Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-07-29

ran to MaShkaugan. See them
hustle. They want their grub and
a long sleep"
"All right now" answered the
hunchback. "We'u start early over
the portage"
After this there followed many
long days, with the constant passing
of well-remembered landmarks
Point of Birches, Black Rocks, Dead
Pine, Drowned Mans Pool and scores
of others that marked many long
steps in the journey.
When they reached the height OF
land there were many hard portages,
some Of which had to be tackled in
pelting rains when moccasins sank
deep in swampy ooze and the strain
Of the tump-lines became torture.
Then they came to little streams
where the deep-laden canoes would
hardly float and the whole brigade
would be stopped until fallen trees
were hacked asunder.
In other places the men had to
walk in the water and drag the
canoes over shoals by main force.
But they knew that soon they would
journey with the currents that ran
toward Hudson Bay and that there
would be no more hard lining from
the shore, as had happened so often
farther south, when dozen men had
to walk along the bank and tug at a
long tow-rope while two canoe men
with poles kept the ship in mid
stream and watched for rocks.
Mashkaugan and Curran created
carefully nurtureo rivalry among
the men. In hearing of one or two
they discussed the mems abilities,
believing this, doubling that. Like
big children, the voyageurs fell into
the old trap and sweated under the
huge loads, going fast in order to
show what they could do.
Some of the carries took an entire
day, for the portages had to be gone
over and over again until the whole
freight was brought up and loaded
for another start.
Many of the nights were hot and
uncomfortable, the black f1es and
midges that had stung all day made
room for the mosquitoes that buzzed
and bit all night. Tent-faps had to
be closed tightly and the men slept
with their heads covered, for neither
white man nor Indian can withstand
the constant attack of hordes of hum
cry insects blowing in like clouds
from the swamps, and at times
seeming not even to mind the pun
gent acrid smoke of smudges with
which the travellers seek to repel
them.
At such times they grumbled
fercely and gesticulated wildly, but
they were getting accustomed to
Curran's driving and paid little at
tention to him. Better than any one
else they knew when they had ac-
complished a fair days work, and
the leader was compelled to keep his
temper in check, knowing how swift
ly sheat-knives and short axes could
be handled by angry voyageurs.
At night Curran, whose dignity
required a private tent, would call
Mashkaugan and engage in long
conversations with him, always end
ing about Lorimer, at the mention
of whose name Mashkaugan would
spit disdainfully on the ground.
81 amt no friend of his" he said.
"I know you're not; but then | also
know that it was on account Of a
little matter of a cross-fox skin that
you began to dislike him, Mashkau-
gan"
"Called me a thief and other
Names"
"That wasn't polite; but between
us two it looks as if he knew pretty
we'll what he was talking about.
don't like him either. l have my own
reasons. But you must be very care
full. You might come across some
thing worse than long swim on
big river. Wonder if he's got some
notion of where you're wanted: He's
most likely to send you back there"
Mashkaugan remained silent,
though his eyes flashed in anger.
He was remembering night, four
wears before, when he had managed
to escape from a place in which he
was detained for some questionable
practise among Indians with forbid
den liquor.
He saw again the iron-barred,
narrow windows and the walls out
side where men were posted with
loaded guns.
With incredible patience and Won
derful cunning he had made plans
and carried them out with sudden
tr, mendous energy, in the display or
which he had half killed a guar';.
He saw himself, most wildly, as
he swan, clad in tell-tale clothing.
in the middle of the great river on
which boatmen with flaming torches
were hunting for him.
Then, as he was strangling. for
breath and beginning to drift down
belplessly, his head had bumped
against log, and he had clutched it
and driven his nails into it, tearing
them to the quick-and g man had
nulled him out and laid him on the
raft. while his breath came with
gurgling SOUND.
And the raft had gone on, towed
by a putting tug, and the man had
concealed him while boats boarded it
and other men searched.
At this very minute that man was
sitting beside him! He was Curran.
Soon afterward they had parted,
and two years later, in a far-otf
place. as he looked for employment
in brigade, the two had recognized
each other.
Curran had scratched his head
when the man stood before him. The