The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-01-27
4 = - - :. -
Under
Frozen
Stars
BY X
George Marsh
Convrfphf nv Damn Puh Co
ySNSHX|NN
Copyright by Penn Pub. Co.
(WNU Service)
CHAPTER VII


Sturgeon. Here, living largely on
their sturgeon setlines and white-hsh
nets, many hunters came with their
families TO pass the swift weeks OF
summer before they returned to the
far valleys and muskegs of their trap
ping country. Here. the Pipestone In
dams had told Jim and Omar Jingwak
made his home, and from here. In De-
cember and June. he led the hunters
south TO the trade at LeBlond's.
Before the rising sun cleared the
smoking surface of the lake, Jim and
Omar went ashore and. hiding their
canoe in the brush. ate and slept.
From now on the price of their safety
would be eternal vigilance. Their es-
cape TO the south would mean that
hencefOrth Paradis would be wanted
man-an outlaw. For him the dog
teams of the police would comb a
thousand miles of forest. From Ru-
pert House to Fort Severn his ap-
pearance at a post would mean arrest.
The very existence of the NOrth-W West
company would hang on their repudia-
tiOn of his deeds in their behalf. Le-
Blond might have secretly sent him
to hide on the Sturgeon. but If Stuart
returned south. the master of Bonnie
Chance must forever wash his hands
of Paradis And this. Paradis, him.
self, only too well knew. So in the
the men from Sunset House must use
the caution Of the hunted creatures
of the forest.
But the lake was a large one, with
many islands. Other connecting lakes
lay beyond. And the sole means Of
learning whether Esau had avoided
Paradis and reached the Sturgeon was
by talking to the Ojibwas who might
have seen or met him. In time some
of these Indians would carry the news
of Jim's presence to Paradis. But it
could not be avoided. They were
here, now, to save old Esau. If alive,
then, if possible, get out of the cOun-
try. The expedition against the sor-
cerer, Jingwak, had come TO this-a
bare fight for life. And neither Jim
nor Omar thought they could win.
After dark the peterboro started
down the lake with muffled paddles.
On the shore, In the distance, a fire
twinkled. like star, for the nights
were growing cool.
"Shall we make stab and see what
they know?" suggested Jim. ''By day
light Esau would have passed in sight
of this camp" ..-. .r... ...r
"Ah-hah. desc peop' are alone here
Eet might be long tam before dey see
oders an tell dem about u.s."
So they landed at the camp. Jim
approached the small fire with the
customary "bo'-jo's" while Omar
suuatted in the gloom at the bow of the
canoe. His right hand, which rested
inside the gunwale, gripped a cooked
rifle.
"Bo.io'w The old Indian at the
fire rose at Jim's approach. Stuart's
rowing eyes saw that he was alone.
The fire glow fell upon a tipi of carl
bou hide, the door flaps of which were
closed
The bright, mink-like eyes of the
old hunter measured the tall figure
of the white man from felt hat to
moccasins, but his weather-cured face,
scanned by the years, evidenced
neither excitement nor curiosity as
he said in Ojibwa: "You come far"
"Yes," Jim answered in the same
tongue, I'VE come far to talk with the
people of the Sturgeon country"
"What have you to tell them? That
Jingwak, the shaman, grows fat on
the flour and sugar of the trader,
Paradise"
Jim searched the shrewd eyes Of the
Indian for signs of the derision which
the speech implied, but found none
Still. the Ojibwa had used the identi-
cal words employed by Stuart at the
Pipestone lakes. This was interest
ing. He would draw the old man out
and learn about Esau. Handing the
Oiibwa a plug of tobacco, he filled his
own pipe.
81 have much to tell them," Jim an
swered ut may be that you have
much to tell me. Are you alone?
Where is your family?"
he lHuldn SeSluTeu lOWdTu the
tipi. "She is sick"
Your wife?" Here was a stroke of
luck Stuart carried a small medi-
cine case. 1t might be that the woman
had some slight ailment that he could
aid. He had often dressed wounds
for the Indians and knew the use of
simple medical remedies.
eyes. she cut her hand and her arm
is large. with much pain"
infected" thought Jim. IF 1t
hasn't gone too far i can clean it up
That means gratitude-the friendship
of these people. They may be useful.
And there's no time to waste"
You have no son to help you on
your trap lines this winterp Jim
asked.
The old man galed grimly into the
fire as he shook his head 81 am alone
] had son. but he is son no more
He left me to follow the trader Para
dis. and the long SHOWS l have seen
fall. and melt To swell the rivers, are
many"
Here was luckI "Omar, come up
hereW Jim called In English to the
sentinel at the canoe.
go into the tipi and look at the
sick squaw.' came the cultural de-
mand from the gloom beyond the fire
light.
The willy half-breed was not TO he
drawn into possible trap. With
cooked rifle. ne waited for proof of the