Adventure Magazine Cover, March 20, 1925 — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

The Bush Lopers - | LHE morning brought a woful sight | to those who wandered among the =a lodges. Warriors who were famed for their prowess on the hunt and war- path were scattered about like grotesque wooden figures, only their stertorous breath- ing showed they still lived. Many were wounded; some were savagely disfigured. And there were five men and a woman who were dead, killed by their excessive pota- tions. Had not the liquor, while inciting homicidal lusts, destroyed concerted action many more would have died from violence. Women began stealing back to the lodges at sunrise to search for their men. The men at the fort, used to the liquor, swam in the cold waters of the strait and prepared to distribute some of the English goods to the villages. Durantaye had been informed that some of the goods had been stolen but did not care to accuse the In- dians of the theft. Late in the forenoon Du Lhut with several coureurs de bois and others visited the villages to arrange for immediate distribution. What ordinarily would have been an occasion of great joy was marked by apathy and _ sullenness. Many of the Indians were sick, others were nursing wounds, and there were the dead. Du Lhut announced that the dead would be covered with many presents. Nor were the Hurons discriminated inst. Nan- soaskouet, who had passed the night at the fort, harangued his people and told them they were sick from drinking the strong waters of the English and that in the future they must drink only what the French brought to Mackinac. Some of the Ottawas insisted that the Mohawks arid Mohicans be given them to burn. The Hurons were willing to burn the Mohicans but were opposed to harm the people of the Long House. Du Lhut an- nounced that white and red prisoners would be taken to Montreal, where Onontio would decide their fate. Meanwhile Durantaye was busy at the fort, preparing to set forth again. Du Lhut hurried the giving of gifts and suitably covered the dead. Shortly after midday the distribution had been com- pleted, and Du Lhut and his following were about to return to the fort when a terrible wailing was heard in the woods beyond the village. “Some one cries for the dead,” said Nansoaskouet, his eyes glittering. 105 ‘“‘They have found another man who has died from drinking the strong waters of the English,” said Du Lhut. “Everything from the English is bad. The strong waters of the French make men brothers. We will cover the bones of the dead.” The wailing grew louder, and Nansoas- kouet insisted: “No. This is bad. Men are crying for the dead. Only women cried for those dead from the English drink.”’ Du Lhut’s face grew troubled as he per- ceived the chief was much disturbed. As several men came from the woods i burdens on poles Nansoaskouet told the trader: “Go back to the fort. Here is something that must be talked about. It is bad. It is something a chief must talk.”’ The attention of Ottawas and Hurons was concentrated on the men approaching from the woods. Du Lhut fell back toward the fort with his companions. Nansoas- kouet remained. From behind a silent mass of Ottawas Carcajou watched the situation develop. Papa La Blanche whispered: ‘You are not safe here, my little one. The Seneca said something about you to Du Lhut. The Ottawas may turn against you when the dead are brought up.” “Ma fowt I don’t know that I would be safe at the fort even if M’sieur Durantaye loved me like a brother,”’ muttered Carca- jou. “TI can’t go into the woods and hide in a tree. I think the Ottawas are. more friendly to me than they are to the fort. I can give them a strong talk.” ‘They know you are Perrot’s man. The Ottawas love Perrot when they are not planning to cut his throat,” said La Blanche. ‘But I don’t like this business.”’ He left his companion and advanced with a score of warriors to meet the howling stretcher bearers. They were bringing two Ottawa men, each dead from an ax wound in the head. : Pandemonium was loosed as the sorry bur- dens were placed on the grass in view of all. “Onontio’s men killed them! Onontio’s axes killed them!” yelled the infuriated Ottawas. Nansoaskouet’s stentorian voice cried out: “Onontio does not give guns and new coats and blankets to men he would kill. Onontio does not reach one hand to lead you against the Iroquois and then strike you down with his other hand. This is bad CORnNIECLO© (©