Evening star., 1933-12-02


chase They had split into two
i bands, northern one, under the
leadership of Siam-Klale or the
Black Grizzly. and southern band
that lived around the forks of the LII
luar. Sometimes in Summer they made
little lean-tos of pine boughs, but most
of the time they were cave-dwellers;
the warm, dry caves of that region were
much better abodeS than any tepee.
There used to be about 200 OF them,
he said, but five years ago a wander
ing trapper from Fort Nelson had
brought influenza in and it had riddled
both bands, and now they numbered
only hundred.
They had found the man wandering
along a river, starved and desperately
Ill; had taken him in, cared for him till
he recovered, and the sickness had
spread like blight among them. res Ines
to drive the white disease-deyils out OF
their territory
AS he handed back the weapon OF
those mountain nomads, he made up
his mind that he was going to do some
thing about Ralph and Sonya's trip:
They didn't know how to take care OF
themselves in the wilderness, especially
in so appalling a country; and they
knew nothing at all about handling
Indians. They had to be shielded
somehow. and the job was up to him.
Outside, the rain was failing OIL; the
first gray light was reaching up into
the eastern SKY. 81,
How about running your net, John?
Curt suggested. I'll go along"
Old Paxton pulled on his shoes and
Jacket. they went outside, launched a
canoe, and padded of TO the Islands.
Locating the anchored chunk that
marked the net. they skirled over, h1teo
one end of the seine. and began WORK
ing down along it, eXtricat1ng the nsn
as they went and dropping the net back
into the water.
"Sonya mentioned to me bout you
havin' that run-in with the breed last
evenin'," old John remarked, tossing
Hopping trout into the canoe. Il know
YOU en- take care of yourself, but jist
the same YOU be leery of that felier
while you're here at Roosian Lake
why SOP"
Hes bad 'un. 'Teeste is =
curt started a little. 'Teetse@?
'Teeste who?"
His names Teeste LIE Nolr.
Out of long experience with crashing
surprises Curt never batted an eye.
But inWardly he was dumfounded.
Heavens above, he'd whipped karak-
hans contact man! Had made a bitter
enemy of the one person at Russian
Lake with whom he wanted 10 De
friends!
ayes, he's a bad 'un," Paxton repeated,
all unaware Of the bomb he had ex-
ploded with Curt. He amt above
{fn ty,ta
when he's been hentlin' this bush
whisky"
Curt seized his chance to get line
general loafer?'
"No. he's a trapper. Guides some,
too, when any big-game hunter hap
pens to git in this fer. He come from
the Gods Lake country in Manitoby
bout eight year ago. I heerd rumor
that he done somethin' over there
slipped a man some pizen, heard
an had to put his foot in front OF his
nose an git"
Curt wondered how Igor Karakhan.
the metropolitan criminal had ever got
in touch with this fugitive OF the
Strong Woods. Probably the Cossack
had once hunted In this country and
LIE Noir had been his guide. The breed
COulO DC WdICl1Co, oiioeSWSAs eAASs
through him they could nail Karakhan;
where does LIE Noir trap, John?
Around here close, I suppose"
mo. way up the Lilluar. Up nigh the
forks" =.
"In Klosohee territory? How does 1t
! happen they allow him in there?"
"Tney amt so touchy ag'inst breeds
as ag'in5t whites. Sides, he's got some
stand-in with Siam-Klsle. the SUBJ
chief I never heerd jist what"
Curt grinaced. More bad news
Karakhan must be living up north in
those forbidden mountains, tolerated
| there because Of the breeds influence
over the Klosohees. Not SO good.
He and Paxton padded across to the
post with their catch. The 3 O'Clock
sun, Just inchirg above the northeast
ranges, glistened against the many win
dows of the mission, and its life-givine
warmth felt good after the chilly night
After they tossed fish to the dogs. Curt
! selected half a dozen of the smaller
trout, cleaned them at the water edge
and set about getting breakfast.
did you ever do any prospecting