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

ground under the tent, while a fifth
sat with his back to a tree. A gun
lay across his knees and two others
were beside the sleepers. The man
on guard was Alec Prevanche, from
whom had taken the jug Of rum a
few days earlier. He had another
jug beside him and seemed to have
drawn freely from IL. Probably all
five had been drinking ever since
they left Mackinac.
Two or three times In the next
half-hour I saw Alec give a start and
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 I took
them down to the beach and placed
them in the canoe. The axe secured
In the same way. From the bateau
L took the provisions. Then l had
all the little canoe could carry. Push
ing well out from the land, 1 threw
them all overheard.
Then 1 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, 1 trans
ferred the bale of furs to my own
craft, moored the canoe to the stern
OF the bateau with a cord, and sat
down to wait.
This was the hardest part, but
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!" 1 said, raising my gun.
They all stopped short. Francois,
with great volley of French oaths,
asked what I was doing.
II want you to go back to Mack
mac with me-" l said. "I told you
Francois, that 1 wouldn't tell Mr..
Crooks or Mr.. Stewart that you were
going, and l haven't told them; but
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.
If you'll go back to Mackinac and
| give yourselves up, I'll try to get Mr..
Stewart to be easy on you; but If
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
h1fnon 7
quick shove sent the canoe we'll out
from shore.
But Alec Prevanche caught up a
heavy stone and threw It, 1t 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
you!" I 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, land if you are not
ready to start by that time I'll 60"
The five went off among the bushes
to hold a consultation, but they soon
reappeared.
You've got us tight" Francois
said. IF we go back will you fix it
with Mr.. Stewart and Mr.. Crooks?"
l told them 1 would try to do so,
and they took their places in the
bateau, looking sulky and muttering
French curses
Alec stood in the stern and sculled
with the one oar that was left. and
1 followed in the canoe. The short
summer gale had nearly blown itself
out and the wind was rapidly sub
siding.
We had made our way several
miles up the shore of the island and
were nearing its southwestern point,
when Francois gave a shout. A
bateau full of men was coming round
the point, and in its bow stood Mr..
Stewart. The sight was too much
for the deserters. They ran their
boat ashore and dashed across the
beach and into the woods.
never saw them again, but /
afterward learned from Indians that
they remained on the island for some
time, living on berries and little
corn which they had carried up from