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Updated: July 6, 2025
They had heard a native version of the happenings in Johnny Gagnon's shack from the boatmen, but had merely shrugged. Bela was crazy, anyway, they said. Finally on the seventh day Musq'oosis and the two boys returned. Bela did not run to the creek. When the old man came to his teepee she was working around it with a highly indifferent air. Once more they played their game of make-believe.
Bela's face was pale, and one hand was pressed to her breast to control the agitated tenant there. To be obliged to speak out before so many white people was a terrible ordeal for the girl of the lake. She suspected, too, that there would be some difficult questions to answer and there was no Musq'oosis to advise her. Alas, if she had taken his advice she would not have been here at all!
You don't know me. Have a cigar. Sit down. What do you want to see Beattie about in such a rush?" "I goin' buy team and wagon," said Musq'oosis calmly. Mahooley laughed. "What are you goin' to do with it? I never heard of you as a driver." "I goin' hire driver," asserted Musq'oosis. "I sit down; let ot'er man work for me. So I get rich." This seemed more and more humorous to Mahooley.
His word is as good as his bond." "Too bad he's up against it in his old age," suggested Joe. "Up against it, what do you mean?" asked Beattie. "Well, he can't do much any more. And he doesn't seem to have any folks." "Oh, Musq'oosis has something put by for a rainy day!" said Beattie. "For years he carried a nice little balance on my books." "What did he do with it, then?" asked Joe carelessly.
"Sure, what'll you have?" "W'at you got?" "Damn little. Take your choice." After due observance on both sides of the time-honoured rules of bargaining, the matter was concluded, and Musq'oosis made a feint of gathering up his bundles. As a matter of fact, the old man had not yet reached what he had come for. "What's your hurry?" said Mahooley. "Sit and talk a while."
"Mak me feel good. I know what's the matter wit' me now. I understand all. I was mad for cause I think I got poor mis'able fat'er lak Charley." "It is well," said Musq'oosis. "You know my fat'er?" asked Bela eagerly. He nodded gravely. "Tell me." Musq'oosis seemed to look within. "Long tam ago," he began, "though I am not yo'ng then neither. It was in the Louis Riel war I see your fat'er.
"Some time when the gang ain't around I'll show you I ain't all bad," he said ardently. Bela shrugged. Musq'oosis was in the shack again to-night. He sat on the floor in the corner beyond the fire-place. Neither Bela nor Mahooley paid any attention to him, but he missed nothing of their talk. By and by the group around the table moved to break up.
"Don't mak' stop," observed Musq'oosis, smiling. "I lak hear what fonny thoughts come in his head." Mahooley glanced at him narrowly, suspecting a double meaning. When the rumble of the last wagon died away in the distance, Mahooley said carelessly: "Well, Musq'oosis, you know the old saying: 'Two is company, three is none." Musq'oosis appeared not to have understood.
She can refuse to let me in if she wants. And if Joe wants to mix things up, I'll oblige him down the road a piece." "All right, I tell Bela," said Musq'oosis. "Let me down now. Not want anybody know I talk to you." Sam pulled up. As the old man was about to get down he offered Sam his hand. "Ain't you little bit scare of Joe?" he asked curiously. Sam smiled wryly. "Sure!" he confessed.
Meanwhile the sun went down in troubled crimson splendour over the pines, presaging more squalls. When she came to the end he said sententiously: "You foolish go alone. You want a man." Bela was mum. "What you want of me now?" he asked. "Grease for the wound," said Bela. "A little food for myself." "All right. I give you. You goin' back?" "To-night." "I go with you," suggested Musq'oosis.
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