Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-12-26

Just what he meant it to be. He saw
that If there was any good stuff in me,
l should be steadied and attached to
the company's interests by being put
into place of responsibility and COM
mand. Many time I've saved a young
fellow since then by putting RESPONSE
bility on his shoulders
Well, the sun had not risen out of
Lake Huron the next morning when |
and the two voyageurs who had
brought the sick man home got into
the canoe and started for Bois Blanc.
L sat in the middle on my bag of cloth.
ing, and the others took their places
forward and aft.
Alec Prevanche. who was in the
stern, was a tall, broad-shouldered
| F'renchman, strong as horse and one
or the best canoemen on the upper
lakes. He was handsome fellow, with
curly hair, heavy black beard and
dark, flashing eyes. AS long as he was
sober, he was one of the jolliest men
on the island; but when he was drunk
he was a crazy man.
Alec wore black feather in his cap
to signify that he was the bully of a
brigade of voyageurs. They used to say
| that he had been in more fights than
any other man in Mackinac, and had
never been whipped. 1t was also said
that he had killed man in drunken
brawl at Quebec, and that he dared not
go back there for fear of arrest and
| punishment.
Joe Rolette, who sat in the bow, was
a wiry, leathery little man between
| fifty and sixty years of age. His hair
and beard were fast turning gray, but
he was stronger and more active than
most of the younger men among the
voyageurs. Both were alert paddlers,
and when they put their strength into
the stroke the canoe leaped forward as
if she were alive and something had
stung her.
In about an hour we reached Bois
Blanc, and l stepped ashore and in
spected my forces. There was little for
me to do except to see that the chop
pers did not shirk, and 1 thought
/ should have an easy time of it.; but
after dinner as the men sat on the
bench and smoked their pipes, it struck
me that there was more loud talking
and joking than had expected to hear.
The French Canadian voyageurs and
boatmen of those days were always
ready for laugh and a song, and no
other class of men would have put up
with their hardships and privations so
| choerfully; but it seemed to me the
| twenty-five were noisy and boisterous
rather than cheerful and jolly.
When the noon hour was over, l gave
the word and they went back to their
wood-cutting, but some of them moved
sulkily, and / fancied they did not work
as industriously as in the morning. /
suspected they had made up their
minds that [ was only boy and that
they could do as they pleased, and this
suspicion frightened me. There 1 was,
| alone with twenty-five men, some of
them three or four times as old as my
self, and if l lost control of them l
should be disgraced. Somehow the
idea Of deserting had entirely gone out
of my mind, you see. Although l was
scared, you mustn't think l showed the
white feather. No; all the afternoon l
went about among the men, speaking
quiet word now and then, but never
attempting any bullying. But things
plainly grew worse rather than better.
l could not imagine what was the
matter with the men, until late in the
day l happened to pass near Joe Ro-
lette and noticed a strong odor of
whiskey. In an instant / understood.
Joe and Alec must have brought some
| liquor from Mackinac. Before morn
ing the whole crew would be drunk,
Then l remembered noticing that
Alec's jacket had been carefully spread
over some large object in the bottom
of the canoe. l had paid little atten-
tion to it at the time, supposing that
it was merely bundle of clothes, but
now l knew it had been a jug.
Now that l had definite knowledge,
my wits seemed to clear. l passed on
without stopping, and in little while
came back again, this time from a diff
ferent direction. Joe and another man
had dropped their axes and were talk
ing together in low tones. l slipped
quietly behind tree and listened for
moment.
How much did you bring from
Mackinac, Joe?" asked the other chop
per, speaking in French, which was
then almost as familiar to me as Eng
lish.
"a big jugful," said Joe, "and it's the
genuine stuff, all right-none of your
tobacco and water, such as they sell
to the Indians. Alec s got little in
bottle in his pocket and he's given
most of the boys taste, but he's saw
ing the jug for tonight"
Hasn't he drunk any himself?"
mot drop; but just you wait!
He'll have high old time before morn
ing, and that Howard boy will catch
it if he tries to interfere"
had heard enough so 7 stoIe owav