The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-03-22

rifle. About us extended loneliness
and desolation. great waters never
still. vast forests grim and somber,
the sun.
As last we left the chain OF islands
behind, and n morning struck out
from the shore into the waste of wa
tiers, the prows Of the canoes 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 sea, and then, when it was nearly
night. we reached the shore and
beached our canoes at st. Ignace.
So much had been said Of st. Ignace.
and so long had the name been IA
miliar throughout New France. that
my first view Of the place brought
me bitter disappointment.
The miserable little village was upon
a point Of land. originally covered with
heavy growth Of forest. A bit Of this
had been rudely cut, the rotting
stumps still standing. and from the
timber a dozen rough log houses had
been constructed facing the lake. A
few rods back, on slightly higher land.
was a log chapel and a house. some
what more %pretentious than the others.
In which the priests lodged. The whole
aspect of the place "a peculiarly
desolate and depressing, facing that
vast waste Of water, the black forest
shadows behind, and those rotting
stuIlps in the foreground.
Nor was our welcome one to make
the heart rejoice. Scarce a dozen per-
sons gathered at the beach to aid us
in making landing. rough engages
mostly, and not among them all a face
familiar. 1t was only later. when
two priests from the mission came
hurrying forward. that we were greet
ed by cordial speech. These invited a
few OF us to become guests at the
mission house, and assigned the re-
mainder Of our party to vacant huts.
Cassion, Chevet and Pere AlloueZ
accompanied me as l walked beside a
young priest up the beaten path, but
D'Artigny was left behind with the
men. l overheard Cassion order him
to remain, but he added sOme word
in lower voice, which brought a flush
of anger into the younger mans face.
although he merely turned on his heel
without reply.
We remained at st. Ignace three
days, busily engaged In repairing our
anoe and rendering them fit for the
long voyage yet before us. From this
point we were to venture on treacher-
GUS waters, as yet scarcely explored.
the shores inhabited by savage, I'M
known tribes, with not a white man
in All the long distance from Green
Bay to the Chicago portage. Once l
got out the map and traced the dis
lance, feeling sick at heart as / thus
realized more clearly the weary jour-
ney.
Those were dull, lonely days 1
passed in the desolate mission house,
while the others were busy at their
various tasks. Only at night time, or
as they struggled In to their meals, did
l see anyone but Pere Allouez, who
was always close at hand. a silent
shadow from whose presence l could
not escape. | visited the priests gar
den, climbed the rocks overlooking
the water and even ventured into the
dark forest, but he was ever beside
me-, suave but insistent on doing his
masters will. The only glimpse | had
Of D'Artigny was at a distance, for
not One did he approach the mission
house. SO l was glad enough when
the canoes were ready, and all prep
arations made for departure.
Yet we were not destined to escape
thus easily from st. Ignace. OF what
occurred | must write as it happened
to me then, and not as its full signi-
ficance became later clear to my I'M
derstanding. 1t was after nightfall
when Cassion returned to the mission
house. The lights were burning on
tie ldDIe, anu ule l1Tee pTIcStS were
rather impatiently waiting their yer
ing meal, occasionally exchanging
brief sentences, or peering out through
the open window toward the dark
water.
Cassion came in alone, yet / OBJ
served nothing strange about his ap-
pearance, except that he failed to
greet me with the usual attempt at
gallantry, although his sharp eyes
swept our faces as he closed the door,
and stared about the room.
what! not eaten yet?' he ex-
claimed. 81 anticipated my fate to
be a lonely meal, for the rascals
worked like snails, and | would not
leave them rest until all was finished.
Faith, the odor is appetizing, and am
hungry as a bear"
The younger priest waved his hand
to the servant yet asked softly:
Monsieur Chevet - be IL delayed
alsoi'
"He will sup with his men tonight"
returned Cassion shortly, seating HIM