The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-11-05

QaEIy ABOUT MS victory over Alec
Prevanche and the other rum-drink-
ing voyageurs whose wood-chopping
on Bois Blanc Island he had been
sent to oversee when he was sixteen
years old. The boy still had to pay
penalty for his previous paltering
with the voyageur who had tempted
MIN to desert from his enlistment of
five years in the Astor Fur Company's
service, and the old man went on to
tell what that penalty turned out to
be.
When 1 went to bed after that first
day on Bois Blanc Island was proud
and happy. 1 had found that could
command men, and the discovery
changed my views of fur-trader's
lie. But in the midst of my salts
faction / suddenly remembered how I
mad encouraged Francois Robidaux's
plan that he and should slip away
In Two days, taking some of the COM
pany's boats with us. Now I saw nv
conduct in its true light, and in the
darkness of my tent shame came
over me, and 1 felt that I was a
sneak. But when I thought of nv
sister lying Ill, perhaps dead. and of
my natural longing to go home and
snare the family grief, could find
some excuse for myself, although not
enough TO Justify me in my own
mind.
1t was on a Saturday that I re-
turned to Mackinac. The few days
at Bois Blanc and the change from
sorting furs in the warehouse had
done me good. 1 knew 1 could do
my duty, and L resolved to do IT
cheerfully to the end Of my five
years term.
Late on Sunday afternoon I met
Francois, who had been looking for
me. He wanted me 10 be ready to
steal away on Tuesday night with n
party OF deserters.- told him I was
not going.
"Eh, not going?" he said.
promised to stay with the Fur
company five years." / told him.
and I'm going to stay"
FRANCOIS was white with anger.
ARD suppose you're sneak enough
10 tell Mr.. Crooks or Mr.. Stewart"
ne said, cursing me. "If you do. I'll
kill you!"
I'm no sneak!" told him, for
the taunt made me angry.
Then you'll promise that Won
won't tell on the rest of u.s.. Fran
co.'s said, and without stopping to
think, 1 did promise. He had clev-
erly thrown me off my guard.
MONDAY evening it happened that
MI stewart sent me to the ware
house to bring him the tally book.
and before left the storeroom
happened to notice that very vain
aDle pack of marten, otter and silver
Iox Skins was not in the place where
had last seen it. / hurried back
TO the office and told Mr.. Stewart
VINO made nothing Of the report for
all he said was:
on, some of the boys must have
moved 1t just before they locked nm
NO one could possibly have got in
and stolen it,
But L was not satisfied. I had
seen FRANCOIS watching that pack
very eagerly as 1t was being made up
that afternoon. If he would steal a
Dateau and three weeks provisions
he might not be above stealing
bale of furs. 1 left the store and
walked down to the beach. tbinking
that the deserters might have decided
to start twenty-four hours earlier
than had been planned. I wished T
mad not promised not to report them.
out at any rate 1 would make sure
that they were not carrying off anv
peltries.
found no one on the beach but
some Indians in their wigwams. A
storm was rising in the northeast
although as yet there was no wind
1t was too dark for me to see anv
great distance, but as stood on the
shore l thought I heard the din of
oars to the southward-the direc-
ton that the deserters had planned
to take. l ran to the house where
Francois Robidaux boarded. He
was gone.
l felt sure that Francois party
mad embarked only a few minutes
before, and that they had stolen a
bale OF the company's finest furs |
Or course, I should have at once
told Mr.. Crooks or Mr.. Stewart all
that knew, but my mind vas con-
fused by my promise to Francois.
Suddenly l saw a way. I would |
take a canoe and catch the desert
ers. What l should do next I did |
not foresee, but some plan would |
suggest itself. 1t was as reckless a |
project as boy ever made, but 1 was
In a mood for a desperate adyen- |
ture.
L broke into a run; there was not |
q moment to lose. l went first to
the clearinghouse for my gun, and |
then hurried back to the beach. l |
picked out one of the best of the |
smaller canoes, and padded away |
into the darkness.
The wind was beginning to come
in puffs from the northeast. and the
clouds were rising fast. 1t was too
dark for be to see the land ahead,