Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-02-25

So. without stopping at noon. the fee
Ing canoe pushed on up the Rouge.
and not until dusk settled on the val
ley. was It turned to the shore.
There. unloading the weary crew
carried boat and outfit hack into the
bush" against the possible chance OF
their camp smoke being seen at day
light by those at their heels.
Dawn found them at their galley
slavery with another back-breaking
day to live through before the clear
ing Of the Jackfish portage would open
up ahead. Unless they were run down
shortly, that night the fleeing canoe
would ride the Jackfsh. and they had
won.
They we're rounding a bend below a
backwater when the man In the bow
lifted his hand and pointed In the
shadows, not fifty yards away, stood
yearling moose.
Meat to take us to Nepigon r.
groaned Steele
David slapped the water with the
fiat Of his paddle. "Marche, you !" he
cried, "or de cutt'roat benin us weel
get you"
zone shell would have got him I"
said Steele ruefully. as the moose
slowly turned and disappeared.
wal, not vast de last shot on
moose" and the Indian held up
shining cartridge for the inspection OF
his friend.
where In the devil did you get
thatr cried the amazed and delighted
stern man.
Il fin eet cen de grub bag"
"And you never told mel Is that
fair, David?"
oval, eef I tell you, you Gre eet at
de moose.
"why not7 We would have red
meat then. to Nepigon."
The Ojlbway shook his head sober
ly: 'Daveed save eet for one Of La
fiammes men.
To Steele, who felt now that sun
down would find them at the Jackfish
portage; that their pursuers we're far
In the rear. the words of David
sounded unduly omineus. II was pos
sIble that some OF the Indians on their
trail could travel the forty miles of
broken, bush-grown river shore in a
night and day. but he doubted It.
So he laughed loudly at the square
back Of his friend when, an hour be- |
fore sunset, they landed at Jackhsh
portage.
well. We did It, old boy =. cried
Steele, Shaping the knotted shoulder
Of the grinning David. Nov wen
take her all over In one trip or throw
this museum stun away. Can we do
It?"
David nodded. "De carry to de lax
ees short. TAX the canoe an de
Injun stun. You TAX de rest"
Man alive 1t will go four hun
dred-with the boat"
But David was busy singing his
tump-llne to the largest Of the bags
and made no answer.
So, after further protest, which the
Indian brushed aside, Steele packed
the three hundred pounds Of bags on
the 0jibway's wide back. and on top
balanced the canoe. and the thick bow
legs OF the red son Of Anak moved
steadily up the trail.
With the dusk. the canoe was in the
Jackhsh and the two men grIpped
hands In mutual congratulation. They
had set Lafiammes gang a pace over
a hundred miles of lake and river
which they would not soon forget.
Dropping downstream they camped in
the thick spruce. back from the river.
and for the first time In two days
baked cornbread for their beans and
,acon, and Toasted.
Beside q fire which the scrub
masked at fifty feet, two men. at ease
With the world. pulled on after-supper
,ipes. With a little luck in the pike
axes Of the lower Jackfish. they could
Ike out their scanty food supply; and
f. as seemed certain, they had left
heir pursuers hopelessly behind. the
hell In David's rifle might bring them
neat.
''Boss." said the Ojibway. after q
'eriod OF silence which was character
site, Il nevaire tell you wy hunt
lie Lafiamme"
From a revery in which Denise st.
'nge again played TO him on her Hill
Dreams far tn the norths Steele
urned with interest TO the speaker.
mo. should like TO hear"
"Eet was nance year back--ten.
we've. Dis Lanamme trade wild de
Iibway up Los lax way. Ny brod- !
er work for heem. He SEN my brod- 9
err an 'nOder man to max cache on
e Pelican riviere. One day. beeg {
oruee log, she fall and hit heem In Z
E back. De 'noder felier try carry q
eem 0vair de portage but eet pain my
rodder too much. He say. I stay 2
ere vile you breeng men from Los 9
X. Dey TAX me ovalr de long port 2
re on de spruce pole ~ ?
For a long space David sat with =
FAD on hands. staring into the fire. q
Eeele smoked in silence, waiting for
le mood OF his friend 20 change,
I. -. a.. ,.o~e ,wor.f1 - f,lN