The Coolidge examiner., 1938-10-20

probably the ice at the foot OF
the lake is out by now," replied Nc
Cord, land a good south wind will
start these big RATS up here. ]
wonder how close behind US Nc.
Queen is"
Not far, I'll bet. But he'll never
get the two Conjuror River Indians
to go down the river with him.
Well only have four to handle when
the time comes. What are we 60
ing to do-let him dog us clear to
the River of Skulls orr"
What d'you say?" interrupted
the big man in the other end of the
canoe.
Il say 1 don't want to slave all
summer and then fight for our dust.
I'd rather fight now!" Suddenly AL
ans gray eyes Softened, as he add
ed: But then, there's Heather"
"Yes, there's Heather. Thsir
game is to trail us, then wipe us
out to get that gold, and what would
become of herr"
I've been thinking Of her. didn't
want her to come. Now she's with
us, I've turned Indian"
You mean?" The cold eyes gilt
tered beneath the livid scar Oh Nc
Cords forehead.
Il mean when l think of Heather
in their hands, l forget all law. It's
finish fight, John, and no quarter.
They're going to make it theit lives
or ours!"
McCord's big knuckled hands
closed convulsively on his paddle.
"A finish fight and no quarter. part
ner!" he repeated, huskily "All
laws off on the Koksoak! l know
Mcqueen. He'd wipe us out with
out a qualm. Then they'd murder
Heather, later, before they reached
the coast-leave no witnesses, no
evidence against them. And they'd
have our gold"
There's another thing, John-the
Naskapi. Drummond got by with
out meeting them. But we're bound
to run into them somewhere on the
Koksoak. We're passing through
their country. Wen need luck when
we do"
The giant nodded Lets hope Nc
Queen meets up with them first"
At last the south wind and the
high June sun cleared the lake of its
rotting raft-ice and the big Peter
boro, in which they were to make
the voyage, reached the hidden
cache at the outlets. There the
precious bags of flour, beans and
pemmican which they were to leave
with the extra canoe, were wrapped
in tarpaulin and stored on the high
platform. While the freshet water
following the ice thundered down
the three outlets into the fiat valley
to the north, the supplies for the
summer were carefully overhauled
and packed in bags. Spruce setting
poles were cut and shod with irons
McCord had brought from Rupert.
Every ounce of superhuous equip
ment was stored on the cache, for
they could not guess what long port
ages awaited them on this unknown
river that flowed hundreds of miles
north to the sea; what churning
white-waters, around which they
would have to pack canoe and sup
plies Only the Naskapi and the
caribou in their migrations had
looked upon the upper Koksoak.
The water dropped rapidly and
Alan and Noel returned one night
from an inspection Of the central
outlet, which they were to follow,
with the news that the river was
now passable for a canoe. Follow
ing their daily custom, when the
boys had eaten, they climbed to the
nearest high ground to sweep the
lake with their glasses.
Miles to the south, Alan's glasses
picked up something Of interest.
wat you see?" demanded Noel
He handed the binoculars to Noel
and waited for the Indians verdict
(TO BE CONTINUED