The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-28

lE 10 tAAEIQ MtI AMERICAN RDoSrSSAJA5 anu
was having considerable trouble with the
Indians. \ thin line of soldiers and friendly
Indians extended from Quebec TO Fronte-
nae, with isolated forts or posts scattered
along the upper lake region and westward
TO Vincennes and the Illinois and Missis-
sippi rivers. Some Of the Governors had
shown great tact in dealing with the red
men and others had difhculty in keeping
them in check. The priests-ths pioneer
missionaries. such as the good Pere Mar
quette-wielded great influence and were
largely responsible for French prestige
along the St. Lawrence and around the
great lakes. British traders. however, were
continually fomenting trouble among the
Indians by promising more for furs than
the French were giving. Finally the Gov
eruor Of New York armed the ~Iroquois and
set them against the French. Then the
Senecas broke their compact with the
French and there was danger Of the Mo-
hawks, Oneidas. OnOndagas and Cayugas,
all allied with the Senecas. joining the lat
ter. This was the situation when the story
opens.
The chief characters in the romance are
Capt. Daniel NIenard, who had spent sew
eral years among the Indians as a captive;
Valerie. daughter OF the Marquis De st.
Denis; Claude de Casson. a Jesuit priest
missionary, and Lieutenant Danton, of the
engineers. In the spring OF 1857 preparations
have been completed for a campaign
against the S~enecas. and Captain Menard
Is intrusted with an important mission to
Fort FrOntenac, on Lake Ontario. He is
then in Quebec. and chooses Danton and
Father Claude to mpa him on the
long trip up the St. Lawrence. Valerie,
whose father has returned to France, has
been given in Menard's care to take to
Frontenac, where she has a cousin. Captain
La Grange, to whom she has been be-
trothed. Only Father Claude, however,
knows the object of her journey. La Grange
is a drunken. brutal officer. who has in
CURED the enmity of the Indians by treach-
erously capturing a peaceable hunting party
OF braves and sending them to France to
work the Kings galleys. Menard. although
In charge of the escort accompanying the
Indians to Quebec. did not approve La
Oranges action. but got most of the blame
and was marked for death at the stake by
a chief whose son was a member of the
captured hunting party. This happened
some time previous to Menard's mission to
Frontenac. the incidents of which furnish
the material for Mr.. Merwin's story.
From the start OF the little party that
left Quebec just as the spring of 1857 was
waning until it's arrival at Frontenac
there are experiences varied enough TO
please the most e~xacting Of those who like
stories Of adventure. The party that en-
barks in the canoe at Quebec is composed
Of Menard, Danton. Father Claude, Valerie
and two Voyageurs, as the French called
their canoe men. DantOn soon falls in love
with the girl and, despite the warnings of
the priest and Menard. almost prevails on
her To run off with him and make their
way back TO Quebec. Valerie, however, who
is not really in love with her ardent wooer,
finally becomes alarmed and tells the
priest. Menard then takes the matter in
hand and the incident is temporarily
ended. One night, after leaving Montreal,
the party is attacked by Indians led by
Long Arrow, a chief who has sworn TO kill
Menard i'm revenge for the loss of a son
who had been sent 10 France. After a live
" fight the travellers are captured and
taken to an Indian village, where prepara-
tions are made to put Menard to death.
Meanwhile DantOn escapes, but is recap
tured. lie makes love to an Indian maiden,
induces her To furnish him with a red
mans tOggery, then runs of with the
maiden. but is pursued by the brother of
the girl, who kills and scalps his sister and
Danton. As proof that both are dead the
Indian brings the scalps to the cabin occu-
pied by Menard. Valerie and the priest.
This grewsome incident happens on the
night before the day on which Menard is
to run the gauntlet and afterward be
burned at the stake. Long Arrow and his
followers are holding a feast In celebration
of the expected torture. Menard learns that
-, fba vavf a~apfrr tAo IooIo~- - A. -
lied nations are to hold a council to deter
mine whether they will join the senecas in
their fight against the French and that
Long Arrow. fearing the other chiefs will
not sanction his contemplated revenge, is
anxious to dispose of Captain NIenard be-
fore they arrive. Valerie has made
friends with two Indian boys and Menard
brides them with the present of a mirror
10 take a message to Big Throat. an old
friend and the ranking chief OF the Onon-
dagas. urging him TO hasten TO the village.
Big Throat arrives just as Menard is run
ming the gauntlet and he stops the torture.
At the great council that night Menard is
permitted 10 speak and his eloquence sways
the chiefs into refusing to join the Senecas.
1t also results in giving liberty to himself.
the priest and the girl. Menard promises
that La Grange. who captured the hunting
party of braves for the Kings galleys, shall
be punished. and this places him in an awk-
ward position. for he has grown TO love
the girl who is betrothed TO La Grange.
While returning to the river TO continue the
journey TO Frontenac Menard is again cap
tured by Long Arrow, but manage to es-
cape and. with the aid of a friendly Indian,
finally reaches his destination. accompanied
by Valerie and Father Claude. The Indian,
thinking he will perform a service for
Menard and win renOwn in his tribe. kills
La Grange. Thus. Menard's promise 10 the
council is kept. without Official action.
Though the story does not say so. it is pre-
sumed Captain Menard and Valerie are
welded, for they are left standing side by
side as the book closes. Doubleday, Page
& Co, New York.
FAREWELL
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