The Coolidge examiner., 1931-04-24

The timber was heavy and dark.
Swamps were undrained, rivers and
lakes were shadowed by dense
vegetation, and in the humid,
sweating mold of these places, the
malevolent pestilence was born and
rose in clouds that sometimes OBJ
scured the face of the moon. Dur
ing these weeks a Gordon of de-
cayed stumps and logs smoldered
night and day about the Bulain
cabin. screening it in pungent
smoke, and outside this small
haven, work on the farm was con-
tinued at price of physical mar
tyrdom, except under a burning
sun, when the insects sought ref
uge from the glare and heat.
Jeems did not go again to Ton
teur manor. though occasionally he
heard news from the Seigneurie.
Every one was in high humor there
because of the activities going on
in preparation for the exit of the
entire family for Quebec early in
September. TOinette was going to
school at the convent of the Ur-
sulines. Jeems had a feeling of
loss. 1t was as if the fire of his
dreams had not only burned itself
out, but even, the ash were being
cleared away.
Autumn came, and with it
great glory in the wilderness.
Jeems loved these maturer days of
golden ripeness, Of first frosts, of
painted hardwood forests, and of
crisp, tangy air when all life
seemed rejuvenated and his own
veins danced to the thrill of un-
ending promises and expectations.
But this year a heavineSS of heart
was in him with the changing of
the seasons. TOinette and her peo-
pie left for Quebec, and one eve
ming, week later, Hepsibah
gravely announced that he could
no longer delay his departure for
the far frontiers of Pennsylvania
and the Ohio. where his obligations
as a trader called him. Catherine
was silent for a while, then cried
softly to herself. Jeems drew back
where his uncle would not see him
clearly. Henri's cheerfulness died
out like a lighted candle extin-
guished by breath of wind. Hep
sibah'S face was grimly set, so
hard was he fighting to hold a grip
on his emotion. He promised that
he would never again remain away
long at a time. He would return
during the winter. If he failed to
come, they would know he was
dead.
When Henri got out of his bed
to build the fire the next morning
Hepsibah was gone. He had stolen
off like a shadow in some still
hour of the night.
More determlnedly than when
his uncle had been with him,
Jeems continued at his work and
at the mental efforts with which
he was struggling to reach out into
the mountains and valleys of ex-
perience ahead of him. Through
the fall and winter the Bulain
cabin was visited by wandering
Indians who had learned that food,
warmth, and welcome were al
ways there. Jeems' friendship for
them was tempered by the things
HepSibah had told him, and while
he brought himself closer into in
timacy with these unlimited
guests, winning their confidence
and making himself more efficient
in their speech, he was also watch
ing and listening for the signs of
hidden dangers against which his
uncle had repeatedly warned him.
Most of the Indians were from the
Canada tribes, and among them he
found no cause for unrest, but
when occasionally an Onondaga or
an Oneida came, he detected in
their manner a quiet and sleepless
caution which told him these Wis
itOrs from the Six Nations consid-
cred themselves over the dead line
which marked the country Of their
enemies, And he made note that
they always came through that
part of Forbidden valley which
Hepsibah had predicted would be
future warpath for the MOhawks.
ZrFryTN 7 T ~