Charlevoix county herald., 1914-07-11

| important matter. Inc VOyaReuTS
were scattered about their tents or
sat around bright fire of birch logs,
talking volubly. Woful sounds were
being leased out of an old fiddle, but
the audience rather liked the music,
having little inclination to be un-
kind and critical.
"The instructions from headquar-
tiers are plain enough" said Curran.
"They told me that one of us should
take canoe, or a couple of 'em if
we thought it necessary, and take a
good look at the country east of the
Ushuk.
"The idea is that they think
there's a bunch of heather Nescau-
pees up there who don't do much
trapping and just live on the coun-
try. You know a few of 'em get
down to the Labrador coast with
pelts. If the Ushuk trip isn't too
hard, some of 'em might be induced
to come down here or, if fur seems
plenty, post could be established
up there.
eff the traveling's good, of course
Between you and me and the nearest
lamp-post, that must be six hundred
miles off. don't think much of the
idea, but it's a case of go, look, see,
and report to headquarters.
He was talking in an offhand, de-
sultory fashion, yet his eyes sought
to penetrate his assistant through
the semidarkness. He watched Lor-
inner catlike.
Lorimer did not answer at once.
Under former conditions he would
have been only too delighted to
spend a couple of months exploring
the country, but the prospect of
leaving Ameou was exceedingly dis
tasteful to him just then.
There was no reason to prevent
Curran's going; but, of course, the
man was just in from a hard trip
and entitled to a rest, and the jour
ney, if taken at all, must begin at
once.
"Mashkaugan would be the best
man to take" continued Curran.
Hes hard as nails, and no one can
touch him as voyageur. Says he'd
like to 60"
Lorimer had never cared for
Mashkaugan; yet there was no
question that the surly half breed
was the best canoeman on hand-a
hard worker and familiar with all
the dialects of the country. His in
telligence was of a shrewder kind
than prevailed among most of the
voyageurs. His opinion regarding
fur and the possibility of transpor-
tation was to be reckoned with Sc
riously.
by the way" asked Curran.
"have you any liniment at the post ?
! got a rather bum knee from fall
"a -
amount to much. Doesn't even
make me limp. It'll be all right in a
few days"
He rose and took a few steps to
show that he could walk easily
enough. Curran took care never to
exaggerate his effects.
"Plenty of it." answered Lorimer,
Il dare say the hurt won't amount
to anything, as you say; but, of
course, you should rest il and not
use it too much, now that you have
the chance. think ] ought to start
day after tomorrow"
Curran's cold and almost imper-
ceptible smile came again. He had
deity applied the little touch which
decides the falling of the scale and
was pleased with himself.
al should take my wife along"
said Lorimer. "She likes to travel
and is as good as most men in a
canoe, but now it's OFT of the ques-
ton. The poor girls going to feel
pretty badly over this"
Curran nodded. Circumstances
were helping him.
well, Pm going to turn in" he
said "A good bunk is going to feel
pft r Il
ing on the ground"
sought out Mushkaugan and had a
short, earnest talk with him.
Lorimer strolled down to the bank
talked about the intended journey.
at is foolishness," the young wo-
man said. "My father knows all the
country of the Ushuk. There is moth
ing there, unless one goes so far
away that no brigades could ever
reach the country from this side.
Men have told the company things
that are not so-but it is an order
and you must go!
Il am afraid | must" he assented.
you will CO." Ameou continued.
at is the place of women to stay
/ Denlnu anu walt when Iney cannot
help. Yet ] am much disturbed in
mind, for | fear something. What
it is / do not know"
81 am taking but the chances of
all long trips" observed Lorimer. T
certainly hate to leave, but my rea-
sons lie in my love for you, since
cannot see that there is anything to
fear"
"The Nascaupees of the eastward
country will do no HARM" said
Ameou, "for they are quiet people,
even those who have never seen
white men. Nor do fear rough
waters, for thou art a strong man
with the paddle and "a swimmer
like nitsuk, the otter. But always
remember hat the strongest swim
mer is nothing in swirling water
that seeks to rend his limbs apart.
! have no fear of those things which
befall one in the wilderness, because
all men must take their chances at
all times. But that which / fear
cannot put into words. Ii is some
thing like the heaviness of the air
and the black calmness of the water
and the hushed song of birds when