Evening star., 1941-10-26


You want to try some of my dope?"
He tossed the bottle onto the blankets,
turned and walked out.
1t was very late when he smothered
the fire and went back to the tent.
kindiogami was huge; even Martin
and Peters were impressed by its
grandeur. They gazed in awe at the
ranks of spruce marching down its
shores, and Peters said, There must
be money here for someone in all that
timber. Why don't they get it out?"
Getting it out" Kim said, would
cost money" He knew numbering He
might not know much about auto
matte pistols, but after three winters
of coaxing logs around Aubrey Falls,
he knew timber 1t was raw, danger
GUS business, and he liked it.
They camped on small, rocky
island at dusk, and Kim said, MAYBE
tomorrow you fellows would like to
visit the ranger, over to his place"
The two men exchanged swift
glances. Peters halting a tin cup of
tea at his lips, Martin frozen in the
act of smearing timed butter on a
triangle of bannock. why - sure"
Peters said.
But when Kim, up with the mist
the following morning in an effort to
vary the bacon and squaw- bread diet,
padded back to the island with a
nine-pound laker. Peters and Martin
were waiting for him, tapping their
arms to warm themselves. And Peters
said irritably, Hurry up breakfast.
We don't like this place.. We're NOV
ing on
Bur-" Kim protested, this is the
best gray-trout fishing you -"
Il said we're moving on!'
It's the ranger, Kim thought. They
don't want 10 meet Kim. Troubled and
angry. he broke camp. Ahead lay the
Mississagi and white water, and he
was afraid again. Guiding a frail.
laden canoe through rapids behind the
able leadership of Hawk had been one
thing; matching wits with those treach-
erous chutes alone was another. As
that day of taut ternpers and jaded
nerves wore on, his dread increased.
Yet when the white water boiled
around him, he had no fear of it. The
swift lunges of the laden canoe ex-
hilarated him. I don't need HasVk. he
thought. The rivers mine. mine! Swift
and sure were his strokes with the
paddle. quick as light his judgment in
emergencies. And in him, at sight Of
the terror that gripped his compan-
ions. surged fierce satisfaction.
That evening, while camped on
Great Pike, they had company. A
canoe slipped ghost-like out of the
dark and Kim's name was called. At
the fire. Kim turned quickly to stare.
Charlie Ketchum." he said to his
companions. "Injun guide from the
Bridge" He strode to the shore, where
the Indian waited. wondering why
Charlie, a good friend of his, had not
quit the canoe and come to the fire.
The Iroquois' black eyes studied
him gravely. How you get along.
Kim?'
"All right"
Good. see your fire and guess who
it is. stop to warn you" Charlie
leaned closer. Those fellers with you,
Kim - they no good. They kill some
one in the States. Right now. since
yesterday. some American police Of
fcers wait at the Bridge. at Trips
store, for you to get back"
IHEY-k killed someone" Suddenly
dazed, Kim turned to gaze at the fire.
Peters. the one who had brandished
the automatic pistol. was reaching for
stick with which to light cigarette.
Martin had evidently stepped into the
tent. KILLED someone?" Kim NUT
tered. WAS it was it Hawk sent
WI, n, tell yne2''