Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-07-27

MEXICO lSSOiJRI M
Of anger into the younger mans face,
although he merely turned on his heel
without reply.
We remained at ST. Ignace three
days busily engaged in repairing our
canoes and rendering them fit for the
long voyage yet before us. From this
point we were to venture on treacher-
Gus waters, as yet scarcely explored.
the shores inhabited by savage, I'M
known tribes, with not q white man
in all the long distance from Green
Bay to the Chicago portage. Once /
got out the map and traced the dis
lance, feeling sick at heart as | thus
realized more clearly the weary Jour
ney.
Those, were dull, lonely days l
passed in the desolate mission house,
while the others were busy at their
various tasks. Only at night time, or
as they struggled i'm to their meals, did
l see anyone but Pere Allouez, who
was always close at hand, a silent
shadow from whose presence l could
not escape. l visited the priests gar
den, climbed the rocks overlooking
the water and even ventured into the
dark forest, but he was ever beside
me, suayc but insistent on doing his
masters viii. The only glimpse had
of D'Artigny was at a distance, for
not once did he approach the mission
house. SO I was glad enough when
the canoes were ready, and all prep
ardtons made for departure.
Yet we were not destined to escape
thus easily from st. Ignace. OF what
occurred | must write as it happened
TO me then. and not as Its full signi-
fiCanCe became later clear to my I'M
Outstanding. 1t was after nightfall
when Cassion returned to the mission
house. The lights We're burning Oh
the table, and the three priests were
rather impaticnty waiting their even
ing meal, occasionally exchanging
brief sentences. or pecring out through
the open window toward the dark
water.
Cassion came in alone, yet I OBJ
pearance, except that he failed to
greet me with the usual attempt at
gallantry, although his sharp eyes
swept our faces as he closed the door,
and stared about the room.
what! not eaten yet?" he eX-
claimed. Il anticipated my fate to
be a lonely meal, for the rascals
worked like snails, and I would not
leave them rest until all was finished.
Faith, the odor is appetizing and 1 am
hungry as a bear"
The younger priest waved his hand
to the servant yet asked softly:
Monsieur Chevet he is delayed
also?"
HE will sup with his men tonight"
returned Cassion shortly, seating him
self on the bench. THE sergeant
keeps guard of the canoes, and Chevet
will be useful with those off duty"
The man ate as though nearly fam
ished, his ready tongue unusually ST.
lent, and at the conclusion of the meal,
appeared so fatigued that 1 made early
excuse TO withdraw so he might rest
in comfort, climbing the ladder in one
corner to my own bed beneath the
caves. This apartment, whose only
advantage was privacy, was no more
than narrow space between the slop-
ing rafters of the roof unfinished,
but with a small window in the end,
closed by a wooden shutter. A parti-
ton of aXe-hewn planks divided this
attic into two compartments, thus COM
posing the priests sleeping chambers.
While was there they both occupied
the one to the south, CassiOn, Chevet
and Pere Allouez resting in the main
room below.
As 1 lowered the trap in the floor,
shutting out the murmur of voices 1
was conscious of no desire to sleep,
my mind busily occupied with posi-
Dilities of the morrow. l opened the
window and seated myself on the
floor gazing out at the night. Below
extended the priests garden, and be-
yond the dark gloom of forest depths.
The way of egress was easy-a mere
step to the fiat roof of the kitchen,
the dovetailed logs of which afforded