Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-11-27


interest"
"But / have very great interest,
mademoiselle. / am sent into the field
by the museum to study this sort of
thing. Michel, David and l are going
to fight him--and solve him."
But you do not know the danger"
Her face was very grave as she faced
him, and he now knew that his sur
mise had been correct. There was
much that he had not been told.
81 do not understand what you mean.
Not being superstitious, Michel, David
and l have nothing to fear" he pro-
tested, hoping to draw her out.
"Oh, monsieur, you do not know all
There are so many" The abrupt en-
trance of st. Onge cut off what Steele
sensed she had intended as a warn
ing.
"Good-morning, Monsieur Steele!'
cried the factsr, with what was palpa-
bly, forced liveliness of manner. you
have not changed your mind since our
talk. eh? You will honor us by spend
ing September at Wailing River?"
Father" Denise protested, mon
sieur Steele does not know"
ST. Onge turned petulantly upon his
daughter
Monsieur Steele Is a brave man
and scientist; he has no fear OF
your Indian devils and Windi goes."
"But he has a right to know alt,
if he is"
He shall know all, my dear" broke
in the factor evidently desir0us of
stopping further reference to what
was blind mystery to the younger
man.
1--WE shall have a week, mademoi-
selle, before David and Michel re-
turn, to make our plans" added
Steele in defense of his host but
throughout the simple breakfast of
trout, toast and coffee, his active
brain was busy with the strange at
titude of ST. Onge and it's cause.
At the trade-house the factor and
his guest learned from the still shaky
Tete-Boule that Michel and David
had packed a canoe and provisions
over the portage at daylight But
before starting down river on his
quest with David, Michel had done
his work we'll 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 time ST. Onge could count on
keeping his post servants, and then
well who can foretell what is on
the knees Of the gods mOnSieurW
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 a twist Of nigger-head to-
bacco and the gift Of skinning 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 Ojibways and
Crees, this squat red man, with his
high cheek bones and clOseset 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
intelligence.
"Tete-Boule" demanded Steele in
one of their conversations on the river
shore, why should this Windigo wish
to harm this post; the people, here,
have never done him an injury?"
The mink-like eyes of the Indian
widened with fear at the mention of
the dread name, which was taboo.
"Dis ees hees countree Long tam
ago, he cum here on dis riviere," the
Indian muttered, evidently Ill at ease
"Was 1t the Windigo who drowned
the men with the fur canoe"
For space the Ojibway smoked
In silence, then spat far into the wa
ter before he answered
"De crew ov de fur-cano' not
drown'-eat up" And he opened his
wide mouth and snapped his jaws.
"Will he come again by night to
the post hereT'
The Indian slowly nodded.
Further than repeating to Steele
that In August he had seen huge
tracks in the muskeg and heard cries
at night similar to those which had
wakened the post, Tete-Boule could
not be led to talk But what inter-
ested the American especially was to
hear, later, from Denise st. Onge,
that the squat post hunter was be-
wailing with the already stampeded
Indians the fate which menaced them.
'"This Tete-Boule ought to be sup
pressed" he suggested to st. Onge.
"Your daughter tells me that he keeps
the Indians In a ferment with his
wild tales of demons and Windigoes." "
1--WE told him to stop It. But he