The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-30
CHAPTER III.
Au LARGE.


1t was weeks after he night Of tho
great storm. and the camp of the voy-
RgeurS still held it's place on the shore OF
the great Green Bay. The wild game and
the abundant fishes Of the lake gave ample
provender for the party. and the little
!bivouac had been rendered more COM
fortab BILE IN many ways best known to
those jewellers of the forest. The light
jest, the burst of laughter, the careless
lease Of attitude showed the light-hearted
noyageurs content with this. their last
Abode, nor for the time did any word issue
which threatened to end their tarryng.
| Law one morning strolled out from the
lodge and seated himself on a bit OF drift
wood at the edge Of the forests fringe Of
cedars, where, seemingly. half forgetting
himself in the witchery Of the scene. he
gazed out idly over the wide prospect
which lay before him. H: was the same
young man as ever. surely. thlS III
creased guuntness was but the result
LOT long hours at the paddle. the hollow
lcheeks but betokened hard fare and the
defining winds Of the outdoor air. II the
eye were a trace more dim. that could be
due but to the reflections induced by the
quiet scene and hour. Yet why shOuld
John Law. young and refreshed drop
chin In hand and sit there moodlY LOOKING
ahead Of him, compromising not at oil
that which he beheld?
Indeed, there appeared now to the eye
of this young man not the white shores
and black crowned bluffs and distant
islands. not the sweep Of broad-"lngeu
birds cirCling near the waters, nor the
shadow Of the high poised eagle drifting
far above He felt not the soft wind upon
his cheek. nor noted the warmth of the
lon coming sun. In truth, even here, on
the very threshold Of a new world and
new life he was going back. pauslng I'M
certainly at the door Of that life and OF
that world which he had left behind
There appeared to him not the rolling un-
dulations Of the black topped forest not
the tossing surface of the inland sea, nor
the white pebbled beach laved by its
puIsing waters, He saw instead a white
and dusty road lined by green English
hedge-rows. Back, over there, beyond
these rolling blue waves, back OF the long
water trail over which he had come, there
were chapel and bell and ROBBED priest
and the world which made all fast for
ever. But back Of the wilderness mis-
sion, back Of the struggling settlements
OF Montreal and Quebec, back OF the
blue waters Of the ocean, there. too were
church and minister; and there dwelt a
woman whose figure stood now before his
eyes. part of this mental picture Of the
white road lined with the hedges Of
green.
A hand was laid on his shoulder. and
he half started up In sudden surprise.
hair her eyes dark in the shadow, stood
Mary COnnynge. A fair woman indeed
she might none the less have been very
savage as she stood there, clad no longer
IN the dress of civilization, but in the soft
native garb Of skins. ornamented with the
stained quilts Of the porcupine and the
bizarre adornments Of the native bead
work; upon her feet little beaded mocca-
Bins-the very mOccasins, it might have
been which Law had seen first In ancient
London town and which had played so
strange a part in his life since then.
You startled me-" said Law, simply.
~ was thinking.'
sudden jealous wave Of woman's d.
vining intuition came upon the woman at
his side. II doubt not said she. bit
terly. that / could name the subject Of your
thought, Why? Why sit here and dream
of her, when here am l. who deserve
everything that you can give?''
She stood erect. her eyes flashing, her
arms outstretched, her bosom painting I'M
der the frnged garments, her voice ring
ing as it might have been with the very
essence of truth and passion. Law looked
at her steadily. But the shadow did not
lift from his brow though he looked long
and pondered.
Come said he. at length, gently.
None the less we are as We are. In every
|Bame we take our chances, and in every
game We pay our debts. Let us 80 back
ITO the camp
AS they turned back down the beach
Law saw standing at little distance his
lieutenant Du Mesne, who hesitated as
though he would speak.
What Is It, Du Mesne?" asked LAX, ex-
cusng himself, with gesture and join
ing the Voyageur where he stood.
why, Monsieur Las said Du Mesne.
~ am making bold to mention it, but in
good truth there was some question in my
m RI vhCt ier0f
spring, as you know, Is now we'll advanced,
Ut was your first design to go far into the
west, and there to set up your station for
the trading in furs, Now there have come
these little incidents which have occa-
stoned US some delay. While I have not
doubted your enterprise, Monsieur, I be-
fhought me perhaps 1t might be within
your plans now to go but little farther on
perhaps, indeed, to turn back
ITO 60 back?" said Law.
We'll, yes that Is to say, Monsieur
Las back again down the great lakes, -
Have you then known so i'll as this
lDu Mesne?' said Law. 1T has not been
my custom to set backward foot on anv
sort Of TRAIL
"Oh. we'll. to be sure, Monsieur, that I
know quite WELL" replied Du Mesne, apol-
Iogetically. Il would only say that If you
do go forward, you will do more than most
men accomplish on their first voyage au
large in the wilderness. There comes to
,many certain shrinking of the heart
which leads them to find excuse for not
Earring farther on. Yonder, as you know,
monsieur lie Quebec and Montreal, some
what better fitted for the abode of mon
Sieur and madame than the tents of the
wilderness. Back to that, too, as we both
very well know Monieur, lie London and
old England; and I had been dull of eve
indeed did l not recognize the opportuni-
ties Of young gallant like yourself. Now.
while I know yourself to be a man of
spirit Monsieur Las, and while I should
welcome you gladly as a brother of
the trail, had only thought
that perhaps you would pardon me if
did but ask your purpose at this time
Law bent his head In silence for mo-
ment. What know you Of this forward
trail, Du Mesne?" said he. ''Have you
ever gone beyond this point in your own
5ourneyings?"
Never beyond this" replied Du Mesne,
"and indeed not far by many hundred
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