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(Download PDF) River of Porcupines G K Aalborg 2 Full Chapter PDF
(Download PDF) River of Porcupines G K Aalborg 2 Full Chapter PDF
(Download PDF) River of Porcupines G K Aalborg 2 Full Chapter PDF
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RIVER OF PORCUPINES
RIVER OF PORCUPINES
G. K. AALBORG
FIVE STAR
A part of Gale, a Cengage Company
Copyright © 2018 by Gordon Aalborg
Five Star Publishing, a part of Gale, a Cengage Company
Garth awoke in darkness, cloud covering the sky and only the soft
glow of banked coals visible of his surroundings. Throwing off the
blanket that covered him, he lurched upright but was flattened by
nausea before he was halfway up.
Then René was there, bringing cool water. Garth tried to speak,
tried to ask about Ilona, but the effort was too much, and he slipped
again into blackness.
. . . and then he was riding, high on a tall, bay horse, and every
step hammered nails into his skull. Ilona was there, always ahead of
him and never looking back, never speaking. He called, but she
wouldn’t listen, and her back was covered in welts and the part in
her braided, raven hair was red with blood, not vermilion. He called
again, and this time she did turn, but now she had no face, only a
sudden red blotch that seemed to sag from her hair to the top of her
deerskin tunic, and he screamed . . .
“Softly, softly . . .”
A cool cloth passed over his brow, and he looked up to find René
looming over him, an anxious expression on his face.
“Ilona?” Garth asked but already knew what the answer must be.
Regardless of his nightmare, he had seen the blood as she fell.
“I think maybe she is dead. I do not know. She floated downriver
after you were shot, and the Cree, they would not let me look for
her. They did not look, either, but even if she was not killed outright,
she must be dead by now. It was three days ago.”
“Three days! Where the hell are we?”
“Last night, we crossed the Brazeau, and the Cree they started
back. We should reach the forks and maybe Boggy Hall within two
days. If you can ride.”
It took them four days, with Garth strapped onto the hastily
improvised travois that René had created after the shooting. The
bullet had creased above his left ear, slightly fracturing the skull but
not too serious except for impairing his sense of balance to the point
where he could hardly sit a horse without falling off one side or the
other.
Small Bear’s Cree had taken them straight north, meaning they
had to cross the Brazeau at its most northern swing en route to the
North Saskatchewan, and their return to the main river took them
almost due south at one point. No matter how much they discussed
the matter, they couldn’t determine exactly what had happened
during the shooting. René was sure the shots had come from their
own side of the river, and Garth remembered little except that what
he had heard sounded more like a proper rifle than a musket.
“I can only think it must have been Savard,” he eventually
declared. “If it had been the Cree, they would have gone after Ilona,
and somebody from another band—the Cree would have been after
them, not running us out of their territory.”
“Savard, he was involved somehow, it is for certain,” René agreed.
“That Small Bear, he tried to lay claim on the girl, but he would not
do that for himself. I’m thinking Savard put him up to it, but they did
not want us to know about that.”
“But if it was Savard, why shoot her? Surely he wouldn’t want her
dead! Unless he was aiming for her horse. He sure as hell wasn’t
aiming for mine, I can tell you that. That last shot was meant to kill.”
“And almost did. But I am like you. I can think of no reason he
would want to shoot the girl. It must have been a poor shot aimed
at the horse. Or maybe even at you. There is no doubt that Savard
wants this little Climbing Woman, but I am not sure if he wants to
court her or buy her or steal her. And worse—I wonder if he knows,
either.”
“Well if he has killed her, I’ll find the bastard and cut his heart
out, I swear it,” Garth snarled. And wordlessly revealed to his more
experienced companion that this mixed-blood woman had influenced
him more than even Garth, himself, realized.
Garth’s raving swiftly drained his small store of energy, and within
minutes he was sleeping heavily and without dreams. René,
however, sat long by the dying fire, reflecting upon the
impulsiveness of youth and recalling the many Indian “wives” he’d
had during his years on the rivers.
