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diff --git a/old/69702-h/69702-h.htm b/old/69702-h/69702-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 913a057..0000000 --- a/old/69702-h/69702-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,12358 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Backwoods Princess by Hulbert Footner</title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg"/> - <meta name="cover" content="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - body { margin-left:8%;margin-right:10%; } - .pageno { right: 1%; font-size: x-small; background-color: inherit; color: silver; - text-indent: 0em; text-align: right; position: absolute; - border:1px solid silver; padding:1px 3px; font-style:normal; - font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration:none; } - .pageno:after { color: gray; content: attr(title); } - .it { font-style:italic; } - .bold { font-weight:bold; } - .sc { font-variant:small-caps; } - p { text-indent:0; margin-top:0.5em; margin-bottom:0.5em; - text-align: justify; } - div.lgc { } - div.lgl { } - div.lgc p { text-align:center; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; } - div.lgl p { text-indent: -17px; margin-left:17px; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; } - h1 { - text-align:center; - font-weight:normal; - page-break-before: always; - font-size:1.2em; margin:2em auto 1em auto - } - - .sub-head { font-size: smaller; } - - .dropcap { - float:left; - clear: left; - margin:0 0.1em 0 0; - padding:0; - line-height: 1.0em; - font-size: 200%; - } - - - .lead-in { - font-variant: small-caps; - } - - hr.tbk { border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width:30%; margin-left:35%; margin-right:35%; } - hr.pbk { border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:100%; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:2em } - .figcenter { - text-align:center; - margin:1em auto; - page-break-inside: avoid; - } - - div.blockquote { margin:1em 2em; text-align:justify; } - .nobreak { page-break-before: avoid; } - p.line { text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; } - table { page-break-inside: avoid; } - table.center { margin:0.5em auto; border-collapse: collapse; padding:3px; } - table.flushleft { margin:0.5em 0em; border-collapse: collapse; padding:3px; } - table.left { margin:0.5em 1.2em; border-collapse: collapse; padding:3px; } - td.leader-dots { - max-width:40em; - overflow-x:hidden; - display:block; - } - td.leader-dots:after { - float:left; - width:0; - white-space:nowrap; - content: "......................................................................................................................................................"; - text-indent:0; - } - td.leader-dots span { - background:white; - } - - .tab1c1 { } - .tab1c2 { } - .tab1c3 { } - .tdStyle0 { - padding: 2px 5px; text-align:right; vertical-align:top; - } - .tdStyle1 { - padding: 2px 5px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top;padding-left:29px; text-indent:-24px; - } - .pindent { margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:1.5em; } - .noindent { margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:0; } - .hang { padding-left:1.5em; text-indent:-1.5em; } - </style> - <style type="text/css"> - p {margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-indent:1.5em;} - h1 {font-family: serif; font-size:1.5em; text-align:center; - margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1.5em; line-height:180%; } - .sub-head {font-size:0.75em;} - .lead-in{font-size:130%;} - hr.tbk { border:none; border-bottom:1px solid; - width:30%; margin-left:35%; margin-right:35%; - margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; visibility:hidden;} - .dropcap {font-size: 250%; margin:0em 0.1em 0 0; } - .pageno {visibility:hidden; } - .bbox { - border-style: solid; - border-width: medium; - width: 80%; - margin-right: auto; - margin-left: auto; - padding: 1em;} - .bboxdouble { - border-style: double; - border-width: 10px; - margin: 30px ; - padding: 1em;} - </style> - </head> - <body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of A backwoods princess, by Hulbert Footner</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: A backwoods princess</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Hulbert Footner</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: January 4, 2023 [eBook #69702]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Al Haines, Jen Haines & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BACKWOODS PRINCESS ***</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' id='iid-0000' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='lgl' style=''> <!-- rend=';ml:10em;fs:1.25em;' --> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>By HULBERT FOOTNER</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>__________________________</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>A Backwoods Princess</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>Madame Storey</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>Antennae</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>The Shanty Sled</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>The Under Dogs</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>The Wild Bird</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>Officer!</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>Ramshackle House</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>The Deaves Affair</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>The Owl Taxi</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>The Substitute Millionaire</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>Thieves’ Wit</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>New Rivers of the North</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>__________________________</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>NEW YORK:</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:10em;font-size:1.25em;'>GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='bbox'> -<div class='bboxdouble'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;font-size:2.5em;font-weight:bold;'>A BACKWOODS</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:2.5em;font-weight:bold;'>PRINCESS</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;font-size:1.5em;font-style:italic;'>By</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-bottom:5em;font-size:2em;'>HULBERT FOOTNER</p> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/logo.png' alt='' id='iid-0001' style='width:15%;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;font-size:1.5em;font-weight:bold;'>NEW YORK</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;font-size:2em;'>GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY</p> - -</div> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='lgc' style='margin-bottom:10em;'> <!-- rend=';fs:1em;' --> -<p class='line' style='font-size:1em;'>COPYRIGHT, <span class='it'>1926</span>,</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:1em;'>BY HULBERT FOOTNER</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<div class='lgc' style=''> <!-- rend=';fs:1em;' --> -<p class='line' style='font-size:1em;'>A BACKWOODS PRINCESS</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:1em;'>—Q—</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:1em;'>PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;font-size:2em;font-weight:bold;'>CONTENTS</p> - -<table id='tab1' summary='' class='center' style='font-size:1.25em;'> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'><span style='font-size:x-small'>CHAPTER</span></td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle1'></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><span style='font-size:x-small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>I</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>Catastrophe</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_9'>9</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>II</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>The Burial of Blackburn</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_22'>22</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>III</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>The Slaves Without a Master</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_30'>30</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>IV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>At Fort Good Hope</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_40'>40</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>V</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>Yellow-Head</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_51'>51</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>VI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>The Dinner Party</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_64'>64</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>VII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>The Cloven Hoof</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_79'>79</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>VIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>Heavenly Music</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_94'>94</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>IX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>An Upset</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_102'>102</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>X</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>Contraband</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_118'>118</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>A Meeting</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_133'>133</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>Fur</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_140'>140</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>The Fur Goes Out</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_156'>156</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XIV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>The Discovery</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_167'>167</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>Shadowing</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_179'>179</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XVI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>With Conacher</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_190'>190</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XVII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>The Meeting</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_201'>201</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XVIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>Confusion</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_207'>207</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XIX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>Preparing for Danger</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_216'>216</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>Besieged</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_228'>228</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XXI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>A Leap for Freedom</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_239'>239</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XXII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>The Search</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_255'>255</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XXIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>Hunger</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_273'>273</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XXIV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>Downstream</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_287'>287</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'>XXV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle1'><span>Conclusion</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle0'><a href='#Page_305'>305</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;font-size:2em;font-weight:bold;'>A BACKWOODS PRINCESS</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='9' id='Page_9'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER I<br/> <span class='sub-head'>CATASTROPHE</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>S</span>pring</span> was in full tide at Blackburn’s Post, but -Laurentia Blackburn and the four Marys were -confined to the Women’s House by rain. There sat -the girlish Princess surrounded by her handmaidens -in the midst of a rude magnificence which best sets off -a beautiful woman. Her feet were hidden in a -superb polar bearskin which had come down from -the Arctic in trade; and the chair in which she sat -was completely covered by the frosted pelt of a -grizzly, his huge head hanging down over the back. -She was a black-haired Princess with something untamed -about her like the creatures whose pelts decorated -her chamber. Around her neck hung an -astonishing necklace of great pearls strung alternately -with water-worn nuggets of gold. Her black dress -was worked at the neck and wrists with an Indian -design in brightly dyed porcupine quills.</p> - -<p>The four Marys were Indian girls, small and -comely, with glistening copper faces, and raven hair -drawn smoothly back from their brows. They were -clad alike in black cotton dresses, with doeskin moccasins -upon their feet; and a stranger would have -been hard put to it to tell them apart. However, he -would presently have perceived that one of them -stood in quite a different relation to her mistress from -the others. This was Mary-Lou who was of the -Beaver tribe, whereas the others were only Slavis. -She was the Princess’ foster sister. She could speak -English. All four girls looked at their mistress with -fear and respect; but only Mary-Lou’s face was -capable of softening with love. She was reading aloud -from “The Lady of the Lake.”</p> - -<p>The others were Mary-Belle; Mary-Rose and -Mary-Ann. The first-named crouched in front of the -small fire which had been lighted to mitigate the -dampness out-of-doors. It was her task to see that -it neither went out, nor became hot enough to scorch -the Princess’ face. The other two sat on a bearskin -engaged in embroidering velvet-soft moccasins with -gayly colored silks. None of them could understand -a word of what Mary-Lou was reading from the -book; and the gentle, droning voice was fatally conducive -to sleep. The Princess watched them lazily -through the lowered fringe of her black lashes; and, -when a head was seen to nod, she exploded like a -fire cracker.</p> - -<p>“Sit up straight! Your head is going down between -your shoulders! Before you are twenty-five -you will be the shape of a sack of hay! Your husband -if you ever get one at all will look for another -wife!”</p> - -<p>It especially terrified the girls to be scolded in the -English they could not understand. This particular -rebuke was addressed to Mary-Belle but all three of -the Slavis cringed, and their dark eyes turned helplessly -this way and that like a frightened deer’s. -Mary-Lou looked apprehensive, too, expecting her -turn to come next.</p> - -<p>“Well, go on with the book,” said Loseis crossly. -The name Laurentia, being unmanageable on the -tongue of the Indians, they had given her this one, -which means “little wild duck.”</p> - -<p>The tremulous voice resumed.</p> - -<p>“Oh, shut the book!” Loseis cried immediately -afterwards. “It is a foolish book! It tires my -ears!”</p> - -<p>“Shall I get another book?” faltered Mary-Lou.</p> - -<p>“What’s the use? We have read them all. They -are no better than this book. All foolish, goody-goody -books!”</p> - -<p>All four red girls sat scared and silent.</p> - -<p>Loseis jumped up as if she had strong springs in -her legs. “Can’t you say something, any of you? -Are you all struck dumb? You can chatter fast -enough among yourselves when I am not there!” -She amplified her remarks in the Slavi tongue.</p> - -<p>They were struck dumb indeed, then. They looked -at each other helplessly, each one mutely begging her -neighbor to speak.</p> - -<p>“Oh, leave me! leave me! you foolish pudding -faces!” cried Loseis, waving her hands. “Or I shall -have to beat you!”</p> - -<p>They faded into the kitchen with alacrity. Only -Mary-Lou looked back.</p> - -<p>“Mary-Lou, you stay here,” commanded Loseis. -“I’ve got to have somebody to talk to!”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou leaned shyly against the door frame; -pleased at being called back, yet terrified, too. Loseis -paced up and down the room like a slim black panther, -her eyes shooting greenish sparks.</p> - -<p>It was a broad, low room with but two tiny windows, -glass being such a difficult article to bring in -seven hundred miles by pack train. There was a -capacious fireplace, cunningly built out of rounded -stones from the creek bed. The log walls had been -plastered with clay, hardened now almost to the consistency -of brick; and overhead was spread a canvas -ceiling cloth to keep in the warmth. Walls and ceiling -had been washed with a warm terra cotta color, -which made a rich background for the beautiful furs. -Over the carved bedstead in the corner was flung a -robe made of hundreds of raccoons’ tails, the black -stripes worked into an elaborate geometrical design. -There were other robes made of otters’ skins, of -lynx paws, of silver foxes. On the walls hung many -beautiful examples of Indian handicraft.</p> - -<p>Glancing at the drooping head of the red girl, -Loseis cried: “Mary-Lou, you’ve got as much spirit -as a lump of pemmican! When you sit by the fire I -wonder that you do not melt and run down in -grease!”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou’s head went lower still, and her eyes -filled.</p> - -<p>Seeing this, Loseis became angrier still. “There -you go! Of course you’re <span class='it'>good</span>! That’s what makes -me mad! Because I’m not good at all! I’ve got the -temper of a fiend! Well, do you suppose I enjoy -losing it? . . . I know I ought to say I’m sorry now, -but it sticks in my throat!”</p> - -<p>“I not want that,” murmured Mary-Lou. “I am -lovin’ you anyway.”</p> - -<p>“Well . . . I love you, too,” grumbled Loseis, -shamefaced as a boy. “But I wish you weren’t so -humble. It’s bad for me. This is Blackburn’s Post -on Blackburn’s River; all this is Blackburn’s country, -and I’m Blackburn’s daughter. There is nobody to -stand up to me. I am too young to be the mistress. -I don’t know anything. . . . That white man laughed -at me as one laughs at a child!”</p> - -<p>Loseis had stopped her pacing. Her head hung -down. “I ought to have a white woman to tell me -things,” she said wistfully. “In all my life I have -seen but one woman of my own kind. That was the -governess my father brought in for me. I used to -mock her. But now I wish I had her back. She -had nice manners. . . . He laughed at me. . . .”</p> - -<p>She strayed to the second little crooked window, -which was at the end of the room furthest from the -fireplace. It overlooked a natural meadow below, -where the tepees of the Slavis were built upon both -sides of a creek which emptied into the main stream -just beyond. In front of the Post the main river -described a great convex bend, so that Loseis could -look both up-stream and down. This bend was -formed by a bold promontory of a hill which forced -the river to go around its base. The point of this -hill had been sliced off by the water, leaving a precipitous -yellow cut-bank facing the Post. On the summit, -startlingly conspicuous against a group of dark -pine trees, was a fence of white palings enclosing a -tiny plot with a cross rising out of it. By day and by -night too, that grave dominated the Post.</p> - -<p>“Ah! if only my mother had lived!” sighed -Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Let me read the book again,” suggested Mary-Lou, -to divert her mind.</p> - -<p>Loseis shook her head impatiently. She came away -from the window. “I am not in the humor for it. -I guess it is too fine for me. . . .” She resumed her -uneven pacing. “Mary-Lou,” she suddenly cried in -a voice full of pain, “when a man and a woman love -I am sure they do not think such elegant thoughts as -are in that book. Ah! the heart burns a hole in your -breast! It is impossible to think at all!”</p> - -<p>The red girl’s eyes followed her, full of compassion.</p> - -<p>Observing that look, Loseis said sharply: “You -must not think I am in love with that white man, -Conacher. Oh, no! I was just imagining. I am far -from loving him. I hate him!”</p> - -<p>“You are not hating Conacher,” murmured Mary-Lou -sadly. “Why say that to me?”</p> - -<p>Loseis stamped her foot. “I tell you I hate him!” -she cried. “That is enough for you! . . . What -right had he to treat me like a child? I am Blackburn’s -daughter. My father is the master of this -country. And who is this white man? A poor man -in a canoe with only two servants! Nobody ever -heard of him before. My father was angry at his -coming, and I was angry. We do not want white -men coming here to spoil the fur trade!”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou’s silence suggested that she was far -from being convinced.</p> - -<p>“A poor man with no outfit at all!” Loseis repeated -louder. “Yet he held his head as if he was as good -as my father! He must be a fool. He talked to me -as if I was anybody at all, and his eyes laughed when -I became angry . . . !” In the midst of her tirade -Loseis suddenly broke down. “Oh, I wish I could -forget him!” she cried, with the angry tears springing -to her eyes.</p> - -<p>This sign of weakness gave Mary-Lou the courage -to glide to her mistress, and wreathe her arms about -her. “I think Conacher was a good man,” she whispered. -“His eyes were true.”</p> - -<p>These words were very sweet to Loseis; but she -would not openly confess it. However, she gave -Mary-Lou a little squeeze, before withdrawing herself -from her arms. “No,” she said; “I shall stand -by my father. My father is the finest man living. -Conacher is gone. I shall never see him again. I -shall quickly forget him.</p> - -<p>“It was only because he took me by surprise,” she -went on with an eagerness in which there was something -pathetically childlike. “When he came paddling -down our river with the two Beaver Indians I was -like one struck on the head. It was like a white -man falling from the skies. No white man ever came -down our river before; and he so young and strong -and full of laughter! He wore no hat; and the sunlight -was snared in his yellow hair. I never saw hair -like that. . . .”</p> - -<p>“He like you, too, ver’ moch,” ventured Mary-Lou. -“I was there when he landed. I saw it burn -up like fire in his blue eyes.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I saw that, too,” murmured Loseis, averting -her face. “But why did he change right away?”</p> - -<p>“Because you treat him like poor, dirty Slavi,” -said Mary-Lou. “No white man take that.”</p> - -<p>“That is because I was so confused,” whispered -poor Loseis. She suddenly covered her face with -her hands. “Oh, what will he be thinking of me!” -she groaned.</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou’s eyes were all sympathy; but she could -think of nothing to say.</p> - -<p>Loseis drifted back to the window, where she -stood with her back to Mary-Lou. After awhile, -without turning around, she said in an offhand, experimental -sort of voice: “I have a good mind to see -him again.”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou merely gasped.</p> - -<p>“Oh, not meaning anything in particular,” Loseis -said quickly. “There never could be anything between -us. But just to show him that I am not a redskin, -and then leave him.”</p> - -<p>“How could you see him?” faltered Mary-Lou.</p> - -<p>“He is camped with his outfit alongside the Limestone -Rapids, one hundred miles down,” Loseis went -on in that offhand voice. “He has to break the rocks -with a hammer, and study them where they split. -It is what they call a geologist. . . .” Her assumed -indifference suddenly collapsed. “Let us go to see -him, Mary-Lou,” she blurted out breathlessly. “We -could make it in a long day’s paddling with the current; -three days to come back if we worked hard. -We wouldn’t let him know we had come to see him. -We would say we were hunting. . . .”</p> - -<p>“Oh! . . . Oh! . . .” gasped Mary-Lou. “Girls -do not hunt.”</p> - -<p>“He doesn’t know what <span class='it'>I</span> do!” cried Loseis. “I -<span class='it'>must</span> see him! It kills me to have him thinking that -I am a common, ignorant sort of girl! Let us start -at daybreak to-morrow!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! no!” whispered Mary-Lou, paralyzed by -the very thought. “Blackburn . . . Blackburn . . . !”</p> - -<p>“He couldn’t say anything until we’d been and -come,” said Loseis coolly. “Anyhow, I’m not afraid -of my father. My spirit is as strong as his. He can’t -shout <span class='it'>me</span> down!”</p> - -<p>“No! No!” reiterated the red girl. “If you go -after him like that, he think little of you.”</p> - -<p>In her heart Loseis recognized the truth of this, -and she fell into a sullen silence. After awhile she -said: “Then I will make him come back here. I will -send a message. . . . Oh, not a letter, you foolish -girl!” she added in response to Mary-Lou’s startled -look.</p> - -<p>“What kind of message?”</p> - -<p>“I will make a little raft and send it floating down -on the current,” said Loseis dreamily. “I will set up -a little stick on the raft, with a ribbon tied to it, a -piece of my hair. I think that will bring him -back . . .”</p> - -<p>“Maybe it float past his camp in the nighttime,” -said Mary-Lou, in her soft, sad voice. “How you -know?”</p> - -<p>“Then I will send down two,” said Loseis. “One -in the day and one in the night. He will see one of -them.”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou was astonished by the cleverness of this -idea.</p> - -<p>“And then when he comes back,” said Loseis quite -coolly. “I will say that I did not send it. I will say -that it is a custom of the red girls to make offerings to -the Spirit of the River. I think that will make him -feel pretty small. But I shall not laugh at him. Oh, -no! I shall be very polite; polite and proud as Blackburn’s -daughter ought to be. And I shall send him -away again.”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou looked somewhat dubious as to the -feasibility of this program; but held her tongue.</p> - -<p>“I shall send him away again,” repeated Loseis with -great firmness, “and after that I shall think of no man -but my father. Before Conacher came my father was -enough for me; and after he has gone my father will -be enough. I am lucky to have such a father; so -handsome and brave and strong-willed. . . .” Loseis -suddenly became dreamy again. “But Conacher was -not afraid of my father. That young man was not -afraid of my father. I have never seen that before. -. . .”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou permitted herself to smile tenderly.</p> - -<p>Seeing it, Loseis colored up hotly, and became very -firm again. “Never mind that! There is nobody like -my father! He is the finest man in the world! I shall -be a better daughter to him after this. I will do -everything he wants. Ah! my father is like a -king . . . !”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou was suddenly drawn to the end window -by some disquieting sounds from the Slavi village below. -She cried out in surprise: “Jimmy Moosenose is -running between the tepees.”</p> - -<p>“What do I care?” said Loseis, annoyed by this interruption.</p> - -<p>“He is running fast,” said Mary-Lou, her voice -scaling up. “He speaks to the people; they throw up -their hands; they run after him; they fall down. -There is something the matter!”</p> - -<p>Loseis, alarmed, ran to join her at the window. -Together they watched the old Indian come laboring -up the little hill to the grassy bench on which the buildings -of the Post stood. Jimmy Moosenose was a -Beaver Indian, and Blackburn’s right-hand man by reason -of being the only man beside the trader himself, -who could speak the English and the Slavi tongues. -There were no white men at Blackburn’s Post.</p> - -<p>When Jimmy passed beyond range of their vision -the girls transferred themselves to the other window. -The Indian struck across the grass straight for their -door. A tatterdemalion crowd of natives and dogs -streamed after him. Fear clutched at Loseis’ brave -heart; and she became as pale as paper. An instant -later Jimmy Moosenose burst in. The others dared -not follow him through the door.</p> - -<p>“What is the matter?” demanded Loseis haughtily.</p> - -<p>At first the old man could only pant and groan, -while his body rocked in despair. Loseis seized him as -if she would shake out the news by main strength.</p> - -<p>“Speak! Speak!” she cried.</p> - -<p>“Blackburn . . . !” he gasped. “Blackburn . . . !”</p> - -<p>“My father! Hurt! Take me to him!” said Loseis -crisply. She made as if to force her way out through -the crowd.</p> - -<p>“They . . . are bringing him,” faltered the old man.</p> - -<p>Loseis fell back against the door frame. “Bringing -him?” she echoed faintly.</p> - -<p>The old man’s chin was on his breast. “Blackburn -dead!” he said.</p> - -<p>Loseis’ arms dropped to her sides; her widened eyes -were like tragic black stars. “Dead?” she repeated in -quite an ordinary voice. “That is impossible!”</p> - -<p>Speech came to the old man. “It was the black stallion,” -he cried. “I tell Blackburn, many tam I tell -him that horse kill him some day. He jus’ laugh. He -say: ‘I lak master that horse.’ Wah! what good -master when both are dead! . . . It was the high cut-bank -at Swallow Bend. Blackburn, he spur that horse -to edge of bank to mak’ him rear and wheel. Blackburn -he is laugh lak a boy. The horse is crazy -mad. He put his head down. He no stop. He -jomp over. He jomp clear in the air. Wah! -when I see that, my legs are lak water! When -I look over the bank there is nothing but water. -Both are gone. We get canoe. Down river I see -Blackburn’s leg stickin’ out. We pull him out. His -neck is broke. . . .”</p> - -<p>The crowd gathered outside the house, broke with -a common impulse into a weird, wordless chant of -death, the women’s voices rising piercing shrill. -There was no sound of human grief in it; and the -open-mouthed copper-colored faces expressed nothing -either; the bright, flat, black eyes were as soulless as -glass. They pointed their chins up like howling dogs.</p> - -<p>Loseis clapped her hands to her head. “Stop that -ungodly noise!” she cried.</p> - -<p>Even old Jimmy looked scandalized. “They sing -for Blackburn,” he protested.</p> - -<p>“Stop it! Stop it!” she cried. Forcing her way -out, Loseis ran to meet the cortège that was crawling -up the rise towards Blackburn’s house.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='22' id='Page_22'></span><h1>CHAPTER II<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE BURIAL OF BLACKBURN</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>H</span>ector Blackburn’s</span> own room revealed a -beautiful austerity fitting to the chamber of -death. It was plastered and ceiled like the room of -Loseis, but the color was a cool stone gray. The few -articles of furniture that it contained had all been constructed -in the old style, carved and polished by the -owner himself, who had a taste that way. The lustrous -pelts were more sparingly used here.</p> - -<p>The narrow bedstead with its four slender columns -had been dragged into the center of the room. Upon -it lay the body of Hector Blackburn clad in decent -black clothes; his big hands crossed on his breast. Beside -the bed knelt Loseis, her rapt gaze fixed on her -father’s face. Six feet two in height, and forty-eight -inches around the chest, he made a splendid figure of -death. There was not a white thread to be seen in -his spreading black beard, nor in the plentiful wavy -hair of his crown. To be sure, the high red color was -strangely gone out of his transparent cheeks; and the -passionate features were composed into a look of -haughty peace. For sheer manhood, truly a father to -be proud of.</p> - -<p>Loseis thought of the feats of strength and daring -that had made his name famous throughout the Northwest -Territories; how he had strangled a full grown -black bear with his naked hands; how he had leaped -from his canoe at the very brink of the American -Falls and had brought safely ashore an Indian who -was clinging to a rock. He had been even more remarkable -for his strength of will. The last of the -great free traders, he had defied the power of the -mighty Company, and had prospered exceedingly. He -held his vast territory against all comers, by the power -of his personality alone. Thinking of these things -Loseis’ mind was confused. There lay his still body -before her eyes, but what had become of the wild -energy which had lately animated it? Surely, surely -that could not be blown out like a candle flame.</p> - -<p>Dragging herself to her feet, she went into the adjoining -kitchen. She had had no opportunity to -change her dress, but in an impulse of grief had torn -off the gay embroidery; and now she was all in black -like the corpse. In the kitchen Mary-Lou sat huddled -on the floor, with her arms wrapped around her head. -Jimmy Moosenose stood beside the open door, looking -out, a withered, bent little figure, but still capable -of activity. As Loseis entered he said in an expressionless -voice:</p> - -<p>“They have gone.”</p> - -<p>“Who?” asked Loseis sharply.</p> - -<p>“The people; all the people.”</p> - -<p>She ran to the door. It was true; every tepee was -gone from the meadow below. Except for certain -litter abandoned in their haste there was no sign that -a village had ever stood there. The Slavis had taken -flight and vanished like a cloud of insects.</p> - -<p>“Where have they gone?” demanded Loseis in astonishment. -Though she had been born amongst -them she did not understand this inscrutable, timid, -savage race. It was impossible for any white man to -know what went on inside their cramped skulls, Blackburn -used to say. He had ruled them without making -any attempt at understanding.</p> - -<p>“Gone up river,” muttered Jimmy.</p> - -<p>“For why?”</p> - -<p>“They moch scare’.”</p> - -<p>“But they are familiar with death. Death comes -to all alike.”</p> - -<p>Jimmy Moosenose cast an uneasy look towards the -room where the dead man lay. He was near enough -akin to the Slavis to share in their fears. “They think -ver’ powerful strong spirit live in Blackburn’s body,” -he muttered. “Now that spirit free they not know -what it do to them.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, what nonsense!” cried Loseis helplessly.</p> - -<p>“What we do now?” asked Jimmy fearfully.</p> - -<p>Loseis looked him over. “Are you man enough to -ride all night?” she asked brusquely. “The trail is -good.”</p> - -<p>“What trail?” asked Jimmy with a terrified face.</p> - -<p>“To Fort Good Hope to fetch the parson,” said -Loseis in surprise.</p> - -<p>“It is ondred-feefty mile,” faltered Jimmy.</p> - -<p>“What of it? Two days to go and two to come. -You can drive three spare horses before you. I don’t -care if you kill them all.”</p> - -<p>“I not man enough for that,” said Jimmy shaking -his head.</p> - -<p>“Well six days to go and come then. I’d go myself, -but I know you two wouldn’t stay here alone.”</p> - -<p>Jimmy’s and Mary-Lou’s frightened faces testified -eloquently to that. Jimmy shook his head. “No -good! No good!” he said. “It is summer time now. -He no keep six days.”</p> - -<p>Loseis groaned aloud. In her desperate helplessness -she looked like a little girl. “How can I bury -him without a parson!” she cried.</p> - -<p>“You have the parson’s little book,” said Jimmy. -“You can say the prayers from that. It is just as -good.”</p> - -<p>Loseis turned her back on them, that they might -not see her childish, twisted face. “Very well,” she -said in a strangled voice; “I will be the parson.”</p> - -<p>“What I do now?” asked Jimmy Moosenose.</p> - -<p>“First you must make a coffin.”</p> - -<p>“There is no planks.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, tear down the counter in the store!” cried -Loseis with a burst of irritation. “Must I think of -everything?”</p> - -<p>“You tell me how big?” asked Jimmy, with another -glance of sullen terror towards the inner room.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I will measure,” said Loseis. “And the coffin -must be covered all over with good black cloth from -the store. Mary-Lou will put it on with tacks. And -lined with white cloth. While you are making it I will -go across the river, and dig the grave. We will bury -him to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>“That is well,” said Jimmy with a look of relief. -“Then the people come back.”</p> - -<p>“Ah, the people!” cried Loseis with a flash of angry -scorn. “They are well-named Slaves!”</p> - -<p>At the end of May in the latitude of Blackburn’s -Post it does not become dark until nearly ten; and it -was fully that hour before Loseis, having completed -her task, returned dog-weary, across the river. During -the balance of the night she sat wide-eyed and dry-eyed -beside her dead, her hands in her lap, planning -in her childlike and passionate way how best to conduct -everything next day with dignity and honor.</p> - -<p>At sun-up Jimmy Moosenose was despatched to the -river shore to construct a raft, the light bark canoes -that they possessed not being sufficient to ferry the -coffin across. No flowers were available so early in -the season, and Mary-Lou was set to work to twist a -handsome wreath of the crisp green leaves of the high-bush -cranberry. Neither Jimmy nor Mary-Lou could -be induced to enter Blackburn’s room, so Loseis herself -dragged the completed coffin in beside the bed; -and she unaided, managed somehow to lift the body -into it. In life Hector Blackburn had weighed more -than two hundred pounds. It was Loseis, too, who -nailed the lid on the coffin with an aim no better than -any other woman’s. Those crookedly driven nails -distressed her sorely.</p> - -<p>When Jimmy came up from the river, they slipped -short lengths of pole under the coffin, and rolled it to -the door. Outside the house, since there was nothing -in the nature of wheels at Blackburn’s Post, they -hitched an old horse directly to the coffin, and dragged -it at a slow pace over the grass down hill to the river. -Jimmy led the horse, while Loseis and Mary-Lou -walked behind, steadying the coffin with ropes affixed -to each side. During this part of the journey Loseis -was all child. Every time the coffin [word missing in original] over an unevenness -her heart was in her mouth. “Oh! Oh! -Oh!” she cried involuntarily; and her agonized eyes -seemed to add: “My darling! did that hurt you?”</p> - -<p>At the river edge they worked the coffin onto the -raft with rollers and short lengths of plank; and -Loseis draped the Post flag upon it, and placed the -green wreath. Jimmy and Mary-Lou propelled the -raft across with long poles, while the slender, black-clad -figure of Loseis stood looking down at the coffin -like a symbolical figure of Bereavement. In her grief-drowned -eyes there was a look of piteous pride, too; -for the black coffin with its flag and green wreath -looked beautiful.</p> - -<p>The smooth brown river moved down in silky -eddies; the freshly budded greens of poplar and willow -made the shores lovely, backed by the grave, unchanging -tones of the evergreens. Behind them the -low, solid buildings of the Post crouched on the bench -above the river with a sort of human dignity; before -them rose the steep grassy promontory with the waiting -grave on top. Over their heads smiled the Northern -summer sky of an enchanting tenderness of blue -that is not revealed to lower latitudes.</p> - -<p>Landing upon the further shore they caught another -horse—there was no lack of horses at Blackburn’s -Post. In order to drag the coffin up the rough, -steep hill it was necessary to construct a travois of -poles to lift the front end clear of the ground. The -horse was fastened between the poles as between -shafts. At the top of the hill Loseis had removed the -palings; and the new grave yawned beside the old one. -She had dug the shallow hole with sloping ends, that -the horse might walk right through, leaving his burden -in its place.</p> - -<p>The animal was then liberated; and Loseis stood on -one side, prayer-book in hand, with Jimmy Moosenose -and Mary-Lou facing her on the other. It was a -meagerly attended burial for the great lord of that -country. Loseis read the noble prayers in a grave -voice charged with emotion. The sound of it caused -the tears to run silently down the smooth cheeks of -Mary-Lou; but Jimmy merely looked uncomfortable. -The feelings of white people were strange to him. He -had given his master a doglike devotion while he -lived; but he was dead now, and that was an end to it.</p> - -<p>“Man that is born of woman hath but a short time -to live and is full of misery,” read the brave young -voice. “He cometh up and is cut down like a flower; -he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth -in one stay. In the midst of life we are in death; of -whom may we seek for succour but of Thee, O Lord, -who for our sins art justly displeased?”</p> - -<p>When she came to the end of the service, Loseis -dropped the book and involuntarily broke into an extempore -prayer, standing with straight back and lifted -face like an Indian, her arms at her sides. Her words -were hardly couched in the same humble strain as -those of the book; but the passionate sincerity of the -speaker redeemed them from irreverence.</p> - -<p>“O God, this is my father. He was a strong man, -God, and you must make allowances for him. You -gave him a proud heart and a terrible anger when he -was crossed, and it would not be fair to judge him -like common men. He could have done anything he -wanted here, because he was the master, but he was -always square. Every season he paid the Indians half -as much again for their fur as the Company would -pay, and that is why the Company traders spoke evil -of him. He was hard and stern to the Indians, but -that was the only thing they could understand. How -else could you deal with a tribe of slaves? Be merciful -to my father, O God! for he would never ask mercy -for himself; and let him see my mother again, for that -was all he wanted. Amen.”</p> - -<p>Jimmy Moosenose picked up the spade with a -businesslike air, and threw a clod on the coffin. At -the dreadful sound that it gave forth, a sharp cry -broke from Loseis. She wrapped her arms about her -head and fled away down the hill.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='30' id='Page_30'></span><h1>CHAPTER III<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE SLAVES WITHOUT A MASTER</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>W</span>hen</span> the three mourners landed again on their -own side of the river, Jimmy and Mary-Lou -looked at Loseis at a loss. What to do next?</p> - -<p>Rousing herself, Loseis said wearily: “Jimmy, you -must fix up the counter in the store. Fix it with split -poles until we can make some plank. Mary-Lou, -fetch a hatchet and come with me.”</p> - -<p>On the river shore some hundred yards downstream, -hidden by a clump of willows in case Jimmy -Moosenose should be inclined to spy on what they -were doing, Mary-Lou under Loseis’ instructions built -a tiny raft out of dead branches. To the raft Loseis -fixed a little pole to the top of which she tied a -streamer of black. She launched the raft on the current, -and with big, childish eyes watched it float -around the bend.</p> - -<p>“I am not sending for Conacher to come to me,” -she said haughtily to Mary-Lou. “But when a white -man dies it is customary to let men know. . . . To-night -I will push off another one. One or the other -he will see.”</p> - -<p>Within an hour the Slavis returned as mysteriously -as they had departed. They must have had an outlook -posted to report upon the burial of Blackburn. To -Loseis their actions seemed perfectly senseless; for -Jimmy had said it was the spirit of Blackburn that -they dreaded, yet as soon as his body was hidden underground -their fears departed. They set up the -tepees in their former places, and went about their -usual occupations as if nothing had happened. Loseis’ -breast burned with anger; and she wanted to go -down and give them a piece of her mind. However, -Jimmy dissuaded her.</p> - -<p>“No good! No good!” he said. “It is over now. -They not understand white man’s ways.”</p> - -<p>There was a sharp ring of anxiety in his voice that -caused Loseis to stare in haughty surprise. She thoroughly -despised the Slavis. However, she said nothing. -She and Mary-Lou went off to their house to -sleep.</p> - -<p>Down on the flat it was the women who were erecting -the tepee poles, and drawing the covers over them. -They no longer used skins for this purpose, Blackburn -having persuaded them of the superior advantages of -the canvas that he sold. In the same way the whole -tribe had learned to wear white men’s clothes out of -the store. While the women worked, the men sat in -groups smoking and talking in that queer clicking -tongue that few white men have ever mastered. -Their talk was light and punctuated with laughter; -but it was clear from their uneasy glances towards the -white man’s buildings that they were not speaking -their hearts. As a matter of fact the Indians are quite -as adept in insincere small talk as their white brethren.</p> - -<p>From time immemorial the Slavis have been known -as a small, weak people; and this particular branch, -cut off from their fellows on the distant shores of -Blackburn’s River had further degenerated as a result -of too close inter-marriage. They were a weedy -lot, and like all weak peoples, shifty-eyed. As is always -the case, the men showed up worse; hollow chests and -spindle shanks were the rule; the whole tribe could -not produce one stalwart, handsome youth. But they -were not poverty-stricken. They all wore good -clothes, and lived in new, weather-proof tepees. They -hunted the best fur country in all the North, and for -twenty years Blackburn had jealously guarded it for -them.</p> - -<p>From where they sat Jimmy Moosenose could be -seen splitting poles in front of the store, and carrying -them in. Without appearing to, the men were all -watching him. The groups of talkers fell silent. -They could not meet each other’s eyes. A curious -look of dread flickered in their faces; that which had -directed the whole course of their lives for so many -years had been suddenly removed, and they were all -at a stand.</p> - -<p>By twos and threes they began to drift up the grassy -rise, their vacant eyes drifting this way and that. -There was something peculiarly ominous about their -purposelessness, their lack of direction. They -squatted down on their hunkers, making a rough semi-circle -about Jimmy. They no longer spoke among -themselves, nor did any volunteer to help Jimmy; they -simply squatted and stared at him with their unwinking -animal-like eyes. Jimmy affected to take no notice -of them; but his forehead became moist with a sudden -fear. He was reminded that he was of alien -blood to these people, and that they were thirty to -his one. And there were five times that number more -in their summer camp at Blackburn’s Lake.</p> - -<p>At length the silence, the unwinking stares became -more than Jimmy could bear. “Where is Etzooah?” -he asked, affecting indifference.</p> - -<p>Etzooah was one whom Jimmy suspected of being -a trouble maker. He was a bigger man than the -others; and was said to have Cree blood. More than -once in the past his sharpness had displeased Blackburn, -who, however, tolerated him because he was the -best hunter in the tribe.</p> - -<p>“Etzooah gone to the lake to see a girl,” said one.</p> - -<p>From the way the others grinned it was clear this -was a lie. Jimmy was much troubled that they -grinned openly in his face. Had Blackburn been in -the store behind him they would never have done that. -Jimmy glanced desirously in the direction of the -Women’s House, and his watchers marked that -glance.</p> - -<p>One said, affecting the stupid look of a crafty -schoolboy: “Are you the trader now?”</p> - -<p>“No,” said Jimmy, “Loseis is the mistress here.”</p> - -<p>The ugly little men bared their blackened teeth; and -a squall of laughter rocked them on their heels. -There was no true merriment in the sound. It ended -as suddenly as it began. It struck an icy fear into -Jimmy’s breast. He was all alone; all alone.</p> - -<p>“Go back to your lodges!” he said, drawing himself -up, and imitating the voice of Blackburn.</p> - -<p>They neither moved nor spoke; but squatted there -staring at him.</p> - -<p>He dared not repeat the order. Shouldering his -poles, he started into the store. Of one accord the -Slavis rose, and came pushing through the door after -him. Flinging down his poles, Jimmy spread out his -arms to bar their way.</p> - -<p>“Get out!” he cried. “There is no trading to-day.”</p> - -<p>Keeping their eyes fixed on his, they continued to -push in. They walked right into Jimmy, forcing him -back. What was he to do? His instinct told him that -the moment he showed fight it would be all up with -him. He picked up one of his poles and started to -nail it into place, grumbling to himself, and making -believe to ignore them.</p> - -<p>They stood about the store watching him with affected -sleepiness through half-closed eyes. One of -them, keeping his eyes fixed on Jimmy, thrust a hand -into an opened box and pulled it out full of dried apricots. -All the instincts of thirty years of trading were -outraged by this act, and Jimmy forgot his fears.</p> - -<p>“Put it back!” he cried, brandishing the hammer. -“Get out, you thieves! You half-men, you dirty -slaves!”</p> - -<p>None moved, nor changed a muscle of his face. -The man with the apricots held them in his hand, waiting -to see what Jimmy would <span class='it'>do</span>. What he said was -nothing to them. He might as well have been storming -at the wind. Finally, half beside himself with -rage, Jimmy ran to the back of the store where the -guns were kept.</p> - -<p>Instantly the little men sprang into noiseless activity. -One picked up a short length of pole, and darting -after Jimmy on soft pads like a lynx, hit him over -the head with it, before he could turn. In a flash -they were all about him, their dark faces fixed in -hideous grins, each trying to strike. They used tinned -goods for weapons; one secured the hammer; one -snatched up a heavy steel trap which he held poised -aloft waiting for Jimmy’s head to appear. The whole -mass swayed from this side to that, toppling over the -goods on either side. Jimmy went down, and they -had to bend over to hit him. They were as voiceless -as squirming insects. There was no sound but the -sickening blows that fell.</p> - -<p>When they finally drew back a shapeless huddle was -revealed, lying in blood. Panic overtook the feather-headed -Slavis, and they ran out of the store to look -anxiously in the direction of the Women’s House. -Nothing stirred there. They returned inside the -store. They did not consult together, but appeared -to act as instinctively as animals. There was a window -at the back of the store. They pried it out frame -and all, and hastily shoved the broken body through -the hole, careless of where it fell. The instant it was -out of sight they forgot about it, nor did they trouble -to put the window back.</p> - -<p>Alone in the store, the Slavis betrayed a curious -timidity. It seemed as if the ghost of Hector Blackburn -restrained them still. They overran the place -like ants, peering into everything, stroking the objects -that they desired, but forbearing as yet to pick them -up. At intervals panic seized them, and they swept -in a cloud to the door to look over towards the Women’s -House. Some of the Slavi women and children -had been attracted from the tepees. These never -ventured through the doors, but hung about outside, -expressing no concern one way or the other; merely -waiting to see how it all turned out.</p> - -<p>At length one man ventured to eat of the dried apricots; -another split the top of a can of peaches with a -hatchet; and instantly looting became general. Boxes -were smashed, and bags ripped open, pouring their -precious contents on the floor. Food in the North is -not to be lightly wasted. Articles of clothing were the -chief prizes; the only way to secure them was to put -them on, one on top of another. Sometimes two -pulled at the same garment, snarling at each other. -But they never fought singly. They were dangerous -only in the mass.</p> - -<p>In the middle of this scene suddenly appeared -Loseis, her black eyes blazing. A terrified Mary-Lou -cringed at her heels. Every Indian in the store, dropping -what he was about, instantly became as immobile -and watchful as a surprised animal. Loseis glared -about her speechless. She was as much aghast as she -was angry, for such a scene was beyond anything she -had ever conceived of. But she was not afraid. She -turned to the door.</p> - -<p>“Jimmy! Jimmy!” she called peremptorily.</p> - -<p>She waited in vain for an answer.</p> - -<p>“Where is Jimmy?” she demanded haughtily.</p> - -<p>None answered her.</p> - -<p>She dispatched Mary-Lou in search of him.</p> - -<p>The situation was beyond words. Loseis’ eyes -darted silent lightnings at one man after another. -The scattered Slavis slyly edged together. No single -pair of eyes could meet hers, but she could not -cow more than one man at a time; and the bright, inhuman -eyes of the others remained fixed on her face.</p> - -<p>Finally with a magnificent gesture Loseis pointed to -the door. “Get out!” she said.</p> - -<p>No man moved.</p> - -<p>That was a terrible moment for the high-spirited -girl. A look of astonishment appeared in her eyes. -Suddenly her face crimsoned with rage; she flew at -the nearest man, and started pommeling him with her -little fists. The man ducked under her blows, and -sought to evade her. He pulled another man in front -of him; whereupon Loseis transferred her blows to -this one. All the others looked on with faces like -masks. And so it went. The mysterious prestige of -the white blood sanctified her, and they dared not -strike back; they resisted her with that senseless animal -obstinacy that drives masters mad with rage. -They were satisfied to let her pommel them, knowing -that she must tire of it in the end. And what then? -It was like fighting a cloud of flies. They would not -be driven out of the store. When one was driven -out, as soon as Loseis went for another, he returned.</p> - -<p>She drew off at last. In that moment she knew -the unspeakable agony of an imperious will that finds -itself balked. She nearly died of her rage. But she -faced it out. She admitted to herself that she was -balked. The last two days had matured her. Fortunately -for her, under all the passion and wilfulness -of her nature there was a solid substratum of commonsense. -Commonsense warned her that it would be -fatal to make the least move in the direction of the -guns at the back of the store. She could not force -the senseless savages to obey her; well, commonsense -suggested that she use guile. Loseis had an inspiration.</p> - -<p>Just inside the door of the store, behind a rough -screen of wood, Blackburn had a little desk with a -cover that lifted up. Loseis went to it, and took out -a sizable book stoutly bound in gray linen and red -leather. Every Slavi knew that book. It was Blackburn’s -ledger. Loseis appeared around the screen -carrying the ledger; and up-ending a box beside the -door, sat herself upon it with the book spread on her -knees.</p> - -<p>“You wish to trade?” she said to the men at large. -“It is good. Take what you want. I will put it down -in the book.”</p> - -<p>The eyes of the Slavis bolted; and they moved uneasily. -The spell of their strangeness was broken. -To their simple minds there was magic in those -scratches by which white men’s thoughts might be conveyed -to any distance that they chose; or stored up in -a book to be brought out years afterwards unchanged. -In particular, Blackburn’s ledger had always been held -in superstitious awe as the source of his “strong medicine.”</p> - -<p>Loseis looked at the man nearest her, and thumbed -the pages of the book. “Mahtsonza,” she said; “a -Stetson hat; two skins. A Mackinaw coat; five skins. -Wah! you have two coats? Ten skins!”</p> - -<p>Mahtsonza began to slide out of his stolen clothing.</p> - -<p>Loseis turned to the next. “Ahchoogah; a bag of -rice; one skin. The bag is spoiled, and you must pay -for all. You can carry it away.”</p> - -<p>There was a sudden rush for the door; but Loseis, -springing up, barred the way. “I have all your -names,” she cried. “Whatever is taken or spoiled will -be written down, and all must pay a share!”</p> - -<p>Then she stood aside and let them slink by, a -ridiculously crestfallen crowd of little bravoes.</p> - -<p>For the moment Loseis had won—but at no small -cost. The instant they were out, the reaction set in. -All the strength seemed to run out of her limbs; she -sank down on the box covering her face with her -hands. The fact of her appalling solitariness was -made clear to her. She dared not look into the future.</p> - -<p>Presently Mary-Lou came back. “No can find -Jimmy,” she said. “Nobody see him.”</p> - -<p>Proceeding to the rear of the store to survey the -damage, the two girls came upon the wet, dark stain -spreading over the floor. The instant she saw it, -Loseis knew what had happened and went very still; -but Mary-Lou cried out: “Look, the window is out!” -and must needs stick her head through the hole to -look.</p> - -<p>A piercing shriek broke from the red girl; she fell -back half witless with terror into Loseis’s arms.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='40' id='Page_40'></span><h1>CHAPTER IV<br/> <span class='sub-head'>AT FORT GOOD HOPE</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>A</span>t Fort Good Hope</span> on the big river, the free -trader Andrew Gault and his financial backer -David Ogilvie, stood by the flagpole concluding their -business, while the steam-launch <span class='it'>Courier</span> waited in the -stream below to carry Ogilvie down river.</p> - -<p>Outside of the towns, Fort Good Hope was the -most enterprising and progressive Post in that country. -The original log buildings were now used as -bunk-houses for the half-breed employees; while on -one side rose the magnificent dwelling of the trader, -built of clapboards in the “outside” style and having -fancy porches with turned pillars; and on the other -side the equally modern store with plate glass windows -imported at God knows what expense and -trouble; and a huge sign. This sign was the occasion -of considerable humor throughout the country, since -there was nobody who required to be told whose store -it was.</p> - -<p>This was by no means all of the improvements at -Fort Good Hope. Gault had built and now operated -a steamboat on the river, which connected with a line -of wagons across the ninety-mile portage to Caribou -Lake, and so kept him in touch with the world. By -means of the steamboat he had imported an electric -light plant, a sawmill and a steam process mill for -grinding and bolting flour. The land along the river -was rich, and Gault had established farmers there. -They were only frozen out about one year in three; -and that was their loss, not Gault’s. His flour, raised -and milled on the spot, he was able to sell to the Indians -at an enormous profit.</p> - -<p>In spite of all this, when Gault made up his accounts -with Ogilvie, the financier pursed up his mouth in a -grudging fashion, and Gault who was a bitter, proud -man, ground his teeth with rage.