The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-09-30
CHAPTER X
IS

Nlueu the music from an ancient ana
SCARED violin, had passed off without
compelling the interference OF the
factor as peacemaker. The Gus
tomary present of sugar and flour, tea
and pork, had been given TO each fam
lily of hunters and the Crees had
Toasted and gOssiped to their hearts
content, obliviOuS of bitter moons to
come on far trap-lineS when, if game
were hard to find, their children would
whimper with hunger. The last of
the dog-teams had jingled up the
river trail or down the delta bound
for Akimiski. Thanks to SOuci, it had
been an unheard-Of trade which had
come to the little post. Not only had
he brought across the ice the Elkwan
Crees but some from Kapiskau and
Attawapiskat, as well.
For a week Garth and Etienne were
busy sorting and pressing the fur,
which was to go by sled Immediately
90 Albany.
'Twenty-eight thousand dollars"
said the factor as he finished checking
his list. ''Our little trips inland after
Souci and over TO the island were
rather worth while, my friend"
Etienne grinned. mo leetle post
lax dis evair max dat trade on dis
bay. Dey geeve you bigger place soon.
You TAX Etienne Savanna wild you?"
''Take you with me, you old villain
How could l get along without you?
You're responsible for this catch of
fur, and you know it."
Savanna gravely shook his head.
''Eet was you who TAX de chance on
de riviere to fin SOuci. Wen we go
TO Alliance 1 tell dem peopl' dat de
new man at Elkwan ees hell on catch
de fur
Guthrie stopped to laugh at the Sc
rious half-breed. Of the loyalty of
his head man, who had taught him
practically all he knew about pelts, he
had had ample proof.
Down the coast over the sea-ice
travelled the sled loaded with the
Christmas trade. At Kapiskau, where
the early January dusk overlook them,
they turned up the delta to the post
to pass the night with the surprised
Boucher, whose Indians at Akimiski
had left him to trade with Mcdonald
Starting the following morning un-
der the stars, before the light died,
the sled from Elkwan sighted the
buildings of Fort Albany.
AS Garth and Etienne entered the
trade room, Cameron, curious of the
result of their mission, called: 'Well,
well, what's the news from the island
Did you get across the ice?'
Yes, we got across a week before
Christmas, but had tough time,"
Guthrie dissembled gravely, nudging
Etienne.
Didn't see how you could do any
good going over there. Your man
failed to hold any of the Elkwan peo-
pie, then?' surmised the disappointed
Cameron. Same way with Attawap-
iskat and Kapiskau-they lost most
of their peOple-went to the schooner.
1t sure grinds me to think of that Nc
Donald coming in here and taking all
that fur"
well, he outbids us for it, and it's
only human In the Indians to let him
have it. How much is the whole
island trade worth in an average year,
anyway" suddenly asked Garth.
Let's see," said Cameron, scratch
ing his griZZled head. "Um, 1 should
Z
fox skins, all kinds"
'Well, Mr. Cameron" drawled the
factor of Elkwan, I've got half of 1t
out on the sled, then"
What" Cameron stared stupidly
into the twinkling eyes of the man
before him. Thought you said you
didn't-half of it? What d'yuh mean.
half of it? Half of what?" sputtered
the puzzled trader
why, kaif OF the Akimiski trade
We got hundred skins"
You got hundred? Why, man,
you said you didn't hold 'em-your
people. Are you crazy, Guthrie?"
cried the excited Cameron.
Unable to contain his mirth, Etienne
exploded at the far end of the trade
counter, as Garth replied: "You took
1T for granted that we failed l didn't
say we fell down." chaffed Guthrie.
For heavens sake, man, stop your
fooling and tell me the truth. Do you
mean to say that you've got a hun
dred fox from Akimiski on that sled
cut there?" demanded Cameron.
II do
"Well-I'll be-skinned alive!" And
the dazed trader stood, fists on hips
gaping at the grinning Garth and
Etienne.
How in Jehoshaphat did you do
It? You got 'em, after all, with Souci?"
"Souci and Etienne, here, scared
them to DEATH
Then, when the fur packs had been
brought in and the dogs fed, Guthrie
told the story.
DO you realize, major, that this Is
the largest Christmas trade ever made
by subsidiary post of Albany? Your
scheme and your nerve in seeing 1t
through make the rest up the coast
look like pretty dead people. My
heartiest congratulations! 70 The fac
tor of Albany grasped Guthrie's hand.
THE men who turned this trick are
Etienne and old Souci," protested
Garth. Il don't want you to forget
them. l did little.'
Cameron slapped the proud half
breed on the back. mo fear Of my
forgetting Etienne Savanna. He's
worked with me too many years. Now