Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-02-25

die alone-to starveG"
David nodded.
Dat Teller had fear OF Lafiamme
but he 20 back TO de Pelican Wen he
get chance"
what did he hndT" asked Steele.
"Nodin'."
"WhatY"
MY brodder crawl to de rlvIere an
drown heeser-before he starve. ~
David said the man across the
fire, Il want to apologize for keeping
you on that snake. He was helpless
and thought If allowed you to go
back that night. and we were after
ward overhauled. Il would mean our
finish; but now wish you had throt-
tied him.
Il had hard fight not to keel heem-
but you're de boss" added the loyal
Ojlbway.
You'll have your opportunity this
winter-never fear"
"Mebbe; tut dey may walt for us
tomorrow at de Frying Pan"
You still think that some of them
may have been sent overland to cut
us offy
"wal." said the cool half-breed, "eef
hunt canoe travelling dis way from
Ogoke, dat !ees were I sen dem"
"But they won't have had time to
get there"
"Mebee not. Tomorrow we see"
And the red stole rolled himself IN his
blanket.
The stars stIll hung above the Jack
fish. although there was a hint OF
dawn in the graying east. when
canoe slid swiftly through the shad-
ows on the way to the Frying pan
rapids Once over the carry around
this roaring cauldron Of whitewater,
into the spray OF whose fumes and
cross currents no man. res or white,
had ridden canoe and come through,
and two friends could snap their
fingers at Lafiamme's pursuing pack
Of wolves. for thirty miles OF hard
running river. from which they would
not lift their flying canoe. then lay be-
fore them.
As they padded toward the carry
above the laundering Frying Pan,
Steele asked. the Indian whose eyes
ceaselessly searched the shore below
them .HaYe these rapids ever been
rum
moi Dey are YER bad cen some
place.D muttered David
"Could we run themr'
The Indian shook his head.
Then why did you insist on our
having our setting poles handy7"
David did not answer.
You're wasting your time watching
that portage laughed Steele.
stili the Ojibway ignored the man
In the stern. Then the SCORER sud
denly wondered why the bowman was
edging the nose Of the boat, as they
drifted, away from the carry. A
thrill shot through him. Had David
seen something suspiclOus7"
The boat was fast approaching easy
rife range. With his paddle buried,
the Indian, Stimulating lelsurely ac-
tion, and followed by Steele, was rap
dly adding TO the distance between
the canoe and the shore. But TO the
stralnlng eyes Of the American the
scrub told nothing.
what Is IT'D can't make anything
,ut." demanded Steele.
Back from the tow came: "keep
On paddle; dey are dereI'
The words froze Steele where he
Ineeled.
1. On drifted the craft, ever edginQ
'arther and further from the ambush.
StIn as stone kneIt the man in the
low. outthrust arms rigid, eyes an
.hored to the beach, wrists alone in
notion. launched in the stern, fingers
Iercely gripping his paddle, Steele,
narveling at the Ojibway's nerve,
galted for his order. A hundred
ards more and the suck OF the first
hute would draw them into the Fry {
ne Pan. The boat was now passing !
he portage. yet the rifles on the
bore were silent. Then Steele I'm. I
Ierstood. The plan was to drown Z
hem.
GRO BE CONTINUED.