Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-10-31

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The still line Of Blaise's mouth
eased into the shadow Of q smile.
oval. It is not first time woman
make two man look like fool. But
smart or fool. you are fr'en' Of me!
! night for you just de samei"
That's the talk, you old carca-
jou!" Red clapped Blaise on 4 thick
shoulder.
Finlay went to the tent and shortly
returned with his reply to Lise DEM
arais which he handed to Malone.
It read:
Il trust you and believe in you.
That night when they left me in the
swamp was pretty bitter. Against
my better judgment I had put my
faith in you and walked into a trap.
1t was hard to believe, after that
talk OF ours, after that moment on
the beach before you left, but had
to. Later, the bitterness faded. There
had been something too honest about
you, too real to have been acting.
Now know that without your knowl-
edge they followed you to the sand
beach.
Il cannot meet you until next
week. You'll hear from me then.
But please don't worry. Well take
care of you. I've just received good
news from the railroad. The break
is coming soon. Everything will turn
out all right. Kinebik has double
crossed Isadore to save his hide and
I'm leaving tonight for the head of
the lake. Keep a brave heart. You
are safe.
Garrett Finlay."
Finishing reading Red said:
Great stuff, chief! Wish 1t was
true! II Isadore gets hold Of this
note, what a jolt he'll get!"
Exactly. had to consider that
possibility SO fed him a headache.
1t would send Tete-Blanche to the
head Of the lake hunting US while
we're making for Matagami. Be-
sides, I've got to keep up her cour-
age"
Having ordered Noise and Michel
Wabistan to meet him on his return
with news from the old chief, that
night Finlay passed Isadore's and
spent the next day concealed near
the outlet. The following evening the
Peterboro slipped into the Quiet Wa
ter, the slow moving thoroughfare
connecting Waswanipi with the chain
of large lakes to the west. Three
days paddle away lay Matagami and
the Hudson's Bay post.
The murk of a thick July night
blanketed forest and water.
Its made to order for US, Gar
ry!" whispered Red, from the waist
of the boat where he sat behind
Flame with his Lee-Enfield across
his knees while, in the stern, Blaise
handled the canoe with a buried pad
die.
Remember the island which
splits the river about five miles be-
low here?" returned Garry. That's
where they'll camp. They'll figure
that a canoe can't pass them there
without being seen or heard. But
they didn't count on a night like
this"
IF they hear us and shoot do we
lie doggo and push through, or"
1--WE don't fire unless we have to!
I want to pass them without their
knowing it. We have to return this
way, you know"
Very good, serseantl Good luck
to usl"
IF they're guarding both channels
we've got to pass within yards of
them. Have a pineapple handy,
Red! Warn us when you throw it so
we can fiatten."
'I'm hot to toss one into that
mob"
"An right! Remember, no firing
unless we're caught"
AS they rounded a bend Blaise
stopped the boat with swift thrust
of his paddle. In the distance, like a
new moon smothered in drift, a yell
low smudge stained the blackness.
They've got a fire!" whispered
Finlay. II don't understand it'll"
1--WE drop close and have look"
returned Blaise.
The canoe moved on and was
again checked. "You hear dem?"
emo"
"Singing!" muttered Red. 1.-THE
damned fools are singing!"
They're drunk" whispered Gar
ry.
"They sure are!" returned Ma
lone, inhaling the damp air through
his teeth.
"Ah-hah! De Montagnais drink Is
adore's whiskey!" grunted Blaise.
Indians! So Tete-Blanche wins!"
Disappointment, like wind off bar
rem, turned Finlay cold. 'Kinebik's
won over the Montagnais! Thank
God, we didn't bring Lise!"
.This is luck!" whispered Malone.
They're so drunk they've forgotten
u.s.
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