Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-04-08
CHAPTER xIv-cOatinusd

That's what happenedr" groane'
Steele ale waited for Pete to com
up, and dropped on his back. Gam
old Pete He gave good account o
himself before he went"
I'VE not tell de Intun dis" advises
David.
mo, but they're stampeded BY thli
time. We can't hope to hold an.
Portage lake hunters after last night
I guess we're licked"
SO. burying his staunch friend IN
the snow, Steele turned back, blttei
with defeat. for bis hope OF aiding the
st. Onges had Iessened as the Novem
Der days wore on.
On their return Steele and the In
dams found the camp Of the OJibways
already deserted. On a blazed birch
WINS the message:
I'VE are going mp the valley. You
have not driven away the windigo
and we have fear TO remain"
They crossed the river to their
camp, where David. from whom no
calamity. however dire. could Danish
appetite. was speedily cooking break
fast There. also. they found Little
Jacques. shamed Of face. for with the
return OF the others. his courage had
revived.
Eating the warm meal which David
had cooked. the tired and sleepy men
turned into their blankets. In the
afternoon David and Steele walked. TO
learn from Little Jacques that Michel
had taken his rifle and ak and left
the camp. AS they sat by a huge fire,
for the uees were swapping with the
strengthening frost. like a shadow.
the Iroouois slipped back across the
river.
ANY sign Of our friend7~ asked
Steele.
~No track on de ridge Were we set
de beeg trap. Wind shift, eet grow
cold.e
The men ate In silence, and filled
their pipes. For a time they sat and
smoked. too detected for conversation.
David had freshened the fire with
birch log and stood holding a blaz-
Ing stick TO his pipe, when he tilted
his head. Steele watched the express
sion OF the furrowed features in the
frelight slowly shift from mild curios-
lily to sudden interest
You're not going to start us out
again tonight, DavidT said Steele
Il hear something den" was the low
reply Steele rose and held his breath,
ears strainIng.
Then from the ridge Of the fox sets,
hardly a half-miIe distant, rose a
scream.
by gar Hes at de trapis And |
David leaped for his shoes and rife,
and started for the ridge, followed by
steeIe and Michel
AS they crossed the river, the
scream again lifted on the freezing
air. The men had stopped to listen
30 locate the position Of the beast, for
The ridge was long one. when, as
the cry rose to its climax. It was cut
short ofE-to leave the night again
quiet.
We go easee-nO scare heem." eau
doned Michel
They were nearing the flrst fox-set.
md stfll the voice In the night held
Is silence. Could the beast be wait
ng to rush them from cover, like
wounded grizzly. wondered Steele
Separated for safety. with cooked
lilies. they advanced to the bear trap
masked In the snow beside the bait.
what you see, Miehelr'
~He BIN here. but miss de trapiv
1utfered the Indian. doubled over the
now. Steele and David moved up to
e0k az the tracks. The trail led down
be ridge toward the second trap.
he hopes Of the three friends rose
sut why was the Thing so siIenf7 Z
Vas he waiting TO leap on them as be '
sd sprung on the hound7
With rides loose Ia the crook OF {
he left arm, for thu fingers Of the I
Ight hand would freeze II exposed, v
nd spread like skIrmlshers, they &
talked the position OF the hidden n
ear trap. a
Through the blue shadows, steele q
rove TO locate the position Of the u
,x-set beyond them. Then the warn
n arm OF the TroQuoss held him tense q
his tracks. He slipped bis right e
and from the mIften to the grip Of =
Ie Mannlicher. What had Michel
'en7 Il
As II carved from stone the indian
peeled. rife leveled, while steele "