River bank. It was to 'them that Grant referred, Commanding a !halt ,and rais- ing his spy -glass, he took an anxious survey of the foreground. "Tit e r e's something seriously wrong," he said, "Strikes me we're near a powder minel Here, Gillespie, you look!" He handed the field -glass tome. A great commotion was tvisible among the settlers, Ox -carts peeked with people were jolting in hurried confusion towards Fort Douglas, Be - bind, tore a motley throng of men, women and .children, running like a frightened flock of sheep. Whatever the cause of alarm, •our men were not molesting them; for I watched the horsemen proceeding leisurely to the appointed rendezvous, till the last rid- er disappeared among the woods of the river path. "Scared! Badly scared! That's all, Grant," said I. "You've no idea what wild stories are going the rounds of the settlement about the Bois - Brides!" "And you've no idea, young man, what wild stories are going the rounds of the Bois-.Brules about the settlement," was Grant's moody reply. Ify chance acquaintance with the Assinulboine encampment had given me some idea, but I did not tell 'Grant so. "Perhaps they've taken a 'few old prisoners to ensure the fort's good behavior, while we save our bacon," I suggested. "If they have, those !Highlanders will go to Fort Douglas shining as a red Ibali," answered the plain -ranger. In this, Grant did his 'people injust- ice; for of those prisoners taken by the advance guard, not a hair of their heads was injured, The warden Was nervously apprehensive. This was un- usual with him; and I have since wondered if his dark forebodings arose from 'better knoavledge of the Bois-Brules than I possessed, or from some premonition. "There'd be some reason for un- easiness; if you weren't here to con- trol them, Grant" said I, nodding to- wards the Indians and Metis. ".One man against a host! What can I clo?" he asked gloomily. 'Good gracious, man! Dol 'Why, do what you came to do! Whatever's the matter with you?" The swarthy face had turned a ehat.t:y yellowish tint and he did not answer, "'Pon any honor," I exclaimed, "Are you ill, man?" "'Tisn't that! When I went to sleep, last night, there were—corpses all round rte. I thought I was in a charnel house and---" "Good gracious, Grant!" I shud- dered out. "Don't you go off your head next! Leave that for us green chaps! Besides, the Indians were raising stench enough with a dog - stew to fill any 'brain with fumes. For goodness' sake, let's go on, meet those fellows••w-ith the brigade, secure that express and get off this `powder mine' —as you call it." "By ail means!" Grant responded, giving the order, and we m,•bved for- ward but only at snail pace; for I think he 'wanted to give the settlers plenty of tinge to reach the fort, "By .five o'clock in the afternoon we had almost rounded the slough and were gradually closing towards the wooded ground of the river bank. We were within ear -shot of the settlers. They were !flying ,past with terrified cries of "The half -(breeds! The half - 'breeds!" when I heard Grant , groan •from sheer alarm and mutter "Look) Lookl 'The lambs coning to meet the wolves!" To this day I cannot account for the madness of the thing, There, 'some twenty, thirty Hudson's Bay, Men— were youths' Rasa. of them ---were. coming with all speed to head us 'of[ from the river path, at a wooded point ,railed Seven ,Oaks. What. this 'pigmy band thought it could do against our armed men, '3 do not know. The blunder on their ;Part was so unexpected and inexcusable, , it never dawned ion. us the pandc-stricken settlers had 'spread.'' a report of raid, and these poor valiant clefend•ers had come out to ,pro'te'ct the 'colony, If' that be the 'true explanation of their rash conduct in tempting conflict,' what were they !thinking about to leave the walls .of •idteir ,fort 'during danger? My own opinion is that with Lord Selkirk's presumptuous claims to -,exclusive possession in Red River and the repent high -,handed success of 'the Hudson's Bay, the men of Fort Douglas were so 'flushed with pride they did not realize the risk of 'a brush with the Bois -Billies. Much, too, may be attributed to Governor Semple's inexperience; 'but it was very evident for the purpose of the force 'deliberately !blocking your path was not .peaceable, If the Hudson's Bay 'bituldered in coming out to chal- lenge es, 40 .dud we, I frankly admit; for we regarded the advance as an audacious trick to hold us back till the Fort 'William express could be captured. Now that the thing he feared had come, all !hesitancy vanished, from Grant's manner. Steeled and cool like the leader he was, he sternly coat- manded the surging Metis to keep 'back. Straggling Indians and half - !breeds dashed to our foreranks with the rush of a teanpest and chafed hot- ly against the warden. At a word from Grant, the men swung ' across the enemy's course sickle -shape; but they were furious at this disclined re- straint. From horn to horn of the crescent, rode the plain -ranger, lash- ing horses back to the circle and shaking his fist in the quailing face of many a !bold rebel. Both sides advanced within a short distance of each other. We could see that 