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Anyhow, he determined to find out. "A good balance?" he asked carelessly. "I mean for an Indian," returned Stiffy quickly. "Nothing to speak of." Joe was unconvinced. He bided his time. The talk drifted on to other matters. Joe sat thrashing his brain for an expedient whereby he might get a sight of Musq'oosis's account on Stiffy's ledger.
The conical teepees themselves, each with a bundle of sticks at the top and its thread of smoke, made no inharmonious note in the scene of nature. Only upon a close look was the loveliness a little marred by evidences of the Fish-Eaters' careless housekeeping. Musq'oosis's lodge stood by itself outside the semicircle and a little down stream.
He shook his head in his exasperating way. "How you goin' know the strongest?" "Who carries the biggest pack," she said, surprised at such a foolish question. Musq'oosis's head still wagged. "Red man carry bigger pack than white man," he said oracularly. "Red man's arm and his leg and his back strong as white man. But white man is the master. Why is that?" She had no answer.
The two horses dashed into sight around the bushes, and were sharply pulled up on their haunches. They were ridden by Bela and Jack. At the sight of her the old wild commotion was resumed in Sam's breast. Forgetting all else, he jumped up, snatching his hand out of Musq'oosis's. "You tricked me!" he cried furiously to him. The motionless figure gave no sign. Bela turned on the native boy.
For herself she would quickly have told him she loved him, had not her tongue been tied by Musq'oosis's positive instructions. And so the unhappy silence continued between them. "Maybe somebody come this way," said Bela at last. "Mak' trouble. Come up by my boat." Sam shook his head. "I've got to go back to camp now." "You not see me again. You got not'ing say to me?" asked Bela despairingly.
Mahooley was obliged to swallow his curiosity. "Well, who are you going to get to drive?" he asked. Musq'oosis's air for the first time became ingratiating. "I tell you," he returned. "Let you and I mak' a deal. You want me do somesing. I want you do somesing." "What is it?" demanded Mahooley suspiciously. "You do w'at I want, I promise I tell the Fish-Eaters come to your store."
Bela had learned Musq'oosis's own manner from him. If he wouldn't ask questions, neither would she volunteer information. Thus the two friends played the little comedy out. Sitting at the door of his teepee, Bela said: "Let me eat. I have nothing since I get up to-day." He put bread and smoked moose meat before her, and went on knotting his cords with an unconcerned air.
Now that he had learned what he wanted to know, he took no further pains to hide his sneers. "I'll tell Smitty that Forest's got a fine girl for a daughter," he said, rising. Musq'oosis's eyes followed him a little anxiously into the house. The dinner-hour was drawing near, but none of the boarders had arrived yet. Joe found Bela putting the plates and cups on the table.
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