Adventure Magazine Cover, March 20, 1925 — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

102 or next day. Then I’ll wear eagle feathers in my hair. But you will steal no rum to- night. You will work very hard for your Carcajou.” “Oue diable! Not steal rum? What are you saying? There is an ocean of it. I'll swim in it!” “Nothing of the kind, Old Foolish. You will help me get some of the trade goods. It is not stealing to take goods from the English. Those twenty canoes are worth eight thousand beaver.* A few won’t be missed, Old Nonsense.” “Eight thousand beaver!’ gasped La Blanche; and he endeavored to translate that amount into wives and brandy. “TI make war on the accursed English. I will help you. Father Marquette, buried here at the point, will help us.” “Be still. Father Marquette was not a trader. Don’t bother him with foolish prayers. Yet I shall give many candles to the missions on the lakes if the Saulteurs bring in their winter hunt and I can trade for it. Hear that? Du Lhut is giving out therum.” The last asa fierce shout sounded from the shore. THEY hurried through the empty Ottawa village and beheld the Ot- a8 tawa men and women eagerly press- ing forward to be served. They carried various kinds of utensils, ranging in size from gourds to kettles. In the background were grouped the Hurons, thirsting for the strong liquor and angry at being discrimi- nated against. One of their men advanced with a gourd and sullenly presented it to be filled. Du Lhut told him: “Go to your friends, the English, if you want something warm to drink. You will find them tied up inside the stockade.”” The man fell back. Nansoaskouet warned: “Some should be given the Hurons. It will warm their hearts. They are few and the Ottawas are many. They will stay in their village and drink. If they do not have something to drink they will not stay in their village and will hurt some one before morning.” Du Lhut rapidly considered this advice. The French were deeply indebted to the chief for possibly preventing a hostile dem- onstration on the part of the Hurons. *A fact. Adventure “Tf my son will answer for them they shall have something to drink,”’ he decided. Nansoaskouet ran with a gourd of rum to the scowling Hurons, held it to the mouth of one of their leaders and announced: “Our brothers’ hearts shall be warmed. Onontioe was afraid you would forget your- selves and throw axes if you drank. Your brother has told him you would not be so foclish. “You have women and children here. Your village is here. There is no place for you to spread your robes if you leave this place. The English are very weak men. They let themselves be caught. They pad- dled into a trap with their eyes open. They must be blind men. Many presents will be made after another sleep.”’ This talk, for the time being at least, dispelled all thoughts of treachery; and with glad cries the Hurons swarmed forward with vessels and were given some of the English rum. Papa La Blanche was in the proces- sion, carrying a big cooking kettle. Carca- jou would have held back had not Dubeau grinned broadly and motioned him to ad- vance. With the blanket over his head and a gourd in each hand he thoroughly de- lighted the half-breed by so maneuvering as to receive a double ration. Du Lhut at last ordered that the rest of the rum be carried inside the fort. He told the Indians to feast and be happy and added that on the morrow they would receive much of the goods. This satisfied them, for the rum was more important than cloth and trinkets. With ferocious cries they ran back to their villages, spilling liquor as they ran, pausing to drink and to force drams on each other; in short, acting like so many madmen. — Old Papa awkwardly made his way clear of the howling mob and retreated some dis- tance from the village. There Carcajou found him sitting on a keg. . He kicked his heel against it and ex- plained: “Tt was in my way. I picked it up and put it under my blanket so I would not trip and fall over it.”’ “Vou old thief! See here. You cache that keg. Then I will help you drink it. But you must be sober tonight. Du Lhut is having the canoes moved up the shore and nearer to the fort. They will carry some of the goods inside the palisade.”’ “They are simple. Why carry only part of them inside?” asked La Blanche. GOMIGIOO (©