The Ely miner., 1927-08-26


brother smiled In his fur hood, ringe6
with rime from his frozen breath.
From the man who had led his platoon
at the Somme and his battalion In
front of Amiens, the dignity and
swiftly made fortune of Charles COM
manded no dererence and littls re-
spect. On his return-his return, He
had committed himself to making
good at Elkwan for his employers
for his own self-respect. What he haG
started he would see through. There
might be no return-unless certain
letter in the Christmas mail should.
Then his thought, until the dogs swung
off the sea-ice and into the broken
going at the mouth of the Ptarmigan,
were of three swift days at Elkwan
and two on the coast-of eyes, alb
stracted perplexed, at times wistful,
and dark head silvered with moon
light, on the high shore above the
Albany.
As the dog-team left the coast and
followed the rough river trail into the
wisdom in bringing toboggan instead
of sea sled equipped with runners
was vindicated. For once under the
lee of hills, they found snow deep on
the shell of the river and in places,
where wind eddies had dipped into the
valley, new drift, through which they
broke trail ON snowshoes for the sled,
while the dogs, who haG galloped over
the brushed sea-ice, wallowed to their
traces. From the river fringe Of will
lows and alders the black spruce
scrub reached back up the slopes to
fade and disappear under the shoul-
ders of the barrens. There low juni-
pers and hardy Labrador tea alone
survived the hammering of the winds
on the undulating miles of blueberry
heath and caribou moss, swept, over
exposed areas. of all snow.
Suddenly, as they rounded bend
which had shut off all view upstream,
Etienne, who was ahead breaking
trail, shouted and stopped, pointing
In the direction Of some thick scrub in
the distance.
Scamp up dere!"
Rising in the still air of the valley,
wisp of blush smoke hung against
the background of black spruce.
Good! Now we'll get some news Of
Souci"
Spurred by the quickened pace Of
the trail breaker and the call of Garth,
hniy
into the collars. Then, farther on,
stretch of wind-packed snow gave
them footing and the yelping team,
led by Shot, raced to the tips Of the
| hunters camp.
"Kequay" called Etienne, approach
for protection from the wind and cir
cIed by the usual debris and parapher-
MALTA of a winter camp. Turning to
Garth he said "De men are on de
trap-line wild de dogs"
Again he called, and, after a space,
the door flap of tent.
Where's your man?" asked Sa-
vanne in Cree.
"On the lines. Who are your
1--WE are from Elkwan." And, as the
woman emerged from the tipi followed
by another and two children, Etienne
saw that he was talking with Indians
from the lower rivers-strangers
Have you seen Saul Souci, the Elk
wan Treaty Chief? Where is the camp
of his SOnS-what river2"
The swart faces Of the Cree women
def1ed the sharp scrutiny of the half
breed. Surprise, doubt, appeared to
curb desire to laugh at the question
of the stranger. They met each
others black eyes in quizzical look;
then the elder of the two said: "Souci,
the shaman, we have not seen. His
sons are said to camp north of here on
the Rabbit river"
The acute brain of Etienne strove to
solve the riddle of the squaw's secret
/ amusement. At last he decided that
Joe Mokoman had won over their men
to the free-trader, but why Souci had
not appeared on the Ptarmigan was a
mystery.
do you know the strait has closed?
You can cross to Elkwan for the New
Years feast" he hazarded.
The women smiled. "We go to the
trader at Seal cove with our fox pelts,"
said the old squaw. There we get
honest prices for fur-from the trader
who always laughs"
1t was evident that here Joe Moko-
man had done his work well. Then
Etienne cautiously began his counter
mining. His dark face set in look of
surprise and horror. Did you not
hearT he cried.
"Nov
"Why this trader brought that face
from the land Of demons across the
Big Water? He angered them. He Is
sorcerer and bewitches those who
bring him their pelts." Etienne hastily
interpreted the conversation to Guth-
rie as he watched the effect of his
bombshell on the startled faces Of the
squaws.
HE makes bad medicine" gasped
the women.
Savanne gravely nodded his hooded
head, then added: 'He has bewitched
Joe Mokoman to betray the Cree hunt
ers and bring them to his boat. Those
who go will never love their wives and
families again." he remarked with
finality.
At the last the faces Of the squaws
visibly grayed. They chattered to-
gether excitedly. Etienne's explanation
of tha cause of the mutilatfon of Nc