The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-11-16
INJUN JOE.
Barney's Adventure with the Last
Of the IrOquois.

Hidden away from the riotous world
rustic little Moose village. Every
body in the Ottawa valley knows it.
The brown river flows slowly past rs if
sorry to leave it; the inhabitants are
wont to rerlar.l that nothing but
death or bear hunt way back on
the nation" can ever draw them away;
and last, but not least, when I'm jun
Joe" fixed up his wigwam on the
Point, although he didn't know it, peo-
pie concluded that they might reckon
on him as a permanency. The Point
was about half mile above the viii
lagc, and its silver sands ran a long
way out. Just at the extreme edge,
within n few feet of the tapping water,
and sheltered by one majestic sugar
maple; Injun Joe's quaint little tent
drew the attention of wandering art
lists as they went down in the boat.
All sorts of stories were invented
about Joe, but none really knew
where he had been dragged up. Some
said that he was an Indian Sachem OF
the IroquOis come to life again be-
cause he had misconducted himself in
the happy hunting grounds This,
however, was generally regarded IN
Miller, store as an elaborate fiction
invented by that blonde young humor-
list Barney Mcguire. you see, boys"
that worthy would observe to the
crowd, Its this way: That there In
jun's been let loose by one of them
Montreallers who go about digging in
the mountains for Indian graves. An
POW they've let him out, of course he
amt goin back to place where there
amt no whisky. You bet your boots
that's about the size of it" and Bar
ney, absently taking plug of his
ncighbor's tobacco, went out into the
night.
1t was a lovely summer night. The
air was filled with dancing freflies,
weaving and winding in and out the
long grass, and waylaying one another
in the whispering leaves OF bushes In
and out. their little lamps went flick
eriny through the night in such heed
less happy merriment that Barney
stopped 10 look at them. All the world
was fal! Of iire1iics. He seemed to be
t.'IuA.0r on them, and with drunken
gravity began 10 lift his feet high not
to crush their little lives out. At this
moment bigger light CLEANED up be-
for h;ln III the distance. 1t seemed to
be an E:prlnDns FREELY reckoning him
on through the village and into the
cool languorous depths of the summer
night. Close by the river wandered
ut Its owl sweet will" Only the voices
o. the raft@men, as they made for the
falls. broke the stiffness. Barney
;.ul!ed up and listened to them.
"!het's so,' he said with drunken
gravity. II reckon you've about fixed
ii Row, brothers row, the stream runs
II The 1ireflies are-nO, that's
wrong. That's wrong, Barney. l say
It's wrong. If You don't believe me,
catch one and ask him"
IL, set of in Il sticlong kind of run.
sat down on nOthlngncSS, and sudden
ly collapsed in the middle of the road.
=; " got you," he said in triumph to
AT ina rinary FREELY. Excuse me sit
IL. or You, bat you are such slippery
ll;le cr.ttars. You've only got to pog
gcise, an III git
simple reason that it was a hundred
yards away. This suddenly dawned
upon Barney, and he followed it
through thc long grass
Their pDlc OF the flowing tide sounded
more loudly III his ears, and insensibly
drew him 10 the river shore. Right out
on the point, the big freely glowed
:>tea,lily bat not like the Others 1t
was d fixed light. When the others
closed their tiny wings the lights dis
appeared, but this monstrous FREELY
was vi:;ibl al the time.
Barney followed on, keeping in the
shadows of the willows which fringed
the shore. lie didn't want to go. on,
but soma irresistible power impelled
him to do So Suddenly he found him
self within twenty yards of the point,
anil-sOber
lie skunk down behind the bushes in
amazemcnt, for the FREELY which he
had followed was the light of Iniun
Joe's camp fire, and lnjun Joe was
there; but not the lnjun Joe the laugh
and scorn and mock of-the village, but
.snnoher being altogether full
"ioJded brave in his war paint. with
t'.aahawiz and rife by his side, and
has copper-colored checks glowing in
the freight with vermillion. A long
"caiplocia hung from his shaven crown.
"Gosh, what's this?" said the per.
picked Barney. The boys will think
FL drcaEi1~!"
The Indian did not stir or give one
sign Of lie He looked across the
river at the long range of the Lauren
;'an hills as if marking the dark
n''>ep of tie pines which crested their
SUBMITS. lie seem cd to be waiting.
E,,rney crcot a little nearer
Suddenly Il birch bark canoe shot out
from a little island in the mi Idle of the
river and gliled noiselessly through
th2 night twas padded by a squaw
Size was clad in deersl1in, and touue
OF eagle feathers rose from her long,
flowing tresses.
Tome, my white brother, COME"
said Injun Joe, without looking
around. ''Lelota waits"
Barney came forward with an un-
easy ugh. Il reckon, old Fenni-
more Cooper, you'll have the Judge
down on you if you're up to any of
Your larEs.''
Come" said Injun Joe. gravely,
and Barney stepped into the canoe,
winch sank nearly to the waters ed re.
The squaw padded noisclcssly, with
swift, rapid strokes. across tn, river
until they reached the opposite shore.