Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-06-27
Where There's a VIII.
CHAPTER |.

translated The Rat The post stands
at the head of nine miles of heavy
rapids, unnavigable to canoes. There
is a little cleared land OF either
bank, quite good for potatoes and
carrots and turnips.
The railroad is reached by tote
road, nine miles long, travaled only
by stOne-boCts and lumber carts of
solid construction. The stream is
quite wide before it narrows into
white water, and in the middle, OPP
posite the post, is a little island
nearly covered during spring fresh
cts.
About the post have arisen two or
three frame houses and some nom
descript shacks, built from the re-
fus, of an old portable sawmill.
One day, late in May, nalf a dozen
men were gathered in the storeroom
of Utshishuku Post, which was so
crowded with goods that it gave but
scantly lounging room.
About them, piled up in as orderly
fashion as the abundance of mer-
chandise permitted, were the smaller
bags of -four. boxes of biscuits, sides
of bacon, and barrels of pork.
There were also cases filled with
packages of tea, plug tobacco, or
condensed milk. On the shelves
which ran to the ceiling were rows
of canned goods, bolts of cloth, and
piles of rough clothing, most of it
rather vivid in color. From nails
hung shoe packs and moccSsins, dog
harness and fishnets, Dutch stock
ings, steel traps Of all sizes, coiled
wire for snares, besides other things
useful TO trapper or lumber jack.
The men assembled there were
stalwart lot. with perhaps, the eX-
ception of Teddy Fisk, who was of
moderate size, hard as nails, and
keen as a rat-trap. He was reck-
oned generally as a tirst-rate man,
and he spoke Montagnais like a son
of the tribe.
All the others, however, appeared
as if they could pass with consum-
mate ease the old Hudson Bay Com
pany's test, which required its voy-
ageurs 20 be able to pack over a
long carry three underground bales
of fur fastened to the tump-line on
their foreheads.
Teddy, his hands stuffed in the
capacious pockets of a worn pair of
brown overalls, was putting at
short pipe as he listened to Boyce
Curran, chief agent in charge of
Tshemuak, or Bigg Loon Post, situa-
ted over three hundred miles to the
north. as the crow flies. The man had
been kicking about some goods.
"WeI, you're fixed all right this
time" Teddy assured him. Owe
been over the stuff twice. checking
up everything on your list. Them
boxes of your own are pretty heavy
all of one mans load. Now, about
the gunpowder there can't be a word
said. It's the best to be had for In
Jun guns, and your crowd up there
will find it all right. If they don't
I'll eat my shirt.
"Sure everything's ready" asked
Curran.
"There amt a fish-hook or spool
o. thread missin'. Your brigade'll
get TO work by sunup and load the
plrl der. You can start right after
noon maxim a short day of it to
shake down everything and let. your
crew sober up. Some of emil be
sure to get hold of a bottle or two
this evening, and you better be easy
on 'em first day out.
owe been gone long while this
time" answered Gun ran, who had
lust returned from the northwest on
a lengthy trip for the company. But
they know me, all right. can
tackle 'cm if there's any ruction."
He Strengthened up, looking about
him disdainfully, and Ted Fisk's
ewes narrowed a little.
"Have your way" he said. Its
your own funeral"
Curran turned away and stood at
the door as he scraped the bowl of
his pipe. The rough, turbid water
of the river, still mingled with
melted SHOWS from northern hills,
must have gone down = good four
feet in the last two weeks.
The birches and poplars had leafed
out TO tender green and the lit
tie island in the middle of the river,
half covered wit, alders that were
still bent by the violence of the
stream in flood, was showing green
patches of coarse grass growing in
Tycky crannies.
"Best time to start" he told him
self. "We're in for a spell of good
weather, most likely, and the wa
ter'll be going down steady. Wonder
who those lnjuns are ?"
A canoe was coming down swiftly.
It was expertly swirled around a
iutting sand bar, being powerfully
guided with strong, deep strokes.
AS II approached the landing
place il was gently brought sidewise
to the shore. and the occupants step
ped out. their long moccasin boots
half submerged in water.
They pulled the canoe to safety,
and strolled up, trying to look un-
concemed; but their red belts, gay
neckerchiefs, and best" clothing in
dicated that they had come long
way aid, according TO old usage,
had stopped a mile or two from the
post and bedccked themselves in
finery appropriate to the celebration
of the end of long journey.
"Jim Michaux and Passigan,
Curran said, as he recognized them.
"Down from Ushuk Falls to sell
their fur"
"Quey, queyp the men greeted
him as they came up to the post.
Glow d'do?' he answered. Good
hunt ?"
M ,..,,ntod Automatically and