Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-09-16

the left bank of the stream. thickIv
grown with alders, gave him good
deal of protection.
Another hour of hard work
brought him to the outlet of MANY
Beaver, where the constantly in
creasing wind was lashing the sur
face in great whitecaps.
By all rules of prudent conduct.
Mashkaugan should have left his ca
noe there and taken to the shore or
foot. Had he been altogether in his
right mind he would doubtless have
done so, for In all the north country
there never was a more capable voy-
ageur.
But at this time there was in him
strange spirit of exultation or de-
fance. Death n the waters of the
lake could not, he believed, come to
him until his work was finished. un-
less it had been decreed for him as
the swift vengeance of the windegos
of the great waters. Then it would
be more swift and merciful than the
torments they had already inflicted
on him. The fact that he could not
swim made him certain.
Very few of the canoe Indians of
the north can swim even few
strokes The long winter prevents
bathing, and in the summer the wa
ters are too rapid and the lakes al
ways icy-cold. The man who hangs
on to an upset canoe has a chance of
being saved, but the swimmer has
little or none. He is either dashed
against rocks or paralyzed by the
cold.
It was an insane thing for any
man to tackle the short, choppy
waves, whose foam-crowned heads
we're swept of spune by the bowling
wind. 1t is unlikely that any other
man could have battled against
them as did Mashkaugan upon that
day. The power that he put into his
strokes as he met the pillows was
uncanny and heroic.
To start at all had been utter fol-
Nv, but, once he found himself in the
turmoil, the conflict became ire
mendous thing.
The fear of devils might easily
overcome him, yet in actual danger
frai craft met the VIZ S and rose
above demonstrating \ it's stern
and rushing bow on into the next
trough as if intent on burying itself
forever. Yet it rose again and
again, owing to the hunchbacks
marvellous skill and great power,
and he seemed to joy in the battle.
But now the curling tops began
from time to time to rise little
above the gunwhales, just splashing
in a few quarts at time. Again
and again this happened, and the wa
ter could not be bailed out.
The canoe began to rise more and
more sluggishly and to fall with a
heavier thud refusing to answer
swiftly the mighty strokes of its oc-
cupant.
Although was nearing the
shore Mas. gan began to realize
that only by miracle would he win
his battle. Yet his face showed no
sign Of despair.
Death in open conflict was thing
ne never dreaded 1t was great,
Joyous Iustful thing to affront.
As the moment of defeat APP
preached the deeply sunken eyes
cleaned with the passion of strife
STA the lnan looked ahead, bearing
an air of defiance such as his ances-
tyrs might have shown when tied to
the stake awaiting torture.
Through the flying spume ne
could see that he was nearing the
shore 1t was not more than a hun
Qred yards away, and he battlec
nor, tiercely than ever.
Nearer and nearer he came to 1t.
Every wave he met seemed about TO
oyerwhelm him finally, yet he kept
en- and on until the distance became
very short.
Then a tremendous wave turned
his bow aside, and for terrible mo-
men he was in the trough of the
waves An amazing effort righted
the boat for a moment. By this time
it was nearly half full of water.
Once more he cast his eyes on the
shore to measure the remaining dis
t.lce
Suddenly he saw standing among
the rocks the same dread figure that
had terrified him in the morning.
The great unkempt thing that
looked axe a hooking imitation of
the man he had thrust in the boiling
rapids opened its mouth and shouted,
bu. the roar of the waves drowned
al. other sounds.
1T is the coming of DEATH! SAID
Msshkaugan.
Then the man cast away his
paddle. Crossing his arms upon his
chest, he awaited his fate.
The next wave swept over Che IRAN
tr4ft 1t sank deeply, only to come
~ again, rolling like log upon the
waters
y an instant Mashkaugan had
caught the edge of the canoe, but 1t
was torn from his grasp. He went
lown-ever so far He came up
;n md was tossed farther to-
,"i shore by the next billow. Gree
more he strangled beneath the sur,
tace, making but futile effort -
save himself.
The man on the edge of the snort
cast himself in the water. he spenSS
the little strength that had returlieu
e him, struggling with the waves. ~
IN few seconds his right naitu
reached some part of the hun nn1
backs coat. He grasped It anu
fought again to return to snoLe'
whittier wind and wave were pusi
inc hin.
Two OF three strokes only Were
needed and the two rolled ashore on
g SDit Of sand