Adventure Magazine Cover — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

The Cannikin Clink Clink “S’pristif’”’ he ejaculated. water ess %. His commendation of the liquor was drowned in a prolonged gurgle. As he drank, his eyes rested upon the other’s face for a sign of when to stop. He got no sign save an encouraging nod. The flask came back empty. Around the curve the river reached straight west for three miles. The brigade dipped paddles in rhythm to a chantey. Lady-Face leaned toward the Br#é, who was wonderfully voluble from the good brandy. “Where does this voyage end?” “At de fort. In a month part go nord to de strong woods; part go wes’—to de gran’ hauteur des Pats.’ “But why? This is not the season to take supplies to the factories.” “Y know nudding certain,” the Brdlé volunteered. “‘But I have de eyes an’ ears. Dese pieces—” he tapped a pack— “dey some hold ironwork for big wood houses, an’ I hearit MclIllivray talk wit de gran’ Mac abou’ new vedettes.””” Lady-Face nodded. In a few minutes he tried another question. “Do you know anything about the Loon River derouine® last month when the N. W. men jockied the English out of thirty fur packs 99 The Br#lé’s eyes sparkled. “Gar, oui! It was gran’. Dey laugh, ever’-body, from de Saskatchewan to Le Grand Portage. You hearit?”’ Lady-Face shook his head and leaned forward to listen. “De English out of Fort X had been all spring visit de Belly-Fat Crees an’ get dere furs—thirty packs. Dey were comin’ back down de Loon River when dey met wit de N. W. couriers en derouine. Dey talk. Bineby dey unhitch teams an’ build big fire an’ talk more. “Bmeby de N. W. voyageurs untie keg an’ start botsson*. Dey ever’body up can- nikins, only de N. W. spill dere liquor on desnow. Bineby English get sleepy drunk; N. W. play drunk. Bineby N. W. tie sleepin’ English on dere tabanasks an’ start de dogs down river for de fort. N. W. get thirty pack of castor, fox, marten, mus- quash.” - ,l Watershed, height of land. 2Advanced outposts. 3Party sent out from fort to drum w “Dis fight- I Indian trade; ¢.¢,, to spur the Indians to take furs and bring them in to the fort. 4Drinking fest. 47 ““What else to the story?” Lady-Face prompted. 7 | Warmed inwardly by the brandy that was better than any he had tasted in many a day, and overly zealous to repeat the story which reflected all credit upon his own company, the Brdlé jargoned on—to an attentive Jistener. “English had map of Belly-Fat Cree country. N. W. got dat. English had books full of de debt dey gave to de Crees.® N. W. got dat. English had pencil plans for new vedette among Belly-Fats. N. W. got dat.” ‘So when this brigade splits at the fort, the party going north wil] build a station where the English had planned?” “T know nudding certain, ami,” said the Brvlé with the sincerity of a man slightly drunk. ‘But I hearit MclIllivray an’ de gran’ Mac talk. I t’ink zo.” “The English packs are still at the fort?” “Dey go out, pro’bly, wit de next voyage to Le Grand Portage.”’ A few more deft questions, and Lady- Face struck bilge water in his pumping. The Bralé had unbosomed himself of all he knew ‘certain,’ and much he had a mere inkling of. They ceased their talk; Lady-Face thinking deeply as he bent to paddle; the Brd@lé chorusing the ‘“Three Fairy Ducks” with a zest both spirited and spirit-engendered. ee A QUIVER of excitement ran down = (6544 the brigade. Lady-Face sensed it, j eae though darkness hid all but the two neighboring canoes from sight. Through a clump of river-bank white woods he caught glimpses of leaping fires half a mile ahead. The brigade paddled around the last curve; the canoes swung into a straight front across the river; the Brdlés loosed a cheer and a salvo of musketry. An an- swering salute from the fort howitzers, an instantaneous uproar from the fires— and the voyageurs broke into a chantey, bent their paddles blade-deep in the river and swept on toward the canoe landing. An arrow-flight from the shore Lady-Face, who sat in the rear of the third canoe and a little behind the talkative Brdlé, quietly shipped his paddle and slipped overboard without a splash or ripple. He drifted -5To give debt means to give credit in expectation of furs to be taken. Co DOOK C@