Most voyageurs took up with Indian women at one time or
another, there being no real choice if they wanted or needed
feminine company. Often the practice was encouraged by the
companies, since a man with a bed partner was less likely to cause
trouble at the posts, or desert. Some, when it was time to return to
the east, had taken their women and children along, but generally
the temporary wives were left to rejoin their tribes or take up with
some other man. Some Indian women had several children by as
many different fathers. Nobody worried about that aspect of life in
the wilderness, and the children were valued by all.
Even David Thompson, le patron, had a wife of mixed blood. His
wife Charlotte was a daughter of a North West Company bourgeoisie
from Lac la Biche and already had given him three children.
Women, René mused, were a convenience, but not indispensable.
And yet . . . there had been that Plains Cree woman, many years
ago along the South Saskatchewan. He had actually married that
one, even though the marriage was à la façon du pays—in the
fashion of the country—an Indian marriage by Indian customs and
without the benefit of clergy, since there were no clergy for
thousands of miles. He had called her Collette; now he couldn’t
remember her proper name. But if the measles hadn’t taken her . . .
“Ah, this business of love is for the young ones, not an old man
like me,” he muttered and, rolling in his blankets, was asleep in
seconds.
They arrived at Boggy Hall the next afternoon, Garth weaving in the
saddle but insistent he would not arrive riding in a travois like an
invalid or an old man. This was David McIntyre’s post, and the dour
old Scot’s passion for neatness and order showed throughout the
establishment. There was no welter of garbage and litter around the
dock, and the many log buildings were freshly mudded and chinked
with care.
McIntyre met them at the gate, scowling at the rude bandage
around Garth’s temples, but offering no welcome.
“So, ’tis wounded the lad is. Well, I’ll give ye water and bandages
and a meal, then ye must be on your way. ’Tis no room I have for
cowards and scoundrels at my post, even if ye do be company men.”
René’s soft-spoken request for an explanation of the old man’s
attitude was drowned by Garth’s shout of outrage.
“Cowards and scoundrels? What the hell are you talking about,
old man? If you’re not careful who you call names, I’ll come down
off this horse and teach you better manners,” he shouted, ignoring
his companion’s call for calm.
“ ’Tis what I said and what I meant, so guard your tongue, lad.
We’ve all heard here how you abandoned Baptiste’s girl to the Cree
and ran for your craven lives. I’ve spoken to the girl, and she does
nae deny it. If not for Savard—and I’m no champion of that one,
believe me, but the evidence on this is clear—the girl could be dead
this day, instead of on her way home to her father at Rocky
Mountain House. Now get your head looked after, feed yourselves,
and then get off my post.”
With which old McIntyre turned on his heel and stalked back to
his personal cabin, paying no attention to Garth’s protests. His men
were no more pleasant, despite some of them knowing René from
years past. The cook slopped a meal before them with a muttered
curse, and the post medical man used a minimum of gentleness in
re-bandaging Garth’s head. Nobody would speak to them or answer
their questions about Ilona’s condition or how she and Savard had
come to Boggy Hall.
René’s request for fresh horses to hasten their journey upriver
drew nothing from McIntyre but a further demand that they leave
his post immediately if not sooner. Weak as he was, Garth would
have seized upon it as an excuse for a fight, but the old Frenchman’s
cooler head prevailed. Within the hour they were riding their tired
ponies down to the ford and looking for the eastern trail that might
lead them back to Rocky Mountain House without further meeting
the Cree.
A.
Abobo[136] Tomorrow.
Aibou Come.
Ainé Girl, (fille).
Aiouta There is some.
Aipa The term of negation, there is
none.
Aneania Importune, tedious.
Aouaou Fy; term of contempt, and of
displeasure.
Aouereré Black.
Aouero Egg.
Aouri Iron, gold, silver, every metal, or
instrument of metal.
