The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-04-15
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE STORM.


of the tempest, and crowdiDg clos'
upon the flaming standards of th'
lightning, the armies of the clouds
came on. The sea-wide surface of tn,
lake went dull, and above it bent {
sky appalling in its blackness. The
wind at first was light, then fitful ant
gusty, like the rising choler of mar
affronted and nursing his own anger
| Ii gained in volume and swept or
across the tops of the forest trees. al
though with a hand contemptuous in
its strength, forbearing only by reason
OF its own whimsy Now and again
the cohorts of the clouds just limited
at parting, letting through pale radi-
ance from the western sky, where lin
gered the departing day. This light
| as did the Illuminating glare Of the
| forked names above, disclosed me
white helmets of the trooping waters
! rushing on with thunderous unison OF
| tread; and the rafting thunder-shocks
| Intermittent, though coming steadily
| nearer, served but to emphasize these
| foot strokes of the waves. The heavens
/
these conspired, these marched to
gether. to assail, to overwhelm, to ut
terly destroy.
To destroy what? Why this wild pro
test of the wilderness? Was 1t this
wide blown. scattered fire, whose
sparks and ashes were sown broadcast
till but stubborn remnants chung I'M
der the sheltering backlog of the
bivouac hearth? Was it this frai
lodge, built upon plant, yielding poles
covered cunningly with mats and bark
carpeted with robe of elk and buffalo
Vet why should the elements rage a.
q tiny fire. and why should thew +aar
at little house OF nomad N u, since
these things we're old upon the earth!
Was ii somewhat else that inciled this
elemental rage? This might have been;
for surely, builder of this hearth-fire
which would not quench, master OF
this horse which would not yield
there was now come up to the door
of the wilderness the white man, risen
from the sea, heralding the day 1ich
the tribes had for generations "a .aly
prophesied! The white man ern
stubborn, fruitful, had come 10 despoil |
the west of its secrets.
Let all the elements therefore Join |
in riotous revolt! Let earth and sea |
and sky make common cause Rage |
waves, and blazA We fiery tongues, |
and threaten, forests, with all your
rify into swift retreat this little band!
Crush out their tenement! Loosen and
brush off this feeble fingergrasp at
the ancient threshold! With banners
of flame, with armies of darkness with
shontings of the captains of the
storms, assail, denude, destroy, if even
by the agony of their horrors, these
feeble folk now come hither And by
this more especially, since they would
set the seal of fruitfulness upon the
land. and bring upon the earth gen.
Grafton yet to follow. Hover about this
bed in the frail and swaying lodge OF
bark and boughs, all We most terrify-
ing spirits! Let not this thing be-
Mother Of God!" cried Jean Bre- I
boeuf, bending low and pulling his
tunic tighter by the belt. as he came I
gasping into the faint circle of ligh; 5
which still remained at the fire log
otis murderous, this storm! All, Mon
sieur du Mesne, we are dead men! But
what matter? IT'S as well now as later
Said | not so to you all the way down Q
from the straits? A rab-
bit crossed my path at the last camp
before Michlimackinac, and when we
ook our boat to leave the mission at
he straits, three crows flew directly
lcross our way. Did not beseech you
o turn back? Did | not tell you,
most of all, that we had no right hon. ,
st voyageurs that we are, to leave for
he woods without confessing to the
,ood father? 'Tis two years now since
have been proper shriven, and two
ears is too long for voyageur to re-
main uuabsolved. Mother of God!
When see the lightnings and listen
0 that wind. bethink me of my sins
my sins! VOW bale of beaver"
"Pish! jean" responded Du Mesh,
Tho had come in from the cover OF ,
re wood and was casting about in !,
he darkness as best he might to see
hat all was made secure "Thoui
eel better when the sun shines again
all Pierre Nolr, and hurry, or orr
anoe will pound to bits upon the
each. Comet
All three went now knee-deep in the =,
irf, and Du Mesnel clinging to the n
nnwale as he passed out, was soon i
aist deep, and time and again Lest a,
Is footing in the flood
Pull" he cried at last Now. en- of
rant!" He had flung himself over b,
Ie stern, and with his knife cut the 10
de rope of the anchor-stone. Over. Ito