Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-12-31
CHAPTER w


AS he met Denise at the door OF
the factors quarters. Steele said
quietly: Let's not talk Of the bear
trail tonight, msdemofseiie.' And the
grateful look she gave him was ample
reward for his tact.
"As / feared. monsieur. the men
found nothing down river" said st.
Onge as they sat down to the simple
meal
Not knowing whether Michel had as
yet confided in the factor. Steele
didn't mention the strange trail.
at Is certainly a puzzle. Colonel. {"
''Yes. a riddle which will be solved
In only one way. monsieur-by time
Some day when we have left the
wailing River we may hear OF the
fate OF my men."
"Then you have no faith in the
wIndigo theory OF their disappear
ance?" Steele boldly challenged. with
a curl OF the lip.
The tired eyes Of st. Onge twinkled.
$50 far as our Indians are concerned.
monsieur. the Wlndigo will drive us.
ont Of the valley. But am not pre-
pared to say that the WindigO have
my fur"
Brent Steele was narrowly on the
point of demanding that his host put
his cards on the table face up. St
onge's failure TO take his guest fully
into his confidence WINS irritating TO
degree. AS he ate in silence. the
American promised himself that there
should shortly be showing of hands
or he would go south at once. Then
the broodIng eyes OF Denise st. Onge
met his and he realized what 1t would
mean to leave Waiting River to its
fate-what memories he should leave
behind when he started south for the
Nepigon.
That evening, three men, heads to-
gether, smoked on the beach-Siowlv
and in detail Michel and David told
Steele of their search and discovery
Of the strange footprints.
what were they like, Michel"
"pey were long lax de bear. but
no bear cen des countree max dem
90 big"
Queer ting de bear " ut max de
track" broke in David, "was starv'.
Cor dey not seenk far cen de mud. |
An he have seex-seven toe on fore
feet"
Just Ike the ones I'll show you In
the morningl" exclaimed Steele.
"And you found no trail Of the men
with the cancer
'No sign but round de camp-nO
trail In muskes."
well, Michel, what do you think7
Could the brute that made the track
you saw, howl Ike the one on the
ridge here7"
The Iroquois small eyes narrowed
TO Sits He pufTed hard for a space
before answering DE howl on de
Ridge was no bear-bear 0nlee yell
wen he get hurt Michel not know
wat howl on de ridge but he fin, out
before de long snow melt"
what do you think made the trail.
DavId7" Steele grinned into the set
face of his friend
David shook his head. Il nevaire see
30 beeg bear track"
Then Steele told Of his search Of I
the ridge for signs Of the night waller,
and OF the tracks be had seen that
afternoon. But cudgeI their brains as
they would. the three men were at a
total loss for a solution Of the riddle
Df their origin.
The night shut down but the three
men on the river shore still sat smok- {
ng, hard at their council Of war. In
he middle Of a sentence. David sud
denly stopped. raising his head as
hough listening Then. silently ris-
ng, he plunged Into cIump Of aIders
lose byl A low curse-the sound OF I
scufie.
by gari wat you got. Dayeed77 {
demanded Michel as be and Steele
ollowed to the brush 4
Il show you somet'Ingi" was the
reply. ms the daFk shape Of d
be OjibwAy dragged an IndIstingulsh- b
BILE. struggling mass from the aIders d
'sTete- B0uIel" gnsped Michel peer
az into the face OF Dnvldse prisoner. a
Wat you do dereT' II
$50 you t'ink to hear something, Z
etc BouIeT" gr0wIed the angry voice
Z the Otibway shaking the man he q
cid In the wise OF his two hands as II
husky dog shakes q rabbit ~Ycu q
sawi lax de mink. but I smell you n
X de wolf smell de- wood mouse q
NJ the nan from Neplgon shifted .