Myths and Legends of Our Own Land, vol 6 | Page 5

the
young man's life had gone. A post-mortem examination revealed no
cause of death, and a rustic jury again laid it to a "visitation of God."

MARQUETTE'S MAN-EATER
Until it was worn away by the elements a curious relief was visible on
the bluffs of the Mississippi near Alton, Illinois. It was to be seen as
late as 1860, and represented a monster once famous as the "piasa
bird." Father Marquette not only believed it but described it as a man-
eater in the account of his explorations, where he mentions other
zoological curiosities, such as unicorns with shaggy mane and land-
turtles three feet long with two heads, "very mischievous and addicted
to biting." He even showed a picture of the maneater that accorded
rudely with the picture on the rocks. It was said to prey on human flesh,
and to be held in fear by the Indians, who encountered it on and near
the Mississippi. It had the body of a panther, wings like a bat, and head
and horns of a deer. Father Marquette gave it a human face. The
sculpture was undoubtedly made by Indians, but its resemblance to the
winged bulls of Assyria and the sphinxes of Egypt has been quoted as
confirmation of a prehistoric alliance of Old and New World races or
the descent of one from the other. It has also been thought to stand for
the totem of some great chief-symbolizing, by its body, strength; by its
wings, speed; by its head, gentleness and beauty. But may not the
tradition of it have descended from the discovery of comparatively late
remains, by primitive man, of the winged saurians that crawled, swam,
dived, or flew, lingering on till the later geologic period? The legend of

the man-eater may even have been told by those who killed the last of
the pterodactyls.

MICHEL DE COUCY'S TROUBLES
Michel De Coucy, of Prairie de Rocher, Illinois, sat before his door
humming thoughtfully, and trying to pull comfort out of a black pipe..
He was in debt, and he did not like the sensation. As hunter, boatman,
fiddler he had done well enough, but having rashly ventured into trade
he had lost money, and being unable to meet a note had applied to
Pedro Garcia for a loan at usurious interest. Garcia was a
black-whiskered Spaniard who was known to have been a gambler in
New Orleans, and as Michel was in arrears in his payments he was now
threatening suit. Presently the hunter jumped up with a glad laugh, for
two horsemen were approaching his place--the superior of the Jesuit
convent at Notre Dame de Kaskaskia and the governor of the French
settlements in Illinois, of whom he had asked advice, and who had
come from Fort Chartres, on the Mississippi, to give it in person. It was
good advice, too, for the effect of it was that there was no law of that
time--1750--by which a Spaniard could sue a Frenchman on French
territory. Moreover, the bond was invalid because it was drawn up in
Spanish, and Garcia could produce no witness to verify the cross at the
bottom of the document as of Michel's making.
Great was the wrath of the Spaniard when Michel told him this, nor
was it lessened when the hunter bade him have no fear--that he might
be obliged to repudiate part of the interest, but that every livre of the
principal would be forthcoming, if only a little time were allowed. The
money lender walked away with clenched fists, muttering to himself,
and Michel lit his pipe again.
At supper-time little Genevieve, the twelve-yearold daughter of Michel,
did not appear. The table was kept waiting for an hour. Michel sat
down but could not eat, and, after scolding awhile in a half-hearted
fashion, he went to the clearing down the road, where the child had
been playing. A placard was seen upon a tree beside the way, and he
called a passing neighbor to read to him these words: "Meshell Coosy.
French rascal. Pay me my money and you have your daughter. Pedro
Garcia."
Accustomed as he was to perils, and quick as he generally was in

expedient, Michel was overwhelmed by this stroke. The villagers
offered to arm themselves and rescue the child, but he would not
consent to this, for he was afraid that Garcia might kill her, if he knew
that force was to be set against him. In a day or two Michel was told to
go to Fort Chartres, as favorable news awaited him. He rode with all
speed to that post, went to the official quarters, where the governor was
sitting, and as he entered he became almost insane with rage, for Garcia
stood before him. Nothing but the presence of others