The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRUTE, THE LADY, AND I. great bird could have taken up its habitat among their forests. As I sat up and watched them, nearly as surprised as they at the sight of other human beings, Elizabeth Norcross thrust her head above the rim of the basket and stared down at the strangers in sleepy-eyed surprise. Even this apparition could not make these descendants of the most polite na- tion on earth forget their manners. They crossed themselves first, it is true, but then they removed their caps, courteous admiration gradually taking the place of their amazement. They turned at sound of my greeting and responded with a “ bo’-jour.” Brute Flanagan came forth from his tent, haggard and flushed with fever. Elizabeth slipped down her swaying lad- der, and the three of us gathered about our rescuers. With the aid of my knowledge of French and their even hazier English vo- cabulary, we told them of the flight of the balloon, and in turn learned that they were southward bound on a last canoe trip of the season before the streams should freeze. That the river on which they had camped the previous night was but two or three miles away and that it joined a larger stream which was in turn an affluent of the Ottawa. They had seen our fire the previous night and because of its size and location had given up an hour to investigate before continuing their trip. On such a slender thread hung our rescue and most probably our lives. But when I spoke to them about our transportation, they looked first at Flana- gan, then at one another, and shrugged their shoulders. They marveled quaintly that a balloon would lift so great a man and doubted if their canoe would hold us all. That, how- ever, was the sole question. Otherwise they were entirely at our service. There was one advantage at least in our mode of living. There was nothing to pack nor carry. 127 Elizabeth Norcross threw a last glance at the car that had carried her safely so many miles and later made her so secure a home. I fancied I caught the glint of tears in her eyes as she looked away. And then we turned our backs on this little valley where such momentous things had happened, at least to me, and set out for the voyageurs’ camp. Following the pace set by these lithe forest men, it soon became apparent that the lack of food had sapped our strength. Flanagan stumbled often, Norcross grasped a sapling now and then for support. The kind-hearted Canadians, seeing their plight, slackened their gait and helped the two over the steeper parts of the way. We climbed the hill to the westward of the valley and descended its farther slope. A short distance from the foot of this we came upon a swift running stream on the bank of which was pulled up the “voyageurs’ canoe. I realized at once the reason of the woodsmen’s doubt as to their ability to carry us all. The light craft seemed hardly large enough to bear its owners. But the sanguine Canadians insisted on the experiment at least. They launched it, one kneeling in the bow, the other taking his place in the stern. I assisted the girl to a seat in the bottom and turned to Flanagan. ‘““ Get in yourself,” he said gruffly.. I stared at him_in amazement. He was in continual pain from his arm and half sick with fever, yet he offered me first place. “Don’t be foolish, man,” I answered; ‘we must get you to a doctor as soon as possible.” I was genuinely moved at the change in him. He glanced at the girl. a bit white, I fancied. ‘Mr. Manforth is right,” she said in a low voice. “ You must have medical treatment at once.” Without further protest he maneuvered his great bulk into the remaining space. The boatman in the stern glanced at me She had gone COMMICOOOKS and Miss © (S@)