</p> - -<p>“Your improvements are fine, fine,” said Ogilvie -dryly; “the Post looks almost like a village on the railway. -But my dear man, all this only returns a beggarly -ten or fifteen per cent on the investment. I need -not point out to you that our company is accustomed -to receive two profits on every transaction. In other -words we do not want the cash that you remit to us; -we want fur. And I’m sorry to see that your consignments -of fur have been growing less every year.”</p> - -<p>The trader was silent out of anger; and Ogilvie -went on: “The history of all the old posts is the same. -With the advance of civilization the fur is always retreating. -With your steamboats and your sawmills -you are hastening the process, my dear Gault. At the -other old posts as the fur recedes they reach after it -with sub-posts and trading stations. Why don’t you do -something of the sort? You are in a better strategic -position than any of them, because off to the northwest -here you have a vast land that is still written down -unexplored on the maps. Why don’t you get that fur?”</p> - -<p>“As you know,” muttered Gault, “on the northwest -I am blanketed by Hector Blackburn.”</p> - -<p>Ogilvie shrugged. “Why remain blanketed?” he -asked.</p> - -<p>“What do you propose?” asked Gault bitterly.</p> - -<p>“Oh, the specific measures must be left to you,” said -Ogilvie hastily. “You are the man on the ground. -But of course our company will back you up in anything -you undertake. The old rough stuff has gone -out of fashion, but the principle is the same. To put -it bluntly, Gault: buy him out or drive him out.”</p> - -<p>“The entire resources of our company would not -buy him out,” said Gault. “The man is drunk with -pride at having the name of the last free trader.”</p> - -<p>“Well then?” said Ogilvie meaningly.</p> - -<p>“As to driving him out, I mean to do that; but I -must await my opportunity. He’s in an almost impregnable -position.”</p> - -<p>“Why did you let him get in such a position?” murmured -Ogilvie. “You were on the ground first.”</p> - -<p>“He had all the luck,” said Gault bitterly.</p> - -<p>“Why is his position so impregnable?”</p> - -<p>“Well, for one thing he has a tribe of Indians completely -under his thumb. Those are the Slavis, the -most ignorant and primitive race of them all. Once -they covered this whole country, but have gradually -been pushed back by the Crees and other tribes. They -have some other name, but I don’t know what it is. -All the other Indians call them Slavis. Well, Blackburn -has got this people penned up in his own country, -where no whites can communicate with them. He deliberately -trades on their ignorance and superstition. -He has persuaded them that I am a devil and that -black magic is worked at this Post, and no power under -Heaven can persuade them to come within fifty -miles of me.”</p> - -<p>Ogilvie laughed. “Not bad,” he said. “Why don’t -you outbid him for fur? That might work a miracle.”</p> - -<p>“I have tried it,” said Gault grimly. “He is willing -to go higher than the company is willing to let me go.”</p> - -<p>“But surely a year or two of that, with his ruinously -expensive transport would break him,” said Ogilvie.</p> - -<p>“Blackburn is as rich as Crœsus,” said Gault bitterly; -“and he’d risk every cent of it to beat me. -What is more, he is entirely independent of transport. -When they run out of food over there, he sends his -cheaper furs to me for flour, and I have to take them, -because I need the fur. Blackburn trades horses for -fur. He has in the triangle between his river, the -foothills and the Mud River, a vast natural range for -horses. God knows how many thousands of head he -has. The fame of them has spread all over the country. -He can afford to sell them cheap since they cost -him nothing. The Sikannis Indians bring their fur -all the way from British Columbia to trade for horses. -The Indians from Wabiscaw and eastward cross the -river here right under my nose, carrying their fur to -Blackburn for horses.”</p> - -<p>“You say you are awaiting your opportunity,” said -Ogilvie; “how will you know when that comes?”</p> - -<p>“I have a spy at Blackburn’s Post,” said Gault. “It -wasn’t easy to find him, because nobody can speak -their damned language but Blackburn. This man, -Etzooah, is the son of a Cree father and a Slavi -mother, and is able to mix with the Slavis as one of -themselves.”</p> - -<p>“What good do you expect that to do you?”</p> - -<p>“Etzooah talks to the Slavis in my interest. However, -that is not what I am counting on.” Gault -smiled disagreeably. “Blackburn is a headstrong, passionate -man, and a hard drinker. He treats the Slavis -like dogs. He believes there is nobody to call him to -account. Some day he will go too far. Then I’ll have -the law on him. He runs his whole show single-handed. -Won’t tolerate a white man near him. Consequently -if he were removed, even for a while, the -whole thing would fall into confusion. That will be -my chance.”</p> - -<p>“I have heard there was a daughter,” said Ogilvie -idly.</p> - -<p>“Yes, a black-haired she-devil in her father’s own -image!” said Gault.</p> - -<p>“Well, good-by until next Spring,” said Ogilvie. -“I wish you every success. If Blackburn were out of -the way this would be the greatest Post in the country.” -He looked around him with assumed regret. -“You have made so many improvements it would be -a pity if we had to close you out. But of course -we must have the fur. . . . Good-by. . . . Good-by. -. . .”</p> - -<p>Gault watched him go with rage and bitterness -making his heart black. Damn all financiers and -officials who fattened on the labors of better men than -themselves! Gault had not told him the full history -of his relations with Hector Blackburn; but no doubt -Ogilvie knew anyhow, for it was common gossip -throughout the fur country; how Gault and Blackburn -had come to grips a dozen times during the past -twenty years, and Gault had been invariably and -humiliatingly worsted. He too, was a ruthless and -determined man, and when he thought over these -things it was almost more than he could bear.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p>Andrew Gault was a bachelor, living alone in his -monstrosity of a yellow clapboarded house. A handsome, -lean, grizzled man in his early fifties, with a -cold and polished manner that one would hardly expect -to find in a fur-trader. It was a point of pride -with Gault never to allow himself to go slack. For -all he was seven hundred miles from town, his house -was well-furnished, his servants well-trained. These -last were of the Cree tribe, a handsomer and more intelligent -race than the miserable Slavis, but not so -manageable.</p> - -<p>Some days after the visit of Ogilvie, Gault, having -finished his breakfast, remained sitting at the table, -gloomily staring at the cloth, and abstractedly crumbling -pellets of bread. His mind was forever traveling -the same weary round without finding a way out. -Thoughts of Hector Blackburn poisoned his very being. -How to get back at him; how to ruin him. Ah! -his enemy seemed to be intrenched at every point! -Blackburn could laugh at him. Stronger measures -must be taken now, for certain ruin stared Gault in -the face. Somehow, Blackburn’s own weapons must -be turned against him. Could not the ignorant Slavis -be incited to rebellion? They must have their own -medicine men or conjurers, and these fellows could -generally be bought. He, Gault, must get hold of -Etzooah before the next fur season set in.</p> - -<p>Toma, Gault’s old house-servant entered the room. -He was excited. “Wah! Man come from Blackburn’s -Post,” he announced.</p> - -<p>To Gault this had the effect of a miracle. He -sprang to his feet. “What man?” he cried.</p> - -<p>“Name Etzooah,” said Toma.</p> - -<p>“Bring him to me! Bring him to me!” shouted -Gault. “Let none else come in until I call.”</p> - -<p>Toma shuffled out of the room, and Gault had time -to compose himself. It was very bad policy of course, -for a white man to betray his emotion before a native. -The trader reseated himself.</p> - -<p>Etzooah came sidling around the door, awe-struck -at finding himself admitted to the great house, and exhibiting -a witless grin. He was a small man with a -bullet head set between muscular shoulders. His thick -coarse hair was cut straight across his forehead in the -Slavi style, and straight around at his neck behind. -He wore good store clothes with a gay worsted sash -about his middle. For business reasons the spy -affected an air of good-natured, giggling imbecility, -which would deceive nobody who knew the Indians. -His little eyes were as quick and sharp as a weasel’s.</p> - -<p>“What news?” asked Gault curtly.</p> - -<p>“Blackburn is dead,” said Etzooah, laughing heartily -and silently.</p> - -<p>Gault caught his breath. For an instant he lost all -self-control. The upper part of his body sprawled -across the table; his eyes seemed to start from his -head. “Dead?” he gasped; “dead? . . . You are -sure?”</p> - -<p>“I see him die,” said Etzooah, with silent pantomime -of delight. “Him black horse jomp over high -cut-bank. Him neck broke. Him drown afterwards. -When him pull out of river him head loose lak a berry -on the bush.” Etzooah illustrated.</p> - -<p>A shock of joy does not kill. Gault stood up -straight and arrogant; a warm color came into his -pale cheeks, and his eyes shone like a boy’s again. -“By God! this news is good to my ears!” he cried. -“You shall never go hungry, Etzooah. . . . When -did it happen?”</p> - -<p>“Two days,” said Etzooah. “At noon spell. -Right away I tak’ two horses; ride all night. Only -stop for one little sleep yesterday.”</p> - -<p>“Did anybody know you came?”</p> - -<p>“No. I sneak away.”</p> - -<p>“Hm!” said Gault stroking his chin. “Then they’ll -know that you were my man all the time. . . . Oh, -what does it matter now! Everything is in my hands. -. . . Had Blackburn sent his fur out yet?”</p> - -<p>“No. Roundin’ up pack horses when him kill.”</p> - -<p>“Then that is <span class='it'>my</span> fur now! . . . What will the -Slavis do without their master?”</p> - -<p>Etzooah shrugged expressively. “No can tell. -Slavis lak crazy children. Not know what they do. -Maybe they run wild now; kill the girl and steal the -store goods. No can tell.”</p> - -<p>Gault’s face darkened. “By God!” he cried. “If -the Slavis get out of hand, it would bring in the police. -I don’t want the police nosing into this. I will ride -back to-day. Toma! Toma! . . . You, Etzooah, -eat in my kitchen, and take a sleep. . . . Toma, -you——————!”</p> - -<p>The old man came shuffling in.</p> - -<p>“Fetch Moale from the store. Bestir yourself! -Afterwards get out my riding-suit, my saddlebags, my -traveling blankets, and all things necessary for a -journey!”</p> - -<p>Joe Moale was the “bookkeeper” at Fort Good -Hope, otherwise Gault’s second in command. Technically -a white man, a flavor of the red race clung -about him; he was probably a quarter breed. He was -reputed to be a relative of Gault’s. An educated man, -as able and intelligent as any white man in the company’s -employ, he was as inscrutable as an Indian. -He was a well-built man of middle height, not uncomely -in his wooden fashion. It was impossible to -guess his exact age, but he was much younger than -the trader. He served Gault with absolute and unquestioning -faithfulness, but there was no affection in -the glance that he bent on his master. With true -redskin patience he was waiting for Gault to die.</p> - -<p>“Blackburn is dead!” cried Gault, striding up and -down in his dark exultation.</p> - -<p>“The news has already spread about the Post,” said -Moale, unmoved.</p> - -<p>“Can we both get away together?” asked Gault.</p> - -<p>“Why not? The fur is all in. At this season Claggett -can keep the store.”</p> - -<p>“Then I want you to come with me. We must start -within an hour. Round up the four smartest lads -you can put your hands on, and a dozen of our best -horses. We must make a good appearance, you understand. -Six of us will be more than enough to -handle the beggarly Slavis. . . . Blackburn is dead!” -he cried for the mere pleasure of repeating the words. -“And his business is ours!”</p> - -<p>“What will you do about the girl?” asked Moale -stolidly.</p> - -<p>“Oh, a miss of eighteen,” said Gault contemptuously. -“She will give me no trouble . . . I’ll be -her guardian, her trustee,” he added with a satanic -smile.</p> - -<p>“She’ll be rich,” said Moale.</p> - -<p>“Not when I’m through with her.”</p> - -<p>“I’m not referring to the Post, nor the horses,” said -Moale. “Blackburn sends out near a hundred thousand -dollars worth of fur per annum. He don’t import -but a fraction of that in goods. The balance -must be salted down somewhere.”</p> - -<p>Gault stopped and stared. A new light of cupidity -broke in his face. “Why, sure!” he said, a little bemused -with the glittering picture that rose before -his mind’s eye. “My mind must be wandering! -Shouldn’t wonder if it amounted to a million! . . .” -He went on muttering to himself: “It would be the -best way anyhow. Nobody could question what I did -then. And I shouldn’t be doing it for the company -neither but for myself!” His voice suddenly rang -out. “By God! I’ll marry the girl!”</p> - -<p>Going to the sideboard, he examined his face anxiously -in the mirror. “Joe,” he said, “if you didn’t -know my age, how old would you call me?”</p> - -<p>Whatever Moale’s thoughts might have been, he -concealed them. “About thirty-eight,” he said.</p> - -<p>“Hardly that,” said Gault confidently. “If it -wasn’t for the gray in my hair I could pass for thirty-five -easy. I wish to God I could lay my hands on -some hair dye.”</p> - -<p>“I can make a good black dye out of nutgalls,” -said Moale.</p> - -<p>“Well, go to it!” cried Gault. “Get a move on -you now. We must sleep at Blackburn’s Post to-morrow -night . . . Oh, my God! suppose we were to -find that the Slavis had got out of hand and murdered -the girl!”</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='51' id='Page_51'></span><h1>CHAPTER V<br/> <span class='sub-head'>YELLOW-HEAD</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>L</span>oseis</span> sat on a bench at the door of the store. -The Princess was very pale, and her lips were -pressed tight together. In her brave, proud eyes was -to be seen the piteous, questioning look of a child: Why -must I suffer so much? Just inside the door of the -store Mary-Lou was squatting on the floor with her -head buried in her arms. Loseis had to be brave for -both.</p> - -<p>The buildings at Blackburn’s Post formed three -sides of a grassy square, the fourth side being open to -the river. The store faced the river, flanked by a -warehouse on each side. On Loseis’ right was the -Women’s House, and opposite it Blackburn’s House -and his stable. All the buildings were constructed of -logs, and roofed with sods, now sprouting greenly. -Nothing could have been rougher, nevertheless the -buildings seemed to belong in that place; and there -was a pleasing harmony in their arrangement. Out -in the middle of the grassy square rose a tall flagpole.</p> - -<p>Loseis and Mary-Lou had taken up their abode in -the store. At this season of the year the stock of -goods was much depleted, and Loseis was in no great -concern about losing what was left; but knowing the -Indian nature, she was well aware that if the Slavis -were not prevented from helping themselves, they -would soon get out of hand altogether.</p> - -<p>In the store there was plenty of food to their hand; -as for water, Loseis obtained it after dark by creeping -down to the small stream where it wound around -the flank of the little plateau. All night a little lamp -burned in the window of the store. Night-attacks -were not at all in the Slavis’ line; but Loseis wished -them to be reminded whenever they looked that way, -that somebody was on guard. All day the door of -the store was allowed to stand open; while the two -girls permitted themselves to be seen passing unconcernedly -in and out, and performing their household -tasks out in front. Their only defense lay in this appearance -of unconcern.</p> - -<p>Three days and three nights of cruel anxiety had -passed, and the fourth night was approaching. Loseis -had not reflected much on her situation; it simply -wouldn’t bear thinking about. She had just gone -ahead and done what came to her hand at the moment. -During the first night the body of Jimmy Moosenose -had disappeared. The Slavis either buried it hastily -in some out of the way spot, or threw it in the river. -Like the children they were, they believed that if only -the body were hidden the crime could never be -brought home to them.</p> - -<p>None of the Slavis had ever approached the store. -Apparently they were pursuing their ordinary avocations -as if nothing had happened; the dogs and the -children fought; the women fished, cooked the meals, -and made moccasins; the men loafed and smoked. As -she looked down at them the sight of their inhuman -indifference caused Loseis’ heart to burn. Senseless -animals! she ejaculated to herself a dozen times a day.</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou came out of the store. The Indian girl -was unable either to apply her hands to any work or -to sit still. Her copper face had become grayish, and -her eyes were distracted with terror. She looked -down over the tepees, biting her lip.</p> - -<p>“More have come,” she said hoarsely.</p> - -<p>“You imagine that,” said Loseis. “I have seen nobody -come.”</p> - -<p>“They not let you see them come,” said Mary-Lou. -“Sleep in their friends’ tepees. But I see more canoes -in the creek.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what of it?” said Loseis with a grand parade -of indifference. “They’re harmless.”</p> - -<p>“Like coyotes,” said Mary-Lou. “They are sitting -down to wait for us to die!”</p> - -<p>Loseis sprang up nervously. Her face was working. -“You are like a raven croaking all day!” she -cried. “That does no good!”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou caught hold of Loseis imploringly. -“Let us go from here!” she begged. “All night I -listen! . . . My brain is turned to ice. I don’t know -what I am doing! . . . As soon as it is dark let us -take horses and go. They not know until to-morrow -that we are gone. Never catch us then. It is only -ondred-feefty mile to Fort Good Hope. . . .”</p> - -<p>Loseis detached the clinging hands. “It’s no good -going on this way,” she said harshly. “I will not run -from Slavis.”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou fell on her knees, clutching Loseis’ skirt, -babbling incoherently in her terror. Loseis raised her -face to the sky, clenching her teeth in despair. How -much of this have I got to stand? she was thinking.</p> - -<p>Then she saw the Slavis begin to run to the river -bank. “Look! Look!” she cried. “Something is -coming up the river!”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou scrambled to her feet. Whatever it was -in the river, it was approaching close under the bank. -They could see nothing. The Slavis were yelling and -pointing.</p> - -<p>“It is Conacher!” screamed Mary-Lou.</p> - -<p>“NO! No! No!” cried Loseis in a voice as taut -as an over-stretched violin string. “It is just a Slavi -coming up river. Anything is enough to get them going.”</p> - -<p>“It is Conacher!” screamed Mary-Lou. “If it was -a Slavi they would run down to the water. They stop -on the bank. They are a little afraid. See! they look -at us. It is somebody for us. It is Conacher!”</p> - -<p>Loseis felt that if she allowed herself to believe it -and was then disappointed, it would kill her. “No! -No!” she said faintly. “It is too soon!”</p> - -<p>And then the yellow head rose above the bank.</p> - -<p>Loseis collapsed suddenly on the bench and burst -into tears. Her whole body was shaken. Mary-Lou -fell on her knees with a scream of joy. “Conacher! -. . . Conacher!”</p> - -<p>Loseis struggled hard to regain her self-control. -“Stop that noise!” she said angrily. “Go into the -store. He mustn’t think that we want him so badly!”</p> - -<p>Laughing and crying simultaneously, Mary-Lou -went staggering into the store.</p> - -<p>Loseis remained on the bench watching, with her -hands in her lap. The tears were called in; and she -furtively wiped away their traces. Conacher had his -two Beaver Indians with him. These lingered to -fraternize with the Slavis, while the white man came -striding across the natural meadow to the foot of the -rise. He was bare-headed as usual. A newcomer in -the country, the fame of his curly, yellow pate had -already spread far and wide. Alongside the Slavis -he loomed like a young giant. Loseis had seen him -take a Slavi man by the collar in each hand, and lift -them clear of the ground. To the waiting girl he was -like a god come in answer to her prayer.</p> - -<p>She was very quiet when he reached her, her smile -tremulous. The change in her from the arrogant -little Princess who had used him so despitefully on his -first visit was so striking, that at first Conacher could -only stand and stare. They never thought to greet -each other. Finally Conacher exhibited the little black -streamer, limp from being clutched in his warm hand.</p> - -<p>“What does this mean?” he asked simply.</p> - -<p>“My father is dead,” said Loseis. “Four days -ago.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Heaven!” cried Conacher. “And you all -alone here! What did you do?”</p> - -<p>“I buried him,” said Loseis, spreading out her -hands.</p> - -<p>“<span class='it'>Yourself!</span>”</p> - -<p>“There was no other to do it.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, my God!”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou had crept out of the store again. “They -kill Jimmy Moosenose,” she said, nodding in the -direction of the Slavis. “And break into the store.”</p> - -<p>“I put them out again,” said Loseis, quickly and -proudly.</p> - -<p>“Oh, God! what awful things have been happening -here!” cried Conacher aghast.</p> - -<p>His sympathy caused Loseis to tremble dangerously -again. “Oh, it will be all right now,” she said swiftly. -“One white man is enough to put fear into the heart -of these dogs.”</p> - -<p>Conacher looked at that brave and piteous figure, -and was caught up in a very hurricane of the emotions. -He was mad to enfold her in his arms; to comfort -the child, to love the woman, but a feeling of chivalry -restrained him. It appeared unseemly to intrude his -love in the moment of her grief; he turned away abruptly, -searching distractedly in his mind for some -expedient to tide him over the dangerous moment.</p> - -<p>“I must go fetch my fellows before they are contaminated -by the Slavis,” he said in a strangled voice, -and strode away down the slope again.</p> - -<p>“Ah, he does not love me,” murmured Loseis with -extreme sadness.</p> - -<p>“You are wrong,” said Mary-Lou. “It was speaking -in his eyes.”</p> - -<p>“No! No! No!” said Loseis violently. Nevertheless -she was secretly comforted.</p> - -<p>She went bustling into the store. “Come! we will -close up the store now, and go to our own house. -Conacher will be hungry. We must cook a big meal. -There is still some canned apples and canned butter -in the store. Ahchoogah brought in a moose to-day. -I will take a haunch of it for Conacher. I will take -the biggest fish for Conacher, too. Be quick! Be -quick! I will go down and get the other Marys to -help you. . . .”</p> - -<p>Later, Loseis and Conacher were sitting at the door -of the Women’s House, while the appetizing odors -came stealing out. A heavy constraint was upon -them; they could not meet each other’s eyes. The -man, looking down, marveled at the delicacy of -Loseis’ shapely hands, lying loosely in her lap. What -a rare, fine creature to find in these rude surroundings! -Her beauty and her proud manner intimidated -him. Who was he to aspire so high? The girl wondered -sadly why the man did not speak. He had only -to speak!</p> - -<p>When he did speak it was not in the tone that she -longed to hear. “What are you going to do?” he -asked, matter-of-fact.</p> - -<p>To Loseis the solution was simplicity itself. Conacher -was to stay there, and everything go on as before. -But it was not seemly for her to propose this. She -shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said.</p> - -<p>“But you must have thought something about what -you would do,” he said surprised. “You can’t stay -here.”</p> - -<p>Loseis’ heart sunk. She said nothing.</p> - -<p>“Fort Good Hope cannot be but a hundred miles or -so across the height of land,” he went on.</p> - -<p>“A hundred and fifty,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“I have heard there’s a white woman at Fort Good -Hope,” said Conacher. “She’s the parson’s sister.”</p> - -<p>“What do I want with the parson’s sister?” demanded -Loseis with a spice of resentment.</p> - -<p>Conacher looked at her helplessly.</p> - -<p>I would go to Fort Good Hope to the parson with -Conacher if he asked me, thought Loseis, and a deep -blush overspread her neck and face. She turned away -her head to hide it.</p> - -<p>“You can’t stay here,” he said.</p> - -<p>“I am not going to give up my father’s Post, and -allow the Slavis to strip the store,” said Loseis with -spirit. “Besides, the whole season’s catch of fur is -stored in the warehouse, waiting to be shipped outside. -It is worth many thousands of dollars.”</p> - -<p>“How is it sent out?” asked Conacher.</p> - -<p>“Every Spring when the grass is grown sufficiently -to graze the horses, it is sent overland by pack-horse -to a warehouse that my father has on the prairie near -the crossing of the big river. That is three hundred -miles. Jimmy Moosenose was always sent with the -horses and men. Seventy horses and fifteen men beside -the cook. In that warehouse they find the grub -for next year and the store goods which are put -there by John Gruber, my father’s outside man. They -bring the grub back, and leave the fur in the warehouse, -and John Gruber gets it afterwards. My -father never allowed the Slavis to meet the Crees -in John Gruber’s outfit. It is time for them to start -now. John Gruber will be waiting many days at the -Crossing.”</p> - -<p>“But you’ve no one to send now,” said Conacher.</p> - -<p>“Then I must go myself,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“My God! not alone with a gang of redskins!” -cried Conacher.</p> - -<p>“They would not dare harm me,” said Loseis -proudly.</p> - -<p>“Maybe not,” cried Conacher violently. “But just -the same I couldn’t stand for that!”</p> - -<p>Loseis’ sad heart looked up a little. He did care -a little what became of her.</p> - -<p>And then he spoiled it by adding: “No white man -could!”</p> - -<p>“We must find somebody to go with you,” he presently -went on; “and then you can continue on outside -with your father’s agent.”</p> - -<p>“There is all the grub and store goods waiting to -come in,” objected Loseis.</p> - -<p>“That will have to be sold,” said Conacher. “The -Company will buy it.”</p> - -<p>“There are all my father’s horses across the river,” -said Loseis; “many thousands of head. During the -summer hay must be cut for them around the shores -of our lake; or next winter they will starve.”</p> - -<p>“But my dear girl,” said Conacher, “you cannot -go on doing business here now that he is gone!”</p> - -<p>“Why not?” demanded Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Why . . . why . . .” stammered Conacher. “A -woman trader! Why such a thing was never heard of!”</p> - -<p>“Well, it will be heard of now,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>Conacher ascribed this to mere bravado. What a -spirited little thing she was! Like a plucky boy; but -with all the sweetness of a woman. “We must send -to Fort Good Hope for help,” he said.</p> - -<p>“Do not speak to me again of Fort Good Hope!” -said Loseis. “Gault, the trader there, was my -father’s enemy.”</p> - -<p>Conacher knew nothing of the feuds of the country. -“Yes, yes,” he said soothingly; “but a tragedy like -this wipes out old scores. Gault would not take -advantage of your situation.”</p> - -<p>“You are an outsider,” she said. “You do not -know Gault.”</p> - -<p>“No man would!” insisted Conacher.</p> - -<p>“I will not hand over my father’s Post to Gault!” -cried Loseis. “That would bring my father out of his -grave!”</p> - -<p>“Not hand it over to him,” protested Conacher. -“But just let him advise you. He is the only one -that can tell you what is best to do; who can arrange -things. There is no other white man within hundreds -of miles.”</p> - -<p>Then it had to come out. “I already know what -to do,” said Loseis, very low. “If you would help -me, we could do it all together.”</p> - -<p>Conacher groaned, and clutched his head. “Oh, -God! you don’t understand!” he cried. “And what -must you be thinking of me! What a chance to be -offered to a man, and I can’t take it!” He tried -desperately to explain to her. “You see, I am not -free like the men of this country. I am a government -employee, tied hand and foot to my work. My -whole Summer’s work has been laid out for me. And -my little piece is only a part of a great survey of -this whole country. I am appointed to join with another -party at Great Slave Lake on a certain date, -and we in turn must proceed up the Liard River to -another rendezvous on the Yukon. If I fail, the -whole fails. Don’t you understand?”</p> - -<p>She did not wholly understand. “I heard you tell -it,” she said a little sullenly.</p> - -<p>Conacher jumped up, and paced the grass in an -agony of indecision. He was teetering on the brink. -If Loseis had raised her eyes to his face, he would -have fallen at her feet, and allowed the government -to go to the devil. But she kept her eyes sullenly -down. And then before either spoke again, with a -smart thudding of hoofs and creaking of saddle -leathers, a well-turned out company of six men and -several spare horses came down the trail behind the -Post, and trotted out into the little plaza.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p>Gault had caught sight of Conacher’s yellow head -as soon as he came over the brow of the hill. He -reined up sharply, his face going pinched and ugly. -“A white man here!” he said furiously to Moale. -“Who the devil can he be?”</p> - -<p>Moale drew up at his side. “That will be -Conacher,” he said in his unconcerned way. “I have -heard talk of his yellow head.”</p> - -<p>“A <span class='it'>young</span> man!” said Gault; and cursed him thickly -and fervently.</p> - -<p>“He’s on a government survey down to Great Slave -Lake and beyond,” said Moale indifferently. “He -won’t be able to interfere with us.”</p> - -<p>But Gault rode down the hill with a black heart. -The young man had got in his innings first; and now -fifty-three must stand comparison with twenty-three, -and the dyed black head be measured against the -famous golden one.</p> - -<p>By the time he rode around the buildings of the -Post his face was perfectly composed and solicitous, of -course. He sat his horse with conscious grace. Flinging -himself off, he tossed the reins to one of the -Crees, and came quickly to Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Miss Blackburn,” he said, “the moment I heard -of your terrible loss I jumped on my horse to come -to you. I cannot express to you how shocked and -grieved I am. Your father and I were not good -friends, but that is all past now. Believe me, I am -most completely at your service.”</p> - -<p>The watching Conacher considered that this was -very handsomely said. How much better than he -could do it! he thought with a sigh. He had no -reason to share in Loseis’ suspicions of Gault. A load -was lifted from the young man’s heart. Gault’s fine -outfit inspired confidence. Loseis would be all right -now, and he could go on about his work. But before -he left he would ask her to wait for him. The idea -that this old man might prove to be a rival, never -entered Conacher’s honest heart.</p> - -<p>Loseis received Gault with a manner no less finished -and proud than his own. “You are welcome,” she -said gravely. “My father’s house”—she indicated -the building opposite—“is at your disposal. If you -wish to put up your horses the stable is behind it. -Or you can turn them out anywhere. Dinner here in -half an hour.”</p> - -<p>Gault bowing, expressed his thanks. He then -turned inquiringly towards Conacher.</p> - -<p>That young man said: “I am Paul Conacher of -the geological survey.”</p> - -<p>Gault thrust out his hand with the appearance of -the greatest cordiality. “I am delighted to meet you,” -he said. “It is a great satisfaction to find that Miss -Blackburn is not alone here.” He gave Conacher a -meaning glance that suggested as between man and -man it would be well for them to discuss the situation -together.</p> - -<p>This was quite in line with Conacher’s ideas, and -the two walked off together towards the house opposite. -Loseis watched them go under stormy brows. -She saw Gault place his hand affectionately on the -young man’s shoulder, and her lip curled.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='64' id='Page_64'></span><h1>CHAPTER VI<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE DINNER PARTY</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>G</span>ault</span> and Conacher returned to the Women’s -House for dinner. Gault had changed to a -well-cut black suit with linen of the finest quality, and -a little discreet but handsome jewelry. Poor Conacher, -having no change, showed up at a disadvantage beside -him. When they beheld Loseis both men caught -their breath in astonishment. She was wearing one -of the “outside” dresses which her father had been -accustomed to import that he might have the pleasure -of seeing her in them. This one was of black -velvet cunningly and simply draped, and showing no -touch of color. Around her neck hung a string of -pearls that made Gault open his eyes; not the one -with the gold nuggets; but a long plain string of beautifully -matched stones. The innocent Conacher had -no notion but that it was a string of pearl beads such -as his sisters wore.</p> - -<p>The table was laid for four in Loseis’ own room. -She seated Moale facing her; Conacher at her right; -Gault at her left. The trader who was sensitive to -these little things, bit his lip at this arrangement, but -was obliged to put up with it. Conacher never noticed -that he had been given the seat of honor. There was -fine china and silver on the table; and the food was -wonderful, including delicacies which Gault himself -could not command at Fort Good Hope, such as currant -jelly; the joint of moose meat cunningly larded -with bacon, and served with cranberry sauce; an apple -pie. The three comely Marys in black dresses and -snowy aprons moved noiselessly about the table, while -Mary-Lou oversaw all in the kitchen.</p> - -<p>To Conacher, after weeks on the trail, it was like -a taste of Heaven; and Gault was obliged to confess -to himself that the establishment while rude, nevertheless -had a better style than his own. Loseis with -her hair done up on top of her head looked like a -Princess indeed, and the trader gloated at the thought -of seeing her enthroned at <span class='it'>his</span> table. He pictured a -glorious future for Fort Good Hope. The thought -of Conacher gave him little concern now. He had put -down the young man to his own satisfaction as a fool.</p> - -<p>The trader dominated the table. The lamplight -was favorable to him, and he knew it. None would -have thought of terming him an old man. His manner -was perfection. Open-browed, courteous, half-apologetic, -he kept them entertained with stories of -the country; and both of the young people were to a -certain extent fascinated by his charm. During the -meal business was not to be touched upon.</p> - -<p>“Ah! what a privilege it is to have a lady at the -table!” said Gault wrinkling up his eyes, and showing -his big white teeth.</p> - -<p>(Rather like the wolf in the fairy-tale; thought -Loseis; but I suppose some would call him a fine-looking -man.)</p> - -<p>“Hear! Hear!” said Conacher. The young man -felt like a hobbledehoy alongside the elegant Gault; -but he harbored no malice. Poor Conacher’s heart -was oppressed by the sight of Loseis in her bravery. -Could this be the rude little spitfire that he had dared -to laugh at upon their first meeting?</p> - -<p>“That is what we miss in the North,” Gault went -on; “the civilizing touch of lovely woman! It is -terrible the way men go to seed in this country. It -is a fact that when a man’s manners go, his morals -are bound to go too. Ah! my dear Miss Blackburn, -if we had more like you to grace our lonely posts we’d -all be better men!”</p> - -<p>(Why haven’t I the face to say such things? thought -Conacher.)</p> - -<p>Loseis smiled a little wanly. She was secretly confused -by the trader’s glibness. She had never known -a man like this.</p> - -<p>Later they sat down in front of the small fire that -had been lighted to drive away the evening chill; -Loseis in her hammock-chair, the men on either hand -sitting stiffly in the straight-up-and-down chairs that -Blackburn had carved. What remained on the table -was silently whisked into the kitchen.</p> - -<p>“You may smoke if you wish,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>Gault produced, wonder of wonders! a full cigar -case, and offered it to the younger man. The fragrance -of the genuine Havana spread around.</p> - -<p>“Well!” said Conacher; “I never expected to get -anything like this north of Fifty-eight.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, with my improved transport,” said Gault -carelessly, “I can have in pretty much anything I -want.”</p> - -<p>It now became necessary to speak of business. -Gault inquired if the season’s fur had been sent out.</p> - -<p>“No,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>The trader might almost be said to have purred -upon hearing that. Indeed, fearing himself that he -might be betraying too much complacency about the -mouth, he rubbed his upper lip, and gave a little -cough. “I will charge myself with that,” he said -comfortably. “Make your mind quite easy.”</p> - -<p>Loseis looked unhappy, but said nothing.</p> - -<p>“Of course,” Gault went on with the air of one -who must be fair at whatever cost to himself, “being -your father’s competitor, his rival as you might say, -it is not proper that I should be your sole advisor.”</p> - -<p>Loseis looked at him in surprise. Dared he to -speak of that? Her confusion increased. This man -was too much for her.</p> - -<p>“I am mighty glad that Conacher is here,” said -Gault.</p> - -<p>“But I must return down the river to-night,” said -Conacher. “I am already many days behind my -schedule.”</p> - -<p>Loseis’ eyes were close-hid now. “To-night?” she -echoed softly. “But you paddled all last night to get -here.”</p> - -<p>Conacher affected to laugh, while his hungry eyes -sought her averted face. Loseis could have read there -that he didn’t want to go; but she wouldn’t look. -“Oh, going downstream’s a cinch,” said Conacher. -“Two of us can sleep at a time in the dug-out, while -the third man keeps her in the middle of the current.”</p> - -<p>Loseis was silent.</p> - -<p>“To-night!” said Gault. “Ah, that’s too bad! . . . -However, I can take my measures before you go . . . -Does your father employ a man of business, a lawyer, -outside?” he asked Loseis.</p> - -<p>“None that I know of,” she said, “except John -Gruber.”</p> - -<p>“Ah, Gruber,” said Gault in his purring voice -(Moale at the other end of the row, listened to all -this with a face like a sardonic mask), “an excellent -fellow, too. But too ignorant a man to serve you in -this crisis. . . . I am sure your father must have had -wide interests outside of the fur business,” he said -insinuatingly.</p> - -<p>“If he had, I know nothing about it,” said Loseis. -“He got business letters every year when the outfit -came in, but he did not show them to me. I know -nothing of business.”</p> - -<p>“Of course not,” said Gault soothingly. “Have you -looked for those letters since his death?” he asked, -betraying more eagerness than was perhaps in the -best of taste.</p> - -<p>“No,” said Loseis, shortly.</p> - -<p>Gault was pulled up short. “Hm!” he said, stroking -his chin. “Hm! . . .” Finally he got a fresh -start. “Well, if Blackburn employed an attorney outside, -Gruber will know his name. Gruber carried all -his letters out, and brought the answers back. I will -write to Gruber. And if Blackburn has no lawyer -already, I will send for the best one obtainable, and -will arrange special means of transport for him. We’ll -have him here in five or six weeks at the outside. -Lastly I will send for a sergeant and detail of the -police, so that the murder of Jimmy Moosenose can -be investigated. Until they come, in order that the -Slavis may not take fright, we will allow them to -suppose that the murder has been forgotten.”</p> - -<p>Conacher nodded in agreement with this; Loseis -felt that she was being crowded to one side.</p> - -<p>“I’ll start my letters off to Fort Good Hope at -sun-up,” Gault went on. “Unfortunately my steamboat -has gone up to the head of navigation, and won’t -be back for a month; but by the time the messenger -reaches the post, my launch will have returned from -carrying Mr. Ogilvie down to the Chutes. The launch -can make the Crossing in a week. Gruber will be -waiting there.”</p> - -<p>It all sounded so businesslike and proper, Loseis -could take no exception to it. The smooth voice, arranging -everything, afflicted her with a sort of despair.</p> - -<p>After some desultory talk, Gault arose, saying: -“With your permission I will go and write my letters -now, so that Conacher may see them before he goes.”</p> - -<p>Loseis bowed in acquiescence. She thought: I can -talk to Conacher while he is away. But Gault looked -sharply from one to another, and added in his polite -way: “I’d be glad of your help in composing them, -Conacher.” Loseis’ heart sunk. The two went out -together arm in arm. Moale followed his master as -a matter of course.</p> - -<p>Loseis was left staring into the fire. Mary-Lou -came to the door and looked at her full of loving -solicitude; but Loseis made believe not to know that -she was there. The simple Mary-Lou could be of no -help to her in this situation. Loseis, whose nature -it was to act instantaneously without thinking, was all -at sea on this flood of words. Everything was mixed -up in her mind. Maybe Gault is a true man, she -thought; maybe he means what he says. Conacher is -satisfied. And if he is lying what can I do anyhow? -I know nothing.</p> - -<p>In due course they returned (without Moale) and -the letters were laid before Loseis. It appeared that -Gault packed a little typewriter in his outfit, and -Loseis, though she looked at the letters indifferently, -secretly marveled at the neat clear printing. How -could one contend against a man like this! She -scarcely read the letters. The lengthy sentences -merely dizzied her.</p> - -<p>It goes without saying that they were admirably -expressed letters. There is no need of reproducing -them here, since Gault had not the slightest intention -of letting them reach their destinations. They were -to be conveniently lost en route.</p> - -<p>“I am satisfied if Conacher is,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Gault has thought of everything,” said -Conacher.</p> - -<p>Soon Conacher said, affecting to make light of his -heavy heart: “Well, I’ve sent my men down to launch -the dug-out. I must be getting aboard.”</p> - -<p>Gault said quickly in his hearty way: “I’ll go down -and see you off.”</p> - -<p>Conacher looked wistfully at Loseis, and hesitated.</p> - -<p>Loseis rebelled at last. She did not feel able to -dispute Gault in matters of business, but if he dared -to interfere with her own private concerns, let him -look out! She stood up very quickly, and her chin -went up. “First I want to take Conacher to the store, -and give him some grub to take,” she said coolly. -“You wait here, Mr. Gault.” Her eyes sought his -unafraid, and the trader’s eyes trailed away.</p> - -<p>“Why of course!” he said in his hearty way. But -his affable smile had a sickly look now. As they went -through the door he shot a baleful glance after them. -That was a black half hour for him, obliged to sit -there, grinding his big teeth and picturing the two -young creatures together in the dark. Just when -everything had seemed to be going his way, too!</p> - -<p>Outside, the black sky was crowded with stars big -and little, all focused on that pair of mortal lovers. -The earth was so still one seemed to hear the whisper -of starlight. Loseis drew a great breath of relief. -Why that load was suddenly lifted from her breast -she could not have told. She involuntarily slipped -her hand under Conacher’s arm, and he pressed it -hard against his ribs. They walked, pressing close -together, the blond head brooding low over the black -one. There was no confession of love. They were -still afraid of that word. And anyhow this was confession -enough. With happiness their hearts became -as breathlessly still as the night.</p> - -<p>“Let’s not go to the store,” whispered Conacher. -“I don’t need any grub.”</p> - -<p>“I just said that,” whispered Loseis. “I wanted to -be with you.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you dear! . . . you dear! . . . you dear!” -he murmured tremulously.</p> - -<p>Loseis pressed his arm. “Let’s go down on the -flat,” she whispered. “He might come to the door -to watch us.”</p> - -<p>They went down the grassy slope. For a long -time they did not speak. They walked at a snail’s -pace, arms linked, hands clasped, and heads leaning -together. At last a little whimpering sound was heard -from Loseis. That brave heart owned its weakness -at last.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Paul!” she faltered. “Oh Paul, <span class='it'>must</span> you -go?”</p> - -<p>“I must! I must!” he cried in pain. “But I will -arrange things just as quick as I can, and come back.”</p> - -<p>“It will be so long!” she said sadly.</p> - -<p>“But at least you are safe now.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, safe . . . maybe!”</p> - -<p>“If you are afraid, come with me. I will take care -of you.”</p> - -<p>“No,” she said quickly. “That would not be acting -right towards my father. . . . I am not afraid of -any danger. But . . . but I cannot see what is before -me! I do not like that man!”</p> - -<p>“He seems to be on the square,” said Conacher -anxiously. “He has provided for everything better -than I could.”</p> - -<p>“It is so terrible for me to have to be with somebody -I do not like,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“You have your own house,” said Conacher. “And -your girls. You need only talk to him about business -matters.”</p> - -<p>“He is so ugly!” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“You silly girl!” said Conacher fondly. “Gault’s -considered a very fine-looking man!”</p> - -<p>“Not to me! . . . You are beautiful, my Paul. In -the dark I can see your beauty!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Loseis! you must not say such things!” he -said, genuinely distressed. “It is not fitting from you -to me!”</p> - -<p>“Why?” she asked wilfully.</p> - -<p>“Because . . . because . . . by comparison with -you I . . . Oh, Loseis, I ought to be kneeling at your -feet!”</p> - -<p>“What good would you be to my feet?” she asked, -nestling against him. “I like it better this way.”</p> - -<p>Conacher laughed suddenly and delightedly in his -throat.</p> - -<p>“Well . . . ?” said Loseis, leaving her interrogation -in the air.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” he asked anxiously.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you make me <span class='it'>say</span> it!” she cried vexatiously. -“Do you think I am beautiful?”</p> - -<p>The question rendered him nearly speechless. He -pressed her hand hard against his cheek. “Oh, -Loseis!” he stammered. “I . . . I . . . you . . . I -can’t tell you. I’m just a blundering fool when it -comes to expressing my feelings. Why, you have -made a new world for me. When I think of your face -it drives me out of my senses. I can’t think of the -words for it!”</p> - -<p>She pillowed her cheek happily in the hollow inside -his shoulder. “Then you must find words!” she said. -“You must never stop telling me. My ears are greedy -to hear it. Of all the world, I only care to be beautiful -for you!”</p> - -<p>In sight of the darkly flowing river they came to a -stop. They could hear the murmuring voices of the -two Beaver Indians at the water’s edge. They drew -apart. For a long while they stood there not touching -each other in dumb unhappiness and constraint. -They were both new at this lovemaking business.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Conacher at last, like a schoolboy -trying to carry it off flippantly, “I must make a -break . . .”</p> - -<p>“Oh!” she cried, hurt to the quick. “Is that all -you care?”</p> - -<p>He dropped his absurd pretense. “It is like death -to leave you now,” he murmured, brokenly.</p> - -<p>“Well, good-by,” she said suddenly in an unnaturally -high-pitched voice. And turned as if to run -forthwith.</p> - -<p>He caught hold of her. “No! No!” he cried. -“Not like this!”</p> - -<p>She struggled in his arms. “Let me go! Let -me go!” she whispered in a desperate voice. “I can’t -stand these good-bys. I like a thing ended quickly. -. . . Let me go!”</p> - -<p>Holding her within one arm he tried to turn up her -face to his. “Loseis . . . dearest . . . before I go,” -he whispered imploringly. “<span class='it'>Please</span>, Loseis. . . . To -remember all those lonely nights . . .”</p> - -<p>She resisted with all her strength. “No! No! -No! No! Not yet! If you kiss me I shall never -be able to let you go! . . . Ah, let me go while I -want to go!”</p> - -<p>That naïve cry touched his heart. He released -her. The instant she was released she lost all her -desire to run. She stood there in front of him, very -still.</p> - -<p>“You had better go,” he said shakily.</p> - -<p>“Put your hands behind your back!” she whispered -breathlessly. “Stoop down a little.”</p> - -<p>He obeyed.</p> - -<p>Like lightning her arms went around his neck, and -her lips were pressed hard against his. Then like a -shadow she was gone. Through the dark her caressing -whisper came back to him.</p> - -<p>“Come back soon, dear!”</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p>When Loseis got back to the Women’s House, Gault -was sitting there by the fire, smoking a fresh cigar. -He sprang up with a pleasant, fatherly sort of smile. -His eyes dwelt lightly on Loseis’s face, but she had -an impression just the same, that they were boring -into her. Well, let them bore! At the business of -hiding her heart she was fully his match. She showed -him a smooth, untroubled face.</p> - -<p>“Has he gone?” asked Gault.</p> - -<p>“I expect so,” said Loseis. “I did not go down -the hill with him.”</p> - -<p>Gault rubbed his lip. He didn’t know whether or -not to believe her.</p> - -<p>He felt his way carefully. “Conacher seems like -a fine young fellow,” he remarked. “Have you known -him long?”</p> - -<p>Loseis remained standing by the fire. “Oh, he -stopped here for three days,” she said coolly. “But -I scarcely saw him then.”</p> - -<p>“How did he learn so soon of your father’s death?”</p> - -<p>“I never thought to ask him,” said Loseis with a -clear brow. “By moccasin telegraph, I suppose. The -Slavis are continually traveling up and down the river.”</p> - -<p>“It is too bad that he is in the government employ,” -said Gault.</p> - -<p>Loseis had no intention of discussing the man she -loved with another man. She remained silent. She -had a good capacity for holding her tongue. It was -her only defense against Gault’s smooth talk; and -it was a better defense than she realized.</p> - -<p>Gault was obliged to go on and answer the question -without its having been asked. “They never come -to anything,” he said. “They are no more than -clerks all their lives.”</p> - -<p>“So I have heard,” said Loseis indifferently.</p> - -<p>Gault was deceived by her coolness. He argued -that she was too young to be able to hide her feelings -so consummately. She did not care for the young -geologist. Their meetings had been too few and -brief for any serious damage to be worked. He began -to feel better.</p> - -<p>“How did you learn of my father’s death?” asked -Loseis unexpectedly.</p> - -<p>Gault determined to tell the truth, since it must -become known anyway. “The Indian Etzooah brought -me the news. Did you not send him?”</p> - -<p>“No,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Well!” said Gault with an air of astonishment. -“I suppose he must have started off blindly on his own -account.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know he could speak English,” said -Loseis.</p> - -<p>“He can’t. Only Cree.”</p> - -<p>“Nobody here knew that he could speak Cree, -either,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>Gault allowed the subject to drop. “While you -were away I have been sitting here thinking over your -affairs,” he said, enveloping Loseis with his smile.</p> - -<p>Oh, Heaven! she thought; is he going to start talking -again? How can I endure it without Conacher -here to keep me in countenance! In desperation she -feigned to hide a yawn behind her hand.</p> - -<p>Gault had no recourse but to take the hint. “You -are worn out!” he said solicitously. “And no wonder. -I will retire now. And to-morrow we can talk.”</p> - -<p>Loseis’ heart sunk. To-morrow!—and all the succeeding -to-morrows! Should she never be able to -escape his talk! “You are very kind,” she murmured -politely.</p> - -<p>“Good-night,” said Gault, offering her his hand.</p> - -<p>Loseis either had to give him hers, or come to an -open quarrel. With an inward shiver of repulsion, -she laid her hand within his, keeping her eyes close -hid. “Good-night,” she murmured.</p> - -<p>Good God! how beautiful she is! thought Gault; -with her mixture of haughty pride and shyness (for -so he took it). I’d take her if she didn’t have a -cent! A genuine desire was mingled with the calculation -in his eyes; he bared his teeth in what he intended -to be an ardent smile. In his youth Gault -had been famous for his big white teeth, and he did -not realize that their luster was somewhat diminished. -For a moment he clung to the cool, limp hand.</p> - -<p>“My dear, dear girl!” he murmured. “If you only -knew how my heart goes out to you in this hour of -affliction. My only desire is to serve you!”</p> - -<p>Loseis gritted her teeth in a torment of repulsion. -Grinning at her in that disgusting way, while his hard -eyes sought to pry into her heart? She could <span class='it'>feel</span> -his grin, though she kept her eyes down. Her hand -trembled with the desire to snatch itself away, and -smack his leering old face. But above all she was determined -that Blackburn’s daughter should not be revealed -to this fine gentleman as a savage uncultured -girl, and she commanded her repulsion.</p> - -<p>“Good-night . . . good-night,” repeated Gault with -a touch of archness, that looked to the future. He -hastened out with a debonair swing. Loseis’ fiery -eyes bored holes in his back.</p> - -<p>Crossing the grass, Gault exulted within himself. -“A half-formed child,” he thought; “an experienced -man can make whatever he chooses of her! And by -God, what natural elegance! what pride! what beauty! -I am in luck!”</p> - -<p>While within the room he had just left, Loseis -scowled at her offending hand, and rubbed it violently -on her skirt.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='79' id='Page_79'></span><h1>CHAPTER VII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE CLOVEN HOOF</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>N</span>ext</span> morning before Loseis had breakfasted, -Gault was back at the Women’s House, knocking -deprecatingly at the door.</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry to disturb you so early,” he said, “but I -forgot something last night; and I’m holding my messenger -now until I can get it from you.”</p> - -<p>“What is that?” asked Loseis.</p> - -<p>“May I come in?” he said smiling.</p> - -<p>Loseis led the way into her room.</p> - -<p>Gault had several sheets of paper in his hand. “If, -as I suspect,” he began in the smooth voice which so -exasperated Loseis without her knowing why, “Blackburn -has sums of money lying in the bank outside, that -belongs to you, of course; but you could not draw -against it unless the bank was already in possession of -your signature. Therefore, in order to save time, I -propose to send out several specimens of your signature -now. I will put them in the hands of your lawyer, -who will in turn pass them on to the bank.”</p> - -<p>This sounded all right to Loseis, who proceeded to -write her name on each of the four blank sheets that -Gault passed her. Loseis had had small occasion -to practice the art of handwriting, and it was but -slowly that she formed the great round letters of her -official name.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;'><span class='it'>Laurentia Blackburn</span></p> - -<p>“Laurentia!” murmured Gault in a fond voice. -“What an odd name.”</p> - -<p>“I believe I was named after a chain of mountains,” -said Loseis dryly.</p> - -<p>“But how dignified and melodious!” he said. -“Laurentia . . . Laurentia . . . !”</p> - -<p>She shot an irritated glance at him through her -lashes. Had the man nothing better to do than to -stand there mouthing her name in that ridiculous fashion! -Loseis privately detested her name. Jane -would have been more to her fancy.</p> - -<p>Gault gathered up the sheets, and made as if to -go. At the door he paused: “I say,” he said, like -one speaking to a child, “isn’t there something at Fort -Good Hope that you would like my messenger to bring -back to you? I have a regular ‘outside’ store at -Good Hope, you know.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, thank you,” said Loseis quickly. “Nothing -at all!”</p> - -<p>“Just the same,” said Gault with that arch smile of -his, “I will see if we cannot find something that will -please you!”</p> - -<p>As he went through the door Loseis involuntarily -flung up her arms crying: “Oh, give me air! Give -me air!”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou came running in to see what was the -matter.</p> - -<p>Loseis kicked a fur rug violently to one side, and -banged open the little window. “Oh, that man is like -a bearskin tied over one’s head; like a feather bed -upon one!” she cried. Standing back from the window -she angrily apostrophized the receding figure of Gault. -“Yes, you! you! If I have to see you every day I shall -suffocate!” Turning around and beholding the amazed -figure of Mary-Lou, Loseis suddenly embraced her, and -dropping her head on her shoulder, burst into tears.</p> - -<p>“But what is the matter?” gasped Mary-Lou.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know!” wailed Loseis. “I must be crazy! -He speaks fair and honest; he is always polite and -kind . . . but . . . but I <span class='it'>can’t stand</span> the man!”</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p>Before the morning was out Gault was seen returning. -Loseis, who had persuaded herself that she was -a fool, schooled herself to receive him politely. He -was accompanied this time by one of his Crees, who -was carrying a neat leather-covered box by its handle. -Gault never performed such menial tasks for himself. -There was enough of the child in Loseis to be rendered -intensely curious by the sight of that box.</p> - -<p>The trader dismissed his servant at the door, and -brought the box in himself. Upon being laid on the -table and opened, a most fascinating and complicated -little machine was revealed, all shining with nickel-plate -and black lacquer. Loseis had not the remotest -idea of what it was for.</p> - -<p>“This is the typewriter; the writing-machine,” explained -the trader. “I have another one at the Post -which I have sent for. In the meantime I want to -present this to you. I thought it might amuse you to -practice on it; and it will certainly save you time. -Now that you are a business woman, you will have -many letters to write.”</p> - -<p>Loseis’ heart was touched by this seeming act of -kindness. She felt remorseful. “That is very good -of you,” she said, blushing. “It is true, I am a miserable -writer. But I shall never be able to learn this.”