Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-08-15

that has changed the working Of his
BRAIN"
20 woman, would that thou vert
| speaking the TRUTH groaned Mash
kaugan, covering his face with his
hands, like a child hiding from
| strangers.
Atuk touched his forehead with
his fingers, signifying that the man
was certainly bereft of reason. Lor-
inner remained speechless, not know
ing what to say.
Come" said the Nascaupee very
gently, for Indians always hold the
insane in some reverence, and Atuk
spoke as if addressing child. "The
woman will leave the tent and thou
wilt take off thy clothing so that we
may hang it in the tent to dry. Wrap
myself up in a blanket until the
things are fit to put on again, and
rest quietly. Perhaps some hot tea
will help thee. | have it in mind
that the cold of water and wind have
done thee some hurt"
He met no resistance as he began
to pull off some of Mashkaugan's
garments. There was something that,
was very helpless and pathetic in T. q
voyageur'S appearance as he alloWeu
himself to be partly undressed and
made to lie down in the heat of the
little stove.
When the woman returned she
poured out hot tea. Lorimer took
some gratefully. but the hunchback
refused.
take the tea that is given thee"
ordered Lorimer gruffiy, as he
thought that authority might prevail
where persuasion failed of effect
Thou art still under my orders, and
I'll not have such foolishness."
Mashkaugan looked at him in some
surprise and made no further objeeY
ton. AS soon as he had tasted the
stuff he drank it greedily, and
it seemed to do him good.
"The wind is now beginning to go
down." said Atuk. My net was left
out in the water, for there was no
time to take it up. | must go out
and see whether any of it is left. If
the anchoring stones held it may
only be a little torn; but if they
dragged, who knows what may have
for which | gave ten skins of mar
one deep, fine net to set for white
fish in narrow places"
His VIE and the two older chill
dren went with him. Her baby and
little Yellow Hair were left to sleep
under a blanket.
"Now tell me what is the meaning
of all this" said Lorimer kindly.
There is nothing the matter with
thy head but come queer fancies that
have no sense or reason. Speak up,
man"
For a tine Mashkaugan glared at
him, not realizing how strangely he
was 10 king. In his mini a strug-
gle was being fought. By this time
all supernatural fears had left him
and there remained but the knowl
edge that he stood confronting the
man he had sought to kill
Lorimer was defenseless before
him yet stronger His mere presence
caused the voyageur to cover.
The instinct of self-preservation
was strong. A few lies were enough
to protect him, or the mere with
holding of the truth Yet also there
was the pressure of conscience that
had given no rest, that made him
feel pitifully weak and small as he
realized that Lorimer had en-
dangered his life to save him. There
was also fear that those dreadful
obsessions might return.
Wait" he implored "Wait but
an instant. My head is still dazed,
although | am not crazy"
The prospect of prison walls re
turned to him-ghastly to man of
the wilderness. To one Injured to the =.
crowds of cities a jail is bad enough. =
but to one whose life has been spent
in the freedom of the painless north;
on the great, wide stretches Of swift
rivers; on vast lakes; in camps
where the air has never been defiled
and the water is sweet AMI cool; in
the breezes that have travelled over
a thousand miles of glittering ice;
over wide, messy forests, the walls
OF prisons mean ineXpressible tor
ture.
81 shall never go back to it," he
swore and glared again.
81 am perhaps also dazed," Lori
mer said gently, "for | need not tell
thee what my journey was through
that awful wilderness, with nothing
TO eat but handfulS OF SOdden, mil
dewed flour. Other terrible things
have happened to me, so that now I
am man to whom there is no mean
ing in life but TO care for little
baby"
He stopped, as he was coughing
terribly, and put his hand to his side.
Just then the little one began to cry.
LCrimer took it up, wrapped in the
skin of caribou calf, and held it
against his breast until it ceased to
wall.
Here is all that have left of the
happiness that was mine," he said
"Thy face shows much sign of suf-
fering, Mashkaugan but | doubt if.
ever such pain as mine has been thy
portion"
Continued next week.
II W p. A 1lg