The state herald., 1916-11-24

barked again, and won slow way
against the current. The advance COM
pany had departed before our arrival.
nor did again obtain glimpse of
D'Artigny for many days.
l would not say that Cassion pur-
posely kept us apart, for the arrange
ment might have been the same had
I not been of the party, yet the only
communication between the two divl-
sions occurred when some messenger
brought back warning of dangerous
water ahead. Usually this messenger
was an Indian, but once D'Artigny
came and guided our canoes
through torrent of white, raging wa
ter, amid maze of murderous rocks.
During these days and weeks Cassion
treated me with consideration and out
ward respect. Not that he failed to
talk freely, and to boast Of his ex-
plolts and adventures, yet he refrained
from laying hand on me, nor did he
once refer to the incident Of the bluff.
Nor was the journey lacking In in
terest or adventure. Never shall I
forget the charm Of those days and
nights, amid which we made slow and
toilsome passage through the desolate
wilderness, ever gaining new leagues
to the westward. Only twice in weeks
did we encounter human belngs-once
a camp Of Indians on the shore Of q
lake, and once Capuchin monk, alone
but for single voyageur as COM
panion, passed us upon the river. And
when, at last, we made the long por-
tage, tramping through the dark for
est aisles, bearing on our shoulders
heavy loads. scarcely able to see the
sun even at midday through the leafy
screen of leaves, and came forth at
twilight on the shores Of the mighty
lake, no words can express the rap
lures with which I stood and gaxed
across that expanse Of heavlng, rest
less water. The men launched their
canoes upon the surface and made
camp in the edge of the forest, but
I could not move, could not restrain
my eyes. until darkness descended and
left all before me q void.
1t was scarcely more than daybfeak
when we broke camp and headed our
canoes out into the lake. With the
dawn. and the CLINT Of sunlight over
the waters. much Of my dread depart
ed. and l 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 consted thus. never
out Of sight Of shore. and usually with
islands between us and the main body
Of water. In all that time we had no
sign Of man-not even a wisp Of
smoke. nor heard the crack Of distant
ride. About us extended loneliness
and desolatlon, great waters never
still. vast forests grim and somber.
tall, menacing rocks. bright-colored In
the sun.
As last we left the chain Of islands
behind, and one morning struck out
from the shore into the waste Of wa.
ters. the prows Of the canoe turned
westward. the steersman guiding our
course by the sun. For several hours
we were beyond view OF land. with
naught to rest the eye upon save the
gray sen, and then, when II was nearly
night. we reached the shore and
beaclied our canoes at st. Ignace.
80 much had been said Of st Ignace.
and so long had the name been IA
milInr throughout New France. that
NY first view OF the place brought
me bitter disappointment
The miserable little village was upon
n point OF land. originally covered with
heavy growth Of forest. A bit Of this
had been rudely cut, the rotting
stnmps still standing, nnd from the
timber n dozen rough log houses had
been constructed facing the lake. A
few rods back. on slightly higher land.
was n log chapel and house. some
what more prctcntious than the others.
In which the priests lodged. The whole
inspect OF the place was peculiarly
dcsolnte and depressing. fnclng that
vast waste OF water. the black forest
shadows behind. and those rotting
stumps In the foreground.
Nor was our welcome one 10 make
tho heart rejoice. Scarce dozen per.
sons gathered at the beach TO aid Us
In making landing. rough engages
md not among them ali fncc
familiar. II WINS only Inter. when
two priests from the mission came
burrylng forward. that We were greet
ed by cordial speech. These invited a
few OF us TO become guests at tho
house. and assigned the re-
Of our party to vncant huts.
Cassion. Chcvet and Pcrc Alloucx
mo ms ! walked beside 4
young priest up tho beaten path. but
D'Artigny WINS left behind with the