</p> - -<p>“On the contrary,” said Gault. “It is very simple. -Sit down at the table and I will show you now.”</p> - -<p>Loseis obeyed; and Gault drew up another chair -close beside her. He explained to her how to put the -paper in; how to shift the carriage back and forth; -how to start a new line. For the rest all you had -to do was to strike the proper letters. In ten minutes -Loseis had mastered the idea of the thing. She was -fascinated with this new toy (she had possessed so -few toys in her life) but was made horribly uncomfortable -by the enforced proximity of Gault’s head to -her own. He was chewing some sort of medicated -candy that gave his breath a strong, pungent odor. -Loseis hated strong smells of every kind.</p> - -<p>“Now let me try it all by myself,” she said.</p> - -<p>“Go ahead! Go ahead!” he said, but did not withdraw -himself at all. When he saw her at a loss, he -would grab hold of her finger and guide it to the -right key. Loseis shivered internally.</p> - -<p>Finally her discomfort became more than she could -bear. “I cannot do a thing if you hang over me like -that,” she said.</p> - -<p>Gault leaned back in his chair with a great laugh. -“So independent!” he said teasingly.</p> - -<p>However, he held himself away from her, and -Loseis proceeded with her slow punching of the keys. -How strange and fascinating to see the words stand -up upon the paper! She had never possessed so -marvelous a toy as this. As soon as Gault was out -of the way she would start a letter to Conacher. How -astonished he would be!</p> - -<p>In a minute or two Gault’s head was as close as -ever to hers. Loseis tried to ignore the fact, but it -was impossible to do so. She was aware, through a -subtle feminine sense, that he was not paying any attention -to the typewriter now. He was too still. She felt as -if something precious were being drawn from her that -she had no intention of yielding to any man save one.</p> - -<p>“I’ll go on with this this afternoon,” she said nervously. -“I have to do something else now.” At the same -time she attempted to slide sideways out of her chair.</p> - -<p>Gault caught her hand. “Ah, don’t stop,” he said -a little thickly. “You look like such a cunning little -student, bending over your work. Where did you get -that wonderful black hair of yours . . . ?”</p> - -<p>Loseis was up like a wild thing then, and backing -off to the far end of the room. “How dare you! -How dare you!” she said breathlessly. “Take yourself -out of here, and your machine too! Or I’ll fling -it after you! Did you bring it here only as an excuse -to insult me!”</p> - -<p>Gault rose also. “Well!” he cried, laughing heartily. -But there was an ugly look in his eyes.</p> - -<p>His laughter immediately brought about a reaction -in Loseis. She realized that she was making far too -much of a trifle. This was not the way for a well-born -girl to act. She told herself that it was only -because she had come to love another man that she -found this one detestable. She lowered her head, and -a hot blush flowed over her cheeks.</p> - -<p>“I am sorry,” she muttered unwillingly. “I am out -of sorts this morning. I did not mean what I said.” -In the very act of saying this Loseis’ heart accused -her of cowardice. She felt hopelessly confused. Oh, -how difficult it was to be well-bred and ladylike.</p> - -<p>“Why, that’s all right!” cried Gault heartily. “It -is perfectly natural at such a time. I’m sorry I displeased -you. I assure you I feel nothing for you, but -the deepest respect and sympathy! . . . I’ll leave you -now. Do amuse yourself with the typewriter.”</p> - -<p>As he walked away from the house he murmured -to himself: “A skittish filly! I must proceed more -slowly. Gad! it’s difficult though!” Thus he deceived -himself, as middle-aged gentlemen bent on gallantry -are so apt to do. He felt delightfully ardent. -At the same time though, a nasty little anxiety continued -to plague the back of his mind.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Loseis paced up and down her room, -wondering for the hundredth time within the past -twenty-four hours, what was the matter with her, that -she felt so hopelessly divided. This was a new feeling -for her. However the shining little typewriter <span class='it'>was</span> -fascinating. She presently sat down to compose a -letter to Conacher; and forgot her troubles. Another -little raft carried her letter downstream.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p>Every afternoon Loseis opened the store. It was -a point of pride with her to comport herself in all -respects towards the Slavis as if nothing had happened. -She often visited their village, interesting herself -in all their concerns, as she considered fitting in -a prudent mistress towards her childish and feather-brained -servants. They were shy with her, and none -came to trade at the store. Loseis, shrugging, was -content to bide her time. Hunger would tell in the -end. For twenty years now, the Slavis had been accustomed -to the white man’s flour, tea and sugar, and -the present generation could not do without them.</p> - -<p>Loseis and Mary-Lou sat on the bench outside the -store. Mary-Lou had been reading aloud, but her -mistress had silenced her, because she wished to think. -Loseis was unpracticed in the exercise of thinking -things over, and she found it both difficult and painful. -This was the question on which she split: was Gault -a scoundrel? All his acts and words seemed to be -above reproach; but Loseis’ heart stubbornly misgave -her. Could she trust her heart? She reflected that -her father had never betrayed any hesitation in calling -Gault a scoundrel; but Loseis had had plenty of -examples of her father’s wrong-headedness. She -adored him, but had no great opinion of his judgment. -It was by his strength and energy that Blackburn had -forged ahead, not by wisdom. And so the weary -round continued. To one of Loseis’ downright nature -it was torture to remain in a state of indecision.</p> - -<p>At the door of Blackburn’s House fifty yards distant -from where they sat, the Indian Etzooah was to be -seen ostentatiously cleaning a pair of Gault’s boots. It -suggested itself to Loseis as rather curious that Gault -should choose the ignorant Slavi for a body-servant, -when he had the more civilized Crees. She recollected -that on various occasions during the past few days -she had seen Etzooah hanging about looking self-conscious. -The thought popped into her head that -perhaps Gault had set him as a spy on her movements. -Well, supposing that to be so, here was a chance to -turn the tables on the trader. Through Etzooah she -might be able to learn if Gault had lied to her.</p> - -<p>She called to Etzooah in her ordinary manner of -offhand assurance. When he came to her cringing -and grinning in his imbecile fashion (you could read -nothing in that grin of the Slavis) she said coolly:</p> - -<p>“I need a man. There are some goods in the store -to be moved.”</p> - -<p>Leading him inside, she had him shift some bags of -flour from one place to another. This done, she -presented him with a plug of tobacco, and let him -know that he had done all she required. They returned -outside, and Loseis bade Mary-Lou go on -with the reading.</p> - -<p>Etzooah, as Loseis expected, did not leave them, -but, making his face perfectly vacant, squatted down -in the grass at the other side of the door, and proceeded -to shave a pipeful of tobacco from the plug, -careful not to spill a crumb. Loseis allowed Mary-Lou -to read for awhile, then she started slightly as -if a thought had just occurred to her, and motioned -to the girl to stop.</p> - -<p>“Etzooah,” she said (speaking in the Slavi tongue -of course) “it comes to me that I have not thanked -you for fetching Gault from Fort Good Hope. That -was well done.”</p> - -<p>Etzooah grinned. “Gault is a good man,” he said.</p> - -<p>“You speak truth,” said Loseis gravely. “How did -it come that you set off without telling me?”</p> - -<p>“Wah!” said Etzooah, “you were attending upon -the body of Blackburn. It was not right for me to -go to you at such a time. I just caught some horses -and went.”</p> - -<p>“It was well thought of,” said Loseis. “How did -you make yourself understood to the white men?”</p> - -<p>“I speak the Cree,” said Etzooah.</p> - -<p>“Wah!” said Loseis politely. “That was not known -to me.”</p> - -<p>“My father was a Cree,” said Etzooah. “It is -well known.”</p> - -<p>“I had forgotten,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>Without changing a muscle of her face, or raising -her voice at all, Loseis shifted to English. “Etzooah,” -she said, “the Slavis are saying to each other that you -were false to your own people. They are angry because -you brought Gault here. . . . Do not move -suddenly or you are a dead man. Mahtsonza is hiding -behind the corner of the store with a gun in his -hands waiting to shoot you!”</p> - -<p>Etzooah’s copper face changed to a livid ash-color. -Suddenly with a single movement he bounded to his -feet, and inside the door of the store. Loseis stood up -with a scornful laugh.</p> - -<p>“Go back to your master,” she said, pointing. “I -only wished to find out if you could speak English. -You are a spy!”</p> - -<p>Etzooah slunk away. Still only half convinced that -he had been tricked, he kept glancing fearfully over his -shoulder.</p> - -<p>Loseis was filled with a fierce exultation. Now she -<span class='it'>knew</span>! No more indecision. To be sure, when she reflected, -her solitary and desperate situation might well -appall the stoutest heart; but at the moment she was -only aware of the relief of getting rid of that suffocating -sense of futility. Now she would know what to -do! Her father was right about Gault; and her own -heart had not played her false.</p> - -<p>She closed the store, and took Mary-Lou back to -their house.</p> - -<p>Loseis’ nature knew no half measures. Having -recognized Gault as her enemy, she was prepared to -fight. She did not blink the danger of her position. -She no longer had any illusions about the fate of -those letters which the trader had so impressively despatched -outside. She realized that Gault himself -stood between her and any possible succor, and that -he intended to keep her cut off from her kind until he -should have obtained what he wanted. Well, she -quickly resolved upon a course of action. Her only -hope lay in bringing her wits into play. Gault must -not be allowed to suspect that she saw through his -schemes. Etzooah, she knew, would never dare confess -to his master that he had betrayed himself. -There was a fatuous side to Gault’s character; and -she must play on that. Perhaps through his own folly -she might defeat him in the end.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Loseis clapped her hands to her head with -a cry of dismay. She had suddenly recollected that all -her father’s papers were in his desk in the room where -Gault was sleeping, and the desk was not even locked! -While he was alive of course, nobody would have dared -venture into Blackburn’s room uninvited, much less -touch his papers. Loseis beat her fists against her head, -and groaned in bitterness. What an ignorant childish -fool she had been to neglect a thing so important!</p> - -<p>She ran to the window to look across at the men’s -house. She could not tell whether Gault was within -or not. On the spur of the moment she sent Mary-Lou -across to invite Gault and Moale to supper with -her. Mary-Lou returned to say that the two men had -ridden up to the lake (ten miles distant) to have a -look at the Slavi village there. Loseis then ventured -across herself.</p> - -<p>Etzooah was in the kitchen of the house. He received -her with his customary witless grin, and edged -in front of the door to the inner room as if to keep her -out. Loseis caught her breath in astonishment, and -her eyes fairly blazed on the man.</p> - -<p>“Stand aside, dog of a redskin!” she cried. “This -is my father’s house, and Gault is only a guest here at -my pleasure!”</p> - -<p>To the terrified Indian it seemed as if the little -figure had grown a foot. He slunk aside, and Loseis -went into her father’s room, closing the door after her.</p> - -<p>Upon her first glance at the desk it was apparent to -her that Gault had stolen a march on her; though she -did not immediately understand the significance of -what he had done. The desk was a handsome piece -after the Colonial style made by Blackburn himself. -It had four drawers below, and a flap which lifted -down to form the writing table. The drawers and the -flap alike were fastened shut by strips of papers, caught -down by clots of sealing wax. Going closer Loseis -saw that the wax had been impressed with Gault’s ring.</p> - -<p>Loseis smiled bitterly. Her first impulse was to -tear open these flimsy seals; but she held her hand. -No; the damage was already done; if anything had -been abstracted, how was she to know? Better to -keep Gault in ignorance of the fact that she had been -there. She did not believe that Etzooah would tell -him, unless it occurred to Gault to question him. A -Slavi never volunteers any information to a white man. -The upshot was that Loseis turned around, and went -home.</p> - -<p>The invitation to supper was repeated later. When -Gault came over it was a changed Loseis who greeted -him. Her uncertainty was gone. Danger stimulated -her; all her faculties were sharpened. She had put on -one of her prettiest dresses; her dark eyes sparkled -with topaz lights; and she gave Gault smile for smile. -The trader was charmed. She is coming ’round, he -thought; I knew she would.</p> - -<p>Moale saw deeper. His inscrutable eyes followed -Loseis with a new respect. Moale served his master -very faithfully, but he was like the Slavis in one respect; -he never volunteered any information.</p> - -<p>Supper was quite a jolly occasion. Loseis listened -attentively to Gault’s stories; and was prompt with -her applause. The trader visibly expanded; and -Moale’s expression as he watched him became even -more sardonic than usual. During the course of the -meal, Loseis said with an innocent air:</p> - -<p>“Mr. Gault, all my father’s papers are in that desk -in your room. Will you go over everything with me -to-morrow, and explain it.”</p> - -<p>He wagged a protesting hand in her direction. -“No, no, no,” he said; “nothing must be touched until -the lawyer comes.”</p> - -<p>“That cannot be for weeks yet,” said Loseis, “and -in the meantime I am curious to . . .”</p> - -<p>“I have sealed the desk,” said Gault.</p> - -<p>“Sealed my father’s desk?” said Loseis, opening -her eyes wide.</p> - -<p>“My dear girl, consider my position,” he said. “I -am an interested party in these matters—or at least -I will be so considered; and I have to lean over backwards -in the effort to avoid anything which would look -like taking an unfair advantage. Imagine my feelings -upon retiring that first night, when I found myself -alone in the room with all the private papers of my -late rival in business! I was shocked; shocked. If -the desk had been locked, and the key in your possession -it would have been all right; but upon trying it—for -my own protection, I found that it was open. -Fortunately Moale was in the kitchen. I instantly -called him in, and sealed up the desk in his presence.”</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you let me know?” asked Loseis.</p> - -<p>“It was late. You had retired.”</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you speak of it next day?”</p> - -<p>“I never thought of it. It is customary when a -man dies to seal up his papers until his attorney can -take charge. I did it as a matter of course.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps his papers are not there after all,” said -Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps not,” said Gault, with a seeming open -look. “I only moved the cover with my thumb for -about a quarter of an inch to find out if it was locked. -I know no more than the man in the moon what the -desk contains.”</p> - -<p>Loseis lowered her eyes. What a fool he must -think me! she thought—well, it is just as well that he -should think me a fool.</p> - -<p>“Did Blackburn possess a safe?” asked Gault.</p> - -<p>“No,” said Loseis. “Nobody ever stole anything -from my father.”</p> - -<p>“I wish I could say the same,” said Gault ruefully. -He went on to tell the story of the Scotch half-breed -who had brought a black fox skin to his post to trade, -and had then replaced it with a clumsy imitation, almost -under the trader’s nose. It appeared that he -had worked the trick in turn at every post on the big -river; but was apprehended at Fort McMaster on his -way out. Loseis, smiling at the story, permitted Gault -to suppose that it had caused her to forget the sealed -desk.</p> - -<p>After the meal, Gault sent Moale away on a manifestly -trumped-up errand. Loseis was not sorry to -see him go. She was a little afraid of his unchanging, -watchful gaze. He never spoke unless he were addressed. -As for Gault, it was curious that now she -knew he was her enemy, she no longer dreaded to be -left alone with him.</p> - -<p>She drew up the hammock-chair to the fire. “You -must take this chair to-night,” she said. “And light -one of your delicious cigars. . . . There,” she said -presently, “that is just like the happy nights when my -father came to sit with me.”</p> - -<p>Gault’s smile became a little bleak. He didn’t -want to be regarded as a father. He stole a look at -Loseis to see if this could be an intentional dig; but -her face expressed only an innocent pleasure in seeing -him comfortable.</p> - -<p>She perched herself on one of the straight-backed -chairs beside him, with her heels cocked up on the -rungs. “Have you ever been married, Mr. Gault?” -she asked.</p> - -<p>“No,” said the trader, a little uncertain as to what -was coming next.</p> - -<p>“Why not?” asked Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said he, looking noble, “I could not bear -to expose the kind of woman that I wished to marry -to my rude life in the wilderness.”</p> - -<p>“How lonely you must have been!” murmured -Loseis.</p> - -<p>Gault felt reassured. This was the sort of talk a -man had the right to expect from a white woman. He -settled himself for a comfortable heart to heart talk -by the fire. “Ah, yes,” he said with a far-away look; -“I have had my bitter times! People call me a hard -man; they do not know! They do not know!”</p> - -<p>The corners of Loseis’ mouth twitched demurely. -“Tell me all about yourself,” she murmured.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='94' id='Page_94'></span><h1>CHAPTER VIII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>HEAVENLY MUSIC</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>A</span>t</span> noon of the fourth day after his setting-out, -Gault’s messenger returned from Fort Good -Hope driving several laden pack-horses before him. -The horses were unpacked at the door of Blackburn’s -House, and the goods carried in. From their windows -opposite, Loseis and the four Marys full of -curiosity, watched and speculated on the contents of -the various packages. The natural consequence of -Blackburn’s having forbidden all traffic across the -height of land was that Fort Good Hope loomed in the -imagination of his people as a sort of fabulous place. -Anything might come from there.</p> - -<p>By and by Gault was seen coming across the grass -accompanied by a breed with a canvas duffle bag over -his shoulder.</p> - -<p>“More presents for you!” cried Mary-Lou clasping -her hands.</p> - -<p>Loseis permitted all the girls to be present while the -bag was unpacked. Gault disregarded them. Thrusting -his arm into the bag, he produced the various articles -with a tender and proprietary smile upon Loseis. -The Princess at such a moment was like any other -young thing; breathless with anticipation, all her difficulties -and dangers forgotten. First came several -packages of novels, and an exclamation of pleasure escaped -her. Novels had been forbidden her; and she -had had no more than tantalizing tastes of their contents -in the installments appearing in the magazines -which drifted to Blackburn’s Post from time to time. -Next came boxes of chocolates and other candies -specially packed in tin. Next bottles of perfumes of -various sorts, and boxes of strongly-scented soaps. -As soon as Gault was out of the way, Loseis distributed -these amongst her hand-maids. Next a box of elegant -writing paper; pink, with gold edges.</p> - -<p>“For you to write to me upon when I am gone,” -said Gault with his fond smile.</p> - -<p>(May that be soon! thought Loseis.) Aloud she -said: “How pretty!”</p> - -<p>The most astonishing present came, as was most -fitting, from the bottom of the bag. From a little -card-board box Gault took a shining nickel cube, having -a sort of cup at one end, covered with glass. -When you pressed a spring in the cube, light most -miraculously appeared behind the glass. Loseis took -it gingerly in her hands, gazing at it with wide and -wondering eyes. The four red girls drew back, a little -afraid.</p> - -<p>“Of course you can’t get the full effect of it until -dark,” said Gault.</p> - -<p>“This is the electric light of which I have read,” -said Loseis in a hushed voice. “How strange and -beautiful!”</p> - -<p>“There’s a box of extra batteries when it gives out,” -said the trader.</p> - -<p>Batteries meant nothing to Loseis. The gleaming -torch had laid a spell upon her imagination. She -switched it on and off. How strange, how strange -this little light that she summoned and dismissed with -a touch of her finger, like a fairy servant!</p> - -<p>“If you went through the Slavi village some night -with that in your hand it would create a sensation,” -said Gault laughing.</p> - -<p>His laughter jarred on Loseis. “No use frightening -them for nothing,” she said. “I might need it some -time.”</p> - -<p>In the beginning it would have irked Loseis very -much to receive these presents from Gault, but now she -felt no qualms. He is counting on getting it back many -times over, she thought.</p> - -<p>During the course of the afternoon, Loseis and her -girls were astonished to see Gault’s men climbing to -the roof of Blackburn’s House. Alongside the chimney -they affixed a tall pole. When it was up, wires were -strung from it to the top of the flagpole in the middle -of the little plaza. Loseis’ curiosity could no longer -contain itself. She went across to ask what they were -doing.</p> - -<p>“Wait until to-night,” said Gault, smiling. “You -are dining with me to-night. Afterwards there is to -be a surprise.”</p> - -<p>That dinner was full of new things for Loseis. A -crowning touch was supplied by a potted geranium in -the center of the table, bearing three scarlet blossoms. -Never before had that flower bloomed at Blackburn’s -Post. A cry of admiration broke from Loseis.</p> - -<p>“The parson’s sister sent it to you with her compliments,” -said the trader. “She has them blooming all -winter in her parlor.”</p> - -<p>Loseis’ heart suddenly went out to this unknown -sister of her own color. “What is she like?” she -asked shyly.</p> - -<p>“Oh, just what you’d expect a parson’s sister to be,” -he said indifferently.</p> - -<p>The food was strange to Loseis; but for the most -part highly agreeable. First there was a queer, spicy -soup. Mulligatawney, Gault called it, and Loseis -laughed at the ridiculous-sounding word. It must have -come out of a can, she reflected. This was followed -by a great roast of beef which is extraordinarily esteemed -as an article of food up North, simply because -it is so hard to come by. (“A steer was slaughtered -at Fort Good Hope expressly for you,” said Gault to -Loseis with a bow.) With the roast beef were served -potatoes and stewed tomatoes, both novel dishes at -Blackburn’s Post. For dessert came on a plum pudding, -likewise out of a can; and this Loseis considered -the best thing she had ever tasted. There were, besides, -small dishes containing olives which the guest -did not like; and salted almonds which she did.</p> - -<p>Pride forbade Loseis to betray any further curiosity -concerning the “surprise” but with every mouthful she -took, she was thrillingly conscious of an oblong box -that rested on a small table at the side of the room, -covered by a cloth. That must be the surprise of -course. It had a most exciting shape.</p> - -<p>After the table had been cleared, Gault sought to -tease her, by lighting up his cigar in leisurely fashion, -while he talked of indifferent matters. But he didn’t -get any change out of Loseis, who sat quietly with her -hands in her lap, looking at the fire.</p> - -<p>Finally he said: “Wouldn’t you like to know what is -under that cloth?”</p> - -<p>“Whenever you are ready,” said Loseis politely.</p> - -<p>Gault laughed, and jerked the cloth away. Loseis -beheld a beautiful box of a polished red wood, having -in the front of it several curious black knobs with indicators -and dials above them. The whole apparatus -was suggestive of magic. Gault began to turn the -knobs, and Loseis, holding her breath, prepared herself -for anything to happen; red and green flames perhaps, -with a Jinn springing up in the middle.</p> - -<p>When it came, it let her down suddenly from that -awful suspense. It was not startling at all, but sweet. -Music mysteriously filled the room, coming, not from -that box, but from an unknown source. It melted the -heart with its sweetness. It resembled the music of -a violin with which Loseis was familiar, but infinitely -fuller and richer, with strange, deep undertones that -caused delicious shivers to run up the girl’s spine.</p> - -<p>“Oh, what is it? What is it?” she murmured.</p> - -<p>“Music from Heaven,” said Gault grinning.</p> - -<p>For a moment she believed him. Closing her eyes, -she gave herself up to the entrancing sounds. It was -too beautiful, too beautiful to be of this earth. Yet it -was not strange; it seemed like something she had always -been waiting for; it satisfied a longing. It caused -her to think of her father and of her lover. The -thoughts of death and of love became intermingled in -her mind, intolerably sweet and bitter. The tears -swelled under her eyelids.</p> - -<p>Then Gault destroyed the spell that he himself had -evoked. “It’s coming through fine, to-night,” he remarked -to Moale. “No interference.”</p> - -<p>Loseis dropped down to earth. A recollection came -to her. “It is the radio,” she said quietly. “I have -read of that, too.”</p> - -<p>It was a music of many voices, now loud, now soft; -one voice then another spoke above them all; then all -were raised together. Shrill, merry voices running up -and down like laughter; voices as plaintive as the -laughter of loons at dusk; deep, sonorous voices that -suggested courage and endurance. Loseis tried in vain -to pick out the tune. It had a meaning; but one could -not grasp it. It was like listening to the whole world.</p> - -<p>“What makes such music?” she whispered.</p> - -<p>“Orchestra,” he said.</p> - -<p>Loseis had met with this word in books; but she did -not know the meaning. She would not ask.</p> - -<p>“A whole crowd of instruments together,” said -Gault. “Little fiddles, medium size fiddles, and big -fiddles; wooden horns and brass horns of every size -and shape; and a row of drums.”</p> - -<p>“Where is it coming from?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“From the station in Calgary.”</p> - -<p>Loseis was lifted up on the wings of wonder again. -From Calgary! A thousand miles away! She visualized -the long ten miles ride to the Lake; and tried to -imagine a hundred times ten miles. It was too much; -the mind could not take it in. She thought of the night -outside, and suddenly it became clear to her why the -silence of Northern nights was so profoundly disturbing. -It was not a silence at all; the night was full -of these voices from all over the world, winging -through the sky, and the heart was sensible to them, -though the ears were deaf.</p> - -<p>“How do you do it? How do you do it?” murmured -Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Oh, it would take old Marconi to explain that,” -said the trader laughing.</p> - -<p>Ah! will Paul and I ever listen to such music together? -thought Loseis.</p> - -<p>The music came to an end. After a pause a man began -to speak. This affected Loseis even more -strangely than the music. A man speaking to them in -a quiet, friendly voice, as if he was there beside them! -And he was not there. A spirit was amongst them -without its body. Awe gripped Loseis. She shivered, -and looked over her shoulder. Gault watching her, -chuckled, and she shrank sharply into herself again.</p> - -<p>The man was giving a humorous account of how he -went with his wife to buy a hat. He spoke of the -crowds of people in the streets, and the gayly decorated -shop windows. Loseis was too much filled with -wonder of the voice to pay heed to the story. He -said: “I met her at the Palliser Hotel this afternoon.” -Yet he was a thousand miles away! He said: -“I took her into the restaurant, and when she said she -wasn’t hungry, I prepared myself for the worst.” -Gault and Moale laughed, and Loseis looked at them -in surprise. A thousand miles! A thousand miles.</p> - -<p>It was a jolly, friendly voice that reassured the -child’s heart of Loseis. And it was clear that he was -speaking to others whom he knew to be as honest and -kind as himself. Loseis had a sudden vision of the -populous, kindly world lying outside, and her breast -yearned over it. The friendly voice seemed to bring -her so close, to admit her to that world. But a realization -of her loneliness swept over her. There was that -thousand miles of prairie, muskeg and forest lying between. -Alone! Alone! worse than alone, for she was -hedged about with false and lying men who wished her -ill. Ah! If she could only communicate with the honest -people, they would not let her come to harm. -Drawn quite out of herself, Loseis rose to her feet, -stretching out her arms.</p> - -<p>“Oh, if I could only speak to him!” she murmured.</p> - -<p>Gault laughed heartily. “That would require a -whole transmitting station,” he said. “Quite a different -matter from getting it.”</p> - -<p>Loseis dropped back in her chair. She glanced at -the trader with involuntary dislike. What a coarse -animal under his fine manners! she thought.</p> - -<p>When the concert came to an end, Gault said: “To-morrow -night, we’ll get the Slavis into the kitchen, -and spring it on them,” he said laughing. “Lordy! -what a scatteration there will be!”</p> - -<p>Loseis got up to go. “You will do what you like, of -course,” she said coldly. “But do not expect me to -come.”</p> - -<p>“But why?” asked the surprised Gault.</p> - -<p>“It’s a beautiful, wonderful thing,” said Loseis, -looking wistfully at the red box. “I should not care to -see it made a mock of.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, in that case,” said Gault quickly, “no -Slavis! I brought this over solely to give you pleasure, -Princess!”</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='102' id='Page_102'></span><h1>CHAPTER IX<br/> <span class='sub-head'>AN UPSET</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>G</span>ault</span> and Moale were breakfasting in the men’s -house.</p> - -<p>“How about the fur here?” asked Moale.</p> - -<p>“All in good time,” said his master.</p> - -<p>“Have you got the key to the warehouse?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. But of course I have to make out that it’s -sealed up in the desk.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t see what you expect to gain by that bit of -flummery,” said Moale.</p> - -<p>“No?” said Gault sarcastically. “I am keeping the -girl out of her father’s papers, am I not? . . . I -know what I am doing. Suppose some one should -come in here? Everything would be found in order; -Blackburn’s will, his accounts, his letters. I have -taken nothing, because there was nothing I wanted; -it was sufficient for me to read it all.”</p> - -<p>“What was in his will?” said Moale curiously.</p> - -<p>“Oh, he left everything to the girl, of course. That -doesn’t signify anything, because if there was no will, -the courts would award it to her anyway.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’d like fine to have a look at that fur,” said -Moale with glittering eyes. Fur was his passion. If -he had other passions, he kept them hid.</p> - -<p>“You are to keep away from the warehouse for the -present,” said Gault peremptorily.</p> - -<p>“I have read the inventory,” said Moale. “There -are ten black fox skins of the first quality. I have -never seen so many at one time. Those alone will -bring from a thousand to fifteen hundred each. Besides -the silver and the cross foxes; the mink, otter -and fisher. The whole lot is worth well above a hundred -thousand at present prices.”</p> - -<p>“Quite that,” said Gault. “But I’m playing for a -bigger stake, and I don’t intend to jeopardize it by -making any premature move.”</p> - -<p>“How much is the girl worth?” asked Moale slyly.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” said the other coolly.</p> - -<p>Moale lowered his eyes; he knew very well that -Gault was lying; but did not care to let him see that he -knew. Presently he said: “The news of Blackburn’s -death will be all over by now. That fool Etzooah -let it out at our post before I could stop his mouth. -And Conacher carried the news north with him.”</p> - -<p>“I had no thought of keeping it secret,” said Gault.</p> - -<p>“How about Gruber, then? If you keep him waiting -too long at the Crossing, he’s likely to come down here -to see what’s up.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve written to Gruber telling him that if he will -wait a few weeks, I’ll send him the fur as soon as I -can arrange matters.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe that letter won’t satisfy him.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if he comes he shall have the fur. It will -be a good way of getting him away from here again.”</p> - -<p>“I should hate to see that fur get out of our hands,” -said Moale. “That’s real; that’s the goods! Whereas -the other thing . . .” He shrugged.</p> - -<p>“You’re a fool,” said Gault contemptuously. “The -girl is all but ready to drop into my arms. All I need -is a little time.”</p> - -<p>Moale looked down at his plate again.</p> - -<p>In spite of the confidence that Gault had expressed, -this conversation brought forward the little worrying -anxiety that lingered in the back of his mind. Here -were the days passing one after another, and could -it be honestly said that he was making progress with -Loseis? Sometimes he was sure he was—sometimes -not so sure. She was such a baffling creature; at one -moment as open and easily moved as a child and the -next moment revealing a maturity of mind and an -originality that startled him. At other times she was -as provoking and secretive as an Indian. To be sure -of late she had been generally friendly, even sympathetic; -but try as he would, he could not get their relations -on the man and woman plane, the plane of -courtship. Loseis eluded him like a sprite.</p> - -<p>In his heart Gault cursed the time that must be -wasted in wooing a civilized miss. They managed such -things better in a simpler state of society, when the -girl would have been hit over the head, and dragged -off without more ado. Women have never really -become civilized, he thought; they need to be beaten -still. Well, having an eye to the outside world, he -could not actually do this, but should he not apply the -principle? Perhaps he had been too gentle, too considerate -a wooer. That only set her up in her own -opinion. It was ridiculous to suppose that a mere slip -of a girl who didn’t know her own mind could resist -a mature and strong-willed man like himself. The -time had come for him to overbear her by the mere -force of his personality. She would thank him for it -in the end. A Loseis, humbled and loving; Ah! what -a seductive picture!</p> - -<p>Gault had his horse brought, and mounting, rode -across to the Women’s House, well aware that he appeared -to the best advantage on a horse. He knocked -at the door without dismounting, and when Loseis appeared, -she was obliged to look up at him, proudly -holding his seat, and making believe to soothe his -horse, while secretly fretting him with his off heel. -But no light of admiration appeared in Loseis’ clear -eyes. She took horsemanship as a matter of course.</p> - -<p>“Will you ride up to the lake with me?” asked -Gault. “I have grub for two. I think you ought to -show yourselves to the Slavis just to remind them that -you are the mistress here.”</p> - -<p>Loseis cocked an eye at the sky. It was like an inverted -bowl of palest turquoise. “Surely!” she cried. -“I’m longing for a ride. Give me five minutes to -change my skirt.”</p> - -<p>Mary-Rose was sent running to fetch Loseis’ horse.</p> - -<p>Loseis and her horse appeared simultaneously. -This was the first time that Gault had beheld the girl’s -riding costume. It comprised Strathcona boots; -breeches; a blue flannel shirt; and a flat-brimmed man’s -hat set crookedly on one side of her head. The shirt -was open at the neck, and under the collar she had -knotted a gay red and yellow kerchief. She turned -up her face to the sky, all open, drinking in the light -with joy; and Gault, observing her hair, softer and -blacker than anything else in Nature, the tender brilliance -of her eyes, and her flower-petal lips, felt a pain -like a needle go through his breast, and lost his sense -of mastery.</p> - -<p>He thought: The devil is in it, that she is able to -hurt me so! She must never be allowed to suspect her -power.</p> - -<p>Loseis vaulted on her horse. They trotted down -the rise, and passing between the tepees, splashed -through the small stream. Clawing their way up the -further bank, their horses broke into a gallop in the -clean grass. Summer had pronounced her benediction -on the North, and the world was like a freshly painted -picture. Loseis, who was ahead, sang out:</p> - -<p>“Oh, what a day for a ride!” To herself she -added: “If that was Conacher pounding along behind, -I should be the happiest girl alive!”</p> - -<p>Their way led more or less close to the river. There -were but two horse trails leaving Blackburn’s Post; -that to Fort Good Hope, and this one which, after -circling the easterly shore of Blackburn’s Lake, struck -south to the distant rendezvous near the Crossing. -Rich bottom lands alternated with occasional gravelly -ridges to be crossed. Conversation was impossible; -for horses trained to the trail will not travel abreast; -however Gault, knowing that they would be out all -day, was content to bide his time.</p> - -<p>Descending into a lush meadow, already fetlock -deep in grass, Loseis clapped heels to her horse, and -set off, yelling like an Indian. Her sorrel mare laid -her ears back and went like the wind. She would have -yelled too if she could. The sight brought that needle-pain -back to Gault’s breast, by reminding him that -his day for yelling and running was forever past.</p> - -<p>In another meadow they came upon a herd of -horses quietly feeding, and Loseis paused to look them -over. These were the broken horses kept on this -side, while the wild horses ranged across the river. -Blackburn on the day he was killed, had been engaged -in rounding up these horses to take out the fur.</p> - -<p>When they rode up on top of the ridge which -formed the cut-bank known as Swallow Bend, all -Loseis’ gayety was quenched. She slipped out of her -saddle, and without speaking, handed her rein to Gault -to hold. Creeping to the edge of the bank, she looked -over. In the gravelly stuff below she could easily follow -the marks where the horses had first struck, and -then rolled down into the water. A wild regret filled -her heart, and her tears ran fast.</p> - -<p>They were still falling when she returned to Gault, -and silently received her rein. Her grief was as natural -and spontaneous as her gayety had been an hour -before. The ageing man bit his lip and cursed her in -his heart for being so beautiful.</p> - -<p>Just below the lake they forded the main stream -through a brawling shallow rapid, the Slavi village being -on the other side. Scores of tepees rose here, as -well as several log shacks built in imitation of the -white man for winter use. Their coming was beheld -from afar, and a tremendous commotion arose in the -village; the news was shrieked from tepee to tepee. -Upon their entrance a dead silence fell; and the Slavis, -like school children all adopted a look of vacant stupidity -as a cover for their embarrassment. Loseis did -not dismount; but rode up and down, speaking to this -one and that.</p> - -<p>Tatateecha, the head man of all the Slavis came -to her stirrup. He was a round little man, distinguished -amongst all the tribe by his fleshiness. The -responsibilities of headship had given him more steadiness -of character too, but not much more. Loseis -did not hold him accountable for the excesses at the -Post. Tatateecha made a flowery speech of welcome -to Loseis; and another to Gault.</p> - -<p>“You are wasting your breath,” remarked Loseis. -“He does not understand your tongue.”</p> - -<p>“Is he the trader now?” asked Tatateecha slyly.</p> - -<p>“No!” said Loseis with a flash of her eyes. “He is -my guest. . . . Do you wish to trade with him?” she -added.</p> - -<p>“No! No!” said Tatateecha earnestly. “He has -the name of a hard trader. They tell me that the -people at Fort Good Hope are always poor.”</p> - -<p>“Very well, then,” said Loseis. “Serve me, and I -will deal with you justly and fairly as my father did. -You never knew want when he was alive.”</p> - -<p>Tatateecha’s eyes twinkled. To be talking in this -manner under the very nose of the proud Gault appealed -to the Slavi sense of humor.</p> - -<p>“This man wishes me ill,” Loseis went on. “He -would take my post from me. I look to you and your -people to be my friends, and help me to keep what is -my own.”</p> - -<p>Tatateecha in his redskin style swore fealty. Unfortunately -he was not to be trusted far.</p> - -<p>“I have another thing to say,” Loseis went on. -“The man who fetched this man into our country—I -do not name him because this man would hear me; you -know the man I mean. That false person is this person’s -spy, so beware how you open your hearts to him. -I have finished.”</p> - -<p>Loseis and Gault rode on. They left Tatateecha -looking rather scared, but Loseis told herself that at -least her speaking to him would do no harm.</p> - -<p>“What were you talking about?” asked Gault.</p> - -<p>“Oh, he was apologizing for the way his people behaved -in the store, and I was telling him it had better -not happen again,” said Loseis carelessly.</p> - -<p>Beyond the village the land rose to a low bluff which -commanded a prospect of the lake. Here they turned -out their horses, and sat down in the grass to eat. -After the pleasant, diversified country they had ridden -through, an astonishing panorama met their eyes. -The whole earth suddenly flattened out. They were -upon the only bit of high ground that approached the -lake. In front of them a sea of water and a sea of -grass stretched to the horizon; and it was impossible -to say where the one ended and the other began. On -either hand in the far distance ran the bordering hills. -The only thing there was in sight to break that tremendous -flatness was a flock of wild swans a mile or -more away, fluttering their wings in the sun.</p> - -<p>When they had satisfied their hunger, Gault bethought -himself that it was time to take a firm tone -with Loseis. He said bluntly:</p> - -<p>“Do you know, you’re a damn pretty girl.”</p> - -<p>He prepared himself for an explosion; but Loseis -surprised him again.</p> - -<p>“Of course I know it,” she said coolly; looking at -him with a slanting smile.</p> - -<p>“How do you know it? You’ve never seen any -white girls.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, one knows such things anyhow,” she said -shrugging.</p> - -<p>“Has any man ever told you?” demanded Gault.</p> - -<p>“No,” said Loseis, clear-eyed as the sky; but thinking -of Conacher nevertheless.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m telling you,” said Gault.</p> - -<p>“Thanks,” said Loseis with a quick smile.</p> - -<p>The smile annoyed the trader. It seemed to express -something other than gratitude. “Do you know what -they sometimes call me?” he asked.</p> - -<p>Loseis shook her head.</p> - -<p>“Kid-Glove Gault. An allusion to my manner, of -course. Everybody knows that it conceals an iron -hand. I have been through a hard school, and I have -come out hard. I choose to be courteous because I -despise those who surround me. I have taught myself -to stand alone.”</p> - -<p>Loseis became very uncomfortable. Why does he -tell me all this? she thought.</p> - -<p>“Look at me!” he said peremptorily.</p> - -<p>She shook her head, pressing her lips together. If -I did, I should burst out laughing in his face, she -thought.</p> - -<p>Gault was not ill-pleased by her refusal. It seemed -to testify to his power. “There is another side to my -nature,” he went on, “which I have never revealed to -a living soul. All the softer feelings which other men -scatter in a hundred directions I have saved up for -one!”</p> - -<p>Mercy! ejaculated Loseis to herself.</p> - -<p>“But it is not to be given lightly,” said Gault. “I -am a proud, jealous, and violent man. I may be led -by one whom I trust, but never driven. I shall never -let down my guard until I am assured that the one I -have chosen is worthy . . .”</p> - -<p>This sort of talk put Loseis on pins and needles—she -could not have told why. Her body twitched, and -her face was all drawn up in a knot of comical distaste. -She kept her head averted from Gault. Oh, -if he would <span class='it'>only</span> stop! she was saying to herself.</p> - -<p>“. . . of my confidence,” he went on; “such is my -character. I am not trying to excuse it. I have long -been indifferent to both praise and blame. The -woman who places her hand in mine must . . .”</p> - -<p>Loseis could stand no more. Springing to her feet, -she ran back towards the place where the horses were -grazing.</p> - -<p>“Excuse me a moment,” she called over her -shoulder. “I must water my horse.”</p> - -<p>Gault with a black face had sprung up to follow -her. But he checked himself. That would be <span class='it'>too</span> -ludicrous for one of his years and dignity. Besides, -she could probably run faster than he. He ground -his teeth with rage. “A coquette!” he muttered. “By -God! I’ll tame her!”</p> - -<p>All the way home he glowered at her back, but -Loseis could not see that.</p> - -<p>After supper she went across to hear the radio concert -in some trepidation; but Gault received her with -his usual smooth and well-controlled face; and she -felt relieved. He treated her with the most exquisite -courtesy. This high manner may have concealed terrible -fires within; but Loseis was not worrying about -that. She gave herself up to the music.</p> - -<p>After it was over, Gault walked home with her. -That rare day had been succeeded by a still rarer -night. Low in the southerly sky hung a great round -moon. Measured by the standards of southerly latitudes, -the moon behaves very eccentrically up there. -After describing a short arc across the southern sky, -she would go down in an hour or so not far from -where she had risen. In the meantime she held the -world in a breathless spell of beauty. In that magical -light the rude buildings of the Post created a picture -of old romance. There was a silvery bloom upon the -grass; and the velvety black shadows suggested unutterable -meanings that caught at the heart. The -shadow of Gault’s house reached almost to Loseis’ -door.</p> - -<p>They paused there; and Loseis looked around her -with a tight breast. (Is he somewhere under this -moon thinking of me?) “This is the night of the -whole year!” she said.</p> - -<p>“Well, we are free, white, and twenty-one,” said -Gault. “Why go to bed? . . . The best place to see -moonlight is on the river. Come out in a canoe with -me for an hour.”</p> - -<p>Loseis’ intuition warned her not to go—but one -does not always listen to one’s intuitions. She was -tempted. He can’t do any more than talk, she -thought; I guess I can stand it. I shall be looking -at the moonlight, and thinking of the other one. -“Very well,” she said.</p> - -<p>“Go in and get a coat,” he said. “I’ll come back -for you in two minutes.”</p> - -<p>He hastened back to his own kitchen. One of his -Crees was sent down to the creek mouth to find a -canoe. Of the others, one played a banjo and all -could sing the old-fashioned songs that are still current -in the far North. These were stationed on a -bench outside the kitchen door with orders to sing, -<span class='it'>not loud</span>. After all there was something magnificent -about Gault. In his dark way he had imagination. -But he was fifty-three years old!</p> - -<p>When they got down to the water’s edge the Cree -was holding the canoe for them to step into. By -Gault’s orders he had chosen not one of the usual bark -canoes of the Slavis which are little more than paper -boats, but a dug-out of which there were several lying -in the creek. These heavier and roomier craft are -however, no more stable than the others. Loseis perceived -that a nest of blankets and pillows had been -arranged for her in the bottom.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I like to paddle,” she said.</p> - -<p>“Give me the pleasure of looking at you in the -moonlight,” murmured Gault.</p> - -<p>Again Loseis felt strong compunctions; but it -seemed too ridiculous to back out then; especially with -the Indian looking on. She got in; and Gault, taking -his place in the stern, paddled out into the main -stream.</p> - -<p>Heading the canoe down river, he allowed it to -drift. That brought Loseis reclining under his eyes -in the full shine of the moon; while he, sitting up on -the thwart, was blackly silhouetted against the light. -Presumably it was very lovely on the river—Loseis -observed how the face of the water seemed to be -powdered with moon-dust; and at any other time her -heart would have been melted by the distant strumming -of the banjo, and the muted voices; but now it -was all spoiled for her by that silhouette. How -could she think of Conacher while the other man’s -eyes were boring into her. She was sorry she had -come. She became sorrier when Gault began to -speak.</p> - -<p>“You are beautiful!” he said in a masterful voice. -“I want you!”</p> - -<p>At first Loseis was only conscious of astonishment.</p> - -<p>“Want me?” she echoed blankly.</p> - -<p>“To-morrow I shall send over to my Post for the -parson,” he went on, coolly. “He may bring his sister -with him to attend upon you. We shall be married -in your house. It will be more fitting.”</p> - -<p>Loseis was literally struck dumb. She sat up -straight, trying to peer into the shadowy face that -was almost invisible to her, her mouth hanging open -like a child’s.</p> - -<p>Gault laughed fondly. “Do not look so frightened,” -he murmured. “I will take good care of you -. . . little sweetheart.”</p> - -<p>A little strained note of laughter was surprised out -of the girl. The last word sounded so funny, shaped -by those stiff old lips.</p> - -<p>Gault ascribed it to nerves. It did not put him off -at all. “As soon as we are married,” he went on. -“Let us take advantage of the Summer season to make -a trip outside. A handsome spirited girl like you will -enjoy seeing the cities. You shall have everything that -your heart desires. And we will be able to attend -to the business of your father’s estate. I don’t mean -places like Edmonton or Calgary. What would you -say to New York . . . London?”</p> - -<p>As he talked on a chill of terror struck to Loseis’ -breast. He seemed so very sure of himself! The -fond, elderly voice made her feel like a little girl -again. “Do I <span class='it'>have to</span> marry him?” she asked herself, -trembling.</p> - -<p>The river was very high. The muddy borders -which would show themselves later, were now completely -covered. The overhanging willows trailed -their branches in deep water. Without noticing it, -they had drifted close to the easterly shore.</p> - -<p>Gault’s ardor increased. He dropped forward in -the bottom of the dug-out, and crept closer to Loseis. -Putting a hand down on either side of her for support -and balance, he strained towards her. Loseis -got a hateful whiff of the scented breath again.</p> - -<p>“Seal it with a kiss, sweetheart,” he murmured.</p> - -<p>Loseis’ blood rebelled, and all uncertainty left her. -She was no longer the child, but an aroused woman. -She wriggled her body further forward in the dug-out, -out of his reach.</p> - -<p>“Easy! Easy!” he cried sharply; “or you’ll have -us over!”</p> - -<p>“Marry you!” cried Loseis with a burst of clear -laughter that flayed him raw. “You ugly old man! -The husband I have chosen is not like you!”</p> - -<p>Gault drew in his breath with a moan of rage; and, -careless of the danger, began to creep towards her. -At that instant a willow branch brushed against the -girl’s hair. Springing up, Loseis embraced a whole -mass of the leaves within her arms, and swung herself -out. Under the violent propulsion of her body, the -narrow craft rolled over in a twinkling, and Gault was -precipitated into the water.</p> - -<p>Loseis sank into the icy water up to her neck, and -hung there, dangling from her branches. For a moment -there was silence; then Gault’s head emerged -from the river, and the night was shattered by a roar -for help. Loseis saw him seize the canoe, and knew -that he was in no danger of drowning. He was no -more than twenty feet from her, but drifting away on -the current.</p> - -<p>Loseis worked her way along her slender branches, -to thicker branches, and finally gained a footing on -firm ground. Gault, drifting downstream continued -to roar for help. Making her way across the flat below -the Post, Loseis met Moale, and the Crees running -in response to their master’s cries. The Slavi -village was in an uproar.</p> - -<p>“Gault is in the river,” said Loseis coolly. “He’s -in no danger. Get canoes and go after him.”</p> - -<p>Reaching her own house Loseis found the terror-stricken -girls huddled in a group. At the sight of -her drenched clothing, Mary-Lou clasped her hands -tragically.</p> - -<p>“What has happened?” she gasped.</p> - -<p>Loseis did not answer her immediately, but only -leaned back against the door with widening eyes. For -suddenly she had realized what <span class='it'>had</span> happened, and -was appalled by the certain consequences. She alone -there with that pack of terrified girls!</p> - -<p>“Bar the door,” she said. “Shutter the windows. -We’ll have to stand a siege now! . . . No, wait!” -she cried as they moved to obey her. “We must have -weapons. The men won’t be back for half an hour. -I’ll fetch guns from the store!”</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='118' id='Page_118'></span><h1>CHAPTER X<br/> <span class='sub-head'>CONTRABAND</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>A</span>ll</span> night long Loseis and her girls listened in -trepidation, but none approached their house. -In the morning, Loseis, disdaining to remain under -cover any longer, sallied out of the house to find -Gault, and have it out with him. Anything was better -than uncertainty.</p> - -<p>The trader was at breakfast in the kitchen of the -men’s house. Seeing Loseis at the door, he rose -quickly, showing a smooth, composed face, but with -eyes as hard as agate. “Good morning,” he said with -extreme politeness; “I trust that you received no hurt -from your ducking last night. I was coming over -directly to inquire. How inexcusably careless of me! -I shall never forgive myself!”</p> - -<p>Loseis waved all this aside. “I should like a few -words with you,” she said as politely as he.</p> - -<p>“Please come in,” said Gault. He indicated the -inner room.</p> - -<p>“I would be glad if you would step outside,” said -Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Certainly!”</p> - -<p>They walked away from the door, followed by the -sharp, secret glances of the Crees. Gault rubbed his -upper lip. Under the mask he wore, an uneasiness -made itself felt. Certainly he had not expected Loseis -to look him up, nor could he guess what was coming.</p> - -<p>She wasted no words in coming to the point. “When -you heard of my father’s death you hastened over -here to help me, you said. If your intentions were -good, I thank you.”</p> - -<p>“Do you doubt it?” asked Gault sharply.</p> - -<p>She spread out her hands. “What difference does -that make now? Whether you wished to help me or -not it would be impossible under the present circumstances.” -She paused for a moment. It required a -strong nerve to say this to Andrew Gault. “I must -therefore ask you to leave the Post as soon as possible.”</p> - -<p>There was a silence. Gault stared at her incredulously. -In spite of his iron self-control a blackish -flush spread under his skin. Infernal passions -were raging under his mask. But he fought them -down. He said nothing. He fell back a step, that -Loseis could not see his face without turning squarely -around.</p> - -<p>“Well?” she said sharply. “Have you nothing to -say?”</p> - -<p>“What is there to say?” he murmured.</p> - -<p>“You could refuse to go,” said Loseis proudly. -“If you refused to go, of course I could not make -you.”</p> - -<p>“I could not refuse,” said Gault with a sort of hollow -reverberation of his usual full and courteous -tones. “You put me in an extraordinarily difficult -position. I do not think you should be left alone here; -but of course I cannot stay.”</p> - -<p>“I shall manage very well,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“I am sorry you think so badly of me,” said Gault.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I shall not think badly of you, if you will only -leave me alone,” said Loseis quickly. “I shall always -be grateful to you!”</p> - -<p>Silence again. Gault literally ground his teeth. -After awhile he was able to say: “You are mixing up -two things together.”</p> - -<p>“You are mistaken,” said Loseis. “The two things -are quite separate in my mind. I have had all night -to think them over.”</p> - -<p>“Do you wish me to leave Mr. Moale here to assist -you?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“No, thank you,” said Loseis firmly. “Furthermore, -I should be greatly obliged if you would carry -Etzooah back with you.”</p> - -<p>For the fraction of a second the flames broke -through Gault’s mask. “Suppose you needed a messenger!” -he cried.</p> - -<p>“I should not choose Etzooah to be my messenger,” -said Loseis quietly.</p> - -<p>He quickly controlled himself. “Very well,” he -said; “we will be off as soon as we can get our traps -together. Say to-morrow morning.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, suit your convenience, of course,” said Loseis -politely.</p> - -<p>Gault’s expression changed. His hard eyes turned -askance on the girl. “Upon consideration,” he said, -more smoothly than before, “I am sure we will be able -to get away late this afternoon. We can make our -first camp up on the prairie, where we will at least be -out of your sight.”</p> - -<p>Loseis bowed; and they parted out in the middle of -the little square.</p> - -<p>When Gault re-entered the kitchen of the men’s -house, he did not speak. The expression on his face -was frightful to see. One by one the Crees, making -believe to have noticed nothing amiss, slipped outside. -Even Moale did not care to face that look. He -sauntered out after the others. Gault sat down as if -to finish his meal; but he touched no food. He merely -sat there with his hands on the edge of the table and -his head lowered, thinking; thinking.</p> - -<p>Finally he rose; and going into Blackburn’s room, -coolly produced a key, with which he opened a wall -cupboard. From it he took an earthenware jug, one -of several on the shelves; and locking up the cupboard, -carried the jug back to the kitchen table. Removing -the cork, he smelled of the contents, but did -not taste. It was a known thing in the country that -Gault was not a drinking man. He called out to have -Etzooah sent to him.