Adventure Magazine Cover, March 20, 1925 — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

100 Caught between our people and the savages, he should see death sitting beside him.” That the capture had not been made without a struggle was shown by the bloody heads and torn clothing of both French and English. And there were broken bones. Hemming in the twenty canoes of the cap- tured outfit were the canoes of the Ottawas and Hurons. When the head of the fleet made land the soldiers and coureurs de bois immediately spread out to surround the prisoners. Carcajou started to join them, knowing the maneuver was intended to pre- vent the Indians from attacking the help- less band or attempting a rescue. La Blanche caught his arm and whispered: “Wait. We may do more good back here. Durantaye fears the Hurons may try to rescue the English. They paddled out to meet and join them, but the Ottawas stopped it. The French are in as much danger as their prisoners. Ifa move is made we will try to break it up back here before it can take head.” Many of the Huron men on landing with- drew in a body and appeared to be very sullen. The Indians who had remained at the point sensed the tension and, although eager to get at the rum, were inclined to hold back until they knew how the situation stood. It was Nansoaskouet, an Ottawa chief, who took the initiative in holding the peace. With thirty men he stood between the prisoners and the sullen Hurons and loudly proclaimed: ‘“‘No one shall help Onontio’s prisoners. If a man tries to do that he will lose his women and children. There is strong water and presents for all.” This bold warning caused the Huron men, who were in the minority, to give up any plan they might have formed against the French. They fell back. Speaking in poor French, Captain Johan- nes Rooseboom, a young Dutchman from Albany, fiercely demanded of Durantaye: “Before all these people I again demand to know what is the meaning of this outrage? Are you Frenchmen pirates?”’ “Monsieur knows he has no license to trade in New France,” coldly replied Durantaye. “Nor can he influence the In- dians to help him.” “New France?” bitterly jeered Roose- boom. “So a Frenchman calls it New France wherever his feet happen to walk.” “If he calls it so he will hold it so Adventure against all the English,” warmly declared Durantaye. ‘Now that Monsieur Rooseboom has set the style our feet may wander to Albany,”’ spoke up Tonty. ‘I demand my release and the release of.my men,” said Rooseboom. “That is something our royal masters must talk about. You'll go to Montreal or Quebec before you see New York Province again,’ answered Durantaye. To Tonty he directed— “Have them taken inside the stockade and securely guarded.” To Du Lhut: ‘Distribute some rum to our red brothers. And tell them we will make many presents after we have landed and examined the goods.” Loudly complaining against what he de- clared to be an unspeakable outrage, Cap- tain Rooseboom and bis men were con- ducted inside the stockade. He preferred to remain with his men to accepting the hospitality of the officers’ quarters, Brouwer, Chartier and Dead Bear the Seneca trailed after Durantaye and Tonty. Carcajou joined the band of coureurs de bois, among whom were Turcot, Dubeau, the Pickard, and John Black. Already Carcajou was remembering a promise made to Perrot, one that that great leader had laughed at. And never did a wolverene’s eyes shine with greater anticipa- tion than did those of the bush loper as he gazed on the twenty long canoes filled with trade goods and rum. Rooseboom had brought a big outfit to the western trade. “Stand back. You will have your pres- ents and rum soon,” said Du Lhut as Carca- jou pressed closer to the loaded canoes, now nosing into the bank in a long line. Covered by the long blanket, he had been mistaken for a curious Ottawa or Huron. La Blanche gripped his arm for silence. Du Lhut was paying them no further attention. But Dubeau happened to glance at him and caught a glimpse of the strong, predatory nose showing between the folds of the blanket. For a moment he looked puzzled, then smothered a knowing grin. Lounging away from his mates, he mingled with the Indians and gained a position behind Carca- jou and whispered in his ear: “Hide that big nose, my friend. And when do we finish our little fight?” MICLOOO (©