The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-10-23
THE TRADING OF WALKING MOOSE.
BY THEODORE ROBERTS.


Although still under thirty years of
age. Walking Moose was one of the
most successful furtakers of his tribe.
His hunting-ground, which ran north
and west between Hudson Bay and
the great mountains, was yaster than
many Kingdoms. Now, after a pros
porous winter, he and his squaw and
two sledge-dogs crossed the weaken
ing ice on Smoke River and ascended
the bank toward the three log shan
ties of Alexander's Hope.
Walking Moose stalIed in front, car.
rying his trade gun, in its blanket
sack, under his right arm. Behind
came the squaw and the dogs, drag
ging the sledge piled high with pelts
of marten and fox, deer and bear.
Pleasurable anticipation glowed in
the hearts of all four of the little
party. The two Indians thought of
the treasures of the post. Tobacco
and tea would again be theirs, and per
Aaps the hunter would indulge in a
red shirt and the squaw-she was
good 3quaw-would be treated to a
blanket and few yards of gaudy cot
ton cloth. Ammunition must be
bought for the trade gun, for already
the streams were breaking from their
fetters, and the beavers, leaving their
strongholds, presented tempting marks
for well-directed bullets. The dogs
looked forward to a few extra feeds
and the summer freedom from the
sledge.
The hunter paused halfway up the
slope, and turned upon his wife with
q rieely calculated grunt. The grunt,
and a gesture of the left hand, con-
veyed the truth to her. She ceased
pulling at the sledge and looked keen
U toward the shanties.
Mcleod not come yeti" she cried,
I'm shrill voice. "He still way down
at the big fort. He not think at all
of the poor Injuns."
Walking Moose nodded, smiled wist-
fully, and continued the ascent. The
squaw stopped again and dragged on
the leathern thong, but now with a
viciousness that disturbed the toiling
dogs Well, the poor woman had GER
tainly been building on the tea and
new blanket. They halted in the lit
lie clearing that surrounded the cab
FMS, and gazed about disconsolately.
The snow lay unbroken by any human
mark, and the chimneys stood smoke
less above the low roofs. Accustomed
~ they were to the silence and lone
Hness of forest and hill, the still
ness of the empty clearing and de-
serted buildings daunted them.
"Too early!" exclaimed the hunter.
mo bacey, no tea, no powder and
Bead till Mcleod come up from st.
Johns"
McLeod's absence from the little
summer post of Alexander's Hope was
. keen blow to the plans Of Walking
Moose. The store contained food and
ammunition that he needed and tea
and tobacco that he craved; his sledge
was heaped with the good currency of
the land-yet he and his squaw must
sit idle and hungry until the agent
seturned from his winter quarters,
lhree days journey to the southwark.
The beavers would expose themselves
along hundreds of flooded streams
that he knew, while he must sit in
idleness before the empty shacks. He
lad intended to rest at the post for
only two days, and then set out for
his summer camp on distant river,
Killing beaver as he went.
But perhaps the trader even now
was travelling northward. Hope glow
Cd at the thought.
The dogs were loosed and given
their scanty feed of dried moose-meat.
4 fire was lighted before a thicket
1t the edge of the clearing, rough
shelter was built, and the valuable
furs were placed under cover. In
silence the two ate their meal of penn
mican, uncheered by tea, uncrowned
by the comforting pipe-and for weeks
they had looked forward to those
simple luxuries.
Early the next morning Walking
Moose climbed to the summit of hill
behind the post and gazed southwark
Dark woods and white plains stretched
sway for miles; but not sign Of the