</p> - -<p>When the grinning Indian stood before him, Gault -said curtly: “This afternoon, just before supper time, -I shall be starting away from here. You are to come -with me.”</p> - -<p>Etzooah nodded.</p> - -<p>“Etzooah,” the trader continued, fixing his burning -glance on the man, “do the Slavis know the taste of -whisky?”</p> - -<p>“Wah!” said the Indian, showing his blackened -teeth; “Tatateecha know it. And some of the old -men. Twenty-five years ago there was a party of -Klondikers went down this river. They had whisky. -They hand it round. Blackburn had whisky too, but -he did not give the people any.”</p> - -<p>“Can you teach the younger men to drink it?” asked -Gault with an ugly smile.</p> - -<p>“Wah!” said Etzooah, with his silent laugh. “No -need teach! All know what whisky is. The story of -the white man’s stomach-warming medicine is often -told over the fire.”</p> - -<p>“Good!” said Gault. “When we leave here to-day, -you may take them that jug of Blackburn’s whisky. -Let it be carried out of the house with the other -things when we are packing up. Just before we start, -you may go down behind the house, that the white -women may not see you, and give it to Mahtsonza for -all. Do not tell them that I sent it. Say that you -found it in Blackburn’s room, and I never missed it, -because I am not a whisky-drinker.” Gault leaned -across the table, and lowered his voice. “And tell -them as if not meaning anything by it, that there are -four more jugs in the little cupboard on the wall of -Blackburn’s room.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” said Etzooah, grinning still. “What if -there is trouble after?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll take care of that,” said Gault coolly. He had -recovered his self-control.</p> - -<p>“All right. All right,” said Etzooah.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p>During the course of the day, Loseis cast many an -anxious glance across the way. Certain obvious preparations -for departure were immediately set under -way; the pole on the roof was taken down, and the -wire rolled up on spools; the pack-horses which had -been turned out in the meadow across the creek, were -rounded up, and driven into the corral attached to -Blackburn’s stable. So much done, Gault could have -left within an hour had he chosen, but a long time -passed before any further move was made.</p> - -<p>Finally, towards the end of the afternoon, the -Crees began to carry their bedding rolls out of the -kitchen. The horses were led out and saddled, their -packs adjusted, and the hitches thrown. By five -o’clock all was ready for the start. After another -wait, Gault came marching over to the Women’s -House. Loseis met him at the door.</p> - -<p>Exhibiting his finest manner, he smiled politely. -“I know this must be disagreeable to you,” he said, -“but I thought it better to keep up appearances before -my servants and yours. I have come to say good-by.”</p> - -<p>“I was expecting you,” said Loseis. “I wish to return -the various gifts which you . . .”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no!” said Gault sharply. “Do not put that -slight upon me before these redskins. Surely you -have done enough. . . .”</p> - -<p>“Oh,” said Loseis, “if you feel that way about it, -it does not matter, of course.”</p> - -<p>He immediately recovered himself. “Let us appear -to take a friendly good-by of each other.”</p> - -<p>“Surely,” said Loseis. “Perhaps you will take a -letter out for me? I understand that the mail is carried -from Fort Good Hope every month.”</p> - -<p>“Charmed!” said Gault.</p> - -<p>She gave him the letter which had been written during -the afternoon. It was addressed to Gruber at the -Crossing. She realized that if the first letters had -not been sent out, this one would hardly be allowed to -go; still, it was a chance that must not be neglected.</p> - -<p>Gault, standing hat in hand, said with his polite -smile: “I shall give myself the pleasure of sending -over from time to time, until assistance reaches you -from the outside. Though you repudiate it, I still -feel responsible for you.”</p> - -<p>Loseis smiled back—a little quizzically. Is it worth -it? her smile said.</p> - -<p>“Good-by,” said Gault, putting out his hand.</p> - -<p>“Good-by,” said Loseis, letting hers lie within it.</p> - -<p>He strode back to his waiting party, and swung himself -into the saddle. The Crees cried to the pack-horses, -and all set off briskly out of the inclosure, disappearing -behind the store. Presently they were to -be seen on the trail above, trotting up the incline; -smart, well-found, arrogant, modeled upon the style -of the old Company. Loseis breathed more freely. -To be sure, they were not gone yet, for Gault had -said they would camp for the night on the edge of -the prairie. She was not in the least deceived by his -politeness. There would be another night of anxiety -to face, but not so keen as the previous night; for the -violence of his rage must have abated somewhat. -Loseis realized that she had not so much to fear from -violence now, as from the man’s cold craft.</p> - -<p>She went into her house. The supper was waiting. -The thoughtless red girls, thinking only that Gault -was gone, were all smiles. Loseis had Mary-Lou to -sit down with her at table, in the effort to keep at bay -that ghastly feeling of solitude that crept over her -like the coming of night. Alone! Alone! Alone! -And so long before she could hope for succor! She -gave the girls a highly comic account of Gault’s proposal -the night before, laughing loudly herself. Anything -to keep the bogies at bay!</p> - -<p>It was about an hour afterwards when they first began -to realize that something was amiss in the Slavi -village. There was an ungodly sound of singing going -on. The Slavis frequently made the twilight hours -hideous with their wordless chanting. Loseis was accustomed -to it. To-night it was different; it had an -insane ring; they were burlesquing their own performance, -and screaming with laughter. It was significant -too, that the voices of the women were not to -be heard. Loseis scarcely knew what drunkenness -meant, or she would have understood sooner.</p> - -<p>She went to the little window at the end of the room -which overlooked the river flat. Though it was eight -o’clock the sun had not yet dropped out of sight. All -the Slavi men were gathered in a rough circle around -a fire on the creek bank. There was no order in the -company; some lay about; some danced with extravagant -gestures. The ordinary dance of the Slavis was -a decorous shuffle. The women were nowhere to be -seen. Every moment the scene became more confused, -and the yelling louder.</p> - -<p>Leaving the window, Loseis said: “I am going down -to see what is the matter.”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou flung herself upon her mistress: “No! -No! No!” she cried in despair.</p> - -<p>Loseis was very pale. She firmly detached the -clinging hands. “There is nothing else to be done,” -she said simply. “If I do not notice this, my influence -over them is gone!”</p> - -<p>Loseis went sedately down the grassy rise, neither -hurrying, nor hanging back. Her back was straight; -her face composed. Her look of proud scorn lent a -strange poignancy to her childishness. Her heart -might have been fluttering like a frightened child’s, -but nobody could have guessed it. Mary-Lou, seeing -her face, wept aloud, without knowing what it was -that had moved her so.</p> - -<p>As Loseis came near, the Slavis around the fire fell -quiet and still. Only one of them jumped up, and ran -away, carrying something. Loseis recognized the -figure of Mahtsonza. He ran across the stepping-stones -of the creek, and climbed up the further bank. -The rest of them were orderly enough now: but their -drunken, swimming eyes and hanging mouths told a -tale.</p> - -<p>Loseis stepped into the middle of the circle. -“What means this howling that beats against my -ears?” she demanded. “Are your brains full of ice? -(The Slavi phrase for insanity.) Is this a pack of -coyotes or men?”</p> - -<p>None answered her. They merely looked stupid.</p> - -<p>Mahtsonza, a furlong off by this time, and feeling -himself safe, turned around exhibiting the earthenware -jug. He insolently turned it up to his lips.</p> - -<p>Loseis recognized the style of the jug. Her heart -sank at the young man’s act of open defiance; but no -muscle of her face changed. “Now I understand,” -she said coldly. “Blackburn’s whisky has been -stolen.”</p> - -<p>“No steal,” muttered the man called Ahchoogah. -“It was a gift.”</p> - -<p>“Who gave it?” demanded Loseis.</p> - -<p>There was no answer.</p> - -<p>Loseis stepped to the nearest tepee, and stuck her -head through the opening. Within, a crowd of dejected -women and children, crouched around a tiny -fire on the ground.</p> - -<p>“Where did they get it?” demanded Loseis.</p> - -<p>A voice answered: “Etzooah brought it.”</p> - -<p>All was clear to Loseis. She sickened with disgust -that a man big and powerful as Gault could stoop to -so cowardly a trick.</p> - -<p>Returning to the men she said in a voice of scorn: -“Call Mahtsonza back. Drink what is left. Drink -until you lie like rotten logs! When you return to -yourselves you shall be punished!”</p> - -<p>By this she meant that a fine would be entered -against each man’s name on the books. Letting her -eyes sweep around the circle as if to fix each face in -her memory, she stepped out of the circle, and returned -to her house without looking back.</p> - -<p>The moment the door closed after her, the yelling -broke out again, now with a clear note of defiance and -derision. They wished her to understand that though -they could not face out her strong glance, behind her -back they spat at her. Looking out of the end -window she could see them capering about, indulging -like children in an outrageous pantomime of derision -directed towards her house. Loseis quickly turned -away. It was a bitter, bitter dose for her pride to -swallow. “They should be whipped! They should -be whipped!” she said, with the tears of anger springing -to her eyes.</p> - -<p>However, she felt a little better when she reflected -that there was only one gallon of whisky between -about forty men. It was only because they were -totally unused to the stuff that it had affected them -as quickly and so violently. The effect could not last -long.</p> - -<p>As on a former occasion at the suggestion of -danger, Loseis found that the three Slavi girls had -quietly vanished. “Let them go!” she said shrugging. -“They would only be in our way.”</p> - -<p>Loseis determined that she and Mary-Lou should -sleep in the store. As long as she could keep them -out of the store, she held the whip hand. When the -two of them appeared outside the house, carrying their -beds across the square, jeers and yells greeted them -from below. Mary-Lou’s coppery cheeks turned -grayish with fear; but Loseis’ chin went higher.</p> - -<p>“Cowardly dogs!” she said. “If I went down there, -their voices would dry up in their throats.”</p> - -<p>As soon as it began to grow dark, she set the lighted -lamp in the window of the store, to remind the Slavis -that she was on guard.</p> - -<p>Shortly afterwards the whole gang swept up into -the little square within the buildings. They all carried -branches and sticks; one or two had lighted brands -from the fire below. Yelling and capering like -demons, they piled their fuel in the center of the space, -and set fire to it. In a few seconds the flames were -leaping high, illuminating every corner of the square, -and throwing the fantastic leaping shadows of the savages -against the house fronts. Through the little window -of the store, Loseis watched them with a stony -face. To bring their orgy within the very confines of -the Post! A hideous chill struck into her breast. If -they dared so far, what might they not dare!</p> - -<p>Soon, like the savages they were, they lost interest -in their bonfire. The noise quieted down somewhat. -Loseis ventured to hope that the effect of the spirit -might be beginning to wear off. The jug was not -visible. Presently she noticed that their attention was -concentrated on her father’s house. Some of them -were nosing around it like animals; others stood senselessly -trying to peer through the dark panes; near the -door a man was haranguing his fellows, waving his -hand towards the house, Loseis could not hear his -words.</p> - -<p>The crowd around the door increased. Finally one -ventured to put his hand on the latch. The door was -not locked. It swung inward, and all the Slavis fell -backward in affright. The same man who had opened -the door, crept back on all fours, and sticking his head -inside, uttered a senseless yell. The others shrieked -with laughter. Still, they dared not venture in. They -gathered together in a close body outside the door, -and the sound of their jabbering reached Loseis -faintly. Suddenly those at the back began to push, -and the first ones were thrust inside. Instantly they -all swept in. With a sickness of the heart, Loseis saw -one run back to the fire, and snatch up a pine branch -with a burning end.</p> - -<p>The girl groaned. It affected her like an act of sacrilege. -Blackburn was indeed dead when these miserable -savages feared not to overrun his house. She -expected to see his private papers scattered out of the -door; she waited for the house to burst into flames.</p> - -<p>However, destruction was not their present aim. -They reappeared almost immediately, yelling in triumph. -He who came first held another jug aloft; and -others followed; Loseis counted: two . . . three . . . -four! Her chin went down on her breast. Well . . . -this is the end, she thought.</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou had seen, too. “Quick! we must go!” -she gasped. “They will kill now! Quick! through -the little window at the back!”</p> - -<p>Loseis slowly shook her head. “No! You can go. -I stay. As long as I am here they will not dare to -enter the store.”</p> - -<p>“Look! Look!” cried Mary-Lou. “What they -care now? They will kill you!”</p> - -<p>“Maybe,” said Loseis somberly; “but I will not run -from Slavis. You go.”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou dropped to her knees, and hid her face -in Loseis’ skirt. “No! No!” she whispered. “I -never leave you.”</p> - -<p>Pandemonium had broken loose outside. Some had -rifled Blackburn’s wood pile; and armful after armful -of fresh fuel was thrown on the fire. The Slavis took -leave of what little humanity they had. The jugs -were snatched from hand to hand; tipped up to thirsty -mouths; and snatched away again. But even in their -drunkenness they did not fight amongst themselves. -The fighting instinct was absent in this degenerate -people. It was an ugly thing to see the miserable little -creatures, born under the shadow of fear, and obliged -to cringe to all men, now released of their fears by -whisky. They expressed their freedom by throwing -their heads back and howling like dogs; and by -dancing around the fire with legs and arms all abroad -like jumping-jacks. The great, round moon, rising a -little higher to-night, looked down on this scene with -her accustomed serenity.</p> - -<p>Finally they began to turn their attention to the -store. At first they did not dare to approach; but one -or another would hide behind his fellows and squall -derisively in the direction of Loseis. The others -would laugh in the childish way of savages. These -were merely animal cries, without words. Later -Loseis began to hear the word Burn! cried from one -to another. She shivered internally. Meanwhile the -jugs were still circulating, rousing them to a pitch of -frenzy.</p> - -<p>At last a man snatched up a stick with a burning -end. Instantly a dozen others followed his example. -Loseis knocked out a pane of glass with her elbow; -and put the barrel of her gun through the hole.</p> - -<p>But the Slavis never reached the store. Something -caused them to freeze where they stood. The whole -mad, shifting scene suddenly became fixed like a -picture. Then they dropped their torches and fled; -vanishing in the silent manner peculiar to themselves. -You could scarcely see how it happened; you looked -again, and they were not there. A moment or two -after the sound had reached their ears it came to -Loseis within the house. It was the distant pounding -of many hoofs on the trail.</p> - -<p>When Gault and his men rode into the little square, -Loseis was standing at the open door of the store. -She still had the gun over her arm. Gault flung himself -off his horse.</p> - -<p>“Good God! what has happened?” he cried. “I -heard the racket clear to my camp, and jumped on my -horse. Are you hurt?”</p> - -<p>Loseis slowly shook her head.</p> - -<p>“Is any damage done?”</p> - -<p>Loseis indicated the empty jugs lying scattered -about. “None; except that my father’s whisky has -been drunk up,” she said dryly.</p> - -<p>“My God!” cried Gault. “The brutes! I hated to -leave you this afternoon, but I didn’t expect to see my -fears materialize this way. Now you see, don’t you, -that I was right. You cannot be left here alone.”</p> - -<p>Loseis did not speak. She looked at him steadily, -her lips curving in a slow smile of scorn. She was -thinking: Let him babble! It only makes him out a -fool. I shall not tell him all I know. To keep silence -gives me a power over him.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='133' id='Page_133'></span><h1>CHAPTER XI<br/> <span class='sub-head'>A MEETING</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>A</span>longside</span> a vast inland sea whose further -shores were lost under the horizon, a tall young -white man was cooking his supper in the open. The -meal was going to be better than usual, for, having -been camped in the same spot for a week, he had -been able to secure game. On a spit before an ingeniously -constructed fireplace of stones, a wild goose -was roasting. The young man turned the spit, and -basted his fowl. He kept the wooden spit from catching -fire by the simple expedient of basting that -also. At a little distance two Indians looked on with -covert scorn at their master’s elaborate arrangements. -What a lot of trouble to take to eat! They had been -content to impale their goose for awhile on a stick -inclined over the fire; whence they snatched it scorched -on one side and raw on the other.</p> - -<p>The young man, while taking an innocent pleasure -in his own ingenuity, was thinking how unsatisfactory it -was to cook your own dinner. When it first began to -sizzle you became weak with hunger; but the continued -spectacle took the fine edge off your appetite -long before the meat was done.</p> - -<p>A dug-out nosed its slender length around a near -point, and a shrill hail electrified them all.</p> - -<p>“Conacher, thank God!” cried the young man.</p> - -<p>The two Indians ran down to the water’s edge; but -their master would not leave his goose which was -browning beautifully.</p> - -<p>From the dug-out landed an exactly similar outfit; -that is to say a tall young white man and two Indians. -The two white men clasped hands, and their eyes -beamed on each other. However, they were shy of -betraying emotion before the reds, and their greeting -was distinctly casual.</p> - -<p>“Hello, old bean! Where the hell you been? The -boss has gone down the lake, leaving me to fetch you. -Do you know that you’ve held up the whole blooming -survey?”</p> - -<p>“It’s a long story,” said Conacher. “Oh boy! is -that a roast goose I see? Let me get my teeth into it, -and then I’ll tell you.”</p> - -<p>When they had thoroughly discussed the goose, -they lighted their pipes; and Alec Jordan invited -Conacher to fire away. Jordan was about three years -older than Conacher; and they were tried friends. -The Indians around their own fire, were out of earshot.</p> - -<p>“What delayed you?” said Jordan. “It was downstream -work all the way.”</p> - -<p>“Gad! it’s good to have a white man to talk to!” -said Conacher. “I’m damn thankful it’s you, old -scout. I couldn’t have told the others.”</p> - -<p>“But why this emotion?” asked Jordan humorously.</p> - -<p>“Well, it concerns a woman,” said Conacher, looking -away.</p> - -<p>His friend’s face hardened. “An Indian?” he -asked.</p> - -<p>“No, damn you!” cried Conacher indignantly. -“What do you think I am?”</p> - -<p>Jordan opened his eyes. “But between here and the -Rocky Mountains,” he said, “around Blackburn’s -Lake, and down Blackburn’s River, what else is -there?”</p> - -<p>“There is Blackburn’s daughter?” murmured Conacher.</p> - -<p>“Oho!” cried Jordan. “I forgot about her. . . . -Indeed, I thought she was still a little girl.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t josh it!” muttered Conacher. “This is the -real thing.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry, old man,” said Jordan, touching his -shoulder.</p> - -<p>“Blackburn is dead,” said Conacher.</p> - -<p>“I knew it,” said Jordan. “The boss knew it, too. -But it never occurred to us to connect your delay with -his death. We figured you would have been past his -Post before the date of his death.”</p> - -<p>“I was,” said Conacher. “But I went back.”</p> - -<p>He went on to tell the whole story; how he had first -come to Blackburn’s Post, of the trader’s ungracious -reception and the daughter’s scornful one; how he had -gone on down the river; how the little raft had come -floating by his camp with the pathetic black streamer; -and how, yielding to an impulse that he had scarcely -understood, he had hastened up-stream. He ended his -story with the coming of Andrew Gault to Blackburn’s -Post.</p> - -<p>“I could leave her then with an easier mind,” he -said. “Gault knew everything to do.”</p> - -<p>“Sure,” said Jordan; but in so uncertain a tone, that -Conacher asked him sharply:</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?”</p> - -<p>Jordan looked at him queerly; and the lover’s anxious -heart was filled with alarm.</p> - -<p>“What are you keeping back?” he demanded.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know as I ought to tell you,” said Jordan -slowly.</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“It’s just gossip. We’ve got our work to do.”</p> - -<p>“Do you put me or our work first?” demanded Conacher.</p> - -<p>“Well, since you put it that way, you!” said Jordan.</p> - -<p>“Then tell me.”</p> - -<p>“But what can you do, now?”</p> - -<p>“Never mind. You tell me, and I’ll make up my -mind what I can do. I’m a grown man.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Jordan, “when you told me that Gault -had come to the aid of Blackburn’s daughter I couldn’t -help but think it was like the wolf coming to save the -lamb.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I know,” said Conacher impatiently, “something -of that sort occurred to me, but hang it all! no -white man could be blackguard enough to take advantage -of a young girl in that situation!”</p> - -<p>Jordan smiled affectionately at his friend. “You’re -young, my son,” he murmured. “I don’t know as I -would put it by Gault. . . . I suppose you’ve never -heard the full story of Blackburn and Gault?”</p> - -<p>“No, how should I?” said Conacher. “Coming -from the mountains.”</p> - -<p>“True, this is your first season. I’ve been in the -country three summers, and I’ve picked up all the gossip. -It’s one of the stock stories of the country how -Blackburn and Gault have been fighting each other -for twenty years, and Blackburn has beaten out Gault -at every turn. Gault had to obtain financial assistance -outside. But here’s a new piece of information that -came to me pretty straight. Nothing can be hidden in -this country. It seems that Ogilvie, Gault’s backer, -told Gault on his last visit to Fort Good Hope that -the Company would fire him if he didn’t succeed in -putting Blackburn out of business.”</p> - -<p>Conacher’s face darkened with anxiety. “I wish I -had known that!” he muttered. “How did you hear -of Blackburn’s death?”</p> - -<p>“Yesterday, before the boss pulled out, we got mail -from Good Hope by the half-breed Modest Capeau. -When he left the fort the news of Blackburn’s death -had come; and Gault had gone over there. . . .” -Jordan hesitated, with an embarrassed glance at his -friend.</p> - -<p>“Well, out with it!” said Conacher sharply.</p> - -<p>Jordan shrugged. “According to the gossip at Fort -Good Hope, Gault said that he was going to marry -the girl.”</p> - -<p>Conacher jumped up. “Oh, my God!” he cried -agitatedly. “That old man! What the devil will I -do!”</p> - -<p>Jordan followed him. “How about the girl?” he -asked.</p> - -<p>“She loves me, Alec,” said Conacher simply.</p> - -<p>Jordan gripped his shoulder. “Old fellow . . . -you deserve to be happy!” he said warmly.</p> - -<p>“Happy!” cried Conacher bitterly. “I never should -have left her!”</p> - -<p>“But you had to leave her.”</p> - -<p>“Oh hell, what does the government matter in a -case like this. . . . Wait a minute. I must try to -think this out. How far can you trust this gossip?”</p> - -<p>“Well I’m bound to say this is more than common -gossip,” admitted Jordan. “It was Joe Moale, the -man closest to Gault, who told the fellows he had -heard Gault swear that he would marry the girl. . . . -But she won’t have him, of course. No doubt everything -will be all right.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, God! don’t try to smooth things down!” cried -Conacher. “She is completely in his power. The only -Indian who could speak English was murdered . . . -Of course she’ll reject him! And then what? Then -what? Oh, my God! think of the girl being left in -the power of the man she had turned down! . . . -I never should have left her. But how could I stay -with all you waiting for me? . . . Well, it’s different -now. I’ve done the bit of work that was entrusted to -me. I can put all the data in your hands. After this -they can get along without me if they have to. . . .”</p> - -<p>“My God! Paul, what are you talking about?”</p> - -<p>“I’m going back,” said Conacher quietly.</p> - -<p>“You <span class='it'>can’t</span> go back! Think of the row that would -be kicked up!”</p> - -<p>“I’ll have to face it.”</p> - -<p>“You’ll lose your job. Where will you get another?”</p> - -<p>“It’s true, nobody wants a geologist but the government. -But I’m young; I’ll make out somehow.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, my God! this is terrible!” cried Jordan. -“We’re so shorthanded already!”</p> - -<p>“Do you blame me?” demanded Conacher.</p> - -<p>Jordan’s expression changed. “No, I don’t blame -you, really,” he said. “Go on back, and God bless -you! . . . But it’s me that’s got to face the boss. -You know what he is. At the first mention of a girl -he will think the worst. He’s depending on your -Indians, too.”</p> - -<p>“Take them,” said Conacher. “Your dug-out is -big enough to carry all five. I couldn’t pay them anyhow. -All I want of the government is enough grub -to see me through.”</p> - -<p>“It’s foolhardy to travel alone!” cried Jordan.</p> - -<p>“That’s all right,” said Conacher. “I’m not going -to break a leg this trip. I can’t afford to. The only -thing that bothers me is, it’s all up-stream work. I -can’t make but twenty miles a day.”</p> - -<p>“I wish it was me,” said Jordan enviously.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='140' id='Page_140'></span><h1>CHAPTER XII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>FUR</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>Q</span>uite</span> early in the morning, Loseis, issuing out -of her house, was greatly astonished to see the -door of the little fur warehouse standing open, and -the bales of fur being carried out by Gault’s Crees. -This warehouse flanked the store on the left hand side -as you faced the river; on the other side there was a -similar building for the storage of flour. Loseis’ -breast grew hot at the sight; and without more ado, -she marched across. Gault was not in sight; Moale -was directing the Crees.</p> - -<p>“What does this mean?” demanded Loseis.</p> - -<p>Moale turned his flat, inscrutable black eyes to the -girl’s face. The dash of Indian blood lent a touch -of mystery to Moale’s olive face. It was a comely -face; but so expressionless it was impossible to tell the -man’s age. “I beg your pardon?” he said in his pleasant -voice.</p> - -<p>“You heard me!” said Loseis in a passion. “By -what authority have you broken into my warehouse, -and helped yourself to my fur?”</p> - -<p>It was quite true that Moale had opened one of the -bales for no reason except the pleasure of seeing and -stroking the marvelous pelts of the black foxes. He -was a connoisseur. He said smoothly: “Mr. Gault’s -orders, Miss. I thought you knew.”</p> - -<p>“I did not know,” said Loseis, “and I will trouble -you to have the fur carried back again, and the door -locked.”</p> - -<p>Moale scratched his head. “I’d be glad if you’d -talk it over with Mr. Gault,” he said.</p> - -<p>Loseis imperiously beckoned to the nearest Cree. -“Man!” she said, “tell Gault that I would be glad to -have a few words with him.”</p> - -<p>While they waited for Gault, Moale busied himself -with tying up the opened bale. He did not speak; but -he looked at Loseis curiously and wistfully, when she -was not aware of it.</p> - -<p>Gault was presently to be seen approaching from -the men’s house. He did not hurry himself. “Good -morning,” he said, raising his hat. His manner had -changed. He was still polite, but it was an insolent -politeness. His eyes were as hard as glass.</p> - -<p>Loseis welcomed the change. It permitted her to -come out into the open. “Why did you give orders -to get out my fur?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“It must be sent outside without further delay,” -said Gault coolly.</p> - -<p>“Am I not to be consulted?” asked Loseis, running -up her eye-brows.</p> - -<p>“It did not seem worth while to do so,” said Gault. -“You have set yourself in opposition to me at every -point. Just the same I have a responsibility towards -you that I am obliged to fulfill.”</p> - -<p>“I am the mistress here,” said Loseis in a rage.</p> - -<p>“You are not of age,” said Gault coolly.</p> - -<p>“Well, you are not my guardian!”</p> - -<p>“No. But whoever may take your affairs in charge, -will look to me as the only man on the spot, for an -accounting. If the fur is not sent out at once you -would lose the market for an entire season.”</p> - -<p>Loseis turned away biting her lip. Whenever he began -to talk in this vein with glib use of legal and business -terms, she was helpless. Her instinct told her -that he was merely cloaking his evil intentions in -smooth words, but she had not experience enough to -be able to strike through to the truth.</p> - -<p>“Besides,” Gault went on, “if we do not get the fur -to the Crossing, Gruber will get tired of waiting for it.”</p> - -<p>Loseis caught at this. “So,” she said, “you are -sending it to Gruber, then?”</p> - -<p>“I expect to,” said Gault cautiously, “but I must -reserve myself full freedom of action. He has got to -satisfy me that he can dispose of it to the best advantage -of your interests.”</p> - -<p>“When does it go?” asked Loseis.</p> - -<p>“To-morrow morning.”</p> - -<p>“By the usual route?”</p> - -<p>“No. I am sending it to Fort Good Hope; and -thence by my launch to the Crossing.”</p> - -<p>Loseis felt that here was a point she could stick on. -“I would rather have it go by pack train as usual, -direct to the Crossing over the prairie,” she said.</p> - -<p>“That would take two weeks longer.”</p> - -<p>“Just the same, I request you to send it in that -manner.”</p> - -<p>“I must decline.”</p> - -<p>The red flags flew in Loseis’ cheeks. “You have -said that it was my fur,” she said. “Very well, I order -you to send it out as I desire.”</p> - -<p>Gault, cool and hard; frankly enjoying the spectacle -of her anger, said: “And I decline to do so.”</p> - -<p>Loseis observing that she was furnishing him with -enjoyment, contrived by a miracle to control herself. -“Thank you very much,” she said coolly. “I was just -trying to find out where I stood. Shall you accompany -the consignment?”</p> - -<p>“No,” said Gault darkly, “I remain here to look -after you.”</p> - -<p>Loseis bowed, and marched back to her own house. -Gault looked after her, rubbing his lip. His thin -mouth was twisted with anger and bitterness. By -God! there was a spirit in the girl! Never had she -seemed so desirable to him as at that moment. Moale -too, looked after her with a deep wistfulness in his -mysterious eyes. The tang of red blood cut him off -from any hopes in that direction.</p> - -<p>Loseis put her feet down like a little princess; but -her eyes were stinging with tears. She conducted an -orderly retreat, while her heart was bursting with -mortification. It was intolerable to be so proud and -so helpless. Helpless! Helpless! Her sex, her -loneliness, her ignorance delivered her three times -over into the power of this man. She was certain -now that he intended to rob her, and she could do -nothing!</p> - -<p>During the whole day the preparations went on. -The pack-saddles were got out; and the fur was -divided into lots of a suitable size for a horse load. -Gault sent Moale to the Women’s House with a -polite message requesting Loseis to come to the store -to issue the necessary grub. She proudly handed over -the key, telling them to take what they required, and -leave a memorandum of it.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon the horses were rounded up. As -many were put into the corral as it would hold, and -the rest picketed in the square. Upwards of seventy -horses were required for the entire outfit. To make -any sort of progress between twelve and fifteen men -would be needed to pack and unpack the horses twice -a day. Moale and two of the Crees were going, while -the other two remained to wait upon Gault. Loseis -observed that Ahchoogah, Mittahgah and others of -the Slavis who had accompanied the fur train on other -years, were working willingly enough with the horses. -This started a train of thought in her mind.</p> - -<p>Gault is too strong for me, she told herself; why -shouldn’t I trick him if I can?</p> - -<p>With the passing of danger, the three Slavi girls -had come sidling back into the kitchen of the Women’s -House, and Loseis indifferently took them in, partly -because she was accustomed to having them wait on -her; and partly because they furnished a useful link -with the Slavi village below. She now called Mary-Belle -to her.</p> - -<p>“Can it be true,” she asked, “that Ahchoogah, Mittahgah, -and other men are going to Fort Good Hope? -That place is dangerous for Slavi men.”</p> - -<p>“Wah! they would not go to that place!” said -Mary-Belle with a look of terror. “There is bad -medicine in that place! Gault has said if they will -drive the horses as far as the red spring, the water of -which makes men and horses sick and well again, he -will give each man a Stetson hat and a mouth-organ. -Blackburn never had mouth-organs in his store. The -red spring is half way between the two rivers. Gault -says for the Slavis to leave the horses there and come -home. Musqua (one of the Crees) is riding fast to -bring the Crees from Fort Good Hope. Moale and -Watusk (the other Cree) will watch the horses and -the fur at the red spring until they come. So there is -no harm.”</p> - -<p>Loseis let the subject drop.</p> - -<p>After supper, choosing a moment when she believed -that Gault and Moale were still at the table, she went -over to the store. Fastening the door behind her, she -climbed through the back window, and making her -way down to the creek shore, followed it down to the -Slavi village. Of course if Gault happened to look -out of the end window of his house, he could see her -amongst the Slavis; but then it would be too late to -interfere with her purpose.</p> - -<p>The air was still full of a pleasant warmth, and the -Slavis having just eaten, were squatting in groups outside -the tepees, laughing and chatting in their ceremonious -way. It is only in the presence of a white -man that the Indian is taciturn. By this time the men -had thrown off the alcoholic poison which had made -them sick for days, and a general feeling of well-being -was in the air. Fathers fondled their little sons, and -abused their womenfolk; and the latter accepted it -with equanimity.</p> - -<p>At the approach of Loseis a dread silence fell upon -them, and they drew a walled look over their dark -faces. It was the first time she had visited them since -that terrible night, and they expected the worst. But -Loseis was bent on playing a part to-night. Her face -was as smooth as their own, and much blander. -Allowing them to suppose that she had forgotten what -had happened, she addressed this one and that by -name with grave politeness; promised a mother medicine -for her sick child, and handed out peppermint -lozenges to the little boys who were the idols of the -tribe. Nobody would have thought of giving the little -girls candy.</p> - -<p>Loseis sat down on an overturned dug-out, with the -manner of one who is prepared to hold agreeable discourse. -The Slavis began to gather round, but always -with that absurd pretense of not letting their left hands -know what their right hands were doing. Loseis was -very wonderful to them, too wonderful to inspire affection; -awe was nearer the word.</p> - -<p>At first she talked of the stage of water in the river; -the promise of a full crop of berries; the scarcity of -rabbit; all subjects of first-rate importance to the -Slavis. Ahchoogah, the oldest man present, in order -to prove how bold he was, undertook to answer her -politely to her face. When Loseis perceived that she -had gathered the audience she wanted, she went on -casually:</p> - -<p>“The wind is from the setting sun. There will be -no rain. It is well. The men who are going to-morrow -will see Fort Good Hope in five sleeps.”</p> - -<p>A tremor of uneasiness passed through her listeners. -“No, no!” said Ahchoogah. “We are not going -to Fort Good Hope. At the red spring we will -turn back.”</p> - -<p>“That is Gault’s talk,” said Loseis courteously. -“All know that Gault’s talk hides a snare. When you -get to the red spring you will not want to turn back. -Gault’s medicine will draw you on. It is very strong -medicine. It’s name is electricity. I know it, because -Gault brought me a little piece of it when he came -here. The girls at my house have told you that. It -opens its eye in the dark.”</p> - -<p>Loseis paused to allow this to sink in. She fancied -that she perceived fear behind the blank masks of the -Slavis; but could not be sure. None spoke.</p> - -<p>“I have heard of many strange things at Fort Good -Hope,” she went on with an air of indifference that -the Slavis could not outdo. “Men say that Gault is -Old Man’s partner. Old Man say to Gault; I lend -you my strong medicine, but when you die you must -be a dog to my sledge. Gault thinks he will cheat Old -Man, by going away to the white man’s country to -die. Maybe so. I do not know such things. I hear -them told.”</p> - -<p>She paused again. The men looked down their -noses. A woman crept to Loseis’ feet, and twitched -her skirt.</p> - -<p>“Loseis, tell my son not to go,” she said tremulously.</p> - -<p>“If he wants to go, what is that to me?” said Loseis -with an air of surprise. “He will see strange things. -When Gault claps his hands—Wah! there is light. -Gault catches the voices of the air on his wires and -brings them into his room. He did that in my father’s -house and I made him stop, because I did not want the -Powerful Ones to fix their eyes on me! Etzooah has -told you these things. At Fort Good Hope Gault -keeps great beasts fastened to the earth. They have -fire in their bellies and they do his bidding. When -they open their mouths you can see the fire, and steam -hisses through their nostrils as from many kettles in -one. When they are hungry they scream so that a -man falls flat on the ground to hear it. These fiery -beasts eat men too, and Gault is always worried because -he has no men to spare. So he is glad when -strangers come to Fort Good Hope.”</p> - -<p>Loseis rose, feeling that she could hardly better this -conclusion. She held out her hand in turn to Ahchoogah, -to Mittahgah, to Mahtsonza and the others there -that she knew were going next day. “Good-by. . . . -Good-by. You are good hunters. You bring me -plenty of fur. I am sorry that you go.”</p> - -<p>She returned home. It was impossible to tell how -the Slavis would react next day; but she had done her -best.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p>Early next morning Loseis was at her window. -Nothing was changed. The horses were still picketed -in the square; and the Crees were lounging about the -doorway of the men’s house. The lordly Crees had -no notion of bestirring themselves while there were -Slavis to do the hard work. By and by Gault appeared -in the doorway, and with vigorous pantomime -of anger evidently demanded to know why nothing -had been started. He was told; whereupon Etzooah -was dispatched down to the Slavi village in a hurry.</p> - -<p>From the other window Loseis watched Etzooah -haranguing the Slavis, and expostulating with them. -It was all in vain. He was finally obliged to return -cringing to Gault, shrugging, spreading out his hands -in significant by-play. Gault’s face turned black, and -he aimed a furious kick at Etzooah, that the wily redskin -dodged. Gault went inside; while Etzooah -slipped around the house. Gault reappeared carrying -an ugly quirt. Summoning his Crees with a jerk of -the head, he set off down the rise. The tall redskins -followed with cruel grins of anticipation.</p> - -<p>Back at the end window, Loseis saw the miserable -little Slavis driven like sheep by the five tall men. But -sheep were never used so brutally. The sneaking Etzooah, -reappearing from the creek-bed, pointed out -the wanted ones, who were driven up the rise with incontinent -kicks and cuffs, and the furious lashing of -the whip. Squeezing their bodies together to offer as -small a mark as possible, the diminutive savages -darted this way and that, to find that they could only -escape punishment by running straight ahead. The -Crees yelled with laughter. The Slavis, cowering, -made haste to start packing the horses, and Loseis -made up her mind that she had lost.</p> - -<p>Oscillating between the two windows, she presently -saw that the Slavis below were striking their tepees, -and piling everything pell-mell into the canoes, and -she took heart again. She knew the Slavis better than -Gault did. Either Gault did not notice what the -people were about, or he disdained them. There was -no interference with them. They presently set off in -a cloud up-river, paddling as if the devil were behind -them. So precipitate was their departure that a small -boy who had gone down amongst the willows to set -muskrat snares, returned to find his village wiped off -the flat. After prowling around to see if by chance -any scraps of food had been overlooked, the child set -off composedly up-river by the horse-track.</p> - -<p>Soon afterwards Loseis perceived that Gault was -having trouble with his gang. In the process of saddling -the pack-horses, some of the Slavis had disappeared. -The four Crees were sent off in different -directions to round them up. This was a fatal move, -because Gault and Moale could not possibly watch all -the others, and Etzooah would always play double. -The Slavis, on their part, have an uncanny faculty of -choosing the moment when no eye is upon them to -fade away silently: to slip behind a building, to roll -down the creek bank, to lose themselves in the bush of -the hillside. In spite of Gault’s whip, and his terrible -voice, his crew literally melted away before his eyes. -After making long detours, they would rejoin their -people somewhere above. Even weakness is not without -its resources.</p> - -<p>When the Crees returned empty-handed, the Slavis -were reduced to five. These were all but surrounded; -nevertheless, it was presently discovered that there -were but four, without anybody being able to say what -had become of the fifth. In any case it would have -been impossible for such a small number of men to -pack and unpack seventy horses twice a day. Gault -gave up. The remaining Slavis were dismissed with -kicks, and the trader, doubtless in a hellish rage, strode -back to his house. Near the door, the grinning -Etzooah spoke to him. For an instant Gault showed -a murderous face in Loseis’ direction; then went inside. -Loseis experienced a feeling of the sweetest -triumph.</p> - -<p>However, within an hour, two of the Crees with -their bedding and grub set off on the easterly trail, and -her heart sunk again. In four or five days they would -be back with a swarm of Crees from Fort Good Hope. -What good would four days do her? She had only -succeeded in prolonging the agony.</p> - -<p>Seeing the last of their people disappear, the Slavi -girls exhibited the frantic, unreasoning fear of half-broken -horses deserted by the herd. Loseis scornfully -let them go. They slipped around behind the Women’s -House, and were not seen again.</p> - -<p>The pack-horses had been turned out again; and -the fur carried back into the little warehouse. The -lock of the warehouse had been forced out of respect -to Gault’s pretense that the key was sealed up in -Blackburn’s desk, and no other lock was put on. The -door was held shut by a propped pole.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Gault had not returned the key to the -store; and after waiting a few hours, Loseis sent -Mary-Lou across the square with a polite request for -it. The girl returned without it, and bearing a message -equally polite, to the effect that henceforward -Gault would relieve Miss Blackburn of the trouble of -attending upon the store. Until her duly constituted -representative arrived, he would administer it together -with the rest of her property.</p> - -<p>Loseis was never the one to take this lying down. -She instantly marched over to the store. The door -was fastened with a padlock through staples. Loseis -bethought herself that there were crow-bars somewhere -about the post. However she found an easier -way. Gault had overlooked the fact that the little -back window was out. Loseis climbed through, and -obtaining a file and a new lock from the store, returned -to the front of the building and set to work. It was a -long job in her inexperienced hands; but she was supported -by the agreeable thought that Gault was watching -her. By the end of the afternoon she found herself -inside. Putting in the rear window, she fastened -the new lock, and returned to her house to supper -dangling the keys from thumb and forefinger.</p> - -<p>After supper Moale came over. Loseis received -him at the outer door. Whatever his private feelings -may have been did not appear. He said in an impassive -voice:</p> - -<p>“Mr. Gault instructs me to say that you and your -girl must prepare to go out to Fort Good Hope when -the fur goes in four or five days’ time. He can no -longer take the responsibility of keeping you here -while the Slavis are in open rebellion.”</p> - -<p>Loseis laughed scornfully. “He can always find -respectable-sounding words, can’t he?” she said. -“You’re a white man, aren’t you? I should think you -would feel ashamed to be the carrier of such lying -words.”</p> - -<p>Moale’s face changed not a muscle. Some secret -feeling made him proof against her scorn. He was -not altogether white. He had not looked directly in -her face.</p> - -<p>Loseis’ temper got the better of her. “You tell -Gault, I shan’t go!” she cried.</p> - -<p>In his even voice Moale said: “I am instructed to -say that Mr. Gault is prepared for that.”</p> - -<p>Loseis shut the door.</p> - -<p>During the hours that followed she walked up and -down her room, half beside herself with balked rage. -What possible answer was there to this latest threat -of Gault’s. He had hinted at using force. He intended -to lay hands on her. To Loseis’ flaming blood -there were only two possible answers: to kill herself or -to kill Gault. The first alternative she immediately -rejected; that was the counsel of weakness. Nothing -would please Gault better than for her to kill herself. -She would kill Gault then, before he should lay hands -on her. But ah! <span class='it'>dared</span> she take the life of a white -man? She had had so vivid an experience of death -taking a man in his strength.</p> - -<p>Besides there were three other men. She could not -hope to shoot them all before she was seized. She -would be carried out anyhow. She visualized the -horrors of a trial of which she knew so little; she -imagined the cloud of lies that would beat her down. -She had no one to speak for her but Mary-Lou; and -Mary-Lou would never be allowed to speak. And if -she were, the simple red girl would be struck dumb -with terror. Disgraced! Disgraced! thought Loseis. -Parted from Conacher without hope in this life. She -buried her face in her hands. I must not kill him! -she thought in terror. I must not let myself kill him. -. . . But how can I help it if he lays hands on me!</p> - -<p>If Gault had come over without warning to seize -her, Loseis would have snatched up a gun, and shot -him without thinking about it. But with devilish cunning -he had sent to tell her of his intention. He was -giving her four days in which to go mad with trying -to find a way out when there was none.</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou was terrified by the expression on her -mistress’ face. She held out her arms imploringly. -“Please . . . please to go to bed,” she whispered. -“You will sleep. To-morrow you feel better.”</p> - -<p>“Sleep!” cried Loseis. “I shall never sleep again!”</p> - -<p>“Please . . . please,” persisted Mary-Lou. “Please -stop walking.”</p> - -<p>“Go to bed, you,” said Loseis angrily. “Let me be -by myself. Close the door after you.”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou went sadly out.</p> - -<p>Loseis pressed her knuckles against her temples. I -must be quiet! she told herself. I must think what I -am doing! . . . Quiet! The only thing that would -quiet me would be to go across and call him to the -door and shoot him! Ah, then I could sleep! . . . I -must not think such things! I must not! I must always -be telling myself it would not end things to kill -him; it would only begin worse things! . . . But what -is the use? I know I shall suddenly kill him! If he -lays hands on me! . . . If I were a man he would not -dare! She flung her arms above her head. “O God! -why didn’t you make me a man! It is too hard to be a -girl!”</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p>It had been dark for some time. To-night the -silence was even more complete, for no child whimpered -in the tepees, and no Slavi dog barked. Loseis -was pulled up all standing by hearing a gentle tapping -on the glass of the window alongside the kitchen door. -These nights the inside shutters were always closed. -She instinctively flew to her gun which was standing in -the corner; but put it down again, smiling scornfully -at herself. It was not in this manner that an attack -would be made.</p> - -<p>Returning to the window, she said firmly: “Who -is there?”</p> - -<p>A whisper came winging back: “Conacher.”</p> - -<p>Loseis’ heart failed her; her legs wavered under -her; she struggled to get her breath. Then in a -flash life and joy came crowding back until she felt -as if she would burst. She clapped a hand over her -mouth to hold in the rising scream of joy. Gault must -not know! “Oh, Paul! . . . Oh, Paul!” she murmured, -fumbling blindly for the latch of the door.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='156' id='Page_156'></span><h1>CHAPTER XIII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE FUR GOES OUT</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>L</span>oseis</span> and Paul Conacher sat on the great white -bear rug before the fire. Said Loseis, concluding -her tale:</p> - -<p>“He gave me to understand through Moale, that he -would stop at nothing.”</p> - -<p>“The scoundrel!” muttered Conacher. “He was -trying to terrorize you. In reality he cannot touch -your rights here, unless you sign them away.”</p> - -<p>“Sign?” said Loseis sharply. “I have signed my -name four times on blank sheets of paper for Gault. -I had clean forgotten that.” She described the circumstances.</p> - -<p>“Obviously a trick,” said Conacher. “If you had -known anything about banking methods, you would -have seen through it.”</p> - -<p>“I am so ignorant!” said Loseis humbly.</p> - -<p>“How could you be expected to know!” said Conacher. -He mused. “I wonder how in thunder he expects -to use those signatures. . . . Were they at the -top, in the middle or at the bottom of the sheets?”</p> - -<p>“Towards the bottom,” said Loseis. “He pointed -his finger, and I wrote.”</p> - -<p>“Of course!” said Conacher. “Then he could fill -in anything he wanted above your signature.”</p> - -<p>Loseis leaned towards him. “What does it -matter?” she said dreamily. “We are together!”</p> - -<p>“You darling!”</p> - -<p>Loseis was too happy to remain sitting still. -Springing up, she threw back the little shutter. Outside -it was broad day. “The day of my happiness!” -she murmured. Sticking her head through the kitchen -door, she called out: “Mary-Lou! Quick with my -breakfast. I must set off!”</p> - -<p>“So soon?” said Conacher. “It’s not four.”</p> - -<p>“Gault mustn’t see me start. If he tried to interfere, -you would be drawn into it, and everything -spoiled.”</p> - -<p>“He’ll see you come back.”</p> - -<p>“That doesn’t matter. I shall have settled everything -with Tatateecha then.”</p> - -<p>“Can we depend upon the Slavis?” asked Conacher -anxiously.</p> - -<p>“If it was to fight, never! But to play a secret -trick at night, oh, yes! that’s just in their line.”</p> - -<p>“And I?” asked Conacher.</p> - -<p>“You must stay close to the house all day. This -shall be your room now . . . Ah! the happy room! -Do not go near the windows. . . . Where did you -leave your dug-out last night?”</p> - -<p>“Hidden under the willows about a furlong downstream. -I thought I had better communicate with you -before showing myself.”</p> - -<p>“You did right! . . . If the Slavis were here your -dug-out would be discovered within an hour, but Gault -will never find it. . . . You must sleep all you can to-day.”</p> - -<p>“You must sleep too.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! happiness has made me over! I need no -sleep! . . . However, I will be sensible. I will be -back from the lake in three or four hours, and will -sleep all day in the kitchen. Neither of us will get any -sleep to-night.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t altogether like your plan,” said Conacher -frowning. “I should be the one to stay here.”</p> - -<p>“You are wrong in that,” said Loseis earnestly. -“There is nothing of any value here. All Gault cares -about is the fur. The post of danger is with the fur, -and you have that.”</p> - -<p>“Why shouldn’t you and I take it out together?”</p> - -<p>“No! If I left the Post, it would give Gault an -excuse to say that I had given up my rights here.”</p> - -<p>“But how can I leave you alone again?”</p> - -<p>“Ah, nothing can harm me now!” cried Loseis. “I -am guarded by happiness! I will do everything quite -willingly that Gault forces me to do, and just be -patient until you and Gruber come back. There is a -sergeant of police at the Crossing. Bring him back -too. Oh, Gault will be quite different when he knows -that help is on the way. He has to think of the law, -then.”</p> - -<p>Conacher was silenced: but he did not look altogether -convinced. They sat down to their breakfast.</p> - -<p>“It is like being married!” said Loseis with a sigh -of content. “Mary-Lou, have you cooked enough for -a man’s breakfast?”</p> - -<p>Loseis’ own horse and her saddle were in the stable -behind the men’s house; therefore unavailable. Having -improvised a halter out of a piece of rope, she -therefore set off on foot; and catching one of the -broken horses in the meadow beyond the creek, she -rode it in the Indian fashion, bareback.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p>At half-past eight she was back again. Turning the -horse loose, she hid the halter in a bush, and returned -across the stepping-stones. Gault was pacing up and -down in front of his house. From this position he -could not see her until she started to mount the rise. -It was impossible for him to tell from what direction -she had come. At sight of her, notwithstanding his -self-command, his face sharpened with curiosity; and -he changed his course in order to intercept her. -Loseis was seized with a slight sense of panic. He -must not read anything in my face! she told herself.</p> - -<p>“Good morning,” said Gault, politely.</p> - -<p>“Good morning,” returned Loseis. Alas! for all -her care, she could feel the dimples pressing into her -cheeks, and she knew that her eyes were shining. She -kept her lids lowered, but that in itself was a giveaway, -for she had been accustomed heretofore to look -Gault straight in the eye.</p> - -<p>By the brief silence which succeeded, she knew that -his suspicions were aroused. “You are up early,” he -remarked in a carefully controlled voice.</p> - -<p>“I just went down to see if the Slavis had left a -canoe that I could use,” she said carelessly.</p> - -<p>“I did not see you go,” said Gault.</p> - -<p>“It must have been an hour ago,” said Loseis. “I -went for a walk, the morning was so pleasant.” (I -should not be explaining things like this, she thought. -I ought to be proud and angry with him.)</p> - -<p>“If you want a canoe my men will make one for -you,” said Gault.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, thank you,” said Loseis quickly. “It was -just a fancy. One must have something to do.”</p> - -<p>She had not stopped walking, and they came to her -door. Loseis bowed.</p> - -<p>“May I come in for a moment?” asked Gault.</p> - -<p>“Sorry,” she said quickly. “We are not ready -for visitors so early. But if you wish to speak to me -here I am.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, it will keep until later,” said Gault. He -touched his hat, and watched her through the door.</p> - -<p>Conacher was waiting for her in the inner room. -Loseis flung herself in his arms.</p> - -<p>“Ah, you are really here!” she murmured. “It was -not a dream! . . . If Gault could see me now!” she -added with a laugh, like a chime of little bells.</p> - -<p>Conacher pressed the hair back from her forehead. -He had been watching through the window, and his -face was dark. “It makes me see red to have that man -speak to you,” he muttered. “What was he after?”</p> - -<p>“Wanted to know where I’d been?” said Loseis. -“Of course I didn’t tell him. But I’m afraid I gave -away a good deal in my face. I have him badly worried. -I hope it won’t cause him to sit up to-night, or -set a watch on us.”</p> - -<p>“All is arranged then?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. Tatateecha will land a hundred men in the -second river meadow at ten o’clock. They will wait -there until it becomes dark. We’ll only have about -four hours of darkness, and the moon will be shining. -It cannot be helped; we must put our trust in silence. -Slavis are the quietest animals there are.”</p> - -<p>A few hours later, Loseis, sleeping in the kitchen, -was awakened by Mary-Lou who said that Gault was -coming across.</p> - -<p>“He must be allowed to come in,” said Loseis. “Say -that I am sleeping. It will give me a moment to prepare.”</p> - -<p>She hastened into the other room. Awakening Conacher, -she said:</p> - -<p>“Gault is coming. I must let him in here in order -to put his suspicions to sleep. Get under the bed.”</p> - -<p>Conacher, still bemused with sleep, obeyed her; and -Loseis, with a rapid survey of the room, gathered up -whatever was his, and thrust it after him. The robe -of raccoons’ tails hung down over the edge of the bed -concealing all. She went to the door.</p> - -<p>“Come in,” she said, affecting to conceal a yawn.