Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-10-15

rive thee for leaving so soon. Hadst
thou waited short time to see
whether | was truly dead l would
have been spared a terrible journey
home"
"Yes, rise, you big foolp echoed
the Nascaupee. "The dead one has
come to life, and the. pair of you,
each in his time, have thought to
take the last gulp of air. But now
this man whom thou were so sure
was corpse leaped into the water
and pulled thee out, which was sure
ly brave thing to do because Of the
great weakness that is on him yet.
Stand up, therefore, and give thanks
to him like man."
Then Mashkaugan rose. His heart
was beating so that it caused pain
in his great twisted chest. His long
arms hung faccidly like those OF a
great ape. On his face was the look |
of one being crucified.
The penetrating cold that had
seized him failed to prevent great
drops of sweat from mingling with
the moisture that oozed from his
dishevcled locks.
His fear of heathen gods and spir-
its had been nothing to the feeling
that overcame him as he stood be-
fore the man he had sought to
slaughter in the raging waters Of
White Rapids.
The condition of the trembling
hunchback was pitiful. His teeth
chattered. His face mirrored strange
agony. The laughing Indians be-
came sobered. They could not un-
derstand and felt as if they stood be-
Il.
frightened them.
with thee, Mashkaugan asked Lor-
shoulder. Indeed, / am glad to see,
meant for bitter reproach. Thy silly
that is all. Now, l forgive thee most
willingly. Thou must now rejoice to
see me again, living and growing
stronger, thanks to these good peo-
pie"
Lorimer's looks belied what he
said about becoming stronger. He
looked very weak and exhausted, but
he seized Mashkaugan's hand within
his own in friendly fashion. He was
smiling frankly and trying to be
kinder than he ever had been be-
fore.
"If everything was known to
thee" gasped the hunchback horse
by, "thy hand would never seek mine.
l am less accursed than | thought.
Yet feel as one suffering under the
penalty meted out to unforgivable-
sim"
Lorimer looked at him in utter
his comprehension.
"The man is crazed yet" ven-
tured Atuk's wife. Perhaps his
head struck a stone of the beach, al
though it bears no mark. Yet some
strange folly must have entered it to
make him go out on the lake during
the storm. 1t has not left him yet,
and he still suffers from a disease
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 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
woman will leave the tent and thou
spoke as if addressing child. "The
wilt take off thy clothing SO that we
may hang it in the tent to dry. Wrap
thyself up in blanket until the
things are fit to put on again, and
rest quietly. Perhaps some hot tea
will help thee. l 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 the
voyageur's appearance as he allowed
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 gruffly, as he
thought that authority might prevail
| WneTe peTSudSlOH ldlleu VI eueCI.
"Thou art still under my orders, and
III not have such foolishness."
Mashkaugan looked at him in some
surprise and made no further objec-
tion. 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. II
the anchoring stones held it may
only be a little torn; but if they
dragged, who knows what may have
become of it? 1t was new net
for which I gave ten skins of mar
ten. Eight fathoms long it was and
one deep, fine net to set for white
fish in narrow places"
His wife and the two older chill
dren went with him. Her baby and
little Yellow Hair were left to sleep
under a blanket.
| HNIo,y foil mo what ia the noaanino a.