The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-11-04
CHAPTER XIV

In early afternoon Etienne swung
back the trade-houSe door with a
crash. .-a-
'Dog-team on de riviere!"
"All right" replied Guthrie. "Tell
Miss Quarter on your way. Now you
get into those bandages and into bed,
and don't have the children around if
they come to talk to you"
II am ver' seek man." laughed the
half-breed and went out.
So the police had come? He hadn't
expected them for days, but they must
have reached Albany from Moose the
day he left.
They would pass at least one night
at Elkwan to talk it over There was
no alternative to having them eat at
his quarters. There lay the danger.
He would rush them through supper
would sleep, as, Of course, Joan Quar-
rier had his spare bed. Etienne's ac-
cident they would have heard of from
CAMERON, and Etienne and Marie were
more than equal to entertaining them
with the picture of man suffering
from a painful wound. The rub would
come at meal time. Would the opiate
keep Mcdonald Quiet-and his breath
ing-would they hear 1t?
."Anne, you can't speak English
don't answer any questions. Under
standi" The broad face of the cook
stretched In smile as she winked.
Mama" she answered in Cree.
Good And when you hear US
come III for supper, make as much
noise as you can in the kitchen. Sing
all you wish, rattle the pans. When
you wait on us, talk to me in Cree
all the time. See? They may hear
him breathe"
"Enh-enh !" replied the Cree.
How is he now?" Guthrie asked
Her eyes reflected her anxiety.
Worse much worse. Raging fever
105; pulse running away. He's been
straining terribly at his bonds. Lucky
you and Etienne made them strong"
you gave him the opiate, Of
course?' ...
Eyes, he's feeling it now. BY sup
per time he'll be quiet-but his
breathing?"
That's what worries me-" Guthrie
went to the sick room where the giant,
bound to his bed by thick bandages Of
cloth, lay moaning In half stupor.
"Old Craig. To finish like this!" Sor-
rowfully, the man who was imperiling
his future that his friend might have
his chance went out to meet the ap-
preaching dog-team.
With Shot beside him, curious Of
the strange dogs, Garth watched the
visitors climb the cliff trail behind
their team of scrubs '.r#
"Good day!'' called the older of the
two men, stepping forward with ex-
tended hand This is Mr. Rawdon."
'Tve been expecting you," said
Guthrie. You can turn your dogs
into that empty shack after you've
fed them. They'll be safe there. My
only assistant, as you know, is laid
up"
You come straight from Seal
cover" he asked carelessly. "They
were expecting you when l left Moose
with Miss Quarter"
At the mention Of Joan's name, the
heavy face of Rawdon lighted with
interest.
EYES," replied Farrell, lighting his
pipe. 1--WE went over to the island
with Cameron's people who are guard
ing the fur. But, of course, we wanted
to talk to you and your man before we
got down to work"
Got down to work? What do you
mean?" Guthrie's cold eyes studied
the face of the inspector. A decent
face, he thought, honest, human.
"Why we found only three bodies.
Cameron says you found four, includ-
ing McDonald's. McDonald's wasn't
there"
"McDonald's body not there? I'm
possible!"
mo, we made no mistake. The In
dams must have spirited 1t away.
They tell me there's a fortune in fur
on that schooner, too, but there's no
sign Of its being plundered"
The watchful Guthrie had his Open
ing and lost no time in developing it.
why, We left Mcdonald dead in his
berth, from flu, suppose. Breault
was In the cabin, and the other two
in berths. The interpreter and a sailor
they claim were on the boat must
have made for the nearest camp. Did
you search the ice? The Indians
might have buried him. He had some
Indians picking up fur for him on the
island. They may have found him and
given him a decent grave in the ice"
That's true, but why should they
leave the rest on the boat?"
"He was the big mantle chief. He
had a great hold on them. That might
explain it." Guthrie suggested well.
1 wonder what they've got for you