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Show II I li Under Frozen Stars U GEORGE MARSH "'"S;r FROM THE BEGINNING Jim Stuart, fur trader, with hit headman, Omar, rescues Aurora LeBlond, daus liter of Stu&rt'a nvnl in business, from an overturned canoa In the La Its. Sha proves a charm inj companion, and Stuart Is naturally attracted. JLm's superior, Andrew Christie, displeased at Stuart's trada showing, allows him, at his reiuestt one year to "maUa good." Paradis bribe an Indian to ambukh Jim and Oni-ir. The attempt fa. Is, and Jim takes the Indian to I- Blond. After hearing the story, LeBlond discharges Paradis. Jim and Aurora ackntrwl-dfre ackntrwl-dfre tlieir mutual love, though Aurora is returning re-turning to Winnipeg, and Jim has planned a canoa trip to make a personal appeal to the Indiana, who hava persistently refused to trade their furs with him. He finds that Paradis has enlisted their superstition to discourage dis-courage them from trading with Stuart. Pa radio' ra-dio' man ambush Jim and Omar again, but they are not harmed. Esau, half-breed partisan par-tisan of Stuart, leaves on a Journey which they hope will result In the overthrow of "Jingwak," Indian "medicine man" in the pay of Paradis. Camping for the night, the trader and Omar roll their blankets m the shape of men sleeping sleep-ing beside the fire, and hide nearby. Indians attempt to knife the men supposedly in the blankets. Jim and his friend attack and kitl them. Jim successfully treats the Infected arm of Jluaw's squaw, thereby gaining a friend. They set out to find their ally, Esau. On his way down the river Esau frustrates attempts to stop or kill him. Cornered by enemies, the veteran canoeman successfully runs the Win-dig Win-dig O rapids, a feat believed to be Impossible. CHAPTER VIII Continued "How did lie do It?" cried .Tim, tinted with the Rood news. "Now where ore Paradis and Jingwak?" "Pnradla returned and the families of four of those who went with him ore a.sklnR for their sons. But he will not speak." "Hut Jlncwak, what does he say? Is he afraid of this medicine man who ran the rapids to reach him?" "lie tells thorn that his magic will idestroy the stranger." "Did you see your son?" "Yes. lie said that Paradis and two others saw this shaman drive two men with their canoe Into the rapids, but Tarariis has cluced their lips. Two more, who bunted for the white trader on the lake, have c3t returned." "Umh !" Omar grunted. "He weel waif long tam for dem." Far Into the night the three discussed dis-cussed the situation. Omar wished to po In search of Esau at once, but JInaw objected. "There Is now fear In the camp of Paradis. The young men are worried about this strange shaman from the west. Lwi me go again to the fishing camps anil talk to the people. The time Is not yet right for you to show yourselves to ttie Ojlbwas." "But we must find Esau. He may needs us," urged Jim. "1 will find him and return In two Bleeps to this place," said the old man, as he stepped Into his canoe. Chafing under the lack of action Imposed upon them by the old Indian, Jim and Omar spent two more days In hiding. On the second night Jinaw returned, and the news he brought quickened the blood In the veins of the two who listened. Jlnaw told them that some of the older Indians had demanded that Jingwak prove his superiority over the stranger whose magic canoe had been seen on the lake. And so, word had gone out to the people of the Sturgeon lakes that the shaman, Jingwak, Jing-wak, would erect his medicine lodge at the Great Medicine Stone, and prove his magic stronger than that of the sorcerer who had come among them only to hide. "Esau's smoked him out! Good old Esau I Here's his chance I" cried Jim. "But what under heaven Is he going to do, Omar?" "We go and see," grunted the half-breed. half-breed. CHAPTER IX For two days canoes from the four winds had passed the hiding place of Jim and Omar, on their way to the medicine making beside the mammoth boulder, known as the Great Medicine Stone. As he sat watching the moving canoes through his binoculars, Jim wondered how, in the face of the odds which confronted him, the little old man hoped to outwit the sorcerer. "What could he contrive before