The Ely miner., 1927-07-29

/ what are you people after-trou-
blef" demanded Guthrie. fighting for
his self-control, for the badgering of
his dog had left him hot.
The man addressed grinned good
naturedly and extended his haad.
"Good day, Mr.. Hudson's Bay; We
amt runnin' away from none. We Xaw
your tent and rowed in to get some
shells. If you hove any-to SELL"
Guthrie took the hand of the speak
er, heavily built man, with beard.
The anger left his face as he said !:
"Oh. you're not going to take the
shells, then?" He was conscious, as he
spoke, Of the curiosity in the eyes Of
the man he faced, as they fingered
on his SCARED cheek.
! NO" drawled the other. you must
think we're pirates. We pay as we
60"
But you robbed that cache on
to that effect"
Mcdonald will pay for that stuff
1t would spoil in the rain"
swell, we don't touch q mans cache
in the north. By the way, where is
this Mcdonald from?"
foundland."
But McDonaldP
"Well, he halls from there, too," was
the reply, but from the tail of his eye
Guthrie caught look in the face of
the companion Of the spokesman which
belied the accuracy of the statement.
"You say you'll sell US some shellsT'
continued the speaker.
"No, we can't give you any!" 1t
was Guthrie's turn to smile 1--WE need
every shell we've got" He glanced at
the muzzles of the guns of the stran-
gers. "Our shells wouldn't fit those
cannon of yours, anyway. We use
| twelve gauge guns with No. shot.
At close range 1t gets more geese than
this big stuff.
Mcdonald gets 'em with Lewis
fires a burst into a flock and kills a
half Dozen"
$50 you've got Lewis guns, chr
abruptly demanded Garth.
"Oh. yesl We're heeled, If you peo-
pie should take the notion to try to
run us out Of the bay"
"Why, man !! you've got as much
right here as we have, but II you don't
play straight, we'll run you out
that's ALL"
The blue eyes of the sailor met the
chill gaze of the soldier In long, un-
wavering stare, and from that mutual
appraisal, the reaction in the mind Of
each man was identical.
"You may-but you'll sweat some.
Now, want to give you fair warning
that some of your people have come
to us this summer of their own accord.
There's an Injun who claims you stole
his daughter"
"What! That skunk of an Ojibwa?
He tells you that?" Guthrie sickened
at the thought of Ninda's memory be-
ing made the catspaw of Indian gossip.
That's what he claims. It's none
of my business, but he's got it In for
you, 80 don't blame us. He's working
for us, Of course, for the fur"
"a girl he claimed as his daughter
came to Elkwan in June, dying with
tuberculosis" said Garth quietly.
"She couldn't travel-we took care of
her till she died. He tried to hold
me up-for stuff. / kicked him out, 30
he wants his revenge. Just tell him,
Mr.. -" "Skene," prompted the other.
"Just tell him for me, Mr.. Skene, that
I'll give him to the dog II he shows
up at the post He knows Shot"
Looks like tough old veteran ~
commented Skene, admiringly. glanc-
ing at the airedale, tense as a statue,
hair and tail up, bristling at his stake.
HE Is. He's an overseas man. He'd
tear that Indians throat out In one
snap"
There's another matter, too," con-
tinued Garth. when your people
came to Elkwan when we were down
the coast, one of them-fellOw with a
black beard-tried something that
4 will get him knitted If he shows up
at the post again." At the words,
Etienne slowly moved up to a posi-
tion beside Guthrie, his right hand
resting carelessly on his hip, the
fingers touching the bone handle of
his sheath knife. The bearded leader
of the sailors glanced curiously at the
fiint-like face Of the half-breed, and
smiled indifferently at the threat.
Just tell him for me, will you, to
keep away from Elkwan?"
"Oh, you mean Black Breault. He's
sailing master-owns the schooner
I'm the mate. He's a bit rough, I'll
admit, but don't make any mistake
about who's boss. McDonald's run
ming this party"
"That's why I'm asking you-to tell
Mcdonald that we won't stand for
manhandling women on this coast, "
insisted Guthrie.
"Right-o, I'll tell him. Well, we'll
be off," said the big sailor, offering
his hand, which Garth shook. "Tm
glad to meet reasonable Hudson's 8
Bay man and one who wasn't sitting
snug on the bay when we had our
backs to the wall In front of
Amiens."
And as Garth stood pondering the
remark, Skene turned and joining his
men, walked to his boat with limp.
He, too, thought the man who
watched, is wearing his service stripe.
The sailors launched their boat in the
rising tide, and polling 1t out to the
deeper water, rowed away.
| Go tba memory of Ninda was IN he