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

miles. For my own part I rely chiefly
upon the story Of my brother, Greysolon
du L'hut. the boldest soul that ever put
paddle In the St. Lawrence. My brother
GreySolOn, by the fire one night, told me
that some years before he had been at the
mouth of the Green Bay-perhaps near
this very spot--and that here he and his
brothers found deserted Indian camp
Near 1t, lying half in the fire. where he
had fallen in exhaustion, was an old,
very old Indian, who had been abandoned
by his tribe to die-for that. you must
know. Monsieur, is of the pleasant
customs of the wilderness.
"Greysolon and his men revived this
savage in some fashion, and meantime
had much speech with him about this I'M
known land at whose edge we have now
arrived. The old savage said that he had
been many moons north and west OF that
place. He knew Of the river called Blue
Earth. perhaps the same of which Father
Hennepin has told. And also of the Di-
vine river, far below and tributary to the
Messasebe He said that his father was
once Of war party who went far to the
north against the Ojibways. and that his
people took from the OjibWays one OF
their prisoners, who said that he came
from some strange country far to the
westward where there was very wide
plain. of no trees. Beyond that there were
great mountains, taller than any to be
found in all this region hereabout. Be-
yond these mountains the prisoner did not
know what there might be, but these
mOunta ms his people took to be the edge
Of the world, beyond which could live only
wicked spirits. This was what the pris-
oner Of the Ojibways said He, too, was
an old man.
1.-THE captive of my brother Greyso]on
was an Outagamie, and he said that the
1,ric nf ha
Ojibways, fer they knew that he was sure
ly lying to them. Without doubt they did
quite right to burn him, for the notion Of
a great open country without trees or
streams is, of course. absurd to any one
who knows America. And as for noun
tans, all men know that the mountains
lie to the east Of us. not to the westward
- 'Twould seem much hearsay,' said
Law, this information which comes at
second, third and fourth hand
"True,' said Du Mesne, but such Is the
source Of the little we know of the valley
Of the Messasebe and that which lies be-
You'd it. None the less this idea offers
interest
"Yet you ask me if would RETURN
Twas but for yourself, monsieur. 1t
is there, if I may humbly confess to you,
that it is my own ambition some day to
arrive Mysef-this west, as I said long
ago to the gentlemen In London-appeals
to me- since it is indeed land unoccupted
unowned, an empire which we may have
all for ourselves. What say you, Monsieur
L'as?"
John Law Strengthened and stiffened as
he stood. For an instant his eye flashed
with the zeal Of youth and of adventure.
1t was but transient cloud which crossed
his face, yet there was sadness in his tono
as he replied.
my FRIEND" said he, you ask me for
my answer. I have pondered and now
decide. We shall go on. We shall go
forward. Let US have this west, my
friend Heaven helping us, let me find
somewhere, in some land. a place where
may be utterly lost, and where may
forget
(To be continued Tomorrow