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But it strikes me it would even pay us to go out of our way to Missináibie to get rid of her. We could do that." "Well, I don't know " doubted Sam. "Of course " "Oh, bring her along if you want to," laughed Dick, "only it's your funeral. You'll get into trouble, sure. And don't say I didn't tell you."
Speculation, excited and earnest, arose among the men as to which of the branches of the Moose this brigade had hunted the Abítibi, the Mattágami, or the Missináibie. The half-breed women shaded their eyes. Mrs. Cockburn, the doctor's wife, and the only other white woman in the settlement, came and stood by Virginia Albret's side.
Whatever Sam decided was sure to be all right. "It's this way," replied the latter. "He's got to trade somewheres. He can't come into any of the Posts here at the Bay. What's the nearest? Why, Missináibie, down in Lake Superior country. Probably he's down in that country somewheres. We'll start south." "That's Ojibway country," hazarded Dick at random.
"Look heem Bla'k Bevair Lak," advised Louis Placide; "I t'ink dose Ojibway mak' heem lots marten, mink la bas." "Lads," said Kern, the trader at Old Brunswick House, "if you're going up th' Missináibie just cast an eye on my cache at Gull Lake, and see that the carcajaus have let her be." Young Herbert was curious. "Where are you headed, boys?" he inquired.
But almost with Sam's reply the creaking began again, and after an instant of indetermination continued its course. Then suddenly the woodsmen, with a simultaneous movement, raised their rifles, and with equal unanimity lowered them, gasping with astonishment. Dick's enemy, Ah-tek, the renegade Chippewa of Haukemah's band on the Missináibie, stepped from the concealment of the bushes.
I will drive the dogs, make the camp, cook the food. Never will I complain. If the food gets scarce, I will not ask for my share. That I promise." "Much of what you say is true," assented the woodsman, "but you forget you came to us of your free will and unwelcomed. It would be better that you go to Missináibie." "No," replied the girl.
"It's Ojibway country, but Jingoss is a Georgian Bay Ojibway. Down near Missináibie every Injun has his own hunting district, and they're different from our Crees, they stick pretty close to their district. Any strangers trying to hunt and trap there are going to get shot, sure pop.
I think it would pay us to go down to Brunswick House and get a new outfit. It's only about a week up the Missináibie." Then, led by inevitable association of ideas, "Wonder if those Crees had a good time? And I wonder if they've knocked our friend Ah-tek, the Chippewa, on the head yet? He was a bad customer." "You better hope they have," replied Sam. "He's got it in for you."
Ah-tek assented gravely. Evidently he cared very little whether or not his explanation was accepted. "How many days to Winnipeg?" asked Sam. "I have never been there," replied the Indian. "We have summered in the region of the Missináibie," proffered Sam. "Now we go to Winnipeg." The Indian's inscrutable countenance gave no indication as to whether or not he believed this.
"If Hutsonbaycompany make winterpost on Animiki will you get your debt there instead of Missináibie?" he asked first of all. Of course the Indian assented. "How much fur do you get, good year?" The Indian rapidly ran over a list. "Lots of fur. Is it going to last? Do you keep district strict here?" inquired Sam. Under cover of this question Sam was feeling for important information.
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