The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-01
GODS GARRISON.
EBy Gilbert Parker.1

I
get betwixt the suns said Gyng the
Factor. NO help that falls abaft to-
morrow could save us. Food dwindles,
and ammunition's nearly gone, and
they'll have the cold steel in our scalp
locks if we stay. Wen creep along the
Devils Causeway, then through the Red
Horn woods, and so across the plains to
Rupert House. Whip in the dogs, Bap-
tiste, and be ready all of you at mid
night"
s'And Crab the Idiot-what of him?"
said Pretty Pierre
He'll have to take his chance. If he
can travel with US, so much the better
for him. and the Factor shrugged his
shoulders.
If not, so much the worse, eh?'' re-
piled Pretty Pierre.
Work the sum out to suit yourself
We've got our necks to save. God'll have
to help the Idiot if we can't"
you hear, Crab Hamon, Idiot" said
Pierre an hour afterwards, we're going
to leave Fort O. God and make Tor Ru-
pert House. You've a dragging leg
you're gone in the savvey, you nave TO
balance yourself with your hands as you
waddle along. and you slobber when you
talk; but you've got to cut away with US
quick across the Beaver Plains, ana
Christ'n have to help you if we cant
r
how the case stands, Idiot-bien?"
"Grah want e-bubble-bubble-
wind blow muttered the daft one
Pretty Pierre bent over and said slow
ly: IF you stay here, Crab, the Indian
get your scalp; if you go, the snow IS
deep and the frost is like badgers
tooth, and you can't be carried
"Oh, oh!-my mother dead-poor An
nie-my God! Grab want pipe-poor
Crab sleep in snow-bubble, bubble-oh,
ohl-the long wind, fly away.
Pretty Pierre watched the great head
of the Idiot as it swung heavily on his
shoulders, and then said: ''Mais, like
that, sol" and turned away.
When the nRrty were about to sally
forth on their perilous path to safety,
Gyng stood and cried angrliy; Well,
why hasn't some one bundled up that
mOth-eaten Caliban2 Curse it all, must
do everything MYSELF"
But you See said Pierre, the Cali
ban stays at Fort o. God"
You've got a Christian heart in you,
so help me, heaveni' replied the other.
mo, sir, we give him a chance-and his
Maker too for that matter, to show
what He's willing to do for His misfits.'
Pretty Pierre rejoined: ''Well, l have
thought. The game is all against Crab
if he go; but there are two who stay at
Fort O Cod
And that is how when the Factor and
his half breeds and trappers stole away
in silence towards the Devils Cause
way, Pierre and the Idiot remained be-
H. B. G. still flew above Fort o God in
the New Years sun just 20 years ago to-
day.
The Hudson Bay company had never
done a worse days work than when
they promoted Gyng to be chief factor
He loathed the heather, and he showed
his loathing. He had a heart harder
than iron, a speech that bruised worse
than the hoof of an angry moose. And
when at last he drove away a band of
wandering Sioux, foodless from the
stores, siege and ambush took the place
of prayer, and a nasty portion fell to
Fort o. God. For the Indians found a
great cache of buffalo meat, and, having
sent the women and children south with
the old men, gave constant and biting
assurances to Gyng that the heather
hath his hour, even though he be a dog
which is refused those scraps from the
white mans table that make for life in
the hour of need. Besides all else, there
was in the fort the thing which the gods
made last to humble the pride of men
there was rum.
And the morning after Gyng and his
men had departed, because it was a day
when frost was master of the sun, and
men grew wild for action, since to stand
still was to face indignant Death, they,
who camped without, prepared to make
a sally upon the wooden gates. Pierre
saw their intent, and hid in the ground
soma pemmican and all the scanty rum
Then he looked at his powder and shot,
and saw that there was little left. If he
spent it on the besiegers, how should
they fare for beast and fowl in hungry
days2 And for his rifle he had but a
brace of bullets. He rolled these in his
hand, looked upon them with a grim
smile And the Idiot seeing, rose and
sided towards him. and said: Poor
Crab want MISUNDERSTANDING" Then
light of childish cunning came into
his eyes, and he touched the bullets
blunderingly, and continued: Plenty,
plenty b'longs Grah-give poor Crab
pipe-plenty plenty, give you these"
And Pretty Pierre after a moment re-
piled: so that's it, Grahl-you've got
bullets slowed away Well, must have
them It's a one-sided game in which
you get the tricks; but here's the pipe
Idiot-Iny only pipe for your dribbling
mouth-1ny last good comrade. Now
show me the bullets. Take me to them
daft one, quick
little later the Idiot sat inside the
store wrapped in loose furs, and blow
ing bubbles; while Pretty Pierre with
many handfuls of bullets by him. wait
ed for the attack.
Eth he said. as he watched from
loophole, "Gyng and the others have
got safely. past the Causeway, and the
rest is possible. Well, it hurts an idiot
as much to die, perhaps, as a half breed
or factor It is good to stay here If
we fight, and go out swift like Grah's
bubbles, it is the game. If we starve
and sleep as did Grahs mother. then it
also is the game. 1t is great to have
all the chances against and then to win.
We shall see'
With a sharp relish in his eye he
watched the enemy coming slowly for
ward. Yet he talked almost idly to him
self: Il have thought of so long ago.
A woman-she was mother, and it was
on the Madawaska river. and she said:
Sometimes I think a devil was your
father; an angel sometimes. You were
begot in an hour between a fighting and
mass; between blood and heaven.
And when you were born you made no
cry. They said that was a sign of evil.
You refused the breast, and drank only
of the milk of Wild cattle. In baptism
YOU flung your hand before your face
that the water might not touch nor the
priests fingers make a cross upon the
water And they said it were better if