Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-07-06

no more than a pennies adventureri
an actor playing a part assigned him
by the governor; while you and | do
the same. Listen, Monsieur Cheyet,
the property at st. Thomas is mine by
legal right. and it was to gain pos
session that this wretch sought my
hand"
your legal rightT"
"Ay, restored by the king in special
order"
1T is not true; I had the records
searched by a lawyer, Monsieur eau
tier of st. Anne"
| gave a gesture of Indignation.
"a country advocate at whom those
in authority would laugh. tell you
what l say is true; the land was re-
stored, and the fact is known to La
Barre and to Cassion. 1t is this fact
which has caused all our troubles. l
overheard talk last night between the
governor and his aide-de-camp, Colonel
Delguard-you know him?'
Chevet nodded, his interest stirred.
"They thought themselves alone,
and were laughing at the success OF
their trick. l was hidden behind the
heavy curtains at the window, and
every word they spoke reached my
ears. Then they sent TO; Cassion.'
But where is the paper?"
81 did not learn; they Lave it hidden,
no doubt, awaiting the proper time
to produce it. But there is such a
document: La Barre explained that
| clearly, and the reason why he wished
Cassion to marry me. They were all
three talking when an accident hap
pened, which led to my discovery"
"Ah! and so that was what hurried
the wedding, and sent me on this wild
wilderness chase. They would bury
me in the woods-sacre!-"
Hush now-Cassion has left the
canoe already, and we can talk of this
later. Let us seem to suspect moth
ing
This was the first meal of many
eaten together along the river bank
in the course of our long journey, yet
the recollection of that scene rises
before my memory now with peculiar
vividness. Cassion had divided us into
groups, and, from where l had found
resting place, with a small fat rock
for table, / was enabled to see the
others scattered to the edge of the
bank, and thus learned for the first
time the character Of those with whom
| was destined to companion on the
long Journey. There were but -four
of us in that first group, which in
Guided Pere Allouez, a silent man,
lingering his cross, and barely touch
ing food. His face under the black
cowl was drawn, and creased by
strange lines, and his eyes burned
with vagueness. If l bad ever dreamed
of him as one to whom l might turr
for counsel, the thought instantly van
ished as our glances met.
A soldier and two Indians served
us, while their companions. divided
into two groups, were gathered at thu
other extremity of the ridge, the sol
diers under discipline of their OWL
underoficers, and the Indians
watched over by Sleur D'Artigny, who
rested, however, slightly apart, his
gaze on the broad river. Never once
while l observed did he turn anC
glance my way. l counted the men
as l endeavored to eat, scarcely heed
ing the few words exchanged by thos'
about me. The Indians numbered ten
including their chief, whom CassioI
called Altuda. Chevet named them al
Algonquins from the Ottawa, treach
erous rascals enough, yet with ex
pert knowledge of watercraft.
Altudah was a tall savage, wrapped
in gaudy blanket, his face rendered
sinister and repulsive by a scar tn
full length of his cheek, yet he spok,
French fairly well, and someone salt
that he had three times made %journe,
to Mackinac, and knew the water
ways. There were "a soldiers, includ
ing a sergeant and corporal, of tn
regiment of Picardy; active fellow
enough, and accustomed to the iron
tier, although they gave small evi
dence of discipline, and their uniform
were in shocking condition. The sci
geant was a heavily built, stocky mar
but the others were rather understood
and of little spirit. The anne though
must have been in the minds of otf
ers, for the expression OF Monsieu
Cassion's face vas not pleasant as h
stared about.
"Chevet," he exclaimed .disgustedly
'did ever you see a worse selection fo
wilderness travel than La Barre ha
given us? Cast your eyes down tn
line yonder; by my faith! there is nc
a real man among them"
Chevet, who had been growing I
himself, with scarce a thought othe
than the food before him, lifted b.
eyes and looked.
mo worse than all the scum. .
Baugis had no better with him, and L
Sale led a gang Of outcasts. VIII
right leadership you can make the
do mems work. 'Tis no kid-glove jc
J you have, Monsieur Cassion."
The insulting Indifference of the o
fur traders tone surprised the cor
missaire, and he exhibited resentmen
e "You are overly free with your cor
ments, Hugo Chevet. When I wis
advice | will ask it." f,
, "And In the woods l do not alwa!
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