Adventure, November 1915 — page 119: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Posts and with his peculiar gift of shrewd judg- ment and statement he was generally en- trusted with the responsibility of voicing their mental processes. “Me,”’ suggested Sachelle, acknowledging the cue by an explosive suck of his pipe, “Pm tink dere ain’t be anyt’ing to do but make de false attack from de forest side. Den wan party on de water might be dash : in and secure Dubawni and hees daughter.” “T’m afraid they are too strong for that,” brooded Lavergne, “and they would by no means leave the waterfront unguarded. I’m afraid it won’t do, Sachelle. 1 told her—Masita—to listen for the call of the curlew. If we could get up to the rock- beach unnoticed and the call was given, the thing might be managed as I planned at first before that cursed Helbaud stuck his evil face through the doorway.” “Aye, if unnoticed, Francois,’”’ nodded Ivan Trevor. “But with so much at stake, Helbaud is not the man to be careless of his approaches. Unless, forbye, he is so drunk as to forget all danger.” “He will not be that drunk,” declared Lavergne. “I have seen much of the man, and though he carouses deep, he seems to keep his wits. He will have sentinels out as usual, both on the portage and the beach. And the one on the beach will be strictly warned to bring word of my coming with the priest.” “Even so,” put in the thin, high-pitched, unemotional voice of the Nascaupee fort- runner Chakoni, “you speak the truth. He will be on the lookout for your coming with the priest. And if there is any wis- dom ’round the council-fire, he will not be disappointed in his watch.” “Eh, man?” demanded the Factor, alert on the instant at the incisive tone, a tone he knew that accompanied Chakoni’s ex- position of ruse and strategy and counsel. ‘What is it you are expounding? You will be explaining yourself?” ‘The Nascaupee pocketed the thin pipe _of stone he had been drawing on and stood up as if the plan of action were already decided. “‘Hilbaud looks for a priest,’’ he observed, gazing calmly into the Factor’s eyes. “Why should the Montagnais dog be disap- pointed? At Chimo, when stress lay on my people and sickness and famine and death went stalking through their ranks, I have seen you make as good a priest as SS ee Siete of Pillage ever set foot in the land. And tonight you have what this Father Boccairre of the Ishimanikuagan camp lacks—the kick of the rearing caribou in your ministering hand!”’ CHAPTER XI THE TAKING OF THE CASSOCK “TQ‘AIR grand!” exclaimed Ivan, spring- ing up from the fire. “Fair grand, Chakoni!”’ "He laid hands on the Nas- caupee fort-runner’s shoulders. and stared at him in admiration. “Man, man, when my wits work slow, you neffer fail me. You have an eloquence that, distills as the evening dew and a logic that sieves the bottom of the soundest argument.” Not a muscle of the stoic Nascaupee’s face moved, but the surface lights of his eyes glowed brighter with a something that might have been tenderness. “Factor, we have been blood-brothers through | many a troubled moon,” he re- - turned, “and the moons of our lives are yet young. Blood-brothers we shall be to the end, and my hand shall be with yours when you war. And I would that tonight when you put the vows to Hilbaud I might stand at your shoulder, but although I can not I will be close in the dark while you and Francois work the trick. “Aye, that you will,” eo iiha the Factor. “You all will be close in the dark. So get ready, men, and whisk the camp clean of canoes, dunnage and all. We will not be coming back here. That one thing is plain. There will be no safety for us south of Manikuagan depot after we slap Helbaud’s cheek. ‘ It will be Northward as fast as the paddle will drive. If we succeed as we hope to, we must point for the Hieigt of “Land.” “Mon Dieu,’ demurred the chief trader Sachelle, “Pm ain’t t’ink, even wit’ de good luck, dat we be able to get over to portage.” “Tush, man, nor will we be trying,” snorted Ivan. “Do not be misinterpreting me. We will not be coming back here be- cause there will be no time to stop. But we will be coming past here, on the run, forbye, and with the tefflish Arctic Fur whelps on our heels if they have the heart to push the chase in the dark. “We will whirl out of the river into Ishi- manikuagan Lake, you are understanding, - SS 117 COMMELDOO -_ Seer tte ate eee ee te Si So an TS « - a We Ree ~ ote, —+- 2 “- ms — =a “. < >h ae . Cet aa iS ee LOR v4 = - . ~. “age aes” ee — — — rz Se LY ; ee AY, Pe : ., ‘hl inf soe Ne tied find. , aE) Cel, ‘ ‘i i “ ie , fot mh tas be yA . at fe t wha ; rim ies ot 34, Y: s Aire a ty, : CERES Br ae Te AMP EE eT HN fe Teh POT PRON NAINA BRIE RON ALT PPLE RUBS AERO Vere I MENDY BRE ARR NE eps HAP i com rt ry Pe Dy te hale ha taal Se Re Oe lait k: Paid ae > Werth sw rd ¥