Adventure Magazine Cover, March 20, 1925 — page 116: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

98 “M’sieur Durantaye has started for De- troit to whip the Iroquois.”’ “Without waiting for the brave Perrot!” “The commandant does not wait for any one,” replied the sentinel. “Upon my faith! He would have been wise at least to have waited for Carcajou,” said the bush loper. The sentinel eyed him uneasily, yet al- though disturbed by Carcajou’s presence he grinned knowingly and replied— “Wolverene, the commandant might have waited had he known you were coming.” “Fort soldier!” sneered Carcajou. “Watch your tongue or you'll step on it.” ‘Some must remain to guard the fort. It is for the commandant to say who shall stay and who shall go,” sullenly replied the sentinel. ‘‘We few men who are left behind are in more danger than those who go with the commandant.” ‘Just what do you mean by that?” ‘Some Ottawas who started with letters to Quebec, went only a few leagues, then burned the letters and are back. The Hurons favor the English. The Ottawas say they will not take sides with or against the French.” “If they’re not with us they’re against us!” exclaimed Carcajou. ‘But see here. You talk nonsense. You’ve just said they went with the commandant.” “To help him, or try to kill him? Who knows? In the Huron village they say the Hurons with the commandant will turn against him if they meet the English.” “There’s no end to this thing,” growled Carcajou. ‘Come along, Old Foolish. We'll find some one who can tell us why they spoil their eyes looking at nothing.”’ As they hurried toward the long fringe of spectators a black-robed Jesuit cut across their path. Carcajou and La Blanche bared their heads before the blessing of the thin brown hand. Jean Enjalrane, the militant priest, said: “T have heard about you going to Quebec. God was in your heart to make you go so far and risk so much. You could have come to us here, my son. But I know it was not vanity that sent you to the St. Lawrence.” ‘Tt was a wish to be a good Catholic, Father,’ Carcajou assured him. “I have mended my ways, yet m ’sieur the com- mandant would tie me up. When I heard that I came to find out about it.” ‘Hold your head low and talk softly when other,” quietly said the priest. ‘Dear. Adventure you meet the commandant,” advised the priest. ‘‘We do not believe you killed the Ottawas. The Ottawas do not believe it. We will try to help you when you meet the commandant.”’ “But there’s small chance of our over- him until he makes the Niagara, Fa- ther. I shall wait here until Perrot comes.”’ ‘He is a good son. He has been generous to the mission at St. Francois Xavier. We hear only good of him. Father Allouez speaks warmly of him. Yet you may see Monsieur Durantaye sooner than you ex- pect. I am on my way to warn the fort. One of our Ottawa children has just told me his brother has returned with important news. He says his brother turned back when monsieur the commandant met a large force of English down the lake. That must mean they will fight. Some evil in- fluence has been at work on our Hurons. May their eyes be opened to the truth!” An Ottawa man yelped sharply and pointed across the straight. The priest stared but could see nothing. Carcajou after one glance announced— ‘“‘A canoe comes!” “Then it is all finished, one way or the “We shall soon know if the English have won. The peace of our Lord. And he walked on toward the fort. Carcajou hurried forward until he came to some of the soldiers. He abruptly an- nounced: “There has been a fight down the lake. There comes a man who will tell us who won. If he says the English, then you must fall back to the fort and die as bravely as the good God will permit.’’ “Tt is our duty to guard the fort and stores. We should be there now,” said one of the men. ‘You will come with us?” “A wolverene fights in the woods. If there’s trouble, my son, you’ll know I’m You'll think I have a woodpecker medicine the way I snip them off.” The soldiers began falling back. La Blanche urged: “You go to the post, my little one. They will nct harm me. i have married too many of their women.’ “Nor will they hurt me, Old Wite- Snatcher,” boldly assured Carcajou. And, leaving a wake of furious scowls, he unceremoniously plowed his way through the excited savages. GOMIGIOO (©