The Rice belt journal., 1920-07-03

the darkness, and approaching rapidly,
was the second schooner. At the same
time voices hailed them. They had
been seen.
Brousseau, upon the poop. yelled in
answer. And he began to run to and
fro in his excitement, possessed only
by the fear of death by fire.
The flames spread. The cabin was
now involved, and a great column of
smoke was shooting skyward, carrying
with a fiery spark cloud.
Dupon came out of the smoke, his
face alight with fanatic madness. He
caught him by the arm.
"See the fine fire." he shouted. "He
won't get out Of that in hurry.
told her that l would give her his life
for the name, but l have not got the
name. The name! What is It? The
namew
His voice rang out across the heav-
ing water. and, as he called, Baptiste
swung down the wheel, and the second
ship glided alongside and passed.
1t drove off into the distance, driven
ny the whipping wind, but not before
DupOnt's words had been heard.
From the group upon Baptiste's ship
a figure disengaged herself and
stepped forward. 1t was Marie Du-
pOnt. She poised herself upon the
deck, and her voice rang out above
the gale and the sea.
II give you the name," she cried.
1T is EdOuard Brousseau. 1t is he,
and | give you my secret which have
borne all my life. Take it"
She fell back into Baptiste's arms.
And it seemed as If, with the breaking
of the inhibition, her past life, with
its fears and terrors, was melted into
the life Of happiness that was to be.
Dupont had heard her. For a mo-
ment they could see the tall figure of
the old man, with his wind,tOssed hair
and beard, standing as if petrifed
upon his blazing deck. Then he cried
out like screaming sea-bird, and his
arms closed about the man at his side.
AS Baptiste turned and tackled 1t
could be seen that the old man was
holding Brousseau with one arm, as
easily as if he held a child, while his
free hand controlled the wheel again.
What reservoir Of strength he drew
upon, what miracle Of seamanship.
could never be known. But, as If ma
ture were aiding him, veering gust
caught the sails, and with backward
movement the schooner began to glide
through the entrance of the ice field
into open water.
The fire was all about them. Screams
came from the doomed ship. but they
came from Brousseau, struggling In
Dupont's arms. Not sound came
from the captains lips.
The vessel gained her freedom, she
turned and began to drive eastward,
toward the Gulf and its open water
Faster and faster she went as the wind
compelled her. The Mortified watchers
upon the deck Of Baptiste's schooner
saw the blazing vessel glide into the
distance, blazing comet, and Dupont,
black against the heart Of the fire, and
Brousseau in his arms.
Little was afterward remembered
concerning the rescue. But from that
night legends began to spread along
both shores: OF Baptiste's seamanship.
and of Hilary, who. single-handed
saved the heiress of the seignory from
Brousseau and the two outlaws.
But none of the principals in these
events care overmuch to dwell upon
them, even in memory. And, though
memories live long In silence, gossip
soon dies. All this is becoming a local
legend, such as mothers tell to their
babies.
But the st. Bonlface mill now huns
from dawn till dark, and the asbestos
mine has brought in it's workers and
made st. Boniface quite a f1ourfshfng
village in the north country.
Twice a month, when he pays his
pastoral visit, you may see Father
Lucien, still hale and strong, patrolling
Ste. Marie with curious hazel stick,
fashioned with a knob at each end;
and it is said that Ste. Marie is one of
the best parishes on the north shore.
On Sundays, seated in the parish
church, may be seen Simeon Duval,
nodding his head approvingly as, point
by point. the cure takes up his de-
nunciation of liquor selling. For Fa-
ther Lucien really reached Simeon's
soul with his hazel stick.
Marie has the best house in the vii
lage, for Baptiste does thriving trade
carrying the St. Boniface lumber.
Here is Clarice. who looks. somehow.
Just as one might have expected from
Lafe's descriptions.
"He wouldn't come home" she says
to Hilary. $50 had to come after him.
But he's coming home next October, to
see his children and the new house"
Bought and paid for" said Lafe.
"Yes, guess that's correct, Mr.. As
kew. Though I'll be back some day to
see you all. 1t amt so bad, this coun-
try-except for that pink and black
porch Baptiste's put on his house.
Darn him, what did he want to do that
for? tell you how it is: These peo-
Die can't help breaking out somewhere
and somehow; it's in their blood, that's
what it is."
But in his heart he Knows that the
winter will see him back In st. BOni-