The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-08-12
CHAPTER V-Continued

The Ojibwa leered You TAX de
woman. You kick Joe Mokoman. Wat
. you do wild de woman?"
She is dead" said Garth, quietly.
You TAX de woman TO Alliance.
You geeve Joe Mokoman mooch debt?''
The face of the speaker knotted with
hate of the man who was measuring
the distance which separated them
and-wOndering.
What do you want-how much
trade goOds?" temporized the white
man as he cOvertly eLged foot for
ward in the snow.
You geeve sled-load: -four, tea,
blanket, gun?" The face of the In
dian lighted with the thought of the
spoil which awaited him at the post.
You want a four-dog sled-Ioad?
Garth scratched his knOtted forehead,
as if debating the value of the goods.
1t was twenty feet-he couldn't make
1t. He must get nearer, somehow, he
thought
The Indian nodded. 'FOur-Gog team
flour, blanket, all de" With a
quick movement he brought the gun to
his shoulder as the white man slid
a moccasin nearer. "Bekal Stopr' he
cried, his swart face purple with rage
You move, l keel your
Ii was no use. There was no chance
of getting close enough for a lunge.
Garth changed his tactics as the evil
eyes OF the other narrowly watched
him. Turning his back, Guthrie calm
~ proceeded to finish the dressing OF
the caribou.
For space the Ojibwa stood hold
ing the gun on the back Of the white
man, his face picturing amazement
and doubt Then he said: You geeve
me dis stuff?'
Sure" replied the man, busy with
his knife, as he mentally CROPPED for a
way out of his predicameRt-puzzled
as to whether the Indian would shoot
If he rushed him.
You He-I feex your" warned Mo-
Roman.
For a space there was no answer
from the man using the skinning
knife; then suddenly getting to his
feet and facing the Indian, who wariIy
covered him with his rifle, Garth said
good naturally: You'll get the sled
load" but the eyes of the man who
smiled had seen something which had
started his heart pounding in his
throat. His fingers, blue with cold.
shut on the handle of his knife. turn
ing the knuckles white. ooh, yes I'll
give yOu-the stuff" said Garth, jerk
lily, his muscles stiffening like clamped
springs as he waited. You come TO
Elkwan-and I'll give you-all the
stuff-yOu can
sect 'em, Shot :" roared Garth. lung
ing forward and to one side, while a
blur Of black and tan catapulted into
the Indians back, carrying him head
long to the snow, as the rife exploded.
With a snap of powerful jaws, the
hood of the Ojibwa was torn from his
head-a lunge and the long fangs met
in the flesh of the shoulder; then
Guthrie dragged the maddened dog
from the shrieking man who writhed
in the snow, arms shielding his face.
With a grip on the collar of the
struggling dog, Garth picked up the
rife on the snow ana regained his
own. while the Indian whined over his
lacerated shoulder.
''Well, how about 1t now?" rasped
Guthrie with hard laugh. stroking
the neck of the excited airedale
Hold cat dogI'' cried the Ojibwa,
getting TO his fset and backing away
from the black and tan fury who
strained toward him, hot with lust
of battle.
I'm hold the dog. He won't bother
you. And you stay where you are.
You're going to tell your s',ry to Saul
Souci."
The evil eyes of the Ojibwa widened
In surprise. "Soud?" he muttered.
"Yesl Souci is going to Akimiski to
watch you people. He'll put devils into
some of you before the winter is over.
Now what did you throw that gun on
me forf l ought to give you a good
hammering.'