Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-12

the one great hazard Wnlcn App6ated to him most irresistibly, the hazard of life and fortune in a far land, where he might live unneighbore and where he might forget. Gambler in England, gambler again in New France, now trading 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, 8 new coureur, won from the Old World by the savage witchery of the New. He was their brother; and had he indeed owned longer years of train- ing, 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, 4* Tant des nouvelles"
 hummed Du Mesne, as he busied him
 olc -7A 4, -a.- 4, --.., cautious eye to note the progress of the threatening storm.
 "Tous les amants
 fJ Changent des mattresses.
 Jamais Ie bon win n'endort--
 amour me reveille!'
 ssThe best is before us now, Mon sieur L'as,'' said Du Mesne, joining Law, at length. "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, legs ashore, and hunt and fish, and make good camps for madame, who, as we both perceive, is much in need of ease and care. We shall make all safe and and comfortable for this night, doubt not.
 Meantime continued he, let us all see that all is we'll with our men and arms, for henceforth we must put out guards. Attention, comrades. Present your pieces and answer the roll-call! Pierre Berthier!''
 'Ici! Monsieur, replied the one bet ter known as Pierre Noir, tall and dark-vfsaged Canadian, clad in the common costume, half-Indian and half civilized, which marked his class. A shirt of soft dressed buckskin fell about his thighs; his legs were encased in moose-skin leggings, deeply frfnged at the seams. About his middle was a broad sash, once red, and upon his head scanty cap of similar color was pushed back At his belt hung the great hunting knife of the voyageur, balanced by 8 keen steel tomahawk such as was in common use among the Indians. Tn his hand he supported a long, barreled musket, which he now examined carefully in the presence of the captain of thesvoyageurs
 Robert Challon!' next commanded Du Mesne, and in turn thee one ad- dressed looked over his piece, the cap tain also scrutinizing the flint and priming 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 former a Huron, and the latter an Ojibway, both from the shores of Superior The Indians arose silently, and without protest submitted to the scrutiny which ever seemed to them unnecessary.
 tsJean Breboeuf!" called Du Mesne; and in response there arose from the shadows wiry little Frenchman, who might shave been of any age from 20 to 45,. so sun-burnt and wrinkled, yet so active and vigourous did he seem.
 Mon ami,' said Du Mesne to him, chidingly, ssee 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 aby one the little party was lost to view within the dark interior of the hut which they had arranged for themselves. Du Mesne retired dis tance from the fire and seated himself upon fallen log, his pipe glowing like a coal in the enveloping darkness.
 Law himself did not so soon leave the outer air. He remained gazing out at the wild scene about him, at the roll waves dashing on the shore, their crests whitening in the glare of the lightning, now approaching more close ly. He hardened to the roll of the far off thunder reenforced by the thunder of the waves upon the shore, and noted the sweep OI the Dldch kOTGSJa aUCuL, of the black sky overhead, unlit save for one far-off, faint and feeble star
 It was new world, this that lay around him, a new and savage world If there were world behind him, a world which once held sunlight and flowers, and love and hope-why then, it was world lost and gone forever, and it was very we'll that this new world should be so different and so stern.
 Tn the darkness John Law heard a 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-neyer any more-that song.
 And what, Madam ?"
 "That one-'Tous les amants chang ent des maitresses!'
 A moment later she whispered, sI am afraid
 CTo be continued) .-------------
 Wants Som ct hing for Nothing.