'Governor Semple, himself, was leading the .Hudson's Bay men, Im- tnediately, Boucher, a North-West clerk, was sent forward 'to parley. Now, I hold the 'Nor'-Westers would not have done that if their purpose had been hostile; but Boucher rode out waving his hand and calling— "'What do you want? What do you want?" • "What do you want, yourself?" came Governor 'Semple's reply with. some heat and not a little insolence. "We want our fort," demanded Boucher slightly taken• aback, hut thoroughly angered. His horse was prancingly restively within pistol range of the governor, "Go to your fort, then! Go 'to your fort!" returned Semple with stinging contempt in manner and voice. He might as well have ,told us to go to 'Gehenna; for the fort was scat- tered to the four winds. "The fool!" anu'ttered Grant. "The fool! Let him answer for the conse- quences. Their' blood the on their own heads." Whether the Bois-Brules; who had lashed their horses into a lather of foam and were cursing out threats in the ominous undertone that precedes a storm -burst, now encroached upon the neutral ground in spite of Grant, or were 'led gradually forward by the warden as the Hudson's Bay govern- or's hostility increased, I did not in the excitement of the moment ob- serve. !One thing is certain, while the quarrel between the Hudson's Bay governor and the North-West ,clerk was becoming more furious, our surg- ing cohorts were closing in . on the little hand like an irresistible tidal wave. 1 could snake curt several Hud- sc•i's Bay faces, that seemed to re- mind me of my Fort Douglas visit; but of the rabble of Noe-Westers .and F,ofs-Brules disguised in hideous war - gear, I dare avow not twenty of us were recognizable. "Miserable rogue!" Boucher was shouting, utterly beside himself with rage and flourishing his .gun directly over the governor's head, "Miserable rogue! 'VG'Ihy have you destroyed our fort?" -Call him off, Grant! Call him off or it's all up!" I begged, seeing the parley go from 'bad to worse; 'hit Grant was 'busy with the Bois-Brules and did not hear. (To be continued) The lorry driver was' unfortunate enough to run his car into a house where a woman stood ironing. He didnot 'know what to,sayand blurted out; "Can you tell me the , way to Wigan?" Woman: "Yes, straight past the sideboard anti then to the left past the piano!" "I- see your clock is not going." .°'Yes,. the spring is broken, ,ancl un- fortunately the maker's ,gu•aran'tee'ex- pired in I1f763." PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical IXR. E. A. McMASTERGraduate of the Faculty of Medicine, Univers- ity niversity of Toronto, and of the. New York Post, Graduate School and Hospital. . Member of the College of Physicians and 'Surgeons of 'Ontario. Office on High street: Phone 87. Office fully equipped for x-ray diagnosis and for ultra short wave electric treatment, ultra violet 'sun lamp treatment and infra red electric treatment. Nurse in attendance. DR. GILBERlT C. JiAR'ROTT —• Graduate of Faculty of Medicine, Un- iversity of Western Ontario, Menibea of College of Physicians andSurgeons of Ontario. 'Office 43 Goderich street west. Phone 317. Hours 2-4.30 7.30.9 p.m. Other hours by appoint- ntent, Successor to Dr. Chas. Mackay. DR. H. HUGH ROSS, Physician and Surgeon Late of London Hos- pital, London, England. Special at- tention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose art throat. Office and residence behind Dominion Ban'la. Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 104. DR. F. J. BURROWS, Seaforth. Office and residence, Godericb street, east of the• United. Church. Coroner for the County of Huron. Telephone I No. 416. DR, F. J. R. FORSTER— Eye Ear, Nose and Throat. 'Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto IItf97. 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. W. C. S'PROAAT, M.D., F.A.C.S. Surgery Phone 90-W. 'Office John St, Seaforth Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of .Huron. Arrangements can he made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed. F. W. AHRENS, Licensed Aucitidtt eer for Perth and Huron Counties- Sades Solicited. Terms on Application. Farm Stork, chattels and real 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. OFFICERS President, Thomas Moylan, Sea - forth; Vice President, William Knox, Londesiboro; Secretary Treasurer, M A. Reid,,Seaforth. AGENTS F. MoKercher, R.R41, Dublin; John E. Pepper, R.R.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,. Clintan.No.. 5.; James Connolly, God- erich; Alex McEwing, 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 - offices. "No use senving ,that turtle soup,. waiter. It isn't hot enough." "But lady, how do you .know it isn't " "By the way you kept your thumb in it." Angry Farmer—What fer are ye comin' '!name wi' yer milk pail' empty? Dident the auld coo onything? Farm Hand—Ay, sir, the amid coo- g'ed nine quarts an' se ,kick, "You say you know the ,plaintiff's reputation, ,and , you know it to Abe• anything but good?" do." "Then tell the jury, on your oath,. wheat reasons you have for making such a statement" "Well, I can say on oath that I have met .this mean in places where 'I would be ashemed to Ibe seen l"