these gaping red men to make the fakir, Jingwak, a laughing stock In the eyes of his own people? Anl In Omar Jim found no comfort. com-fort. "Eef Esau do not mak' de beeg medicine, we nevaire see home." Further than that Omar would not go. "What Is he holding so closely behind those stiff lips of his?" Jim ruminated. "He certainly has some Idea about what Esau will do." When the twilight died and the lake lay muffled in shadow, Jim and Omar slipped their canoe into the water and started for the island. A few hours, now, would tell the tale. Jim wondered won-dered if this was the end. In the mad hope of saving Sunset House, he had put aside his love for the girl who had begged him to stay. And now, on the desperate chance of Esau winning win-ning over the Indians by some sleight of hand, some artifice of the conjuror, learned from h's father, they were giving giv-ing Paradis odds of ten to one in a knife fight In the dark. At last. o,1 the shore where the expectant ex-pectant OJLbwas were gathered be fore the lire, the puterhoro drifted in the murk. A short distance from the fire, dimly outlined In tiie shadows at the foot of the Medicine Stone, stood a small cylindrical tip! of caribou hide, ornamented with the grotesque shupes of serpents and animals. It was the medicine lodge of Jincwak. "We wait for heeni to mak' de heeg howl, den we go ashore below here," whispered Omar. "Can you make out Paradis?" replied re-plied Jim. "Panulees keep een de dark until he see how de magic of Jingwak work. Eef eet work, we have to fight for Esau." Presently, the rattle of shells, mingled min-gled with the beat of the medicine drum, drifted from the tent. The low hum of the squatted audience died. The sorcerer had begun his Invocation of the spirits. At the fire swart faces turned gray with dread. Suddenly, out of the hush, lifted a voice as from the grave. A spirit was speaking. "The stranger from the land where the sun sleeps Is no shaman. He came from the trader at the House of the Setting Sun, the home of devils. "Where is this conjuror," asked the sepulchral voice, "who tells the Ojlbwas Ojlb-was his magic Is stronger than that of Jingwak, my brother? He Is not here I He fears the wrath of Jingwak, the great shaman." Jim's muscles stiffened. The moment mo-ment had come. It was time to strike but where was Esau? "He's not here!" whispered Jim. "We'd better work toward the canoe." But the man at his side, whose fingers fin-gers clamped on the horn handle of a knife as he peered at the medicine lodge, stood motionless. "The stranger has the heart' of a rabbit. His mouth Is full of lies. He hides from the magic of Jingwak!" With a glance at the spellbound Indians, Jim took Omar's arm. "Come on! They'll go crazy In a minute! We'll be cut off from the canoe '." Then the Iron fingers of O. -iar dug Into Jim's arm as he muttered, "Look !" Beside the medicine lodge stood an apparition. From the nodding head, above a chalk-white mask with eye holes and a grimacing mouth, rose the antlers of a caribou. On the skin-clad body writhed painted snakes. At the sash hung the medicine bag and shell rattle of a conjuror. A suppressed "Ah !" swept the startled star-tled Ojibwas. "The shaman! The shaman !" There was a pause. Wide eyed, the electrified Indians waited for the funereal voice from the mask. "I have come, oh Jingwak ! Otchlg, the shaman from God's lake who fears not your magic, Is here !" But from the tip! of Jingwak came no sound. "Come forth, oh magician with the split tongue! Otchig, the shaman from God's lake, laughs at your medicine medi-cine !" Still the lodge of Jingwak gave no answer. From the squatted Ojibwas rose murmurs of surprise. Why did not Jingwak speak? Suddenly, In the gloom across the fire, sounded heated words. Jim's eyes turned from the horned shape by the medicine lodge. An inflamed face, lit by the glow, faded Into the darkness. It was Paradis. "Does Jingwak, the friend of the trader, Paradis, fear the magic of Otchlg that he hides his face?" Low groans greeted the strange behavior be-havior of the mute conjuror In the tent. "He's afraid to come out !" whispered whis-pered Jim, excitedly. "What's Esau done to him?" The half-breed's answer was a fierce squeeze of