Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-11-24

fees. II you do not IRE to give me
glimpse Of your map, l will retire
again."
"Pouf! do not be so easily Fricked,
I spoke in jest. Ay, look at the 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 l will show you our posi-
ton the best l 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. IT'S here he
has put the mark, while my guess
would be a few leagues beyond"
I bent over, my eyes seeking the
points indicated. / had see the map
before, yet 1t told me little, for l
was unaccustOmed to such study, and
the few points, and streams named
had no real meaning to my mind. The
only familiar term was Chicago Por-
tage, and / pointed to 1t with my
fingers.
as It there we leave the lake, o
sieurT
"Ay; the rest will be river work.
You see this stream? IT'S called the
Des PLANES, and leads into the ILL
nois. D'Artigny says 1t is two miles
inland, cross a fiat country. Twas
Pere Marquette who passed this way
first, but since then many have trav-
ersed it. IT'S like to take us two days
to make the portage"
"And way up here Is Port des. Morris,
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 portage?'
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'ArtignyY
bah! the Sieur d'Artlgny; ever 1t
is the Sieur d'Artigny. IT'S little he
knows about it, in my judgment. He
would have 1t thirty leagues yet, but
l make 1t We are ten leagues to the
south Of where he puts us. What, are
you going already? Faith, l had hopes
you might tarry here a while yet, and
hold converse with me-"
I paused, in no way tempted, yet
uncertain.
you had some word you wished to
say, monsieur"
'There are words enough II you
would listen"
"'Tis no fault Of yours II I do not.
But not now, monsieur. 1t Is late and
cold. We take the boats early and l
would rest while l 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, bat 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 ]
begged to be given place In another
boat, and Cassion consented, after
had exhibited some temper. ordering
a soldier in the s%ergeant's t.
exchange places with me.
We may have proceeded for half 8
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 neare l becam,
aware that D'Artigny's boat hat
turned about, and he was ~endeavorinl
to induce Cassion to 60 ashore ant
make camp before the storm broke
The latter, however, was obstinate
claiming we were close enough To-
safety, and finally, in angry voice, in
sisted upon proceeding ON our course
D'Artigny, evidently feeling argu
ment useless, made no reply, but
noticed he held back his paddles an,
permitted Cassion's to forg'
ahead. He must have discovered tina
l was not with monsieur, for l saw
him stare intently at each OF the othe
canoes, as though 70 make sure Of m,
presence. shading his eyes with on
hand, as he peered through the thick
ening mist. This action evidenced tn
first intimation I had for days Of hi
continued interest in my welfare. an
my heart throbbed with sudden pleas
ure. Whether or not he felt some pre-
monition of danger, lie certainly spok
words Of instruction to his Indian pad
dlers. and so manipulated his craft a
, to keep not far distant, although slight
~ farther from shore, than the cane
In which | sat.
Cassion had already vanished in tn
d. fog, which swept thicker and thicke