The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1947-07-03

iy, for as close to nothing as he
could get it.
so you're back" he said. Il
thought you would be. I'd no.
ton you'd find them too slick for
you in town. Did they take your
invention away from you?"
Byrne had once tried to get
Macleod to back it, but the ira
der had wanted control for a
small sum. Now Byrne was tenn
porarily licked and Macleod
knew it. He would have to 60 to
work again for the astute trader.
Byrne was a good trapper.
There were not many whites who
could compete with the bloods
and breeds, but Byrne was one
of them. Will Macleod, The Mac
! Leod's nephew, had been another,
especially in conjunction with
Dick Byrne. Byrne was wilder
ness born and bred. He loved
the silent and lonely places, but
he had imagination and, also, am
bition. When he went to Muske-
toon to try and place his inven-
ton, Will Macleod came off the
trail He did not like it without
company, nor with any company
except that of Byrne. So he had
started to work as bookkeeper
in the store. ~
Byrne wondered how he would
be liking that job. However, you
worked for The Macleod, if you
drew kit or grub or money from
him you practically became his
serf. Byrne had stood for it be-
cause he had saved money to ex-
plot the saw, was willing to do
, it again. Will was more FESTIVE
Byrne smoked his good cigar
and slipped his good drink COM
fortably. Anything you got free
from The Macleod was a tri-
umph But he wondered what the
old silver dog-fox was up to. He
shook his head at the question
about the invention.
GIVE still got it," he said.
''Times were not so good. I'll
know how to go about it better
next time. Singuish told me you
wanted to see me-"
Il did answered Macleod. 1T
may mean a snort cut for your
next exploitation Of your saw"
He deliberately finished his own
drink, watching Dick Byrne care
fully. Yet there was no time to
waste. This was no matter Of
trading with merchandise and
peltry 1t was an affair of life
and death, one that Death had
already touched: an affair of hon
or and of reputation, which, to
Macleod were not quite the
same thing but equally vital.
I've some business for you.
Byrne, You'll understand it is
entirely confidential. What will
YOU take to carry a message to
White Rock?"
To White Rock? Wheno"
White Rock was a ghost camp
that had flared up and smoked
out when the ledg. proved a
frcakish fault "White rock" was
tn local term for the white
quartz that carried the free gold.
Byrna had not imagined any one
living there. Especially in Win
ter.
Now. Without d-lay. Nipego-
sis, visits the place in spring,
summer the Conjurer, is th~re.
His tribe and early fall, but
Nip5gos.S says there all the
time. You must start at once.
It's Important
1t was clear enough that Mac
+ Leod so considered the errand.
Nipegosis? The old shaman was
supposed to be we'll over en-
fury; he was the spiritual head of
his tribe, reputed as a real wiz
zard. Macleod naturally dealt
widely with Indians. 1t could not
be an uprising. Those days were
gone 1t might be a mutiny of
some sort against MacLeod's
methods, enticements held out by
some rival who knew the terri
tory, and wanted to invade it.
That did not matter especially
to Byrne H considered the trip.
the present weather and the flu
ture. He did not like the prospect
any too w5n. A spring thaW
might come, overtake him halt
way there, or back; leave him
periOusly stranded.
Il have no dogs" he said.
Il do not wish you to take d
sltd," said Macleod. Il will fur
nish you with all equipment, free.
You may keep it afterWard. But
you'll have to use snoWahOeS.
You'll have to travel light and
fast. | want none to see you leave.
| do not choose to use an In
dian. You are the best man avail