The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1907-11-14

II with uncertain purpose, pauslng
often to glance round and give ear
to the Wild voices Of the waters His
snow-shoes dragged at his legs and
his trade gun was burden. When
a deer sprang, crashing. from It's rest.
ing'place amid q pile Of dead brush,
he started violently-then shouted
foolish abuse after the fleeing animal,
like a white mans child rather than
Walking Moose, the great hunter.
The sun was In the west,
handbreath above the far hills.
when the heart Of Walking
Moose rebelled against the desoIa.
ton and unreason Of the lonely jour
ney, Turning square In his tracks,
the hunter began to reclaim the miles
he had so YEARLY unraveied. The
north called to him--wlth the voice Of
the lonely woman and the enchant.
ment Of the little store at Aiexander's
Hope. The memory OF the red shirts,
the powder, the tea and the tasseled
stockings drew him and Knocked him
in the same turn Of thought. One
voice spoke within him, 1.-THE door
is weak. You will take what you need
and pay fairly with the good skins
1t is your duty to supply yourself with
powder and ball for your gun, that
you may kill the beaver and musquash
and wild geese. And you and the
woman deserve tea and tobacco-and
you have the good furs with which
to pay"
But another voice whispered that
such thing could not be done; that
only an agent Of the great company
might unfasten that door and measure
out those needful and desirable stores;
that the name of Walking Moose
would become name Of scorn in
the world II he did his trading with
out waiting for Mcleod. But the
hrst voice was the stronger; and
Walking Moose sped along through
the fading twilight, shilling the lesser
voice at every stride.
The sky was clear and in the star
shine the trail Of the snow-shoes was
plain under the hunters feet. He ran
In the level and open places; and mo-
where did he halt to draw breath
until half Of the return journey was
accomplished. Then he ate sparihgly
and rested for an hour.
Dawn was gray in the east when
the huskies announced their masters
return with furious barking.
The squaw ran from the lodge.
mo wait for Mcleod" said the
hunter. Come now, and see me make
honest trade. Bring the skins.
BY the pale and unearthly light
they broke the wooden hinges OF
the door and entered the treasure
house.
walking Moose make this trade all
alone. You no touch" said the brave.
First Of all he opened canister Of
tobacco and weighed out FIVE pounds
Of the gold-brown luxury, and placed
Ave marten skins in payment OF top
Of the canister OF -four he measured
out four skins worth: of powder and
lead, ten skins worth; Of tea, five and
Of dry-goods, seven. In each case he
placed the furs on the shelf or pack
age from which he had taken the
goods. Then he stacked the remain
der Of his winters catch on the door
and placed his signature on top OF
the plea spruce cone, strip OF
birch bark and porcuplne quill
that Mcleod might know to whose
credit 70 place the furs.
They mended the door with care
then pipes we're lighted and tea
brewed, and the bitterness Of the long
trails was forgotten.
The first snow had fallen in night
ana melted in a day Il was In that
elusive season called Indian summer
that Walking Moose came again 70
Alexander's Hope. this time to buy
an outfit for the winter campaign. The
souaw and the huskIes, and even the
brave himself, carried packs Of penn
mican. beaver-skins and smoked iish
on their backs. The sIedge and snow
shoes had been cached in the woods
near Alexander's Hope. Walking
Moose found a stranger-a young man
with spectacles on his nose-smoking
pipe in front Of the store,
"Where McLeod?" he inquired.
'.Afr. Mcleod was promoted to the
| Bear River post last April" replied the
stranger Il am in charge here nov.
post has been closed half the summer
you've come Just in time, If you want
70 trade. because I'm going to shut
"My men are coming up from ST.