Aoutti Flying fish.
Aouira Lightning.
Apalari To break or destroy.,
Ari Cocoa-nut.
Arioi Bachelor, and a man without
children.
Ateatea White.
I know of no word that begins with these
consonants of ours, B, C, D.
E.
Ea Root.
Eaï Fire.
Eaia Parroquet.
Eaiabou Vase.
Eaiabou-maa Vase which is used to put their
victuals in.
Eame Drink made of cocoa nuts.
Eani All manner of fighting.
Eao Clouds, also a flower in bud,
before it opens.
Eatoua Divinity. The same word likewise
expresses his ministers, and
also the subordinate good or
evil genii.
Eeva Mourning.
Eie Sail of a periagua.
Eiva-eoura Dance or festival of the Taitians.
Eivi Little.
Eite To understand.
Elao A fly.
Emaa A sling.
Emao A shark; it likewise signifies to
bite.
Emeitai To give.
Emoé To sleep.
Enapo Yesterday.
Enene To discharge.
Enia In, upon.
Enninnito To stretch one’s self yawning.
Enoanoa To smell well.
Enomoi Term to call, come hither.
Enoo-te-papa Sit down.
Enoua The earth and its different parts
(a country).
Enoua-Taiti The country of Taiti.
Enoua-Paris The country of Paris.
Eo To sweat.
Eoe-tea An arrow.
Eoe-pai A paddle or oar.
Emoure-papa The tree from which they get the
cotton, or substance for their
stuffs, the cloth-tree.
Eone Sand, dust.
Eonou Turtle.
Eote To kiss (baiser).
Eouai Rain.
Eonao To steal or rob.
Eououa Pimples in the face.
Eoui To belch or eruct.
Eounoa Daughter-in-law.
Eouramaï Light (not darkness).
Eouri A dancer.
Eouriaye A dancing girl.
Epao Luminous vapour in the
atmosphere, called a
shooting-star. At Taiti they are
looked upon as evil genii.
Epata Exclamation to call one’s wife.
Epepe Butterfly.
Epija Onion.
Epoumaa Whistle; they make use of it to
call the people to their meals.
Epouponi To blow the fire.
Epouré To pray.
Epouta A wound; this word likewise
signifies the scar.
Era The sun.
Era-ouao Rising sun.
Era-ouopo Setting sun.
Era-ouavatea Noon sun.
Eraï Heaven.
Erepo Dirty, unclean.
Ero Ant.
Eri King.
Erie Royal.
Eroï To wash, to cleanse.
Eroleva Slate.
Eroua A hole.
Erouai To vomit.
Eroupe Very large species of blue
pigeon, like those which are in
the possession of marshal
Soubise.
Etai Sea.
Etao To dart, or throw.
Etaye To weep.
Eteina Elder brother or sister.
Etouana Younger brother or sister.
Etere To go.
Etere-maine To come back.
Etio Oyster.
Etipi To cut, cut (particip.)
Etoi A hatchet.
Etoumou A turtle-dove.
Etouna An eel.
Etooua To grate.
Evaï The water.
Evaie Moist.
Evaine A woman.
Evana A bow.
Evare A house.
Evaroua-t- A wish to persons when they
eatoua sneeze, meaning that the evil
genius may not lull thee
asleep, or that the good
genius may awaken thee.
Evero A lance.
Evetou A star.
Evetou-eave A comet.
Evi An acid fruit, like a pear, and
peculiar to Taiti.
Evuvo A flute.
H.
I.
Ióre A rat.
Ioiroi To fatigue.
Iroto In.
Ivera Hot.
M.
Maa Eating.
Maea Twin children.
Maeo To scratch one’s self, to itch.
Maï More, is likewise said maine; it is
an adverb of repetition etere,
to go, etere-maï or etere-
maine, to go once more, to go
and come again.
Maglli Cold.
Mala More.
Malama The moon.
Malou Considerable, great.
