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Show Under rrozen SteiS i Oeoe jMoi'sh ' cophiht oy prNN pub. CO W.N.JJ. SERVICI. FROM THE BEGINNING At hi. fur pott, Sunset Houm, In the Canadian north, Jim Stuart, trader In charge, with hl headman, Omar, rescues Aurora L Blood, daughter of Stuart's rival in the fur business, from an overturned canoe In the Lake. She proves a charming companion, and Stuart Is naturally attracted. Jim's superior, Andrew Christie, displeased at Stuart's trade showing, allows him, at his request, one year to "make good." Paradie bribes an Indian to ambush Jim and Omar. The attempt fails, and Jim takes the Indian to Lettlond. After hearing the story, Lc Blond discharges Paradis. Jim and Aurora acknowledge their mutual love, though Aurore Is returning to Winnipeg, and Jim has planned a canoe trip to make a personal appeal to the Indians, who have persistently refused to trade their furs with him. He finds that Paradis has enlisted their superstition supersti-tion to discourage them from trading with Stuart. Paradis' men ambush Jim and Omar again, but they are not harmed. Esau, half-breed partisan of Stuart, 1-aves on a mysterious mys-terious Journey which they hope will result In the overthrow of "Jlngwak," Indian "medicine man" In the pay of Paradis. CHAPTER VII 12 In the gray dawn the canoe nosed cut of the river through the blanket of mist masking the still surface of Wamotjanil, the OJlhwa's Lake of the Sturgeon. Here, living largely on their sturgeon sctllncs and white-fish cots, ninny hunters caine with their families to pass the swift weeks of summer before they returned to the far valleys and muskegs of their trapping trap-ping country. Here, the Pipestone Indians In-dians had told Jim and Omar, Jlngwak made his home, and from here, In De-comber De-comber and June, he led the hunters south to the trade at LeIIlond's. Ilefore the rising sun cleared the smoking surface of the lake, Jim and Omar went ashore and, hiding their canoe In the brush, ate and slept. From now on, the price of their safety would be eternal vigilance. Their escape es-cape to the south would mean that henceforth Pnradls would be a wanted man an outlaw. For him the dog-teams dog-teams of the police would comb a thousand miles of forest. From Rupert Ru-pert House to Fort Severn his appearance ap-pearance at a post would mean arrest. The very existence of the North-West company would hang on their repudiation repudia-tion of his deeds in their behalf. Le-Blond Le-Blond might have secretly sent him to hide on the Sturgeon, but If Stuart returned south, the master of Bonne Chance must forever wash his hands of Paradis. And this, Parndls, himself, him-self, only too well knew. So In the search to learn the fate of old Esau the men from Sunset House must use the caution of the hunted creatures of the forest. But the lake was a large one, with many Islands. Other connecting lakes lay beyond. And the sole means of learning whether Esau had avoided Farndls and renched the Sturgeon was by talking to the OJIbwns who might have seen or met him. In time some of these Indians would carry the news of Jim's presence to Paradis. But It could not be avoided. They were here, now, to save old Esau, If alive, then, If possible, get out of the country. coun-try. The expedition against the sorcerer, sor-cerer, Jlngwak, had come to this a bare fight for life. And neither Jim nor Omar thought they could win. After dark the peterboro started down the Inke with muffled paddles. On the shore, In the distance, a fire twinkled, like a star, for the nights were growing cool. "Shall we make a stab and see what they know?" suggested Jim. "By daylight day-light Esan would have passed In sight of this camp." "Au-hah. dese peop' are alone here. Eet might be long tnm before dey see odors an' tell dem about us." So thoy landed at the camp. Jim approached the small fire with the customary "bo'-jo's" while Omar squatted In the gloom at the bow of the canoe. His right hand, which rested Inside the gunwale, gripped a cocked rifle. "Bo'-Jo-!" Th old Indian at the fire rose at Jlm'a approach. Stuart's roving eyes saw that he was alone. The fire glow fell upon a tlpl of caribou cari-bou hide, the door flaps of which were closed. The bright, mink-like eyes of the old hunter measured the tall figure of the white man from felt hat' to moccasins, but his weather-cured face, 6eamed by the years, evidenced neither excitement nor curiosity as he said In OJibwa: "Tou come far." "Yes," Jim auswered In the same tongue, "we come far to talk with the people of the Sturgeon country." "What have you to tell them? That Jlngwak, the shaman, grows fat on . the flour and sugar of the trader, Paradis?" Jim searched the shrewd eyes of the Indian for signs of the derision which the speech implied, but found none. Still, the Ojlbwa had used the Identical Identi-cal words employed by Stuart at the Pipestone lakes. This was Interesting. Interest-ing. He would draw the old man out and learn about Esau. Handing the OJibwa a plug of tobacco, he filled his pwn pipe. "I have much to tell them," Jim answered. an-swered. "It may be that you have much to tell me. Are yon alone? Where Is your family?" The Indian gestured toward the tlpl. "She is sick." "Your wife?" Here was a stroke of luck. Stuart carried a small medi cine case. It might he that the woman had some slight ailment that he could aid. He had often dressed wounds for the Indians