Adventure Magazine Cover, March 20, 1925 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

The Bush Lopers recital left the impression that Chartier, after saving the galley slave, had kept the captain and crew from turning back to Marseilles by his rapier alone. The head of the fleet was clear of the Narrows and entering the Erie before the rest of the canoes were well under way. Durantaye’s canoe was clear of the passage between Grosse and Turkey Island when great excitement was caused by the sight of a canoe paddling swiftly from the south. The man with the steering paddle fired a gun. The canoe came on as if the three occupants were fleeing for their lives. “What evil has the foul fiend thrown across our path now?” muttered Durantaye. “Tt is either very good or very bad news,” said Tonty. “The Indians may have surprized our soldiers and massacred them,” suggested Du Lhut. Word passed back through the long line of canoes that something had happened. Treachery of their savage allies instantly leaped into the mind of more than one coureur de bois. As this possibility was con- sidered the prisoners overheard enough to understand the fear and did not know whether to rejoice or be afraid. Dead Bear shot clear of the flotilla and raced down to meet and pass the returning canoe as if desirous of learning the truth from his own eyes. Fontaine called out to Carcajou— “Have the savages killed the soldiers?”’ And although he believed he was con- demned to death he hoped this was not the case. “Nothing like that,” loudly answered Carcajou. ‘Probably a talk from the Iro- quois saying they have turned against the English and want peace. They’ve heard I am coming, the rascals!”’ Cheers and good-natured derision greeted this suggestion. ‘The coureurs de bots, care- free and reckless, and hungry for a fight, cared little what had happened. One of them started a Sioux scalp song, and the narrow passage reechoed with their grim chanting as the approaching canoe swirled up alongside that of Durantaye’s. There was a brief exchange of words, and Duran- taye shouted something to the canoes be- hind him. A _ tremendous outburst of cheers and yells greeted his words, and as his announcement was repeated, each sec- tion of the flotilla screamed: 119 ‘More prisoners! Thirty more prison- ers! We’ve captured MacGregorie and his men! ‘Twenty more canoes of goods and rum!” The fair meadows and background of noble forest resounded again and again with triumphant cries of coureurs de bois and soldiers. Durantaye’s face was lighted with joy as he realized how thoroughly he- had thwarted Governor Dongan’s bold scheme to capture the Indian trade on the © Upper Lakes. But as the leader indulged in second thought his expression became less joyous. He glanced at Tonty, who quickly said: ‘“‘We must return to the post, monsieur, and talk this over.” Durantaye gave orders for ten canoes of coureurs de bois to advance and help bring in the prisoners while the rest of his force turned back to the post and placed the Rooseboom party under heavy guard. Carcajou was among the first to start to meet the MacGregorie party, but was harshly commanded by Durantaye: “Turn back. We prefer to keep you close to us.” The canoes faced to the north and made rapidly to the post. The prisoners were returned to their former camp and strongly surrounded. Durantaye then held a coun- cil with his officers, saying: “Sixty prisoners are too many for us to take down to the Niagara. The Iroquois know we are coming. They will try to ambush us there. We are not sure of our Indians until we can get them into the fighting. If they turn against us and re- lease the prisoners it would be very bad.” Du Lhut promptly advised: “The one thing we’re concerned with is to whip the Iroquois. We mustn’t weaken out chances by guarding prisoners. Why bother with them? Why not leave them here at the post? After we’ve whipped the Troquois we can take them to Montreal.” “Tf they don’t escape while we’re on the Niagara,” mused Tonty, thoughtfully rub- bing his metal hand against his chin. “But even that is better than for us to disappoint Monseigneur the governor by be- ing slow in making the Niagara. Yes; sixty are too many to be bothered with. If Per- rot and his savages were here it would be easier.” “If he were with us I would start with them all for the Niagara,’’ said Durantaye. CORNIECLO© (©