</p> - -<p>“I am sorry to have disturbed you,” said Gault -smoothly. His eyes swept around the room, taking -everything in. It was not that he expected to find -anyone there; he was merely trying to discover what -secret source of support Loseis had found. He gave -her a hard look as much as to say: What are you -sleeping in the morning for?</p> - -<p>Loseis, having had time to prepare, was fully mistress -of herself. “Last night I was too angry to -sleep,” she said coolly.</p> - -<p>“Hum!” said Gault, rubbing his lip. “That is what -I came to talk to you about.”</p> - -<p>Loseis held herself in polite readiness to hear what -he had to say.</p> - -<p>“We mustn’t quarrel,” said Gault. He buttered his -harsh voice; but his eyes were still boring into the girl.</p> - -<p>“I don’t wish to quarrel,” said Loseis mildly. “But -when you tell me you are going to banish me from my -own home . . .”</p> - -<p>“You refuse to co-operate with me,” said Gault, -spreading out his hands.</p> - -<p>“You don’t give me a chance,” said Loseis. Inwardly -she was quaking dangerously with laughter. -If he knew what was under the bed!</p> - -<p>“You are so young!” said Gault deprecatingly.</p> - -<p>“However young I am,” said Loseis, “what is mine, -is mine!”</p> - -<p>“Well, I may have been a little too hasty,” said -Gault with the air of one who was making an immense -concession. “Let us try to make a fresh start.”</p> - -<p>Loseis reflected that if she allowed a reconciliation -to take place she would never be able to get rid of -him. “Perhaps I have been hasty, too,” she said, “but -I can’t forgive you yet. Give me another twenty-four -hours . . . Come to breakfast to-morrow, and I -promise to meet you half way.”</p> - -<p>“Done!” cried Gault, showing all the big teeth. I -am wearing her down! he thought. Women do not -mean all they say! “Expect me at eight,” he said, -making for the door.</p> - -<p>Conacher crawled out from under the bed with a -very red face. “It’s good he went!” he growled. “I -couldn’t have stood it much longer. . . . What did -you want to ask him to breakfast for?”</p> - -<p>Loseis was charmed to see Conacher betraying jealousy. -“While I have him here no discovery is likely -to be made,” she said. “Every hour’s start that you -can gain will help.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I hope he comes after me, that’s all,” said -Conacher grimly.</p> - -<p>At ten o’clock that night Loseis and Mary-Lou -came out of their house arm in arm, and stood in -front of the door linked together, gazing up at the -serene moon. Behind them crouched Conacher. -Across the way Gault’s house was in the blackest -shadow, and they could not tell but that the door might -be standing open, and some one watching them from -within. Making out to be lost in contemplation of the -moon, the two girls, always taking care to present a -double front to a possible watcher, edged to the corner -of the house. Conacher then darted around behind. -He was to make his way around the outside of the -square and meet them beside the creek in half an hour.</p> - -<p>Loseis went back to close the door of her house, -and the girls continued their stroll. From the middle -of the square they could make out that the door of -Gault’s house was closed. They descended to the bank -of the main stream, and came back again. Having -by this maneuver satisfied themselves that they were -not being followed, they returned down the rise, picked -up Conacher at the creek, and crossed the meadow -beyond. Upon the gravelly ridge which bounded it on -the other side, they came upon Tatateecha and his -silent men, squatting on the earth with their backs to -the moon like a patch of little bushes.</p> - -<p>Conacher was presented to Tatateecha as the friend -of Loseis who must be obeyed in all things. Conacher -himself could only issue his orders by means of signs. -Being a white man, and therefore not to be trusted -where absolute silence was required, he was sent down -into the second meadow to wait. The little Slavis deployed -in the first meadow, and slowly closing up, -urged the horses slowly back over the ridge. In the -second meadow they could be packed without danger -of arousing the sleepers at the post. For this operation -the light of the moon would be invaluable.</p> - -<p>Led by Loseis, the whole tribe then crept back in -single file through the grass towards the Post. They -crossed the creek, not by the stepping-stones, but -higher up, immediately below the steep bank at the -back of the men’s house and the little warehouse. -Leaving her men at the bottom of the bank, Loseis -went up to make a reconnaissance. She crept up to the -wall of the men’s house, and rounding the front corner, -edged, a foot at a time to the door. Laying her -ear to the crack, she was rewarded by hearing heavy -snores within. No watch was being kept. What had -Gault to fear from two girls?</p> - -<p>Returning to her men, Loseis gave the signal, and -the business of the night began. Loseis herself removed -the pole that propped the warehouse door, and -let it back softly against the wall. One of the Slavis -was posted close to the men’s house with instructions -to croak like a bull-bat if there was any sound of movement -from within. Inside the warehouse Loseis would -have been thankful to use her electric torch, but was -afraid of precipitating a panic amongst the Slavis. -However the fur had all been divided into half loads -for a horse, each half load being a load for a man. -Silently the endless procession wound in and out. A -long line of little men waited in the moonlight at the -door. Nobody stumbled, or dropped his load. There -were a hundred bundles of fur. Afterwards the pack-saddles, -saddle-cloths, hitching-gear had to go. Loseis -breathed a little prayer of thankfulness when at last -she propped the pole against the closed door, exactly -as it had been before.</p> - -<p>There was still the grub to be got from the store; -but as this was passed out through the rear window, -and carried away behind the warehouse, the danger -was not so great.</p> - -<p>The easterly sky was full of cool light when the -hitch was thrown over the last pack, and pulled home. -The head of the train had already started. Tatateecha -rode first to make the trail. Conacher lingered to say -good-by to Loseis. His heart failed him.</p> - -<p>“Ah, come too,” he urged her. “Here are plenty of -spare horses. Let me take care of you!”</p> - -<p>“No, no, dearest!” she said. “Before we had gone -twenty miles Gault would be up to us, and the Slavis -would stampede. We’d have to wait for Gault’s -Crees after all. But if you can only get the Slavis -fifty or sixty miles from home into a strange country, -you couldn’t drive them away from the grub-boxes. I -am hoping that two days may pass before Gault discovers -the loss of the fur.”</p> - -<p>“He will see that the horses are gone,” objected -Conacher.</p> - -<p>“They are accustomed to wander from one meadow -to another along the river.”</p> - -<p>The last Indian had passed out of sight. Conacher -took the girl in his arms. “You are asking the hardest -thing in the world of me,” he groaned. “And that is -to leave you!”</p> - -<p>“Ah! don’t make it harder for me,” faltered Loseis. -“It is the only way!”</p> - -<p>“Damn the fur!” said Conacher. “It makes me -out a mere fortune-hunter. I wish you had nothing!”</p> - -<p>“I’m not worrying about what you are,” said Loseis. -“My heart tells me. For myself, I care nothing about -the fur. It was my father’s. I would feel that I had -been false to him, if I let Gault fool me out of it. I -could never respect myself. I am Blackburn’s daughter. -I cannot allow the name of Blackburn to become -a joke in the country.”</p> - -<p>“I’m only a tail to the Blackburn kite,” grumbled -Conacher.</p> - -<p>Loseis laughed a little, and pressed him close. “I -shall make it up to you,” she whispered. “You shall -be my lord and master. Isn’t that enough?”</p> - -<p>“That makes me feel worse,” he said. “I’m not -worthy. . . .”</p> - -<p>Loseis put a loving hand over his mouth. “Enough -of that talk,” she said. “You love me, don’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Until death,” he murmured.</p> - -<p>“Me too, until death,” she whispered passionately. -“That makes us equal. This talk of fortunes and -worthiness is less than nothing. . . . Now you must -go.”</p> - -<p>“They ride so slowly,” pleaded Conacher.</p> - -<p>“Get on your horse, dearest; I must not be seen returning -to-day.”</p> - -<p>Conacher obeyed with a heavy heart. He leaned -out of the saddle for a final embrace. They clung together.</p> - -<p>“Good-by,” whispered Loseis. “Good-by, my dearest -love. Come back soon!”</p> - -<p>Swiftly withdrawing herself from him, she gave his -horse a smart slap; and it carried him away.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='167' id='Page_167'></span><h1>CHAPTER XIV<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE DISCOVERY</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>D</span>awn</span> was rosy in the East when Loseis got -home; but the moon had set, and the little square -within the buildings was full of shadows. There was -no stir of life about the men’s house; the door was still -closed. Loseis slipped thankfully within her own -door. Mary-Lou, being of no help in packing the -horses, had been sent home some hours before.</p> - -<p>In her first feeling of relief, Loseis threw herself on -her bed, and was instantly asleep. But at six her subconscious -anxiety awoke her again; and the instant -she awakened, she was at the window. The door of -the men’s house now stood open; and the two tall -Crees were respectively splashing in a basin and brandishing -a towel outside the door. They had learned -this trick from the white man. Etzooah squatted on -the ground near by, grinning derisively. The Slavis -did not believe in washing. If they ever yielded to this -weakness, it was in secrecy.</p> - -<p>One of the Crees went off to the stable; and presently -returned leading Gault’s own horse, a rangy, -half-bred chestnut from the “outside.” Gault appeared -from the house fully accoutered, and Loseis’ -heart seemed to drop into a hole in her breast. Suppose -he rode along the river trail; any man not absolutely -blind must perceive the marks of the passage of -the fur train. However, to her relief, he trotted -diagonally across the square, and started up the trail -behind the store.</p> - -<p>Freshening himself up to come courting again, -thought Loseis with curving lips.</p> - -<p>Her next anxiety was that Moale, actuated by his -passion for fine furs, might visit the warehouse to look -them over. But Moale did not appear outside the -cabin. Loseis saw smoke rising from the chimney, and -supposed that he must be acting as cook for the time -being. So she left the window to prepare herself for -the day.</p> - -<p>In due course Gault returned from his ride. He -went within to refurbish himself; and promptly on -the stroke of eight was to be seen striding across the -square, very stiff and handsome and black.</p> - -<p>Quite a picture, thought Loseis in a detached way; -but not for my album. She spoke through the door -to Mary-Lou. “Let him wait in the kitchen for a -moment. We must not appear to be too eager.”</p> - -<p>When she opened the door, Gault was standing -there, hand on hip, looking every inch the chief, and -fully aware of it. He presented a smooth face to her, -with a hard and wary eye. He did not know exactly -what to expect. Loseis, making her own face expressionless, -greeted him politely.</p> - -<p>“Come in,” she said.</p> - -<p>The table was ready spread in the inner room, and -they sat down to it, outvying each other in cool politeness. -Gault was thinking: She asked me here this -morning. It’s up to her to show her hand. And -Loseis was thinking: I have everything to gain by -keeping him guessing. Let him make the first move. -So it was:</p> - -<p>“This fried rabbit is delicious, Miss Blackburn.”</p> - -<p>“I’m glad you like it. I was sorry there was no -other fresh meat. The Slavis say that a man may -starve on rabbit.”</p> - -<p>“The Slavis may say so: but it satisfies me. I can -never get it cooked so well as this. It needs a woman.”</p> - -<p>“But I have read that the most famous cooks are -always men.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I was speaking of our country. I have had -many a good man cook on the trail; but they seem to -lose their cunning in a house.”</p> - -<p>“My usual cook is the Slavi girl that I call Mary-Ann,” -said Loseis. “But she has run off with the -others.”</p> - -<p>Gault shrugged in a commiserating fashion. This -was getting on dangerous ground.</p> - -<p>The trader was at a serious disadvantage in this -fencing, because he wanted the girl, wanted her intolerably, -whereas she was indifferent to him. Gault -did not know the cause for it; but his senses were -aware that Loseis was revealing a new beauty these -past two days. Her dark eyes were fuller and more -beaming; her very skin seemed to radiate a mysterious -quality of light. All this made the man a little sick at -heart; but he could not altogether give up hope, -either. She asked me to breakfast, he told himself; -what does that mean but that she is beginning to come -round. Very often a woman is most scornful just at -the moment when she is preparing to give in. I should -hang off a little now.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Loseis was thinking: Five hours! They -will be making their first spell. Fifteen miles. I told -Tatateecha to cut it down to three hours on the first -day. Then five hours on the trail, and camp for the -night thirty miles from here. Gault’s Crees cannot -arrive before to-morrow night at the earliest. My -people will then have sixty miles start.</p> - -<p>Loseis’ beauty teased Gault to such an extent that -he was forced to make overtures to bring a little -warmth into that composed face. “Shall I send to -the lake village to fetch Mary-Ann back?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no!” said Loseis. “I prefer to ignore her. I -shall be in a better position to deal with her when she -comes crawling back of her own accord.”</p> - -<p>“I was merely thinking of your comfort,” said -Gault.</p> - -<p>“You are very kind.”</p> - -<p>Gault could no longer keep it in. “Well, am I forgiven!” -he asked in a jolly sort of way.</p> - -<p>Loseis gave him no answering smile. “I am no -longer angry with you,” she said coolly. “I am just -neutral. I am waiting to see what happens.”</p> - -<p>Gault was a good deal dashed. She is just playing -with me! he thought angrily. But Oh God! that pure, -pale skin, that proud averted glance! With an immense -effort he controlled himself. “There is no need -for you to leave this place,” he said with a reasonable -air.</p> - -<p>Instead of showing the gratitude that he expected, -she said in a slightly surprised voice: “Of course -there isn’t!”</p> - -<p>“But if we are to remain here together,” he said, -nettled, “you must make it possible for me to work -with you.”</p> - -<p>“It seems to me that you are putting the cart before -the horse,” said Loseis softly.</p> - -<p>Gault ground his teeth together. This child to be -taking such a tone to him! “My dear girl!” he said -loftily, “I must be the one to decide what is best for -us until some better qualified person appears.”</p> - -<p>Loseis thought: I must not make him too angry. I -must lead him along. She said in a more amicable -tone: “We are just talking in a circle.”</p> - -<p>Gault contrived to laugh again. “Of course we -are!” he cried. “Well, what do you propose? You -promised to meet me half way.”</p> - -<p>“I will do anything that you suggest,” said Loseis -with an alluring mildness, “provided you explain the -reasons for it.”</p> - -<p>The blood rushed to Gault’s pale face. He had to -restrain himself from reaching for her hand. “That -is all I could ask!” he cried.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Loseis slyly went on, “I will even go out -to Fort Good Hope when you send the fur, if it is -necessary.”</p> - -<p>A doubt occurred to the trader—this was such a -violent face-about: but she looked so adorable when -she said it, that he waved the doubt away. “Splendid!” -he cried. “I now say to you that there is not -the slightest necessity for your going to Fort Good -Hope!”</p> - -<p>Loseis smiled at him at last, a slow, oblique, curious -smile, having infinitely more meaning than the -trader suspected. It carried him clean off his feet. -His hand shot out.</p> - -<p>“Shake!” he cried.</p> - -<p>Loseis could not control the impulse of her blood -that forced her to rise suddenly (she had finished her -breakfast) and to say with cool distaste: “Oh, please -not. I hate to paw.”</p> - -<p>And Gault’s blood was aware of the true significance -of that recoil, but his vanity would not acknowledge -it. He sat glowering at her half-hurt, half-angry, -a pathetic sight at fifty-three. “Oh, sorry,” he said -in a flat voice. “It is instinctive amongst men.”</p> - -<p>“I know,” said Loseis, trying to smooth things over. -“But I am not a man. . . . Do smoke one of your delicious -cigars. I have missed them during the last -few days.”</p> - -<p>Gault allowed himself to be deceived. “My pet -weakness!” he said, smiling at Loseis rather killingly.</p> - -<p>They were tempted outside. Loseis’ gaze involuntarily -swept the heavens. No cloud in sight; not the -filmiest of vapors to dim the inverted bowl of blue. -There would be no rain for days. It was well.</p> - -<p>“What are you expecting?” asked Gault smiling.</p> - -<p>“Oh, nothing!” she said with a shrug. “My father -always looked at the sky when he came out of doors. -I suppose I caught the habit from him. . . . Shall we -walk down to the river? Things have been so mixed -up lately, all my habits are broken up. I need exercise.”</p> - -<p>“Delighted!” said Gault. “. . . There is not going -to be any more quarreling, is there?” he added with -his fond smile.</p> - -<p>“I hope not,” said Loseis demurely.</p> - -<p>They paused at the edge of the river bank. The -view was filled in by the bold high point opposite, with -the old grave and the new grave side by side on top -within the extended palings. The sight of the grassy -mound and the earthy mound aroused a poignant emotion -in Loseis.</p> - -<p>Do <span class='it'>they</span> know what I am going through? she wondered. -Ah! I hope not! I should not want their -peace to be disturbed!</p> - -<p>Gault, watching the girl’s face, said with a heavy -gravity: “I have not yet had the opportunity to visit -Blackburn’s grave. I trust I may be permitted to pay -that tribute. He was a great man!”</p> - -<p>Loseis turned back from the river. She did not care -to share her emotion with <span class='it'>him</span>. The hypocritical -words sickened her slightly. “Of course!” she said -coolly. “Why not?”</p> - -<p>A hard nature! said Gault to himself.</p> - -<p>However as they sauntered back through the grass, -which was now bestarred with pale crocuses, Loseis -exerted herself to charm him, and God knows that was -not difficult. Matters went swimmingly again. Gault -expanded. He could see himself bending elegantly -and solicitously to the slim and lovely girl. It was -a sensation one had never experienced in that rude -country.</p> - -<p>As they mounted the rise to the little plateau, Gault -was saying: “I am expecting my men back to-morrow -afternoon with some fresh supplies from Good Hope. -I trust you will give me the pleasure of dining with -me. The fare will not be as good as that you provide, -but perhaps it will have an element of novelty. . . .”</p> - -<p>And at that moment they perceived Moale running -towards them like a madman.</p> - -<p>Loseis’ heart sank. All her trouble to fool him was -for nothing, then! Immediately afterwards she went -hard all over. Now for it! Well, let it come!</p> - -<p>“The fur is gone!” yelled Moale.</p> - -<p>“<span class='it'>What!</span>” cried Gault, with an affronted air, that -was almost comic.</p> - -<p>“The warehouse is empty!” cried Moale waving his -arms. “Gone! Gone! All gone!” Nothing else -could so have aroused that wooden man.</p> - -<p>Gault and Loseis now stood at the top of the rise. -The trader turned to the girl with a towering look. -“By God!” he said, softly at first, then louder: “By -God! . . . You have hidden the fur!”</p> - -<p>Loseis, holding herself very straight, looked away -with a maddening air of unconcern, and held her -tongue.</p> - -<p>“She has sent it out!” cried Moale. “The saddles -are gone; the horses are gone! I have sent Watusk -along the trail to pick up their tracks.”</p> - -<p>“Where is the fur?” demanded Gault of Loseis.</p> - -<p>She reflected that the truth was bound to come out -immediately. “I have sent it out,” she said coolly. -“It was mine.”</p> - -<p>The two men stared at her open-mouthed, bereft of -speech. Finally Gault got his breath back, and his -anger.</p> - -<p>“You foolish girl!” he cried. “You have lost it -then! The Slavis are useless without a leader.”</p> - -<p>Loseis thought it just as well to let them know that -they had more than the Slavis to deal with. “They -have a leader,” she said with an offhand air. “My -friend Mr. Conacher is in charge of the pack-train.” -How sweet it was to flick that name so carelessly in -Gault’s rage-distorted face.</p> - -<p>Another silence. Gault’s face looked perfectly witless -in its astonishment. Then it crimsoned, and the -storm broke. In his passion the man’s coarse nature -brazenly revealed itself.</p> - -<p>“You lying hussy!” he cried. “All the time you’ve -been showing me your demure face, you’ve been secretly -receiving your lover! Lies! Lies! Lies! -Nothing but lies behind that smooth face! All morning -you have been lying to me to pave the way for his -escape! . . .”</p> - -<p>The girl faced him, surprised at first, then royal in -her anger. “How dare you!” she cried. “You accuse -me of lying, you! <span class='it'>you!</span> Why should I not lie to you? -You, whose whole presence here has been a lie since -you told me Etzooah could not speak English! You! -with your mouth full of hypocritical talk, pretending -to be my friend while you plotted to rob me! You unspeakable -blackguard! It was lucky for me that I -found a true friend!”</p> - -<p>Gault’s face turned blackish; and his lips drew back -over his teeth. He raised his clenched fists over his -head as if to strike Loseis down. But the scared -Moale touched his arm, and the blow never descended. -A terrible shudder went through Gault’s frame. He -turned and strode stiffly away. At the door of his -house he curtly dismissed Moale, and went in alone.</p> - -<p>Inside her own door, Loseis’ knees weakened under -her, and she was glad to sink into a chair. She covered -her face in the effort to shut out that truly frightful -picture of rage. After all she was only a girl. -Ah! how thankful she would have been to have Conacher -at her side then!</p> - -<p>Her weakness was but momentary. She hastened -to the window, standing far enough back to keep her -face from showing at the pane. It was essential for -her to know what Gault was going to do. Suppose he -and his men rode after Conacher, she would have to -follow, and let the Post look after itself. Impossible -to remain inactive! Her horse was as good as the -best. Should she not ride at once to warn Conacher? -Her horse was in the stable with Gault’s horses. But -there were other horses she might catch. No! No! -First she must see what Gault was going to do.</p> - -<p>The Cree, Watusk, returned, and the four men -were hanging around outside the door, at a loss what -to do. Suddenly Moale went in as if summoned by a -call. He immediately reappeared, spoke to the others, -and they all went into the corral and stable. In -due course they came out leading all of Gault’s remaining -horses, eight in number, ready saddled; some to -be ridden, others to carry packs. They began to carry -out their belongings from the house.</p> - -<p>Now I must start! thought Loseis in a fever. But -a more prudent voice restrained her. You mustn’t -let Gault see what you’re going to do!</p> - -<p>When the little train was ready, Gault came out of -the house. To Loseis’ astonishment he kept on across -the square. He was coming to speak to her. She began -to tremble all over. Just the same, she was glad -that she had stayed. She went to the door, and waited -for him in an unconcerned pose. He should never -guess that her heart was pounding.</p> - -<p>Gault had only partly succeeded in regaining his -composure. He was lividly pale; his lips moved with -a curious stiffness; and there was an ominous triangular -furrow etched in his forehead. Without looking -directly at Loseis, he said in a controlled voice:</p> - -<p>“I have done my best to look after your affairs. -You have rejected my efforts at every turn. Well, if -you have found somebody else to advise you, there is -nothing further for me to do here. I am returning to -Fort Good Hope.”</p> - -<p>With that, he faced about, and went to his horse. -Loseis had not said anything at all. The others were -waiting in the saddle; and as soon as Gault mounted -they set off, Gault staring stiffly ahead of him, the -others looking askance at the girl lounging in the doorway. -Around the store, and up the side hill at the -back.</p> - -<p>The instant they were out of sight Loseis sprang -into action. Without waiting for so much as coat or -hat, she ran across to the stable, and flung saddle on -her horse. It was perfectly evident to her that Gault -was still lying. If he had, as he pretended, given up in -disgust, he would have ridden away without a word. -The fact that he felt it necessary to advertise his giving -up was to her proof positive that he was not giving up -at all.</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou, seeing her mistress prepare to ride away, -realized that she would be left the last living soul at -Blackburn’s Post. Panic seized her. Running across -the square, she met Loseis leading her horse out of -the stable.</p> - -<p>“Take me! Take me!” she gasped.</p> - -<p>Loseis was obliged to curb her headlong desire to be -off. “Well . . . well . . .” she said impatiently. -“The buckskin is in the stable. I will saddle him for -you. Run back to the house. Fetch some grub. -Shove my riding clothes in a saddlebag. I’ll change -on the trail.”</p> - -<p>As she tightened girths, Loseis reflected: Etzooah -is familiar with the triangle of country between the -two trails, from having trapped it in the winter. -There is no cross trail, but it would be possible to lead -their horses through the bush, and across the coulee. -Take a little time, though. I shall be on the southerly -trail ahead of them. . . . But suppose they steal back -here first to spy on me . . . ?</p> - -<p>A hard little smile wreathed Loseis’ lips. Hastily -tying the horses to the corral fence, she flew across the -grass again. Meeting Mary-Lou coming out of the -house, she ordered her to put down the things, and -help her. In the house, Loseis tore the mattress off -her bed, and dragging it into the kitchen ripped it open. -It was stuffed with moss. Wetting the moss from the -barrel of water which stood within the door, she arranged -it in the fireplace in such a way that it would -smolder a little at a time.</p> - -<p>“That will last out the day,” she said smiling. -“Come on; let’s go!”</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='179' id='Page_179'></span><h1>CHAPTER XV<br/> <span class='sub-head'>SHADOWING</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>L</span>oseis</span> and Mary-Lou rode hard through the -river-meadows and over the gravelly ridges. -There was no danger that anyone who followed would -be able to pick out the prints of their horses’ hoofs -in the confusion of tracks left by the fur train. When -they gained the shelter of the wooded country, some -six miles from the Post, Loseis pulled up to a walk. -It is impossible to think at a gallop. She wished to -canvass all the possibilities of the situation again.</p> - -<p>She thought: The further they went along the trail -before striking across, the harder it would be to get -over. Therefore if they intended to come this way -they would turn off as soon as possible. They would -now be behind me. . . . But I do not <span class='it'>know</span> that Gault -intends to ride after the fur, though that is the likeliest -thing for him to do. How foolish I would look if -I dashed ahead to warn Conacher, and then Gault -never came. Gault might be planning to steal back to -the Post, and seize it. Or he might have some devilish -trick in mind that would never occur to me. . . . I -will not ride on until I make sure that he is on this -trail.</p> - -<p>It is impossible to hide with horses alongside a -traveled trail. The horses are certain to betray you -by whinnying at the approach of other horses. -Therefore, Loseis was obliged to ride on four miles -further to the Slavi village at the foot of the lake. -Here she sent Mary-Lou across the river with instructions -to turn the horses out, and to lose herself -amongst the Slavis.</p> - -<p>Loseis walked back along the wooded trail, looking -for a suitable place of concealment. The river ran -close alongside. On the river there was a fringe of -berry bushes at the base of the trees; but the water -sparkled through the interstices of the stems. No -room to hide there. The other side was more open; a -thick brown carpet of pine needles that smothered all -undergrowth. Loseis began to run in feverish impatience. -Suppose she was surprised before she could -hide herself.</p> - -<p>At last in a place where the sun broke through, she -came upon a thick clump of the high-bush cranberry -on the inshore side of the trail. She walked up and -down the trail surveying it from every angle. It would -serve! She crept in, careful to leave no tell-tale marks -of her passage. She constructed herself a little cave -amongst the leaves, that would permit of a certain -freedom of movement without betraying her by a -rustle. Here she crouched within two yards of the -trail.</p> - -<p>It was very difficult to compose her impatient blood -to wait. The swollen river moved down, whispering -and sucking under the bank. Overhead a smooth, -smoky-colored whisky-jack fluttered like a shadow -from branch to branch, cocking a suspicious eye down -at her. Would he betray her? thought Loseis -anxiously. However he made up his mind after awhile -that she was a fixture, and faded away. In the distance -Loseis could hear the children and the dogs of -the Slavi village. A dozen times within a quarter hour -Loseis looked at her watch; and each time put it to -her ear to make sure it had not stopped.</p> - -<p>A whole hour passed, and another one on top of -that. Loseis was beginning to ask herself if she were -not on a fool’s errand. What ought she to do? What -ought she to do? Then she heard a sound that caused -all uncertainty to vanish: hoof-beats on the hard-packed -trail. It was then two o’clock. As the sound -drew closer her brow knitted; only one horse; that was -not what she had expected; why should they send one -man in pursuit of Conacher?</p> - -<p>A minute later Etzooah rode by in the trail. He -was not hurrying himself at all; his horse was single-footing -it gently; and the Indian rode with his near leg -thrown over the saddle horn, his body all relaxed and -shaking in the untidy native style. Etzooah, unaware -of being observed, looked thoroughly well pleased with -himself. He hummed a chant under his breath, and -from force of habit his beady black eyes watched on -every side of him. Sharp as they were they perceived -nothing amiss in the clump of high-bush cranberry.</p> - -<p>When he had passed, Loseis after making sure that -there were no more coming, issued out of her hiding -place, and started back for her horse, considering. -Her first impulse was to ride after Etzooah, but she -dismissed it with a shake of the head. No! No personal -danger threatened Conacher from Etzooah’s -coming. This was just part of some tricky game that -Gault was playing. Etzooah might safely be left to -Conacher to handle. She must find out what Gault -was about. There lay the real danger.</p> - -<p>Obtaining her horse, and bidding Mary-Lou to remain -where she was, Loseis rode back towards the -post. Having ridden about two miles, an intuition -warned her to dismount and lead her horse, that she -might not give undue warning of her passage. Shortly -afterwards the mare suddenly threw up her head and -whickered. A moment later Loseis heard more hoof-beats; -several horses this time, pounding in a measured -way that suggested they were being ridden by men.</p> - -<p>Turning her horse, Loseis mounted and rode back -a hundred yards or so to a small stream that fell into -the river. Dismounting in the water, she cut her mare -sharply across the withers, sending her galloping on -in the direction of the Indian village. Wading up the -little stream, she presently climbed the bank, and making -a detour among the pines, pressed herself close in -to the stem of a young tree, with branches growing -down to the ground. It was not a perfect hiding-place; -she was further from the trail.</p> - -<p>The riders approached. They were walking their -horses now. Gault, Moale and one of the Crees; the -other, Watusk, was missing. They had left their pack-horses -behind them. So they are not going far! -thought Loseis. Gault’s face, when he was alone -with his men, wore an expression that he had never -permitted Loseis to see; a look of naked brutality that -made the girl shiver. It is the natural expression of -that face, she thought.</p> - -<p>Even before she could see their faces, Loseis heard -Gault and Moale talking back and forth. The first -words she heard distinctly were spoken by Gault. He -said:</p> - -<p>“It must have been somewhere along here. I heard -a horse run off along the trail. I had not heard it before -that. Sounded like some one might have been -waiting here.”</p> - -<p>“A loose horse startled away by our coming,” suggested -Moale. “There are plenty of them along the -river.”</p> - -<p>“They don’t often run alone,” Gault pointed out.</p> - -<p>“A Slavi, then. I suspect they prowl up and down -this trail.”</p> - -<p>“We don’t want them prowling around us,” growled -the trader.</p> - -<p>“Let Musqua cry like the Weh-ti-go,” said Moale.</p> - -<p>The Cree, grinning, threw back his head and uttered -the long-drawn, wailing screech that is supposed to be -the cry of that dreadful spirit.</p> - -<p>“They will say that it is Blackburn,” said Moale -chuckling.</p> - -<p>There was a silence.</p> - -<p>“We mustn’t go too far,” said Gault. “Or we’ll be -on top of the Slavi village.”</p> - -<p>“What are you looking for?” asked Moale.</p> - -<p>“A dead tree alongside the trail that we can pull -over.”</p> - -<p>For some reason these words struck a cold fear into -Loseis’ breast. The riders passed out of earshot.</p> - -<p>The trail wound in and out among the trunks as -woodland trails do, and you could never see more -than twenty-five yards or so ahead or behind. As -soon as the men had gone, Loseis issued from her -hiding-place, and started to follow on foot. She could -still hear the murmur of their voices but not what they -said. The leisureliness of their progress puzzled her. -They were not going much further. What could they -be up to? And the remaining Cree; what had become -of him?</p> - -<p>She heard them pass through the little stream that -crossed the trail. A short distance beyond they -stopped, apparently for the purpose of holding a consultation. -Loseis approached as close as she dared, -but could not make out their words. After awhile -they left the trail. From the sounds that reached her, -Loseis understood that they were leading their horses -away amongst the trees. She went forward as far as -the stream, and ascended the bed of it, thus keeping -roughly parallel with the course they were taking.</p> - -<p>For a couple of hundred yards back from the river, -the forest was perfectly flat, and for the most part -clear of undergrowth. The ground then rose steeply, -and on the hillside young trees and bushes crowded -up. The little stream came down through a ravine -full of bowlders. Loseis, concentrating on the faculty -of hearing, gathered that men and horses had made -their way back to the foot of the rise, where they had -gone into camp for a spell.</p> - -<p>She climbed up the side of the ravine to a point -well above their heads, and then edged cautiously -around the hill until she was directly over the voices. -Thereupon she began to let herself down softly, softly, -an inch at a time, choosing every foothold with circumspection, -snaking her body through the bushes with -care not to create the slightest rustling. Loseis as a -child had not played with the Slavi children for nothing.</p> - -<p>She discovered at last that they had established -themselves at the base of a gigantic bowlder embedded -in the side of the hill. The smoke of their little fire -was rising over the top. Loseis, descending from -above, worked her body by slow degrees out on top of -the bowlder, where she lay perfectly hidden, about fifteen -feet above their heads. It would have been too -risky to attempt to peep over the edge of the stone, -but whether she could see them was immaterial to her, -so she could hear.</p> - -<p>Her cautious progress around the hillside had consumed -a good bit of time, and when she arrived above -the camp it was still. For a long time she could hear -nothing but the uneasy nosing of the horses, that had -no forage in that spot. They must have been tied, -for they did not move about. Loseis knew the men -were still below her, for she detected a faint aroma of -tobacco, apart from the fumes of burning pine. At -last, startlingly, Gault’s quiet voice resolved itself -out of the stillness. He might have been speaking to -herself.</p> - -<p>“No, don’t put any more on. If any of the Slavis -happen to be traveling up on the bench, the smoke -would attract them. Just keep it going until we’re -ready to eat.”</p> - -<p>Moale asked: “When will you eat?”</p> - -<p>Gault replied: “We can only eat once. Put it off -until evening.”</p> - -<p>Then silence again. Loseis feared that that which -she so desired to hear must already have been talked -out between them.</p> - -<p>By and by she heard a horse single-footing it rapidly -in the trail.</p> - -<p>“Here comes Watusk,” said Moale.</p> - -<p>From the sounds which succeeded Loseis made out -that Musqua had been stationed alongside the trail to -intercept Watusk. They could presently be heard approaching -with the horse, through the trees below. -As soon as they were within speaking distance Gault -said sharply:</p> - -<p>“Well?”</p> - -<p>A voice, presumably Watusk’s, replied: “Blackburn’s -daughter, and the Beaver girl are at the post.”</p> - -<p>The listening Loseis smiled to herself.</p> - -<p>“Did you see them?” asked Gault.</p> - -<p>“N’moya. They were in the house. How could -I look in the house without showing myself? There -was smoke coming out of the chimney. For an hour -I watched it from the branches of a pine tree where -the trail goes over the hill.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe Blackburn’s daughter had left the Indian -behind.”</p> - -<p>“N’moya.”</p> - -<p>“Watusk is right,” put in Moale’s voice. “After -everybody else was gone, no Indian would stay there -alone; not with that new-made grave in sight!”</p> - -<p>“It is well,” grumbled Gault.</p> - -<p>There was more talk about eating. Gault indifferently -told the breeds they could take theirs if they -wanted, but they would get no more until morning.</p> - -<p>More time passed. As is always the case with men -waiting an event, they found but little to say to each -other. Sometimes the Crees discussed their own concerns -in low tones. Sometimes they all fell silent for -so long that Loseis supposed they had fallen asleep. -Then suddenly Gault and Moale took up the thread of -a conversation as if it had been dropped but a moment -before.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t we hang a noose in the trail?” asked -Moale.</p> - -<p>“No way of keeping a noose spread,” returned -Gault. “It’s better to stretch the tracking line across -the trail from tree to tree at such a height that it will -catch him under the chin. I hope it breaks his damn -neck. Most likely though, it will only yank him off -his horse.”</p> - -<p>Loseis’ blood slowly congealed as she listened. -There could be no doubt who the “him” was that they -referred to.</p> - -<p>“Then we’ll jump on him,” Gault went on; “and tie -him up, and lay him in the trail, and pull the tree over. -I’ve got it all figured out. The branches of that tree -will stick out over the edge of the bank, consequently -the trunk will lie flat on the ground and break his -back.”</p> - -<p>“It may not kill him outright,” suggested Moale.</p> - -<p>Loseis heard a horrible chuckle. Gault said: “Oh, -I’ll stick around until he dies. I don’t care if he lingers -a bit. I hope he’ll have sense enough to take in what -I’ve got to tell him. If he lingers too long I’ll stop -his breath. You fellows can ride on. I’ve got the best -horse. I’ll overtake you. We’ll all have to ride like -hell to get to Fort Good Hope in time to establish a -proper alibi.”</p> - -<p>There was a brief silence, then:</p> - -<p>“But there won’t be any trouble. Unless he’s found -to-morrow, the coyotes and the wolverines will have -picked him clean. And in any case the fallen tree, the -broken back will tell their own tale. I’ll recover the -letter, of course, before I leave him.”</p> - -<p>“Hadn’t we better keep a watch alongside the -trail?” Moale asked uneasily.</p> - -<p>“Why?”</p> - -<p>“He might come along before dark?”</p> - -<p>“Impossible. I told Etzooah after he had located -the camp, not to show himself until the position of the -sun showed eight o’clock. You can trust a Slavi to -keep cover. If Conacher jumped on his horse that -minute and ran him the whole way he couldn’t get -back here till near midnight.”</p> - -<p>At last they had named their intended victim!</p> - -<p>“My only fear is that it may be daylight before he -gets here,” said Gault. “But of course we’ll get him -anyhow.”</p> - -<p>“He may suspect a trick, and not come at all.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, sure!” said Gault unconcernedly. “But we -had a damn persuasive argument to use. If he don’t -come by daylight we’ll go after him.”</p> - -<p>“And afterwards,” said Moale, “what you going to -do afterwards?”</p> - -<p>Again the chuckle! “By and by I’ll ride back to -Blackburn’s Post to resume my courtship.”</p> - -<p>“She’ll be mourning for the other one then.”</p> - -<p>“What of it? It wouldn’t be the first time that a -woman consoled herself with the next best thing. It’s -a very good time to tackle a woman. She’s tender -then.”</p> - -<p>Loseis had heard enough. She commenced to work -herself backward off the rock. She inched her way up -hill in the same manner that she had come down. She -was doubly careful now, for another life beside her -own depended on her success. When she had got -high enough to be out of earshot, she turned in the -other direction from that she had come, and making a -wide detour, regained the trail a good furlong beyond -Gault’s camp, and set off to recover her horse.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='190' id='Page_190'></span><h1>CHAPTER XVI<br/> <span class='sub-head'>WITH CONACHER</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>C</span>onacher’s</span> spirits rose somewhat with the sun. -It was impossible for a healthy man to be altogether -miserable under that tender, beaming sky. The -lovely, changing prospects of the parklike country -through which Blackburn’s River flowed, made the -heart swell. Conacher loved, and was loved in return. -An apparition of the exquisite Loseis continually swam -before his eyes. He was anxious; but he kept saying -to himself as a civilized man will: Oh well, nothing -serious can happen nowadays.</p> - -<p>In the more open places, it was thrilling to see the -long, laden train of horses stretching ahead; winding -over a ridge; trotting down into the bottoms. The -imagination was arrested by the thought of the riches -stored in that endless succession of brown packs. It -was like a picture to illustrate an old fairy tale. -Thoughts of Aladdin and Sindbad flitted through the -young man’s mind. Riches!—not represented by a -trifling row of figures in a book, but visibly spread -before his eyes. Come to think of it, Aladdin married -a princess, too. An insipid miss in bloomers according -to the pictures; nothing like the darkly vivid Loseis!</p> - -<p>Among other directions for the journey, Loseis -had warned Conacher not to allow the Slavis to cross -the river to loiter in their village. It occurred to the -young man that he would not be able to prevent this -while he brought up the tail of the procession, so he -took advantage of one of the river meadows to urge -his horse to the head of the line. By Tatateecha’s -crestfallen look at his approach, he judged that he -had acted rightly. It was his first good look at the -rotund, greasy little head man of the Slavis. Tatateecha -was better favored than the run of the Slavis; -but that was not saying much. He had a neat, Buster -Brown hair-cut, and a red fillet bound around his brow.</p> - -<p>Tatateecha edged his horse out of the line, and fell -back to consult with the next man. They were like -a pair of children conspiring together, with sharp, -calculating glances at Conacher. The white man affected -not to notice them. Presently Tatateecha came -back to him all smiles. Conacher had had no experiences -of the Slavis, but he knew something about the -Indian nature in general. He’s going to try to put -something over on me now, he thought.</p> - -<p>Tatateecha by means of animated signs conveyed -to Conacher that his village lay a short way ahead; -and that it would be the best place to spell. Splendid -grass for the horses.</p> - -<p>“Not on your life!” said Conacher, with vigorous -pantomime of denial. He indicated to Tatateecha -that there would be no spell until the sun had traveled -a space equal to two hours.</p> - -<p>The Slavi broke into speech; but Conacher had -him at a disadvantage there, by not understanding a -word of it. The white man continued to point to the -sun. Tatateecha became aggrieved; almost tearful -in his protestations. Then, bringing his horse close to -Conacher’s he signified with a winning air, that he himself -was perfectly willing to go further; but the rest -of the men would refuse to go at all, unless they were -permitted to say good-by to their families. Conacher -replied by signs that if they refused to go and fetch -the grub and ammunition, when the snow covered the -ground there would be no grub, no meat, and the -people would starve. This argument was unanswerable, -and Tatateecha fell back sulking.</p> - -<p>Shortly afterwards the village hove in sight across -the river. The people lined up on the edge of the -bank yelling; and Conacher’s men yelled back. All -knew that the white man could not understand their -tongue; and Conacher guessed that they were making -pretty free with him. It was a trying situation; but -he preserved his imperturbable air.</p> - -<p>The river issued out of the lake by means of a -wide, shallow, brawling rapid. At the present high -stage of water, there was but one possible place to -ford, and this could not be managed even on horseback -without danger of a wetting. At the point where the -trail forked, Conacher backed his horse into the arm -which ran down the bank, and held him there blocking -the way. The Slavis jabbered angrily from one -to another; the whole train was brought to a stand.</p> - -<p>Tatateecha approached Conacher to expostulate. -The white man pointed with his whip down the main -trail. Tatateecha attempting to speak again, Conacher -suddenly urged his horse forward, and cutting -the Indian’s horse smartly across the flank, sent him -careering down the main trail, the only way that was -open. The train got in motion again. The other -Slavis, seeing that Conacher meant what he said, filed -past him sullenly. The people across the river fell -silent. Conacher fell in at the tail of the procession -again. Ten minutes later his feather-headed Slavis -were singing and chaffing each other in the best temper -imaginable.</p> - -<p>But Conacher had to keep a sharp look-out for deserters. -Time and again, one or another of the Slavis -edged his horse in among the trees with the object -of circling around and gaining the trail behind Conacher. -The white man found that he could best defeat -this maneuver by falling back a quarter of a mile. In -that position he would come face to face with the astonished -deserter, who thought he had already eluded -him. Caught in the act, they made no attempt to resist -his commanding voice. When they spelled at last, -Conacher, without appearing to, anxiously counted -his men. He had lost one. With dinner in prospect -there was no danger of their making off. As soon as -they had eaten he distributed plugs of tobacco.</p> - -<p>Upon reaching the lake the trail turned sharp to -the eastward for some miles. In order to provide a -firm footing it had to encircle the edge of the wooded -country, far back from the water. The vast lake -meadows at this season were like a saturated sponge -underfoot. For three sleeps, Tatateecha explained, -they would be traveling alongside these meadows; and -then, climbing through a pass in the hills, would come -to the prairie, where they would find the buffalo grass -which made horses fat. This bottom grass filled them -up, but did not stick to their ribs. Tatateecha was -very ingenious in the sign language. When they -spelled he was perfectly good-humored again; attaching -himself to Conacher like a friendly child.</p> - -<p>For two full hours they allowed the horses to feed, -before rounding them up again. Conacher would -dearly have liked to sleep (as all the Slavis did) but -dared not. However, because of the tobacco he had -handed out, or because they were getting too far away -from home, or for some other reason, the Slavis appeared -to have reconciled themselves. There were -no further attempts to desert. It was impossible to -tell what was going on inside their skulls.</p> - -<p>Then for five hours longer they continued on their -way. The character of the route never changed. For -mile after mile the brown ribbon of earth threaded in -and out amongst the trunks of the pines, climbing the -little unevenness of ground; crossing small water-courses. -On their left hand the vast sea of grass was -generally in sight through the trees, with a suggestion -of water on the horizon; sometimes for considerable -distances the trail followed the actual line between -grass and timber.</p> - -<p>At about six o’clock they halted for the night. It -seemed a pity not to take advantage of the four remaining -hours of daylight; but when Conacher looked -at the grass-fed horses, sweaty and drooping, he perceived -the necessity for camping. The horses were -turned out in the grass; the Slavis built their fire at -the foot of the bank; while Conacher spread his bed -on top in a grove of pines running out to a point, -whence he could survey both horses and men.</p> - -<p>He spent the early part of the evening fraternizing -with his men amidst great laughter when, as frequently -happened, the language of signs broke down. -About eight o’clock he retired to his own little fire -above, and rolled up in a blanket. The sun had not -yet sunk out of sight; but it was planned to start at -four next morning. As he lay there day-dreaming, he -was greatly astonished to see a Slavi Indian quietly approaching -between the trees at the back of the point.</p> - -<p>He sat up. All the Slavis looked very much alike -to him; but he instantly recognized that this was not -one of those who had accompanied him all day. -There was a suggestion of secrecy in his approach. -A rather better physical specimen than the average -Slavi, his face bore the childish, deceitful grin that -was characteristic of them all. His teeth were blackened -and broken; on the whole, an unpleasant-looking -individual. He held out an envelope towards Conacher; -and the young man leaped to his feet full of a -vague alarm.</p> - -<p>“Who are you?” he asked involuntarily.</p> - -<p>The Indian, grinning, shook his head like a dog, -and pointed to his ear; the usual sign for not understanding.</p> - -<p>Conacher pointed to himself, and said “Conacher.” -He then pointed to the Indian.</p> - -<p>“Saltahta,” said the man.</p> - -<p>Conacher took the envelope. It bore no superscription. -Tearing it open, his heart was filled with -warmth at the sight of Loseis’ signature in big round -characters. The letter had been written on the typewriter -in the stammering style of the beginner. Conacher -had had such a letter from Loseis down river. -This one was brief.</p> - -<p>“There is something wrong here. Gault is plotting -mischief. I am afraid. The man who takes this to -you is a good man. Let him go with the outfit, and -you come back to me.”</p> - -<p>As he read, all Conacher’s warmth was chilled. -Suspicion leaped into his mind full-grown. There was -a vagueness about the letter that was not like Loseis. -Moreover he doubted if she would ever confess to being -afraid, even if she were afraid. And why should -she sign her full name; Laurentia Blackburn. On the -other letter it had been simply Laurentia. He remembered -the sheets that Gault had made her sign -for him, and smiled to himself. Really, the plot was -too transparent. He, Conacher, was to be drawn off, -and the fur diverted to Gault’s uses under guidance of -this Indian. Loseis had told him of a Slavi who was -in Gault’s pay.</p> - -<p>Suddenly putting his finger on the man’s breast, -Conacher said: “Etzooah.”</p> - -<p>The Slavi looked at him with perfect, stupid blankness, -and shook his head. “Saltahta,” he repeated.</p> - -<p>“Tatateecha!” called Conacher.</p> - -<p>The little head man came climbing up the bank. -Whatever his astonishment at the sight of the newcomer, -nothing showed in his face.</p> - -<p>“Who is this man?” demanded Conacher, putting -his finger on the Slavi.</p> - -<p>“Saltahta,” said the newcomer quickly.</p> - -<p>“Saltahta,” repeated Tatateecha like a parrot.</p> - -<p>Conacher bit his lip. With a jerk of his head he -dismissed Tatateecha. The other man made as if to -follow.</p> - -<p>“You stay where you are!” cried Conacher.</p> - -<p>Whether or not the man understood English, the -gesture which accompanied the words was amply significant, -and he stopped in his tracks. He began to -whine pitifully in his own tongue, pointing to his lips -and hugging his stomach.</p> - -<p>“I don’t give a damn how hungry you are,” said -Conacher. “I mean to keep you under my eye until -I decide what to do.”</p> - -<p>The Indian sat down at the foot of a tree, and -pathetically exhibited his empty pipe to the white man. -Conacher tossed him the remainder of a plug of -tobacco, which he began to shave with an air of philosophic -indifference.</p> - -<p>There was an agonizing struggle going on in Conacher’s -breast. Though he had every reason in the -world to believe that letter a trick, he found that he -<span class='it'>could not disregard it</span>. There was still one chance -in a thousand that it was genuine, and it was a chance -he could not take. He had been unwilling enough in -the first place to leave Loseis; this little doubt tipped -the scale. With that doubt of her safety in his mind -he recognized that it would be simply impossible for -him to go on day after day always putting a greater -distance between them. “Oh, to hell with the fur!” -he said to himself; and in that moment his mind was -made up.</p> - -<p>But he had no notion of swallowing Gault’s bait (if -such it was) whole. He lit a pipe to stimulate his -mental processes, and puffed at it leaning against a -tree, and gazing down at the innocent-eyed Indian -speculatively. He thought: I shall take you back with -me, my man. Tatateecha is a good way from home -now, and he’s been over this route many times. He -ought to be able to deliver the fur to Gruber. But in -any case I’d sooner trust him than you. Whether you -like it or not, you shall come back with me.</p> - -<p>It seemed important to Conacher not to allow the -newcomer to communicate with the other Slavis. Removing -the handkerchief from about his neck, he -therefore forced the astonished Indian to put his -hands around the tree behind him, and firmly bound -his wrists together. The captive loudly and plaintively -protested; it was clear that things were not -turning out in the way that he expected.</p> - -<p>Conacher then went down the bank to consult with -Tatateecha. None of the Slavis had rolled up for the -night. Their faces were perfectly wooden; but the -white man sensed a certain strain in the atmosphere. -Evidently Tatateecha had told them of the newcomer’s -arrival, and it had excited them. As well as -he could, Conacher signified to the head man that he -was going back to Blackburn’s Post; and that he -wanted two of the least tired horses to be -caught.</p> - -<p>Pointing up to the top of the bank, Tatateecha -asked an eager question.</p> - -<p>“He goes with me,” said Conacher, illustrating -with signs.</p> - -<p>He thought he saw a look of relief appear in the -Slavi faces. However they volunteered no information. -Again he asked Tatateecha the man’s name, and -received the same answer: “Saltahta.” Strange creatures! -Apparently they knew of no way of dealing -with the strong and terrifying white man except to -hide as much as possible from them.</p> - -<p>Men were sent away to catch the required horses, -and Conacher took out pencil and note-book to write -his letter to Gruber. He wished to do this in the -sight of Tatateecha, knowing what a superstitious -reverence all the remoter tribes have for the act of -writing. And it was quite true that Tatateecha, out -of the corners of his eyes, followed every move of the -pencil with a look of uneasy awe. Conacher wrote:</p> - -<div class='blockquote'> - -<p>“Hector Blackburn was killed on June 3rd by falling -over a cliff with his horse. Matthew Gault has -come to Blackburn’s Post where he is trying to take -advantage of the helpless situation of Blackburn’s -daughter. She has written to you, but supposes that -the letter has not been allowed to go through. We -are sending you the fur in charge of Tatateecha because -we have nobody else. If you get this letter send -us help quickly. Send the police if possible; at any -rate send white men. I have promised Tatateecha a -credit of one hundred skins if he places this letter in -your hands.”</p> - -<p>“Paul Conacher, Dominion Geological Survey.”</p> - -</div> - -<p>Conacher inclosed this letter in the torn envelope, -since he had no other, and offered it to Tatateecha. -The Indian received it gingerly and wrapped it in a -fold of the gay worsted sash he wore. Conacher -explained whom it was for, and told Tatateecha he -should receive goods to the value of a hundred skins -when it was delivered. To convey the figure, the -white man patiently broke up tiny twigs to the required -number. Tatateecha’s eyes widened in delighted -cupidity. In that moment he could be depended -on; the question was, could his feather-head -hold to a resolution long enough to carry it through?</p> - -<p>The two horses were driven up on top of the bank. -The Slavis jeered and pointed at the predicament of -the one who called himself Saltahta. If it had been -Tatateecha or Conacher himself, they would have -done just the same. By Conacher’s orders, they -offered to feed the captive, but he refused it. When -his horse, which was found tied to a tree near by, was -led in, it was discovered that he had plenty of bread -and meat tied to his saddle.</p> - -<p>Saddle and bridle were transferred to one of the -fresher horses, and the man was bidden to mount. -His hands were tied behind him; and his feet tied with -a loose thong under the horse’s belly. The Slavis -yelled in derision, and slapped their thighs. Conacher -would have given a good deal to have understood the -epithets they bestowed on the prisoner. A leading -rein was improvised out of a piece of tracking line. -Tying blanket and food to his own saddle, Conacher -mounted, and rode off leading the other horse.