Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-02-01
CHAPTER XVII.
A NIGHT JOURNEY IN THE WILDER
NESS.


then a patch Of foam, caught in como
eddy, lay like a PROSTATE ghost in
waiting, tall frs leaning over It, and,
side by side, the two canoes. like two
huge crocodiles slowly swimming, now
crept up the stream. Not word, not
a whisper even, from t11e four deter
mined men, bound on mission of pro-
lection over an unknown old hermit
who might not, after all, deserve it. It
was dim theory and faith in a long
range guess only on Martins part that
led him forward on that all-night jour-
ney, and yet that was Martins way.
Once he formed a conclusion he never
halted or turned back, but pushed on
until he proved himself right or wrong.
And what wild night journey that
was under the stars and ever on and
on into the black forest!
No use to turn back-no waiting.
welcoming light ahead, but ever the
same dark, forbidding wilderness.
ghostly and spectral. The black cur
rent they faced, veered and twisted
from side to side, ever disputing their
progress; owls hooted out OF swamps,
looms saluted them with half-human
despairing cries, when broad lakelet
in the stream was reached, while ever
and anon from out the darkness, came
the scream OF wildcat or panther.
Sometimes the way grew uncertain
where the stream broadened in
swamp, and here they poled into beds
of reeds, or nosed into clumps ct al
GERS, at last to find the current again
and enter the forest once more. Now
and then they halted to rest, fill their
pipes, and exchange greetings tn
whispers, for the wilderness at night
ever awes and loud speech seems dan
gerous: And SO on and on, hour after
hour, each man patiently welding his
paddle, while backs ached, arms grew
tired and eyes dim with watching, un-
til at last broadening lake was
reached just as the gray light of COM
ing morn drove away the darkness.
With renewed courage it was soon
crossed and there, in the same cove,
and on the same. sandy shore where
Martin and the doctor had camped,
the canoes We're drawn out and the
weird night journey ended.
1--WE have got to sleep a little, boys"
asserted Martin, looking into the tired
faces of the rest, and especially old
Cy, whose hollow eyes looked CHASTITY.
Il confess I'm we'll tired OUT
ut want the paddAliln' that tuc1serea
me so much as the :feelin' skeery all
the time," responded old Cy. 1T soc.
ter seemed s tho sum wild critter was
like to jump out O. the woods any
minnit."
But conversation was at a discount.
and, without waiting for tent raising,
or even cutting bough beds, each man
rolled himself in his blanket and the
sleep OF utter exhaustion.
And what picture greeted them two
hours later when the September sun.
now we'll up, smiled down into that
rippled lake, blue and sparkling!
Overhead a fish-hawk was circling:
across on a tall dead tree-top sat a
gray forest eagle; flock of ducks pad
died to and fro along the margin Of 4
bed Of wild rice, while just above and
nearer shore, stood an antlered der
knee deep in the water.
Best Of all, no sight or sound Of
aught human was visible.
The picture was so :woodlike, so ro-
mantle, so perfect with the two canoes
side by side on the sandy shore, kissed
by the ripples, it almost brought tears
to old Cy, unused to such.
If I'd got to shut NV eyes fer good"
he said, after long look with face up.
raised to where the eagle sat, 'I'd like
TO do it right now n carry this picter
with me into kingdom come l thought
knew what bein' in the woods meant,
but never did afore. Mebbe Gods
concluded to be good to me now I'm
gittin' old. They call me an middle in
Greenvale," he added a little sadly,
but / Amt, n 1"never go through
thick woods when it's sorter shadowy
n still. but feel jist as if God wac
keepin' me company n I'd orter step
light. Lookin' up at a mountain also
fleets me the same way, n jist can't
help takin' my hat off,"
And Martin, touched by the simple
reverence of old Cy, felt new admit
ration for him.
But duty of protection and rescue
lay ahead, and there was an Immediate
need of food. 1t did not take Levi long
to start fire, and while the slices of
venison grew fragrant as they broiled.
the coffee mingled its aroma with tho
resinous odor Of the forest, and the
boiling potatoes sent steam aloft, all
enjoyed vigorous wash in the clear
lake water.
II think we've stolen a good march
on those rascals who doubted my
word" said Martin, as he peeled a pc.
tato, then, spearing a brown slice d
venison of the wire broilers and drop.
ping it into old Cy's tin plate. he -
cured another for himself, added, they
must have gasped for breath WHEN ths9
woke up and found w eone.'' !"
J, s