Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-12-10

rub his eyes with his hands, but at
last his head sank down on his
breast, his mouth opened and he
began to snore. waited a little
longer and then, very cautiously,
carried the guns one by one out of
the circle Of freight. Then took
them down to the beach and placed
them in the canoe. The axe I secured
in the same way. From the bateau
took the provisions. Then had
all the little canoe could carry Push
ing we'll out from the land, threw
them all overheard.
Then went back, took the MAST
and sail and all the oars but one
towed them out till the wind, TOOK
hold of them and let them drift
away in the darkness. Next, trans.
ferred the bale Of furs to my own
craft, moored the canoe to the stern
of the bateau with cord, and sat
down to wait.
This was the hardest part, but q
July night is short here at Mackinac,
and the dawn came at last. gray and
dreary. A little later the five voy.
ageurs burst through the bushes and
came running down across the beach.
Hold on!" said, raising my gun;
They all stopped short. Francois,
with a great volley Of French oaths.
asked what / was doing.
- want you to go back to Mack
mac with me-" said. 81 told you
Francois, that wouldn't tell Mr..
Crooks or Mr.. Stewart that you were
didn't suppose that you were going
to break into the warehouse and
steal the best OF the furs. Now I've
taken your guns and your provisions
and oars and thrown them into the
lake. You can't go on without them.
II you'll go back to Mackinac and
si-c- youIoel-cs- up, f IL try to set Mr..
Stewart to be easy on you: but II
you won't, I'll go back myself and
tell him where you are.
"You will, hey?" and Francois
dashed forward without needing my
gun. Before he could. reach the
bateau I cut the cord. and with a
quick shove sent the canoe well out
| from shore.
But Alec Prevanche caught up a
| heavy stone and threw it. It struck
| my paddle and grazed the gunwale
without doing any damage. Two
| inches lower and it would have
crashed through the birch-bark sides
as if they had been paper.
'Try that again and I'll shoot
fgou!" remarked, and brought the
rife to my shoulder.
Alec picked up another stone, but
| the other men took him by the
arms and held him.
'.''I'll give you ten minutes to think
1t over" I said, "and if you are not
ready to start by that time I'll go. >
The five went off among the bushes
to hold consultation, but they soon
reappeared.
/ you've got us tight" Francois
said. eff we go back will you fix il
with Mr.. Stewart and Mr.. Crooks?"
I told them I would try to do SO
and they took their places in the
bateau, looking su!ky and mutterine
French curses
Alec stood in the stern and scu1led
| with the one oar that was left, ant
l followed in the canoe. The shor
summer gale had nearly blown itsel
out and the wind was rapidly sub
siding.
We had made our way severa
miles. up the shore of the island AM
were nearing its southwestern point
when Francois gave a shout. ]
bateau full of men was coming roun,
the point, and in its bow stood MI
Stewart. The sight was too muc'
. for the deserters. They ran thei
boat. ashore and dashed across tn
beach and into the woods.
never saw them again, but
afterward learned from Indians ths
they remained on the island for som
I | time, living on berries and littl
! corn which they had carried up frol
the bateau from the spot where
had found them They finally bui
raft. of driftwood, crossed over /
! the south shore, and made their wa
4 through the woods and along tt
beach to Detroit and Lower Canad
No one ever knew how they got tt
bale of furs out of the warehouse.
J Well, that nights work helped n
to tell the whole truth to Mr.. Stey
art. Two weeks later my prepar
tions were all made for going ba(
| into the Indian country in charge /,
two bateaux and half dozen me
= The brigade to which I was assignt
l. was to leave the next morning, al
in the evening I was summoned
+ the private Office, where I found M
Crooks and Mr.. Stewart.
= They both greeted me kindly, al
4 Mr.. Crooks handed me two lette
Z and told me to look them over 81