the arm. Shortly, above the murmuring of the Indians lifted the voice of Jinaw, the Rattlesnake: "The strange shaman sha-man has put a spell upon Jingwak !" There was a movement In the medicine medi-cine lodge. The door flap was thrust aside and the conjuror crawled slowly out As he rose, the rat-like eyes In the painted face, avoiding the mask of Otchig, shifted furtively from side to side. "He's quit! Esau's got him! We'd better work around behind to hold 'em off, If they rush !" breathed Jim. "No, de Indian believe Esau wait! I tak' care of Paradees !" "Look, men of the Sturgeon, on the great Wabeno !" Jeered the voice from the chalk-white mask, as Jingwak's hunted eyes fell before the rows of flre-llt faces. "His friend, the spirit, asks me for magic ! Behold the medicine medi-cine of Otchig!" With an ear-torturing scream, he stiffened his arms and sliced the air, downward, to his side. "Without blood I have taken his ears!" announced the voice from the mask. "Go to him and behold the magic of Otchig." The desperate Jingwak turned to escape in the blackness of the spruce, hut Jinaw and two Ojibwas were on him and dragged the panic-stricken sorcerer rak to the fire. Pushiag aside the long hair which hung to his shoulders, the rattlesnake exposed the sides of Jingwak's head to the view of the astonished Ojibwas. The ears had been removed close to the skull ! For a hushed Interval the awed Ojibwas gaped in wonder at this proof of otchig's magic. Then with a roar there was a rush for the imposter who had deceived them with his boasting. But the terrified Jingwak wrenched free of the arms that held him and disappeared In the blackness. At the same time Jim and Omar cut back to the shore to head off Paradis, but he had foreseen defeat and his canoe had lost itself In the shadows. Furious at having the man who had hunted them slip through their fingers, Jim and Omar returned to the fire. Then Jinaw shouted for silence, while the triumphant Esau gathered the fruits of his victory. The last doubter was convinced. He bad won ! Eagerly the mercurial red men waited while the great shaman, Otchlg, removed his costume. Then Esau addressed ad-dressed them. Goivg back to God's lake, he told of the respect for fair dealing In which the Indians had held the elder Stuart and his son. The devil story of Jingwak, the liar, which had kept the hunters from the post, was the invention of Paradis, to hold the fur trade. Jingwak and the Frenchman French-man they would never see again. Esau told them, if the people wished it, he would come each summer and make medicine at the great stone. And soon In the little Moon of the Spirit, when the trails were broken for sledding, he would bring flour and trade-goods for those who found the Journey too long to the House of the Sunset. In turn Jim and Omar spoke to the hunters, warning them that Paradis was now an outlaw, and Inviting them to Sunset House. Then shaking the hand of the Indians, some of whom Stuart had reason to believe had fought him and Omar on the portage trail, Jim and his men headed back to camp. As his paddle tore the water, he laughed In his relief and Joy: "We've won ! We've won ! Aurore I D'you hear, down there In the city? I'm coming com-ing back to you, girl ; I've won !" " "You foxy old devil! You deserve the Victoria cross !" For the twentieth time Jim hugged the lean frame of the grinning Esau, as they stood at their camp-fire. "You knew before we left the post that Jingwak was this Makwa, without with-out ears, you had run out of Wolf river years ago. But how In thunder did you find It out; you never saw him?" "W'en I hear dat Jingwak and Paradees Para-dees scare de hunter from Sunset House wld devil story, I remember dat ees de same talk dis Makwa mak' at de Wolf riviere. Den some Indian tell me dat Jingwak wear hees hair ver' long. Makwa would do dat to hide de ear he lose, ah-hah! W'en de people, here, tell me w'at he look lak' den I know he ees Makwa." "And you played him like a master! mas-ter! Wait till the story reaches Pipestone. Pipe-stone. I guess Andrew Christie's eyes'll open when he sees the fur you'll get for us by this night's work." And the grateful Jim again hugged the old man, whose smoke-tanned face, like