The Coolidge examiner., 1938-11-17
CHAPTER X-COntinued


were crossing the Quiet Water
where they always passed and the
salmon had not started to run. His
family needed, not only dried meat
for the winter, but summer skins to
make clothes and they were in de-
spair. Living on river fish, they
reached the Nipiw, the River Of
Death, long ago agreed on between
the Fort Chino Naskapi and the
Caribou People of the upper Kok-
soak as the frontier, the dead line,
between their hunting grounds, be-
yond which there should be no pass
ing. But Napayo's family so feared
that they would miss the deer mi
grafton and later starve that they
took the chance of travelling into the
forbidden country. A week before,
on the Koksoak, below this long
lake, they were surprised by the
Caribou People. He alone survived
and was taken into the barrens
where they were to burn him at
stake. A night later. he had es-
capped and reached the lake, but
having no line or net, was starving.
You passed the River of Skulls
on the way up the Koksoak?" asked
Alan. abruptly, in MontagnaiS.
Into the pinched features of the
Naskapi crept a look of awe. The
eyes, brilliant from fasting. were
filled with dread as he avoided the
straight gaze of the white man. 1T
is the Forbidden Water. We pass
the mouth on the Big River, but
no one journeys to the Gorge of the
Spirits"
How far from this lake is the
MOUTH"
Napayo held up three, then four
fingers as he said: mot far, three
four sleeps. There is much white
water and falls between.
Alan and John exchanged trium-
phant looks. They were within a
few days of their goal. But Noel
looked uneasy. He still remembered
the talks of the old men. Still,
wherever Alan went, he would go.
1--WE do not go to Fort Chino" ex-
planned Alan to the Indian boy
whose hand holding a cup Of broth
visibly trembled. 1--WE stop. four
sleeps down the river. We will take
you with US"
Evidently, from the grayness Of
his swart features, Napayo was
greatly disturbed, but he did not
reply.
The news that a large band of
Naskapi were not far east of the
lake, hunting the deer at water
crossing, drove the Peterboro on
down the lake and far into the twi-
light. After a long talk with the
Fort Chino Naskapi Noel was salts
fed that his story was true. There
was nothing else to do but take him
along in the canoe, crowded though
Il was with people and supplies.
Later he would be more than useful
a. IluIllGI, MllCIl LllG OSGA lAGd0GO
south on their fall migration.
In camp that night at the outlet,
the Naskapi's eyes seldom left the
girl who dressed like white man.
The marvel of her blonde hair held
him spellbound. Often he failed to
hear NoeIS questions, so intense
was his interest, and when the mos
QuitoeS drove her to wrap her
golden head in netting, his lean face
went grave with disappointment.
Look out, Heather" teased AL
an, "or you'll have another Indian
trying to touch the gold in your
hair"
ITS only Indians who seem to
notice my hair" she answered,
wistfully.
His brows contracted as he
thoughtfully searched her face.
''See here" he said earnestly, you
don't mean that, do you? Why your
hair is beautiful. Heather, and when
it comes to dimples-"
But she flung herself away, and
blood stained her brown neck, while
Alan closely watched her. Could it
be? he wondered. Could it be that
Heather-No, it was foolish to think
that this girl he had thought Of
treated as a sister, could-Why she
was almost like another boy, COM
rade, not a woman. Like a young
er brother, stout-hearted, cheerful,
sharing their hardships without a
murmur. 1t was impossible! But
of late he had certainly sensed
something in her manner. After
the fight on the barren when she
had bandaged his head, he had no.
ticed that her hands shook-there
had been an indefnable something
in her eyes. She often had way
of looking at him with those dark
lashed eyes of hers, when she
thought he didn't see her. Then,
again, there were times when she
had been silent. strange, moody.
The next day the Peterboro left
the lake and entered the river.
Down past towering cliffs, where the
river gradually dropped off the
higher plateau over black shale and
limestone lodges to the lower coun.
try, they travelled. Outcrops of iron
ore rusting the rocks at the wa
ter's edge brought joy to the heart