Year: 1863

men in the employ of the old "North-
West Fur Company" was one FRANCHISE
Germaine, voyageur, who had established
a notoriety for courage and physical
strength, and like many others Of his
class, he was sometimes vain Of his ex-
traordinary powers, and fond of exhibit
Ing them to his associates. He would
load his brawny shoulders with packs
which his comrades could scarcely lift
from the ground, and without evincing the
smallest degree Of fatigue, would march
with them, day after day, through the
wilderness, often leaving his lightly load
ed companions far in the rear. II was
no uncommon thing for Francoise to lin
ger in the camp an hour or two after his
comrades had started, take the trail they
we're following, and after a few hours pass
them quietly; and after travelling till the
middle of the afternoon, stop at some con-
venient spot for camping. He usually
selected some water-course which he judg


cd his friends would reach about night
fall and striking camp, would surprise
them with a well prepared supper of veni-
son, or other game which he had prepar-
ed against their arrival.


On certain occasion, when ascending
the Dois des Sioux River, alone, in bis
canoe, he was attacked by large party
of Sioux Indians, who after sinking his
canoe by perforating its bottom with their
rifles, and making desperate fight of it,
succeeded in making him a prisoner. His
reputation for courage and strength had
reached them, and before putting him to
torture, they determined to test his pow


ers. Accordingly they took him to the
edge of the cliff some two hundred feet
high, beneath which ran the river, and af-
ter preparing rope of bark, and fastening
one end of it to large stone at the base
of the cliff, they directed him to raise it
to where they were collected in q group
TO witness the feat. Germaine, whose
judgment and self-reliance never for
moment deserted him, readily consented
to humor the Indians, but declared that
the thing was impossible with so short
q rope. The Indians, who had brought
the free end of it to the top Of the bank,
insisted that it was all sufficient, besides
being strong enough to raise weight
twice that Of the stone. Still, Germaine
persisted in declaring that the rope was
not long enough by many feet, and re-
fused to CRAFTY them unless the demand
was complied with and the rope length
ened to suit him. Seeing that unless
they INDUCED his caprice, they would be
deprived Of that portion of their antici-
pated sport, the Indians yielded, aud col
Iecting more bark, added the requisite
number of feet to the rope. All being
now right, the Frcnchman was ordered to
lift the stone. But Francoise deliberate
ly proceeded to knot the end lasso- wise,
and gathered il in a coil at the end of the
cliff, after first clearing the ground of
brush and broken limbs, which might in
terfere with its free run. The stone, which
was of several hundred weight, was a
heavy lift, even for Germaine, and he ex-
erted all of his power to start it from its
bed. But when once started, the labor
Of raising it was comparatively lighter.
After he had drawn it up few feet, he
was ordered TO lower it again, when four
of the most stalwart warriors tried their
united strength upon it, but they could
not bulge it an inch. Again Germaine
was ordered to hoist it to the bank. With
the outlay of all his muscular force he
: obeyed, and as it moved slowly along the
| face of the cliff, the Indians in their ex-
element gathered in knots upon the very
| verge, and looking downward watched its
ascent. Hand over hand, the Frencbman
toiled at the task, but his keen gray eyes
taking in all about him. He had raised