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


tention. Seeing me coming, they took
up their axes and went TO work.
Something I was bound to do, but
couldn't see my way clear. To go to
Alec and demand the liquor would be
useless, and with Alec's refusal to obey
there would be an end of all discipline.
] fancied that one or two Of the older
men looked at me with pity, and Won
dered IL there would be any use in call
ing on them to support me. But if part
of them did stand by me it would prob
ably bring on a fight, and possibly the
death of several men. l decided to de-
pend on myself alone. If the worst
came to the worst, l could jump into
a canoe and go to Mackinac for help.
not control my men.
Alec was further from the shore of
all the men, and was telling a big
maple. heard his axe-strokes follow
ing one another quick and sharp. But
suddenly they ceased. The tree could
not have fallen, for there had been no
crash. Keeping myself pretty well con-
cealed, went toward the spot where
had last seen the big Frenchman.
There l found the tree cut halfway
through, the axe sticking in the wood,
and Alec gone.
l considered moment. Alec had
bottle. He had probably gone to fill
that bottle. If 1 could find him, l
might find out where the jug was, and
might be able to destroy it.
First l went to my tent for my rifle:
then I circled around till was again
near the big maple, but further back
in the woods. l am not ashamed to
own that l was shaking from head to
foot for fear of Alec, but stepping as
lightly as l knew how, l kept on. I
had not gone far when I caught sight
Of Alec's tall form bending down. l
crept little nearer, and saw him take
the jug from under the root of a large
black birch and begin filling big fiat
flask from it.
Suddenly twig broke under my foot
and Alec looked up and saw me. His
face got red instantly, and he broke
out into volley of oaths, mingled with
the foulest names in a voyageur's vo-
cabulary. 1t was just what l needed;
it made me mad, too. Quick as thought
the rifle came to my shoulder.
Drop that jug!" shouted.
mot much. WON'T" he cried, and
I fired.
The bullet went just where l had
intended-I could shoot with any man
in those days. 1t flew so close to his
ear that he dropped the flask in alarm.
The whiskey gurgled out on the moss.
He still held the jug. For an instant
he faced me, and then / dropped the
empty rifle into my left hand, stepped
forward and said, "Give it here!"
1t was years before l could quite
make up my mind why Alec obeyed
me. OF course the bullet whispered
something to his nerves as it went by,
and l suppose l looked determined.
But there was another reason-I was
not really alone. Back of me was the
whole power of the fur company, with
its thousands of employees under the
command of men who were afraid Of
nothing, and who knew perfectly how
to deal with drunken, rebellious voy-
ageur Alec had a knife at his belt,
and he could have killed me then and
there; but he knew that if he did his
own life would not have been safe any
where between Quebec and the Rocky
Mountains.
carried the jug down to the beach
and smashed it on a rock in full sight
of the whole crew, who had heard the
shot and had hastily gathered to see
what it meant. Joe Rolette gave an
angry exclamation and stepped for
ward as if he were about to interfere,
but a hand was laid heavily on his
shoulder and gruff voice said in his
ear, LET him alone!"
1t was Hermidas Paquin, the Oldest
and best voyageur in the crew, who
spoke, and Joe stood still.
That evening several of the men,
Joe and Alec among them, held a con-
sultation, and in a few minutes Joe
came over to where sat, little apart
from the men.
"Mr. Howard" said he, in wheed-
ling tone, "you won't tell Mr.. Crooks
or Mr.. Stewart about Alec, will your
"If you two behave yourselves" l
told him, 81 will not tell them about
Alec or about you"
"About mel" cried Joe. "Why, l
didn't do anything. 1t was Alec"
81 know all about it, said, "and
I don't want to hear anything more
from you. Not another word! If you
do your work quietly and peaceably,
1 won't say anything; but if there is
any more trouble, you will know what
to expect"
Joe went back to report to his COM
rades, and they seemed relieved; but it
was very silent and sullen crew of
men who took out their pipes and to-
bacco and sat down for the regular
evening smoke.
1t was lovely summer evening; no
wind, and the blaze of the campfire
went straight toward the sky. The
stars came out one after another, and
a loon was calling somewhere, far away
ooroca tho wafer I never hear n loon