Mexico Missouri message., 1916-08-03

L SpOht III jest ny, lOuh 1T lLe pa
per, but the tracing is so poor it's no
better than a guess where we are. Sit
you down, madame, so the fire gives
light, and 1 will show you our posi-
ton the best can"
"Did not D'Artigny know"
"He thinks he does, but his memory
is not over clear, as he was only over
this course the once. 'Tis here he
has put the mark, while my guess
would be a few leagues beyond"
I bent over, my eyes seeking the
points indicated. 1 had seen the map
before, yet it told me little, for I
was unaccustomed to such study, and
the few points, and streams named
bad no real meaning to my mind. The
only familiar term was Chicago Por-
tage, and 1 pointed to it with my
fingers.
"Is it there we leave the lake, mon
sieur?"
cay; the rest will be river work.
You see this stream? 'Tis called the
Des PLANES, and leads into the Illi-
nois. D'Artigny says 1t is two miles
inland, across a fat country. Twas
Pere Marquette who passed this way
first, but since then many have trav-
ersed it. 'Tis like to take us two days
to make the portage"
"And way up here is Port des Morts,
where we crossed the opening into
Green Bay, and we have come since
all this distance. Surely it's not far
along the shore now to the portagep
mon dieu, who knows! 1t looks
but a step on the map, yet tits not
likely the distance has ever been
measured"
"What said the Sieur d'Artigny"
bah! the Sieur d'Artigny; ever it
is the SIeur d'Artigny. TITS little he
knows about it, in my judgment. He
would have it thirty leagues yet. but
1 make it we are ten leagues to the
south of where he puts us. What, are
you going already? Faith, had hopes
you might tarry here. while yet, and
hold converse with me-"
paused, in no way tempted, yet
uncertain.
"You had some word you wished to
say, monsieurT
"There are words enough If you
would listen"
"'Tis no fault of yours lf I do not
But not now, monsieur. It is late and
cold. We take the boats early and I
would rest while can"
He was on his feet, the map gripped
in his hand, but made no effort to
stop me, as I dropped him a curtsy,
and retreated. But he was there still
when I glanced back from out the
safety of the tent, his forehead creased
by a frown. When he finally turned
away the map was crushed shapeless
in his fingers.
The morning dawned somewhat
warmer, but with every promise of a
storm, threatening clouds hanging
above the water, sullen and menacing,
their edges tipped with lightning. The
roar of distant thunder came to our
ears, yet there was no wind, and Cas-
sion decided that the clouds would
drift southwark, and leave us safe
passage along the shore. His canoe
had been wrenched in making landing
the evening before, and had taken in
considerable water during the night.
This was bailed out, but the interior
was so wet and uncomfortable that l
begged to be given place in another
boat, and Cassion consented, after I
had exhibited some temper, ordering
a soldier in the sergeant's canoe to
exchange places with me.
We may have proceeded for half a
league, when a fog swept in toward
the land enveloping us in its folds,
although we were close enough to the
shore so as to keep safely together,
the word being passed back down the
line, and as we drew nearer became
aware that D'Artigny's boat had
turned about, and he was endeavoring
to induce Cassion to go ashore and
make camp before the storm broke
The latter, however, was obstinate
claiming we were close enough fol
safety, and finally, in angry voice, in
sisted upon proceeding on our course
D'Artlgny, evidently feeling argu
ment useless, made no reply, but
noticed he held back his paddles and
permitted Cassion's canoe to forg,
ahead. He must have discovered tha
l was not with monsieur, for I saw
him stare intently at each OF the othel
canoes, as though TO make sure of mN
presence, shading his eyes with ont
hand, as he peered through the thick
ening mist. This action evidenced tn,
first intimation 1 had for days of hi
continued interest in my welfare, ant
my heart throbbed with sudden pleas
ure. Whether or not he felt some pre-
monition OF danger, he certainly spok
words of instruction to his Indian pad
dlers, and so manipulated his craft a
to keep not far distant, although slight
ly farther from shore, than the cano
in which I sat.
Cassion had already vanished In tn
fog, which swept thicker and thicke
along the surface OF the water, th
nearer boats becoming mere indIstin,
shadows. Even within my own cano
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