Mama Light, not heavy.
Mamaï Sick.
Manoa Good-day, your servant;
expression of politeness or
friendship.
Manou A bird, swift (leger.)
Mao Hawk for fishing.
Mataï Wind.
Mataï-malac East or S. E. wind.
Mataï-aoueraï West or S. W. wind.
Matao Fish-hook.
Matapo One-eyed, squinting.
Matari The Pleïades.
Matïe Grass-herbage.
Mato Mountain.
Mate To kill.
Mea A thing (chose.)
Meia Banana-tree, bananas.
Metoua Parents. Metouatane, or eoure,
father; Metouaaine, or erao,
mother.
Mimi To make water, to piss.
Móa Cock, hen.
Moea Mat.
Mona Fine, good.
Moreou A calm.
Motoua Grand-son.
N.
Nate To give.
Nie A sail of a boat.
Niouniou A jonquil.
O.
P.
Pai Periagua.
Paia Enough.
Papa Wood, chair, end every piece of
furniture of wood.
Papanit To shut, to stop up.
Paoro A shell, mother-of-pearl.
Parouai Dress, cloth.
Patara Grandfather.
Patiri Thunder.
Picha Coffer, trunk.
Pirara Fish.
Piropiro Stink of a fart, or of excrements.
Pirioi Lame.
Piripiri A negative, signifying a covetous
man, who gives nothing.
Po Day, (light.)
Póe Pearl, ornament for the ears.
Poi For, to.
Poiri Obscure.
Poria Fat, lusty, of a good stature.
Porotata Dog-kennel.
Pouaa Hog, boar.
Pouerata Flowers.
Poupoui Under sail.
Pouta Wound.
Poto Little, minute.
R.
T.
Taitai Salted.
Taio Friend.
Tamai Enemy, at war.
Tane Man, husband.
Tao-titi Name of the high priestess, who
is obliged to perpetual
virginity. She has the highest
consideration in the country.
Taoa-tane Married woman.
Taporai To beat, abuse.
Taoua-mai Physician.
Taoumi Gorget of ceremony.
Taoumta Covering of the head.
Taoura Cord.
Tata Man.
Tatoue The act of generation.
Tearea Yellow.
Teouteou Servant, slave.
Tero Black.
Tetouarη Femme barée?
Tiarai White flowers, which they wear
in their ears instead of
ornaments.
Titi A peg, or pin.
Tinatore A serpent.
Twa Strong, malignant, powerful.
Tomaiti Child.
Toni Exclamation to call the girls.
They add Peio lengthened, or
Pijo softly pronounced, like the
Spanish j. If the girl slaps her
hand on the outside of the
knee, it is a refusal, but if she
says enemoi, she thereby
expresses her consent.
Toto Blood.
Toua-pouou Hump-backed.
Touaine Brother or sister, by adding the
word which distinguishes the
sex.
Toubabaou To weep.
Touie Lean.
Toumany Action of fencing; this they do
with a piece of wood, armed
with a point, made of harder
materials than wood. They put
themselves in the same
posture as we do for fencing.
Toura Without.
Toutai To make the natural
evacuations.
Toutη Excrements.
Toupanoa To open a window or door.
Touroutoto A decrepit old man.
Toutoi-papa Light or fire of the great people;
niao-papa, light of the
common people.
V.
Numerals.
Atai One.
Aroua. Two.
Atorou Three.
Aheho Four.
Erima Five.
Aouno Six.
Ahitou Seven.
Awarou Eight.
Ahiva Nine.
Aourou Ten.
Names of Plants.
Amiami Raisins.
Oporo-maa Pepper.
Pouraou Cayenne-rose.
Toroire Heliotropium, or tournesol.
They have a kind of article answering to our articles of and to (de
& à). This is the word te. Thus they say parouai te Aotourou; the
clothes of or (belonging) to Aotourou; maa-te-eri, the eating of kings.
THE END.
ERRATA.
Foonotes