Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-09-01

with DEAD.
useful" He stopped and picked it up
from under the bench. Zone thing is
certain-'tis useless to remain here;
they have left the place as bare as
desert. TITS my choice that we make
the Des PLANES before dark"
The Des PLANES was narrow
stream, flowing quietly through prai-
RE land, although bOrdered along its
shores by a thin fringe Of trees. We
moved down along it's eastern bank
for perhaps half league, when we
came to the edge of a swamp and
made camp. D'Artigny built a fire,
and prepared my tent Of boughs, while
Barbeau waded out around a point in
search of The wrecked canoe. He
came back just at dusk towing it be-
hind him through the shallow water,
and the two men managed to drag 1t
far enough up the bank to enable the
water to drain out. Later, aided by
a flaming torch, we looked it over, and
decided the canoe could be made to
float again. It required two days.
work, however, before we ventured
to trust ourselves to it's safety.
But the dawn of the third day saw
us afloat On the sluggish current, the
two men plying improvised paddles
to increase our speed, while 1 busted
myself in keeping the frail craft free
from water by constant use Of a tin
cup.
Both men believed there was peace
in the valley, except for the jealousy
between the white factions at Fort st.
Louis, and that the various Algonquin
tribes were living quietly in their vii
lagos under protection Of the Rock.
D'Artigny described what wonder
full sight it was, looking down from
the high palisades to the broad mead
cws below, covered with tepees, and
alive with peaceful Indians. He
named the tribes which had gathered
there for protection, trusting in La
Sale, and believing De Tonty their
friend-Illini, Shawnees, Abenakies,
Miamis, Mohegans-at one time reach
ing a total Of twenty thousand souls.
Owing to the leaking Of our canoe,
ard many difficulties experienced, we
were three days in reaching the spot
where the Illinois and the Fox rivers
Joined their waters, and swept for
ward in one broad stream. The time
Of our arrival at this spot was early in
the afternoon, and, as D'Artigny said
Fort St. Louis was situated scarce ten
miles below, our long journey seemed
nearly ended. We anticipated reach
Ing there before night, and, in spite
Of ny fear Of the reception awaiting
us, my heart was light with hope and
expectation.
Twas but girl in years, excitement
was still to me delight, and I had
listened to so many tales, romantic,
wonderful, Of this wilderness fortress,
perched upon a rock, that my vivid
Imagination had weaved about it an
atmosphere Of marvel. The beauty Of
the view from its palisades, the vast
concourse of Indians encamped on the
plains below. and those men guarding
it's safety-the faithful comrades Of
La, Sale in explorations Of the un-
known, De Tonty, Boisrondet, and all
the others, had long since become to
my mind the incarnation Of romantic
adventure. Wilderness born, / could
comprehend and appreciate their tolls
and dangers, and my dreams centered
about this great, lonely rock, on which
they had established a home. But the
end was not yet. Just below the con-.
fuence Of the rivers there was vil1
lage of the Tamaroas, and the prov,
of our canoe touched the bank, while
D'Artigny stepped ashore amid q
tangle of growing bushes, that he
might have speech with some Of the
warriors, and thus learn conditions at
the fort. With his foot on the bank,
he turned laughing, and held out his
hand to me-
"Come, madame" he said, pleasant
~, you have never seen a village OF
our western tribes; it will interest
you"
joined him gladly, my limbs feel.
Ing awkward under me, from long
cramping in the boat, yet the climb
was not difficult, and he held back the
bOughs to give me easy passage. Be-