The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-02-03

ed stream of coarse dust and mug
gets into the basin. A man beside him
caught his hand up with jerk and an
oath, elevating the mouth of the sack
50 as to stop the run Of the dust. To
casual eye six or eight ounces had al
ready run into the basin.
Don't be a hawg.' cried the second
man. You amt the only one with a
poke. Gimme chance at it,
Men crowded and josted for the op-
portunity to contribute. and when they
were satisfied Smoke hefted the heavy
basin with both hands and grinned.
1T will keep the whole tribe in grub
for the rest Of the winter" he said.
Now for the dogs. Five light teams
that have some run in them"
a dozen teams were volunteered. and
the camp. as a committee of the whole,
bickered and debated, accepted and re-
jected.
AS fast as team was selected its
owner. with half dozen aids. depart
ed to harness up and get ready.
One team was rejected because it had
come in tired that afternoon. One
owner contributed his team, but apollo
getically exposed a bandaged ankle that
prevented him from driving it. This
team Smoke took, overriding the objec-
ton of the crowd that he was played
out.
Long Bill Haskell pointed out that,
while Fat Olsen's team was Il cracker
jack, Fat Olsen himself was an ele-
phant. Fat 0lsen's 24O pounds of heart
iaess WIS indignant. Tears of anger
came into his eyes, and his Teutonic
explosions could not be stopped until
he was given a place In the heavy d.
vision, the craps player Jumping. at the
chance to take out aOlsen's light team !
Tfffss ss.-s..4k
being harnessed and loaded. but only
four drivers had satisfied the commit
tee of the whole.
There's Cultus George" some one
cried Hes trail eater, and he's
fresh and rested
All eyes turned upon the Indian. but
his face was expressionless. and he
said nothing.
you'll take team?" Smoke said to
him.
Still the big Indian made no answer.
AS with an electric thrill it ran through
all of them that something untoward
was impending. A restless shifting of
the group took place. forming circle
in which Smoke and Cultus George
faced each other. And Smoke realized
that by common consent he had been
made the representative of his fellows
in what was taking place.
Also he was angered. 1t was beyond
him that any human creature, wit
hess to the scramble Of volunteers,
should hang back. For another thing.
in what followed Smoke did not have
Cultus Georges point Of view-did not
dream that the Indian held back for
any reason save the selfish, mercenary
one.
"Of course you will take team"
Smoke said.
How much?" Cultus George asked.
A snarl, spontaneous and general.
grated in the throats and twisted the
mouths of the miners.
"Wait a Bit boys" Smoke cried.
Maybe he doesn't understand. Look
here, George. Don't you see, nobody Is
charging anything. They're giving ev-
erything to save 200 Indians from
starving to death" He paused to let
it sink home.
How mnch!" said Cultus George.
"Wait. you fellows! Now. listen.
George. We don't want you to make
any mistake. These starving people
| are your kind Of people. They're an
other tribe, but they're Indians just
the same. Now. you've seen what the
white men are doing-eoughing up
their dust, giving their dogs and sleds.
falling over one another to hit the
trail. Only the best men can go with
| the first sleds. Look at Fat Olsen.
there. He was ready to fight because
they wouldn't let him go. You ought
to be mighty proud because all men
think you a No. ! musher. 1t isn't a
case of how much. but how quick"
How much:" said Cultus George.
xiii hint" Bust his head!" "Tar
and feathers! were several of the
cries In the wild medley that went up
The spirit of philanthropy and good
fellowship changed to brute sayagery
Pn the instant.
In the storm center Cultus George
stood imperturbable. while Smoke
thrust back the fiercest and shouted:
"Wait' Who's running this:" The
clamor died away Fetch rope" ht
added quietly. .--
Cultus George shrugged his shoul
ders. He knew this white man breed
He had toiled on trail with 1t and eat
en- its flour and bacon and beans to'
long not to know it. 1t was Law
abiding breed He knew that thor
oughly. It always punished the mai
who broke the law. But he had bro
ken no law. He knew its law. He ha'