Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-04-29
CHAPTER XVIII

From the blackness of the clearing
at OgOke rose a low whistle. which
was answered from the gloom behind
the traders quarters, where the kitch-
en- windows shone. yellow patches In
the thick dark night.
The whistle was repeated and. stimuli
taneOusly. swart faces appeared at the
windows OF both buildings. Eyes, gilt
tering with hate and the pent excite
ment Of the stalk, searched the rooms
for signs Of life. But they looked on
emptiness-on table splashed with
spilled liquor. jug, an untouched
glass of whisky; on a stove from
which smoked a frying pan with Its
burning bacon.
Il knew you would stampede them,
Michel" said Steele. looking qulzxical-
ly at the happy Iroquols. ''They got
out just ahead OF Us. You did that
for David, you rascal"
The hour OF the man from Nepigon
had struck. Like a hound at leash he
yearned for the Rouge river trail
and the man who Travelled II.
Steele gripped the hard hand Of his
friend in silence. There was nothing
to say-no turning the OjIbway from
his hearts desire. With a word to
Michel. David left them to get his
dogs.
"What shall we do with last years
hunt, II we find he hasn't shipped It'll"
queried Steele.
"Give eet to de Indian. Dey trade
eet at Waiting Riviere.'
''Yes, he got most Of It with his
whisky-by fraud. II ought TO go back
to them"
To the surprise of the men as they
reached the fur-storing loft, the candles
lighted row on row Of otter and mink.
lynx and fox. marten and fisher pelts,
hanging from the rafters
Heres his whole last years tradei"
cried Steele. He's never shipped I'll
The yellow light of his candle ne
eyes swapping with delight, as Michel
looked at his chief Much fur here
for Msieu st. ongei He be happy
man, now. De pos not close"
ayes, they will trade It at waiiiRg
River, unless" The indian waited.
wondering at the llfcstion-"uniess
Lascelles refuses to sign a certain pa
per"
"Ah-hahl He not get her-now r.
The grave eyes Of the IroQuois ques-
toned Steele's.
"NOt II / can help It'll"
Satisfied, the Indian turned to ex-
anime the fur. Steele began counting
the rows Of rich pelts, In an endeavor
TO make rough estimate of their /
value. He had reached the far end |
Of the loft when the dim light OF the
candle fell on some bulky shapes on
the floor In a corner. Curious, he bent
over the dashed bundles. ON the can
vas covering of the nearest there was
lettering. He lowered his candle to
read 1t.
"R-F," he said aloud then, with q
gasp. @WailIng River r,
''MlchelP' he called, "Revillon FIRE.
res, Wailing Rlverl Well, I'll be-
The fur-paeks from the lost cancel
Murdered-ambushed, they were. for
the furi''
Michel knelt beside Steele. .lBy CARL
,ur furr he said. peering at the wrap
pings. his voice hoarse with excite
nent 'Dey keel our men at de Devils
nilei" The muscles Of his lean face
Inotted. "But Lafiamme ees dead man
low Tonight Daveed take his trail.
They rolled out the fur-packs with
he eighteen thousand dollars in pelts,
which had left the post In the spring
lnly TO vanish on the lower WaIlIng.
'M'sIeu St Onge be happy man dis
light. eef he know dis"
Hell know II as soon as one Of the
ioys can reach him. replied Steele
"We'll send hlm this pres
mt In the morning" After the gray
lays the sun was indeed breaking
through. She seemed nearer-more
'ossible OF attainment, there in the
ark fur-loft at Ogoke, than she had
cen for weeks, to the man who tolled
or her.
In the morning Steele gathered his
ed henchmen together IN the trade
pom and talked to them, through
Iichel
tTo BE coNTrNUED.)