Chapter 4
I was a little frustrated that I didn't get the trail map I wanted. The more I thought about what just happened, the more curious I got about what was in the satchel and why the old man seemed to think that it belonged to me or something. Trying to get my mind off the satchel, I started to think about what trail I would travel. For the last several years I had read up on some of the older settler trails. Those are the ones I want to go on. I know there was a trail coming from Grand Marias to Beaver Bay but that was along the shore line of Lake Superior. Even though it would be cool, I felt a draw to go inland. I knew of another trail by the French river but couldn't recall the name of that one and then another one ran into the interior from Beaver Bay. It was actually called the Beaver Bay Trail. There was also one more that ran north west into the interior from Beaver Bay called the Pork Bay Trail. I loved the idea of hiking a trail that was used by people who settled this land. I believed at least one of those trails ran up to a Lake called Basswood Lake and stories have been told that the area was a major place where people would set up camp. I couldn't wait to make the trip inland to see what they must have seen over a hundred years before I was even born. Excited I pushed the gas pedal down and old Helen sounded just as excited as I was. Again, I chuckled because of how I was with her. The roads were getting a lot curvier now and the trees seemed bigger and thicker with pines and maple trees filling the roadsides. I must have driven a few more hours when I came to another small town. I let off the gas and coasted into a gas station still frustrated about not getting the trail map from the last place. I thought I would top off my tank and hopefully pick up a trail map inside the station. It didn't take long, and I had my tank filled. I made my way into the station and immediately as I walked in the door, I noticed a magazine rack. I started to look through it to see if there were any maps. I was in luck! I found one that seemed to have all the trails I hoped to see and more. Wow! I didn't realize there were so many trails here. I made my way to the counter and paid the lady for my gas and the map. This time there was no sliding my map over and not letting me get it. As I turned to the door, I thanked the lady and headed out to my truck. As soon as I jumped in there sitting on the seat next to me was the satchel. Hmmmm… I guess I better see what's inside. I pulled my truck ahead and off to the side of the road, then reached over and started untying the leather straps. They were a little stiff, but I managed to get them untied and then flipped the bag open. It smelled like old dirt or something like that. I peeked inside not knowing what there could be. First thing I saw were some papers. I slid my hand into the bag and pulled them out. As I did, I noticed there were some things at the bottom of the bag. I laid the papers on the seat and reached back inside the bag and pulled out a rectangular shaped stone looking thing. Shrugging my shoulders, I placed it on the seat and reached back inside the bag. There were a few things in there. I thought about just turning it over and dumping them out but didn't want a mess on my seat either. I reached in and felt another hard item. As I pulled it out, I could see it was what looked to me like a compass. I have never seen one quite like this one. I placed it on the seat and reached in again, this time pulling out an old straight bladed knife. It had a leather sheath over the blade, which I was glad to see. As I laid it on the seat I reached in and grabbed what was left in the satchel. There was another stone looking thing and small bottle with about half the liquid left in it. Laying everything on the seat I reached over and picked up the papers. As I started to open them up a loud bang on the side of my truck just about gave me a heart attack. I looked at my side window and there was a man standing there motioning toward the front of my truck. Not knowing who or what he wanted I threw everything back in the satchel and jumped out to see what he wanted.
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