The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-02-10

"Can you make out Paradise re-
piled Jim.
"Paradees keep cen de dark until
he see how de magic of Jingwak work.
Eef eet work, we have to fight for
Esau."
Presently, the rattle of shells. min
gled with the beat of the medicine
drum, drifted from the tent. The low
hum of the squatted audience died.
The sorcerer had begun his invocation
of the spirits.
AT the fire swart faces turned gray
with dread.
Suddenly, out of the hush, lifted a
voice as from the grave. A spirit was
speaking.
"The stranger from the land where
the sun sleeps is no shaman. He
came from the trader at the House
of the Setting Sun, the home of devils.
"Where is this conjuror," asked the
sepulchral voice, ''who tells the Ojib-
was his magic is stronger than that of
Jingwak, my brother? He is not here
He fears the wrath of Jingwak, the
great shaman."
Jim's muscles stiffened. The mo-
ment had come. 1t was time to strike
but where was Esau?
Hes not herei" whispered Jim.
WED better work toward the canoe"
But the man at his side, whose fin
gers clamped on the horn handle of a
knife as he peered at the medicine
lodge. stood motionless.
"The stranger has the heart of a
rabbit. His mouth is full of lies. He
hides from the magic of Jingwak!"
With glance at the spellbound
Indians, Jim took Omar's arm. "Come
on! They'll go crazy in minute |!
Well be cut off from the cancel"
Then the iron fingers of Omar dug
into Jim's arm as he muttered,
"Lookw
Beside the medicine lodge stood an
apparition. From the nodding head,
above a chalk-white mask with eye
holes and grimacing mouth, rose the
antlers of a caribou. On the skin-clad
body writhed painted snakes. At the
sash hung the medicine bag and shell
rattle of conjuror.
A suppressed "Ah!" swept the star
tied Ojbwas. "The shaman! The
shaman!"
There was pause. Wide eyed, the
electrified Indians waited for the
funereal voice from the mask.
81 have come, oh Jingwak! Otchig,
the shaman from Gods lake who fears
not your magic, Is here!"
But from the tipi of Jingwak came
no sound.
"Come forth, oh magician with the
split tongue! Otchig, the shaman
from Gods lake, laughs at your medi-
cinew
Still the lodge of Jingwiak gave no
answer.
From the squatted Ojibwas rose
murmurs of surprise. Why did not
Jingwak speak?
Suddenly, in the gloom across the
fire, sounded heated words. Jim's
eyes turned from the horned shape
by the medicine lodge An inflamed
face, lit by the glow, faded into the
darkness. 1t was Paradis.
Does Jingwak. the friend of the
trader. Paradis. fear the magic of
Otchig that he hides his face"
Low groans greeted the strange be-
havior of the mute conjuror In the
tent.
"He's afraid to come Quit" whis-
pered Jim. excitedly. "What's Esau
done to him?"
The half-breeds answer was a fierce
squeeze of the arm.
Shortly, above the murmuring of
the Indians lifted the voice of Jinaw,
the Rattlesnake: 1.-THE strange sha-
man has put spell upon Jingwak %
There was a movement in the medi-
cine lodge The door flap was thrust
aside and the conjuror crawled slowly
out AS he rose, the rat-like eyes in
the painted face, avoiding the mask
of Otchig, shifted furtively from side
to side.
Hes quit! Esaus got him! We'd
better work around behind to hold 'em
off, if they rush! 70 breathed Jim.
"No, de Indian believe Esau-wait!
l TAX care Of Paradees 7"
Look, men of the Sturgeon, on the
great Wabeno!" jeered the voice from
the chalk-white mask, as Jingwak's
hunted eyes fell before the rows of
fire-lit faces. His friend, the spirit.
asks me for magic! Behold the medi-
cine of Otchig!"
With an ear-torturing scream, he
stiffened his arms and sliced the air,
downward, to his side.
without blood 1 have taken his
earsp announced the voice from the
mask. $50 to him and behold the
magic of Otchig.'
The desperate Jingwak turned to
escape in the blackness of the spruce,
but Jinaw and two Ojibwas were on
him and dragged the panic-stricken
sorcerer hack to the fire. Pushing
aside the long hair which hung to his
shoulders. the Rattlesnake exposed the
sides of Jingwak's head to the view
of the astonished Ojibwas.
The ears had been removed close to
the skull!
For a hushed interval the awed
Ojibwas gaped in wonder at this proof
of Otchig's magic. Then with a roar
there was rush for the imposter who
had deceived them with his Boosting.
But the terrified Jingwak wrenched
free of the arms that held him and
disappeared in the blackness.
At the same time Jim and Omar cut
back to the shore to head off Parads,
but he had foreseen defeat and his
canoe had lost itself in the shadows.
Furious at having the man who had
hunted them slip through their fingers.