</p> - -<p>For a long time he could hear the laughter of the -Slavis. He wondered if they could make any more of -the situation than he could, or if their laughter was as -meaningless as it sounded. In the hands of these -crack-brained savages, he bitterly reflected, rested not -only the fate of that fortune in skins, but also the -hope of Loseis and him receiving help from the outside -world.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='201' id='Page_201'></span><h1>CHAPTER XVII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE MEETING</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>T</span>hree</span> hours later the two horses were still jogging -in the same manner along the forest trail. -In the beginning the prisoner had sought to make as -much trouble as possible by beating his heels against -his horse’s ribs, rendering the animal almost unmanageable. -Conacher had then put him in front, telling -him to beat away, whereupon the Slavi had become -very quiet. The tiring horse hung back more and -more, and in order to make any progress at all, Conacher -had been obliged to take the lead, and pull the -other after.</p> - -<p>The moon was now high. Little moonlight penetrated -through the trees, but the general brightness -made traveling easier. A slow trot was the best that -Conacher could get out of the horses. Even that -pace was not without danger at night. Had not the -trail been freshly cleaned up that day for the passage -of the fur train, they could not have done it.</p> - -<p>Conacher figured that he was within two or three -miles of the Slavi village. In two hours more he -would make Blackburn’s Post. His heart leaped at -the thought of rousing Loseis up in the middle of the -night. How astonished she would be! He would -hold her in his arms again! He urged his horse forward, -and gave the leading rein a jerk.</p> - -<p>Not but what he had certain doubts, too, of his reception. -Loseis might blame him for returning; -would want to send him away again perhaps. Conacher -firmly shook his head in the darkness. No! -whatever the truth of the situation, it was better for -them to remain together. Nothing should persuade -him to leave her again.</p> - -<p>As Conacher, dreaming, jogged along between the -half-seen pillars of the pines rising into obscurity, his -wearied horse threw up his head and whinnied. The -rider instinctively drew up to listen. A sound of fear -broke from the man behind. Presently, out of the -stillness of the forest came a faint, answering whinny -from ahead. Clapping heels to his horse, Conacher -rode to meet it.</p> - -<p>The Slavi moaned in fear. “Stop!” he said. -“It is not good. There is nobody here.”</p> - -<p>“Ha!” said Conacher. “You have found your English, -eh?” He continued to urge his horse forward.</p> - -<p>They turned into a natural avenue through the trees -where the moonlight came flooding down. At the end -of this glade, seen first as a dim gray ghost, and gradually -resolving itself into the lineaments of life, they -perceived a motionless horse and rider blocking the -trail. For a second, such a sight in that awful solitude -caused even Conacher’s heart to fail; but he did -not pull up. As for the Indian, a strangled squall of -terror escaped him, and he fell to gibbering incoherently. -He was perfectly helpless. Tied as he was, -he could not throw himself off his horse without the -certainty of being trampled.</p> - -<p>Drawing closer, a wild, joyous suspicion sprang up -in Conacher’s breast; then certainty. It was Loseis -in her boy’s dress, sitting astride the sorrel mare. -Flinging themselves off their horses, they flew to each -other’s arms, careless of the on-looker.</p> - -<p>“Loseis, my darling!” murmured Conacher. -“What are you doing here?”</p> - -<p>She was all woman then. “Oh, Paul . . . Oh, -Paul . . . !” she faltered. “I came to warn you. -Gault is waiting in the trail to kill you!”</p> - -<p>“To kill me!” he echoed amazed.</p> - -<p>A hasty, confused explanation took place. They lowered -their voices that the Indian might not overhear.</p> - -<p>“I did not send you that letter,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“I know it.”</p> - -<p>“Why did you come back then?”</p> - -<p>“I <span class='it'>had</span> to come. . . . Do you blame me?”</p> - -<p>“No! No! It is all right. If you had not come -they would have ridden after you. I can best take -care of you here.”</p> - -<p>Conacher laughed half in delight, half sorely. -“You take care of me! I like that! . . . How did -you know they had sent me a letter?”</p> - -<p>“I crept up to them in the woods. I listened.” She -gave him the gist of what she had overheard.</p> - -<p>“Good God!” cried Conacher in his simplicity. -“Think of anybody wanting to kill <span class='it'>me</span>!” Catching -hold of the leading line, he jerked the Indian into the -full moonlight. “Who is this man?” he said.</p> - -<p>“Etzooah,” said Loseis with half a glance.</p> - -<p>“I thought so,” said Conacher grimly. “According -to the letter he was to have gone with the outfit; but -I thought I had better bring him with me.”</p> - -<p>“You did well,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>Tying the horses to trees, they walked away a little -in the trail. For awhile they were completely filled -with the joy of being together again. The difficulties -ahead had to wait.</p> - -<p>“Oh, my darling, when I realized that it was you, -my heart nearly burst with joy. It was so unexpected, -so lovely to find you waiting quietly in the moonlight!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Paul, it makes up for everything to have -known you! I don’t care what happens now.”</p> - -<p>“You must have been waiting here alone for hours. -How could you dare to do it?”</p> - -<p>“Why . . . I had to do it. I never thought twice -about it.”</p> - -<p>“You are the bravest girl in the world!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! I’m just an ordinary girl who is in love -with you.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t deserve it!” he murmured.</p> - -<p>“Well . . . neither do I!”</p> - -<p>When they returned to earth, Conacher said simply: -“What shall I do with this Indian now? Put a bullet -through his head?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! no!” said Loseis nervously. “There must -be no killing.”</p> - -<p>“They started it,” said Conacher.</p> - -<p>“I wanted to kill Gault myself,” said Loseis -quaintly; “but I struggled against it.”</p> - -<p>Conacher laughed. “Little fire-eater!” he said, -hugging her close.</p> - -<p>“We must be serious now,” she said pushing him -away.</p> - -<p>“I’ll have to turn the man loose then,” said Conacher. -“And let him find his way to his friends on -foot.”</p> - -<p>“That will be best,” said Loseis. “They are waiting -about four miles from here. It will give us time -to get out of the way.”</p> - -<p>“The horses are so tired,” exclaimed Conacher. -“And it must be eighteen miles to the fur-camp. They -will die under us before we get there.”</p> - -<p>“But we are not going there,” said Loseis. “If I -had meant that, I would have ridden right through.”</p> - -<p>“Where else can we go?” said Conacher, opening -his eyes.</p> - -<p>“Gault and his men would be up with us almost as -soon as we broke camp in the morning. The Slavis -would run away. How could we protect ourselves -there in the open? Neither you nor I would ever be -seen alive again. How easy for Gault to explain that -there had been an accident. There would be no witnesses -but his men.”</p> - -<p>“What do you propose then?” said Conacher -gravely.</p> - -<p>“I have been thinking about it all these hours. We -will go back to Blackburn’s Post. There we will be -on our own ground. There are strong buildings to -protect us, and plenty of grub and ammunition. It -would be more difficult for Gault to make out that -there had been an accident there.”</p> - -<p>“Right!” said Conacher. “You have a head on -you! Whatever happens we will never be parted -again.”</p> - -<p>“Never!” she said going to his arms.</p> - -<p>“One of us will not be left!”</p> - -<p>“I swear it!” she said kissing him.</p> - -<p>Conacher felt the strength of ten men coursing -through his veins. “Come on!” he said briskly. -“How do you propose to get by the men waiting in the -trail?”</p> - -<p>“We will take a canoe at the Slavi village. Mary-Lou -is waiting there. She will stick to us. She is not -brave, but her heart is true.”</p> - -<p>“Good!” said Conacher. “Now for this red-skinned -blackguard. How about taking him with us -to the Post? Gault would then ride after the fur at -daybreak and we’d gain a day.”</p> - -<p>“What good would that do us?” said Loseis. “He -would be back at the Post by night. And in the meantime -the Slavis would be scattered. Tatateecha is our -best hope of getting help from the outside.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” said Conacher. “But it goes against -the grain to turn the scoundrel loose.”</p> - -<p>Taking out his knife, he proceeded to cut the cringing -Indian’s bonds. “You filthy wretch!” he cried; -“you mangy, verminous coyote! If you got your -deserts I would be sticking this knife between your -ribs! Go back to your master and tell him . . .”</p> - -<p>“Wait!” cried Loseis. “Not a word! Gault won’t -know how much we know. Let him guess!”</p> - -<p>Conacher swallowed his anger. Etzooah slipped -from his horse, and crawled on the ground like a -whipped cur.</p> - -<p>Loseis and Conacher mounted and rode on, driving -the third horse in front of them. Etzooah, cramped -from his long confinement in bonds, staggered along -slowly behind them.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='207' id='Page_207'></span><h1>CHAPTER XVIII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>CONFUSION</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>W</span>hen</span> he came to the Slavi village after his long -walk, Etzooah crossed the ford, and sticking his -head inside the first tepee, awakened the sleepers with -a yell. He demanded to know if Yellow-Head and -Blackburn’s daughter had been seen. A grumbling -voice replied that they had taken a canoe and gone -down river. Searching for a horse, Etzooah perceived -that the whites in their haste had turned out -their horses without unsaddling them. The sorrel -mare eluded him; she disliked the Indian smell; but -he caught the horse he had already ridden so far. It -would serve for the short distance he had still to go. -Refording the river, he proceeded along the trail.</p> - -<p>It was not Gault’s habit to confide in his creatures -any further than he was forced to. Etzooah’s job -had been to steer the fur train east across the prairie -and hit the big river at Fisher Point, where the fur -could be picked up later by the launch and a scow -from Good Hope. Etzooah might have guessed that -a short shrift was waiting for Conacher at Blackburn’s -Post, but he had been told nothing of the details -of the plot, which, indeed, had been concocted -after his departure. Etzooah expected to find Gault -and his men camped within a mile or so of the Post, -where he had left them earlier that day.</p> - -<p>Ere he had gone two miles beyond the Slavi village, -the miserable Indian rode fairly into the trap set for -the white man. He was pounding along at a good -rate over this well-traveled part of the trail, one knee -hooked around the horn of his saddle, as was his -custom. The thin line, stretched as taut as a wire -across the trail, caught him under the chin, and lifted -his body clear of the saddle. His knee held him; the -horse reared; Etzooah’s head was dragged back between -his shoulders. As the horse’s forefeet dropped -back to the ground, there was a horrible soft crack -heard. The man’s body came away from the saddle, -and dropped limply in the trail. The terrified horse -ran on.</p> - -<p>There was a loud laugh of bravado amongst the -trees. Gault stepped out into the trail. “Worked like -a charm!” he said. “I think his neck is broke.”</p> - -<p>Moale dropped to one knee beside the huddled -body, and struck a match. “God! . . . It’s Etzooah!” -he gasped.</p> - -<p>“Etzooah! . . . Etzooah . . . !” said Gault stupidly.</p> - -<p>The match had dropped from Moale’s nerveless -fingers. He fumbled with another. At last the little -flame sprang up. “Look!” he said. “Look!”</p> - -<p>“God Almighty!” cried Gault. “What’s he doing -back here?”</p> - -<p>Moale was feeling under the man’s head. “He’ll -never tell you,” he said grimly. “His neck is broke.”</p> - -<p>Gault said anxiously: “See if he has the letter on -him.”</p> - -<p>A search revealed that the letter was gone.</p> - -<p>“Then he has been to Conacher,” said Gault. -“Drag him into the bush, and we’ll go get that white -man.”</p> - -<p>“If his body should be found . . .” suggested -Moale. “Hadn’t we better drop the tree on him as -planned for the other?”</p> - -<p>“Hell! I’m not going to waste that trick on a redskin! -I may want it later. Pitch him in the river. -The current will carry him far beyond the sight of -mankind.”</p> - -<p>But as Moale started to obey, Gault changed his -mind again. “Wait,” he said. “I’ll help you to hoist -his body out of way of the coyotes. Conacher was the -last man who saw Etzooah alive, understand? We -will use that later.”</p> - -<p>The Indian’s body, still warm, was hung over two -spruce branches. The Crees were summoned to fetch -the horses from their hiding-place, and Gault and his -three men rode south.</p> - -<p>It was full day and the Slavis were packing the -horses, in the spongy meadow, when the four big men -rode violently down the little pine-clad point. Instantly -the Slavis jumped on horses and scattered far -and wide in the sea of grass.</p> - -<p>Gault had his eye on Tatateecha. “Let them go,” -he shouted to his men. He caught the plump headman -by the collar as he was climbing on a horse, and -flung him in the grass. “Now then!” he said with an -oath. “Where’s the white man?” It was a simple -matter to signify Conacher’s curling yellow hair and -blue eyes.</p> - -<p>Another discomfiture awaited the furious trader. -Tatateecha, delighted to find that Conacher, and not -himself, was the object of Gault’s wrath, gave, in -signs, a graphic and perfectly truthful account of how -Etzooah had arrived the night before and had given -Conacher a letter; and how Conacher after reading -the letter had put Etzooah on a horse tied hand and -foot and had ridden back, leading him. Tatateecha -said nothing about the letter Conacher had given him, -which was burning a hole in his stomach at that -moment.</p> - -<p>Gault swore violently, and Tatateecha edged out of -reach of his boot. The trader was forced to apply to -Moale in his perplexity. “What do you make of it?” -he said. “Etzooah was not tied up when we found -him?”</p> - -<p>Moale shrugged. “One thing is clear,” he said, -“We’ve passed Conacher somewhere.”</p> - -<p>“Then catch fresh horses and we’ll ride back!” -shouted Gault.</p> - -<p>“The fur? . . .” suggested Moale, casting desirous -eyes on the scattered bales.</p> - -<p>“To hell with the fur! I’m going to get that white -man first!”</p> - -<p>At six o’clock in the morning they were back at the -Slavi village. Splashing through the ford, the first -native they came upon was a bent crone, too old to get -out of the way. Out of her dim eyes she looked at -Gault with indifferent scorn. In reply to the usual -question about the white man with the curling hair the -color of the sun, she told in signs that he had ridden -there in the night when the paleness of the sky was in -the north (midnight). Etzooah was not with him -then. The white man turned out his horse, took a -canoe, and paddled down river.</p> - -<p>“Gone back to the girl,” growled Gault. “But -what in hell could have warned him that we were laying -for him in the trail!”</p> - -<p>Moale suddenly perceived the well-known sorrel -mare grazing amongst the other horses. She was still -saddled and bridled. The eyes almost started out of -his head. “Look!” he cried pointing.</p> - -<p>It was one of the nastiest shocks that Gault had -received. He stared at the animal with hanging jaw. -“How did that mare get here?” he demanded -hoarsely.</p> - -<p>The old woman replied by signs that Loseis had -come with Conacher in the night.</p> - -<p>“What!” shouted Gault. “<span class='it'>What!</span> . . . Why in -hell didn’t you say so before?”</p> - -<p>The very old woman looked at him calmly. Her -glance said: You didn’t ask me!</p> - -<p>The furious Gault was incapable of dealing with -her. Moale, calmer and warier, plied her for further -information. She described how Loseis had been up -and down in the trail all day. Loseis must have seen -Etzooah pass at midday, but she had not come back -to the village for her horse until near evening.</p> - -<p>“Then in God’s name what was she doing all afternoon?” -muttered Gault, a certain fear striking into his -rage.</p> - -<p>Nothing further was to be learned here. The four -men rode on in the direction of Blackburn’s Post. -Moale and the two Crees gave their master a good -dozen yards’ lead in the trail. The passions of hell -were working in the trader’s black face. Moale was -gray and the Indians yellowish with fatigue and apprehension. -It was a safe guess that all three would -have been glad then to get out of this ugly business; -but they were bound to their master a hundred times -over; there was no possibility of dissociating their fortunes -from his. They were not bothered by moral -scruples; but they feared that Gault’s passions had -mastered him to such an extent that he was no longer -capable of listening to the counsels of prudence.</p> - -<p>At a point about a mile short from the Post, they -turned out of the trail, and followed the summit of -one of the gravelly ridges, picking their way slowly -through the scrub. Soon the timber and brush became -too thick for them to guide their horses through, and -they were obliged to dismount and lead them. After -a mile and a half of the roughest sort of going, which -included the crossing of a gorge-like coulee, they came -out on the trail to Fort Good Hope in a little prairie -dotted with clumps of poplars. Here they had left -their outfit the day before, and had turned out their -remaining horses hobbled.</p> - -<p>They cooked and ate a meal in sullen silence. Afterwards -Gault dispatched Moale into the Post to spy -out the situation.</p> - -<p>“Tell her,” he said with stiff and bitter lips, “that -I couldn’t rest for thinking of her alone there, and -I sent back to ask if she was all right.”</p> - -<p>Moale, in his impassive way, set off without expressing -any opinion as to the usefulness of this errand.</p> - -<p>He was back by the time the sun had completed a -quarter of its journey across the sky. Gault was sitting -hunched up in the grass almost precisely as he had -left him. In twenty-four hours the trader had not -slept. He sprang up at the sight of Moale.</p> - -<p>“Well?” he demanded with cruel eagerness.</p> - -<p>“I found the two girls in the Women’s House . . .” -Moale began.</p> - -<p>“Alone?” snarled Gault.</p> - -<p>“Alone. Everything looked as usual. When I delivered -your message, Loseis listened politely, but her -eyes were full of hard laughter. She did not believe -me.”</p> - -<p>“What did she say?”</p> - -<p>“She told me to thank you, and to tell you that there -was nothing she required.”</p> - -<p>“What then?”</p> - -<p>“Conacher, having seen me come, came hurrying -across from the men’s house.”</p> - -<p>“Without concealment?”</p> - -<p>“Why should there be any concealment? They cannot -know that Etzooah is dead. They think Etzooah -has told us all.”</p> - -<p>“Damnation!” muttered the trader. “I am all in -the dark! . . . Go on!”</p> - -<p>“Conacher had a gun over his arm. . . .”</p> - -<p>“A gun?” echoed Gault in angry alarm.</p> - -<p>“A gun. I did not have any talk with Conacher. -He left it to the girl.”</p> - -<p>“What else did she say?”</p> - -<p>“She asked me where we were camped. I replied -that we had made but a short stage yesterday, because -you were anxious about her. It amused her to hear -me lie. She didn’t say anything; but only looked at -the three-bar brand on my horse’s flank.”</p> - -<p>Gault broke out in furious cursing. “You fool! -Why didn’t you change to one of the horses we left -here?”</p> - -<p>“Those horses are not broke for riding.”</p> - -<p>“You could have managed.”</p> - -<p>“What difference does it make?” said Moale impassively. -“They know all.”</p> - -<p>“How <span class='it'>can</span> they know?” cried Gault. “Go on!”</p> - -<p>“I told her that we had come upon a bunch of her -horses, and I had borrowed one to ride back, so I -could save my own. She knew I was lying, of course. -Her horses do not range on this side of the coulee. -But she said nothing. She asked me politely if I would -eat before riding back. I had just eaten, but I said -I would, thinking I might learn something by staying.”</p> - -<p>“The Beaver girl served me in the kitchen. While -I was eating Loseis and Conacher were talking together -outside the house. They talked low, but my -ears are very sharp. I caught enough of the words -to be able to piece together the sense of the whole. -Conacher wanted to tell me everything, and try to win -me to their side. I heard him say: ‘Insane with jealousy.’ -He meant you. His idea was that there was no -reason why I should risk my neck for you. But the -girl would not agree. She said you had only sent me -over there to get information, and if they told me anything -it would be playing right into your hand. So -nothing was told me. When I had eaten, some more -polite speeches were made, and I rode away.”</p> - -<p>“You think . . . ?” said Gault, knitting his brows.</p> - -<p>“I am sure that they know all,” said Moale. “The -girl must have been skulking in the woods yesterday -afternoon. She has doubtless learned the Slavi -tricks of hiding and moving softly. The way Conacher -snatched up his gun shows what they expect of -us.”</p> - -<p>Gault revealed the big teeth in an ugly smile. “Well -. . .” he said slowly, “we won’t disappoint them. -We’re in so deep now, we’ve got to go the whole -way. . . .”</p> - -<p>“You mean . . . ?” asked Moale with his enigmatic -eyes fixed intently on Gault’s face.</p> - -<p>Gault nodded somberly. “The girl <span class='it'>and</span> the man,” -he said. “Before anybody comes in.”</p> - -<p>Moale shrugged acquiescently.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='216' id='Page_216'></span><h1>CHAPTER XIX<br/> <span class='sub-head'>PREPARING FOR DANGER</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>A</span>s</span> soon as Moale rode away Loseis, Conacher and -Mary-Lou held a council. The sense of common -danger drew them very close together; their hearts -were soft towards each other. The whites treated the -Indian girl exactly as one of themselves. But poor -Mary-Lou was not of much help to them. Terror had -her in its grip again.</p> - -<p>The sunshine drew them outside the door of the -Women’s House. Loseis cast her eyes about the -scene. “Ah! how beautiful the world is!” she murmured. -“Only men spoil it!”</p> - -<p>“Cheer up!” said Conacher stoutly. “They haven’t -got us yet!”</p> - -<p>“I do not mind danger!” said Loseis quickly. “But -such wickedness hurts my breast. It spoils life!”</p> - -<p>“I know,” said Conacher. “You cannot believe in -it.”</p> - -<p>“Well, never mind our feelings,” said Loseis with -a shake of her black mane. “What have we got to -expect now?”</p> - -<p>“We’ve got the time it will take Moale to ride to -his master and report,” said Conacher.</p> - -<p>“But he’s waiting close by, of course,” said Loseis. -“He may even be watching us from the top of the -hill.”</p> - -<p>“The simplest thing would be for Gault to ride -down and break in the door with an ax,” said Conacher. -“If he does, I’ll blow the top of his head off,” -he added grimly.</p> - -<p>Loseis shook her head. “Gault never does the -simple thing.”</p> - -<p>“He may lose his head.”</p> - -<p>“Moale is there to remind him to be cautious. . . . -No! Gault will never attack us in the open. Not -while we stick together. I feel that from the inside. -He doesn’t care what you would think; but he is too -conceited to let me <span class='it'>see</span> what a beast he can be.”</p> - -<p>“When it came to the final point,” said Conacher, -“I don’t believe he could harm you.”</p> - -<p>“He’s <span class='it'>got</span> to kill me now,” said Loseis simply. “I -know too much.”</p> - -<p>Conacher walked around the Women’s House, -studying it. When he returned he said: “I think we -had better make this our fortress. There are no -windows in the back; it will be the easiest building to -defend. And more comfortable for you girls. I’ll -bring over my bed and bunk in the kitchen. You two -take the inner room. . . . That is, if you agree.”</p> - -<p>“You are the captain,” said Loseis with a warm -glance.</p> - -<p>“Well, we won’t quarrel over who’s the boss,” said -Conacher. “Our first job must be to stock up with -food, water, ammunition and firewood.”</p> - -<p>They scattered to these tasks, glad to have something -to occupy their hands. Expecting momentarily -to be interrupted, they worked hard and swiftly, -always keeping their ears sharpened for hoof-beats on -the trail. But there were no alarms. Midday came; -they finished their work; and Blackburn’s Post still -basked undisturbed in the sunshine.</p> - -<p>While Mary-Lou cooked the dinner, Conacher took -stock of their supplies. There was ample food, firewood -and ammunition—they had taken care to transfer -the entire stock of ammunition from the store; -but the water supply gave him cause for anxiety. The -entire stock of vessels capable of holding water consisted -of three small kegs, half a dozen pails and some -small pots. The Slavis carried water in birch-bark -receptacles.</p> - -<p>“Barely a week’s supply,” said Conacher ruefully.</p> - -<p>“If the worst comes to the worst we’ll have to cut -out washing,” said Loseis smiling. “The Slavis get -along without washing.”</p> - -<p>After dinner they lounged in front of the house -again. This was the hardest time to put in. The uncertainty -of what to expect kept them keyed up to a -painful pitch. Conacher wished to creep up to the -top of the hill to reconnoiter; but Loseis would not -hear of it.</p> - -<p>“Would you take me with you?” she asked.</p> - -<p>He shook his head.</p> - -<p>“No, of course not!” said Loseis. “You know very -well we might walk smack into a trap.”</p> - -<p>They endlessly discussed their chances.</p> - -<p>“If Tatateecha makes thirty miles again to-day,” -said Conacher; “that will complete one-fifth of the -whole distance. . . .”</p> - -<p>“Better not count too much on Tatateecha,” warned -Loseis. “He is as reliable as water.”</p> - -<p>“I know,” said Conacher. “But there’s no harm in -figuring. . . . Say he makes the warehouse in eight -more days. If Gruber started back instantly—and of -course he would on getting my letter; he could make -the return journey in five days, or even four if he had -plenty of horses. In twelve days then, we may begin -to look for relief. After all twelve days is not so -much. . . .”</p> - -<p>“But Gault will be counting those twelve days, too,” -said Loseis in a low tone. “He will not let them pass -without acting.”</p> - -<p>Seeing how the Indian girl’s head was hanging -down, and her face twitching, Loseis said kindly: -“Mary-Lou, why don’t you take a horse, and ride to -the Slavi village? You can stay with the other Marys. -You would be quite safe there. And you can’t do us -any good by staying here.”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou, without looking up, slowly shook her -head. “I not like live in tepee,” she murmured. -“Please, I want stay with you.”</p> - -<p>Loseis gave her a hug. “Surely!” she said. “But -I hate to see you so broken up.”</p> - -<p>“I all right,” said Mary-Lou in a strangled voice. -She hastened into the house.</p> - -<p>Conacher and Loseis came together. They walked -in the grass with linked arms.</p> - -<p>“Sweetheart,” murmured Conacher; “you hide it -well, but you are suffering too!”</p> - -<p>“You mustn’t feel sorry for me,” said Loseis, “or -I’ll feel sorry for myself then. . . . It’s only not -knowing what to expect! When I see what I have to -do, I’ll be all right.”</p> - -<p>“If I could only get you away from it all!”</p> - -<p>“I have been through it alone,” said Loseis. “Now -I have you!”</p> - -<p>Later in the afternoon Conacher was sitting by himself -at the door, still revolving their chances of receiving -help from the outside, when suddenly he perceived -a bark canoe with two figures in it coming down -the river.</p> - -<p>“By God! here’s something to break the suspense!” -he cried, leaping up.</p> - -<p>Loseis ran to the door. But when she saw the -canoe her face showed no relief nor gladness. She -suspected who was in it.</p> - -<p>And when the canoe landed in the creek mouth, -presently an all-too-familiar little rotund figure rose -over the top of the bank.</p> - -<p>“Tatateecha,” said Loseis in a listless voice.</p> - -<p>Conacher’s face fell like a child’s. He groaned -aloud in his anger and disappointment. “Oh, the -miserable cur!” he cried.</p> - -<p>“What would you expect of a Slavi?” said Loseis, -shrugging.</p> - -<p>They waited for him in a bitter silence. Tatateecha -came plodding up the grassy rise with the air -of a guilty schoolboy. His companion remained in the -canoe. Reaching the top, Tatateecha, with an absurd -pretense of not seeing Conacher and Loseis, headed -straight across towards the store. Loseis summoned -him peremptorily. He came like a dog to get his -whipping, twisting his body, and grinning in sickening -fear. Still trying to make out that nothing was the -matter, he said something to Loseis that caused her -to laugh a single bitter note.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” demanded Conacher.</p> - -<p>“He is out of tobacco,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Oh, my God!” cried Conacher. “Tobacco! -When we were counting on him to bring us help!”</p> - -<p>Loseis held up a restraining hand. “You will only -frighten him stupid,” she said. “Let me find out -what happened.”</p> - -<p>The miserable Tatateecha told his story to Loseis, -who translated it for Conacher. “He says, early this -morning when they were packing up for the start, -Gault, and his three big men suddenly rode into their -camp, and the Slavis jumped on horses and spread in -every direction. Gault, when he found you were gone, -turned right back, but Tatateecha couldn’t round up -the Slavis by himself, he says. One by one they gained -the trail and galloped home; and there was nothing -for it but for him to come home too. . . . It may be -true. It has the sound of truth.”</p> - -<p>“Leaving all the fur and the pack-horses where they -were, I suppose,” said Conacher.</p> - -<p>Loseis shrugged. “I expect that was bound to be -lost,” she said.</p> - -<p>“And he calls himself their head man . . . !”</p> - -<p>Loseis concealed her bitter disappointment under a -mask of indifference. “He isn’t worth swearing at,” -she said. “Give him a plug of tobacco, and let him -go.”</p> - -<p>Tatateecha began to argue for two plugs of -tobacco; Conacher with a threatening gesture, sent -him flying down the hill.</p> - -<p>Supper time was approaching when all further uncertainty -was put to an end by the sound of many -hoofs pounding down the trail above the Post. Loseis -and Conacher prudently retired within the house, and -barring the door, each took up a position at one of -the little windows looking out on the square. Mary-Lou -declined to come to the window. Conacher was -in the kitchen; Loseis in her room, and the door open -between. Conacher opened his window. Between -his feet rested the butt of his express rifle; and he -grasped the barrel in one hand.</p> - -<p>Presently a numerous cavalcade rode into the grassy -square. It seemed to the watchers as if they would -never stop coming. Besides Gault and Moale they -counted sixteen well-mounted Indians; big, able-looking -fellows; mostly having a claim to a distant -white ancestor in all probability. There were also -several laden horses, and a number of spare ones.</p> - -<p>“He’s brought his army against us!” said Conacher -with scornful laughter.</p> - -<p>“They don’t know what they’re going to be used -for,” answered Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Might be a good thing for me to tell them,” suggested -Conacher.</p> - -<p>“Useless,” said Loseis. “There’s never been any -police stationed at Fort Good Hope, and they can conceive -of no authority higher than Gault’s.”</p> - -<p>Reining in, Gault pointed down to the river flat -where the Slavi village had lately stood. The Indians -rode on down the grassy rise with their pack-horses -and spares; and began forthwith to make camp. -Gault and Moale were left sitting their horses side -by side. Gault, well aware that he was being watched, -never looked towards the Women’s House. To all -appearances he was as ever, the elegant gentleman; -perfectly turned out; his face smooth and bland. He -had allowed the rein to fall on his horse’s neck. One -hand rested on his hip; and with the other he gesticulated -gracefully towards the camp below, as he -issued his instructions to the deferential Moale.</p> - -<p>“Quite the beau ideal,” said Loseis dryly at her -little window.</p> - -<p>“So that’s my would-be murderer!” said Conacher -at his. “Gives you a funny feeling to set eyes on him -when you know.”</p> - -<p>Moale dismounted and went to the door of the -Men’s House, where he knocked.</p> - -<p>“Feeling his way,” said Conacher.</p> - -<p>“It will be amusing to hear what excuse he gives -for coming back here,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>Conacher raised his gun. “Loseis,” he said soberly, -“the quickest way to end this matter would be for me -to shoot him off his horse as he sits there.”</p> - -<p>Loseis ran to his side. “No, Paul, no!” she cried -agitatedly.</p> - -<p>“It would be the best way,” he insisted. “He -means to kill us if he can. Suppose he gets one of us -and the other is left. I’m a pretty good shot. I could -get him easily now. It would end it. These other -men have nothing against us.”</p> - -<p>“No! No! No!” she cried. “Not until he attacks -us! I couldn’t bear it!”</p> - -<p>Conacher allowed the butt of his gun to thump on -the floor again. “Very well,” he said a little sullenly. -“Still, I think it would be the best way.”</p> - -<p>Receiving no answer at the door of the men’s -house, Moale faced about, and came towards them. -Conacher and Loseis watched him with heads close together. -Moale’s comely olive face was, as always, -perfectly expressionless.</p> - -<p>“What sort of man is this?” asked Conacher grimly.</p> - -<p>“Who can tell?” said Loseis. “He is neither white -nor red.”</p> - -<p>They opened the door, and stood side by side within -the frame to receive him, Conacher with his gun -across his arm. At sight of the gun Moale’s eyes -narrowed, but he made no reference to it in speech. -Bowing to Loseis, he said in his gentle voice:</p> - -<p>“Mr. Gault wishes to know if he may speak with -you?”</p> - -<p>“But why not?” said Loseis coolly. “Speech is -free.”</p> - -<p>“If he comes unarmed,” added Conacher grimly.</p> - -<p>Moale stabbed him with a lightning glance of his -strange eyes, but did not speak. Bowing to Loseis -again, he turned and went back to Gault.</p> - -<p>Loseis and Conacher remained standing in the doorway. -The girl said earnestly:</p> - -<p>“Paul dear, when he comes, you must hold your -anger in.”</p> - -<p>“I’m not going to truckle to him,” said Conacher, -angry already.</p> - -<p>“Of course not! If we showed fear we would be -lost. But if we become angry they will use it as an -excuse to attack us, and we will be lost, too. We must -show neither fear nor anger, but only coldness. My -heart tells me that.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you’re right, of course,” groaned Conacher; -“but you’re asking almost too much of flesh and -blood!”</p> - -<p>After a brief colloquy with Moale, Gault dismounted, -and came striding towards them with measured -steps. He had retained the lordly air of the old-time -trader. His self-control was marvelous; he kept -his head up, and looked from Loseis to Conacher with -brazen coolness. But there was a sort of glassy guard -over his eyes. You could not see into them.</p> - -<p>“He has his nerve with him,” grumbled Conacher -in unwilling admiration. “Marching up to the gun -like this, with empty hands.”</p> - -<p>“He may have a pistol,” suggested Loseis.</p> - -<p>“He’d have to draw it,” said Conacher coolly. -“And my gun is in my hands.”</p> - -<p>As he drew close, Gault’s eyes flickered once. It -must have been like a knife in his breast to see Conacher -and Loseis pressed together companionably in -the door of their house like a little family. But this -was the only sign of feeling he gave.</p> - -<p>“Good evening,” he said to Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Good evening,” returned Loseis.</p> - -<p>Gault went on: “I was somewhat surprised to learn -from Moale, when he returned to me to-day, that Conacher -was with you.”</p> - -<p>“Were you?” said Loseis dryly.</p> - -<p>“You told me that he had gone with the fur.”</p> - -<p>This was too much for Conacher’s honest simplicity. -“You know damned well what brought me back!” he -cried.</p> - -<p>Loseis laid a restraining hand on his arm. Gault -continued to look at Loseis as if Conacher had not -spoken. There was a silence which seemed to bristle -with pointing knives.</p> - -<p>“Of course it was clear to me that the Slavis would -never be able to carry through alone,” Gault resumed. -“And as I happened to meet the men I had sent for -from Fort Good Hope just then, I turned around and -brought them back with me, to offer them to you to -take out your fur. They are experienced and intelligent -men, and can travel anywhere.”</p> - -<p>Loseis took thought before answering. Why does -he trouble to give me all this palaver when he knows -he has only to go and get the fur? It occurred to her -that candor on her part would be the best means of -disconcerting him. She said coolly:</p> - -<p>“The Slavis have already returned. The fur has -been abandoned at the spot about thirty miles from -here, where you saw it early this morning. . . .”</p> - -<p>Gault changed color slightly. He could not guess -how she had learned this so soon.</p> - -<p>“Well, there it lies,” Loseis went on. “I do not -mean to give you permission to go and get it. On the -other hand I cannot prevent you from doing so.”</p> - -<p>Gault appeared to be debating the question with -himself. He finally said: “It is clearly my duty to -save this valuable property. I shall therefore send the -Crees after it to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>“As you will,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>Gault made to go; and then turned back as if struck -by a new thought. “I shall be returning to my own -post,” he said. “My first thought was to send Moale -out with the fur; but your situation cannot be very -comfortable here. If you and Conacher would like -to accompany the fur train, Moale may remain here -to guard your property until you return.”</p> - -<p>Loseis smiled coldly. So this was what he had been -leading up to!</p> - -<p>Conacher’s blue eyes widened with indignation. -“Well, I’ll be damned!” he cried. “If this -doesn’t. . . .”</p> - -<p>Loseis touched him warningly. “I thank you,” she -said to Gault with hard sweetness. “Mr. Conacher -and I both thank you. We offer you all the thanks -that is due to your most generous offer. But <span class='it'>under -the circumstances</span>, we prefer to remain here.”</p> - -<p>Gault’s face was like a wall. He bowed to Loseis, -and left them.</p> - -<p>“By God . . . !” began Conacher.</p> - -<p>“Hush!” said Loseis. “Anger just gives him an -opening to get angry too. But coldness mixes him all -up.”</p> - -<p>“What a fool he must be to think . . .”</p> - -<p>“He is not a fool,” interrupted Loseis. “He knew -exactly what he was doing. You see he was not sure -if we knew that he meant murder. His object was -to find that out. Well, he did find out.”</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='228' id='Page_228'></span><h1>CHAPTER XX<br/> <span class='sub-head'>BESIEGED</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>A</span> little</span> tent of pale green silk, trim and elegant, -was pitched for Gault in the meadow -below, a short distance from the big fire built by the -Crees. After supper they could see Gault seated in -the place of honor beside the fire, surrounded by his -men. Apparently all was peace and good-fellowship -in that camp. The attitudes of the men suggested -story-telling, and hearty laughter.</p> - -<p>“This is for our benefit,” said Loseis with a scornful -smile.</p> - -<p>“I shall watch through the night,” said Conacher.</p> - -<p>“There will be no open attack.”</p> - -<p>“Just the same, I’ll stay up.”</p> - -<p>“I will take turns with you.”</p> - -<p>However, Gault presently crept under his little -tent; and the Crees one by one rolled up in their -blankets, and lay completely covered up in the redskin -manner like a long row of corpses along the edge of -the creek bank. The sun went down, and the great -silence crept like long fingers out of the darkening sky. -The brief hours of darkness passed, and there was no -suspicious move nor sound from below. The last of -the sunset glow stole around the northern horizon towards -the east. In due course the sun rose again, and -the camp below lay exactly as before.</p> - -<p>Soon afterwards a great bustle began. They built -up the fire, breakfasted, caught their horses, and -packed up. Moale and the main body of the Crees -crossed the creek, and galloped away over the trail to -the south. Gault and two men rode up the rise, -crossed the little square without a glance towards the -Women’s House, and went on up the trail behind the -store.</p> - -<p>“There are four men unaccounted for,” said Loseis -suddenly. “Only ten went with Moale. I counted -them.”</p> - -<p>“Let’s go out and take a look about,” said Conacher. -“Whatever they are plotting, it will take them -a certain time to organize it. For a few minutes anyhow, -we will be safe.”</p> - -<p>They left Mary-Lou, gray with terror, alone in the -house. Conacher took his gun. After their night-long -vigil it was a delight to get out into the open. Running -down the grassy rise together, they joked at -danger.</p> - -<p>“Funny, here in my own place to be expecting to -hear a bullet sing past my ears,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“ ’S all right if it sings past,” said Conacher, grinning.</p> - -<p>As soon as Loseis looked over the creek bank she -said: “There was a damaged dug-out lying in the mud -here. They have repaired it and gone in it. They -must have gone down river, close under the bank. We -should have seen them if they had gone up. I don’t -know why they should go down river.”</p> - -<p>“I think I can explain that,” said Conacher. -“There are three possible ways of escape from this -place; south by the trail to the lake and beyond; east -by the trail to Fort Good Hope; and north down the -river. All three ways are now watched by our enemies.”</p> - -<p>“I never should have thought of going down river,” -said Loseis. “There is nothing there.”</p> - -<p>“I have thought of it,” said Conacher. “It would -be many hundreds of miles to a post, but it’s a possibility. -But with the river watched it would be the -most dangerous way of all. All they’d have to do -would be to smash our boat, or set it adrift in the current. -It would be all day with us then.”</p> - -<p>“Just to keep us from escaping wouldn’t do Gault -any good,” said Loseis. “We have plenty of grub; -and help is bound to arrive in the end. That cannot -be the whole of his plan.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no; not the whole of it,” said Conacher -grimly. “Time will tell.”</p> - -<p>Loseis shivered. “Let’s get back under cover,” she -said.</p> - -<p>Before returning to the house they made sure that -Conacher’s dug-out was still safe where he had left it -hidden in the willows with the paddle in the bottom.</p> - -<p>“Who knows? It may come in handy,” he said.</p> - -<p>The hours of that day dragged by with leaden feet. -Nothing happened, and that was the hardest thing to -bear. All needed sleep; and all were too highly keyed -up to obtain it. Clouds had come up with the sun, and -by breakfast time a soft persistent rain was falling, -driven in sheets by a cold wind from the northeast. -Sharp squalls swept across the little square at intervals, -almost blotting out the buildings opposite.</p> - -<p>“Well, at any rate we’re better off than the other -fellows,” said Conacher with a grim chuckle. “We’ve -got a roof over our heads.”</p> - -<p>After breakfast in spite of Loseis’ protests, he took -up his position in the open doorway, with his gun -across his knees. His view out of the window was too -much narrowed by the thickness of the log walls, he -explained.</p> - -<p>“But you offer such a fair mark where you are!” -complained Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Nobody could shoot me here except from behind -the house opposite,” said Conacher. “In order to do -that he’s got to show himself; and my eyes are as quick -as the next man’s.”</p> - -<p>The house opposite bothered Conacher. “If they -gained possession of it, it would render our position -untenable, as they say in the army communiqués,” he -said.</p> - -<p>It transpired that there were staples in the door, -and a padlock lying somewhere within to fasten it. -Conacher announced his intention of going across to -bar the shutters and lock the door.</p> - -<p>And so it was done. Loseis stood at the door with -her gun to cover his passage to and fro across the -little square.</p> - -<p>Loseis and Conacher, half exasperated, half affectionate, -disputed endlessly over who should bear the -heavier part of the burden.</p> - -<p>“You <span class='it'>must</span> sleep!” insisted Loseis. “It is to-night -that the real danger will come.”</p> - -<p>“You sleep first,” said Conacher, “and I’ll promise -to match whatever you do, later.”</p> - -<p>Towards the end of the afternoon the sky cleared, -and the grass of the little square steamed up in the -warmth of the late sun.</p> - -<p>“I’d give something to be able to run down to the -river and back to stretch my legs,” said Conacher longingly.</p> - -<p>“Every foot of the flat is commanded from the -bench to the north,” said Loseis sharply.</p> - -<p>“Very little danger of getting hit if I zigzagged,” -said Conacher, partly to tease her.</p> - -<p>Loseis changed her tactics. “Very well, I’ll come -too,” she said.</p> - -<p>“Not on your life!” said Conacher; and the subject -was dropped.</p> - -<p>They ate their supper; the sun went down; and the -great stillness descended. Conacher closed and barred -the door then; and went back to the kitchen window. -The window was open; and the slender black barrel -of his rifle stuck out across the thick log that formed -its sill. Accustomed as they were to the evening stillness, -in this tense hour it struck awe into their breasts -as if it was the first time. They had an indefinable -feeling that whatever It was, It would come in this -hushed moment. Loseis was at her window; Mary-Lou -was crouched on the floor at the back of the room -with her hands pressed to her mouth.</p> - -<p>Presently they heard that sound which is always associated -with the sunset stillness of the Northwest; -the long-drawn, intolerably mournful howl of a coyote; -a sound calculated to shake stretched nerves. It rose -startlingly close; in fact from the ravine through -which the creek flowed behind the men’s house opposite.</p> - -<p>“That is no coyote,” said Loseis sharply. “They -never come so close to the Post.”</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou moaned.</p> - -<p>The cry was repeated; and was answered from -down the river.</p> - -<p>“That coyote is afloat in a canoe,” said Conacher -with a grim chuckle. “The men who went down the -river to-day have been instructed to come back at evening -to watch us.”</p> - -<p>Another heartrending howl was raised from the hill -back of the store.</p> - -<p>“The outposts are establishing communications,” -said Conacher, carrying it off lightly in order to -hearten the girls. “Well, it’s a relief to know what -and where they are. At this God-awful moment of -the day you could imagine anything!”</p> - -<p>For awhile the quavering cries went back and -forth; then silence. Darkness drew slowly in. At first -the sky across the river was like a sea of amber with -one or two scraps of cloud floating in it like golden -ships. As the warmth gradually faded out it took on -the hue of blued steel. The moon was rising later -now; to-night there would be an hour or so of darkness -before her coming. Conacher had to strain his -eyes to make out the details of the house across the -way.</p> - -<p>The slow minutes passed. In the big chimney the -night-breeze kept up a gentle, uneven murmuring that -was like somebody speaking to somebody else a little -way off. Occasionally the man and the girl whispered -from room to room in the dark just to reassure themselves -of the other’s warm and breathing presence.</p> - -<p>“Paul?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, pardner?”</p> - -<p>“There’s no need for both of us to be watching.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you take a sleep, old girl.”</p> - -<p>“Sleep!”</p> - -<p>“My sentiments exactly!”</p> - -<p>And later:</p> - -<p>“Paul, do not remain at the window. Even though -they cannot see you, they will guess that you are there. -It is like a bull’s eye in the side of the house!”</p> - -<p>“But I must be looking out!”</p> - -<p>“Do as I do. Scrape away the clay, and use a chink -between the logs for a peep-hole.”</p> - -<p>After that Paul lay full length on the floor of the -kitchen, with his rifle barrel poked out through the -chink.</p> - -<p>Suddenly his gun roared outside, blowing the night -to pieces as it seemed. A dreadful, low cry escaped -from Mary-Lou.</p> - -<p>“What was it?” whispered Loseis sharply.</p> - -<p>“Man crawling towards the door of the men’s -house.”</p> - -<p>“Did you get him?”</p> - -<p>“No,” said Conacher ruefully. “He streaked back -around the corner. It was the merest shadow. I shot -too soon.”</p> - -<p>There was another long wait, much harder to bear -for nerves that still recollected the explosion of that -shot. Then they became aware by a gentle grayness -pervading the scene outside, that the moon had risen. -The orb itself was hidden by the buildings opposite.</p> - -<p>“He’s gone into the little warehouse beyond the -store,” said Conacher suddenly. “The door has been -opened. . . . Damn it! I should have locked that -door.”</p> - -<p>“You couldn’t have locked it,” said Loseis. “They -broke the staples.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve a good mind to go over there and get him,” -muttered Conacher.</p> - -<p>“Right across the open, I suppose,” said Loseis bitterly.</p> - -<p>“I might steal around behind the buildings.”</p> - -<p>“There are probably others there.”</p> - -<p>“If I sent a shot through the open door it would -give him a good scare.”</p> - -<p>“Nothing to be gained by scaring him.”</p> - -<p>The edge of the moon peeped over the ridge of the -men’s house. A few minutes later she was shining -directly into their faces. This had them at a cruel disadvantage, -for the other side of the square where one -or more of their enemies were lurking, was hidden in -the deepest shadow. Conacher swore helplessly under -his breath.</p> - -<p>By and by a cloud crept across the moon dimming -her silvery glare.</p> - -<p>“He’s come out of the warehouse,” said Conacher -in surprise. “The door is closed now. . . . I don’t -understand that. Why should he come out unless he -had found a better place? What other place is there -where he could sit in hiding and watch us?”</p> - -<p>There was no answer forthcoming. The moon -came out again, bathing the little square within the -crouching buildings in her misty radiance. As she rose -higher their vision was the less obscured. Nothing -stirred outside. The earth was so still, one fancied -one could feel its great swing to the east. Time -passed, and that fear against which the bravest hearts -are not proof, lay upon them heavier and heavier; the -fear of the unknown.</p> - -<p>Conacher at his loophole muttered and swore under -his breath. “When I knew where he was it was all -right. . . . This is hellish . . . !”</p> - -<p>Finally, when the eastern sky was beginning to get -ready for dawn, he jumped up. “I can’t stand this,” -he cried. “I’ve got to find out where they are, and -what they’re up to!”</p> - -<p>Loseis found him in the dark. “Oh, hush!” she -whispered. “Maybe there’s an ear pressed against the -back wall! . . . What are you going to do?”</p> - -<p>Conacher put his lips to her ear. “Make a dummy, -and show it at the door,” he said. Even at that moment -a chuckle sounded in his voice.</p> - -<p>They closed the shutters, stuffed up their peep-holes -and lighted a lamp. Conacher tied a broom to the -back of a chair with the brush uppermost. He then -tied a piece of firewood athwart the broom handle -just under the brush. This was for shoulders. They -dared not use hammer and nails. Upon this frame he -hung one of Mary-Lou’s dresses, and completed the -figure by forcing a small cooking pot over the brush -of the broom, with a piece of white cloth hanging -down in front to represent a face. In the moonlight -at a hundred paces distance they judged that it would -serve. Conacher blew out the light again.</p> - -<p>“I’ll manipulate the chair,” he said to Loseis. -“You go back to your peep-hole. You must be watching -for the flash in case he shoots. Mary-Lou, you -must open the door. There’s no danger if you keep -behind it.”</p> - -<p>Conacher waited until Loseis was at her place. -“All clear outside?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“I can see nothing,” she whispered.</p> - -<p>“All right then, Mary.”</p> - -<p>They could hear her gasping softly for breath, as -she drew the door slowly open. The night stole into -the room. All three hearts were beating furiously. -Conacher, lying on the floor, grasped the legs of the -chair, and thrust it forward a little. At first he tipped -it to represent a face peeping around the doorframe, -and quickly withdrew it. After repeating this once or -twice, he allowed the whole figure to show in the doorway, -swaying a little like a living body.</p> - -<p>“Any movement across the way?” he whispered to -Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Nothing!”</p> - -<p>Finally he allowed the figure to tip forward as if to -peer outside the door. From across the square two -shots crashed out almost simultaneously. One bullet -shattered the chair back; the other buried itself deep -in the log wall across the kitchen. It was a relief -to hear those shots, waiting for them was so dreadful. -Conacher jerked the remains of the chair out of sight, -and Mary-Lou slammed the door. All three of them -were panting for breath.</p> - -<p>“Well?” demanded Conacher excitedly.</p> - -<p>“They are inside my father’s house,” said Loseis -desperately.</p> - -<p>“Impossible!” he cried in dismay.</p> - -<p>“Yes! They are doing the same as us. Shooting -through chinks between the logs.”</p> - -<p>“How could they have got in? There are no windows -in the back.”</p> - -<p>“Who knows? Dug underneath the wall, maybe.”</p> - -<p>For the first time Conacher showed discouragement. -“Oh, God!” he groaned. “By night or day they’ve -got us covered!”</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='239' id='Page_239'></span><h1>CHAPTER XXI<br/> <span class='sub-head'>A LEAP FOR FREEDOM</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>O</span>n</span> the third morning following, Loseis and Conacher -were seated at a little table in the kitchen -of the Women’s House, with a scarcely touched meal -between them. In the inner room Mary-Lou was lying -on a mattress with her face turned towards the wall, -asleep—or despairing. In the kitchen all was in apple -pie order; a fire burning on the well-swept hearth with -a small pot of water bubbling upon it; the shutter of -the little window flung back, and the sunshine streaming -in; outside all green and peaceful to the eye. -There was nothing to indicate the horror of the situation -but the faces of the two at the table. Those gaunt -and gray young faces, deeply seamed and sunken -eyed, told a tale of seventy-two hours’ horror. -Neither had had more than a snatch or two of broken -sleep. Three endless nights and days and no hope of -relief. It was the absence of hope which had aged -them.</p> - -<p>Conacher rested his cheek in his palm, and gloomily -traced imaginary lines on the oilcloth cover with his -fork. Loseis’ eyes, which looked truly enormous now, -were fixed on the young man’s face, all tenderness.</p> - -<p>“You have brought all this on your head through -mixing in my miserable affairs,” she murmured.</p> - -<p>He looked up quickly. “Oh, don’t say a thing like -that!” he protested, hurt to the quick. “It seems to -divide us. How can we be divided now? Your fate -is my fate and mine yours!”</p> - -<p>Loseis looked down, somewhat comforted. But -she yearned for more explicit comfort still. “I wonder -you do not hate me,” she whispered.</p> - -<p>“Loseis!” he said sharply, “if you say such things -to me, you will have me blubbering like Mary-Lou. -That would be a nice thing!” And the tears actually -stood in his eyes.</p> - -<p>The sight of those tears was sweet to Loseis; but -she went on perversely: “Sometimes I think you do -hate me. You do not like to look at me any more. -Always you turn your eyes away.”</p> - -<p>Conacher turned his eyes away then. “The truth -is, I can’t bear to look at you,” he murmured. “Such -a child as you are, and so plucky and proud; never a -word of complaint out of you. It drives me wild to -think I can’t save you from this!”</p> - -<p>Loseis glided swiftly around the table, and caught -his head against her breast. “Ah, you blessed Paul!” -she crooned, brooding over him. “I was just trying -to make you say again that you loved me. You -mustn’t grieve so over me. Think what it would be -for me if you weren’t here!”</p> - -<p>She dropped to her knees beside his chair. Speech -would no longer serve to convey their feelings. They -snatched a moment of poignant happiness out of the -surrounding horror.</p> - -<p>Finally Conacher, partly withdrawing himself from -her arms, sat up straight. “This can’t go on!” he -said, striking the table.</p> - -<p>“What is in your mind?” she asked anxiously.</p> - -<p>“We have plenty of food,” he said, “and the water -is still holding out; but what is the use of it all? To -be trapped like this would break anybody’s nerve; -knowing night and day that the guns were covering -you. If we stay here they’re certain to get us in the -end. Time is passing. If we give them no opportunity -to pick us off, they’ll drive us out of our shelter. -They have only to build a fire against the back wall of -this house . . .”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Heaven!” murmured Loseis.</p> - -<p>“I don’t want to frighten you unnecessarily,” he -said, stroking back her hair; “but we’ve got to face -the worst. I’ve been looking for it to happen every -night. That’s why I couldn’t sleep. How simple -for Gault to shoot us down as we ran out, and throw -our bodies back on the fire . . . I say we must -make a break for it, while we are able to choose our -own time.”</p> - -<p>“But where could we go?” faltered Loseis.</p> - -<p>“I’ve been thinking about that. God knows, I have -had plenty of time! The three obvious ways out are -closed to us, but there is a fourth way . . .”</p> - -<p>“Where?”</p> - -<p>“Across the river and over the prairie to the north -or northwest.”</p> - -<p>“But that is the unknown country!” said Loseis with -widening eyes. “No white man has ever been across -there!”</p> - -<p>“True,” said Conacher; “but after all it’s just a -country like any other. And I’m accustomed to making -my own way.”