The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-29

CHAPTER l.-Continued.


CHAPTER l.-Contlnued.
Far enough was this from the tur-
moil Of London, which Law and his COM
pa MON had left nearly a year before; far
enough still from the wild capital of New
France, where they had spent the win
ter, after landing, as much by chance as
through any plan, at the port of the St.
Lawrence. Ever a demon Of unrest drove
Law forward; ever there beckoned to him
that Irresistible West, of which he was
one of the earliest to feel the charm. Far
Their and farther westward, swift and
swifter than ever the boats of the fur
traders had made the journey before, he
and his party, led by Du Mesne, the ex-
galley slave and Wanderer whom Law had
b. chance met again, and gladly, at Mon
treal, had made the long and dangerous
run up the lakes, past Northumberland,
down the lake of Michiganon, headed to-
ward the interior of a new continent
which was then, as for generations after
then, the land of wondrous distances, of
grand enterprises, Of magnificent prom
1ses and immense fulfilments. The bales
and bundles of this bivouac belonged to
John Law, bought by gold from the gam
ing tables of Montreal and Quebec, and
ventured in the one great hazard which
appealed to him most irresistibly the
hazard of life and fortune IN a far land,
where he might live unneighbored, and
where he might forget. Gambler in Eng
land. gambler again in New France, now
tradlng fur merchant and voyageur, he
was, as always, an adventurer. Du Mesne
and his hardy crew hailed him already as
new captain Of the trails. new cou-
reur won from the old world by the saw
age witchery Of the new. He was their
brother; and had he indeed owned longer
years of training, his keenness of eye,
his strength Of arm, his tirelessness of
limb could hardly have been greater than
they seemed in his first voyage to the
west.
'Tous les printemps,
Tant DIES nouvelles"
hurnmed Du Mesne, as he busted himself
about the camp casting the while eau
tious eye to note the progress Of the
threatening storm.
"TOus les amants
Changent des mattresses.
Jamals lie bon vim n'endOrt-
L'amour me reveille!'
The best Is before us now, Monsieur
Las" said Du Mesne, joining Law, at
lngth. "Assuredly the best is always that
which is ahead and which is unknown; but
In point Of fact the hardest Of our journey
is over, for henceforth we may stretch our
t. make
good camps for madame, who, as we both
perceive, is much in need of ease and care.
We shall make all safe and comfortable
for this night, doubt not.
Meantime continued he, "let us see
that all is well with our men and arms,
for henceforth we must put out guards.
Attention, comrades! Present your pieces
and answer the roll call! Pierre Ber-
thier!'
> lei! Monster" replied the one better
known as Pierre Noir, a tall and dark
visaged Canadian, clad in the common
costume, half Indian and half civilized,
which marked his class. A shirt of soft
dressed bucksk1n fell about his thighs; his
legs were enc%Sed in moose-skin leggings,
deeply fringed at the seams. About his
middle was broad sash, once red, and
upon his head a scanty cap of similar color
was pushed back. At his belt hung the
great hunting knife of the voyNgeur, ball
anced by a keen steel tomahawk such as
was IN common use among the Indians.
In his hand he supported a long barreled
musket which he now examined carefully
in the presence of the captain of the voya-
geurs.
Robert Challon!" next commanded Du
Mesne, and in turn the one addressed
looked over his piece, the captain also
scrutinizing the flint and printing with
careful eye.
Naturally, mes enfants," said he, "your
weapons are perfect, as ever. Kataikini,
and you Kabayan, my brothers, let me
see,' said he to the two Indians, the for
mer Huron and the latter an OiibWay,
both from the shores Of Superior. The
Indians arose silently, and without protest
submitted to the scrutiny which ever
seemed to them unnecessary
Jean Breboeuf!' called Du Mesne; and
in response there arose from the shadows
a wiry little Frenchman, who light have
been of any age from 20 to As, so sunburnt
and Wrinkled, yet so active and vigorous
did he SEEM
Men ami" said Du Mesne to him, child
lnsly, see now, here is your flint all but
out of its engagement. Pray you, have
better care of your piece For this you
shall stand the long watch of the night.
And now let us all to bed''
One by one the. little party was lost to
view within the dark interior of the hut
which they had arranged for themselves.
Du Mesne retired a distance from the fire
and seated himself upon fallen log, his
pipe glowing like coal in the enveIoping
darkness.
Law himself did not 50 soon leave
the outer air. He remained gazing out
at the wild scene about him, at the roll
ing waves dashing on the shore, their
SiSSIS WHEELING III the glare or the light
ming, now approaching more closely. He
hardened to the roll Of the far-off thun-
der REINFORCED by the thunder Of the
waves upon the shore, and noted the
sweep of the black forest about, of the
black sky overhead, unlit save for one
far-off, faint and feeble star.
1t was new world, this that lay around
him, new and savage world. If there
were world behind him, world which
once held sunlight and flowers and love
and hope-why then, it was a world lost
and gone forever, and it was very well
that this new world should be 50 differ
ent and SO stern.
In the darkness John Law heard voice,
the voice of a woman in terror. Swiftly
he stepped to the door of the rude lodge.
Don't let them sing it again-never
any more-that song
And what, madam"
THAT one-'Tous les amants changent
de mattresses p"
A moment later she whispered, IT am
afraid"
CHAPTER II.