Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-08-12
CHAPTER v.
Foul Play.

CreSS OF parting Will A1ACOo hau
lost some of it's keenness, Lorlmer
began to obtain some enjoyment
from his trip. 1t was a change from
the routine of the post. There was
the constant delight of seeing new
places, of camping each night In a
different spot, of the long days OF
padding up rivers whose. every
winding revealed fresh beauties.
AS they went on they quickly in
vestigated tracks of game on the
sand banks along the shore, for their
abundance or scarcity was OF I'M
portance.
But soon the taciturnity of his
companion became tiresome. Hardly
a word ever came from him except
as a brief answer to questions. Lor-
inner took keen interest in the folk
lore of the Indians.
He often tried to I. ct information
from Mashkaugan; but the mere
mention of beliefs and superstltlons
of the savages caused the hunch6ack
to withdraw further into his she'll.
1t made the voyageur uneasy.
One day they reached a place
known as the White Rapids, where
the river dashed turbulently for sew
eral hundred yards before engulting
itself in the chasm of granite hill.
Just beyond the canon it leapedi
fercely into a foam-fecked pool
where great rocks overhung the
water.
"A fine place, this, for the winde--
COS and other devils to gather and
plan torments for the spirits OF de-
parted men," said Lorimer, standing
on a shelf of rock, somewhat awed
by the majesty and grandeur OF the
spectacle.
Mashkaugan actually shivered.
zone must not speak of such
things in a place like this" he an
swered unessily.
The Young man looked at him in
some surprise. 1t had become evil
dent that the strain of white blood In
the mar had not prevented him from
remaining under the influence OF the
superstition that prevails among
northern Indians.
They FASTENED over the portage
and resumed their journey. Lori
mer was wise enough to allow Mash
kaugan to decide every course OF ac-
ton. He was an experienced voy-
ageur, quick end str ng of body,
with splendid ability to meet every
one of the problems constantly pre-
sent.d bv travel in the wilderness.
Lorimer, also of sturdy body, and
possessed of a keen intelligence, had
been quick to grasp all the essen
r;als. but he recognized that IN the
woods the hunchback was his mas
ter.
Yet Mashkaugan never took ad-
vantage of this. He might advise,
but always with a respectful ques-
When approaching some perilous
rapid the voyager would stand up
in the canoe with perfect balance
and rapidly scan the rough water.
Think besr to right. Inside big
black rock" he nigh, say. What
think ?"
swer.
Then, through the swirl of the wa
ters shooting IN and out amoug hid
den boulderS over which great spun
ing waves arose, they would dash on
and on, seeming to be on the verge
woutd leap int dead water again
ana IQ6y WOu1u L4OdIJ "A4IS LIlS al
ders. bircheS and dark fire appeared
to rush by them like things endowed
with life.
all times the stroke of the pad
die astern was timed to second or
the drive of the iron-shod pole quick
IL averted impending disaster.
travelling with you is liberal
education" he once told the voyage
ur after they had passed particu-
larly dangerous place.
ia Mashkaugan only grunteG,
having failed perhaps to grasp the
sense Of the words, and padded on
with great driving strokes which he
could keep up long after Lorimer's
nrms were aching.
lit would be hard going for brl
ro"a" remarked Lorimer, at the
s..s Of a noontime kettle of tea.
.nuicrs come this way with Y2lts
20! St cry v r7ni'eT NaSaau-
Struggling his shoulders.
Finally they reached Mumukesku
Lake. It was like a small inland
sea.
They were held at the outlet by
the wind, as the waves were danger
with pelting squalls of rain could
not be affronted.
1t was their first day in idleness,
for they had not rested on Sundays.
They spent it in making needed re-
pairs to their clothes. Toward night
fall, when the rain had ceased, they
carefully attended to few small
leaks in the canoe, drying the bark
with torch of birch rind, for the
melted gum will not stick to wet
surface
1t proved to be a long day. The
half-breed could hardly be made to
talk, and Lorimer's thoughts revert
ed to Tshemuak Post and the woman
who was waiting for him.
The desolation of the immense
sheet of water, whose further shores
were invisible, the sodde.l moisture CT
everything, the growing chilliness of
damp bodies conspired 10 dull Lori
mer's mind until he became con-
scious of q sense of distress.
~ ho of