The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-12-29

Z.. s GNzEA
barked again. and won slow way
against the current. The advance COM
pany had departed before our arrival.
nor did l again obtain glimpse OF
D'Artigny for many days.
I would not say that Cassion pur-
posely kept us apart, for the arrange
ment might have been the same had
I not been OF the party, yet the only
communication between the two div
sions occurred when some messenger
brought back warning Of dangerous
water ahead. Usually this messenger
was an Indian, but once D'Artsgny
himself calne and guided our canoes
through a torrent Of white, raging wa
ter, amid a maze OF murderous rocks.
During these days and weeks CAssion
treated me with consideration and out
ward respect. Not that he failed to
talk freely, and to boast Of his e1-
ploits and adventures, yet he rcfrained
from laying hand On me. o did he
once refer to the incident of the blur.
Nor was the journey lacking in in
terest or adventure. Never shall I
forget the charm Of those days and
nights, amid which we made slow and
toilsome passage through the desolate
wilderness, w gaining new leagues
to the westward. Only twice in weeks
did we encounter human beings-once
q camp OF Indians on the shore Of q
lake, and once q Capuchin monk, alone
but for a single voyageur % COM
panion, passed ~ upon the river. And
when, at last, we made the long por-
tage, ~tramping through the dark for
est aisles, bearing on q shoulders
heavy loads, scarcely able to see the
sun ~ at midday through the leafy
screen Of leaves. and came forth at
twilight on the shores OF the mighty
lake, no words can express the rap
lures with which I stood and gazed
across that expanse OF heaving, rest
less water. The men launched their
canoes upon the surface and made
camp In the edge Of the forest, but
I could not move, could not restrain
my eyes, until darkness descended and
left all before me a void.
It was scarcely more than daybreak
when we broke camp and headed q
canoes out into the lake. With the
dawn. and the CLINT Of sunlight over
the waters. much Of my dread depart
cd. and I could appreciate the wild
song Of delight with which u Indian
paddlers bent to their work. The
sharp-prowed canoes swept through
the waters swiftly. no longer battling
against q current, and the shore line
ever In view was fascinating IN Its
green foliage. We kept close to the
northern shore. and soon found pas
sage amid numerous islands, forest
covered. but with high, rocky outlines.
For four days We coested thus. v
out Of sight Of shore, and usually with
islands between Us and the main body
Of water. In Ill that time we had no
sign Of man-not ven q wlsp OF
smoke, o heard the crack Of distant
ride. About ~ extended loneliness
and desolation. great waters never
still, vast forests grim and somber.
tal1 menacing rocks, br~ight-colored In
the sun.
Az last We left tho chain Of islands
behind. and ons morning struck out
from the shore into the waste Of wa
tern, the prows OF tho canoes turned
westward, the steersman guiding q
course by the sun. For several hours
we were beyond view OF land, with
naught to rest the eye upon save the
gray sea, and then. when It was nearly
night, We reached the shore and
beached our canoes ct st. IgnAce.
So much had been snid Of st lgnace,
and 20 long had the name been t.
millar throughout New France, that
my hrst View Of the place brought
me bitter disappointment
Tho miserable little village was upon
q point OF land. originally covered with
heavy growth Of forest. A bit Of this
had been rudely cut, the rotting
stumps still standing, and from tho
timber ! dozen rough log houses had
been constructed facing the lake. A
few rods back. on slightly higher land.
was = log chapel and . house, some
what more p~retentious than the others,
In which the priests lodged. The whole
aspect Of the place was peculiarly
deoolate and depressing. facing that
vast waste Of water. the black forest
shadows behind. and those rottlng
stumps IN the foreground.
Nor was our welcome q to make
the heart rejoice. Scarce . dozen per-
sons gathered at the beach to aid 10
In making landing, rough engages
mostly, and not among them al = face
familiar. Il was only later, when
two priests from the mission came
hurrying forward. that We were greet
Cd By cordial speech. These invited a
few OF ID TO become guests at the
mission house. and assigned the re-
mainder. Of our party to vacant huts.
Casston, Chevet ana Pere Allouez
accompanied mo 40 ! walked beside a
young priest up the beaten path. but