The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-03-31
CHAPTER Xxx.

THE PATHWAY OF THE WATERS.
The news of the intended departure
was received with Joy by the crew OF
voyageurs, who on the warning of an
instant, fell forthwith to the simple
tasks of breaking camp and storing
the accustomed bales and bundles in
their places in the great canot du Nord.
La voila!" said Tete Girls. Here
she sits, this canoe, eager TO go on.
'Tis forward again, mes amis! For
ward once more; and glad enough am
for this day. We shall see new lands
ere long"
For my part" said Jean Breboeuf,
Il also am most anxious to be away.
for | have eaten this whitefsh until
| crave no more. | had hethought me
how excellent are the pumpkins of the
good fathers at the straits; and in
deed would we had with us more of
that excellent fruit, the beam"
Bah! Jean Breboeuf," retorted
Pierre Noir. ".'Tis but a poor-hearted
voyageur would hang about a mission
garden with hoe in his hand instead
of gun. Perhaps the good sisters at
the Mountain miss thy skill at pulling
weeds"
NAY. now, I can live as long on
fish and flesh as any man." replied
Jean Breboeuf, stoutly. nor do |
hold myself. Monsieur Tete Girls, one
jot in courage back of any man upon
the trail"
"Of course not. save in time of
storm" grinned Tete Girls. Then, it
Is Holy Mary, witness my VOW Of
bale of beaver!' 1t is"
well, so be it," said Jean Breboeuf.
stoutly. Ills sure bale of beaver
will come easily enough in these new
lands; and-though l insist again that
| have naught Of superstition in my
soul-when raven sits on tree
near camp and croaks of a morning be-
fore breakfast-as upon my word of
honor was the case this morning
there must be some i'll fate in store for
us, as doth but stand to reason"
But say you so?" said Tete Girls,
pausing at his task, with his face as
Stunning a certain seriousness.
"Assuredly." said Jean Breboeuf
IT'S as l told you. Moreover, | in
sist to you, my brothers, that the signs
have not been right for this trip at
any time. For myself, look for moth
ing but disaster"
The humor of Jean Breboeuf's very
gravity appealed so strongly to his
older comrades that they broke out in
to laughter, and so all fell again to
their tasks, in sheer light-heartedness
forgetting the superstitions of their
class
Thus at length the party took ship
again, and in time made the head of
the great bay within whose arms they
lad been for some time encamped.
They won up over the sullen rapids of
the river which came into the bay,
toiing sometimes waist-deep at the
cordelle, yet complaining not at all.
So in time they came out on the wide
expanse of the shallow lake of the
Winnebagoes, which body of water
they crossed directly. coming into the
quiet channel Of the stream which fell
in upon its western shore. Up this
stream In turn steadily they passed
amid panorama filled with constant
change. Sometimes the gentle river
bent away in long curves, with hardly
a ripple upon its placid surface, save
where now and again some startled
fish sprang into the air in fright or
sport, or In the rush upon its prey.
Then the stream would lead away into
vast seas of marsh lands, waving in
illimitable reaches Of rushes, or fringed
with the unspeakably beautiful green
Of the graceful wild rice plant.
In these wide levels now and again
The channel divided, or lost itself in
little cul de sacs, from which the pad
llers were obliged to retrace their way.
All about them rose myriads OF birds
and wild fowl. which made their nests
among these marshes, and the babbling
,hatter of the rail. the high-keyed
Ealing Of the coot. or the clamoripg |
If the BODYBUILDING mallard assailed |
heir ears hour after hour as they
passed on between the leafy shores. |
Then, again, the channel would swee , |
o one side of the marsh, and give view
o wide yistas Of high and rolling lands