The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-10-14
Mem MarOOgaed

thruStlng his arm with the lShL INTO
the room. The heavy breathing of the
bulk in the berth pulsed through the
small room.
Mcdonald
Etienne crowded beside his chief,
curious to see the man whose fame
had swept James bay. The face was
turned from the door and Guthrie
entered the room to stumble over a
bottle which rolled away, spilling its
contents. Then he held light over
the mutilated face.
As the candle lit the russell hair and
unseeing eyes, flaming with fever
above the shattered face with its red
beard, Garth Guthrie stared motion
less. Slowly his jaw dropped. AS
If in the spell of some strange fasci-
nation. the grimacing face in the can
die light held Guthrie's unwaverlng
eyes. Bewilderment, profound, shift
ed slowly to amaZement-to recogni-
ton.
Craig Galbraithw he gasped. Then
swiftly turning back the robes, ex-
posed at the base of the corded neck
jagged scar.
Craig Galbraith Laughing Nc
Donald! God!-what irony"
Turning TO the perplexed Etienne,
Guthrie rapidly explained as he felt
for the pulse in huge wrist.
"Etienne, you and l have work
ahead This is flu or pneumonia.
He needs some nOurishment-may
have starved for days. The bag has
saved him-kept him warm with that
fever"
But you nurse heem-dis Nc
DOnar Ha! Ha!?" demanded the
surprised half-breed. s
Nurse him. Garth laughed rawly.
"Why, this man took me on his back
through hell itself-brought me
through a barrage with one of his
arms broken and a shot In the chest.
He was my friend-my pal, under
stand?-saved my life! We were
brothers-in France! Light the gal
ley lamp and heat some broth-soup,
quick"
"Hees name not McDonap?" asked
the bewildered Etienne, dazed by the
swift reversal of the situation.
No! l never suspected-never
dreamed who Mcdonald was. He was
shot in the face while I was in the
hospital. 1 didn't know how bad 1t
was-never saw him again."
Guthrie found and lit a lamp; then
poured some whisky in a glass and
propping up the head of the uncon-
scious man, got it down his throat. A
rapid inspection Of the boat discov-
cred a fourth corpse. The Cree known
to be with the schooner, and another
man, had evidently deserted the dy-
ing. The absence of rash on the
bodies and faces did away with the
possibility of measles or smallpox. 1t
was doubtless influenza, contracted
from an Indian or Eskimo, for a warn
ing had been received at Albany from
Moose that influenza was again loose
on the bay. g. .-
Finding the Cree waiting out on the
ice, Garth sent him for the dog-teams
and leaving the efficient Etienne
watching a kettle of canned soup and
coffee pot on an oil stove, returned
to Captain Craig Galbraith, alias Nc
Donald Ha! Ha!
Once after his return home he had
heard from the man who had brought
him unconscious through that hail of
gas and lead and steel, and whom he
had never seen since the day Gal
braith left the same hospital to rejoin
his command. In his letter from Hall
fax, Craig had refused an invitation
to visit Montreal, pleading business,
but, unknown to Garth, the giant at
whom the women of France were
wont to turn admiring eyes, had come
home wearing the grin of a gargoyle.
Then, like rifle shot, struck home
in Halifax for killing his wife's lover
was the man in the bunk. He pic
tured the agony Of him, once called
Handsome Galbraith, bringing that
twisted grimace back to the wife he
had loved-the blind rage, born of de-
spair and shame, that heated his
blood on finding her faithless as a
woman, and as hero's wife, for the
broad chest of Craig Galbraith, IA
nous in the Canadian corps for his
trench raids, wore the bronze badge
of the elect-the Victoria cross.
If he died, it did not matter; but If
he lived? If he lived, he was a hunt
ed man. Cameron would send party
to Seal cove on hearing from Guthrie
of his discovery. The ship and fur
would be held for government action.
In the meantime what of the man in
delirium?
Etienne entered with soup, which
Galbraith mechanically swallowed.
as the Cree back with the dogs, or
did he leave usT'
mo, he come back. ] tole heem I
would'follow heem an cut hees t'roat
if he run away" said Savanna dryly.
"Etienne, we can't stay here. Well
pick up this flu or something worse.
The ship is a morgue. And 1 won't
leave the man who wouldn't leave
me-" For a space Guthrie puffed
furiously at his pipe. Suddenly he
slapped his knee. 1--WE got it! Listen
His heart is strong, and the fever, as
near as can tell, Is not as bad as it
might be. It's fifty miles to Elkwan.
With the Cree's dogs you can make 1t
by daylight. Well wrapped up and
bound, so he can't roll out or hurt
himself, he'll make It, 1t isn't cold.
and cold air Is better than this stink
ing ship"