old leather, beamed with his content. con-tent. " 'Otchig, the strange shaman from the west' !" chuckled Jim. "You clever rascal ! When Jingwak saw that the man who took his ears at Wolf river had called his bluff, he hung to that lodge of his like a fox to his hole! Do you suppose ho had guessed before this who you were?" "Mebbe so. Jinaw say dat Paradees look hard for me before eet grow dark. I know he do dis, to I land on odar side an' tross de Island tru de bush." "I certainly thought we'd hav to flght, Esau. Why didn't you tell me about this Jingwak? Did you cut oT his ears?" "No, wan good frien' of me, at de Wolf rivier" he do that," replied the old man, and he met Jim's lnereduloua grin with the guileless look of a child. "And you ran those rapids?" Esau told of his meeting with Paradis Para-dis and his men which had forced him Into the Rapids of the Windigo. "How you got through the lord only knows! And you did It for me!" The eyes of the old man were bright' with emotion. "For you and your fader. I tell heem w'en he goln' to die, not worry. I tak' care Jeem." "And you have you and Omar I Bless your old bones!" "Umh!" grunted Omar bitterly. "But I lot dat Paradees get away !" In the morning the pel'erboro from Sunset House started on the long trail south. Up the great lake on the way to the Inlet traveled the canoe. An Interval of mellow days the early Indian In-dian summer of the far north would companion It up the Sturgeon to the Pipestone lakes. At the foot of the big rapids of thft Sturgeon, Jim looked for, and found, the footprint's of Smoke. The absence of rain, and the dropping of the river, had left the last traces of the friend he had lost as clear cut as on the day after the fight on the portage. "Good-by, Smoke!" said Jim, gazing through eyes blurred by many a poignant memory at the footprints of the dog he had fed from puppyhood. "Jim never had a better friend than you. AH you had yon gave him, and now he's going home without his dog. Good-by, Smoke!" CHAPTER X nard as they had raced the coming winter south through tl e Pipestone lakes, long since deserted by the Indians, In-dians, the men from Sunset House found that the moccasin telegraph had been even more swift. For one day, as they followed the inlet of the last of the chalU, they overtook a canoe. Anxious to speed the news of Jingwak's Jing-wak's downfall, Omar ran the peter-boro peter-boro alongside the traveling birch-bark. birch-bark. At his mention of the defeat of the sorcerer and his friend Paradis, the men In the boat nodded In affirmation. affirma-tion. "Otchig, the great shaman from God's lake took his ears," said the older Indian. "Jingwak is a liar. He has left the country." "Otchig now lives at the Lake of the Sand Beaches," announced Omar. "Do the Ojibwas believe he Uvea with devils?" The Indian shook his head. "It was the He of Jingwak and Paradis, the trader. In the Little Moon of the Spirit I and my sons will Journey to the House of the Sunset with our furs." When the peterboro had passed from earshot of the other craft, Omar asked his friends: "How dey hear dat so soon?" "A canoe must have started for the Pipestones that night Why didn't you tell them that Esau was the great shaman, Otchig?" demanded Jim. Omar frowned at the lack of astuteness astute-ness in his chief. "Dey breeng dat fur to us Creesmas to have a look at de great shaman. I not teU dem dey look at heem now, w'en de got' no skin to trade." "Omar, you're a statesman! You're wasted in the bush ; you ought to be In Ottawa," insisted Jim, while Esau nodded In approval. Then, between the Pipestones and home, the first battalions of the geese, fleeing the freezing winds, filled the nights with their clamor, and hard on their heels came the snow. Each morning breaking a path with their poles through the heavier film of Ice of the deadwaters, riding the thinner sheets with a pounding bow, the voy-ageurs voy-ageurs raced the winter south. At last, one windy October day, when swirls of fine snow beat round the buildings of Sunset House, and the black lake churned Into wind-driven wind-driven foam, three white shapes, driving driv-ing paddles sheathed with ice, brought the canoe in to the beach. (TO BE CONTINUED.) |