Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-09-03
CHAPTER |.
Where There's n Will.

et the head OF nine miles of heavy
rapids, unnavigable to canoes. There
Is n little cleared land on either
bank, quite good for potatoes and
carrots and turnips.
The railroad is cached by a tote
road, nine miles long, travelled only
by stone-boats and lumber carts of
solid construction. The stream la
quite wide before it narrows into
white water, and in the middle, op-
posite the post, is a little island
nearly covered during spring fresh
cts. =
y About the post have arisen two or
three frame houses and some non
descript shacks, built from tie re-
fuse of an old portable sawmill.
One day, late in May, half dozen
Of Utshishuku Post, which was so
crowded with goods that it gave but
scantly lounging room.
About them, piled up in as orderly
o fashion as the abundance of mer-
chandise permitted, were the smaller
bags Of -four, boxes of biscuits, sides
Of bacon, and barrels of Fork
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 moccasins, 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 a
gtalwart 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 first-rate man,
and he spoke Montagnais like a son
Of the tribe. ~--
All the others, however, appeared
rs il they could pass with consum-
mate ease the old Hudson Bay Com
pany's test, which required its voy-
ageurs to be able to pack over a
long carry three ninety-pound bales
OF fur fastened to the tump-line on
their foreheads.
capacious pockets of worn pair Of
brown overalls, was putting at q
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.
"Well, you're fixed all right this
time" Teddy assured him. 1--WE
been over the. stuff twice, checking
uo 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 word
said. It's the best to be had for In
Jun guns, and your crowd up there
will find 1t all right. If they don't
I'll eat my shirt"
"Sure everything's ready7" asked
Curran.
"There amt fsh-hook or spool
O. thread missin'. Your brigaderl
get to work by sunup and load the
plunder. You can start right after
noon, maxim short day of it to
shake down everything and let your
crew sober up. Some of emil be
sure to get hold of bottle or two
this evening, and you better be easy
on 'em first day out"
"I've been gone a long while this
time" answered Curran, who had
just returned from the northwest on
a lengthy trip for the company. "But
they know me, all right. I can
tackle 'em if there's any ruction."
He Strengthened up, looking about
him disdainfully, and Ted Fisk's
eyes narrowed little.
"Have your way" he said. "It's
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 a good four
feet in the last two weeks.
The birches and poplars had leafed
nut to a tender green, and the lit
le island IN the middle of the river,
lalf covered with alders that were
till bent by the violence of the
tream in food, was showing green
etches of coarse grass growing in
ocky crannies.
BEST time to start" he told him
elf. "We're in for a spell of good
Veather, most likely, and the wa
erll be going down steady. Wonder
Tho those Injuns are 2"
A canoe was coming down swiftly.
was expertly swirled around a
ltting sand bar, being powerfully
uided with strong, deep strokes.
AS it approached the landing
lace it was gently brought sidewise
0 the shore, and the occupants step
ed out, their long moccasin boots
alf submerged in water.
They pulled the canoe to safety,
nd strolled up, trying to look un-
oncerned; but their red belts, gay
and "best" clothing in
icated that they had come long
ray and. according to old usage,
ad stopped mile or two from the
ost ,and bedecked themselves in
merry appropriate to the celebration
I the end of long journey.
"Jim Michaux and Passigan,"
urrail said, as he recognized them.
Down from Ushuk Falls to sell
,eir fur"
"Quey, queyp the men greeted
Inn as they came up to the post.
"How d'do?" he answered. Good
unit 2"