Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-09-16
At Big Loon Post
By Gerge Van Schaick copdae
By Gerge Van Schaick

There is no part of the world
where the good Samaritan has not
been found. The two Nascaupees
proved worthy followers of the beau
tiful parable. They were we'll ac-
quainted, as most natives of the
northern wilds must be, with the
pItlful signs of over-exertion COM
bined with hunger.
They toiled over Lorimer for some
time before they actually recognized
MIN. The hair that had been allowed
TO grow for several months, the
beard he had never worn hitherto,
the haggard, drawn face, were suf-
hclent to conceal his identity.
AS so often happens, the woman's
quicker intuition first revealed it to
her. After she had fed the child,
that also seemed to be perishing
with hunger, and laid it on soft skins
by the side of her own little one, she
looked at the man with natural Gu
riosity.
at is Uapishiu of the Yellow Hair,
whom they call Lorimerw she ex-
claimed excitedly.
"ln truth it looks much like him."
assented Atuk. "But did we not hear
that Yellow Hair persisted in the
rapids Did we not hear also that
Mashkaugan returned alone and told
Of the death, and is not the woman
Ameou grieving for it ?"
"Then she need grieve no longer"
insisted the woman. "The man they
all thought dead has returned. Does
he not bear all the marks of terri
BILE journey?"
They had undressed Lorimer. His
body was covered with bruises from
the falls due to his weakness and his
Skin was torn by the branches and
thorns that had sought to hold him
back.
Ellis is like the pelt of caribou
stag after many fights" said Atuk.
They dressed the wounds with bal
sam, which they collected in birch
bark cup held beneath the blisters on
the trunks of fir-trees. Each little
swelling when punctured drops a
few tears of crystal-clear resin.
Then they kneaded his limbs gent
ly and persistently, while he contin-
ued to sleep, and awoke him at in
broth and tea and some of the white
flakes of fish they had been netting
At first he was only half con-
scious when he obeyed. He would
swallow few mouthfuls, like do
cile child; but soon he would push
away the kindly hands, desiring
nothing but to be allowed to fall into
a slumber that was deep as the still
ness of death and more healing than
all the power of the medicine
Shortly after noon, when he had
slept about three hours, they reused
him again.
"He has never been utterly with
out food" said Atuk. Gin his pack
there is still little flour, but moth
ing else to eat. The toll of the jour
new has been more terrible than the
hunger. 1t will be we'll to make him
eat again in small quantity, for then
the food will not beget cramps and
vomiting, as happens with those who
have starved toe long"
They had wrapped him up in
warm, red company blankets and
made him sit near the fire at the en-
trance of the tent; but his head still
lolled upon his breast feebly, for the
onlv desire that overwhelmed him
was that for sleep.
Yet when they gave him food he
now swallowed greedily The long
mo for rest gradually subsidized be-
fore the call of his clamoring stom-
ocb Indeed, he would have eaten
more than would have been good for
him hut the Indians soon withheld
anv more food and laid him in front
Of the fire. on which brightly great
logs of yellow birch and pieces of
iack-pine that gave forth clear
flames.
A+nk at will drive away the chill
If the long, cold nights and of
sweaty skin that is struck by icy
wind and rain"
The man slept again. The over
driven heart was beating more slow
~ md strongly, while the sickly,
rouddv tan of his face began to show
on IrGercurrent of RED blood which
drove strength and nourishment
through his body.
"He is a great, sturdy man, sald
Atuk. "Strength is returning to his
IN In two hours they again awoke
him mercilessly. He showed greater
n con, over himself, smiling
gratefully and trying to move his
III # was at this time that Atuk'o
wife began to ask queSt-oAS th2t haI
n,ightily vexed her motnerly soul.
Th-s starved man had ccle to them
" no means very amazing oc-
,nrTence-and they mad cared Tor
him as any other Indians Of 5Ae
' ,-rzh woula nave done; out tAe baoy
.as bewildering problem.
-ou art Yellow Hair, she said.
i k3ew thee after seeing the color
r. loc..-. but how came the lit
"a IL IS be with thee-enl where
.:Tf9 little cne~ Lorimer echoed
!" yes. the uash that laid in thy
arn,s as r.2ou earnest here-that was
.arishIng also with hunger until
3II i'm to my breast ?"
He put his hands to his forehead
mear;lt and thought for moment.
"Yes." he replied at length, Il re-
member that there was a little baby
"a tinv one that cried in my arms
as bore him" !,
"Eut how came he t. BE with t."
and where is the mother, VINO mus