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Updated: July 6, 2025
I wouldn't go to Sam if he was bleed to death by the road!" "Nobody see me," said Musq'oosis soothingly. "Everyt'ing get known here," she returned. "The trees tell it." "I know where he is," Musq'oosis murmured with an innocent air. Bela made a clatter among the dishes. After a while he said again: "I know where he is." Bela, still affecting deafness, flounced into the kitchen.
She did not come back until the supper guests were arriving. With a glance of defiance toward Musq'oosis, Bela welcomed Mahooley with a sidelong smile. That, she wished the Indian to know, was her answer. The red-haired trader was delighted. To-night the choicest cuts found their way to his plate.
"Nothing doing!" "All right, I go see Beattie." "Hold on." Thus it raged back and forth all afternoon. Half a dozen times they went out to look at the horses. Musq'oosis had to admit they were a nervy pair, though small. A dozen times the negotiations were called off, only to be renewed again. "Be reasonable," said Mahooley plaintively. "I suppose you want a year's credit. I've got to count that."
In the whole camp this morning, at the sounds of strife issuing from her father's teepee, the only head that was turned with a look of compassion for her was that of old Musq'oosis the hunchback. His teepee was beside the river, a little removed from the others.
He entered upon an amiable dissertation on fly-fishing, to which Joe gave half an ear, while he debated how to lead up to what he really wanted to know. In the end it came out bluntly. "Say, Musq'oosis, what do you know about a fellow called Walter Forest?" Musq'oosis looked at Joe, startled. "You know him?" he asked. "Yes," said Joe.
"You have good words," she put in meekly. "I tell you before," grumbled Musq'oosis. "Don't let him see you want him or he never want you." "I think he not want me moch," said Bela dejectedly. "Not lak ot'er men." "Wait a while," encouraged Musq'oosis. "Hard wood slow to catch, but burn longer. I tell you again keep your mouth shut. Don't let anythin' on.
He volunteered no further information. When Bela could stand it no longer she asked sullenly: "You hear no news at the settlement?" Musq'oosis laughed and took pity on her. He told her his story, suppressing only certain facts that he considered it unwise for her to know. "I glad the men mak' mock of Sam," she said bitterly. "Maybe he get some sense now."
"I t'ink maybe sell some this year," observed Musq'oosis. "Plenty new men come." "How much?" asked Joe. "Four bits." "I'll take a couple. There's a good stream beside my place." "Stick 'em in your hat." After this transaction Musq'oosis liked Joe a little better.
An instinct in her own breast told her the old man was right, but it was hard to resign herself to an extended campaign. Spring was in the air, and her need to escape from the Fish-Eaters great. "All right," she agreed sullenly at last. "How you goin' pick out best man of the five?" asked Musq'oosis slyly. "I tak' the strongest man," she answered promptly.
"See papa mus'rat," she said, pointing. "Sit so stiff under the leaves, think we see not'ing. Sit up wit' hands on his stomach lak little ol' man and look mad. Look lak Musq'oosis." Meanwhile she was nosing the dugout cleverly around the grassy bends of the tiny stream and under the willows. It was like a toy boat on a fairy river.
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