Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-22

limited at parting, letting through a pale
radiance from the western sky, where lin
gered the departing day. This light, as did
the illuminating glare of the forked flames
above. disclosed the white helmets of the
trooping waters, rushing on with thunder
Gus unison Of tread; and the rafting thun-
der-shocks, intermittent, though coming
steadily nearer served but to emphasize
these foot strokes of the waves. The heav-
ems above and the waters under the earth
these conspired, these marched together, to
assail, to overwhelm, to utterly destroy.
To destroy what? Why this Wild protest
of the wilderness? Was 1t this wide blown,
scattered fire, whose sparks and ashes were
sown broadcast, till but stubborn remnants
chung under the sheltering backlog Of the
bivouac hearth? Was it this frail lodge,
built upon plant, yielding poles, covered
cunningly with mats and bark, carpeted
with robe Of elk and buffalo? Yet why
should the elements rage at tiny fire, and
WHY should they tear at little house of
nomad man, since these things were old
upon the earth? Was it somewhat else that
melted this elemental rage? This might
have been; for surely, builder Of this hearth
fire which would not Quench, master OF this
house which would not yield, there was
now come up to the door Of the wilderness
the white man, risen from the sea. heralding
the day which the tribes had for generations
blindly prophesied! The white man, stern.
stubborn, fruitful. had come to despoil the
west of it's secrets!c n
Let all the elements therefore join in
riotous revolt Let earth and sea and sky
make common causa! Rage, waves and
blaze, ye fiery tongues, and threaten, for
ests with all your luminous voices! Smite,
DESTROY or terrify into swift retreat this
little band! Crush out their tenement!
Loosen and brush cfr1 this feeble finger
grasp at the ancient threshold! With ban
ners of flame, with armies Of darkness. with
shoutings Of the captains of the storms, as
sail, denude, destroy, II even by the agony
of their terrors, these feeble folk now come
hither! And by this more especially, since
they would set the seal OF fruitfulness upon
the land and bring upon the earth a gen.
Grafton vet to follow. Hover about this bed
boughs all we most terrifying spirits! Let
not this thing be! 20
Mother of God!'. cried Jean Breboeuf.
bending low and pulling his tunic tighter
by the belt, as he came gasping into the
faint circle of light which still remained at
the fire log "'Tis murderous, this storm!
All. Monsieur du Mesne, we are dead men!
But what matter? IT'S as well now as
later Said / not so to you all the way
down Michiganon from the Straits? A rab-
bit crossed my path at the last camp before
Michillmackinac and when we took boat to
leave the mission at the Straits three crows
flew directly across our way. Did / not
beseech you to turn back? Did not tell
YOU most of all, that we had no right
honest Voyageurs that we are, to leave for
the woods without confessing to the good
father? IT'S two years now since I have
been proper shriven, and two years is too
long for a voyageur to remain unabsolyed
Mother of God! When 1 see the lightninRs
and listen to that wind l bethink me of nv
sins-my sins! vow bale Of beaver"
"Pish! Jean," responded Du Mesne who
had come in from the cover of the wood and
was casting about in the darkness as best
he might to see that all was made secure
'"Thou'lt feel better when the sun shines