Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-12-17

AS the days passed at Wailing
River, and the dread voice failed TO
break upon the crisp September nights
with a recurrence Of It's horror the
people timidly took up the old order
OF their days. The rabbit snares In
the forest were again visited and re
set by the women. who travelled In
pairs for mutual encouragement. and
one day Tete-Boule was prevailed
upon By the factor to 60 out with
another Indian after moose, for the
fort needed fresh meat AS he left.
the OjIbway gravely shook the hands
Of the fearful women and children
gathered on the shore. bidding them
look upon him for the last time. for
by night he and his comrade would
be mangled flesh In the NAV Of the
Windigo
.Did you hear that fOOlY Steele
asked st. ongs, standing near him
on the beach.
This thing has ruined him as a
hunter" replied the factor "he win
never recover from IL"
''T think I'll run upstream to the
RIFLES this morning and catch some
dore for supper" said the younger
man as they returned to the trade
house.
Later, a second canoe quietly left
the post, but when the boat reached
the rifles, mile above, the occupant
did not stop to fsh but continued
upstream following the shore. And
when the fash from the paddles OF
the craft above ceased, and the spot
on the river which was the canoe.
moved to the shore. the boat follow
ing, also turned In. and was lifted
and hidden IN the aiders. Then the
oremonItion of Tete-Boule attained
q partial fulhlment. for on the shores
OF the Wailing started a man hunt;
but the Incentive In the hunter was
not a craving for human flesh, but
a mild curiosity.
Befors sunset the safe return to the
post OF Tete-Boule and his partner
was heralded with JOY. although they
had failed In their hunt. But II was
well after dark before the second |
canoe slid silently in to the stony |
beach.
-You had no luck this afternoon,
monsieur, you caught nOthlngf'
laughed st. Onge as Steele appeared
for supper.
"As a matter OF fact, Colonel, /
went hunting. but the game was too
mme for sport"
81 Onge's black brows lifted
"You are cryptic, monsieur"
swell, to confess laughed Steele,
~I was interested to see how much
Aunting your men would really do
and 1 found out"
~You followed Tete-BouIe's cancel"
Eyes. / watched them for few
hours. but as they showed no sign
of taking to the bush. Travelled over
TO those ponds Michel told me about.
Tomorrow, II you have q man who
win help me pack the meat, I'll get
a moose"
~And Tete-BouIe never left the
river7~
s.Not while / watched him
The factor shrugged significantly
-He's bush shy now and viii not
hunt. But what Is there to dor"
Have you thought that he might
be shamming to avoid work. Is be
lazy9~
sNo. he always was good packer I
and hunter. It's the Windigo."
In the week past, Steele bad seen
IN too little Of the girl whose per
sonaIity had 60 wildly aroused bis 1
interest," whose moods. defying anaIy-
lis. only added 20 her charm. Con- {
'fnced that beyond dread Of the ugly
alternatives which the future might
,resent to her choice. beyond any pos 8
abIe fear Of the manifestations OF '
he supernatural which the post had
Witnessed, there Iurked q tangible 3
ause for anxiety. his active mind had
'een ceaseless IN It's creeping for 9
lew 10 it's nature Two days fol $
ewing the night of terror. he had q
penf searching the big ridge for sign 4
Z wolverine. lynx or wolf. had pro 0
need nothing in explanation OF the p
syxtersOua cries. but while his eyes .
wepf the dry floor Of the forest 20
Ight and Jeff, his thoughts had dealt y
nth the reiterated query whom q
ID she fear at the rmpldsS What was Il
be about to ten me when ST. Onge al
sterrupted1 shs had said. Bur yon d
0 not know the dangeri and there a