Part 5 (1/2)

”h.e.l.lo, Muky!”

Instantly the old Indian was at his side, kneeling there silent, trembling, his face twitching with joy, his eyes gleaming, and where he had crouched a moment before there came Wabigoon, smiling down upon Rod in his own bursting happiness, which was only held in check by Minnetaki's hand and the almost inaudible ”Sh-h-h-h!” that fell from her lips.

”You right--me wrong,” the white boy heard Mukoki saying. ”You save Minnetaki--kill Woonga. Very much dam'--dam'--dam'--brave man!”

Mukoki was pressed back by Wabi's sister before he could say more, and a cool drink of spring water was placed to Roderick's lips. He felt feverish and the water gave him new strength. He turned his face to Minnetaki, and she smiled at him. Then he saw that the dead outlaw had been removed from the cabin. When he made an effort to raise himself a little the girl helped him, and rolled a blanket under his shoulders.

”You're not so badly hurt as I thought you were, Rod,” she said. ”That is, you're not dangerously hurt. Mukoki has dressed your wound, and you will be better soon.” Wabigoon, coming nearer, put both arms around his lovely little sister and kissed her again and again.

”Rod, you're a hero!” he cried softly, gripping his comrade's hand.

”G.o.d bless you!”

Rod blushed, and to restrain further effusions closed his eyes. During the next quarter of an hour Minnetaki prepared some coffee and meat, while both Mukoki and Wabi cared for the sledge-dogs outside.

”To-morrow, if you are stronger, we're going to take you on to Kenegami House,” the girl said to him. ”Then you can tell me all about your adventures during the winter. Wabi has told me just enough about your battles with the Indians and about the old skeletons and the lost gold-mine to set me wild. Oh, I wish you would take me with you on your hunt for gold!”

”By George, I wish we could!” exclaimed Rod with enthusiasm. ”Coax Wabi, Minnetaki--coax him hard.”

”You'll coax him, too, won't you, Rod? But then, I don't suppose it will do any good. And father and mother wouldn't listen to it for a moment. All of them are so afraid that some harm is going to befall me. That's why they sent me from Wabinosh House just before you boys returned. You see the Indians were more hostile than ever, and they thought I would be safer at Kenegami House. How I do wish they'd let me go! I'd love to hunt bears, and wolves, and moose, and help you find the gold. Please coax him hard, Roderick!”

And that very day, when he was strong enough to sit up, Rod did plead with his half-Indian comrade that Minnetaki might be allowed to accompany them. But Wabi stanchly refused even to consider the proposition, and Mukoki, when he learned of the girl's desire, grinned and chuckled in his astonishment for the next half-hour.

”Minnetaki ver' brave--ver' brave girl,” he confided to Rod, ”but she die up there, I guess so! You want Minnetaki die?”

Rod a.s.sured him that he did not, and the subject was dropped.

That day and night in the old cabin was one of the pleasantest within Rod's memory, despite the youth's wound. A cheerful fire of dry pine and poplar burned in the stone fireplace, and when Minnetaki announced that the evening meal was ready Rod was for the first time allowed to leave his bunk. For the greater part of the day Wabi and Mukoki had searched in the chasm and along the mountains for signs of the outlaw Indian's band, but their search had revealed nothing to arouse their fears. As mysterious and unaccountable as the fact seemed, there was no doubt that the old cabin was a retreat known only to Woonga himself, and as the four sat in the warm glow of the fire, eating and drinking, the whole adventure was gone over again and again until there seemed no part of it left in doubt. Minnetaki described her capture and explained the slowness of their flight after the ma.s.sacre.

Woonga was ill and had refused to move far from the scene of the slaughter until he had fully regained his strength.

”But why did Woonga kill the Indian back on the trail?” asked Rod.

Minnetaki shuddered as she thought of the terrible scene that had been enacted before her eyes.

”I heard them quarreling,” she said, ”but I couldn't understand. I know that it was about me. We had gone but a short distance after the sledges separated when Woonga, who was ahead of me, turned about and shot the other in the breast. It was terrible! And then he drove on as coolly as though nothing had happened.”

”I'm curious to know how he used the bear's feet,” exclaimed Rod.

”They were huge pads into which he slipped his feet, moccasins and all,” explained Minnetaki. ”He told me that the dogs would go on to Kenegami House, and that if pursuers followed us they would follow the sledge trail and never give a thought to the bear tracks.”

Mukoki chuckled deep down in his throat.

”He no fool Rod,” he said. ”n.o.body fool Rod!”

”Especially when he's on Minnetaki's trail,” laughed Wabi happily.

”Wasn't it Rod who discovered the secret of the lost gold, after you had given up all hope?” retorted Minnetaki.

The lost gold!