Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-08-01

Ottawa. Now we were indeed In the
wilderness, fronting the vast unknowr
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 eaT traders
station, the headquarters CT wander
ing couriers du bois. On every side
were the vast prairies and stormy
lakes. roan1ed over by savage men
and beasts through whom we must
make our way in hardship. danger and
toll
Our progress up the Ottawa was so
slow. so toilsome. tie days such a
routine of labor and hardship, the
scenes along the shore so similar. that
: lost all conception of time. Except
for the Jesuit l had scarcely a COM
panion, and there were days. | am
sure. when we did not so much as
exchange word
The men had no rest from labor,
even Cassion changing from boat to
boat as necessity arose, urging them
to renewed efforts. The water was
! low, the rapids more than usually dam
gerous, so that we were compelled TO
portage more often than usual Once
the leading canoe ventured to shoot q
rapid not considered perilous. and had
a great hole torn in it's 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 Oh the bank
above him. Yet can hardly say that,
for once he glanced up, and our 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. noticed
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-
Their Allouez told me that in the over
turning of the canoe the young sieur
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 was five days later, and in tbs
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-
pared to spend the night, the leading
canoe was stripped and sent forward.
manned only with the most expert of
the Indian paddlers to make sure the
perils Of the current. From the low
bank to which | had climbed |
watched the preparations for the dash
through those madly churning waters
above. Cassion was issuing his orders
loudly, but exhibited no inclination to
accompany the party, and suddenly
the frai craft shot out from the
shore, with D'Artigny at the steering
paddle, and every Indian braced for
his task, and headed boldly into the
smother. They vanished as though
swallowed by the mist, Cassioh and
a half dozen soldiers racing along the
shore line in an effort to keep abreast
of the laboring craft.
1t was Wild desOlate spot in which
we were. a mere rift In the bluffs.
which seemed to overhang us, covered
with a heavy growth of forest The
| sun was still an hour high, although
| it was twilight already beside the
| river, when Cassion and his men came
| struggling back to report that the ca
noe had made safe passage, and. TAX
ing advantage of his good humor,
proposed climb up an opening OF
| the bluff. down which led deer trail
plainly discernible.
mot l." he said, casting glance
upward. "The run over the rocks will
do me for exercise tonight"
'Then will assay it alone" re
piled, not displeased at his refusal. 81
am cramped from sitting in the canoe
so long"
"'Twill be a hard climb. and they
tell me the pere has strained tendon
of his leg coming ashore"
"And what of thatv' I burst forth,
giving vent to my indignation. Am l
ten-year-old to be guarded every step
take? IT'S not far to the summit,
and no danger. You can see yourself
the trail is not steep. Faith! 1 will
go now, just to show that am at
liberty"
He laughed. an unpleasant sound to
it. yet made no effort to halt me- The
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