The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1934-01-10
VALLEY
~ WdiaAx BY,,ox mowe,u4


s=< NJ ~sa ~Vss~<-ss a
In wishful fancy she tried to mag
inc him there with her, his rifle
between his knees. his lean hard
face between herself and danger:
but the memory of bis change and
his whitening GOODNESS drove the
fancy away. He had even ignored
her. overture to him that last eve
ming. Her cheeks burned at the
thought of her confession. and his
silent scorn Of it; and yet she knew
that IL she came out of this alive she
would write to him and ask him to
come to see her.
(. A few yards down the portage
trail two Indians unexpectedly came
swinging around buckbrush thick
ct. They were carrying a loaded
canoe. and behind them came others.
a. large party. Sonya started to her
feet in surprise. The churning over.
falls had mufIied the noise; she had
not known they were about till they
suddenly appelrsd. eg
They werss Kiosohees. Why, they
we're the main band!-there were
Eiam-Klale and ;LeNoIri A sudden
fear snrged through her. Ralph and
Curt and Paul--what had happened
to them? This band had intended to
stay down there and hem that little
island in till they. had killed the
three men. Had they made another
attack. successful this time? avi
lI ENOfR'S slum face treasured
- her. AS she went up to camp with
the party, he told her the news. Mich.
OILS had been wounded. he said: the
other two had made a shelter for
him the next day and he had not
been seen walking about. Shortly
after dark that evening they had es-
capped. In some unknown fashion.
They had whipped south; an uni
Identified canoe had slipped through
that bottle neck and it must have
been theirs. They probably were get.
ting out of the country. but on the
chance that they might swing north
again he was taking the main band
home to protect his chief.
Sonya guessed that Curt and Paul
were hurrying Ralph out to ciyiliza-
ton where he could get medical at
fention. She prayed be was not bad
lily hunt. She was glad OF their es-
cape. but in another, way the news
plunged her into q black detection.
+ Hitherto she; could feel that Curt
was within twocor three days swift
travel of her and that she might pos.
sibly get back to him. She had even
hoped thatssther might ! be coming
north on her trail. But now when he
was hsading south, out of the Lii
iuars, she felt completelyiandsfinal-
lly abandoned. ffggp'steiY ard (
Il. At the camp LeNoir sent Tenn.
logs half brother and two OTHER In
dians on ahead to take Karakhan
the news.a' The main party was to
travel on. that night. too: but they
\ would have to pause for supper and
/ go more slowly and so could not
reach the lake till morning.
~ Sonya wondered why EeNoir In
! sisted on travelling that night For
some reason he seemed insas great
hurry to deliver her to Karakhan.a
| He commanded her grufiiy, ~ be
| brought her some fish and dried
meat: Tonight, on res. Of dis tresR
you stay close by me. Don step into
1 de dark: doa'Sget aout my scanney
keep hold my belt wen we walk
icross any portage. Onderstand?yx
Sonya promised to obeyfhim. Dur.
I Ing the hasty meal she was q ware
| of Siam-Klale ogling her with mar.
rowed eyes. as he had done at the
Lilluar forks but now his stare Mas
30 brazen that 1t unnerved her.
Il AS the party was setting the boats
to water he. trundled oyer to lie
Noir and said something to aim and
3erked thumb In her direction. I'M
mediately a violent iuarrel sprang
| UP between them. and soma gath
cred that Siam.Klaie was demand
ing she should 60 in his canoe.
+ LeNoir won the argument. and
she stepped into his canoe. She was
grateful to him in, way. but she
could read his secret thoughts and
they frightened her. His proprietary
attitude was yelled now. because he
was afraid OF Karakhan: but what
about the time. only a few hoars
ahead. when Karakhan would lie
| dead in his cabin? That incident at
fRussian Lake showed her what she
eould expect from 'Teeste LeNoir.
Is In that@whols band she had but
one friend. Tenn-Og's half brother.
Like Tenn-Og. he seemed less bound
than the others to the benighted
customs Of his tribe. !. al and shs az
lpeared to have a certain influence
with the other men. For an indian,
he had been good to her on, the trip.
He might possibly take her across
the Mountains BY secret traiagand
hand her over TO dome treaty baad
who would get her back amooS
white people But 1t was : Aendag
bope.
~.
4coput0ht 1883 William p Mosrevvt
= - Snuva meets fha ,,.a.. -