Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-02-05


ter of instruction from the Montreal
headquarters of the RevillOn Freres,
addressed to Lascelles at Fort AL
bany, supplementing orders to be sent
with the Christmas mail packet by
the Abbltibi route. But, as he was
informed, business was business"
and the payment to the company of
the value Of the fur lost by St. Onge
would not justify the management,
against the advice of their inspector
at Albany, in keeping the post open,
as it had never done well.
At Ottawa, Steele had been assured
that a police canoe would be des-
patched to Ogoke in the early spring,
but that all available men would be
on duty elsewhere during the winter
on more pressing matters.
SO, as his train carried him west
through the white wilderness to Nepi-
gon station, where David was to meet
him with the best dog-team obtainable,
the problem he faced continued un-
changed by his trip east. 1t still re-
NAMED for Michel, David and himself
unaided, to run down the beast or
beasts which had spread terror
through the valley Of the Wailing, and
to hold the Indians on their trapines
There was yet the mysterious tragedy
at the Devils Mile to be solved before
the taboo would be lifted from the
lower river.
At Nepigon station a five-dog sled,
driven by a half-breed, waited in the
s,1ow for the passenger with the
bloodhound, and only the swift use Of
Davids long, caribou-hide whip saved
the dazed beast from speedy annihila-
tion by the team of half-wild huskies.
Hello, David!" cried Steele, keep
ing his dog at distance from the
white fangs which threatened him.
"Are the trails open?"
'De Jackfish bin close onlee few
day. You cum back queek, boss" an
swered the Ojibway, wide grin fur
rowing his face.
We've got plenty of planning to do
at Nepigon house before we start.
Guess how many shells I've got for
your Mannlicher."
"Wal, I need one for fr'en' ov yours
an 'noder for bear dat seeng lax de
cat-two ees all, t'ink."
Steele laughed. "Oh, I've got few
more than that for you. You may need
moose, or meet someone at the Frying
Pan some time, so I've brought you
three hundred. How's the family? -?
Does your wife object to your going"
"She say she tink l got girl down
at Wailing Riviere."
Three days of shedding over a good
trail for the snow was not deep
brought the team to Nepigon House
at the head Of the great Nepigon lake
which was partly iced over. There,
while the bloodhound, wearing a
blanket, became somewhat more ac-
climated to the cold, and the huskies
were forcibly taught to respect him
as a permanent member Of the party,
David and Steele made their plans for
CdupdISu Ou IAlC S1AO"'
Each white mile they put behind
them, each camp they made at night,
meant to the impatient Steele, one
mile, one day. nearer the girl who
needed them. But, as he broke trail
ahead Of the team, when they cut back
from the shore to circle rapids or
Quickwater, or rode in the easy go
ing of the river ice, the task he had
appeared more and more difficult of
accomplishment. Suppose the Win
digo were not again to appear in the
valley or, they might not again cross
it's trail? What then? The harm had
been done, and the Indians would con-
tinue to desert the Wailing as the
rumOrS spread.
In that case, it was a lost cause
hopeless. Only In the event Of the
early temperance of the beast at
the post when they could speedily
take up the trail and stay on, it until
they came up with the owner of the
voice, could a swift solution of the
mystery be possible. The future
looked gray to Steele.
However there was one ray OF
light In the gloom of his fear of fail
ure. Michel had definite suspicious,
Of some nature or other, which he had
promised to share on Steele's return
to Wailing River. And as Steele and
David nightly sat under their shed
tent before a fire In the heart Of
spruce thicket, and talked over after
supper pipes, the optimism Of David
was so marked that the American
knew that the clue which had, for
some reason, been kept from him
deeply impressed the Indian.
At last, through the early dusk which
shut down on the valley one NOvem-
Der afternoon, cleaned the yellow
lights Of Wailing River.
The pulse of Steele speeded as he
made out the blurred shape of the
house which Denise st. Onge called
home. The morning he went away
she had come to him with mist in her