Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-01-14
CHAPTER v-cOntinued


''But why should he come so far L
make trouble here, as you say7 VIVA
&c behind 1t aiiT'
For an instant, Michel seemed OF
the point Of making a revelation Then
evidently changing his mind, with {
shrug Of his bony shoulders. he an
swered: I'VE see some day"
Steele and David exchanged puzzled
looks. What could Michel have In the
back Of his head?
With the coming OF the canoe with
news from Feather lakes. Wailine
River was again thrown Into a panic
Of fear Of the night prowler. After a
hurried talk with st. Onge. Steele
started up the river. bound for Big
Feather lake. He had little hope of
discovering anything which would
throw tight on the mystery. But one
thing piqued the curiosity Of the three
men. They were keeniy= interested In
finding tracks similar to those near
the post, for they carried the exact
measurements Of the latter. and in
case they tailed with those at the
Feather lakes, feFty miles away they
would have discovered new and most
peculiar trait In animal habits, name
~. beast with feet strangely like a
bears. which had ranged forty miles
within few days
On the morning Of the second day
the canoe was travelling in the easier
water Inshore. when Michel, polling In
the bow, suddenly exclaimed:
"Kequayl Look !"
On the shore, ahead, were the re
mains OF a fire and near II what re-
sembled the body Of man. With a
few strong thrusts Of the poles, the
canoe was driSen to the beach. The
men leaped ashore. Before them,
stretched beside the dead fire, lay an
indian. hideousiy mutilated.
HE has been literally torn to pieces"
muttered Steele. "A bear alone could
have done this. and yet never heard
Of such thing
David was on his knees searching
for tracks in the dry leaves, when a
cry from Michel drew the attention Of
the others.
Look Track on de shorer' and
the Iroquois pointed to patch n mud
clearly marked by the prints Of huge
feet.
They're ringers for the tracks near
the post said Steele. and he took
from hIs pocket strips Of rawhide Of
the dimensions Of the footprints which
had frightened Charlotte. In breadth.
length and character. the tracks in the
mud were identical with those near
WaIling River. The three friends
ooked blanKIy at each other.
-It's the same bird. !" said Steele.
David removed his felt hat and
scratched his broad forehead ~No
year travel forty mile and back twenty
,nless something drive heem." he In
listed.
.eBut bears doa't mutilate bodies like
his, added Steele.
~Wal," muttered the OjIbway, does
ne max de mess ov dees poor Teller
II de same. Wat you goin' dor
AS the features were obIlterafed,
aIcheI was busy examining the KIT Of
be dead man IN an attempt to Iden-
Ify him as an Indian trading at the
ost.
de gun ees French company gun.
Ut de kettle and knife / nevair see
efore. I tink eet ees not Wafiing I
zEiere hunter
who could he be. then. travelling /
. this river 30 late IN the Year,
~Eef ees YER strange" muttered the !
sadman
''Eef dat hear ees de Wlndlgo.~ Da- =
d's vide face contracted In a net
ork Of wrinkles as be grinneS at
leele. wat we do denT"
~Windls0 on m wsndlgo. David. he's q
" meaf II be ssepa in front Of my r
anmlIchsr or yours Why, what's y
. nAmstas. MicAalf~ x