The Coolidge examiner., 1938-12-22
CHAPTER XIV-Continued


demanded Noel, dazed with the
grim evidence of the presence of
Mcqueen somewhere above them on
the River of Skulls.
''They must have crossed from
the Koksoak and struck the migra-
ton" Alan sadly surveyed the bro
ken body of the Indian boy who had
been their friend. Poor Napayo!
He's with his people now. No more
fear of starvation for him. They
shot him in cold blood, Noel! Shot
him in the back And they'll pay for
It'll"
He was good fr'en' Of me-" la
mented Noel. his dark face distorted
with grief. Suddenly he stood up in
the canoe and, drawing his knife,
raised it above the frozen body in
the water. For dis ting, Napayo,
Mcqueen weel pay to mel" he said,
and, for a space, held the knife
handle against his forehead in con-
summation of the Montagnais oath.
They carried Napayo's battered
body up among the spruces, and
there they buried it under a pile of
small boulders to protect it from
the wolverines and the foxes. Kneel-
ing, Heather said prayer for the
soul of the untutored boy who had
given them his trust and devotion.
THE next few days" Alan an
nounced when the four gathered for
a council of war, 1--WE spend in
caching, somewhere back in the
spruce, the gold and all our food and
outfit for the trip home. We're be-
ing watched. Some night they may
try to surprise us. but We'll keep
the dogs on light leashes they can
break, in circle around the camp.
They can't get by the dogs"
John McCord ran his fingers
through his thick yellow hair as his
face pictured the perplexity and
amazement under which he labored.
Il can't realize it! Mcqueen get
ting past the Naskapi-and follow
ing us clear through to this gorge.
How did he know we turned up this
river?"
You're wasting your time,
john" said Alan. THE fact is, he
got by the Indians. He knows where
we are and he's out to wipe US out
and take our gold"
well, let's do a little hunting,
ourselves. When the snow packs for
shedding we'n go looking for Mr..
Mcqueen"
'And leave Heather?"
mo, take her with us. She'd be
safer that way"
Alan looked at the girls coura-
geous eyes, sad from brooding over
Napayo's tragic fate. She met his
glance and, as he argued, her face
shone triumphantly.
above all things, john" Alan
said. still holding her gaze, Heath
er must be protected. Above all
things! I'd throw this gold into the
river now-to save her all this fear
and anxiety. I'm telling you this
now, I'd throw the gold at Mcqueen
to have Heather safe at Fort
George"
She buried her face in her hands,
elbows on knees, as her father re-
piled:
"You don't mean to say that you,
Alan Cameron, are losing heart
when we've got fortune in our
hands. Don't suppose l don't know
what Heather's gone through-that
I'm not thinking of her. But we've
won, boy! We've got our gold and
we're going back with it,"
Without reply Alan rose,
stretched and announced, Noel
takes the first watch tonight. I'll
see it through to daylight"
For three weeks while the ice
thickened on the rivers, those at
the camp never relaxed their vigi-
lance. The extra supplies were hid
den, separated from the gold, deep
in the spruce and the new snow
had long since covered the trail to
the caches. A fish cache for the
team and the temporary supplies
were also hidden near the camp. If
Mcqueen should come, in the abb
sence of the party, he would find lit
tie to steal or destroy. Daily the
three men and the girl went out
with the dogs and the long sled,
loaded heavily, to harden the hus-
kies for the long trail back.
Twice they travelled far up the
river over the tundra, where an
ambush was impossible, to search
for tracks in the snow or signs of
their enemies. They found none.
November came and the cold
grew more intense while the snow
became deeper, except where the
wind secured river ice and barren.
Then, gradually, McCord and Alan
became convinced that Napayo haA
met his death at the hands of Mas
kapi who had ambushed the Nc
Queen party and taken their rifles.
There was still a cache of dried
caribou meat that Noel and Ma
payo had left far up the river and,
one day, Alan and Noel decided to
take the dogs and bring back the
meat while they made wide swing
intn the harronS fnurnrd H. III