Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-03-17


country as heart OF man could ask;
but never was land so good but there
was better just beyond
They say we'll, Du Mesne, spoke
John Law, presently; It's better on be-
yond. Suppose we never do returns
Did not say to you that | would
leave this other world as far behind me
as might be?''
Eth bien, Monsieur Las, you reply
with spirit, as ever" replied Du Mesne,
'sand it is not for me to stand in the
way. My own fortune and family are
also with me, and home is where my
IRE is lit
Very well, = replied Law Let us
run the river to its mouth, If need be.
IT'S one to me. And whether we get
back or not, It's another tale
ooh. make no doubt we shall win
back if need be" replied Du Mesne.
TITS said the savages know the ways
by the Divine river of the Illini to the
foot of Michiganon; and that, perhaps,
might be our best way back to the
lakes and to the mountain with our
beaver. We shall, provided we reach
the Divine river, as | should guess by
the stories / have heard, be then be-
low the Illini, the Ottawas and the
Miamis, with / know not what tribes
from west of the Messasebe. 'Tis for
you to say, Monsieur Las, but for my
own part--and it's but hazard at
best--I would say remain here, or
press on to the river of the Him.
"'Tis easy of decision, then" re-
Piled Law, after a moment of reflec-
ton. I'VE take that course which
leads us farther on at least. Again
the paddles, my friends! Tonight we
sup in our own kingdom. Strike up
the song. Du Mesne!'
A shout of approval broke from the
hardy men along the boat side, and
even Jean Breboeuf tossed up his cap
upon his paddle shaft
Forward, then, mes amisi" cried Du
Mesne, setting his own paddle-blade
deep into the food. En- roulant ma
boule, roulant-"
Again the chorus rose, and again the
hardy craft leaped onward into the un-
explored
Day after day following this the
journey was resumed, and day after
day the travellers with eager eyes wit
messed a prospect of continual change.
The bluffs, holder and more gigantic,
lowered more PERCEPTIONS than the
banks of the gentler streams which
they had left behind. Forests ranged
down to the shores, and wide, green
decked islands crept into view, and lit
tie timbered valleys of lesser streams
came marching down to the imposing
flood OF Messasebe. Again the serrated
bluffs broke back and showed vast vis-
tas of green savannas, covered with
tall, waving grasses, broken by little
rolling hills, over which crossed herds
of elk, and buffalo, and deer.
"'Tis a land of plenty said Du
Mesne one day, breaking the habitual
silence into which the party had fall fall
en-. IT'S a great land. and mighty.
and now, monsieur, know why the
Indians say it's guarded by spirits.
Sure, can myself feel something in
the air which makes my shoulder
blades to creep"
Tis mighty land, and full of
wonders" assented Law, who, in diff
ferent fashion, had felt the same mys-
FERROUS. spell of this great stream. For
hlmseII. ne was nearer to reverence
than ever yet he had been in all his
wild young life.
Now so it happened that at length,
after a long though rapid journey
down the great river, they came to
that stream which they took to be the
river of the Him. This they ascend
ed, and so finally, early in one evening,
at the bank of a wide and placid bayou,
shaded by willows and birch trees,
and by great elms that bore aloft a
canopy of clinging vines, they made a
landing for the bivouac which was to
prove their final tarrying place. The
great canot du Nord came to rest at
the foot of timbered hill, back Of
which stretched high, rolling prairies,
dotted with little groves and broken
with wide swales and winding sloughs.
The leaders of the party, with Tete Girls
and Pierre Noir. assembled the bluffs
and made brief exploration; not
more, as was tacitly understood, with
view to choosing the spot for the even
ing encampment than with the purpose
of selecting a permanent stopping
place. Du Mesne at length turned to
Law with questioning gaze John Law
struck the earth with his heel.
'Herei" said he. Here let us stop.
'Tis as well as any place. There are
flowers and trees, and meadows and
hedges, like to those of England. Here
let us STAY
"Ah, you say well indeed!' cried Du
Mesne, and may fortune send us
happy enterprises.
But then, for the houses, continued
Law 4 presume we must keep close
to this little stream which flows from
the bluff. And yet we must have a
place whence we can obtain good view.
II. .,k1