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

were together in QuebecF what are
you laughing att"
II was not laughing, monsieur. Your
ridiculous charge does not amuse me.
I am a woman; you insult me; l am
your wife: you charge me with indis-
erection. If you think to win me with
such cowardly insinuations you know
little Of my nature. I will not talk
with you, nor discuss the matter. l
return to the camp"
His hands clinched as though he
had the throat Of an enemy between
them. but angry as he was, some
vague doubt restrained him.
mon dieu! I'll fight the dog"
"D'Artigny, you mean? TITS his
trade. l hear, and he is good at It,"
bah! a bungler of the woods. l
doubt IL he ever crossed blades with
a swordsrlan. But mark you this,
madame, the lad feels my steel II ever
you so much as speak to him again."
There was contempt in my eyes, O
did I strive to disguise 1t.
"Am l your wife, monsieur. or your
slave?"
"My wife, and I know how to hold
you! Mon dieu! but you shall learn
that lesson. l was a fool to ever give
the brat place in the boats. La Barre
warned ne that he would make trou-
BILE. Now l tell you what will occur
If you play false with me-"
you may spare your threats-they
-rot-l ,.&b;r- Tho Clo,,, a, A .xS,Uxv
is my friend. and I shall address him
when it pleases me. With whatever
quarrel may arise between you I have
no interest. Let that suffice. and now
| bid you good night, monsieur"
He made no effort to halt me. nor
to follow, and l made my way down
the %darkening path, without so much
as turning my head to observe his
movements. 1t was almost like a play
to me, and l was reckless Of the con-
sequences, intent only On my purpose.
In the early dawn we broke camp
as usual, except that chosen boatmen
guided the emptied canoes through the
rapids, while the others Of the party
made portage along the rough shore.
In the smooth water above we all en-
barked again, and won slow way
against the current. The advance com
pany had departed before our arrival.
nor did l again obtain glimpse or
D'Artigny for many days.
would not say that Cassion pur-
posely kept us apart, for the arrange
-z. -.I.l& I,,-. boon Tho ny had
l not been of the party, yet the only
communication between the two divi-
sions occurred when some messenger
brought back warning Of dangerous
water ahead. Usually this messenger
was an Indian, but once D'Artigny
himself came and guided u canoes
through a torrent Of white, raging wa
ter. amid a maze of murderOus rocks.
During these days n weeks CassiOn
treated me with consideration and out
ward respect. Not that he failed to
talk freely, and to boast Of his ex-
ploits and adventures, yet he refrained
from laying hand on me, nor did be
once refer to the incident Of the BLUM.
Nor was the journey lacking In in
terest or adventure. Never shall
forget the charm OF those days and
nights, amid which we made slow ana
toilsome passage through the desolate
wilderness, ever gaining new leagues
to the westward. Only twice in weeks
did we encounter human beings-onee
a camp Of Indians on the shore or a
lake, and once a Capuchin monk, alone
but for a single voyageur as com
panion, passed Us upon the river. Ana
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 ga2ed
across that expanse Of heavIng, rest
less water. The men launched their
canoes upon the surface and MADE
camp In the edge Of the forest, but
| could not move, could not restrain
my eyes, until darkness descended and
left all before me a void.
1t was scarcely more than daybreak
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 canoe swept through
the waters swiftly, no longer battling
against a current, and the shore line
vel 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 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