The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-08-19
By George Marsh
Copyright by The Penn Publishing Co.
wNU Service.

the corners of half-closed eyes the
cropping right hanG of the Frenchman.
The master Of the Ghost swallowed
hard-choked. His eyes wavered-
then fell before the flaming mask, gro
tesque, terrible in its fury, of the man
who bent toward him. The moving
hand of Breault stopped-limp.
Slowly Mcdonald regained his seat,
the sweat standing in beads on his
wide, bronzed forehead Refilling his
pipe. he lighted it and. ignoring the
rebuked Breault, turned to Skene.
Where were we? Oh, yesl Now,
when does Joe start for the other END
Of the island? I'm curious TO learn
what that old Souci is up to-"
Now that he's got a dog-team, he
| intends TO start"
The voices of men on deck, evident
" hailing some one on the fee, cut
off Skene.
Mcdonald called, whats the fuss
about on deck?"
"Dog-team on the ice" came the
reply.
The three men got into Eskimo
| parkas and went on deck. Halfway
| from the shore a dog-team was max
| ing its way over the lumpy ice of the
! cove.
"Who is It? Recognize him?" asked
| Skene Of the east coast Cree interpre-
| ter, who was wintering on the Ghost.
| It's not Joe?"
The Indian shook his head.
Presently the hooded driver of the
| approaching huskies called: "Kequay I"
and shortly reached the rail of the
schooner, watched by the curious knot
! of men on deck.
Making his dogs fast, the stranger
| clambered aboard, and with a grave
''Kequay," shook the hand of each Of
| the grOup-then spoke in Cree to the
| interpreter.
"Who is he?" asked Mcdonald.
Hes got cut to his jib that's differ
| ent from most of these Crees. Shrewd
looking old party"
He says he's Souci, Treaty Chief
| Of the Elkwan Crees," replied the in
terpreter. HE cum to max talk with
Mcdonald Ha! Ha!"
whats this?" said the latter in an
undertone. why, it's the bird Guthrie
put ashore with Joe to work against
| u.s."
Here's our chance to put one over
on Mr.. Hudson's Bay" chuckled
| Skene. "He must have a proposition
to make, or he would have kept away
from US. He's got nerve, I'll say. Joe
told me he'd shoot him if he met him
on the island"
Shortly the old Indian, the fur hood
of his caribou capote pushed back
from shock of raven hair, sat in the
warm cabin with Mcdonald and Skene.
His story, told through the interpre-
| ter, for he said he spoke no English,
was brief Yes, as they had been told,
| he was Treaty Chief of the Elkwan
Crees, and had been sent by Guthrie
to attempt to hold the trade until the
! strait closed. But the Hudson's Bay
company had a cold heart. 1t always
had given the hunters little for their
fur, and now when others came to
trade, and threatened to take the fur
from the old company, its heart was
| still cold, and it offered less than the
| new traders. He, Souci, a chief, had
been promised reward if he saved part
of the trade and brought it to Elk
wan; but what reward? 1t was the
! pay of a squaw. His two sons al
ready had three black fox pelts and
| eight silyers-worth double what the
factor at Elkwan had promised for his
winters work. Now, he had great in
| fiuence with the Cree hunters-was
shaman, and many of them would
wait until the strait closed and go TO
Elkwan. What would Mcdonald Ha
Ha! offer for the services of SOuci,
Chief of the Elkwan Crees, TO bring
the northern hunters to the schooner
at Christmas?"
We'll! I'll say he's a cool one"
laughed Mcdonald. HE comes right
inside our wire TO our trenches ana
wants to bargain. The Hudson's Bay
probably haven't offered him much.
But he's trying to sell us what Well
get anyway"
whats his price" demanded Skene.
The interpreter talked rapidly with
Souci, then replied with grin: "He
say he wan tree rife, tree goose-gun,
and trade-good' for ten prime black
fox. Hees own fur he trade, ALSO"
Ten black fox-two thousand dol
lars in trade-goods? Nonsensel" Nc
Donald scowled fiercely into the bony
face of the olG shaman with its leath-
er-like skin, mapped with lines. The
| beady eyes of Souci, unwavering,
| gave look for look. For a space the
cold blue eyes probed the black in
scrutability of the Cree's stare Slow
| ly the caliber Of Saul Souci rose In
| appraisal of the white man. Here was
an Indian of parts-nerve, brains,
power. As medicine man, of use, if
his service were needed. But his price
was ridiculous-his help not neces-
sary. They had Joe Mokoman. 1t
was enough.
Suppose, by chance, the strait
should close this year?r threw out
| Skene
1T never has, so early" Mcdonald
thought a space, then turned to the
| interpreter. ''0ffer him the guns and
the value of five black fox"
The face of old Souci darkened as
the interpreter communicated the
offer. He shook his head in anger.
We'll, that's our limit" said Nc
| Donald, rising. Tell him we don't
need him but we'll nav him a good