Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-01-28
The Valley of Voices

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In the night. and Ia the mind OF each
slowly took shape the same surmise.
Then from the burnt ridge OF the
opposite shore lifted a low waIl. gath
erlng In volume until Il cilmaxed Ii 3
scream
de Windigor' with a leap. Michel
had his rife and was sliding the canoe
into the water.
~Come on cried Steele. ''we1l sep
arate and stalk that ridge from three
directions"
They were halfway to the shore
when the voice burst out anew In sobs
and maudlIn mewing. and Steele pttied
the terrified women and children OF
the fishing camp. facing the horror
alone. with their men far In the Carl
bou barrens.
Landing on the beach under the
ridge. Steele left the others with the
warning: mo Wild firing. now Re
member the whIstiei Wen meet here
on this sand beach,"
The canoe vanished In the shadows
and the American started his stalk.
Twice he stopped for space to study
the caterwauIIng on the brow beyond
him. Blood-chllling. unearthly. the
voice filled the calm night
The danger OF the hunters firing into
each other was great. and he climbed
cautiously, taking the cover OF the
down timber. ears alert for the STAG
cato whistle OF the yellow legs, their
signal OF identification.
At last, with skin and clothes torn
by the brittle twigs Of the dead
spruce. he reached the fat shoulder OF
the ridge. For some time the night
had brooded, unmarried by the voice.
Cooking his rife he crept forward,
searching the area OF skeleton trees,
ghostly in the pale light OF the stars,
for some movement. He was puzzled
at the failure OF the Indians, whose
pace should have been faster than his.
to reach the brow OF the ridge. II
they had. perhaps even now, the row
ing eye OF Michel already marked
him out-was sighting down a rife
barrel, his crooked finger on the trig-
ger, waiting to be sure Of his target
before he fired. At the thought Steele
fiattened out and whIstIed.
But the hoo-hoo OF gray owl, pa
trolling the green timber OF the lake
shore below. was his only answer
Minutes. which seemed Interminable
to the watcher, passed. Where were
the IndIansi
Then to his surprise an unspeakabIe
mewlng defiled the night. In vain he
strove to locate the position Of the |
beast. Hut, as the mewing merged |
into the shrieks Of a woman. the
fash and report, flash and report. or /
two rifles cut It short on. Something
thrashed through the timber out In
front.
He swung his rifle in the direction
Of the sound. his eyes strainIng for a
target. The starlight gave him
leefing glimpse Of dark object cross
ing the boie OF a skeleton spruce, and
he fired twice. Then leaping down,
he plunged through the tangle OF dead
spruce In the wake of David and MI
,heI who had stalked their quarry. hut
evidently in the uncertain light.
missed.
Down over the treacherous going OF
he slope of the ridge the surezfooted
Indians hunted the thing their rifle
Ihots had stampeded. Tripping. fall
ng, 10 rise and stumble on through
he network OF trunks and limbs.
Steele struggled to keep at the heels
Il his men. But gradually the noise
4 the pursuit drew away from the
White man. no match for those who,
rom childhood, had travelled the for
SITS at night
IN an hour two grimy. battered
alf-breeda, bleeding from contact
Nth the timber. appeared on the
each.
.well. # fooled us again." vouch-
afed Steele. ruefulIy. did you see
IL"
eve nevaire see heem," muttered
he dlsheartened Michel, squafting on
ls heels at the waters edge to battle
Is face. and his shoulders from
-hlch the wooden shirt hung In rib
ons.
..Ynu did not see him when Won
redY" demanded the surprised
teele. Il got a look at him for
scond.-
David grfnned at his chief sDat
MS me y0u shoot at De bullet seeng
ose. too. Good shot"
''What. you were out In front OF me
my didn't you whistler protested
ie chagrincf Steele. Il didn't know.
nth you fired. that you two had got
, there. From the sound, what did
. travel like. Michei9v
The half-treed lifted q grave face.
he travel lax q seek bear; but DO
ar hoIIer lax a lynx"
CTo BIZ C0NTINuED.)