Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-08-05

lIuGI CdGl1h6.
Lorimer did not answer at once.
Under former conditions he would
have been only too delighted to
spend couple of months exploring
the country, but the prospect of
leaving Ameou was exceedingly dis
tasteful to him just then.
There was no reason to prevent
Curran's going; but, of course, the
man was just in from a hard trip
and entitled to a rest, and the jour
ney, if taken at all, must begin at
once.
"Mashkaugan would be the best
man to take" continued Curran.
"He's hard as nails, and no one can
touch him as voyageur. Says he'd
like to CO."
Lorimer had never cared for
Mashkaugan; yet there was no
question that the surly half-breed
was the best canoeman on hand-a
hard worker and familiar with all
the dialects of the country. His in
telligence was of a shrewder kind
than prevailed among most of the
voyageurs. His opinion regarding
fur and the possibility of transpor-
tation was to be reckoned with Sc
riously.
"By the way" asked Curran,
"have you any liniment at the post
l got a rather bum knee from fall
ing on rocks. Of course, it don't
amount to much. Doesn't even
make me limp. It'll be all right in a
few days"
He rose and took a few steps to
show that he could walk easily
l. /
exaggerate his effects.
Plenty of it," answered Lorimer,
al dare say the hurt won't amount
to anything, as you say; but, of
course, you should rest it and not
the chance. | think | ought to start
day after tomorrow"
Curran's cold and almost imper-
ceptible smile came again. He had
deftly applied the little touch which
decides the falling of the scale and
was pleased with himself.
ct should take my wife along"
said Lorimer. "She likes to travel
and is as good as most men in a
canoe, but now it's out of the ques-
ton. The poor girls going to feel
pretty badly over this"
Curran nodded. Circumstances
were helping him.
"Well,, I'm going to turn in" he
said. "a good bunk is going to feel
pretty good after month of sleep
ing on the ground"
But before he retired Curran
sought out Mushkaugan and had a
short, earnest talk with him.
Lorimer strolled down to the bank
e Lo with Allow
talked about the intended journey.
at is foolishness," the young wo-
man said. "My father knows all the
country of the Ushuk. There is moth
ing there, unless one goes so far
reach the country from this side.
Men have told the company things
that are not so-but it is an order
and you must go!"
81 am afraid | must" he assented.
"You will CO." Ameou continued
at is the place of women to stay
behind and wait when they cannot
help. Yet / am much disturbed in
mind, for l fear something. What
it is I do not know"
81 am taking but the chances of
all long trips" observed Lorimer. ri
certainly hate to leave, but my rea-
sons lie in my love for you, since
cannot see that there is anything to
fear"
"The Nascaupees Of the eastward
country will do no HARM" sale
Ameou, "for they are quiet people
even those who have never seer
white men. Nor do l fear rough
waters, for thou art a strong mar
with the paddle and swimmer
like nitsuk, the otter. But always
remember chat the strongest swim
mer is nothing in swirling water
that seeks to rend his limbs apart
| have no fear of those things which
befall one in the wilderness, because
all men must take their chances at
all times. But that which | fear
cannot put into words. 1t is some
thing like the heaviness Of the all
and the black calmness of the water
and the hushed song of birds when
great storm is coming"
In the dusk of the brief northern
night Lorimer could barely see that
| her eyes were moist and her lips
| trembled Yet her voice was calm
! She was speaking her own language,
which is full of soft infections and
knows only "thee" and thou" in ad-
| dressing others. She belonged to a
| people Injured to great hardships and
| was seeking to meet it bravely.
"It does not seem to me that any
thing in the world could ever come
between thee and me-" he answered
"The great happiness we have en-
joyed together can surely have nc
brief ending. Thou fearest only be-
cause of thy great love for me-"
al hope so! Indeed, l hope SO
with all my heart" she answered
somewhat brokenly.
They remained for some time in
the stiffness of the night, broken
only at intervals by some night
birds cry or splashing fish or musk
rat, or by the rising and falling OF
a gentle wind among the shivering
poplars.
At length they returned, down
cast, to the post. Once in their
room, Lorimer gulped at the sight OF
tiny garment that Ameou had been
making with loving care.
The next day was very busy one.
| An account had to be made Of all the
| goods remaining at the post and an
inventory of all that had just ar
rived.
/ L. .,.,Ia ~, he