American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-06-08

Poor brown devils-and yet-Stand by
now. and If you feel yourself Gavin
bite that cigar like a mink trap and
work away. Mustn't bungle this!"
We remained for a moment In the
shadow of the silent mill to rehearse
the lob" about to be perpetrated.
The Indians rudely-curtained hut win
dow cleaned family red-a bleared
eye In the dark void. We knocked.
A menacing grunt and a shifting OF
moccasined feet withdrawing more
hospitable.
The doctor. with food and medi-
cine. Let me In" We let ourselves
into the hut before the Indian had
arisen from the floor.
The hut reeked with the foul stencil
peculiar to the domestic conditions of
nomad Indians in this region.
We lured the Indian outside. Our
return from pestilence to the cold,
sweet air Of the Alaskan forest, intox-
icated me.
The doctor began menacingly:
why didn't you ride out on the morn
ing tide? You said you would last
night. You lied and. damn you, en-.
dangered the health of the whole
camp. You've got twenty minutes to
paddle of with your family or get
shot,"
The Indian replied sullenly as he
moved toward the canoe upon the
beach. "Squaw toe sick. Hunt for
meat all day. I 60 when the water
sleeps-mebbe soonly." He turned de.
family with clenched fists.
See here. Thlinkit, you've come
into this camp with what miners
would shoot you for. I've given you
two days to clear out at the risk of
injecting u men and wrecking the
mine for three months. I've got
twenty men in the shadow of that
mill ready to pound you into pulp
when my gun barks. You understan'!
Now. we'll do this quietly or we'll do
1t fighting" Saying which the doctor
drew his pistol while l entered the
hut and seized the Indians rife.
A long dory-like n was torn
from the thin ice into which It lay
bedded. The brutal duty was under
way.
The squaw. whose disease had ad.
vanced to the stage Of d~essication.
opened her terrible eyes-eyes sunk.
en- and deliQuescent-
Go six miles down the coast; you'll
find fresh water and game a-plenty.
Set your traps, and wait for the COM
pany's launch to pass on her way out.
Paddle out to meet her when you heal
her whistleHfour days hence. II you
attempt to land within this inlet. I'll
sink your boat with . shot Now.
then. heave on"
Having given his commands. the
doctor Joined in some mighty showing |
and GUESSING to get the boat away;
the Indians reluctant paddle caught
the water lazily. and the deeply laden
craft Of disease and death. and hatred
Of the white man. finally pointed her
lose toward an unknown and
doubtful fate. looked around for
Doc. before setting the hut afre and
the last vestige of the case
hat had worried him. He was not
sAhore. He had vanished like a ghoul
rom the Indians dying fire. he'll
oed softly. and. gazing toward the
boat-descried his squat
igure with a paddle In the bow!
Was it possible? Yes. there he was
md from there he called to me this
weird adieu: Good night. old chap.
We've done q d-n ine job; but I'm
,oing to finish II alone. Send q canoe
me day after tomorrow. or pick
ne up when the Mary Ann puts out to
II I'm infected. I'll hang my
,lnk shirt high In . ar tree near the
each, and don't you come within
hundred feet OF me. II I'm all right.
II ret aboard and ~ you OF for