Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-02-05

Sauteur people. Ii there be man below
us. let some une else tell who that
may be. Sir, ] promise you, when |
see this big water going on so fast and
heading SO far away from HONEYWELL,
admit it causes me to shiver!"
"'Tis much the same" said Law,
where home may be for me-"
"Ah, but It's different on the lakes"
said Dn Mesne, "for there we always
knew the way back, and knew that
twas down stream"
HE says well,' broke in Mary Con-
nynge. There is something in this
big river that chills me. l am afraid"
"And what say you, Tete Girls, and
you, Pierre Noir?" asked Law.
"Why, myself" replied the former,
II am with the captain. 1t matters
not. There must always be one trail
from which one does not return"
"Oui," said Pierre Noir. ITO be
sure, we have passed as good beaver
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; otis better on be-
yond. Suppose we never do return?
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,
land it is not for me to stand in the
way. My own fortune and family are
also with me, and home is where my
fire is lit"
Every WE'LL" replied Law. "Let us
run the river to it's 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.
"'Tis said the savages know the ways
by the Divine river of the Illini to tho
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 l have heard, be then be-
low the Illini, the Ottawas and the
Miamis, with | know not what tribes
from west of the Messasebe. IT'S for
you to say. Monsieur Las, but for my
own part-and tits but hazard at
best-I would say remain here, or
press on to the river of the Illini.'
"'Tis easy of decision, then" re-
Piled Law, after 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 amis!" cried Du
Mesne, setting his own paddle-blade
deep into the flood. EN- roulant ma
boule, roulant-"
Again the chorus rose, and again the
hardy craft leaped onward into the I'M
explored.
Day after day following this the
journey was resumed, and day after
day the travellers with eager eyes wit
messed prospect of continual change.
| The bluffs, holder and more gigantic,
lowered more precipitous than the
| banks of the gentler streams which
| they had left behina. Forests ranged
| down to the shores, and wide, green
decked islands crept into view, and lit
| tie timbsred valleys of lesser streams
came marching down to the imposing
| flood of Messasebe. Again the serrated
| bluffs broke back and showed vast Wis
| 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
en-. "'Tis great land. and mighty.
and now, monsieur, l know why the
Indians say tbs guarded by spirits.
Sure, l can myself feel something in
the air which makes my shoulder
J blades to creep"
"'Tis a 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
himself, he 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 Illini. This they ascend
ed, and SO finally, early in one evening,
at the bank Of 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 a timbered hill, back OF
| which stretched high, rolling prairies
| dotted with little groves and broken
with wide swalss 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 tc
Law with questioning gaze. John Law
| struck the earth with his heel.
| "Here!" said he. Here let us stop
| TITS 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 Dr
/ Mesne, "and may fortune send us
happy enterprises"
! "Rllt then for the houses ~ continued