Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-02-04
CHAPTER vIII-continued

demanded Steele hotly .Here ! am
with David. giving up my time to heiE
= you run this thing down and, II pos
sible, save the post for St Onge; and
you don't trust me. Why don't you
open your heart to meT1
Michel Strengthened and going to
the small fire David had built on the
beach, calmly examined his tattered
shirt and trousers. as he dried out
"You are good man. M'sieu Steele.
Daveed tell me. but have de eve TO
see. Wen you come back on de snow.
tell you sonnet ing"
That was all. and Steele understood.
II was evident that Michel had bound
himself to secrecy. But why had he
told Davidf
"In the morning we must hunt for a
trail" Steele said. philosophicalIy
bowling to the inevitable. Now we'ii
have to do what we can to quiet those
poor squaws.v
AS the canoe landed on the beach
below the silent tipis, one by one.
dark shapes Of Indian dogs skunk
from the adjacent scrub. tails between
iegs. to whimper at the feet OF the
men.
Scared stiff. (" said Steele 'And from
the sound the squaws are worse. 30
and talk to them. Michel Tell them
II was a mad wolverine or lynx and
we've hunted It out Of the countr.-.
I'll ger tre going while David brings
some tea from the island. II will
cheer them up-the tea. y
But both his patience. and his
knowledge Of the woods Indians be-
glef In the supernatural, were taxed to
the ntternost before Michel succeed
ed In convincing the women that the
Windigo they had heard on the ridge
was not now Turing them TO their
doom with the assumed voice OF the
headman Of WaIIing River.
In the END, they crept from the tipi
80 the friendly light OF the fire, horror
in their shis'sDg eyes. gray-faced chill
dren clutchipg ifseIr skirts. There.
comforted by the Ira. P1G hearfencc
by the presence CT the three men. who
kept a huge fire going. the circle OF
stricken women passed the night.
In the opinion OF Steele. who Kept
vigil with his pipe, beside the snoring
David and Michel, rolled In their
blankets, the coming OF the beast IN
Big Feather before the freeze-up, was
the graxest menace which the fer
tunes Of Wallng River post. and the
girl who had given him until spring
90 accomplish the impossible. had vet
encountered. For. as forest fire
rms In dry timber so rumnrs. of the
bowling Of the WindIgo at Big Feath-
er would travel from hunter TO hunter |
through the upper valley Of the Wall |
ing The tale would spread. gather
ering horror as II went as a snowslIde
gathers momentum. until In time the
whole region learned that a WIndigo
was loose In the valley OF the Waiting
IA fiend fierce beyond belief and hun
cry for the flesh OF the Ojlbway. Then
would follow, unless the beast were
killed and the terror ended. swift
exodus from the valley of the families
still trading at the post. the resurrec-
ton and revival Of the CHASTITY tradi-
tons surrounding the rapids and the
river below-the end Of the st. Onges
and the post at Wailing River.
Steeie's teeth bit savageIy into the
stem Of his pipe. This might happen
before the freeze-up. and until the
snow made II possible to follow trail
there was small chance OF solving the
mystery OF the night waillng.
Now, Steele mused when the men
from their hunt to hear OF
the voice In the night from the circle
" haif-defnented women covering
there around the fire. the tale would
straightway travel to the four winds.
and hardy indeed would be the hunter
Who would drive his dog team this
Christmas down the white valley OF
he WafIing to trade at the Inflated
post with no Christmas. and little
prospect OF spring trade. unless the
mystery were solved by the running
lown OF this beast with the miraru-
GUS vocal cords, WaiIing River Was Q
doomed Even II Denise married Las '
'alies In the spring, the post could not ?
'e continued under q taboo.
True, st. Onge had sworn that she
Mould never make the sacrifice. but
he factor was at his ropes end, and ?
ha would override him She would Q
IoE see him dIsgraced. Her pride 9
rOuld drive her to It-that fierce pride D
{ race She was a thoroughbred and
Tould so 70 her spiritual death with q
high head. in the spring. .
In the morning Michel would 70 In G
sarch Of the caribou hunters, for after o
h&t nIghf the women w8uId not re- s
zain alone &C Big Feather. David "
'ouid cross TO Portage lake to learn e
the WIndigo had been heard on the D
little Current. He himself, would q
svar the counsry back OF the ridge for
trail which ne had little hops OF a
Icking up. and endeavor to hold the In
0men ak their canp until their men
sknrned On the refurn Of David Ehey -
suld ~ oacs start for Nepfsnm. Eemv-
q Michel TO meet the canoe St Ouge
ma to aemd. 81