Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-08-08

from his bottle.
IT irked his soul to think that the
hunchback, who had always been at
his beck and call, was now appar-
emily turning against him.
that he would speak, for he could
hardly do so without telling how he
had pushed Lorimer into the White
Rapids.
Yet the man might be going in
sane, and then, of course, there was
no saying what he would do.
While these unpleasant thoughts
were disturbing the agents mind
and caused him again to resort to
his fiery drink, Mashkaugan returned
to his shack. He sat on his bunk,
also prey of appalling emotions.
Even those Indians of the north
who have come under the influence of
missionaries retain some trace of an
cient beliefs. With the great major
ity it is more than a trace. To them
there are spirits in the plumed, wav
ing grasses, in the trees of the for
est, in the water, the mountains and
the rocks.
The roar of thunder and the flash
of lightning are manifestations of
the spirits power. The fishes and
the fowls and every four-footed
thing is also the abode of spirits, of
which some are good, but most are
evil.
Mashkaugan, made silent and SOM
Der by his deformity and Stunned by
many, owing to doubtful reputa-
ton for honesty, was more inclined
than many others to belief in the
evil spirits that moved all things Of
heaven and earth.
Hitherto he had been guilty only
him as calm as any animal whose be-
havior is but the following of an in
born instinct. Now, however, he be-
lieved himself guilty of murder for
the promise of large reward.
The face he had seen in the rapids
always seemed to be near him. He
beheld it nightly in dreams from
which he awoke covered with cold
sweat and trembling.
He could not get rid of it. Even
in the deep woods it had turned TO
him CHASTITY and terrifying, and
made him SILVER. He harbored deep
resentment toward the man who put
him in such plight.
81 am surely doomed to terrible
punishment" he told himself. 1T is
coming. No man can feel as / do
unless spirits of evil are about him
and torturing him always"
The man looked about him as If
dreading the presence of some fiend
hidden IL his shack who might at
any moiaent rend his limbs asunder
with claws and fangs.
Then it was that an idea came to
him to make retribution in some way
that might lessen his punishment by
softening the wrath of the windegos.
THE child was certainly taken to
many Beaver" he cogitated. ut
must be there now, but whether liv-
ing or dead don't know. | shall go
again and find it. There was no
track of bear of wolf or lynx that
could have carried it away.
Therefore, the man VINO walked
Grunkenly took it away with him. He
may also be dead, having fallen
somewhere with the child, or having
been slain by the spirits. And the
ghos' of the father watched near.
Yet | will find him and if any devil
comes after me, seeking my life, it is
hettel to die at once than to be
racked as | am now.
al will find the child's body also.
and bring it back. Yet it might be
living, and then perhaps the glad
ness of the mother might do some
thing toward making these fiends
more meroiful to me-"
At once the hunchback rushed to
his canoe, determined to face all
danger rather than prolong the ag-
ony Of his mind.
On the river he met some men re-
turning, who told him they had goae
north good distance, but found
nothing.
They were discouraged, and told
him that all searching was now ut
terly seless.
AT the coming in of the other
river" said one of them, 1--WE
smelled smoke coming from the
northeast where Atuk must be dry
ing fish. Being weary, we did not
go there, since Ameou and thou were
at Nany Beaver this morning and
must have spoken to him and his
wife"
Maushkaugan merely grunted an6
vert or his way.
He padded more strongly. If
smoke had been smelled there surely
must he living people there, and so
there could be little danger.
If he had only gone and sought
these people, instead of fleeing in
terror when he had been at Many
Beave' in the morning, he might !
have heard something.
Curran had told him that he had !
not gone 30 their camp. He could |
get AUX, the Nascaupee, to helD |
him in his search.
He forced his canoe ahead, pad |
ding with every bit of his power;
but the strong wind was hindering
him good deal, and a canoe is an |
i'll thing to paddle against a gale.
When he entered the other river
the left bank of the stream, thickly |
grown with alders, gave him a good |
deal of proto ction.
Another hour of hard work
brought him to the outlet of Many