Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-11-21


In the stockade.
Helm formed a great liking for the
Dig Frenchman, whose breezy freedom
OF manner and expansive good humor
struck him favorably from the begin
ming. NJ. Roussillon's ability to speak
English with considerable ease helped
the friendship along, no doubt; at all
events their first interview ended with
q hearty show of good fellowship, and
as time passed they became almost in
separable companions during NJ. Rous-
si1lon's periods of rest from his trading
excursions among the Indians. They
played cards and brewed hot drinks
over which they told marvellous stories,
the latest one invariably SURPRISING all
dts predecessors.
Helm had AN eye to business, and
turned NJ. Roussillon's knowledge of
the Indians to valuable account so
that he soon had very pleasant rela-
lions with most of the tribes within
reach of his agents. This gave feel
ing of great security to the people of
Vincennes. They pursued their mar
row agricultural activities with excel
lent results and redoubled those social
Gayeties which, even in hut and cabin
under all the adverse conditions Of en-
IRENE frontier life, were dear to the
volatile and genial French tempera-
ment.
Lieutenant Beverley found much to
interest him in the quaint town. but
the piece de resistance was Oncle
Jazon, who proved to be both fascinat-
ing and unmanageable-a hard nut to
crack, yet possessing kernel absO-
lutely original in flavor. Beverley Wis
tied him one evening in his hut-it
might better be called a den-a Curl
ously built thing, with walls of vertical
poles set in quadrangular trench dug
in the ground, and rooted with grass.
Inside and out it was plastered with
clay, and the floor of dried mud was as
smooth and hard as concrete paving.
In one end there was wide fireplace
grimy with SCOT, in the other mere
peephOle for a window; a wooden
bench, a bed of skins and two or three
stools were barely visible in the glo.m.
In the doorway Oncle Jazon sat whit
@AAA$@ NiNllNCi pllACt VI AANhoAS 1AIo q
ramrod for his long flintlock American
rife
maybe We know Simon kenton,"
said the old man, after he and Beverley
had conversed for awhile, seeing that
you are from Kentucky-eh?
"Xes, | do know him we'll; he's a
warm personal friend of mine,'' said
Beverley with quick interest, for it
surprised him that Oncle Jazon should
know anything about Kenton. do you
know him. NJ. Jazon?"
Oncle Jazon winked conceitedly and
sighted along his rudimentary ramrod
to see if it was straight, then, pucker
ing his lips as il on the point of whis
Ting, made an affirmative noise quite
impossible to spell.
"Well, I'm glad you are acquainted
with Kenton,'' said Beverley. "Where
did you and he come together?"
Oncle Jazon chuckled reminiscently
land scratched the skinless, cicatrized
SPOT where his scalp had once -four
1shed. :,
:Qh, several Places" he answered.
"Ye see thet hair a-hangin' there on
the wall?' He pointed at dry wisp
dangling under peg in a log barely
visible by the bad light. swell, thet's
my scalp. He, he, he"' He snickered
a. If the fact were a most enjoyable
joke. 'Simon Kenton can tell We about
the< little affair." The Indians thought
I was dead, and they took my hair; but
I wasn't dead. was just a-givin' 'em
possum act. When they was gone l
got up from where I was a-layin' and
trotted off,. My head was sore, and,
ventrebleu, but was mad! He, he,
her
All this time he spoke in French,
and the English but poorly paraphras-
es his odd turns of expression. His
Erimaces and grunts cannot even be
limited.
1t was long story, as Beverley re-
,ceived it, told scrappily, but with GER
tain rude art In the end Oncle Jazon
said with unctuous self satisfaction:
Accidents will happen. got my
chance at tibet Indian who skinned my
head, and jes' took a bead on i'm with
my old rifle. I can't shoot much, never
could, but happened to hit i'm square
in the lef' eye, what I shot at, and it
was a hundred yards. Down he tum-
Ebles. and runs to i'm and finds my
>aarl1e old scalp a-hangin' to his belt.
Well, lifted off his hair with my
:lnife and united mine from the belt,
Snd then had both scalps-he, he, he!
,e ask Simon Kenton when We see
IN. He was along at the same time.
Ind they made i'm run the gauntlet and
pretty nigh beat the life out of i'm.
VentrebleuH|'
Twilight and moonlight were blend
ing softly when Beverley, on his way
tack to the fort, departing from d.
rect course. went along the rivers side
<<outAward to have a few moments Of
!. . s*. ~