Adventure Magazine Cover, March 20, 1925 — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

I22 “Tf m’sieur would be so kind as to hear a poor coureur de bots,” said ‘ Carcajou meekly. “Speak out. What is it?” “Although these poor men are dead yet they can serve France. They can help us stop much drinking in the savages’ camps and make them afraid of the English. Let these two be carried to the Hurons and I will make a talk that will drive evil thoughts out of their heads.” “Those Hurons!” growled Du Lhut. “TI wish all of them and all the Ottawas had gone overland to Teiaiagon. You wait here while I learn what Monsieur Durantaye thinks about it.” He made off rapidly for the fort and soon returned, accompanied by Durantaye and Tonty. The dead men were examined again, and Tonty touched his tongue to the rum. “They curely have been poisoned even as this old man has said,” he announced. “The drinking must be stopped at once or we'll find only dead men in the morning.” Du Lhut believed with La Blanche that the poisoned rum had been brought from the point and that none of MacGregorie’s rum could be contaminated. Neverthe- less word was rapidly circulated among the soldiers and coureurs de bois that there was danger in drinking. The soldiers put the rum aside, but the woods-runners declared that they were already dead men if the liquor were poisoned and continued their carousal. After this precaution had been taken Carcajou was permitted to carry out his Bcheme. Escorted by two files of soldiers, the dead men were carried inside the fires of the Huron camp. These warriors were not yet so deeply under the influence of liquor, thanks to the smallness of their rations, as to be in- capable of realizing that something very bad had happened. Carcajou came to a halt in the middle of the circle and, pointing to the dead men, loudly announced: “The rum of the English, who are fathers of the Iroquois, killed these men. It is some of the same rum the English brought to give to you. Much of it is filled with the juice of deadly roots. Do not drink any more or you will become ghosts. “Your French fathers come to save you. The English would kill you. They are bad Adventure flesh. The Iroquois are their children. They send men out here with bad drink to stop you from going against the Iroquois.” This accusation, supported by the deadly evidence, caused great fear. Several of the Hurons were seized with terrible nausea and declared that the English had poisoned them. Hatred against the English flared up like a handful of loose gunpowder thrown on a fire; and instead of wishing to release the prisoners and helping them over- come the French the Indians now wished to massacre them. Only the strong guard | around the prison camps thwarted this deadly purpose. The morning found the-red allies in a sullen mood. So uncertain was their tem- per, and so many were the prisoners, that it became more imperative than ever to take the prisoners to Mackinac before pro- ceeding to the Niagara. Durantaye was in a furious humor as he realized that the delay might upset all of Governor Denonville’s plans and cause a repetition of La Barre’s misfire. “Tf we fail against the Iroquois this time we might as well abandon all these Western posts,’ Durantaye told his captains. ‘For we'd have the Lake tribes on our backs before snow flies. Yet we must go to the point even if it means the savages will re- main there. Our only hope is to reach the Niagara before the savages from Teiaiagon make the portage. If they get there first they’ll start for home at once and it will be years, if ever, before they will go with us again on a warpath. Make everything ready for an instant departure.” The army and the prisoners were hur- riedly fed and hustled into the canoes. The coureurs de bots were selected to guard the English canoes. Just as the return voyage was to be commenced a loud cry was raised by the Picard, who was scout- ing up the Narrows. And his canoe turned and came racing back to the land- ing. When his words could be understood he was shouting: “Perrot’s coming! Perrot’s coming with his few Frenchmen and many Indians!” In another few minutes there was no doubt about this good news. The Nar- rows appeared to be carpeted with canoes, and white men were in the lead. Durantaye loudly shouted: “Turn about! Paddle south! We’re going through to the Niagara!” GOMIGOOO CO