Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-21

profitable, was to extend onward and outward in all the marches of the West From one end of the Great River of the West to the other the insignia of France and of Frances king were to be erected, and Frances posts were to hold all the ancient trails. Even at the mouth of the Great River, fOrestalling these sullen English and these sluggish English colonists, far to the south in the sOmber forests and miasmatic marshes, there was to be established one more ruling point for the arms of Louis the Grand. It was a great game this, for which the continent of Amer ica was in preparation. It was mighty thing, this gathering of the Great Peace, this time when colonists and their king were seeing the first breaking of the wave on the shore of an empire alluring, wonderful, unpar- alleled. . Into this wild rabble of savages and citizens, of priest and soldier and coureur, Laws friends, Pierre Noir and Jean Breboeuf, swiftly disap- peared, naturally, fitly and unavoid- ably The West is calling to us, Mon sieur," said Pierre Noir one morning, as he stooda looking out across the river. 'I hear once more the spirits | of the Messasebe. Monsieur, will you come?'
 | Law shook his head. Yet two days | later, as he stood at that very point, l there came to him the silent feet of two coureurs instead of one. Once more he heard in his ear the question: Monsieur Las, will you come?" At this voice he started. In an in- | stant his arms were about the neck of Du Mesne, and tears were falling from | the eyes of both in the welcome of that brotherhood which is admitted only by those who have known together arms and danger and hardship, the touch. of | the hard ground and the sight of the wide blue sky.
 .tDu Mesne, my friend!"
 l Monsieur L'as!"
 "It is as though you came from the depths of the sea, Du Mesne!" said Law.
 And as though you yourself arose from the grave, Monsieur!" | How did you know" l "Why, easily. You do not understand the ways of the wilderness, where news 1 travels as fast as in the cities. You were hardly below the foot of Michiga- l non before runners from the Illini had | spread the news along the Chicaqua, where I was then in camp For the rest the runners brought also news of the Big Peace. I reasoned that the l Iroquois would not dare to destroy | their captives, that in time the agents of the government would receive the l captives of the IroQuOis-that these l captives would naturally come to the settlements on the St. Lawrence, since it was the French against whom the Iroquois had been at war; that having come to Montreal, you would naturally remain here for time. The rest was easy. I fared on to the straits this spring, and then on down the lakes. have sold our furs, and am now ready to account to you with sum quite as much as we should have expected.
 Nov, Monsieur and Du Mesne stretched out his arm again, pointing to the down-coming flood of the St. Lawrence, Monsieur, will you come? I see not the St. Lawrence, but the Messasebe. I can hear the voices call- ing!''
 | Law dashed his hand across his eyes and turned his head away. Not yet, Du Mesne," said he. .I do not know. Not yet I must first go across the l waters. Perhaps sometime-I can not tell. But this, my comrades, my brothers, do know; that never, until the last sod lies on my grave, will forget the Messasebe, or forget you. Go back, if you will, my brothers; but at night, when you sit by your fireside, think of me, as I shall think of you, there in the great valley. My friends, it is the heart of the world!''
 But, Monsieur"
 There, Du Mesne-I would not talk to-day. At another time Brothers, adieu!"
 "Adieu, my brother,' said the cour- eur, his own emotion showing in his eyes; and their hands met again.
 Monsieur is cast down. said Du Mesne to Pierre Noir later, as they reached the beach. Now, what think your"
 Usually. as you know, Pierre, it is question of some woman. It reminds ne, WdDaud was TSL1iSS cuOUSu WuCA IEleft her among the Illini with you. Now, God bless my heart, I find her how think you? With her crucif1x lost, cooking for dirty Ojibway!"
 Mary Mother!" said Pierre Noir, eff it be a matter of woman-well, God help us all. At least 'tis something that will take Monsieur Las over seas again"
 '"Tis mostly woman," unused Du Mesne "but this passeth my wit"
 True, they pass the wit of all. Now, did ever tell thee about the mission girl at Michilimackinac-bu stay! That for another time. They tell me that our comrade, Greysolon du L'hut is expected in tomorrow with party from the far end of Superior Come let us have the news"
 'Tous les printemps,
 Tant des nouvelles,'
 ! 1.;~