Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-03-05

of the victory.
Before dawn, Michael and David
had left for the scattered camps at
the head Of the lake to dispatch dog
runners east south and west with the
word that the dreaded Windigo lay
frozen in a bear trap at Portage lake
for the eyes Of all who would jour
ney there to see.
But what, after all, did this victory
this thWarting of Latlamme'S scheme
to terrorize and depopulate the val
ley--mean to him, Steele asked him
self as he sat beside his fire OF birch
logs that late November morning
There was no doubt that the Indians,
once they looked at the body Of
Pierre and learned that the Ogoke
trader was at the bottom of ii all
had loosed in their country a madman
with orders, not only to drive them
from their hereditary hunting grounds,
but to kill-would be keen for ven
geance There would be no lack OF
volunteers among the trappers for
campaign against the free-trader. But
there would be no help from the gov
ernment until spring, and the situa-
ton at Wailing River demanded I'M
mediate action. No, there was nOth-
ing to do but pull Latlamme's teeth at
once, and notify the government later.
But then the defeat Of Laflamme did
not mean the salvation of the post
far from it. Lascelles could close
the post, even in the face OF proht-
able future, for the loss of the fur
canoe had put the place badly in debt
to the company. SO, with Latiamme
eliminated Denise st. Onge seemed no
nearer. Whether he kept the post in
operation or not, the inspector would
never release her from her promise.
The only solution was her fathers
breaking with Revillon Freres-but
would he do it? Would she allow him
to, knowing the hopeless alternative
he would face?
Then the wind-burned features of
the man who sat thinking by the fire
contracted with pain as he realized
the presumption, the futility, so far
as he was concerned, Of his soiicitude
for the future of those at Wailing
River Already she had thrust him
from her. She had condemned him
without hearing. In the end, if they
won out for st. Onge, and, owing to
what had been told the RevillOn people
at Montreal, Lascelles dared not close
the post, he, Steele would have her
gratitude-her gratitude! when once
she had come to him with her heart
in her eyes-had vibrated like the
string of a violin to his touch, had
turned instinctlvely to him in her
despair
In two days Michel and David re-
turned with hunters from the head
of the lake keen for look at the
body of the masquerader who had
left a trail of terror throughout the
valley of the Wailing. And when they
saw the thing which had been sent by
Laflamme to drive them from their
trap-lines to new and strange hunting
country in the upper valley where
their trade would go to OgOke, there
was clamor for vengeance. Later
when dog teams, from the Little Cur
rent to the Medicine hills, had an
swered the call of runners from Port
age lake, Michael marshaled the Ojib-
ways at the trap on the ridge and ad
dressed them dramatically In their ma
tive tongue.
"We have sent for you to look with
your own eyes upon this rObber of the
trap-lines and defiler Of the night
this dog whom Lafiamme, the trader
at Ogoke, sent to fill the hearts Of
your women and children with fear.
"At his great post on Lake Ogoke
he would welcome you at the spring
trade, but Black Baptiste, and An
tome and the others, would soon be
among your tipis offering the water
that burns and fills your heads with
fire. to your women and your young
men. You would trade the pelts
which you toiled for through the
moons of the long SHOWS for this
stinging water which steals your
senses. And when he had your fur,
he would give you little flour and
tea, and some shells for your guns and
send you away. But" and the voice
of Michel rose in hOarse crescendo,
your women and children would weep
through the freezing moons for the
trade goods and the flour which La
famine cheated you out Of with his
magic water. This is why he sent
Pierre, here, to drive you out of the
country of your fathers"
"Ataia! tive! 1t is so! He speaks
the truth" shouted the infiamed
circle of swart-faced hunters.
you ask why this white man."
continued Michel "comes to this coun-
try in the freezing moon and brings
the dog with the great voice to hunt
this Windigo," and the Iroquois kicked
tha frozen Shana ot his foot "XUhaD no