Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-09-12

040~DTe&0
as1vs n Nottaway pssiag a. surveyors.
4 4
As the approaching canoe neared
the Peterboro Garry said: Its a
blrchbark, as you said, Blaise. Well
stop for a talk. Ask them if they
ever saw any Of the white men who
have passed through here bound for
Chibougamau."
The birchbark in the distance
moved in an uncertain course to-
ward the Peterboro.
What's the matter with those
oirds? demanded Red. Never saw
Indians travel in zig-zag like that.
They're always too saving of their
elbow grease"
Nor l." agreed the curious Fin
lay. They're yawing all over the
lake"
As he padded Blaise was slowly
nodding his black head, at the aire-
dale who lay at his knees. Flame"
he said with chuckle, "w'at you
t'ink de matter wild dose Injuns COM
in in dat cano'. eh?"
The airedale looked into Bras
sard's swart face with its twinkling
eyes.
IT you keep your mout' shut, l
tell you, Flame" laughed Blaise.
Nov don't say notin' to Garry and
Red. Dose Injuns comm in dat ca
no bin up to have look at M'sieu'
lsadore and he give dem sometin'
dat come in a bottle"
by golly! You're right, Blaise!"
Garry threw back from the bow.
1T looks like Isadore's fire-water."
The canoes were soon within hail
ing distance and Blaise called:
'Kekway!" The Montagnais and
Cree salutation.
He was answered by chrous of
''Kekways" from the birchbark, in
which sat two men, squaw and
child. The eyes of the men were
bloodshot and swollen. As the canoes
stopped alongside of each other
Blaise began a rapid questioning.
Shortly he turned face black with
anger and disgust and announced
to the curious Garry and Red:
"Dey are Matagami hunter but
dey 60 to Isadore to trade dere win
ter hunt for fur, instead of de Hud-
son Bay, becuz he sell dem whiskey.
But only half dey trade for flour,
sugar and tea dey will need. De
rest dey trade for whiskey."
The muscles of Finlay's face tight
ened as he asked: did they see any
Of the men who went through bound
for Chibougamau?"
NO." answered Blaise, "dey see
no white man pass tru de lake last
two year"
Brassard talked rapidly for some
time while the Montagnais grew ex-
cited, often interrupting him.
what is it," demanded Garry.
"Dey say dere is moch talk at
Waswanipi. Dere is troubl' between
Chief Wabistan and a shaman by
name of Kinebik. Dis Kinebik is
fr'en' of Tete-Blanche. Chief Wab-
istan fight wild Tete-Blanche at the
trade ovair whiskey he give to In
jun. Dey say dat de Injun like de
whiskey and are scare of Tete-
Blanche. He is YER bad fallar. Dey
are scare of Isadore, also. Dey are
scare of de big bird from de sout'."
"Big bird from the south?"
"Ah-hah! 1t come tru de sky from
de sout', each summer. Dey are
YER moch scare of it."
"Airplane, Ell? So he has plane
come from the south every sum-
mer? That, Red, is the way he
brings in his whiskey."
Sure as you live, boss! Have
these people ever seen the plane,
Blaise?"
mo, but oders have and dey tell
strange story"
ASK them if Batoche, with the
SCARED face, and Flambeau have
reached Isadore's post"
Blaise put the question and after
a lengthy answer, from the talkative
Montagnais, replied: "Dey say dat
Batoche and Flambeau reach Was
wanipi vile dey trade de fur. Wan
night, Batoche, he get drunk, and he
say: "T'ree man wild dog leave de
steel for Chibougamau Trail, but de
Long Sault of de Nottaway swallow
dem. Batoche he say he saw de big
WOOD CdIlO VI "ihtS iiioi Oil otoSC
up below rapid and wan drown man
on shore"
Blaise grinned widely as he con-
tinued: But dis Montagnais, here
in de bow, his name is Mahigan, de
wolf. say dat we are tree men
with dog in wooden cano', and wan
wild bullet mark on hees head, and
he ask me if we run de Long Sault.
saw we did, for sure, and are live
man, also. Den he say dat Batoche
is YER damn liar. l tell him dat
Batoche is worse dan liar. He is
dead man if evair put my hand
on him. Mahigan say dere is too
many man at Isadore for tree man
to fight. We bettair 60 home"
what was your answer" de-
manded Garry.
II say dat we hear dat Waswanipi
is YER fine lake and Isadore YER
fine man and we 60 take a look
at dem bot"
"Okay!" laughed Garry. well,