Charlevoix county herald., 1914-07-18

They left the outlet and padded
up the northern shore of the lake.
Toward evening they arrived at an
encampment Of Indians and re-
manned with them for the night.
As they set about the cheerful
fires before the tents, Lorimer ques-
toned the men carefully.
A tall youth showed surprise when
Lorimer announced his Intention of
exploring the rivers, but The older
ones merely nodded, saying nothing,
for they believed that white men
were apt to be foolish or else were
ever searching for rocks and other
things that were of no concern to
sensible people.
Lorimer sought his tent and blank
cts early. but Mashkaugan re-
mained up late with the Indians,
who were only too glad to talk long
to one who had just arrived.
What is in the mind of the white
man ] know not" he said negligent
ly in answer to some questions.
Neither do ! care, for my time IS
paid and we have plenty of food
with u.s."
eve do not like those other riv-
ers," said very old man, shaking
his head. Our Manitou limos have
told of evil things upon their wa
ters."
Mashkaugan appeared to be start
led at this information.
There can be nothing that is
worse than the White Rapids, he
said.
That also is a place that is ac-
4 4
rose and went off to his tent.
His only son, a fine lad, met his
death in them," Mashkaugan was
told by a youth. After the waters
swallowed him he was never seen
again"
This man Uapishiu, of the yell
low Hair, knows little of this coun-
try" said another Indian. "Curran,
the man with the thin face, knows
all about it, He has talked with US
when we have been to Tshemuak.
We told him that the river to the
north is trapped over, being a good
country, and he knows he gets all
the fur. We also tolC him that the
river to the east and the other be-
yond come from barren lands where
there is little fur and the caribou
pass in small numbers. No men
can live there-nothing but winde-
gos and spirits of evil things"
at lis an order from the com
p;ny," said Mashkaugan uneasily.
This was enough, for all men knew
how powerful the company was. Did
it not seem to be master of all lands
and en-even of the beasts and
fowls and fishes the whole world
over?
But when the old man who had
sought his tent discussed the mat
ter with his wife he had many
things to say.
"The company sends men to travel
and look over the lands; but it never
sCEds men unless some one has told
them that country is worth looking
over. Curran must have told them.
For some purpose of his own he lied.
May the chief of all evil beings tor
ment his spiritw
"Uapishiu of the Yellow Hair is
a good man." said the wife. Per
haps Curran did not want him at the
post, being afraid of him because
there was ishkuteuapui whisky,
burning water) to be sold. 1t was
this that caused the death of our
only son last year, who, shouting
loudly and outstanding, drove his ca
noe in the middle of the White Rap
ids.
The old people shook their heads
many times, for the soreness of their
great loss was still upon them. Pres
emily the whole camp was asleep,
save for few lean dogs that prowl-
e. about the embers Oh the Camp
tires searching for neglected morsels
of food.
On the next morning the travellers
started again. In the course of the
next few days they met two more.
families. After speaking with them,
Lorimer became more and more lis
satisfied with the information he was
getting.
'Of course, now must go and
look for myself" he cogitated. "One
can never ne altogether certain that
these fellows are giving one straight
talk. Yet ! don't see how there can
be any Indians living up the rivers
to the east or these people would
know about them. OF course they're
always scared at the mo-. ton of
tribes they're not acquainted with:
but they don't even give me some
cock and-bull story abo It bad people
living somewhere in that direction"
Five days were enough to explore
the northern river. 1t proved to be
fine ground, but it was all carefully
trapped over until it ended in tiny
streams issuing from great marsh
lands.
The first eastern river only took
four days to explore. 1t soon proved
to be utterly impossible for canoe
navigation and Lorimer had to turn
back.
The remaining stream, flowing
into the lake not more than
a mile from the inlet of the previous
one, at first promised fair travel; but
nowhere on the banks could they dis
cover any trace of Indians.
After some days they came to a
long canon walled in by cliffs of the
great height, where the waters mar
rowed into a seething torrent, which
made navigation impossible. They
made long, hard portage, but il
only brought them onto barren
land where trees were dwarfed and
Nwoa n -.