Charlevoix county herald., 1914-07-25

tent and laid her down upon the
blankets that covered a thick bed
of balsam-b oughs. Then they squat
ted beside her, weeping silently for
her awful grief.
At the post the old Indian servant
hastene6 to place dishes and tin cups
upon the table, but Mashkaugan had
already found piece of dry bread,
which he was devouring greedily.
Anne brought in the tea, black and
strong, and the boiled meat which
she had warmed in fryin-pan.
Don't eat so FAST" Curran told
him. you'll make yourself i'll if
YOU wolf your grub that way"
But Mashkaugan turned upon him,
snarling:
81 wish you had done the starving
and-and your own accused work.
"Hushw whispered Curran, fright
ened. Those COMPOUNDED old In
dams may overhear you"
His head was turned toward the
omen door of the long room where
the cooking-stove was; but the old
couple were at the other door at the
far end, doubtless discussing the
dreadful news. Old Anne was hold
ing the corner of a dirty apron to
her wrinkled face, wiping away the
tears, for Lorimer had been very
good to these people.
1t took but a short time for Mash
kaugan to finish his meal. He had
bolted the food in great pieces, like
a dog who fears that others may rob
him. After he had arisen Curran
handed him plug, and the man
nervously shaved off some tobacco
and stuffed it into his pipe.
"Give me a drink" he ordered
roughly, as if he had been master at
the post. Curran obeyed quickly.
Then the two went out and walked
far off in the stiffness of the deep
woods, as if they could not have
trusted the dwelling with such things
as were to be told.
The hunchback, in brief, chop
by sentences, related what had hap
pened.
"And are you absolutely sure that
he is dead ?" asked Curran.
81 saw him one moment-then
gone! Looked for the body a little
while. Nothing! The White Rapids
don't give up anything. They never
do. What was ever seen of Mishta-
nipi who went over, mad with the
drink that was in him ?"
With the back of his hand the man
wiped his sweating forehead, al
though a chill wind was blowing
from the north.
Curran did not answer him. In
deed. what prospect was there that
a man, even if left alive in that will
derness, could ever make his way
back without canoe, especially one
whose previous life was not Injured
to terrible hardship?
Mashkaugan had seen him rolling
in the rapids. Then his body disap-
peared. This was surely enough.
Curran was anxious to speak to
Mashkaugan about Lorimer's child,
and was about to mention 1t when he
thought better Of it.
The man, whether owing to hun
ger or suffering, or for some other
\ unknown reason that had affected
his mind, now spoke impatiently IN
a curt fashion, and was looking at
him like some maddened dog ready
to leap at his masters throat, yet
TO much cowed to try.
For this reason Curran said no
more to him just then, thinking 1t
probable that some days OF good
feeding and rest would induce the
man to enter heartily into any evil
scheme that might be proposed.
Slowly they made their way back
to the post where the Indians were,
impatiently waiting until they could
obtain from Mashkaugan all the de-
tails of the tragedy.
Indeed, starving and upsetting in
deep water constituted, with the
news of hunting, the only matters OF
interest in their precarious lives.
they were now eager to know IN
what manner the wilderness had
once more taken its toll.
They surrounded Mashkaugan as
soon as Curran left him, but to their
opportunities he replied impatient
"You are men," he said hurriedly
land travellers of the woods and rlv-
ers. A white man not long among
YOU, bearing a heavy pack, walks on
a shelf of rocks above waters where
i'm evil spirits Iive-and stumbles.
1.-THE load upon him overbalances
him-and that is the end. Then what
can the other man do? ! am weary
with your talking.
Iet those of you who know the
White Rapids tell the others what
manner of place it is, and let me
alone"
The hunters about him nodded
They could understand. Of course
they would have liked to hear ovel
and over again with much detail, al
about this awful happening; but they
knew that a man who has been hun
CRY for some days and returns alone
obsessed by the thoughts of suddeI
death in his presence may be short IL
temper and not inclined to talk.
After he had gone away to thu
rough shack which belonged to hin
they sat in circle or squatted abou
a fire of dry wood long into tn,
night, and spoke of similar happen
ings in low, hushed voices, fearing
lest the hunger of the spirits of evi
might not yet be satiated, and tina
one of themselves might be destine,
soon to fall into their jaws.
CHAPTER VII.
From the Jaws of Death.