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

see to the fire and put the kettle on
to boil"
The sturdy woman FASTENED to the
beach. She found her husband Wig
orously rubbing the hunchback, who
sat with his long black hair plas-
tered down the sides of his lanky
face.
The Nascaupee's voice was con-
tending poorly with the roar of the
waves and the shrieking wind.
"A fool thou art, greater than the
red-eyed partridge" he was shouting
to him. Thou hast the name of the
greatest man in a canoe in all these
parts. 1t must be that the windegos
sot possession of thee to make thee
put off a safe shore in such a wind,
when even muak, the foolish, boot
ing loon, would hardly trust himself
to the waves. A fine canoe man art
thou. | have a mind to get my
youngest lad, who only begins to
stand upon his feet, to teach thee
better"
The Indian was properly indig-
nant, for the lake was not a large
one and the storm had given plenty
of warning. That which CALLED him
most severely was that Lorimer
must now be in bad plight again,
after so much had been done to bring
him back to his former strength.
''He is not here" said Mashkau-
gan, looking about him wildly. at
must have been a vision of the spirit
of the dead man that came to me.
How did | come to get ashore ?"
WaS No rracn Of JootL
ed Atuk, "but the saving hold of
good man. Truly, in the water he is
as an otter! Get up now and take
the path to the tent, where there is a
fire. One moment! Take hold of
me! Thy legs have the strength of
the stems of water-lilies.
Give thanks-there are few here
To hail Mashkaugan, the great canoe
man, who knows not when a canoe
may ride the waves! Shake thyself
and NOV on. Thy face is blue with
the cold and hot tea may be the saw
ing of thee.
Atuk's wife was wrestling with the
canoe which had come ashore full of
water. She dragged it up to safety.
A few minutes more pounding on the
Single beach would have wrecked il
beyond repair.
She pulled it up after curling
wave had soaked her to her lips, a
matter of slight Importance to her
and belonging to the days work.
Then she rushed up to the tent where
she found her husband, staring wide
ly at Mashkaugan.
The hunchback was kneeling in
front of Lorimer, who was wrapped
up in a great red company blanket,
and whose face also expressed
amaZement.
Then-Atuk and his wife burst out
laughing. Indeed, the two presented
an unusual spectacle, and one that
might well have excited the mirth of
any folk.
A couple of young children stood
in corner of the tent, gravely
sucking their thumbs, while their
beady eyes cleaned with the un-
wonteu excitement of the scene.
"Rise, | tell you, Mashkaugan"
Lorimer said to the man before him.
What crazy behavior is this ?" The
last time thy eyes fell upon me | was
far nearer death than ever thou vert
in thy life, and ] don't wonder at
thv surprise. But | am all right
now. Rise like a man and shake
hands with me in mind of our camp
fires together and the bread and salt
we have shared in the waste places.
/ can even find it in my heart to for
give thee for leaving so soon. Hadst
thou waited short time to see
whether ] I.cs truly dead | would
have been spared terrible journey
home"
Eyes, rise, you big foolw echoed
the Nascaupee. "The dead one has
come to life, and the pair of you,
each in his time, have thought to
take tie last gulp of air. But now
this man whom thou were so sure
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 a man."
Then Mashkaugan rose. His heart
was beating so that it caused pain
in his great twisted chest. His long
arms hung flaccidly like those of a
great ape. On his face was the look
Of one being crucified.
Inc penetrating colo tn2t nad
seized him failed to prevent great
drops of sweat from mingling with
the moisture that oozed from his
disheveled locks.
His fear of heather gods and spir-
its had been nothing to the feeling
that overcame him as he stood be-
fore the man he hi sought to
slaughter in the raging waters of
White Rapids.
The condition of the trembling
hunchback was pitiful. His teeth
chartered. His face mirrored strange
agony. The laughing Indians be-
came sobered. They could not un-
derstand and felt as if they stood be-
fore some gruesome mystery, which
frightened them.
"What in the world is the matter
with thee, Mashkaugan ?" asked Lor-
inner, putting one hand on the mans
shoulder. Indeed, ! am glad to see
thee. What ! said just now was not
meant for bitter reproach. Thy silly
fear overcame thee at that time
that is all. Now, forgive thee most
willingly. Thou must now rejoice to
see me again, living and growing