and knew the use of simple medical remedies. "Yes, she cut her hand and her arm Is large, with much pain." "Infected," thought Jim. "If It hasn't gone too far I can clean It up. That means gratitude the friendship of these people. They may be useful. And there's no time to waste." "You have no son to help you on your trap Hues this winter?" Jim asked. The old man gai.ed grimly Into the fire as he shook his head. "I am alone. I had a son, but he Is a son no more. He left me to follow the trader Paradis, Para-dis, and the long snows I have seen full, and melt to swell the rivers, are many." Here was luck ! "Omar, come up here!" Jim called In English to the sentinel at the canoe. "Go Into the tlpl and look at the sick squaw," came the guttural demand de-mand from the gloom beyond the firelight. fire-light. The wily half-breed was not to be drawn Into a possible trap. With cocked rifle, he waited for proof of the OJlbwa's story. Invisible, he commanded com-manded the tlpl and the fire. "I have medicine and have cured many Indians at the Lake of the Sand Beaches," Jim said. "Your wife has poisoned her hand. The poison moves fast up the arm. It will reach her neck then her heart. If you would have her live, I must see her at once." For a space the Indian scrutinized Jim's frank countenance, lit by the fire glow. Then he entered the tlpl, from which directly Issued a muffled conversation broken by low moans. That there was no treachery here, Jim was satisfied. The Indian emerged from the tent and said: "She Is very sick. If the medicine of the white man will help her, she Is willing to see him." Lighting a torch of rolled birch-bark, birch-bark, the Ojlbwa led the way Into the tlpl. As Jim followed, a crouched, Invisible In-visible figure held a rifle lined on the lodge. Omar was taking no chances. On a pile of skins Jim found a squaw writhing In pain, the hand, cut while cleaning fish, was red and swollen, the lufiammation reaching to the glands of the forearm. And her head was hot with fever. As he had guessed, It was a bad case of infection, but there was a chance of checking It as It had not progressed to the shoulder. Returning Return-ing to his canoe, he took his medicine case from a bag, and had the old man heat a kettle of water. Then he said: "This will give her pain. The wound I Is full of pus of poison. It must be cleaned out and washed with medicine. Does she understand it will hurt her?" The old man smiled grimly. "Has she not been In pain for two sleeps? She says the little knife can be no worse." So, in the flickering light of the birch-bark, Stuart opened the inflamed hand, cleaned out the wound, sterilized It with bichloride of mercury, and bound it up, while the drawn, gray face of the old squaw wet with the sweat of her agony, held to Its stoic Immobility. They went outside to the fire, and the stiff features of the Ojibwa softened soft-ened as he said: "The white man's medicine is strong. She will be well again." "I do not know," replied Jim, considering con-sidering the situation. He njight pull the old woman out of her infection If he stayed and dressed the arm. But that meant the risk of showing themselves them-selves to camps In the vicinity. And time was precious If they were to help Esau. Omar would never agree to It. But then, there was the brave old soul in the tlpl who had not so much as whimpered as he opened the wound, helpless without him. How could he leave her? Out of the murk Omar suddenly appeared ap-peared at the fire. "This is Omar, my friend," said Jim. as the two men exchanged "bo'-jo's" and the customary handshakes. "You have not told me your nanjg." The old man's seamed face expanded expand-ed In a chuckle. "My name is Jinaw." It was Ojibwa for rattlesnake, and Omar's black eyes snapped as he said, significantly thrusting a menacing face Into that of the other: Tou got your poison fangs ready for somebody?" some-body?" With unblinking eyes the Indian an-swon-d the stranee question. "My flings are waiting for the trader, Paradis, and Jlngwak, the shaman." Jim glanced at Omar's surprised fare. Could It be that they had stumbled stum-bled upon a possible ally, or was Jinaw leading them on to betray the object of their search? And yet he had trusted Jim with his squaw's arm. "Why did you ask me If I had come to tell theOJibwas that Jingwak grows fat on the Hour of Paradis?" Jim demanded. de-manded. "Because, the sun before the last sleep, Jingwak was here and said so." "He was here?" Jim was thrilled. This old man might have news of Esau. "Was he alone?" "Yes, he was waiting for Paradis who had been up river." "Did he say why Paradis went up river?" "He said that Paradis went to drive from the country the trader who had been telling the Indians at the Lake of the Great Stones that Jlngwak was a false shaman. I told him he could prove that a lie by curing my squaw who was sick." "What did he do?" "He said he had no time to set up his medicine lodge, but would drive the devils from her arm," said the old man with a grimace. "And he proved he was a wabeno, for the devils stayed," laughed Jim. The face of Jinaw twisted with hate. "That Is why the fangs of Jinaw wait for him," he said. "Has Paradis returned?" "I have not seen him." "Have you seen an old man In a bark canoe traveling this way?" "No." "Your son went with Paradis?" "Yes, Jlngwak said there were nine with him, In two canoes." Then, with a glance at Omar, Jim r Vim -i He Would Draw the Old