Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-06-01
legs that had lifted through dozen


swers, jokes and jokes thrust back
again. the swapping snarl Of wolf dogs,
the scolding Of squaws. laughter. the
whimpering Of children and wailing OF
infants, all the pandemonium Of a
camp Of nerveless. primitive wilder
ness folk.
They halted In the trampled snow by
an open FIRE. where Shorty and two
young Indians, squatted on their hams,
were broiling strips Of caribou meat.
Three other young Indians. lying In
furs on O mat of spruce bows, sat up.
Shorty looked across the fire at bis
partner, but with sternly impassiVe
face, like those Of bis companions,
made no sign and went on broiing the
meat.
aWhat's the matterr' Smoke de-
manded, half In irritation. Lost your
speechT
The old familiar grin twisted on
shorty's face. ."Nope," he answered.
I'm a Indian. I'm learnin' not to
show surprise. When did they catch
your
"Next day after you left"
"Hum! Well, I'm doin' fine, thank
you most to death. This Is the bach
elors' camp. An these are the bach
elora. They're glad to meet you.
Smoke. Set down an dry your moe
casins, an Ill cook up some grub.
You'll have to come to It, for looks as
II we'll be with these folks a long
time. They's another white man here
Got caught six years ago. Danny Nc
Can Is what he goes by. Hes settled
down with a sQuaw. Got two kids al
ready, but he'll skin out II ever the
chance opens up"
Apparently this was Smokes ap-
pointed domicile. for his captors left
him and his dogs and went on deeper
into the big camp. While he devoured
strips Of hot meat Shorty talked
'aThis is a sure peach Of a pickle,
Smoke. An We got to 60 some to get
out These Is the real, blowed In the
glass wild Indians. They amt white,
but their chief Is. He talks like q
mouthful of hot mush, an II he amt
full blooded Scotch they amt no such
thing as Scotch in the world. Hes the
hi-yu, skookum, top chief Of the whole
caboodle. What he says goes. You
want to get that from the start of.
Danny McCan's been tryin' to get
away from him for six years. Dan
ny's all right, but he amt got 60 IN
him. he knows way out-learned 1t
IN huntIn' trips-to the west Of the
way you an me came. BE amt had
the nerve to tackle It by his lonely.
But we can pull 1t OF, the three OF US.
Whiskers Is the real goods. but hes
mostly loco, Just the same"
"Who's whiskersr' Smoke Querfed-
"Why, he's the top geezer. Hes the
scotcher. He's gettin' old, an he's
sure asleep now. but he'll see you to-
morrow an show you clear as print
what a measly shrimp you are on his
stompin' grounds. These grounds be-
long to him. You got to get that into
your noodle. They amt never been
explored nor nothin'. an they're hisn.
an he won't let you forget It Hes
got about 10000 square miles of hunt
in country here all his own. Hes the
white Indian, him an the skirt
"Huh! Don't look at me that way.
Wait till you see her. Some locker.
an all white, like her dad-he's Whis-
kers. An say, caribou! A hundred
thousan' Of good runnin' meat In the
herd an ten thousan' wolves an cats
a-followin' an ivin' of the stragglers
an the leavin's. The herds movin' to
the east, an we'll be followin' 'em any
day now"
"Here comes Whiskers, lookin' Like
he's goin' somewhere Shorty whis-
pered
Il was morning. and the bachelors
were squatting over a breakfast OF
caribou meat. Smoke glanced up and
saw q small and slender man, skin
clad like any savage. but unmistaka.
bly, white. striding In advance OF sled
team and q following Of dozen In.
dians. Bushy whiskers, yellowtsh gray
and stained by camp smoke. concealed
most Of the face, but failed wholly to
conceal the gaunt.; almost cadaVerous'
cheeks.
"How do you dof" the man said.
slipping a mitten and holding out bis
bare hand. my name Is Snass-"
mines Bellew," Smoke returned,
feeling peculiarly disconcerted as he
gazed into the keen. searching black
eyes.
Getting plenty to eat, l see. Rough
rations. but we don't starve often. And
it's more natural than the hand reared
meat of the cities"
II see you don't like the cities" J"
Smoke laughed in order to be saying
something and was Immediately star
tied by the transformation Snass un-
derwent.
Quite like a sensitive plant, the mans
entire form seemed to wilt and quiver.
Then the recoil. tense and savage, con-
centered in the eyes, In which appeared
a hatred that screamed Of immeasur.
able pain. He turned abruptly away
and then, recollecting himself. remark.
cd casually over his shoulder:
"1'll see you later. Mr.. Bellew. The
caribou are moving east, and I'm going
ahead to pick out a location. You'll all
come on tomorrow"
Later on In the morning Smoke went
for a stroll through the camp, busy
with its primitive pursuits. A big body
Of hunters had Just returned. and the
men were scattering to their various
fires. Women and children were de-
parting with dogs harnessed to empty
toboggan sleds. and women and chill
dren and dogs were hauling sleds
heavy with meat fresh from the killing
and already frozen. Furs and soft
tanned leather clad all alike. Boys
passed with bows In their hands and
quivers Of bone barbed arrows. and
many a skinning knife Of bone or stone
Smoke saw In belts or neck hanging
sheaths.
Segregated in the heart Of the camp
L. A.,