The Ely miner., 1933-01-06
Under
Frozen
Stars
X By X
George Marsh
CHAPTER V-Continued
.2HxNHNNN
Copyright by Penn Pub. Co.
CwNU Servicel

"Paradees plays with you TO get
your fur" went on Omar in Ojibwa.
"'He is a liar, and LeBlOnd is through
with him; he has sent him away to
the south. You will see him no more"
AT the words, the Indians exchanged
surprised and puzzled looks. For
time the older man smoked in silence.
his eyes on the fire; then he addressed
Jim. You do a foolish thing to come
to the Pipestone country. The hunt
ers fear you"
do l look like one to be feared|
demanded Jim opening his arms. Il
come from the old company who gave
you and your fathers honest guns and
blankets, -four and tea, before Le-
Blond poisoned your hearts against
Us. I come here now to seek your
friendship and kill the lies Of this
Paradis. This moon, in the south, he
tried TO have me shot, and his master
LeBlOnd has sent him away. If l say
but the word the fathers in Ottawa
will send men and take him to the
railroad TO be punished
As Jim spoke the Indians small
eyes probed his frank features as If
attempting to measure his sincerity.
You seem to speak with a single
tongue" said the Ojibwa. "Your eyes
are not the eyes Of a liar, but the
hunters fear your medicine. They say
you are the friend Of demons. came
TO warn you not to journey into the
Pipestone country"
what is your name?" asked Jim,
impressed by the speakers sincerity.
MY name is Baptiste Wagosh. This
is my SON."
where Is the shaman, Jingwak?"
asked Esau, abruptly.
Wagosh scowled at the question. He
looked hard into the swart faces Of
Omar and Esau thrust toward him.
why do you ask?"
Because" answered old Esau with
a grin, "he is a false shaman, a
wabeno, and is paid by Paradees to
keep the trade for LeBlond"
Wagosh and his son exchanged sig
nifcant looks. "Jingwak is a big
medicine man." replied the older man.
quietly, this is his country. Go back
to Mitawangagama, before 1t Is too
late"
The blood darkened the bronzed face
OF Jim Stuart as he replied: go
back and tell your people that the
old company traded with their fathers
fathers, and wishes to trade with
them. I have come to talk to them as
their friend and will not be driven
out by this false shaman, this wabeno,
Jingwak. who is paid by the French
With muttered "bo'-jo's' the Indian
and his son went to their canoe and
padded away into the gloom.
"Well, what d'you make of it?'
asked Jim of his friends. "You think
they'll do as he said-try to drive US
out Of the country?"
"Eef dey t'ink we got devil wild US,
dey might try something, ah-hah."
well, are we going to be driven
out by this Jingwak?"
Omar spat into the fire and puffed
for moment before answering. "Esau
and Omar TAX good care ov dis Jing-
wak-nevaire fear dat. But we want
de fur dis long snows-so we go
easee."
you're right, Omar, weTl go slow.
They're wild and superstitious-these
people. They might even ambush us
If we don't handle them right. We've
got tough job ahead of US, but it's
the only thing that'u save Sunset
House-reaching these Indians"
Jim rolled up in his blanket to
struggle with the problem which faced
him, while the voices of Omar and
Esau, smoking by the dying fire,
reached his ears in muffled monotone.
But desperate as were the present for
tunes Of Jim Stuart and Sunset House,
he shortly found himself back on the
sand beach at Mitawangagama, gaz-
ing into the dark depths of Aurore
LeBlond's changing eyes; watching
the sunlight caught in the meshes of
her thick hair, listening to her low
laugh.
Long since, the embers of the fire
had grayed and died, leaving the camp
in gloom. Overhead the night had
thickened, masking the stars. Through
the spruce no air stirred. Like a
blanket, the murk had settled upon
the great lake. Except for the heavy
breathing Of three muffled figures
there was no sound.
Curled near his master, nose buried
under bushy tail, Smoke dreamed of
hbirS loaninr ~.
of lurking timber wolves and the
white sterns Of fleeing caribou. Then,
of a sudden, his visions Of the chase
faded and he stirred uneasily In his
sleep. Presently a faint sound drifted
TO his pointed ears. He slowly lifted
his head. His black nostrils quivered.
but the air told him nothing.
Again his keen ears caught an al
most imperceptible sound. The great
dog rose TO his feet, his back hair
stiffening, his nose testing the air, as
he listened. Then, satisfied, with
roar he leaped toward the lake. There
was muttered warning, the sound OF
moccasineG feet, the churn of paddles,
as the husky reached the beach to
snarl his challenge TO the unseen enc
mics who had faded like ghosts into
the gloom. Then Omar, grasping his
gun, followed by Esau and Jim,
reached the shore.
Seizing the dog by the nose to choke
his yelping, Omar listened, head close
TO the water, to get the direction Of
the retreating canoe; then fired twice.
take dat !" he mr.eered.
Light a candle, Esau. They were
after the canoe when Smoke heard
them" said Stuart. They may have
Tuined her!"