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As told by Pepe Boucher
You want to know about the tripod Page made? Non, non he not invent it. You must know that in the old times when people be possessed they must try to learn a remedy. Bien if the lights that be seen on Otter Lake be seen on the land they be Jack-O-Lanterns and they could be stopped.
You want to know about the tripod. Bien, bien, that is where he come in. The Jack-O-Lanterns, he be a light that pass and pass before one until he be bewitches and follow the bright, hopping light on, on as it flashes back and then forward before the eye of the one be possessed. Why you follow that Lantern through brushes, through woods, far, far, far, far away from everyone! One time a man, bien his name was same as mine, Boucher, he one time be possessed. He followed a Jack-O-Lantern that he saw as he go home from town. Boucher felt sure the light that was leading him was nothing mais a fool diable drawing him to his death. His horse seem to be betwitch for Boucher never guide him. He just go after the light through the thickest briar patches, jump the ditch, scramble up the slippery hillside or slide down the muddy slope, through muddy water and deceitful marshes that horse and rider tumbled and staggered along after the gleaming, glittering light, a loup-garou he felt sure it be.
Then when death seemed near he found his mind much clearer and remembered if he could draw blood or put a fork stick and make like an Indian pot holder, a tripod, in the ground, he could make the loup-garou pass under it. Boucher opened his knife and stuck the blade in the horn of his saddle. You see he could not get down on the ground. His horse be following the loup-garou as fast as his tired legs could travel. When the blade be stuck in good and tight he push the handle down and make a triangle. He wish hard the loup-garou look and see the triangle then he must pass through it and would soon cut himself on the sharp blade.
By this time they all be deep in the waters of the Wabash River, soon they would drown for the horse seem too tired to swim. Mais back came the loup-garou light, dashed toward Boucher toward the tripod. He never think he be big and the knife triangle small. He only seem to want to get at Boucher and he must pass under the triangle. Ma foi, he knocks his head straight under the knife and out his ear. Puff! There was no loup-garou or Jack-O-Lanterns and the poor horse trembled, trembled as Boucher guided him back to the road.
Oui, oui, he be glad to know about the triangle, mais at first your mind not be clear. You must wait till the spell be kind wore off then they say you think, non, non. I nevare, nevare be possessed! Ma foi, I not be very much to swear to the truth. It not all be bad loup-garou around us. Nor do every one tell the same way the same story, some make fun at the end, some make sadness.
EMAIL: rking@indian.vinu.edu