Belt Valley times., 1926-03-25


country OF the night waller He ex:
pressed the hope of being able with
che help OF the hound. to obtain a
shot at the creature II II remained
near the lake. Denise, he did not
mention.
With David and Michel breaking
trail through the foot of new snow
which had fallen over night, the party
started on the ice for the mouth of
Still river. a small tribdtary OF the
lake on which there was trappers'
camp which Michel had not yet Wis
tied. Arriving at the tipi Of the OjIb-
ways, they found them loading their
sled preparatory to making hasty
departure. the dark faces Of two men
and a boy. marked with fear. while
from the interior of the lodge rose the
low pitiful wailing Of women.
"What are you dOing7 Why do you
leave good otter and mink water and
the ridges which have given you many
pelts of the silver and the black fox7
There Is much -four and sugar and
tea; there are many trade goods, at
the post. which wait for you to come
with your pelts at New Years. Where
are you goingf" he asked In 0jibway.
Opening his arms in a dramatic ges-
ture the older Of the men replied:
How can we stay7 The Windlgo
howls at night from the ridges and
robs our trap-IInes. He walled and
wept last night when the snow COW
cred the moon Our women win not
pass another sleep here. we fear he
viii find and kill u.s."
Where was he?"
"On the ridge there"
EMO goodF Michel turned to Steele.
de show cover hees track" Then ne
asked You say he robbed your
traps7 Did you see the traila"
"Oh, yes. his trail was everywhere
One sleep before the new snow fell
ne followed my fox and marten traps,
and ate two foxes-the snow was red
with blood They were large-the
tracks Of the man-eater. very large,
and we ran when we saw them
'WilI you stay tonight In your tipi,
IL we camp here7 This is great sha
man from the south" Michel pointed
10 Steele. He has n dog that hunts
the Windigo-he has a magic howl,
and the wlndigo fears him. He has
bewitched many Windigoes In his own
eointry with his great voice. Tomor-
Fo'V we win go with you to your trap
iln.s. No harm cnn come to you. be-
carse OF this medicine man and his
shsalan dog.
1ha Ojibways gazed in awe and
woi der at the great hound, strange to
the north, with the penduIous ears
end the furrowed forehead, then
argued rapidly among themselves,
Orally calling their women from the
tent.
The Windigo VIII not come tonight, /
for ne knows the shaman dog can |
fOiiow hts tran even through water,
and in his voice there is DEATH" said |
Michel gravely. to the Impressed In
dfans ~If you Will unload your sleis 1
and camp here, near us. we will bring
the skin OF the WindIgo to hang from
your lodge poles before the moon
changes
After considerable discussion with
ms people the older Indian replied:
-lve do not wish to leave the hunting
ground OF our fathers. AS you say.
there is game on the ridges and In
the creek bottoms n you Will camp
here with the white medicine man and
the shaman dog with the voice OF the
thunder. we win stay
I'VE win camp here and keep the
Windigo away" answered Michel.
trusting that the beast would prove
him a false prophet
In the morning David at
the camp 70 ease the fear OF the won-
en-. Steele and Michel slipped into
their snow-shoes and taking the
hound, drove their sled with the traps
TO the first lines OF marten and fox
sets on the neighboring ridges. There,
along the line which the WindIg0 had
robbed, Michel set the six double
spring wolf traps under the new snow
near the marten cabanes, chainIng
them 20 spruce logs. which he buried.
Farther on. at two OF the fox sets.
Michel and Steele brought from their
sled the two bear traps. These. also,
we're buried in the snow where an ami
mai approaching the balted fox trap
would step on the pan. releasing the
jaws
Ii would take six days for Little
Jacques to make the round trip to the
post, and that night over the fire,
While the Ojibways covered in their :
tipi, the three men talked Of what
message be might bring. They won
iered in what way Laflamme would
Ihow his teefh---for strike be would {
,efOre the long SHOWS faded: II he
would dare again to send men TO the
lost. II seemed unlikely. for he did z
lot know that the head man was aD- r
ent. the IrOqsols. from Nlpiasing, L
gho was known the length Of the 6
Vafling and the great Albany for the
uFeness Of his eye over the sights ;
md the possesnIon Of nfone-hard &
erve. No. E.afgmmme would NOT send
a