Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-05-21
CHAPTER XNVI.
What He Found Beyond the Lake.

What He Found Beyond the Lake.
Mr.. Marin, also realizing that the
canoe meant deliverance, possibly from
lingering death, felt his own head
swim for a moment; but he held the
rein on himself and in short time
Alec recovered from his swoon.
THANK God we have escaped once
more" said Mr.. Marin, when Alec had
risen to his feet and understood it all
again.
If Alec did not respond aloud it was
from no lack of grateful feeling. but at
that moment he was peering into the
cache where the canoe lay, bottom up.
Then he cautiously removed some of
the branches and crawling in made a
sudden dive forward.
Il have him. he cried, backing out
with a fine partridge in his hand. Il
knew he was here somewhere. Look, "
he said. pointing to the snow, the
marks of his feet don't go past this
canoe. If had only come here
sooner"
THAT bird has been a veritable god
send to us" said Mr. Marin, Let us
hurry back and get that poor half
breed revived"
When they returned Pierre was sit
ting by the fire trying to MUNICH some
leaves. He had revived little and
made a desperate attempt to sit up.
At the sight of the partridge swinging
In Alec's hand he threw up his hands.
"Ah, lie bon Dieu. lie bon Deu"
cried the poor fellow and burst into
tears.
Among the three of them they soon
managed to cook and dispatch the
partridge; strength revived in them
again and Alec began to be feverishly
gay.
Come, we must hurry up and pack
nov, Pierre. Mr., Marin and | will
carry your pack between us"
Pierre's black, bead-like eyes looked
at him in stupid wonder.
We're you go?" he asked.
over the lake, of course. Where
else do you suppose
Ell, non, non! Ze water eez big =
great-large-ze ice cracks every
vereS.
But listen, Pierre listen, old boy"
he said, clutching the half-breed's arm
till he WINGED with the pain of his
grip, we have a canoe, fine big
canoe" Pierres sallow skin turned
pale with the excitement of revived
hope.
All 90 away" he said, deprecat-
inglv. but with repressed eagerness.
Fact, Pierre! Out in the bush at
yon corner of the lake, with this part
ridges nest in the cache beside 1t"
lie bon Dieu' lie bon Dieu, was
all Pierre could murmur, but 1t was
wonderful how hope supplied strength
to all three. In a short time they had
left their camp and were out toward
the cache, where they unshipped the
canoe, which Pierre insisted on carry
ing on his shoulders paddles and all,
across the ice. When they reached
the great fissure they launched 1t and
padded across a distance OF more than
half a mile.
As they neared the opposite shore,
toward nightfall. 1t seemed as though
they must sink with fatigue. Twice
they had rested already, but now they
heard wild whooping and shouting In
the distance and. looking ahead they
saw troop of dark figures speeding
rapidly over the ice toward them.
Immediately Pierre lifted up his
voice and answered them a peculiar
whoop-like sound and Alec put the tips
Of his fingers into his mouth and
whistled the old blood.cnrdling
whistle so familiar to the folks OF Can
tieaowe. In spite of his WEAKNESS.
Mr. Marin was delightfully."- excited.
The Indians who had observed them
from the opposite side and hurried
over to see WHO had crossed at this