The Coolidge examiner., 1938-12-01
CHAPTER XII-Continued

stand. breeches rolled above her
knees, in the cold water, rotating
a frying pan filed with gravel and
sand to add her share to the in
creasing weight of dust, coarse gold
and small nuggets in one OF the
small caribou hide bags they had
made for the purpose. For the mo-
ment all thought of the future was
lost in the desire to see the first,
small, skin bag filed with gold.
In three days Noel and Napayo
returned carrying long faces. They
had travelled far back on the bar
rens to the west and had not seen
deer. There were many old trails
deep in the caribou moss but the
deer had not started south. A bear
that they had worked hard to get
had slipped them in creek bot
tom. At the camp, the gill-nets set
in the river had taken nothing but
small river trout and the dogs were
on short rations. If the first run
of sea-trout and salmon did not ap-
pear shortly, it would be serious,
for they could not feed the dogs
from their small stock of dried carl
bou, and the emergency rations
must be held for the trip home.
That night over the fire, for the
evenings were always cool. the pros
pectors held a council Of war.
I'VE can't go on this way and
trust to luck" said Alan, gold or
no gold. We've got to get fish or
caribou shortly, or starve. The dogs
haven't had a square meal in
week. l suggest that Napayo, Noel
and 1 pack the canoe past the gorge
and travel up the river, then cut
into the tundra. II we strike deer,
we can load the boat down with
meat and skins and run down
stream"
"Aleck Drummond told me the
sea salmon run in August" object
ed McCord. "We'n only have to
wait few days for the first run.
Why not drop down to the Koksoak
and set the nets?"
Noel shook his head. 'Napayo
say onlee small feesh cen Koksoak
below here. ontil salmon and sea
trout come cen from de salt water.
''The dogs need almost twenty
pounds of fish day to keep fit and
I'm not going to see them grow poor
on rabbit, if l can help it. I'm going
into the barrens, John! The salmon
may be week or more late"
''The berries'n be ripe soon."
chimed in Heather. Il was up on
the barren today. Well have bake
apple and blueberries soon, and l
saw bushels of cranberries. We can
have berry hammock. Won't that be
good?"
$50 that's where you were! And
you promised never to leave camp
alone" said Alan, sternly.
II had my rifle" she answered,
land 1 always carry this" She
touched the pistol on her belt. ANY
way, does it make much difference,
Alan? l told you I've given up all
thought of our ever getting back"
He took her roughly by the elbows
and looked into her defiant, blue
eyes. stop that kind of talk! You
ought to be ashamed of yourself!"
he said sharply. Whats got into
you. anyway? Why, you were Won
derful, Heather, most of the way
down the Koksoak - never COM
plained-took everything as it came
with a smile. and it was hard,
mighty hard! But lately, you seem
to have lost your nerve. Brace up,
grill"
Suddenly the courageous eyes that
had met his so frankly, defiantly,
grew soft, misty. With a deep
breath, she released her arms, as
she said, as if to herself: Yes, l
guess I've lost my nerve and-ev-
erything else"
He watched her as she walked
away, the glory of the golden hair,
the clean lines of her shoulders in
the patched blouse, the strength and
symmetry of her 1.-THE figure in the
worn whipcords and leggings, and
then into his memory flashed a pic
ture of a girl standing on a sand
beach at the waters edge. In
strung by the conflicting emotions
that stirred him, he turned to where
McCord was busy fashioning a
wooden shovel with axe and draw
knife.
I'VE can't touch our -four, bacon
or beans. now. John. We save that
for November. Noel and will take
Napayo and carry the canoe around
the gorge. I'm going on a caribou
hunt and may not be back for a
week"
McCord shook his head. Need
you here, Alan!" he objected.
"We've not scratched this shore yet
and look what dust we already have
In the bag!"
Alan's glance met Heather's. I'm
going on a hunt, up the river" he
repeated, his eyes still on the girl
who stood listening. I'm taking the
dogs. Well feed them on Arctic hare
and atarmigan if we don't strike
game. Don't expect us back for
1--WE or six days"
McCord was so immersed with