</p> - -<p>“Nobody knows what is on the other side!”</p> - -<p>“I know,” said Conacher. “It’s part of my job to -map this country; and I carry the existing map in my -mind. Two or three hundred miles away—I can only -make a rough guess as to the distance; there is an important -river called the Mud River. We only have reports -of it from the Indians. But the name tells you -what kind of a river it is. It must be a prairie river -like this one; fairly deep and moderately swift. If -there are cottonwood trees I could make a rough dug-out; -or I could always make rafts. The Mud River -eventually falls into the Sinclair. It is up the Sinclair -River that my outfit is making its way at present. According -to their schedule they will make the mouth of -the Mud River on July fifteenth. That gives us a -month. If we are too late we could follow them up -the Sinclair. They travel slow on account of the work -they have to do. It is the best chance I see. No -woman has ever made such a journey, but men have; -and you are as plucky and strong as a boy.”</p> - -<p>“I can do it if you can,” said Loseis quickly. -“But how could we escape from here with an outfit; -grub, blankets, ax, gun, ammunition?”</p> - -<p>“It would have to be a mighty slim outfit,” said -Conacher. “I could feed you with my gun if I had -to.”</p> - -<p>“Across the river there are only a few broken -horses,” said Loseis. “We could not be sure of finding -them at the moment we needed them.”</p> - -<p>“We may have to walk,” said Conacher.</p> - -<p>“But when Gault missed us, he could swim his -horses over. What chance would we have then?”</p> - -<p>“Not much of a one. . . . But a crazy idea has -been coming back to me again and again. Maybe the -very craziness of it is in its favor. . . .”</p> - -<p>“What is it?”</p> - -<p>“If we could persuade Gault that we had committed -suicide in our desperation . . . . ?”</p> - -<p>Loseis’ eyes widened like a child’s.</p> - -<p>“Can you swim?” asked Conacher.</p> - -<p>She sadly shook her head.</p> - -<p>“Hm! that’s awkward. . . . But maybe I could -manage. . . . There is that little air pillow in my -outfit. . . .”</p> - -<p>They heard Mary-Lou approaching out of the next -room, and drew apart.</p> - -<p>“What on earth will we do with her?” whispered -Loseis.</p> - -<p>Conacher shook his head in complete perplexity. -“We’ll talk it over later,” he whispered.</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou had come to clean up the breakfast -dishes. The past four days had made a shocking -change in the appearance of the comely Indian girl. -She was too apathetic to resent being excluded from -their counsels; and Conacher and Loseis went on with -their whispering.</p> - -<p>All day they alternately whispered together, and -parted from each other to think over the matter -afresh. To have this absorbing matter to talk over -relieved the tension; the hours passed more quickly. -They surveyed their plan from every angle, continually -rejecting this expedient, and accepting that. -Little by little they built up a reasonable-seeming structure. -Of course the best plan they could make depended -upon so many chances for its success, that -there were many moments when they despaired. But -at such moments Conacher would always say: “Still, -anything would be better than this!” Whereupon -they would set their wits to work afresh.</p> - -<p>Some hours later Conacher said: “One thing is certain. -It would have twice as good a chance of success -if we could prepare Gault’s mind beforehand for such -a thing to happen. We ought to send him a letter.”</p> - -<p>“How could we send him a letter?” asked Loseis.</p> - -<p>Recollecting the Indian trophies that hung on the -walls of Loseis’ room, Conacher went in there. -Loseis, following, saw him take down a bow, and test -the string.</p> - -<p>“It has hardened some,” he said: “But it will do.”</p> - -<p>Loseis, getting the idea, smiled. “But would they -dare to come out and get it?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“Oh, curiosity is a strong motive,” said Conacher. -“And anyway, I have suspected every night that they -came part way across the square at the darkest time -before the moon comes up, to make sure that we -didn’t slip out.”</p> - -<p>They sat down to concoct the letter. “You must -write it,” said Conacher. “It would be more effective.”</p> - -<p>After a couple of hours’ work and many drafts, -they produced the following:</p> - -<div class='blockquote'> - -<p class='noindent'>“<span class='sc'>To Gault</span>:</p> - -<p>“Why do you torture me so? I have never harmed -you. Mary-Lou died the first night, and we buried her -under the floor. Our water is gone. Conacher is acting -so strangely I am afraid of what he may do. He -doesn’t know I am writing this. I will shoot it over -to you while he sleeps. If there is any decency or -mercy in your heart let me see you ride away from -this place to-morrow. I cannot stand this any longer.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:2em;'>“<span class='sc'>Laurentia Blackburn.</span>”</p> - -</div> - -<p>Conacher and Loseis smiled grimly over this effusion. -But Loseis quickly frowned.</p> - -<p>“I cannot bear to have him think I would whine for -mercy like that,” she murmured.</p> - -<p>“Yes, but think of the pleasure of fooling him -later,” Conacher pointed out.</p> - -<p>To send their letter they chose a moment after sunset, -while there was still light enough to aim it. -Throwing open the door, they all stood back on the -chance of receiving a bullet from across the way: but -their enemies gave no sign. It fell to Loseis’ part to -dispatch the letter, since she was accustomed to handling -the bow and arrow. The letter had been fastened -around the shaft with a thread. After waiting a -moment or two, Loseis took up her stand far enough -back from the door so that she could not possibly be -seen. Drawing the bow-string to her ear, she let it -twang. The arrow sped across the open space, and -stuck fast in the wall of the men’s house, a few -inches from the door. Conacher slammed their door -shut.</p> - -<p>Next morning as soon as it became light, they perceived -that the arrow still remained fixed in the wall. -Their hearts sunk, thinking that their ruse had failed. -But as the light strengthened Loseis’ sharp eyes discovered -that the white band around the shaft was -gone.</p> - -<p>“They have it!” she cried.</p> - -<p>All day long they anxiously watched for any sign -of activity on the part of their enemies. If any reply -had been made to their letter it might have seriously -embarrassed them, but none was made. As the endless, -endless day finally rounded towards its close, -Conacher said grimly:</p> - -<p>“It must be to-night.”</p> - -<p>Loseis nodded.</p> - -<p>They did not take Mary-Lou into their confidence -until the latest possible moment. They supped; and -the dishes were washed. Finally when Conacher began -to lay out the bundles they were to carry, she had -to be told. The mind of the overwrought girl was -distracted by the thought of more danger.</p> - -<p>“Let me stay here,” she moaned. “Let me stay -here and die!”</p> - -<p>“Why die?” said Conacher patiently. “We’re -offering you a chance to live!”</p> - -<p>“I cannot do it!”</p> - -<p>“You have the easiest part of all,” Loseis pointed -out.</p> - -<p>“We have told them that you are dead and buried,” -said Conacher laughing. “Whether they believe it or -not, they’re not going to bother about you until they -catch Loseis and me. We have only got to run from -the door to the corner of the house. There’s not one -chance in a hundred they can get us in that space if -we run abreast. Once around the corner we are out -of range until they can get out of the house.”</p> - -<p>After long persuasion, Mary-Lou agreed to try it.</p> - -<p>“Now listen,” said Conacher, with an appearance -of great cheerfulness; “here’s the plan. At the -corner of the house we divide. Loseis and I run down -to the flat, and strike for my dug-out, while you hit -directly into the woods behind this house. You are to -make your way entirely around the Post by the side -hill, and cross the creek, and make your way as best -you can to the Slavi village. Take your time to it. -If you get there by to-morrow night it will do. When -it is dark to-morrow night take three horses . . .”</p> - -<p>“But not my horse,” put in Loseis. “She is too -well known.”</p> - -<p>“Three horses,” resumed Conacher; “and as much -grub as Tatateecha will let you have. . . .”</p> - -<p>“They have plenty of smoked meat and smoked -fish,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“What place can I appoint for a meeting?” asked -Conacher of Loseis.</p> - -<p>“The Old Wives’ Slough. It is the furthest point -that I have been with my father. About ten miles -west of here, and the same distance north of the Slavi -village.”</p> - -<p>“Have you been there?” Conacher asked Mary-Lou.</p> - -<p>She shook her head.</p> - -<p>“Do you know the North Star?”</p> - -<p>She nodded.</p> - -<p>“Good! Then take the horses and the grub when -it becomes dark to-morrow night, and ride ten miles in -the direction of the North Star to that slough in the -prairie.”</p> - -<p>“There is a trail from the Slavi village,” put in -Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Loseis and I will be waiting for you there,” said -Conacher.</p> - -<p>“In the poplar bluff on the south side of the slough,” -added Loseis.</p> - -<p>“If we are not there,” added Conacher with a smile -for Loseis’ benefit, “why, turn around and ride back -to the Slavi village.”</p> - -<p>Conacher repeated these instructions over again, -and made Mary-Lou say it all after him. Both he and -Loseis feared that in the unnerved red girl they had -but a broken reed to lean upon. However they had -no other. Once clear of that den of horror they hoped -that she might recover herself somewhat.</p> - -<p>Then the packs were made. Each was to take a -blanket with a small package of food rolled up inside -it. In addition Conacher had his gun and an ammunition -belt containing a hundred shells, and a small -cooking-pot packed with matches, tea and tobacco. -Loseis was to take a smaller belt of shells and a small -ax. Mary-Lou was given Conacher’s smaller gun -and ammunition for it. Everything was to be strapped -on their backs, in order to leave both arms free.</p> - -<p>“How shall we know the proper moment to start -out?” asked Loseis.</p> - -<p>“The moon does not rise to-night until after midnight,” -said Conacher. “The darkest time will be -about two hours after sundown. I will mark a -candle and light it when the sun goes down. When it -has burned two inches we will make a break.”</p> - -<p>“That will only give us an hour or so before the -moon comes up.”</p> - -<p>“The first few minutes will decide everything,” he -said, smiling at her.</p> - -<p>They were ready, of course, long before it was time -to set out. Conacher made it his job to keep up the -spirits of his little party. He suggested having another -meal, but no one ate but himself. After that -there was nothing to do but sit down and look at the -candle. Very hard on the nerves. A half a dozen -times Loseis sprang up like a haggard little panther, -crying:</p> - -<p>“It’s perfectly dark. Let’s start.”</p> - -<p>To which Conacher would always reply in his calm -and cheerful style: “No! When you settle on a -thing, you must stick to it.”</p> - -<p>As the candle burned down towards the fateful -mark, the three pairs of eyes were fixed on it in painful -intensity, and three hearts rose slowly into three -throats. The last ten minutes were the hardest.</p> - -<p>“Now!” said Conacher briskly, at last.</p> - -<p>They adjusted their packs. Under her pack Loseis -wore the deflated air pillow fastened between her -shoulders by a harness of twine contrived by Conacher. -Both Loseis and Conacher felt that this might well be -the moment of farewell, but neither spoke of it. It -was all expressed in an exchange of looks. Mary-Lou -was piteously striving to get her breath. Conacher’s -last act before leaving was to throw a pailful of the -precious water on the fire, that no reflection of the -glow might betray them when the door was opened. -The room was filled with hissing steam.</p> - -<p>“Wait a moment,” whispered Conacher in the darkness. -“They might possibly have heard that sound. -Give them time to forget it. . . . Me first, then -Loseis, then Mary-Lou. Take hands. Run like hell -around the corner of the house. . . . I am opening -the door now. . . .”</p> - -<p>They ran out and turned, putting every nerve into it. -Instantly, the guns across the grass roared out. They -heard the twin bullets plug deep into the logs behind -them. The guns crashed again. They gained the -corner of the house unhurt. Immediately the cry of -the coyote was raised not a hundred yards away; almost -in their ears it seemed. It was more human than -coyote. Their enemies were outside the house. Already -they could hear the sound of running feet. -Other cries answered the first one: from the hill behind; -from the ravine; from the river.</p> - -<p>Loseis gave Mary-Lou a gentle push; and the Indian -girl disappeared noiselessly into the bush back of the -house. Conacher and Loseis took hands and raced -down the grassy rise. A voice behind them shouted -in English:</p> - -<p>“There they go!”</p> - -<p>Conacher whispered: “Make first for the creek; -then double back towards the willows!”</p> - -<p>The surface of the natural meadow was rough, and -Conacher went down twice, but was up again like the -recoil of a spring. Loseis had the mysterious sure-footedness -of an Indian. Behind them they heard -their pursuers falling and cursing. Gault’s voice -shouted a command in Cree.</p> - -<p>“He is telling them to make for the creek,” whispered -Loseis.</p> - -<p>When they had almost reached the edge of the -creek bank, they turned sharply to the right, and -headed back obliquely across the flat towards the -point where the dug-out was hidden. They slackened -their pace that they might not betray their whereabouts -by further falls. This maneuver was successful -for the moment. They heard their pursuers halt at -the creek bank. Gault called to men who were evidently -approaching down the bed of the creek.</p> - -<p>The fugitives gained the river bank, and crawling -under the thick willows, presently stumbled on the -dug-out lying in a fissure in the earthen bank. So far -so good. However, they were not unmindful of the -dug-out manned by four Crees somewhere out on the -river; and they waited awhile listening.</p> - -<p>They heard them coming up-stream, paddling at a -furious rate. They passed close to the bank, not half -a dozen yards from where Loseis and Conacher were -crouching. Conacher gave them a minute, then started -to slide the dug-out off the mud.</p> - -<p>“They’ll see us!” whispered Loseis in alarm.</p> - -<p>“Somebody must see us, or we can’t pull off the -double suicide,” said Conacher grimly.</p> - -<p>They launched the dug-out and climbed in. Since -the paddlers in the other dug-out had their backs turned -to them, they could have gained the other shore unseen; -but Conacher headed diagonally up-stream, laying -such a course that they must be at least heard by -those gathered around the mouth of the creek. And -they were heard. A chorus of cries was raised. Conacher -then steered straight for the opposite shore. In -a moment they heard the other dug-out splashing after -them.</p> - -<p>Immediately to the north of the high-cut bank, there -was a smallish flat covered with grass, through the -center of which a tiny stream wound its way to the -river. It was the usual willow-bordered rivulet flowing -quite deep between overhanging banks, which were -held from caving in by the roots of the thickly springing -willows. The branches of the willows interlaced -overhead. This muskrat-haunted stream was an important -factor in the plans of the fugitives; but they -were not ready to use it yet.</p> - -<p>Conacher landed alongside its mouth. The instant -the nose of the dug-out touched, they were out. -The other dug-out was already half way across the -river. They raced through the grass alongside the -willow-bordered stream, slipping out of their packs as -they ran. A hundred yards or so from the river, Conacher -took both packs and boring through the outer -willows, tied the packs to branches overhanging the -little stream.</p> - -<p>Returning to Loseis, they doubled on their tracks, -and ran for the steep grassy rise which culminated in -the bold knoll where the two graves were. The Crees, -having just landed, were stumbling through the grass -at a loss. Presently the fugitives were seen, as they -wished to be. With renewed cries to their friends -across the river, the Crees set after them. Gault’s -roaring voice was heard from the river.</p> - -<p>“They told him that we were running up the hill,” -whispered Loseis; “and he’s telling them to work -around back, and head us off on top.”</p> - -<p>“We may take our time then,” said Conacher, falling -to a walk.</p> - -<p>On top of the knoll they came to a stand. The little -enclosure containing the two graves was behind them; -and behind that again, the grove of pines. On either -side the ground sloped steeply down, and in front it -broke off into nothingness.</p> - -<p>“Well, here we are,” said Conacher lightly; “that -was easy!”</p> - -<p>“The hardest is before us,” murmured Loseis.</p> - -<p>Stepping to the edge of the cut-bank, they looked -over. The precipitous slide of earth, almost as pale -as snow at their feet, was gradually swallowed in the -murk. The fact that they could not see the bottom of -it, made the leap appear doubly terrible.</p> - -<p>“Does your heart fail you, dear?” murmured Conacher.</p> - -<p>“Not as long as you are beside me,” she whispered.</p> - -<p>“Remember to let yourself go limp when you hit the -dirt,” he said. “Gravity will do the rest. I’ll be there -before you, because I’m heavier.”</p> - -<p>He blew up the little air cushion that was strapped -to her back.</p> - -<p>They could hear the Crees working around the -north side of the hill. It was evidently expected that -the fugitives meant to run back along the top of the -ridge. Below them the river revealed itself merely as -a grayish band, a shade or two lighter than its shores. -They could just make out the disturbance created by -two furiously driven bark canoes about to land below. -These had headed for the south side of the hill. -There was some underbrush on that side; and when -the occupants landed they could be heard smashing -through it. They were evidently working up that side -with the object of coming in touch with the other -party.</p> - -<p>“This is better than I could have hoped for,” said -Conacher cheerfully. “We have got them all on the -hill.”</p> - -<p>“Is it time to go now?” asked Loseis nervously.</p> - -<p>“No! No! Wait until they are right on top of -us.”</p> - -<p>Somewhere back of them the two parties met on top -of the ridge. There was a whispered consultation, -then a silence, very hard for the listeners to bear. -Conacher held Loseis’ hand tightly squeezed within -his own. Up there under the wide spreading night -sky they became queerly aware of their insignificance. -A long silence; then from half a dozen sounds their -sharpened senses informed them that their enemies -were creeping towards them through the pines.</p> - -<p>Loseis caught her breath sharply, and moved towards -the edge.</p> - -<p>“Steady, sweetheart,” whispered Conacher.</p> - -<p>Suddenly there was an astonished cry of: “There!” -and a rush of feet.</p> - -<p>Loseis and Conacher cried out wildly, as they had -rehearsed together: “Good-by! . . . Good-by, all!” -And leaped.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='255' id='Page_255'></span><h1>CHAPTER XXII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE SEARCH</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>L</span>oseis</span> could never have described the sensations -of that mad roll down the cut-bank. As a matter -of fact all sensation was whirled clean out of her; and -the first thing she knew was the mighty smack with -which her body hit the water. Water it seemed could -be almost as hard as wood. She went under.</p> - -<p>As she rose again, gasping and wildly reaching, her -fingers came in contact with Conacher’s coat. In the -first second she clutched him in a deathlike grip; in the -second she remembered he had told her they would -both drown, if she did so; and she released him. She -discovered that the air cushion was sufficient to hold -her up.</p> - -<p>Conacher whispered in her ear: “You are all right?”</p> - -<p>“I . . . I think so,” she stuttered.</p> - -<p>“Put your two hands lightly on my shoulders and I’ll -tow you. Do not splash.”</p> - -<p>He swam softly down with the current.</p> - -<p>In the first moment there was only silence from -above. Then they heard Gault’s excited voice:</p> - -<p>“Quick! the canoes! Search for them in the river!”</p> - -<p>The men came tearing pell-mell down the hill, and -Conacher swam with all his strength for the mouth of -the little stream.</p> - -<p>They gained it none too soon. Finding firm ground -underfoot they waded up-stream under the arching willows. -The water was up to their waists. They had to -move at a snail’s pace to avoid splashing. As soon as -the upper part of their bodies was exposed to the air, -they realized the numbing cold of the water. Loseis -clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the two dug-outs had been launched. -The men shouted confusedly at each other. Such a -search was hopeless in the dark. They could hear -Gault savagely cursing his men. It was quite clear -that he was not bent upon rescuing the two, but upon -making sure that they did not escape. The voices -softened in the distance, as the current carried the -dug-outs down. Conacher and Loseis could now permit -themselves to move faster through the water.</p> - -<p>Conacher drew Loseis along with one hand, and -held the other straight over his head as they proceeded -through the dark tunnel. An exclamation of satisfaction -escaped him as his hand came in contact with the -hanging packs. He took them down. A short distance -further along there was a break in the willows -on the right-hand side, and a back-water whence they -climbed out in the grass. Streaming with water, they -set off at a jog trot to warm up.</p> - -<p>The voices of Gault and the Crees were still receding. -Simultaneously it occurred to Conacher and -Loseis that they could now permit themselves to hope. -Stopping, they flew into each other’s arms. It was a -moist embrace, but none the less rapturous. After the -frightful strain of the past days, the reaction was unnerving. -In their joy and relief, they both partly -broke down; but neither was ashamed of showing -emotion.</p> - -<p>“Oh, my Paul!” murmured Loseis. “Perhaps we -are going to be happy after all!”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps?” cried Conacher. “I should like to see -anybody stop us now?”</p> - -<p>He was not, however, quite so sure as all that.</p> - -<p>The river flat gradually narrowed down to the typical -coulee of the prairies, with the little stream running -in the bottom. As the ground began to rise, the -willows ceased, and the way became rough and stony. -Conacher struck obliquely up the steep side of the -coulee to find better going over the prairie. The moon -rose as they gained the upper level, throwing a strange -misty glamour over that vast, fixed, rolling sea. They -pressed briskly ahead through the short buffalo grass -which did not impede the feet, keeping the North Star -over their right shoulders. Their clothes dried slowly; -but the exercise of walking kept them warm.</p> - -<p>Their hearts were light. The awful bare solitudes, -rise behind rise in endless succession, and the deathlike -silence had no power to oppress them now. How -could they feel lonely walking hand in hand free under -the sky? Day stole upon them with enchanting beauty. -The prairie was sprinkled with wild roses and the rose -madder flower that is called painter’s brush. Prairie -chickens fluttered from bush to bush companionably; -and little furry four-footed creatures scurried for the -shelter of their holes. Loseis sang as she walked; and -Conacher cracked his jokes.</p> - -<p>The sun was rising behind them as they came to the -edge of a wide, saucer-like depression in the prairie, -holding in the bottom an oval pond of an astonishing -blueness. It was dotted with snowy water fowl. -All the surrounding country dimpled like a vast cheek -in smooth rounds and hollows, was mantled with a -tender green, grayish in the shadows. At the left -hand side of the lake grew a wide patch of poplar -scrub; that is to say, thousands of little saplings growing -as thick as hair, and putting forth leaves of so intense -a green it was like a shout in the morning. The -whole picture was washed with rose color in the horizontal -rays of the rising sun.</p> - -<p>Loseis drew a long breath. “I never realized -how beautiful the prairie was!” she murmured. “It -never was so beautiful,” she amended, putting her -hand on Conacher’s arm. “How marvelous to one -who has been a prisoner! Even if they should catch -us we shall have had this!”</p> - -<p>“They’re not going to catch us,” said Conacher. -“Not while I have a hundred shells in my belt.”</p> - -<p>Loseis pointed to the poplar scrub. “That’s the -meeting place with Mary-Lou to-night.”</p> - -<p>“Too bad we have to waste the day waiting for -her,” said Conacher. “We won’t hang about there, -it’s too obvious a hiding-place. The high ground on the -other side would be a good observation post. Tired?”</p> - -<p>“Tired!” sang Loseis. “I am just beginning to feel -that I have legs again!”</p> - -<p>They headed obliquely across the depression towards -a swell of land to the south that enjoyed a slight -prominence in the gently rolling sea of grass. The -flat appearance of the prairie was deceptive. Some of -these insignificant bumps commanded a view for many -miles.</p> - -<p>Tucked down behind the rise they found a cozy -hollow with another patch of the vivid poplar scrub. -They sat down at the edge of it to eat part of the -food they had brought.</p> - -<p>While they were thus engaged, silently and with excellent -appetite, a brown bear came ambling placidly -out from among the saplings. He looked at them -with a start of astonishment so comic that Loseis -burst out laughing; then with a great “Woof!” of indignation -galloped away up the rise.</p> - -<p>Conacher had snatched up his gun. “Fresh meat!” -he cried. But with a reluctant shake of his head, he -dropped it again.</p> - -<p>“Why not?” asked Loseis.</p> - -<p>“If we are searched for, the carcass would be -found.”</p> - -<p>When they had finished eating, Conacher said: “I’m -sorry I cannot let you have a fire; but the smoke would -betray us for many miles around. Creep in among the -trees; take off your damp clothes; wrap up in your -blanket and sleep until I call you.”</p> - -<p>“What are you going to do?” demanded Loseis, -ready to quarrel with him as usual over who should -bear the brunt of the hardship.</p> - -<p>“I’m going to roll up and sleep at the top of the -rise behind a rose bush,” said Conacher grinning. “If -they send out a search party they may be expected to -appear in about two hours.”</p> - -<p>“You are always talking about their searching for -us,” said Loseis. “If Gault thinks we are dead he will -not look for us. If he thinks we are not dead, we are -certain to be caught in these empty spaces. Why -worry?”</p> - -<p>“There is a third alternative,” said Conacher. -“Gault thinks we are dead, but he cannot afford to -take any chances. It seems to me he will send out a -party to scour the prairie just as a precaution. It is -up to us to keep out of their way until they are satisfied. -It won’t be as bad as if they <span class='it'>knew</span> we were -here.”</p> - -<p>Loseis wished to be allowed to watch from the top -of the rise, but Conacher carried his point.</p> - -<p>From behind the clump of roses that he had marked -on the way over, Conacher was able to survey an expanse -of country that faded into gray mist on the horizon. -He slept for awhile as he had promised. It -was about nine o’clock by the sun, when he perceived -the first horseman, no more than a black dot far to the -eastward; but a significantly shaped dot. Presently -he made out another, and another at wide intervals. -The nearest was about four miles distant.</p> - -<p>Racing back down the rise, he called to Loseis. -When she answered, he said: “Dress as quickly as -possible. We must move on.”</p> - -<p>When she appeared from among the trees, he explained -what he had seen. “Unless I miss my guess,” -he said, “they will divide and ride around the high -ground surrounding the slough until they meet again. -That would bring us right in their line of march. We -must get over another rise. You can see that they are -combing the country as they come. What we ought to -do is to work around behind them.”</p> - -<p>Hand in hand like a pair of children they headed -south, bent almost double as they climbed the rises, -and racing free down the other side. When they had -put a couple of heights between them and the slough, -they began to work around towards the east. The -prairie is not such a desperate place for fugitives as it -might seem. It is true that from the high places you -can see for many miles around: but there are always -hollows into which you cannot see until you are upon -them. At a glance it seems as if the bubbles of earth -had been pushed up in meaningless disorder; but such -is not the case. Nature sees to it that the country is -drained. Every hollow opens into another. Conacher -had the mapmaker’s instinct for the contour of -land, and he was never in doubt as to their proper -course. At the same time while they were hidden -from their enemies their enemies were hidden from -them. It caused the heart to rise in the throat to -imagine a horseman suddenly appearing over the grass -close by.</p> - -<p>After an hour’s walking and running, they came -upon a good-sized patch of rose scrub folded into the -side of a rise. Conacher stopped to survey it.</p> - -<p>“A perfect hiding-place if you lay flat on the -ground,” he said; “yet no one would suppose it. Come -on, let’s tackle the thorns.”</p> - -<p>Inch by inch they threaded their painful way along -the ground; careful to rearrange the branches they -had disturbed upon entering; and cutting with their -knives a little tunnel ahead. Finally in the thickest -of the patch they lay companionably on the warm, dry -ground within whispering distance of each other, and -lapped in delicious fragrance. Themselves concealed, -they could see out more or less through interstices between -the leaves.</p> - -<p>“One could fall asleep here, and dream of being in -Paradise,” said Loseis, sniffing.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Conacher, disengaging a thorn; “and -roll over and find one’s self in the other place!”</p> - -<p>They both dozed, and were awakened simultaneously -by the sound of thudding hoofs. They waited -with fast-beating hearts. A dark-skinned horseman -rode into view along the top of the very rise against -whose side they lay. He was less than a hundred -yards away; they could distinguish every detail of -his somewhat dandified dress.</p> - -<p>“Watusk,” whispered Loseis.</p> - -<p>At sight of the patch of scrub, the Cree reined up -his horse, and sat staring directly at them. It caused -the goose-flesh to rise upon their bodies; their hearts -seemed to stop beating. With infinite caution Conacher -drew his gun into position.</p> - -<p>“The horse first; then his rider,” he whispered.</p> - -<p>But after debating a moment, the Cree clapped heels -to his horse, and rode on. Presently he disappeared. -A long breath of thankfulness escaped from the two -hidden ones.</p> - -<p>“He will never know how nearly his wife became a -widow,” said Conacher.</p> - -<p>“Well, they’ve checked this place off,” said Loseis. -“Shall we stay here?”</p> - -<p>Conacher shook his head. “This will be his second -big circle around the slough,” he said. “If he repeats -the maneuver he will pass to the south of us. I don’t -like the notion of being hemmed in. We’ve got to -think of to-night. If they are making the slough their -headquarters they will camp there. Unless we head -Mary-Lou off she would ride right into them.”</p> - -<p>“We must be close upon the trail between the Slavi -village and the slough,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“But we’re still too near the slough. We must -make further south.”</p> - -<p>Once more they took to the grass. For several -hours they saw no more of the searchers. They made -their last spell in a poplar bluff (as the patches of -scrub are called) overlooking the trail between the -lake and the slough, but much nearer the former.</p> - -<p>They had not been there long when they were filled -with disquietude by the sight of another of the Crees -approaching from the direction of the Slavi village.</p> - -<p>“He’s been in to look about,” said Conacher. -“Natural enough.” As the man drew closer he added -with a certain relief: “He doesn’t look as if he had -discovered anything important. I guess Mary-Lou -has side-stepped him.”</p> - -<p>Their thoughts were given a sudden new turn, when -the Cree turning out of the trail, put his horse directly -for the bluff, Conacher and Loseis hastily retreated -within the thickest part of the miniature wood. The -Cree could not ride in among the little trees. Dismounting, -he tied his horse.</p> - -<p>Then began a grim game of I Spy with death for -the stakes. Conacher and Loseis enjoyed a certain -advantage, because they were aware of their danger, -while the redskin was not. He was merely following -general instructions to search all likely places of concealment. -He was taking no particular care to muffle -the sound of his progress, and they could generally -follow it. When he went one way they went the other. -But there were harrowing periods when they could -hear nothing. The bluff was over an acre in extent, -and it was impossible to see more than half a dozen -yards through the thickly springing stems. Once he -caught them in a corner, and they were almost forced -out into the open. Another time they actually had a -glimpse of his passing. They stood frozen in their -tracks. With what thankful hearts they heard him -return to his horse at last. They flung themselves -down to let the hideous strain relax.</p> - -<p>They ate again. Satisfied now, that they had done -their utmost, they rolled up in their blankets, and slept -for eight hours on end. It was twilight when they -awoke. They ate the last of the food they had -brought.</p> - -<p>“It will be prairie chicken for breakfast if Mary-Lou -doesn’t come,” remarked Conacher.</p> - -<p>“She will come if they have not taken her,” said -Loseis confidently.</p> - -<p>“What I am chiefly afraid of,” said Conacher, “is -that she will pass right out with fright when we rise -beside the trail.”</p> - -<p>“When we were children we used to signal to each -other by imitating the cry of the kill-dee,” said Loseis. -“I will try that.”</p> - -<p>When the stars came out they moved down beside -the faint track worn in the buffalo grass. Conacher, -pulling his blanket around his shoulders, squatted in -the grass, smoking, and Loseis leaned her cheek -against his shoulder.</p> - -<p>“How strange!” she murmured.</p> - -<p>“What is, sweetheart?”</p> - -<p>“Us two little things out here in the middle of the -bald-headed. I feel about an inch high under these -stars.”</p> - -<p>“Better than last night,” suggested Conacher.</p> - -<p>“Rather! . . . Paul, if we ever have any children, -I wonder if this will mean anything to them?”</p> - -<p>Conacher was more moved than he cared to show. -Loseis, scarcely more than a child herself, dreaming -of having children of her own! “Surely!” he said -with assumed lightness. “Think how they’ll be able -to put it over the other kids! ‘My Ma and my Pa -were chased by Injuns!’ ”</p> - -<p>Loseis chuckled. “If we come through all right -it will be a wonderful thing to have shared,” she murmured. -“It will help us over the tiresome parts.”</p> - -<p>“You’re a wise little duck!” he whispered.</p> - -<p>“Why?”</p> - -<p>“Other girls refuse to admit beforehand that there -could be any tiresome parts.”</p> - -<p>“How do you know?” she asked quickly.</p> - -<p>He swallowed his chuckle. “Oh, you learn these -things from books, and from other men,” he said.</p> - -<p>“I know that I shall not be marrying an angel,” she -said, nestling against him; “and I assure you that you -are not.”</p> - -<p>“Angel enough for me!” he said, kissing her.</p> - -<p>There was a vibration in the stillness. At first they -thought it was a trick of the desirous imagination; -then by degrees they became sure. Horses were approaching -along the trail at a walk. The slowness of -the pace was eloquent of the red girl’s terrors, and of -the loyalty and strength of will that forced her out -into the night in spite of her terrors. Conacher and -Loseis rose to their feet.</p> - -<p>Finally they made out shadowy forms in the trail. -Loseis uttered the plaintive cry of the little bird that -haunts the edges of the prairie sloughs. The shadowy -horses stopped. There was a moment of painful suspense. -It was not a natural place, of course, to find -the kill-dee.</p> - -<p>“Risk it!” whispered Conacher. “Speak to her!”</p> - -<p>“Mary-Lou,” said Loseis softly; “we are here!”</p> - -<p>There was no answer. They apprehended through -the dark that the solitary rider had slipped out of the -saddle. Running forward they found her half fainting, -but clinging to the horses still.</p> - -<p>She quickly recovered. Ah! what a joyful reunion -that was! Sharers in danger!—there is no other -bond quite the same as this. They all babbled at once. -Loseis and Mary-Lou clung to each other weeping; -Conacher embraced them both indiscriminately.</p> - -<p>“I so scare’!” Mary-Lou whispered in Loseis’ ear. -“I know the Crees out here somewhere. I t’ink they -get you sure. But I got come jus’ the same. When -I see you in the trail I t’ink it is the Crees. I am near -die then!”</p> - -<p>“You’re the bravest of any of us!” whispered -Loseis. “Because you know what fear is!”</p> - -<p>While the girls whispered Conacher turned his attention -to the horses. Mary-Lou had brought the -best procurable, and he was well-pleased. She had -brought a fair store of smoked meat and fish also, but -not enough to see them through, of course.</p> - -<p>“Tatateecha t’ink I lyin’ till he see me start,” she -explained.</p> - -<p>“Let us ride,” said Conacher. “We can talk as we -go.”</p> - -<p>They mounted. The horses were still fresh and -coquettish with the bit. What a delight it was to feel -good horseflesh between the knees once more. Their -breasts swelled with renewed hope.</p> - -<p>“Which way?” asked Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Southwest,” said Conacher; “because that is the -direction they would least expect us to take. At daylight -we’ll turn, and lay our proper course northwest. -Save your horses.”</p> - -<p>They set off at an easy trot. When the horses -settled to their work, they let the reins lie loose on -their necks. It was safest to let these prairie-bred -beasts choose their own footing. Now the North Star -must be kept over the horse’s right flank. Conacher -chose a bright star in the southwest for a beacon. As -they rode they exchanged experiences. Mary-Lou -said:</p> - -<p>“Las’ night all the Crees around the post is after -you, so I have no trouble. I walk around the side -of the hill, and cross the creek, and climb the ridge. -I hide in the bush till daylight. I hear you cry: -‘Good-by! Good-by!’ across the river. That cry it -hurt my heart though I know it is a fool. I t’ink -maybe you break a leg on the cut-bank. In the morning -I see where some Crees is camp beside the trail, -and I go around them. Then I go back to the trail -and run to the Slavi village. I am there before the -sun is half way up the sky. I sleep long.”</p> - -<p>“What did you do when the Cree came in?” asked -Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Wah! He come down from the prairie when nobody -is lookin’ that way. All are scare’! I snatch up -a shawl and put it over my head like the ot’er women. -I stay with the ot’er women. He not know me. Bam-bye -he go back again.”</p> - -<p>The course they were following led them roughly -parallel with Blackburn’s Lake. When the moon rose -they could see it palely gleaming in the distance. It -was an exhilarating ride; the wind created by their -own passage blew cool about their faces; the exercise -of riding kept them tingling. With every additional -mile that they put between them and their enemies -their hearts rose. Conacher attempted to sing. But -though there was no danger in raising the voice here, -the great brooding silence was too much for him. In -spite of themselves they talked in undertones.</p> - -<p>Just before dawn they spelled alongside a poplar -bluff to allow the horses to graze. Here the humans -enjoyed the luxury of a fire again, and the stimulus -of hot food. Though the meal was only of smoked -fish without sauce or bread, such a complete sense of -comfort is not to be had under civilized conditions. -They groaned at the necessity of breaking camp.</p> - -<p>After a two-hour rest they saddled, and turned at -right angles to their former course. The sun had -risen in a cloudless sky, and the air was like wine. At -mid-morning they calculated that they were abreast -of Old Wives’ Slough again, but now many miles to -the westward. Coming to another sapphire-colored -slough lying under a rather prominent rise to the -eastward, which had a well-grown poplar bluff on its -slope, Conacher called a halt for the balance of the -day.</p> - -<p>“We need sleep,” he said; “moreover it is just possible -if they ride west to-day, that they might catch -sight of us from some height or another. The horses -will be well hidden alongside the bluff yonder.”</p> - -<p>Picketing the horses to keep them from straying, -they ate again. On this occasion Loseis insisted on being -allowed to stand the first watch; and Conacher -dispatched her to the top of the rise, while he rolled -up in his blanket.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon he relieved her. From the top of -the rise it was evident that this was the highest point -in many miles around. To Conacher lying in the grass -smoking, it seemed as if half the world was spread -before him. In that crystal clearness he could even -trace the line of the valley of Blackburn’s River. The -easterly horizon was closed in by the land rising on -the other side of the river. The pale green sea of the -prairie between was always the same, and never quite -the same. Apparently every yard of it was open to -his vision; but Conacher knew from past experience -that this was not so. Every swell of the land melted -so softly into the swell beyond that one could not -guess the hollow between. Conacher remembered the -old-time stories of how the Indians could steal up on -the wagon-trains camped in the open prairie.</p> - -<p>As if evoked by that thought he saw Indians riding -towards him then. It was what he was looking for and -least desired to see. He glimpsed them as they crossed -a hollow; a moment later they trotted over a little -rise. There were three of them, they were less than -a mile away; they were heading directly for the spot -where he lay. This time an encounter could not be -avoided. All his high hopes came tumbling down like -a house of cards.</p> - -<p>Conacher ran down the hill to alarm his camp. -There was no time to ride away. Best for them to -keep the shelter they had. A word told Loseis and -Mary-Lou what was upon them. They led the horses -close up behind the bluff of trees, and tied them. They -scattered the remaining embers of the fire, and beat -them out. Conacher and Loseis took up a position -within the trees facing the summit of the rise, gun in -hand. The girl’s face was pale and resolute.</p> - -<p>“I can shoot straight, too,” she said quietly.</p> - -<p>They waited.</p> - -<p>“All three of them are together now,” said Conacher. -“We must get them all. And their horses too. -If we get them all it will be some time before Gault -learns what has happened. We will still have a -chance.”</p> - -<p>The three horsemen appeared at the top of the -rise, and reined up. They were quite at their ease. -Each slung a leg over his saddle to rest, and produced -a pipe. There they stayed, silhouetted against -the tender blue sky. One had a pair of field-glasses -which was passed from hand to hand. Conacher and -Loseis instinctively drew back a little further amongst -the saplings. Suddenly the horses behind them -whinnied; and Conacher groaned in bitterness of -spirit.</p> - -<p>However, at that moment a small troop of wild -horses appeared out of a depression to the north. -Led by a bay stallion with arched neck and streaming -tail, they trotted past. In the chorus of neighing and -whinnying which arose, the sounds made by Conacher’s -horses escaped the notice of the Crees.</p> - -<p>After what seemed like an age-long wait to the -watchers hidden in the poplars, the three Indians -slipped out of their saddles, tightened girths and -mounted again.</p> - -<p>“Now for it!” whispered Conacher. “Do not fire -until they are within a hundred feet. Bring down the -horses first. You take the piebald and I’ll take the -other two.”</p> - -<p>But to their amazement and delight the riders -wheeled and disappeared the way they had come. For -a moment they stared at the empty place with hanging -mouths. Then Conacher made as if to run out from -among the trees. Loseis clutched him.</p> - -<p>“It may be a trick!” she gasped.</p> - -<p>They waited several minutes, not daring to rejoice -yet.</p> - -<p>“I <span class='it'>must</span> go look!” said Conacher. “I must know -what they are doing.”</p> - -<p>Loseis made no further effort to restrain him; and -he ran up to the top of the rise, and flung himself -down. At first he could see nothing but grass. Then -the three riders rose mysteriously out of the grass, -trotting away as they had come; showing their backs -. . . their <span class='it'>backs</span>! Conacher nearly choked with joy. -He waited awhile yet to make doubly sure. They disappeared -and appeared again, holding steadily to the -east. They shrank to mere specks in the green sea.</p> - -<p>Conacher leaped to his feet, and charged back down -the hill, yelling and brandishing his gun. Loseis -snatched up her gun warily. Not until he came close -did she comprehend that this was a pantomime of joy. -He swept her clean off her feet in his embrace.</p> - -<p>“They’ve gone back!” he shouted. “This was the -outer edge of their patrol. They’ve given up the -search! After this we’ve got nothing to contend with -but nature!”</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='273' id='Page_273'></span><h1>CHAPTER XXIII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>HUNGER</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>N</span>ature! They</span> were to discover during the days -that followed that she was no mean antagonist. -At first everything went delightfully; the sun warmed -and cheered them by day; the stars whispered at night. -The moon was swallowed up in the dawn now. On -the shortest night of the year there was scarcely any -darkness; then the nights began to lengthen imperceptibly. -They rode and spelled and rode again. -They built great fires. The character of the country -never changed. The sea of green grass seemed to be -limitless.</p> - -<p>On the third day the horse that Conacher rode sickened -mysteriously. On the following morning it was -incapable of bearing him. Loseis shook her head ominously.</p> - -<p>“It is a sort of distemper that attacks them in the -summer,” she said. “He will be sick for weeks. We -might as well leave him. The others may catch it -from him.”</p> - -<p>So Conacher was obliged to set out on foot. The -sick horse screamed piteously upon being left behind; -and attempted to follow; but fell down in the grass, -where he lay struggling feebly and watching them with -raised head until they passed out of sight. They could -not now hope to make more than thirty or forty miles -a day, though all took turns in riding. And still there -was no suggestion of their approach to a great river. -The prairie rolled on as before. As far as Conacher -could tell they had not yet even passed the crown of -the watershed. They all had their sickening moments -of doubt. Suppose there was no river?</p> - -<p>Loseis’ worst prognostications were fulfilled. The -other two horses sickened. By the sixth day they were -all on foot. Mary-Lou’s moccasins wore through; -and they had nothing out of which to make new ones. -Fortunately both Loseis and Conacher wore boots. -The prairie which looked so smooth made rough walking -for humans, and their progress was cut down, Conacher -figured, to between twenty and twenty-miles [missing or incorrect word] a -day. The eighth day passed without any sign of the -river of promise. Conacher estimated that they had -covered nearly three hundred miles.</p> - -<p>They had met with no game on the prairie except -the ubiquitous chickens. Conacher was averse to -wasting his precious bullets on such small fowl—it is -very easy to miss a prairie chicken with a rifle; consequently -they had depended on the meat and fish -brought by Mary-Lou. On the seventh day it was exhausted, -and they ate chicken. On that miserable -eighth day some bad fairy waved a wand, and the -chicken disappeared from the prairie. During the -entire day Conacher did not obtain a shot. Consequently -they went supperless to bed.</p> - -<p>He was up at sunrise, ranging the prairie while the -girls slept. But with no luck. There was nothing -living in sight except the gophers who gained the -shelter of their burrows ere he could come close enough -to hope to hit them with his clumsy gun. In desperation -he did shoot at gophers at last, only to plug the -earth. When he returned to camp, the girls, having -heard the sound of his gun, awaited him with anticipatory -smiles, and he had the bitterness of showing them -his empty hands. There was no breakfast.</p> - -<p>On this first morning it was easy to turn it into a -joke.</p> - -<p>“Anyway, I’m sick of meat,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“My people lak go ’ongry for awhile,” said Mary-Lou. -“Mak’ the big feed taste better bam-bye.”</p> - -<p>“Well, it’ll save a lot of time,” said Conacher with -a sheepish grin. He felt responsible for their plight.</p> - -<p>They set forth briskly enough; but were very glad -to rest when mid-morning came. All of them were -now feeling very painful gnawings, but they concealed -it from each other. Conacher prowled over the -prairie in vain. They listlessly resumed their march.</p> - -<p>During the course of the afternoon they came unexpectedly -to the lip of a deep coulee with a trickle of -water in the bottom. To Conacher’s dismay it proved -to be flowing in a southerly direction. This was -exactly opposite to what he expected. It was against -all the theories as to the lay of this unexplored land, -and he was ready to despair. However, there was -nothing to do but to keep on the way they were going.</p> - -<p>An hour later they crossed it again. The water -was now flowing north, and Conacher’s mind was -somewhat relieved. Upon this second crossing they -found more water than before in the streamlet, and a -fringe of spruce trees, the first grown trees they had -seen since leaving Blackburn’s River. They also -found, what was more important to them, berry-bushes, -and a patch of wild strawberries. Only the -strawberries were ripe. Before eating any, they carefully -collected them in their little cooking pot, and -scrupulously divided them. There was about a cupful -apiece.</p> - -<p>The berries were deliciously refreshing; but they -seemed to have the effect of still further sharpening -the pangs of hunger. They searched far up and -down the coulee for more, but in vain. It was an isolated -patch of trees and bushes.</p> - -<p>“Let us get on,” Conacher kept urging the girls. -“We must reach a game country before our strength -fails.”</p> - -<p>They wearily climbed the steep side of the coulee to -the endless rolling prairie again, that they now hated. -On this day they suffered a keener pain from hunger -than during the days that followed. All three became -tight-lipped and silent. Their limbs were leaden; and -progress was painfully slow. Twice more they crossed -the coulee. No more trees or berries. It was now -evident that the general course of the little stream -was northwest, which was in line with Conacher’s calculations. -It was undoubtedly a tributary of the big -river they were seeking: but whether the river were -ten miles or a hundred miles further, it was impossible -to tell. It was exasperating in their fatigued condition -to climb in and out of the steep coulee so many times: -but even so they made better time than they could -have done by following it throughout its crazy windings.</p> - -<p>Seeing more spruce trees, they descended into it to -spend the night, but found no berries here. They -heaped a great fire and made themselves soft beds of -spruce boughs: but their empty stomachs refused to be -assuaged by these luxuries. Mary-Lou cut three small -strips from the top of one of her worn-out moccasins, -and boiled them, and handed them around.</p> - -<p>“Chew,” she said. “It will stop the pains anyhow.”</p> - -<p>Afterwards a curious false strength seemed to come -to them. They felt no desire to sleep, but sat up for -hours around their fire under the spruces, talking animatedly -with flushed faces and bright eyes.</p> - -<p>“When I was a kid,” said Conacher, “I had a grand-uncle -in New York, who was a great old high-liver. -Never thought about anything but eats. He knew all -the best restaurants in the city, and what was the -proper thing to order in each place. He took me out -to dinner a couple of times when I was a boy. Once -we went to Delmonico’s. I have never forgotten what -we ate that day. First oysters. I suppose you -don’t know oysters, Loseis. Well, they are the best -eating there is. Slip down your throat like velvet. -Then a thick soup that was called potage Mongole. -God knows what was in it. It was a combination -of all the most delicious flavors you ever knew. -Then there was something that was called Tournedos -Henri Quatre. It was like beef, but it was the sauce -that made all the difference. The French are wizards -for sauces. We ended up with mince pie; good old -American mince pie; and there’s nothing better! Oh, -what a feed that was!”</p> - -<p>“The best thing I ever tasted,” said Loseis vivaciously, -“was roast pig. Three years ago Jim Cornwall -came through from the Crossing with dogs, and -brought my father a little frozen pig on his sled for -Christmas. We thawed him out and roasted him until -his hide crackled. Oh, my dear! the smell alone -would drive you crazy; and the taste was better than -anything in the world. I can taste him now! Do you -member, Mary-Lou?”</p> - -<p>“I remember,” said Mary-Lou, closing her eyes. “I -did taste that pig meat. It was sweeter than young -porcupine; it was sweeter than moose-nose or the back-fat -of caribou; it was sweeter than all meat.”</p> - -<p>“And do you remember?” asked Loseis, “when they -stuck the knife into him how a little stream of juicy -fat ran down?”</p> - -<p>“We soaked it up with bread,” said Mary-Lou.</p> - -<p>The subject was inexhaustible. They discussed it -with anxious, drawn, eager faces. It never occurred -to them to laugh at each other or at themselves. -When they finally slept they dreamed of feasting.</p> - -<p>Another day of misery followed no different from -the day before, except that the pangs of hunger were -less sharp and more enervating. It was hard to keep -walking. It nearly broke Conacher’s heart to see the -boyish Loseis pressing on with set face, quite unconscious -of how she was staggering in her tracks. He -took the second gun from her. She fought like a little -spitfire to regain it, weeping out of anger and weakness. -Her anger smoldered all the rest of the day, -making the way even more bitter. Mary-Lou stood -starvation better than either of the whites. They -found another tantalizing patch of berries; and wasted -hours looking for more. As on the night before, -their supper consisted of a small strip of boiled hide -apiece.</p> - -<p>On the third day of starvation it seemed a wonder -that they were able to move at all. Nevertheless they -staggered on for a few miles. To add to their miseries -it rained copiously; and their blankets soaked up some -additional pounds of water. All day a division existed -between Conacher and Loseis that was harder to bear -than starvation. It was due to nothing in the world -but compassion. It made each tender heart rage to -behold the misery of the other. Especially Conacher’s, -because he told himself that no woman ought -to be subjected to such an ordeal. He supposed from -Loseis’ black looks that she was blaming him for having -led her into this, and he was ready to blow his -brains out.</p> - -<p>The little stream having received a tributary from -the south, flowed with increased speed and volume. It -now held a fairly straight course for the northwest; -and it became evident that the whole country was -sloping gently in that direction. The walls of the -coulee gradually became higher; in the bottom it was -now continuously wooded; but they felt too weak to -climb down for a few berries. These changes in the -country suggested that they were approaching the bottom -of the watershed, and at midday from a rise in -the prairie, Conacher at last beheld a blue shadow -athwart the westerly horizon which indicated the valley -of a considerable river. It seemed like a mockery -now. It was a good twenty-five miles distant, and in -their weakened state that was half a world away.</p> - -<p>At the end of the day they made a detour from the -coulee to visit a small slough and a poplar bluff that -they had marked from a rise. It was a likely place -to find bear. There was no bear, but the water of the -slough was sweet, and they determined to spend the -night in that spot. Will it be our last camp? Conacher -thought with dread in his heart. The sky was -still threatening, and he constructed an inclined thatch -of poplar leaves, with a fire in front for the girls. -They chewed their strips of boiled hide. This finished -one moccasin, except for the ragged lower part, that -Mary-Lou had bound round her foot. Afterwards, -when Loseis, with a cold face, turned to seek her blanket, -Conacher felt that he could bear no more.</p> - -<p>“Loseis . . . !” he murmured heart-brokenly.</p> - -<p>Mary-Lou vanished away amongst the little trees.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked Loseis coldly.</p> - -<p>“I cannot bear it . . . !”</p> - -<p>“What?”</p> - -<p>“Your look! . . . Forgive me!”</p> - -<p>“For what must I forgive you?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. Whatever it is that I have done -that angers you. For getting you into this scrape.”</p> - -<p>Her face looked very small and pinched. It worked -curiously with anger. Her voice came unnaturally -sharp: “Forgive you! What sort of talk is this? -Are you trying to make me feel worse than I feel -already? Aren’t you satisfied with doing most of the -work, and walking twice as far to hunt, and carrying -a double load, but you must make me feel what a burden -I am by asking me to forgive you!”</p> - -<p>He only dimly understood the torment of this -proud nature. “But Loseis . . . !” he protested, -staring, “this is foolishness . . . !”</p> - -<p>“Of course! of course! of course! I am a fool! -That is well understood!”</p> - -<p>“Listen to me,” he said doggedly. “You say I -carry too heavy a burden. Why add to it with your -cold and angry looks? The weight of two guns is -nothing to me. It is your hard eyes that break me -down.”</p> - -<p>Loseis’ reply was to burst into tears.</p> - -<p>He took her in his arms. “Don’t you love me any -more?” he whispered.