Man Out and Learn About Esau. said: "Your son Is not killed. We spared him." Jinaw's face reflected his amazement. amaze-ment. "You met them ten of them and they did not stop you?" "My medicine was too strong for them. We left them hying on the trail, but they are not hurt" For a long space Jinaw's shrewd eyes scrutinized the frank countenance coun-tenance of the white man. Then he said quietly: "You have the face of one whose heart Is a stranger to fear; you should have killed them. They will never let you leave this lake alive." Ignoring the cheerful prophesy, Omar broke Into the conversation, which had been carried on entirely In Ojibwa. "Do all the people here believe be-lieve in this wabeno, Jingwak?" "No, but many of the young men do." "Will the old men listen to us If we talk to them?" "They will listen, but Paradis will find you with his young men and kill you." Omar grimaced in Jinaw's grave face. "The medicine of this white man laughs at knife and bullet Ask Paradis what he did with his nine men." Then Omar's swart face hardened hard-ened into a menacing mask. "The fangs of Jinaw seek the trader Paradis Para-dis and this wabeno. They, also, are our enemies. Jinaw Is old, his son has left him, and he needs friends. We will be his friends." The three filled their pipes and sat down by the fire, while Omar, now convinced that the old Indian was sincere, lost n time la planning to make u-? of him In their search for E.au. As an earnest of their friendship, friend-ship, Omar brought from the canoe, flour, su'ar, tea. and tobacco, none of which the old man had, and gave the sick squaw a dipper of stimulating tea, which she gratefully swallowed. Then, heartened by the good fortune which had led them to the tipl of Jinaw, the Rattlesnake, they paddled a mile down the shore and hid canoe and outfit as the young moon broke through the clouds above a lake drifted drift-ed with shadows. While the sky cleared and, here and there, the mirror of the lake picked up the stars, one question harassed the thoughts of the two men who had been told by Jinaw that their canoe would never turn south up the racing Sturgeon: Where was Esau? As the night deepened and the moon dipped toward the black buttresses of the spruce ridge flanking the western shore. Its beams touched two blurred shapes stretched in an open space beside be-side a stony beach. Far out on the lake the funereal night wall of a loon lifted from the shadows. Then, for a long space, forest and lake slumbered, until, at last, on the heavy silence of the timbered shore broke the deep-toned deep-toned "whoo-hoo-hoo, whooo-whooo 1" of the horned owl. But the shapes In the blankets lay like dead men. Again the hush of the tomb returned to the forest, while the moon rode from sight behind a drift of cloud, and murk swallowed the muffled figures fig-ures on the shore. For a time the patrols of the forest night gave no voice, then the hunting call of the feathered assassin of the shadows again marred the deep peace. But the shaggy sentinel, Smoke, no longer kept guard beside his sleeping master. The sinister sound was unheard. The blanketed heaps did not stir. Time passed and the moon broke from Its curtain of cloud to light the lake shore and touch the wrapped shapes near the hidden canoe. Then, close by, like the stealthy movement of padded feet, sounded a faint rustle. For a long space, silence; and the sound was repeated. Again, silence, while the night grew older; until, with the noiselessness of a snake, something left the packed gloom of the scrub and writhed into the moonlight. moon-light. Near the two still shapes now lay a third. Again movement in the black murk of the brush, the swift progress of a dark body, and where two had lain now lay four. Heavy with silence the forest slumbered slum-bered on. Then a moonbeam touched bright metal In the lifted hands of two kneeling men as they struck at the huddled figures between them struck again. But their knife hands did not lift for the third blow at the sleeping men, for, like the rush of stalking wolves, the Impact of two heavy bodies ground their faces. Into the soil, as the skinning knives of Omar Boisvert and Jim Stuart drove deep into their backs. Leaving the tricked henchmen of Paradis stiffening beside the blanketed heaps which the men from Sunset House had cunningly arranged to simulate the shapes of sleeping men, Jim and Omar listened In the murk of the shore willows for the sound of muffled paddles or men moving in the forest in the rear of the camp. "I tole you de trick would work," Omar breathed into the ear of his chief. "Jinaw, he fool me, but I have fear jus' de same. He tole dem we go little piece down de lak' to sleep." "Old Jinaw 1 To think he would betray us!" murmured Jim, bitter with the thought qf the treachery of the Indian whom he had befriended. "Dey see us from de lak' w'ile we talk to de Rattlesnake at de fire. Hees fangs weel spit no more poison w'en Omar squezze hees t'roat" "And his squaw poor old soul I" "Ah-hah I She ees de moder of wan ov dose who come to keel us een our sleep, mebbe. You sorry for her?" "Yes, I am sorry for her. She was so game when I hurt her. I believe I could have saved her, too. Now she'll die if you put Jinaw out of the way." "Shish 1" The steel-hard fingers of Omar closed on Jim's arm as the straining ears of the two waited for the repetition repeti-tion of a sound back in the forest Shortly it came. (TO BE CONTINUED.) |