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

The die was cast Every minute at
the post spelled danger. But Steele
now had an excuse for refusing to
take Rose Lafiamme TO the railroad
'You understand. David7 Keep
your knife out OF him Your turn will
come on the snow. Now get the
canoe !"
David carried Lafiamme into the
shack, and went for the canoe.
Returning to the girl, trembling in
the dark, Steele said; "It was he.
David knocked him out, but he's not
hurt. We must get away at once"
With an Impulsive movement, Rose
Lanamme found Steele's neck with
her arms and kissed him wildly.
But" explained the harassed
American, we've got to travel fast
they'll follow us-we can't take you"
You mean youil not take me nOwY"
gasped the girl in her despair.
wen have TO run the portages.
break our backs to beat the Indians
he'll send after us. If you go. they'll
get usw protested Steele.
Take me, take me with you!" she
moaned "Am l not beautiful, beeg
American? Don't leave me herel"
Then Brent Steele gambled: 'What
was Pierre doing down river7"
Il weel tell you In the canoe" she
parted, and he crunched his teeth in
his chagrin. "Wheu we are In the
canoe / viii tell you things-things
you nevaire dream Of" she urged, Il
know ALL"
She would exchange her informa-
ton at price-her freedom: and that
price Steele would not pay. But 1t
was necessary to get her back to the
house.
"All right" he said. "go and get
some heavy clothes, and be at the log
landing In an hour. Don't make any
noise. We don't want them TO find
Lafamme until morning. NOW be
careful I"
With a low cry. she again circled
Steele's neck with her arms, kissed
him and disappeared. In an hour he
and David would be far down the
lake on their way to Nepigon house.
She had intended making a catspaw
of him to escape from 0goke and |
Steele wasted no sympathy on her He
wondered whether, on finding herself
tricked, she would arouse the post or
take TO her bed. feigning ignorance Of
the whole business.
And he also wondered whether II
Denise st. Onge ever learned OF this
nights work at ogoke, she would be-
lleve that every act and word OF his
had teen in her service.
Through the night, the churn-swIsh.
churn-swish of the paddles OF David
and Steele ceaseiessly marked OF the
miles. for with the sun might come
a head wind, which meant fighting for
every foot while their pursuers gained
on them with a four or six-man crew.
Time and again through the long
hours, the keen eyes OF David alone
had sensed through the murk In which
they travelled the menace OF rocky
point or the threat Of powders,
awash. square In their course.
'How far have we Gomez" asked
Steele, laying his paddle on the gun
vale 10 stretch his stiffened arms.
wal. dees point ees YER far up de
lax. Eeen two hour we hit de inlet"
"Good II that Is so. we're thirty
miles ahead Of them"
The OjIbway shook HIS head I'VE
TAX no chance-we travel lax h--lw
On shore the tea-pail was soon boil
ing, while David and Steele over
hauled their scant supplies. There
were barely beans, bacon and -four to
do a week. and NepIgon lake was two
weeks hard travel. 1t meant shoot
Ing their way out. unless the fish
would bite, for they had given their
net to Michel
Let's have a look at the old Mann
licher," said Steele as David watched ;
the bacon sputtering In the pan. 1--WE
may need her before we get out OF E
his mess. was a fool to stop there
might have" He had thrown the
up and back, when his
lace sobered. The startled eyes which
net the inquiring gaze Of the man at
he fire drew a quick: wat you see ?
-ghostg'
Making no reply. Steele sprang to d
he canoe. tore the lashings from q
Jag and fumbled with its contents =
hen emptied the bag on the beach. 0
Taking David's rifle from the canoe, &
le opened the breach
Both guns emptyI" he said in dis
nay. They've got our shells-two 8
'oxes in the bagi Not q shot left :
leaned QUIT" q
The white man looked long into the q
mmobIle face of the Indian. q
IL they catch us-we're donel If 3
hey don't, we can't even shoot our q
ray home It's fsh--or starve r. ~
The Ojibway sQuatted on his heels d
nd resumed his frying wal, boss n
e said stOicalIy. I'VE have beeg feed Ia
Is mornin'-den paddle LAX h--ir a.
For two hours the canoe was driven
8 only seasoned men can push maple n
adde's. Then. leaving the lake. they 81
sced forty miles OF the gwtft Rouge n
nf.srm thee fuvx.Nd or ~ Ia r...sf.wa | W