Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-03-10

bivouac belonged to John Law, bought
by gold from the gaming tables of
Montreal and Quebec, and ventured in
the one great hazard which appealed
to him most irresistibly, the hazard of
life and fortune in far land, where
he might live unneighbored, and where
he might forget. Gambler in England,
gambler again~in New France, now
trading fur-merchant and yoyageur,
he was, as always, an adventurer Du
Mesne and his hardy crew hailed him
already as new captain of the trails,
a 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 fhe West.
"Tous les printemps.
Tant des nouvelles''
hummed Du Mesne, as he busted him
self about the camp, casting the while
a cautious eye to note the progrei
the threatening storm.
"Tous les amants
Changent des mattresses.
Jamais lie bon vim n'endort-
L'amour me reveille!"
THE best is before us now, Mon
sieur Las" 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 well 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, a tall and
dark-yisaged 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 fringed at
the seams About his middle was a
broad sash, once red, and upon his
head q seanty cap OF similar color was
pushed back. At his belt hung the
great hunting knife OF the voyageur,
balanced by keen steel tomahawk
such as was in common use among
the Indians. In his hand he supported
a long-barreled musket, which he now
examined carefully in the presence of
the captain of the voyageurs.
Robert Challon!" next commanded
Du Mesne, and in turn the one adj
dressed looked over his piece, the cap
tain also scrutinizing the flint and
printing with careful eye.
Naturally, mes enfants, said he,
your weapons are perfect, as ever.
Kataikini, and you, Kabayan, my
brothers, let me see, id he to the
two Indians, the former Turon, and
the latter an Ojibway, both rom the
shores of Superior. The Indians arose
silently, and without protest submitted
to the scrutiny which ever seemed to
them unnecessary.
Jean Breboeufi" called Du Mesne;
and in response there arose from the
shadows a wiry little Frenchman, who
might have been of any age from 20
to As, so sun-burnt and wrinkled, yet
SO active and VIGOROUS did he SEEM
Mon ami" said Du Mesne to him,
chidingly, see 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 by one the little party was lost
to view within the dark interior of
the hut which they had arranged for
themselves. Du Mesne retired a dis
lance from the fire and seated himself
upon a fallen log, his pipe glowing
like 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
~ He hardened to the roll of the far
off thunder REINFORCED by the thunder
OF the waves upon the shore and noted
the sweep of the black forest about,
of the black sky overhead, un1it save
for one far-off, faint and feeble star
It was a new world, this that lay
around him, a new and savage world.
If there were a world behind him.
world which once held sunlight and
flowers. and love and hope why then,
it was world lost and gone forever,
and 1t was very well that this new
world should be SO different and SO
stern
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