</p> - -<p>She crept within his arms, but she abused him still. -“You fool! it is because I love you so, that I am always -angry. It drives me wild to think that I should -spoil the life of a man like you!”</p> - -<p>“But that’s nonsense!” said Conacher. “I am nothing -in particular. A man only has one life. How could -he spend it better? We shall go together. What else -matters . . . Don’t you feel better now?”</p> - -<p>“A little bit,” she admitted. “But to-morrow I shall -be angry with you again. You are too good and patient. -If you turned hateful I should feel better. It -would even things up a little.”</p> - -<p>“You’re a funny one!” he murmured.</p> - -<p>However, the air <span class='it'>was</span> cleared; and they rolled up in -their blankets with a bit of comfort at their hearts.</p> - -<p>When Conacher awoke next morning a light rain -was drifting down. He pulled his blanket closer -around him. Lying there like that one did not suffer; -it was warm; the pangs of hunger did not make themselves -felt; a comfortable numbness filled the frame. -But the thought of getting up was hideous. For a -long time he lay struggling with it. Useless for him to -tell himself that he was the head of the party; the -girls were dependent on him; it was up to him to find -them food; he felt that he <span class='it'>could not</span> get up; the effort -was too great.</p> - -<p>In the end he had to get up. The first few moments -were the worst. He stood in the rain, swaying and -nauseated, a black mist swimming before his eyes. -Each morning it was much worse. If he could conquer -this first weakness, he could go on through the day—but -to-morrow morning! He shook that thought -away. He forced himself to walk up and down, supporting -himself by the little trees. After awhile he -felt better. Picking up his gun, he started on his hopeless -circuit of the bluff.</p> - -<p>He paused in front of the little shelter he had -constructed for the girls. They slept. Loseis was -lying with her head pillowed on Mary-Lou’s shoulder -like a child. In her weakness she looked entirely -the child, the sick child. At the sight of those transparent -cheeks and bluish eyelids, Conacher’s breast -was wrung with agony. The worst of overcoming -the physical weakness was, that one then began to -think again, with horrible clearness. How could he -ask this exhausted child to go on any further? She -was dearer to him than his life. Would it not be -kinder to end her sufferings while she slept? She -opened her eyes, and smiled at him enchantingly. -That smile capped his agony. Swallowing the groan -that was forced up by his breast, he smiled back, and -staggered on.</p> - -<p>Like all the prairie sloughs, this one lay in a dish-like -depression surrounded by a shallow rim of grass. -Conacher had made half his round of the bluff, when -over this rim at a distance of about a hundred yards -appeared a lumbering black body of an astonishing -bigness. For an instant he thought his senses were -failing him; he began to tremble violently; but he -quickly realized that it was a veritable bear. A bear’s -eye-sight is not very keen, and the animal had not -seen him. He drew back amongst the little trees, -struggling to control his excitement. You <span class='it'>can not</span> miss -him! he kept telling himself.</p> - -<p>The bear was evidently making for the bluff to -breakfast off poplar bark. Conacher realized with a -pang that he was directly in the wind of the animal. -The bear was in no hurry. He turned aside to snuff -and scratch at the roots of a clump of roses. He -was the largest black bear that Conacher had ever -seen. The big head was dwarfed by his mighty rump. -His black pelt was grayed with moisture. The man’s -mouth watered ridiculously. The bear turned towards -him, and his heart began to thump. Then the -animal changed his mind, and sauntered around the -rim of the bench. Conacher, stepping with infinite -care, kept pace with him amongst the little trees.</p> - -<p>The bear disappeared over the edge of the rim, and -Conacher’s heart almost broke. Should I go after -him? he asked himself. No! he is bound to come to -the bluff and the slough. The animal reappeared and -hope flared up anew. He was heading towards the -bluff again. He was no longer directly in Conacher’s -wind, consequently the chance of getting him was better. -But the deliberation of the beast well-nigh maddened -the man. Bruin stood gazing off to the east as -if he were debating the choice between this and some -other feeding ground. He sat up on his haunches, and -licked his paws. Finally he came lumbering towards -the trees in a businesslike manner. Conacher raised -his gun.</p> - -<p>Before the bear had made half the distance that -separated them, though Conacher had not moved, the -animal’s mysterious instinct warned him of the presence -of danger. He stopped with a woof! of alarm, -and turning in his tracks, galloped back for the shelter -of the rim. Conacher fired. The bear’s broad beam -offered him a goodly mark, and he knew by the tremor -that went through the animal that he had hit him: -but it was not in a vulnerable spot. He galloped on -without a pause. He disappeared over the encircling -rim of grass. A voice seemed to cry inside Conacher: -“You have lost your last chance!”</p> - -<p>He found strength to run as if he had not been -starved for four days. As he topped the rise, he -saw the bear lying in the grass a hundred feet away; -and a great, calm thankfulness filled his breast. It -was all right! The animal was not dead, but disabled -in his hind quarters. He lay with his head between his -paws awaiting the end. Conacher dispatched him with -a bullet through the brain.</p> - -<p>Crying out: “A bear! I’ve got him!” Conacher -dropped to his knees, and started instanter to skin -his prey. Presently Mary-Lou who was more skillful -at this job than he, relieved him. Loseis stood looking -on like a happy little ghost. They could not wait -to skin the bear entire; but cut off a piece of meat, -and ran back to the fire with it.</p> - -<p>Conacher kept saying over and over like an old -woman: “Mind! Mind! Only a little piece at first, -or it will make you sick!”</p> - -<p>“If there is meat, why not eat?” grumbled Mary-Lou.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless she obeyed; and at first only three tiny -pieces were set upon pointed sticks to roast over the -fire. It may be guessed that they were not <span class='it'>very</span> well -cooked before they were eaten. Conacher and Loseis -nibbled them to make them go as far as possible. -Mary-Lou saw no sense at all in this proceeding, but -loyally followed their example.</p> - -<p>“Is that all?” said Loseis wistfully.</p> - -<p>“Mary-Lou could put some small pieces in the pot -and boil them,” suggested Conacher. “The soup -would be good for you.”</p> - -<p>“Soup!” said Loseis, making a face.</p> - -<p>“Well, by and by we will roast another little piece. -To-morrow, if you feel all right, you can eat all you -want.”</p> - -<p>There was no question of moving on that day. -They ate a little more; slept; and ate again. Conacher -and Loseis sat happily side by side under the shelter -of the leaves, watching Mary-Lou cut off thin slabs -of the meat, and hang them in the smoke of the fire. -The Indian girl also contrived moccasins for herself -out of squares of the hide.</p> - -<p>Next morning they awoke with bounding pulses -as if they had never known what it was to starve. At -breakfast time they feasted without stint. Their -cheeks seemed to have filled out over night; their eyes -were bright; their teeth gleaming. There was something -so comical in the sight of this abrupt transformation, -that they continually burst out laughing -with their mouths full at the sight of each other’s -joy.</p> - -<p>They set out again laden with as much meat as they -could carry.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='287' id='Page_287'></span><h1>CHAPTER XXIV<br/> <span class='sub-head'>DOWNSTREAM</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>A</span>s</span> they descended by imperceptible degrees towards -the river, they could no longer make out -the line of its valley ahead. The bald-headed prairie -now began to take on a parklike aspect. Groups of -graceful, full-grown poplars with their greenish yellow -bark became more and more numerous, gradually -leading them into a well-grown forest of aspen trees, -interspersed with spruce. But there were still grassy -openings of all sizes, from pretty glades to miniature -prairies. Through the trackless forest it was very -slow going; giant raspberry bushes, now in blossom, -barred the way; rotting trunks lay prone in every direction; -and vivid moss treacherously masked the holes -where the ancient stems had rotted clean out of the -ground.</p> - -<p>As the afternoon wore on, and there was no end to -this, no sign of any river, a feeling of discouragement -attacked them again. Could they have been mistaken? -And then without warning, they issued out of the trees -on to a grassy knoll; and there, with a magnificent effect -of dramatic surprise, lay the long-sought river at -their very feet.</p> - -<p>It was a thrilling moment. That view, so cunningly -masked by the belt of forest, was one of the finest -views imaginable. It was a first-class river. It flowed -in the bottom of a valley at least six hundred feet -deep, and no more than half a mile across from rim -to rim. From the opposite rim, the prairie rolled on -to the horizon. It was not so much a valley as a -deep, clean gash in the prairie. The side upon which -they stood was mantled with the deep green of spruce, -while the other side rolled up in fantastic knobs and -terraces of buffalo grass.</p> - -<p>The river poured a smooth, yellowish green flood -through the bottom of this mighty trough; just the -color of poplar bark. It was broken by several high -islands, covered with spruce trees, which stemmed the -current like majestic ships. The point upon which -they stood was on the outside of a great bend, and -they could look far up-stream, where the river seemed -to flatten out, and to issue dazzling and molten from -the afternoon sun itself.</p> - -<p>Conacher’s first thought was: “Plenty of water! -I’ll be able to make a raft. We’ll have some easy -days now.”</p> - -<p>They gazed at the noble prospect with full hearts. -Conacher in particular was bursting with pride. He -felt like the creator of that river, because they had -found it where he had said it would be.</p> - -<p>“We happen to have hit it just right,” he said with a -transparent air of carelessness. “In years to come -when there is a trail it will strike the river here. -Above here, you see, it flows east of north, and at this -point it swings around to the westward. That agrees -with the Indian reports. It is the only river east of -the Rockies that has a westward trend.”</p> - -<p>“It is too beautiful to be called the Mud River,” -said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“After this it shall be Laurentia’s River.”</p> - -<p>“Suppose there are rapids,” suggested the matter-of-fact -Mary-Lou.</p> - -<p>“It will probably flow smooth for two hundred -miles,” said Conacher. “Then it will strike the limestone -outcrop that crosses the whole country. We’ll -find rapids, maybe cascades, there.”</p> - -<p>“And we are the first whites to see it!” murmured -Loseis.</p> - -<p>“If I can bring him a good sketch map of it, it will -put my boss in a good humor,” said Conacher.</p> - -<p>They made their way down to the water’s edge; -and chose a camping spot on a curious tongue of land -pointing downstream. At the highest stage of water -it was an island; but it was now connected with the -shore by a bar of dried mud. On one side of them the -resistless brown flood swept down silently, its silken -surface etched with eddies; on the other side there was -a quiet back-water which Conacher said would be ideal -for constructing the raft. He spent the remaining -hours of daylight in searching for the three big, dead -trees that he required for that purpose.</p> - -<p>They slept in great comfort on heaps of spruce -boughs, with a generous fire between them. Even in -July the nights were cold. In the silence of the night -they discovered that the smoothly flowing river had -a voice. It was neither a roar nor a whisper, but partook -of the nature of both sounds. Though scarcely -audible, it was tremendous; like the breathing and -stirring of a mighty bed-fellow.</p> - -<p>The entire following day was devoted to the construction -of the raft. Conacher cut down his trees; -lopped off the branches; and chopped the trunks in -two. He then launched his logs, and floated them -together. During the earlier stages of his labor, he -was often obliged to wade thigh deep into the icy -water. Since he had neither spikes to fasten the logs, -nor rope to lash them together, he was forced patiently -to burn holes in them with his ramrod, heated -in the fire. Twenty-four such holes had to be burned; -and twelve neatly fitting wooden pegs shaped with the -ax. Two short lengths were laid across the six logs -and pegged down. The peg at each corner was -allowed to stick up a few inches. A flooring of poles -was then laid on the crosspieces to keep the passengers -and their slender baggage dry. These poles were not -fastened down, but were held in place by the pegs at -each corner. Conacher’s last act was to burn a hole -in each of the outside logs into which he drove a -stout forked branch to serve as a rowlock. The oars -were merely small spruce poles flattened with the ax -at the broad end.</p> - -<p>The builder surveyed his completed effort with a -pride that was difficult to conceal. “After all this -work,” he said with his offhand air, “I shall be good -and sore if we have to abandon it in a few miles.”</p> - -<p>“It is beautiful!” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>For a touch of bravura Conacher made a little -hearth of clay tiled with flat stones on one end of his -raft; and laid a fire ready to light. “So we can boil -our meat as we travel,” he explained.</p> - -<p>“It is like a steamboat!” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>They turned in early; and were ready to push off -soon after sunrise the following morning. This was -the fourteenth morning after their departure from the -slough where their enemies had turned back. The -raft proved to possess ample buoyancy; they could -move about on it with a certain freedom. The floor -of poles held them safely above danger of a wetting. -Mary-Lou lighted the fire, and put the breakfast on to -cook.</p> - -<p>Loseis and Conacher sculled out of the back-water. -At the foot of the island the current seized them as in -a giant hand and drew them along. They took their -oars inboard. There was nothing further to do. The -tendency of the current itself was to draw them into -the center of the stream, and keep them there. They -sat down on their blankets to survey the scenery. The -raft gyrated slowly in the eddies, giving them views -up and down stream without so much as having to -turn their heads.</p> - -<p>“This is better than walking,” said Conacher.</p> - -<p>Loseis agreed that it was; nevertheless she looked -with some trepidation to see what each new bend of -the unknown river had to show.</p> - -<p>Conacher assured her on the word of a geologist -that as long as it ran between dirt banks there could -be no serious obstruction to navigation; when rocks -appeared, then look out! He had note-book and compass -out to make memoranda of its course. He calculated -that the current was running about five miles -an hour.</p> - -<p>The sun was hot to-day; basking deliciously in its -rays, the girl fell into a comfortable doze. The scenery -was beautiful and monotonous; they looked at it, -only partly aware of what they were looking at, a half -smile fixed on their lips. Thus they recuperated from -the fatigues of the past few days. Since the raft did -not move through the water, but with the water, it -came to seem as if it was not moving at all. The raft -was the fixed point, and the shores were being slowly -rolled past them like a panorama on great spools.</p> - -<p>This pleasant dream was rudely broken into by the -sound of a hoarse roar downstream.</p> - -<p>“Rapid!” said Mary-Lou, moving towards an oar.</p> - -<p>Loseis looked reproachfully at Conacher.</p> - -<p>They edged the raft close inshore where they could -land quickly if need be.</p> - -<p>“Let’s have a look at it before you call me a liar,” -said Conacher.</p> - -<p>Rounding the outside of a bend, they came in view -of the white horses leaping below. An exclamation of -fear broke from the girls. Conacher caught hold of a -fallen tree to stay their progress while he studied the -white water.</p> - -<p>“Nothing but a riffle,” he announced. “Its bark is -worse than its bite. This is a sharper bend than usual, -and it’s just the water backing up on the outside that -makes all the fuss. Notice that all the waves are -regular and unbroken. Deep water. It will be perfectly -safe to run it if you are willing.”</p> - -<p>“All right if you say so,” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>They cast off from their tree. Conacher and Mary-Lou -each stood up with an oar, and Loseis crouched -behind them.</p> - -<p>“Head for the roughest part near the shore,” said -Conacher, “and keep her straight; that’s all.”</p> - -<p>Their hearts beat fast as the shores began to slip -by with ever-increasing swiftness. The voice of the -rapid was like that of a ravening beast. There is no -other feeling quite like that upon the brink of a -rapid. The feeling is: No power on earth can save -me from it now—well, what the hell! They were -gripped by an exquisite fear. Finally the heavy raft -wriggled over the first and the biggest of those -strange, fixed billows and stuck her nose in the trough. -A sheet of spray flew back over them, whereupon they -were seized by a mad exhilaration, and all three yelled -like demons. The raft bucked over the short, steep -billows like a rogue horse. Conacher and Mary-Lou -were forced to their knees; and the latter lost her oar. -A moment later they found themselves in smooth -water, roaring with laughter.</p> - -<p>As soon as they had eaten their supper that night, -they pushed off again. The girls slept while Conacher -watched throughout the long twilight. The sunset -glow alternated with the cold eastern sky as the raft -waltzed gracefully in the eddies. They grounded -her on a bar during the few hours of darkness; and -at dawn they pushed off again; the girls watching now -while Conacher slept. He awakened in the sunshine -to find them laughing at the antics of the bears on the -steep banks.</p> - -<p>For three days they traveled in this pleasant fashion. -Mooseberries and black currants were ripening -now. The bushes grew thickly along the edges of the -water and wherever there were berries there were -bears. Drifting down silently on the raft, Conacher -could always get a shot in the early mornings. The -berries made a welcome change from a diet of meat -exclusively.</p> - -<p>As they traveled north the steep high banks gradually -flattened down, and the current of the river slackened. -Finally the high banks disappeared altogether; -they could see nothing over the tops of the poplars and -pines that lined the water’s edge. The course of the -stream became very tortuous, and progress was slow.</p> - -<p>“We’re evidently coming to something,” Conacher -remarked. “This country is a vast belt of silt deposited -by the river as the result of some obstruction -ahead.”</p> - -<p>On the fourth day the obstruction appeared in the -form of a low wall of limestone through which the -river had finally succeeded in forcing a passage. The -rock walls were but three or four feet high, and the -river slipped between them very swiftly and smoothly -with a curious growling sound. On the other side the -whole character of the country was changed. Rock -appeared everywhere; and the lush vegetation of the -prairies was gone.</p> - -<p>They had not gone far before they came to a rapid, -a real rapid this one, with great bowlders sticking up -out of it, that tore the current to white tatters. Landing -at a safe distance above, they walked down along -the shore to see if there was a possible channel -through. Conacher was naturally averse to abandoning -the raft which had cost him such pains.</p> - -<p>After a little study, he pointed out to the girls how -it might be done. “It would be foolish, though, to -risk the guns and ammunition and the ax. You girls -carry the things along the shore, and I’ll take the raft -down.”</p> - -<p>“Suppose you hit a rock?” said Loseis, paling.</p> - -<p>“Why, I’d get a ducking, that’s all.”</p> - -<p>He accomplished the feat without accident. To the -watching Loseis he made an extraordinarily gallant -figure, standing on the raft, braced and swaying to -every movement; his resolute glance fixed ahead, while -he paddled madly to steer it around obstructions.</p> - -<p>In the next rapid, an hour or so later, he was not so -fortunate. The raft, in spite of his efforts, slid up on -a submerged shelf of rock, and rearing on end, flung -the loose poles in every direction. Conacher, jumping -clear of the wreck, went down with the current. The -frame of the raft followed him down; and he contrived -to bring it ashore below; and the paddle too. -With some new poles the raft was as good as ever.</p> - -<p>However, the rapids seemed to grow successively -worse; and Loseis forbade him to risk his neck in the -next one. They sent the raft down empty. After a -mad voyage, battered back and forth on the bowlders, -it came through minus its poles, somewhat loosened -up but still practicable. They then camped for the -night.</p> - -<p>On the following day they were nosing along close -to the shore with the disquieting roar of a rapid in -their ears, but apparently still at some distance. The -view down river was cut off by a low, stony hill, -sparsely covered with trees, around the base of which -the stream wound its way. Suddenly Conacher perceived -that the current was sucking ominously along-shore. -That part of the shore was much cumbered -with old down trees. He drove the raft into the naked -branches.</p> - -<p>“Grab hold!” he said sharply to the girls.</p> - -<p>They missed the first tree. Fine beads of perspiration -broke out on Conacher’s forehead. He perceived -that in a dozen yards the raft would be beyond his -control. He seized the next overhanging branch, and -wound a leg around his improvised oarlock to hold the -raft. The girls were now fully alive to the danger. -Mary-Lou climbed into the tree, and Loseis swiftly -passed her their precious few belongings. When -everything was ashore Conacher let the raft go, and it -lumbered around the point with surprising swiftness.</p> - -<p>“That’s the last of it,” said Conacher sadly.</p> - -<p>They climbed the stony hill. As they rounded the -top, a hoarse, throaty bellowing buffeted their ears; -and a moment later a wild welter of white water was -spread before their eyes. They had seen nothing like -this. After rounding the hill the stream straightened -out, and narrowing down to a quarter of its usual -width tumbled down as steeply as a flight of stairs between -high wooded banks. The impression of power -was overwhelming. The water was forced into great, -regular billows which looked to be fifteen feet high. -Each billow or ridge of water converged to a point in -the middle; and the effect as one looked downstream -was of a series of blunt white arrows pointing up. -No boat could have lived in that turmoil. The raft—or -what was left of it—was already out of sight. -The three looked at each other with scared and thankful -faces. A close call!</p> - -<p>They now had to adjust their minds to traveling on -foot again—and this would not be anything like the -rolling prairie! The first thing was to roll up their -packs, and strap them on their backs. They then descended -into the gorge; but found it impossible to -make headway along the steep side, impeded with -stones and down timber. They were forced to climb -a hundred feet or so to level ground. This was -scarcely better. Only those who have tried to make -their way through a trackless virgin forest can appreciate -the difficulties that faced them in the shape of -undergrowth, fallen trees and holes in the earth. The -débris of ages was heaped in their path. They guided -themselves by the sound of the cascade upon their -left.</p> - -<p>In a mile or so (which had all the effect of ten) the -river fell quiet again, and they pushed back to its -bank. It was an open question which was the more -difficult going. Along the edge of the stream the dead -timber brought down by the freshets was left stranded -in inextricable tangles. Conacher finally chose a -course parallel with the river bank, and a few yards -back from the edge. Here they were at least sure of -a supply of water. All day long it was a case of climbing -over obstacles or through them or chopping a way. -Heart-breaking work. They camped while it was still -early, completely tired out.</p> - -<p>For day after day this continued. There was no -lack of dead timber to make another raft: but the -rapids followed each other in such close succession -that it seemed a waste of time. It was exasperating -to have to undergo such crushing labor with the -stream running alongside ready to carry them in the -desired direction. “If I only had a dug-out!” Conacher -groaned a dozen times a day. But even if they -could have taken the time to make a dug-out, there -was no suitable timber in that stony land. The noise -of their progress through the bush scared away all -game; and they would soon have gone hungry, had -it not been for the smoked meat which Mary-Lou -had thoughtfully provided. Presently this gave out, -and they had to lay over for a day, while Conacher -hunted a bear, along the river. Their clothes were in -rags.</p> - -<p>In ten days Conacher figured that they had made -about fifty miles: but this was pure guesswork. It -was now within two or three days of the time when -the surveying outfit was due at the mouth of the Mud -River.</p> - -<p>The three travelers were sitting gloomily on the -shore of the river in a spot where it flowed as -smoothly and prettily between poplar and birch-covered -shores as a river in a civilized land where -picnics might be held. The view downstream was -blocked by a graceful island. Suddenly around that -island came poking the nose of a birch-bark canoe with -a single paddler.</p> - -<p>To those three that sight was like a blow between -the eyes. They glanced fearfully at each other for -confirmation. It was a month since they had seen -others of their kind. They stared at the approaching -canoe with open mouths. Then Conacher jumped to -his feet and hailed. The paddler was arrested in mid-motion. -He was no less startled by the meeting than -they. After a moment he came paddling gingerly towards -them. They saw that it was a white man, an -odd, withered, brownish specimen, whose skin was all -of a color with his battered hat, and faded khaki -jacket.</p> - -<p>He grounded his canoe gently in the mud, and -stepped out. An old smoked pioneer with a comically -injured look which never varied. They shook hands -gravely all around before a word was spoken.</p> - -<p>“Who are you?” demanded Conacher and Loseis -simultaneously.</p> - -<p>“Bill Mitchell,” he replied with the shrug and -the aggrieved look that were characteristic of him. -“Who the hell are you?”</p> - -<p>“I am Conacher of the surveying outfit, and this is -Miss Blackburn.”</p> - -<p>“Blackburn’s daughter!” exclaimed the old man -with widening eyes. “Do you mean to tell me you’ve -come down from Blackburn’s Post this away!”</p> - -<p>Conacher was not anxious to go into lengthy explanations. -“We’re expecting to join my outfit on the -Sinclair River,” he said quickly. “How far are we -from the Sinclair?”</p> - -<p>“Matter of ten mile. There’s one rapid between.”</p> - -<p>“Well, thank God!” cried Conacher fervently. -“Have you seen the surveying outfit?”</p> - -<p>“Spelled with them three days since,” replied the -old man. “They’re working up-stream slow. Ought -to be off the mouth of the Mud River some time to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>Conacher and Loseis exchanged a beaming look. -All their troubles rolled away. “Well, we didn’t -manage that so badly,” said the former, conceitedly.</p> - -<p>“What are you doing here?” Conacher asked of -the old man.</p> - -<p>“Me?” he answered with his disgruntled look; -“what do you think I’m doin’? I’m prospectin’ this -river. It ain’t never been prospected.”</p> - -<p>“But when you get above the rapids it’s a prairie -river,” said Conacher. “We came through three hundred -miles of it, and there’s likely three hundred miles -more above that.”</p> - -<p>“Then I’ll work up to the mountains,” said the old -man undisturbed.</p> - -<p>“You fellows ought to study a little geology before -you break your hearts with a journey like this,” said -Conacher nettled. “Nobody has ever found any -amount of gold on the easterly slope of the Rockies.”</p> - -<p>“Mebbe this river comes right through the mountains -like the Spirit and the Sinclair,” said the old -fellow obstinately.</p> - -<p>“Look at it!” said Conacher. “There’s damned -little snow water in that. It’s pure prairie mud.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, well, I’ve come so far I might as well go see,” -he said calmly. “I got all summer. All I want is to -get into the mountains before I go into winter quarters.”</p> - -<p>Conacher gave him up. He described the upper -reaches of the river for his benefit. “How will you -get your canoe around the big fall?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Chop a trail through the bush, and then come back -for it,” said the old man calmly. “It don’t weigh but -forty pound.”</p> - -<p>Looking into his canoe they perceived that his -entire worldly goods consisted of three bags of flour, -a box of ammunition, and a slim dunnage bag of odds -and ends. It appeared that his gun was of the same -caliber as that carried by Conacher. The old man -looked at the other’s still partly filled ammunition belt -desirously.</p> - -<p>“You’ll be joining your outfit to-morrow,” he said -suggestively.</p> - -<p>“Tell you what I’ll do,” said Conacher. “Cache -your flour here, and carry us down to the mouth of -the river and it shall be yours.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t mind ef I do,” said Bill Mitchell.</p> - -<p>After the labors of the past days that last ten miles -was like riding in a taxi. They whisked the light -canoe around the rapid with no trouble at all. Below, -the Mud River widened out and found its way into -the Sinclair through a miniature delta amongst low, -grassy islands covered with gigantic cottonwood trees -that created a dim green twilight below. Mitchell -landed them on a pine-clad point that looked down a -reach of the greater river, several miles long. The -old man did not get out.</p> - -<p>“Won’t you spell with us?” asked Conacher politely.</p> - -<p>The pioneer rubbed his hairy chin, and squinted -down river as if he had perceived something important -down there. “I guess not,” he drawled. -“Got to be gettin’ along.” With a casual good-by, he -pushed off and resumed his solitary journey up-stream.</p> - -<p>“What a strange creature!” murmured Loseis.</p> - -<p>“It was the presence of a lady which embarrassed -him,” said Conacher. “He confided to me that he -had not seen a white girl in seven years.”</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p>Twenty-four hours later it was Conacher who perceived, -down at the end of the long reach, the flash -of wet paddles in the sun.</p> - -<p>“Here they come!” he cried.</p> - -<p>The two girls ran to his side. For a long time they -could make out nothing but the regular flash of several -paddles like heliograph signals. Finally four -little black objects took shape down river. The -watchers filled with a mounting excitement that became -painful to bear; their breasts were like dynamos -humming higher and higher until the pitch became unendurable. -They had looked forward to this meeting -through such hardships and perils! there had been -so many days when they despaired of accomplishing -it! But here they came at last; men of their own kind; -friends; rescuers. Conacher and Loseis felt as if -their hearts would crack with joy.</p> - -<p>“My God! how astonished they’ll be!” said Conacher -shakily.</p> - -<p>The impulse to make the most of their friends’ astonishment -was irresistible; and the three drew back -under cover of the trees. Soon they were able to distinguish -that the approaching party consisted of three -white men and eight Indians traveling in three big -dug-outs, and a rough, narrow scow that was being -poled along close to the shore. Finally Conacher recognized -his especial friend.</p> - -<p>“Alec Jordan!” he murmured with a tight, warm -feeling around the heart. “Good old Alec!”</p> - -<p>They saw that the oncoming boats intended to make -a landing directly at their feet. It was an inevitable -camping-place. The three dug-outs grounded almost -simultaneously on the shingle. As the white men rose -in their places, Conacher stepped out from among the -trees.</p> - -<p>“Hello, fellows!” he said in a casual voice.</p> - -<p>They stared at him completely awe-struck. “My -God!” they murmured in hushed tones; and looked at -each other. The Indians in the scow pushed off in -a panic and floated away on the current.</p> - -<p>Conacher, pale with excitement, but grinning -widely, stepped down the bank. “I’m no ghost!” he -cried. He marched up to Langmuir, the head of the -party. “I want to report for duty,” he said simply.</p> - -<p>“Report . . . for duty!” stammered Langmuir -clownishly.</p> - -<p>Jordan was the first to recover from the shock. He -flung his arms around his friend. “Conacher! Conacher! -<span class='it'>Conacher!</span>” he yelled, shaking him violently -as if to make certain that he was flesh and blood.</p> - -<p>“How in hell did you get here?” demanded Langmuir -in a voice of extreme bitterness, which was not -really bitter.</p> - -<p>“Been waitin’ for you since yesterday,” said Conacher -airily. “I cut across the prairie north of Blackburn’s -Post, and came down the Mud River to head -you off. Got a map of the river for you, chief, such -as it is.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m damned!” said Langmuir solemnly. And -the others echoed him in varying tones: “I’m -<span class='it'>damned</span>!”</p> - -<p>Conacher was not yet done surprising them. As -they turned to climb the bank, he said somewhat nervously: -“I’ve got a couple of guests with me. . . .”</p> - -<p>Loseis stepped into view above. In breeches and -Stetson, smiling merrily, yet a little apprehensively, -too, she made an enchanting figure. The rents in her -clothes, the marks of hardship in her face, only set -off the bravery of her spirit. To those white men so -long parted from the women of their race, it was like -a miracle.</p> - -<p>“Miss Blackburn, gentlemen,” Conacher sang out. -“Mr. Langmuir; Mr. Jordan; Mr. Seely.”</p> - -<p>They snatched off their hats. “Pleased to meet -you,” they mumbled sheepishly.</p> - -<p>“Merciful Heaven! am I awake or dreaming!” -Langmuir murmured to himself.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='305' id='Page_305'></span><h1>CHAPTER XXV<br/> <span class='sub-head'>CONCLUSION</span></h1></div> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><span class='dropcap'>T</span>he</span> meeting at the mouth of the Mud River was -the beginning of a still longer journey for Loseis. -But it was never again allowed to become an arduous -one for her. All hands, white and red, joined together -to smooth her way. She reigned the undisputed Princess -of Langmuir’s party, holding them in subjection -with her smile.</p> - -<p>After a laborious month ascending the Sinclair, -plotting the river and collecting geological data and -specimens, they came to a lonely trading outpost on -the Pacific side of the mountains, called Pinnacle -House. It stood amidst wild and beautiful surroundings -in a deep green valley between parallel ranges. -The pointed limestone peaks gave it its name. How -strange it was to find such homely old friends as cabbages, -onions and potatoes growing in the trader’s -garden!</p> - -<p>The trader was away on his usual summer journey -to bring in supplies; and they found his house occupied -at the moment by the Reverend Patrick Geogehagen, -a famous character of the country, better known as -“Patsy.” Patsy was a brawny, bright-eyed wrestler -for the Lord, with cherry-colored cheeks, and a -spreading black beard that saved him the trouble of -wearing a necktie. It was his self-imposed duty to -visit and minister to those tribes of Indians who were -too poor, too disreputable or too far away to attract -the attention of the regular missionaries.</p> - -<p>When they hailed him he was cleaning his gun at -the door of the single log shack that served both for -store and dwelling at Pinnacle House, and there was -nothing in his rough dress to indicate his calling. -When he introduced himself, Conacher looked at -Loseis with a quick, smiling question and Loseis answered -it with a quick, smiling assent. Conacher -whispered shamefacedly to Patsy, who thereupon -gave him a frightful clap on the back, and roared:</p> - -<p>“Delighted, my boy!”</p> - -<p>Conacher took Langmuir aside. The chief wagged -his head in perplexity; and scratched it, and grumbled:</p> - -<p>“What the deuce, Conny! Such a thing was never -heard of in a party engaged on field work! What -will it look like in my report? Oh, Lord! think of -the explanations I will be called on to make to all -the old women in the Department!”</p> - -<p>“Why should it appear in the report?” said Conacher. -“It’s none of the Government’s business. -Have I been any the worse worker during the past -month?”</p> - -<p>“No, no! you’ve worked like two! . . . Hm! -that’s so. Why should it appear? . . . Go ahead, -my boy; and God bless you! I bags to give the bride -away.”</p> - -<p>As a matter of fact, it <span class='it'>did not</span> appear. The report -of Langmuir’s party is filed away with many others -equally decorous, and nobody in the Government -ever suspected that they entertained a Princess -during the summer and celebrated a wedding.</p> - -<p>There were no wedding garments in the outfit but a -great shaving, shearing, washing and brushing-up took -place. The fellows decorated the single room of the -cabin with spruce branches and flowers from the -mountain side. Loseis had to be married in breeches -and boots because it was all she had. At least her -clothes were neatly mended by this time. Her smile -was the smile of a happy bride; and nobody was -aware of any incongruity. Conacher looked as frightened -as every well-disposed man is supposed to be at -his wedding; and large fat tears rolled down the -bridesmaid’s dark cheeks. Up to the moment of donning -his vestments Patsy joked outrageously; he then -became the priest of God. In a free and natural -state of society these abrupt contrasts are perfectly -well understood. Nobody thought the less of Patsy -because he was a man as well as a priest.</p> - -<p>Patsy and Mary-Lou conspired together to produce -the wedding-feast; and the result, considering -the meager resources of Pinnacle House, astonished -everybody. They may have been short of the fixings, -but they had five kinds of game and fish; and -to polish off with, a gigantic roly-poly pudding stuffed -with currant jam.</p> - -<p>The speeches were no better nor worse than usual. -Patsy said in part:</p> - -<p>“Sure, friends, I shall look back on this as one of -the happiest days of me life! This morning I was -not aware that you people as much as existed; this -afternoon you are established as the friends of me -heart, and shall never be absent from me heart while -it beats. Even parsons get discouraged sometimes, -though none of ’em would ever admit it but a renegade -like me. This mornin’ I was sittin’ at the door of -this house trying to make up my mind whether to -visit the scrofulous Louchoux Indians to the northeast, -or the flea-bitten Sikannis to the southeast, and feelin’ -ready to consign ’em both to perdition. Sure, in all the -world there is not such another lousy, thieving, crack-brained, -worthless congregation as me own, I was telling -meself, when along you came with this lovely girl -to remind me of the existence of beauty in the world, -and this bold lad to refresh me with the sight of -manliness! Would I marry them? says he, blushing. -Would I marry them? I was ready to throw my cap -in the air at such a chance! That is jam in the life -of a forgotten missionary. I consider that in joining -these two I have performed the best act of me life. -The country ought to profit by it. Here’s to the -newly married pair! May they live long and obey the -scriptural injunction!”</p> - -<p>To which Conacher answered:</p> - -<p>“. . . Er . . . you fellows and the Reverend -Patsy . . . I rise to say . . . er . . . that is, to -thank you . . . I’m not much of a speaker . . .”</p> - -<p>“No?” queried a sarcastic voice.</p> - -<p>“That’s all right, Jordan. You can laugh. I’ll -live to see you married yet. . . . Where was I? -. . . I only wanted to say, only you interrupt me all -the time . . . er . . . to thank you on behalf of -Miss Blackburn . . .”</p> - -<p>Uproarious laughter drowned him out.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with you all! . . . Oh, I see. -I mean the lady beside me, m-m-m-my w-w-w-wife. -The late Miss Blackburn . . .”</p> - -<p>Renewed laughter.</p> - -<p>“Oh, to hell with you!” said Conacher plumping -down in his seat laughing. “If any man thinks he can -make a better speech let’s hear it!”</p> - -<p>Next morning they resumed their work on the river. -For two weeks longer they toiled up through or -around the innumerable rapids, canyons, whirlpools, -and waterfalls of the upper Sinclair, before they -finally arrived at the little lake in which it took its -source.</p> - -<p>Here Langmuir gave Conacher leave to press on -ahead while the party cleaned up its work for the -season. So Conacher, Loseis and Mary-Lou crossed -a famous pass and descending the mountain on the -other side, plunged all at once into the civilization -which Loseis had never seen. Everything in the -busy little coast town was strange to her; the close -ranks of shops and houses; locomotives; automobiles; -electric light and water from a tap. The Princess was -too aristocratic in spirit to betray vulgar amazement; -she merely looked and listened quietly. Not until -she was alone with her husband did she reveal the -wonder and astonishment of her childish heart. For -the man it was a wonderful experience to introduce so -fresh and ardent a soul to the great world.</p> - -<p>There was a short voyage by sea; then the return -eastward by railroad over the mountains to the city of -Prince George.</p> - -<p>In Prince George they had no difficulty in finding -John Gruber, who when he was not running Blackburn’s -outfit into the country, or bringing out his -furs, ran a stable in town, and bought and sold horses. -They found him in his little office, a tall, strong man -with a heavy, honest red face, and a bald red poll -surrounded by a fringe of red hair. Gruber had not -visited Blackburn’s Post since Loseis was a child; and -he did not immediately recognize her.</p> - -<p>“I am Laurentia Blackburn,” she said.</p> - -<p>“What!” cried Gruber, staring. “Why . . . of -course you are! . . . Well, I’m damned!”</p> - -<p>“That’s what everybody says!” said Loseis with a -rueful smile.</p> - -<p>“Where did you come from?” demanded Gruber.</p> - -<p>Loseis started to tell her story, but Gruber instantly -silenced her. “Wait! Wait!” he cried. “We -must do everything regular and proper!” Snatching -up his hat, he hustled them through the streets to a -tall office building. Here after ascending in an elevator -(a fresh marvel to Loseis) they burst unceremoniously -into the private office of a little, round, -white-haired old gentleman, startling him almost out -of his wits.</p> - -<p>“Here is Blackburn’s daughter!” shouted Gruber.</p> - -<p>“God bless my soul!” cried the old gentleman, -agitatedly removing his glasses. “What proof have -you of that?”</p> - -<p>“I’ve got the proof of my own eyes!”</p> - -<p>“Quietly! Quietly!” pleaded the old soul. “Sit -down all. Let us proceed in due order if you please.”</p> - -<p>It turned out that this was Hector Blackburn’s -lawyer, David Chichester. In simple graphic sentences, -Loseis told the two men her story, while they -glanced at each other in astonishment, and murmured -in indignation and sympathy.</p> - -<p>When she had come to the end, Mr. Chichester said -gravely: “We all felt that there was something that -needed to be explained; but we had nothing to go on.”</p> - -<p>“You have later news than mine,” said Loseis -eagerly; “Mr. Gruber has been into the country and -out again. What has happened?”</p> - -<p>The two men looked at each other again. Gruber -said: “Show her the newspaper, Mr. Chichester. -That tells the whole story.”</p> - -<p>From a drawer of his desk, Mr. Chichester produced -a copy of the local newspaper now some weeks -old, folded in such a manner as to bring into prominence -the story that he desired them to read. They -were instantly aware of the staring headlines:</p> - -<div class='lgc' style='margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'>ROMANTIC TRAGEDY OF THE NORTH</span></p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line'>Young Couple End All for Love</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<p>Loseis and Conacher read with their heads close -together:</p> - -<p>“John Gruber, the well-known horse-dealer and -traveler of Prince George, returned yesterday from his -annual trip into northern Athabasca bringing news of -a strange and poignant tragedy at Blackburn’s Post, -a distant trading station in the unexplored portion of -the province.</p> - -<p>“For many years Mr. Gruber has acted as agent -for Hector Blackburn, the last of the powerful free -traders, who maintained an almost baronial state in -the midst of his vast domain. Each year it has been -Mr. Gruber’s custom to take in the year’s supplies for -the Post. At a point about half way he would meet -the outfit sent out by Hector Blackburn and exchange -the store goods for the season’s catch of furs. This -year Mr. Gruber waited in vain at the rendezvous. -After several weeks had passed, a rumor reached -him that Hector Blackburn had been killed by an accident -early in June. He then pushed through the rest -of the way to Blackburn’s Post.</p> - -<p>“He found Mr. Andrew Gault of Fort Good Hope, -one of the best-known fur traders in the country, in -charge there. Mr. Gault was well-nigh prostrated -by a terrible happening which had taken place only -two or three days before Mr. Gruber’s arrival. Laurentia -Blackburn, the late trader’s only child, had -killed herself by leaping from a high cliff into the -river, in company with her lover, a young man named -Paul Conacher attached to the Geological Survey.</p> - -<p>“It was on June third that Hector Blackburn was -killed by a fall from his horse. His death left his -daughter, a young girl, entirely alone and unprotected -in that savage spot. There were no other white -persons at Blackburn’s Post. Moreover it was surrounded -by a tribe of ignorant Indians who began -to get out of hand as soon as the firm control of -Hector Blackburn was removed. Mr. Gault, hearing -of these things, immediately rode to the girl’s assistance -from his Post one hundred and fifty miles away.</p> - -<p>“At first the girl evinced nothing but gratitude at -his coming. She freely put all her affairs into Mr. -Gault’s experienced hands, giving him a power of attorney -to transact the necessary business. Mr. Gault -sent out for Hector Blackburn’s attorney who is the -well-known lawyer, Mr. David Chichester, of this -city; but this letter unluckily was lost somewhere on -the long journey.</p> - -<p>“A few days later the young man, Conacher, turned -up at Blackburn’s Post. He too had heard of Blackburn’s -death, and was attracted by the rich prize -offered in his only child and heiress. A handsome -young man, of good address, his conquest of the inexperienced -girl was all too easy. Conacher wished -to get her business into his own hands, and so worked -upon her mind with base insinuations that she turned -against her best friend, Mr. Gault.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Gault meanwhile, as was clearly his duty, was -preparing to send out the season’s fur to Mr. Gruber. -By every means in his power, Conacher sought to prevent -this. He was finally guilty of the murder of an -Indian named Etzooah, a messenger of Mr. Gault’s, -under circumstances of peculiar atrocity. The Indian -was garroted as he rode through the woods, by a -line stretched across the trail by Conacher. It then -became Mr. Gault’s duty to apprehend the young man -and send him out to justice. But the infatuated girl -sheltered him in her own house; and standing at the -door with a gun, dared Mr. Gault to come and take -him.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Gault sent out for the police; and in the -meantime contented himself with watching the house -to prevent the murderer’s escape. His messenger, -taking a different route, passed Mr. Gruber on the -way in; and as a matter of fact the police arrived two -days after Gruber. But everything was over then. -On the third night Conacher and the girl escaped -from the house, and obtaining possession of a dug-out, -fled across the river. Closely pursued by Mr. Gault, -they sought a refuge on top of a high cut-bank opposite -the Post. When their pursuers closed in on -them, seeing capture, disgrace and separation ahead, -they joined hands and with a weird good-by ringing -through the night, leaped over the edge of the -gravelly cliff and were drowned in the river below. -Though Mr. Gault searched for the bodies for many -days, they were not found.</p> - -<p>“The police conducted an investigation into the -sad circumstances. As a result, Sergeant Ferrie in -charge of the detail expressed himself as satisfied that -Mr. Gault had done all that any man could do in such -an inexpressibly distressing situation. Mr. Gault remains -in charge of the Post until such time as the -Courts may issue letters of administration. No heirs -are known.”</p> - -<p>Conacher and Loseis looked at each other in amazement.</p> - -<p>“By Heaven! what an infernally clever story!” -cried Conacher. “I am not surprised that even the -police were taken in.”</p> - -<p>“God brought us through all our dangers especially -so that we could show this man up!” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“We must decide on a course of action,” said Mr. -Chichester fussily.</p> - -<p>“There can be but one course for my husband and -me,” said Loseis quickly. “We will start back for -our Post to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>“Naturally,” said Conacher.</p> - -<p>The other two looked a little flabbergasted at this -instant decision.</p> - -<p>“The season is growing late,” objected Gruber. -“Light snows have already fallen. Ice will be running -in the rivers by the time you get there.”</p> - -<p>“But the trip <span class='it'>can</span> be made!” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, it can be made.”</p> - -<p>“Then we’ll make it.”</p> - -<p>“One moment,” said Mr. Chichester dryly. “I suppose -you know that you have other property beside -the fur business.”</p> - -<p>“Have I?” said Loseis.</p> - -<p>He handed her a sort of statement from amongst -his papers. Loseis looked at it, and shook her head.</p> - -<p>“I don’t understand it,” she said, passing it to Conacher.</p> - -<p>As he studied it, Conacher’s face paled. “Good -God!” he muttered. “According to this you are -worth over a million dollars. . . . Oh, after what -they have said about me, this is terrible!”</p> - -<p>“You’ll have to make the best of it!” said Mr. -Chichester with a dry twinkle.</p> - -<p>Loseis showed a face of quaint distress. “My -dear Paul,” she murmured, “I’m so sorry! So sorry! -I didn’t know anything about it. It wasn’t my -fault, was it!”</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p>Gruber, who headed the party, breathed with relief -when he led them through a pass in the hills -down to the edge of the wide meadows surrounding -Blackburn’s Lake. October had come in; and -during their long ride across the prairie they had -met with more than one snow-storm. Fortunately -for them the snow had melted; had it remained lying -on the prairie, or had they experienced one of the -early blizzards that are not unknown at this season, -their position would have been serious. Now, with -the shelter of the timber at hand, they were safe.</p> - -<p>The party was well outfitted of course; but even -so, what with the snow, the hard frosts at night and -the raw, biting winds by day, traveling had been intensely -disagreeable. They carried a small tent for -the two women. Gruber had three hot-heads in his -company who could not brook the slightest delay. -Besides Loseis and Conacher there was young Sergeant -Ferrie of the Mounted Police who was no less -eager than the other two to bring down retribution -on the head of Andrew Gault. The policeman’s professional -pride had been wounded. With three -troopers he had joined the party at the Crossing. -Mary-Lou was also of the party; and six Cree half-breeds -from Miwasa Landing. They had upwards -of twenty horses.</p> - -<p>They slept for the last time on the same little point -of high land running out into the meadows, where -Conacher had been surprised by Etzooah four months -before. The days were growing short now. About -eleven o’clock next morning they were riding past the -Slavi village on the opposite side of the river. The -inhabitants lined up to watch them pass, in silent -consternation. Even at the distance they could not -have failed to recognize Loseis and the famous yellow -head of Conacher.</p> - -<p>“Some of them could jump in a canoe and get to -the Post with the aid of the current before we -could,” suggested Conacher.</p> - -<p>“They have no love for Gault,” said Loseis. -“There is no reason why they should warn them. -The Slavis never look for trouble.”</p> - -<p>“Even if he should be warned, he’s got nowhere -to run except back to his own Post,” Gruber pointed -out. “And there he’d only run into the arms of the -other party of police who went down the big river.”</p> - -<p>“Just the same,” said Sergeant Ferrie, frowning, -“I’ve no intention of letting any other party take -him. He belongs to me!”</p> - -<p>They urged their weary horses on a little faster.</p> - -<p>Suspecting that Gault might make a dash for freedom -at the sight of them, Ferrie determined to send -a party across country to head him off on the other -trail. Two of the white troopers and two Crees were -allotted to this duty. They turned off on the same -ridge a mile from the Post that Gault had used. In -order to give them time to reach their post, the rest -of the party halted for their midday meal in the hollow -beyond.</p> - -<p>When they started out again, Ferrie took command. -He wished Loseis and Mary-Lou to remain -in that spot with a guard; but Loseis would not hear -of it. Much to her disgust she was forced to bring -up the rear of the train. As they came in sight of -the Post the men’s faces were grim. It had a deserted -look. Gault had never succeeded in persuading -the Slavis to return, and the grassy meadow below -the buildings, yellow now, was empty. When -they cantered up into the little square within the -buildings, that was empty too: Women’s House, -store, warehouses, Blackburn’s House; doors closed -and chimneys cold. The bars of the corral were -down.</p> - -<p>The men paused to consult. Presently the sound -of approaching hoofs was heard; and the four men -sent across country rode into the square, driving before -them four mounted Indians, who were immediately -recognizable as belonging to Gault; one of -them indeed was Watusk, whom Loseis and Conacher -had good cause to remember. He was brought up -to Sergeant Ferrie.</p> - -<p>“Where is Gault?” demanded the policeman.</p> - -<p>“We leave him here, half hour ago,” answered -Watusk sullenly. “He tell us to go home.”</p> - -<p>“Told you to go home!” said Ferrie, astonished.</p> - -<p>“He know you are coming,” Watusk went on impassively. -“This man Hooliam,” pointing to one of -his companions, “was at the Slavi village to see a girl -when you ride past. He jomp in a canoe and paddle -fas’ to tell Gault that Blackburn’s daughter and Yellowhead -are not dead. They are comin’ back with -four red-coats.”</p> - -<p>“What did Gault say to that?” Ferrie asked with -a hard smile.</p> - -<p>“He jus’ smile,” said Watusk. “He look on the -groun’ and tap his leg with his little whip. Bam-bye -he say: ‘All right, boys. Get your horses and ride -home. I will wait here for them.’ And we go.”</p> - -<p>“Then he’s still here!” cried Ferrie.</p> - -<p>Watusk pointed to Blackburn’s house.</p> - -<p>“Gault! Come out!” cried Ferrie in a strong -voice.</p> - -<p>There was no answer.</p> - -<p>Ferrie tried the door of the house, and found it -barred on the inside. He signified to his men that -they were to fetch one of the heavy poles from the -corral. Using it as a battering-ram, after two or -three blows, the door burst in. Ferrie and Conacher -entered the house together.</p> - -<p>They found Gault sitting upright in the kitchen in -one of Blackburn’s carved chairs. For one dreadful -instant they thought that he was laughing at them; -in the next they perceived that he was dead. His -wide-open eyes were bereft of all sense; his lower jaw -was hanging down in a dreadful, idiotic grimace. Yet -he sat as straight in the high-backed chair as in life. -It was only upon looking closer that they discovered -that the man with a strange, last impulse of vanity -had tied himself into the chair, that he might be discovered -facing his enemies in an upright position. -There was a band of canvas around his chest! and another -around his forehead; the broad-brimmed Stetson -was jammed rakishly down on his head over the -band. He had then shot himself through the heart -with a revolver, which had slipped from his hand to -the floor.</p> - -<p>The young men jerked their hats off; and their -grim faces softened a little.</p> - -<p>“Well, he’s paid,” said Conacher. “We can’t feel -any more hard feelings against him!”</p> - -<p>“It’s better so,” said Ferrie. “Nobody would -want this ugly case advertised by a trial.”</p> - -<p>Such was Andrew Gault’s requiem.</p> - -<p>They returned outside the house, hat in hand, and -all the others knew at a glance what they had found.</p> - -<p>If Gault in his strange preparations for death had -hoped to leave upon Loseis a last impression of his -power, his aim was not realized. She betrayed no -wish to look at him again. Loseis’ verdict was more -merciful than the young men’s.</p> - -<p>“So he is dead!” she murmured, clinging to Conacher’s -arm. “He <span class='it'>would</span> kill himself, of course. . . . -Poor fellow! He had never known love when he was -young. When he was old love mocked him, and it -drove him mad. . . . Ah! how lucky <span class='it'>we</span> are, my -dearest dear!”</p> - -<p>They returned to the house across the way where -they had known such dreadful days and nights. But -the spell of dread was lifted now. Their breasts were -calm and free.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:2em;font-size:1.5em;'>THE END</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:4em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:1.2em;'>TRANSCRIBER NOTES</p> - -<div class='blockquote'> - -<p class='noindent'>Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. -Where multiple spellings occur, majority use has been -employed.</p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='noindent'>Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious -printer errors occur.</p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='noindent'>There are two occasions where a word appears to be missing in the -original printed book. 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