The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-06-24

Poor brown devils-and yet-Stand by
now, and II you feel yourself Gavin,
bite that cigar like mink trap and
work away. Mustn't bungle this!"
We remained for moment in the
shadow of the silent mill to rehearse
the Job" 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 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 on with your family or get
shot"
The Indian replied sulleply as he
moved toward the canoe upon the
beach, "Squaw too sick. Hunt for
meat all day. / go 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 our 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 well dc
it fighting." Saying which the doctor
drew his pistol while ! entered the
hut and seized the Indians rife.
A long dory-like canoe was tori
from the thin ice into which 1t lay
bedded. The brutal duty was under
way.
The squaw, whose disease had ad
vanced to the stage OF dessication
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
panys launch to pass on her way out
Paddle out to meet her when you hea
her whistle-four days hence. II yo'
attempt to land within this inlet. II
sink your boat with q shot. Now
then, heave on"
Having given his commands. tn
doctor joined in some mighty shown,
and cussing to get the boat away
the Indians reluctant paddle caugh
the water lazily, and the deeply ladel
craft of disease and death, and hatre
of the white man, finally pointed he
, angular nose toward an unknown an
: a doubtful fate. | looked around TO
, Doc, before setting the hut afire an
/ burning the last yestige OF the cas-
, that had worried him. He was nc
} ashore. He had vanished like gho,
J from the Indians dying fire. l he
: loed softly, and. gazing toward tn
r disappearing boat-descried his squs
figure with a paddle in the bow!
r Was It possible? Yes. there he wa
e and from there he called to me tn
q | weird adieu: Good night, old cha
We've done a d--n fine job: but II
!. going to finish it alone. Send cane
!. ! after me day after tomorrow, or pic
i me up when the Mary Ann puts out
8 sea. II I'm infected, I'll hang N
t pink shirt high in fir tree near Il
r beach. and don't you come within
d hundred feet Of me. II I'm all rsgf
!. I'm get aboard and see you on 4