Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-07-13

tnc cieuL 1 nave lOuhu
him a very pleasant and polite young
man."
"A pauper. his only fortune the
sword at his side"
"Ah, | knew not even that he pos
sessed one. Yet OF what interest can
all this be to me, monsieur, now that
| am married to your
That my words brought him no COM
fort was plain enough TO be seen, yet
| doubt II 1t ever occurred TO his mind
that | simply made sport. and sought
to anger him. 1t was ON his mind
to say more. yet he choked the words
back, and sat there in moody silence,
scarce glancing at me again during
the long afternoon. But when we fin
ally made landing for the night, it was
plain to be e en that his vigilance was
in no wise relaxed, for, although he
avoided me himself, the watchful
Jesuit was eve at my side, no doubt
in obedience to his orders. AS we
were eating a party of fur traders,
bound east, came ashore in a small
fleet of canoes and Joined the men
below, building their fires slightly up
stream. At last Pere Allouez left me
alone and descended to them, eager to
learn the news from Montreal. Yet,
although seemingly I was now left
alone, l had no thought of adventur-
ing in the darkness, as l felt con-
WINGED the watchful priest would never
have deserted my side had be not
known that other eyes were keeping
vigil.
From that moment l never felt my
self alone or u~nobserved. Cassion in
person did not make himself obnox-
ious, except that l was always seated
beside him in the boat, subject to his
conversation and attentions. How
ever it was managed | know not, but
my uncle never approached me alone,
and only twice did | gain glimpse of
Sieur d'Artigny-once, when his canoe
returned to warn us of dangerous wa
ter ahead, and once when he awaited
us beside the landing at Montreal. Yet
ever these occasions yielded me new
courage, for, as our eyes met | knew
he was still my friend, waiting, as l
was, the opportunity for a better I'M
d%erstanding. This knowledge brought
tears of gratitude to my eyes and a
thrill of hope to my heart. l was no
longer utterly alone.
We were three days at Montreal,
the men busily engaged in adding to
their store of provisions. l had scarce
ly a glimpse of the town, as / was
given lodging in the convent close to
the river bank, and the pere was my
constant companion during hours of
daylight.
We departed at dawn, and the sun
was scarce an hour high when the
prows Of our canoes turned into the
Ottawa. Now we were indeed in the
wilderness, fronting the vast unknown
country Of the West, with every
league of travel leaving behind all
trace of civilization. There was moth
ing before us save a few scattered
missions, presided over by ragged
priests, and an occasional fur traders
station, the headquarters of wander
ing couriers du bois. On every side
were the vast prairies and stormy
lakes, roamed over by savage men
and beasts through whom we must
make u way in hardship, danger and
toll.
Our progress up the Ottawa was so
slow, so toilsome, the days such a
routine of labor and hardship, the
scenes along the shore so similar, that
l lost all conception of time. Except
for the Jesuit l had scarcely a COM
panion, and there were days. l am
sure, when we did not so much as
exchange a word.
The men had no rest from labor,
even Casslon changing from boat to
boat as necessity arose, urging them
to renewed efforts. The water was
low, the rapids more than usually dan
gerous, so that we were compelled to
portage more often than usual. Once
the leading canoe ventured to shoot a
rapid not considered perilous, and had
a great hole torn in its prov by a
sharp rock. The men got ashore, saw
ing the wreck, but lost their store of
provisions, and we were a day there
making the damaged canoe again SER
viceable.
This delay gave me my only glimpse
of D'Artigny, still dripping from his
involuntary bath, and SO busily en-
gagged at repairs as to be scarcely CON
scious of my presence on the bank
above him. Yet l can hardly say that,
for once he glanced up, and u eyes
met, and possibly he would have Joined
me, but for the sudden appearance of
Cassion, who swore at the delay, and
ordered me back to where the tent
had been hastily erected. l noticed
D'Artigny straighten up, angered that
Cassion dared speak to me SO harshly,
but l had no wish then to precipitate
an open quarrel between the two men,
and so departed quickly. Later, Fa-
ther Allouez told me that in the over
turning of the canoe the young sleur
had saved the life of the Algonquin
chief, bringing him ashore unconscious,
helpless from a broken shoulder. This
accident to Altudah led to the trans
ferring of the injured Indian to our
canoe and caused Cassion to join
D'Artigny in advance.
1t vas five days later, and in the
heart of all that was desolate and
drear, when the long-sought opportu-
nifty came in most unexpected fashion.
We had made camp early, because of
rough water ahead, the passage Of
which it was not deemed best to at
tempt without careful exploration. So,
while the three heavily laden canoes
drew up against the bank, and pre-
| AIRED To snpnd thn ni0ht thp leading