Charlevoix county herald., 1914-07-11
witnesses, to be my last will ED
testament.
(Signed)
LAWRENCE LORIMER.

witnesses, 10 De my last VIII S'lv
testament.
(Signed)
LAWRENCE LORIMER.
'Let me see," he said, after he
had &c led the date. 81 have no
doubt that this will is all right,
though / don't know much about
such things. But it must be wit
messed, and Il the witnesses should
ever be needed they'll be hard to get
at. | think I'd better ask every man
mere who can scratch his name, then
they'll always be able to fin some
Of them"
Among the Canadian voyageurs
Clairay and half dozen others
were able to affiX their signatures
after a fashion. Mashkaugan blunt
ly said he could not write, which was
untrue; but Curran affixed his name
at the bottom Of the page with fine
flourish.
:" oOks like cutie a documa IT., he
commented. 81 don't expect any one
will ever be able to go back on that
u looks copper-bottomed AMI "ivc'
ed and clinched on the inside"
"l'm sure hope So" declared
Lorimer earnestly. 81 think it will
be better for you to keep it for her
She hight not realize its impor-
tance."
Just as you say. It's only a kind
of fool thing, anyway, and won't
ever be needed" said Curran light
ly.
You keep it with the books" said
Lorimer hurriedly. 1--WE wasted
good deal of time and ought to be
on my way"
They FASTENED to the landing once
more, where Lorimer had to shake
hands and receive good wishes.
Then the young man entered the ca
noe, taking the bow, and dipped his
new spruce paddle in the stream.
Mashkaugan jumped in the stern,
1.-the as a reat cat, Justify shaking
one foot that had been in the wa
ter, for every drop and every grain
Of sand that lodges between the
ribs increases weight on the port
ages. After hard months usage
canoe may increase ten pounds in
weight or more.
Lorimer and Mashkaugan turned
when they had reached the middle of
the current and waved their caps.
Ameou remained on the bank even
after the boat had disappeared
around the point. Other Indian wo-
men came to her and spoke gentle
words of sympathy-for they under
stood. She smiled at them without
trusting herself to speak, and they
noticed that her eyes were bright
with tears that did not fall, so
bravely did she hold them back.
The young wife returned to the
post and began to gather up all of
her clothing and blankets and other
belongings and carried them to her
fathers tent. The old mans eyes
glinted in approval.
Curran had been busy in the store
room, which was separate from the
dwelling, but returned in time to see
Ameou carrying out the last armful
"N onder what she's up to-" he
commented. Looks as if she was
robbing the house and taking every
thing out to that old rascal, her
father"
He walked over to the tent and
waited until Ameou came out again
"Why didn't you get Cyprien to
help you ?" he asked.
at was not much" she answered,
looking straight into his eyes. "Only
my blankets and my clothe for now
| live in my fathers tent until yell
low Hair, Y husband, comes back
to me-"
What do you want to do that
for ?" he asked sharply.
"Eshi lakala tutagants,' she re-
piled softly in the words that signi-
fed it was the custom of her people.
"You know you can always have
all the grub you want from the
store" he said, trying to speak
pleasantly. IN look after you all
right. Come to me for anything
you want"
81 know what ! may take" she
answered quietly. "Uapishiu has
given me the full tale of what | may
take"
Curran turned on his heels to con-
ceal his vexation. OF course the girl
would help herself without asking
him. 1t really looked as if she had
made up her mind from the very
first to have nothing to do with him.
He knew where there was an old
paddock that he might use. By lock-
ins up the storeroom she would be
compelled to come to him for every
thing she needed. He searched for
it, but had no sooner found the thing
than he threw it aside. II would not
do.
He was now in wilderness where
the greatest crime known to man is
robbing a cache. Never, since Tshe-
muak Post had been established had
anything ever been under lock and
key; nothing, even to the value of
penny, had ever been stolen.
These Indians were yet quite ig-
norant of many of the ways of civil
ization, but Curran knew that in
some matters they were just like
children, and prone to anger which
they would show by departing TO
other posts-even into James Bay,
fo- to such rovers one or two hun
dred miles, more or less, matters
little.
Posts that had been very prosper
Gus were deserted with remarkable
suddenness, having been abandoned
by trading Indians for causes that
al - -.