Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-01-07
CHAPTER v

| poAdtoA3 ~ AoNcAdlAb NuC AlfCt rA =
round Of the fail camps Of Indians
trading at the post. when the fash Of
a paddle Tar upstream aroused their
interest
Dat ees queer ting commented
Michel. scowllng darkly. ''Eef Msieu
I.afiamme come to max trouble, he
weel I'm plenty here
At the mention OF Lailamme. Davies
small eyes narrowed; the muscles Of
his thick forearms worked nervously
as though he already felt his fingers
at the throat OF the free-tradeE.
Steele,s curiosity was keenly aroused.
for 1t was too late In the year for the
canoe OF trading hunter to visit the
post; this boat was undoubtedly from
0goke. What new scheme had La
famine In mindg II would be four
weeks before the winter would break
the limit he had given st. onge for
his answer
It was not long before the hard
driven craft was close enough to dis
close but a single occupant And
shortly. as it neared the shore, Michel
called:
"Bo'-Jol bo'-1ol Pierrel wat you
do here so far from de Feather Iake7"
The Indian grounded hts boat on
the beach and shaking the hand Of the
head-man, replied In ojibway as Da.
vid and Steele Joined them:
"Bo,jo, Michel The hunters at the
Feather lakes are leaving for the
Medicine Hills country. For three
nights the Wlndigo howled on the
burnt ridge by Big Feather lake. The
people are weak with fear; they viii
not trap there this winter"
ssDId you hear the voice Of the VIM
digo. Pierre7 asked Michel gravely.
mo, was netting whItehsh at the
Lake Of the Deep Water. When re
turned TO the camp they were leaving.
There will be no trap lines In that val
ley this long SHOWS"
ibid the people see the tracks Of
the wIndigo7"
No. their blood was cold in their
veins. They did not stay to look for
trail. Why should theyl They were
afraid"
but why did you leave your family
for the Windlgo to eat and come here;
last spring you traded your fur at
Ogoke7" rasped Michel so savagely
that the OJlbway backed away, for the
raw-boned IroquOls was feared the
length OF the wailing.
II need shells for my gun. and
0gOke is far weakly replied the other.
his eyes shifting unaasiiy.
The swart features OF Michel twisted
with anger. 'sYou lie. you have plenty
shell :" he replied. fiercely. returning
TO English for Steeie,s benefit.[-..ifor
travel here to max trouble wild your
beeg talk OF de WindIgo.' And the
long arm OF the exasperated headman
shot out crushing blow In the face
Of the OjIbway.
AS the Indian staggered back with
a cry from the attack Of the infuri-
ated Iroquois, Steele stepped between
them. and pushing Michel aside, or
dered sternly:
That's enough I"
The cowed Indian. nursing his bleed
Ing lips. and protesting his innocence
left the men on the beach and Joined
the post people who we're excitcdly
discussing the coming Of the stranger
and his reception at the hands Of
Michel.
Evidently you don't like that
Pierre" laughed Steele. "What made
you so mad?"
II t'lnk he cum here to talk to Tete-
3Oule." was the significant reply. "Dey
yeel max de medicine tonight to
'care de Windlgo"
What, Is he q shaman-a conjuror,
ooT"
HE claim he ees beeg medicine man.
me Of de MIdewiwin, 30 tink he put
lie devils cen me now" Then Michel
elated what had passed between him
nd Pierre.
"But you can't blame him for fear
ng the WIndIgo. or for coming here
+ If is nearer his hunting grounds
han Ogoke."
The inscrutabIe Iroquois faced Steele
nth swapping eyes.
Many long SHOWS fall, m'sieu,
eenee de sJibway stafye out on de
Vailing riviere. Maybe ten-maybe
iore. Many die all tru dees countree
at long SHOWS. for eet was de year Of
e rabbit plague and dere were no
loose. Dees Pierre cum to Fort Ma
iatawan dat spreeng an say bees
oman die, but go to hees camp dat
ummer an fin her bones cen de
ush cen two, three pIace-all rOun,
70 keel bees woman-and left her in
e snow for de wolverines an fox
he nevalre starve. He ees no good
Ie cum here to max de trouble an
are our people"