Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-07-27

me with consideration anu ouC-
ward respect. Not that he failed to
talk freely, and to boast of his ex-
PLOTS and adventures, yet he refrained
from laying hand on me, nor lie he
once refer to the incident of the bum.
Nor was the journey lacking in in
terest or adventure. Never shall
forget the charm of those days ana
nights, amid which we made slow and
toiisome passage through the desolate
wilderness, ever gaining new leagues
to the westward. Only twice in weeks
did we encounter human beings-once
a camp of Indians on the shore OF d
lake, and once a Capuchin monk, alone
but for a single voyageuT as COM
panion, passed us upon the river. Anu
when, at last, we made the long por-
tage, tramping through the dark for
est aisles, bearing or our shoulders
heavy loads, scarcely able to see the
sun even at midday through the teafy
screen of leaves, and came forth at
twilight on the shores of the mlghty
lake, no words can express the rap
lures with which stood and gaZeu
across that expanse of heaving. rest
less water. The men launched thelr
canoes pom the surface and maze
camp in the edge Of the forest, out
| could not move, could not restrain
my eyes, until darkness descended ana
laft oil boforn mo a void
1t was scarcely more than daybreak
when we broke camp and headed gu
canoes out into the lake. With n
| dawn. and the CLINT of sunlight over
the waters, much of my dread depart
ed. and | could appreciate the wild
song of delight with which our Indian
paddlers bent to their work. The
sharp-prowed canoes swept through
the waters swiftly, no longer battling
against a current, and the shore line
ever in view was fascinating in its
green foliage. We kept close to the
northern shore, and soon found pas
sage amid numerous islands, forest
covered. but with high, rocky outlines.
For four days we coasted thus, never
out of sight of shore. and usually WITT
islands between us and the main body
of water. In all that time we had nc
sign of man-not even a wisp oil
smoke. nor heard the crack of distant
rifle. About us extended Loneliness
and desolation, great waters never
still. vast forests grim and somber
tall. menacing rocks, bright-colored IL
the sun.
As last we left the chain of islands
behind, and one morning struck on
from the shore into the waste of wa
! ters, the prows of the canoes turned
westward, the steersman guiding on
course by the sun. For several hour
/ we were beyond view of land, wit
f naught to rest the eye upon save tn
. gray sea, and then, when it was nearl
night, we reached the shore an
beached our canoes at st. Ignace.
i So much had been said of st. lgnact
i and so long had the name been fl
e miliar throughout New France. tina
my first view of the place brougt
r me bitter disappointment.
The miserable little village was upo
n a point of land, originally covered wit
heavy growth of forest. A bit of tn
h had been rudely cut, the rottln
" stumps still standing, and from IL
k timber a dozen rough log houses ha
| been constructed facing the lake.
few rods back, on slightly higher Ian
,e was a log chapel and a house, som
what more p~retentious than the other
10 in which the priests lodged. The who
aspect of the place was peculiar
desolate and depressing, facing tn
is vast waste of water, the black fore
shadows behind, and those ROTH
stumps in the foreground.
th Nor was our welcome one to ma
Is, the heart rejoice. Scarce a dozen p'
er o n gathered at the beach to aid
in making landing, rough engag
or mostly, and not among them all a ia
familiar. 1t was only later, VIII
ur two priests from the mission ca
hurrying forward, that we were gre
I'D ed by cordial speech. These invited
IN few Of us to become guests at
We mission house, and assigned the
IRE mainder Of our party to vacant hu
,u- C~assion, Cheyet and Pere Allo'
.ur accompanied me as | walked besid'
young priest up the beaten path,
ley D'Artigny was left behind with
nv men. | overheard Cassion order |
i'm to remain, but he added some W
YER in lower voice, which brought a a
i've Of anger into the younger mans IL
although he merely turned on his
without reply.
nor We remained at st. lgnace th
wn days, busily engaged in repairing
UGH canoes and rendering them fit for
his long voyage yet before us. From
LAY point we were to venture on treac
on Gus waters, as yet scarcely explo
ose. the shores inhabited by savage,
mp known tribes, with not a white
men In all the long distance from CT
the Bay to the Chicago portage. Ont
lrty got out the map and traced the
ore. lance, feeling sick at heart as
EN- realized more clearly the weary ]
way ney.
Those were dull, lonely day
wal, passed in the desolate mission be
of while the others were busy at
various tasks. Only at night tint
pur- as they struggled in to their meals,
nge- see anyone but Pere Allouez.
had was always close at hand, q s
only shadow from whose presence I {
divi- not escape. / visited the priests
niger den, climbed the rocks overloo
rous the water and ever ventured into
niger dark forest, but he was ever b.
Igny me, suave but insistent on doint
.oo. -Aa~~f. uvIf Tho nutv muea