Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-11

ly. We'll all admit ignorance. 'Tis
little we know of our own province of Vir-
ginia. save that Virginia is a land of pow
erty and tobacco. Wealth-faith, if We have
wealth in your end of the continent, it's
time we English fought ye for it,
'Methinks you English are having enough
to do here close at home" sneered Du
Mesne Il have heard somewhat of Stein
kirk, and how We ran from the halfdressed
gentlemen of France"
Dark looks followed this Lold speech
which cut but too closely to the quick of
English pride. Pembroke quelled the in
cpient outcry with calmer speech
Peace, friends" said he. Ills not arms
we argue here, after all. We are but stu
dents at the fet of Monsieur du Mesne
who hath returned from foreign parts
Prithee, sir, tell more"
Tell We more-and if 1 did, would We be-
lieve it? What if l tell We of great rivers
far to the west of the Ottawa; of races as
strange to my princess people as to
them: of streams whose sands run in gold
where diamonds and sapphires are to be
picked up as We like? If l told We, would
ye believer
The martial hearts and adventurous souls
of the circle about him began to show in
the heightened color and closer crowding of
the young men to the table. Silence fell
upon the group.
"Ye know nothing. in this old rotten
world of what there is yet to be found in
America" erica Du Mesne. For myself |
have been no farther than the great falls
OF the Ontoneagrea-a mere trife of a
cataract, gentlemen, into which We might
pitch your tallest English cathedral and
sink 1t beyond its pinnacle with ease. Yet
have spoke with the holy fathers who
have journeyed far to the westward even
to the vast Messasebe, which is we'll known
to run into the China sea upon some far-off
coast not yet we'll charted. I have also
read the story of Sagean. who was far to
the west of that mighty river. Did not the
latter see and pursue and kill in fair fight
the giant unicorn. tabled Of Scripture? Is
mot hat oniy, lr,,o -
the east. and may we not, therefore, be ad-
vised that this new country takes hold upon
the stored lands Of the east? Why, this
holy frtar with whom l spoke, fresh back
from his voyaging to the cold upper ways
OF the northern tribes. who live beyond the
far-off channel at Northumberland he
not tell OF river of the name of the Blue
Earth. and did he not himself see turuuoses
and diamonds and emeralds taken in hand
fuls from this same blue earth? All bah!
gentlemen. Europe for you If We like, but
Tor me. back 1 go, so soon as 1 may get
proper passage and a connection which will
warrant me the voyage. Back l go to
Canada, to America, to the woods and
streams l would see again my ancient Du
Iete Girls. the trapper from the Mistasing-
free traders all. Life is there for the liv
ing, my comrades. This old world. small
and outworn. no more of it for me-"
And why came you back to this little oid
world OF ours. and you loved the new world
80 much! asked the cynical voice of him
who had been called Wilson
BY the body Of Godv' cried Din MeS,a
think We came of my own free will?
Look here and find your reason" He
| stripped back the opening of his doublet
and under waistcoat, and showed upon his
broad shoulder the scar of a red tri-point,
| deep and livd upon his flesh Look, Tbers
| is the fieur-de-ns OF France. That ia wbv
| came. nave rowed in the gal,eys me-
me a free man, a man of the woods Of Nv,
| France" ~"
| Murmurs of concern passed among the
| little group. Castleton rose from his chair
and leaned with his hands upon the table
| gazing now at the face and now at the
barred shoulder OF this stranger. who had
| by chance become a member of their night
| ly party.
Il have not been in London a fortnight
since my escape" said the man with the