The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-01

CHAPTER ill.-ContInued.
3. Messasebe.

CHAPTER ill.-ContInued.
Messasebe.
Day after day following this the jour-
ney was resumed, and day after day the
travellers with eager eyes witnessed a
prospect Of continual change The bluffs,
holder and more gigantic, lowered more
precipitous than the banks of the gentlerl
streams which they had left behind. For
ests ranged down to the shores, and wide,
green-decked islands crept into view. and
little t1nbered valleys Of lesser streams
came marching down to the imposing
flood Of Messaebe. Again the serrated
bluffs broke back and showed vast vistas
Of green savannas, covered with tall, wav-
ing grasses, broken by little rolling hills,
over which crossed herds Of elk. and buf-
falo and deer.
.'Tis O. land of plenty" said Du Mesne
one day, breaking the habitual silence into
which the party had fallen. "'Tis great
land. and mighty. And now. Monsieur,
know why the Indians say tits guarded
by spirits. Sure, + can myself feel some
thing In the air which makes my Shout
derblades to creep"
'.'Tis a mighty land, and full Of Won
ders." assented Law, who. in different
fashion. had felt the same mysterious spell
Of this great stream. For himself, he was
nearer to reverence than ever yet he had
been in all his wild young life.
:, Now SO it happened that at length, af
ter q long though rapid journey down the
great river, they came to that stream
which they took to be the river Of the
1ll1ni. This they assembled, and so finally,
early in one evening, at the bank OF wide
and placid bayou, shaded by willows and
birch trees and by great elms that bore
aloft canopy Of clinging vines, they made
o. landing for the biyouao which was to
prove their final tarrying place. The
great canot du Nord came to rest at the
foot Of a timbered hill. back Of which
stretched high, rolling prairies. dotted
with little groves and broken with wide
swales and winding sloughs. The leaders Of
che party. with Tete Girls and Pierre Noir.
assembled the bluffs and made brief ex-
plolHAtion; not more, as was tacitly under
stood, with view to choosing the spot for,
the evening encampment than with the
purpose Of selecting a permanent stopping
place. Du Mesne at length turned to Law
with questioning gaze. John Law struck
the earth with his heel
"Here" said he. Here, let us stop.
'Tis as well as any place. There are flow
ers and trees, and meadows and hedges
Hike to those Of England. Here let US
stay!''
':sAh. you say we'll indeed!" cried Du
Mesne, "and may fortune send us happy
enterprises
."Bpt then, for the houses" continued
Law. Il presume we must keep close to
this little stream which flows from the
bluff. And yet we must have place
whence we can obtain good view. Then,
with stout walls to protect us, we might
but see! What Is that beyond? Look!
There is. If I mistake not, house al
veady bullded!'
"'Tis true, as live!" cried Du Mesne
lowering his voice instinctively, as his
quick eye caught the spot where Law was
pointing. But. good God! what can Il
1mean?"
They advanced cautiously into the little
open space beyond them, a glade but 6
few hundred yards across and lined b,
encircling trees. They saw indeed a habi
tation erected by human hands. apparent
ly not altogether without skill. Their,
were rude walls Of logs, reinforced b,
stakes planted in the ground From
the four corners Of the Enclosure projected
overhangipg beams There was an open
i Ing In the Enclosure. as they discovere,
upon closer approach, and entering at thi
rude door, the party looked about then
euriously.
Du Mesne shut his lips tight torether
This was no house built by the hands o
white mon. There were here no quarters
no shops, no chapel with its little bell
instead, there stood a few dried an
Swisted poles, and all around lay the lit
ter Of an abandoned camp.
'noquots. by the living Mother of Godl
slcr1ed Pierre Noir.
"Lookl". cried Tets Girls calling Their
again outside the Enclosure. He stoo
Kicking in the ashes of what had been
!, the oharred enbers an iron kettle int
which he gazed ourious1y. He turne
aMAy as John Law stepped up beside hin
4 There must have been game here i
plenty said Law: There are bone
y 8cattered all about -
De Mesne and Tete Girls looked at eac
. ether IN silence. and the former at lengt
taplieds ~ - -.
This is an 1roquois war house, Mon
afsur Las" said he. '"They lived her
1or more than month, and, as you sa,
they fed we'll. But these bones Won Sc
arc not tho bones Of elk or deer They al
fhe bones Of men, women and children"
Law stood taking in each detail Of tt
4cene about him. =
Nov you have seen what is before U.s.
Eesumed Du Mesne. 1.-THE 1roquois hay
gone, tits true. They have wiped out II
Villages which We're here There are II
little cornfields, but warrant you the
have not seen a ton1ahawk hoe for
month or more. The Iroquois have gon
yet the fact that they have been he,
proves they may come again. What &c
4 you, Tete Gris; and what is your belle
.Tete Girls remained silent for some m,
5nents. It's as monsieur says" reptile
She at length. t"'Tis all one to ma. r ,
or stay, as It shall please the others. The
Is always one trail over which one do
mot, return" ,a : ....-
'tAnd you, Pierre?" ,-.- .
IT stay by my friends replied Pier
NOR, briefly.
land you. Monsieur L'as?' asked +
Mesne. 49,. . -- .-... --.~. 49,. :
Law raised his head with the old-tin
determination. my friends" said h
1--WE have elected to come into this count
and take its conditions as we find the,
II we falter. we lose; Of that we may re
assured. Let us not turn back because
81 few savages have been here and ha
slaughtered few other savages. II
lightning has struck, yet it may n
strike again at the same tree The II
quois. have been here, but they departe
and they have left nothing to invite tn,
return. Now, 1t is necessary that ,
nakeya pause and build some place for O
abode. Here is a post already half bull
IN ed ,ot our hands"
.But IL the savages return?" said ]
$ AMesne.
Then we will fight" said John Law.
And right YOU are,' replied Du Mesl
2I s'Your reasoning is correct. vote tt
El>,.l1 S.o,,a ckoxi IT,, 4.