Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-12-10

sensed she had intended as wa<a-
ing.
"Good-mornIng. Monsieur Steele r.
cried the factor. with what was palpa-
bly, a forced lIvelIness OF manner. ~You
have not changed your mind since our
talk. ehl Yon will honor us BY spend
ing September at waillng Riverg"
Father" Denise protested. ''Af0n-
sieur Steele does not know"
st. Onge turned petulantly upon his
daughter.
Monsieur Steele is a brave man
and q scientist he has no fear of
your Indian devils and Windigoes."
But he has right to know all.
II he is
he shall know all. my dear, broke
In the factor, evidently DESTROYS of
stopping further reference to what
was blind mystery to the younger
man.
I'VE shall have a week, mademoI.
selle, before David and Michel re
turn, TO make our plans" added
Steele 10 defense Of bis host; but
throughout the simple breakfast OF
trout, toast and coffee. his active
brain was busy with the strange at
titude OF st. 0nge and Its cause.
At the trade-house the factor and
his guest learned from the still shaky
Tete-Boule that Michel and David
had packed q canoe and provisions
over the portage at daylight. But
before starting down river on his
quest with David. Michel had done
his work well. Not an Indian dared
leave the post because Of the demon
which the willy head man had assured
them was lying In wait for them So.
for a time ST. Onge sould count on
keeping his post servants, and then
well, who can foretell what is on
the knees OF the gods, monsieurT'
he said with a characteristic shrug. |
Through the following days while
he impatiently waited for the return
Of David, Steele occupied his time |
with the study Of two interesting sub
jects-Tete-Boule and Denise ST.
Onge And he found In each much
to stimulate his curiosity. The In
dian, once twist of nigger-head to-
bacco and the gift Of a skinnlng knife
had established friendly relations
was led to repeat the tales OF huge
tracks In the muskeg and night wall
ing which he had brought to the post
during the summer. TO Steele, familiar
with shamanism and the practice OF
sorcery among the 0jibways and
Crees, this squat red man, with his
high cheek bones and closest eyes,
was something OF a puzzle Steele
soon learned that Tete-BOule-who
owed his name TO the likeness Of his
broad face to the Tete-de-Boule Crees
was possessed Of more than ordinary
''Tete-Boule," demanded Steele In
one Of their conversations on the river
shore. why should this WIndlgo wish
to harm this post: the people. here. :
have never done him an injury7n
The mink-llke eyes OF the Indian /
with fear at the mention OF \
he dread name, which was taboo. >
Dis ees hees countree. Long tam y
lgo. he cum here on dis riviere." the y
indian muttered. evidently Ill at ease d
WAS It the Wlndigo who drowned r
he men with the fur cancer" b
For space the 0jIbway smoked Il
n silence, then spnt far into the wa h
er before he answered y
de crew ov de fur-cano' not
upi'' And he opened his
vide mouth and snapped his jaws.
VIII he come again by night to !,
he post here7y :,
The Indian slowly nodded. =
Further than repeating TO Steele =
hat In August he had seen huge Z, .
racks In the muskeg and heard cries :
I night similar TO those which had =
'akened the post, Tete-Boule could =
OF be led TO talk. But what inter. - !.
sted the American especially was to 3
ear. later. from Denise st. Onge, :
nat the squat post hunter was be- :. =
ailing with the already stampeded :.
adams the fate which menaced them. =
This Tete-Boule ought to be sup :.
ressed," he suggested to st. Oasea =
Four daughter tells me that he keeps -
Ie Indians In a ferment with his
I'D tales Of demons and wlndlgOes."
1--WE told him to stop It. But he q
very superstitious. When he first sn
Ime here from Albany, he was a ~
ost valuable man-very intelligent" pl
Hes doing a lot Of harm, now. I ~ -,
ish Michel were here. You need :,
M" ~
"Yes, he understands the Indians. AZ
ID can quiet them" agreed the factor -
EARLY. And he is wasting his time ."
wn river"
Il am not 80 sure Of that. They
~ End something" And Steele eq'
iiied into the Frenchman's eyes TIA
izzlcalIy. but met a blank stare. cei
ele
Well. with Steele on lie trail, ms
the @sNlndioo" Is likely to have El'