The Coolidge examiner., 1938-10-20
ze - THE RIVER of SKULLS
saTlaaf3 --by George Marsh
#
BY George Marsh

route to the big lake, by way Of a
chain Of ponds lying on the Height
of-Land. The object of their explor-
ing trip was accomplished.
The Montagnais Great Moon"
of January with its soaring winds
and nights when the lake ice split
with the boom of muffled artillery
and the spruce snapped under the
contraction of the frost, rode over
the barrens, followed by the Moon
of the Eagle" Night after night the
aurora lit the white tundra and
streamers Of pearly mist writhed
acros the heavens beneath stars
that shone through with a spectral
blue. THE Spirits of the Dead at
Play" the EskimoS call the dane
ing lights of the polar heavens.
Often fearful for the safety Of the
man and girl wintering on the Talk
ing. Alan and Noel rode the iced
river trail behind their galloping
dogs.
More than once during the win
ter, John had crossed strange snow
shoe trails. Some were the bear
paw prints of the Montagnais and
some the long shape of the coast
Cree. The cabin on the Talking was
being watched. Mcqueen was bid
ing his time-waiting to follow the
canoe that would start in the spring.
With May the high barrenS began
to wake from their winters sleep.
Shoulders of tundra thrust through
their white blankets to expose lilac
green pastures of caribou moss.
Riding the brown snow water, aft
er the ice left the Talking, came
Alan and Noel in the canoe they
had taken to the Sinking Lakes on
the sled. When John and Heather
returned from the barren with bags
filed with cranberries, they planned
their start.
1T will be June before the ice
leaves the big lake" said Alan, but
we can take our stuff in the two
canoes to the head of it and be
ready to start when it does"
Yes" agreed McCord, we've
got no time to lose"
On the last day, as they sealed
doors and windows of the cabin
against the sure attacks of bear and
wolverine. Heather turned wistfully
to Alan: Remember, Alan, that
day last winter when l came back
to find you and Noel with Dad?"
do l remember" he laughed.
Your eyes were like saucers and
your mouth opened like that" He
indicated the extent Of the opening
with hands held wide apart. You
wondered what kind of animals had
drifted in out of the bush"
II know now" she said, that two
good friends drifted in"
Alan gazed curiously in the girls
sober face. Brace up, Heather!"
he said, with a laugh. Just think,
girl, what a great time we're going
to have!"
Her fine brows contracted as she
returned his gaze.
do you think, Alan, we're ever
coming back?" she asked. 1--WE
dreamed such terrible things, this
winter. Mcqueen will surely am
bush us when we start back with
the gold-if we find it,"
Its honey-combed ice flooded with
pools of water, and entirely open
in wide areas. from which rose
clouds of vapor, the great lake
reached, under the June sun, to the
hills dim on the eastern horizon.
For days the big Peterboro had
waited while three men and a girl
watched its frozen shell soften and
break up.
"A few more days and we'll be
able to start for the cache at the
outlet" observed Alan, as he and
McCord removed the gray koko-
mesh and silvery white-ish from
their gill-net and returned to the
hungry dogs who stood, breast-deep
in the icy water clamoring to be
fed.