The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-06-29
I pausing at his task, WITH mis- face as

pausing at his task, with mis- face as
suming certain seriousness.
"Assuredly," said Jean Brebosuf
IS Tis as told you. Moreover, in
sist to you, my brothers, that the signs
have not been right for this trip at
any time. For myself, look for moth
ing but disaster
The humor Of Jean Breboeufs very
gravity appealed SO strongly to his
older comrades that they broke out In
to laughter, and SO all fell again to
their tasks, in sheer light-heartedness
forgetting the superstitions of their
class.
Thus at length the party took ship
again, and in time made the head of
the great bay within whose arms they
had been for some time encamped.
They won up over the sullen rapids Of
the river which came into the bay,
toiling sometimes waist-deep at the
cordelle, yet complaining not at all.
So in time they came out on the wide
expanse of the shallow lake of the
Winnebagoes. which body of water
they crossed directly, coming into the
quiet channel of the stream which foil
in upon its western shore. Up this
stream in turn steadily they passed,
amid * panorama filled with constant
change. Sometimes the gentle river
bent away in long curves, with hardly
ripple upon Its placid surface, save
where now and again some startled
fish sprang into the air in fright or
sport, or in the rush upon its prey.
Then the stream would lead away into
vast seas of marsh lands, waving in
illimitable reaches of rushes, or fringed
with the unspeakably beautiful green
of the graceful wild rice plant.
In these wide levels now and again
the channel divided, or lost itself In
little cul de sacs, from which the pad
dlers were obliged to retrace their way.
All about. them rose myriads of birds
and wild fowl, which made their nests
among these marshes, and the babbling
chatter of the rail, the high-keyed
calling of the coot, or the clamoring
OF the BODYBUILDING mallard assailed
their ears hour after hour as they
passed on between the leafy shores.
Then, again, the channel would sweep
to one side of the marsh, and give view
to wide vistas of high and rolling lands.
dotted with groves of hardwood, with
here and there q swamp of cedar or of
tamarack. Little herds of elk and
droves of deer fed on the grass-covered
slopes. as fat, as sleek and fearless of
mankind as though they dwelt domes-
ticated in some noble park.
1t was land obviously but little
known, even to the most adventurous,
and as chance would have it, they met
not even wandering party of the ma
tive tribes. Clearly now the little
boat was climbing, climbing slowly
and gently. yet surely. upward from
the level of the great Lake Michiganon.
In time the little river broadened and
flattened out into wide, shallow ex-
panses, the waters known as the Lakes
Of the Foxes; and beyond that 1t be-
came yet more shallow and uncertain,
winding among quaking boys and UNI
known marshes; yet still, whether by
patience, or by cheerfulness, or by de-
termination, the craft stood on and on
and SO reached that end of the water
way which, in the opinion of the more
experienced Du Mesne, must surely be
the place known among the Indian
tribes as the place for the carrying
of boats"
Here they paused for few days, at
that mild summit of land which marks
the portage between the east bound
and the west bound waters; yet, i'm
PEELED ever by the eager spirit of the
adventurer, they made their pause but
short. In time they launched their
craft on the bright, smooth flood of
the river of the Ouisconsins, stained
coppery-red by its far-off, unknown
course in the north, where 1t had
bathed leagues of the roots of pine and
tamarack and cedar. They passed on
steadily westward, hour after hour,
with the current of tnis great stream,
among little islands covered with tim
Der; passed along bars of white sand
and flats of hardwood; beyond forest
covered knobs, in the openings of
which one might now and again see
great vistas Of scenery now peaceful
and now bold, with turreted knobs
and sweeping swards of green, as
though some noble house of old En-
gland were set back secluded within
these wide and well-kept grounds.
The country now rapidly lost its
marshy character. and as they ap-
preached the mouth of the great
stream, it being now well toward tho
middle of the summer, they reached,
suddenly and without forewarning,
that which they long had sought.
The sturdy paddlers were bending to
their tasks, each broad back swinging
in unison forward and back over the
thwart, each brown throat barred to
the air, each swart head uncovered to
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