Part 13 (2/2)
It was a night of white reat fires over which the caribou had roasted for the savage barbecue that day were still burning brightly In the edge of the forest that ringed in the Post were the s embers of a score of sray shadows of teepees and tents In these shelters the three hundred halfbreeds and Indians who had come in from the forest trails to the New Year carnival at the Post were sleeping Only here and there was there a s were quiet after the earlier hours of excitee spits still standing, Challoner passed toward the Factor's quarters Miki sniffed at the freshly picked bones Beyond these bones there was no sign of the two thousand pounds of flesh that had roasted that day on the spits Men, wos had stuffed the left It was the silence of Mutai--the ”belly God”--the God who eats hiely over this Post of Fort O' God, three hundred ht in the Factor's room, and Challoner entered with Miki at his heels MacDonnell, the Scotch moodily on his pipe There was a worried look in his ruddy face as the younger man seated himself, and his eyes were on Miki
”Durant has been here,” he said ”He's ugly I'm afraid of trouble If you hadn't struck hied his shoulders as he filled his own pipe from the Factor's tobacco
”You see--you don't just understand the situation at Fort 0' God,” went on MacDonnell ”There's been a big dog fight here at New Year for the last fifty years It's become a part of history, a part of Fort O' God itself, and that's why in my own fifteen years here I haven't tried to stop it I believe it would bring on a sort of--revolution I'd wager a half of o to another post with their furs That's why all the sympathy seems to be with Durant Even Grouse Piet, his rival, tells hiet aith hi is HIS”
MacDonnell nodded at Miki, lying at Challoner's feet
”Then he lies,” said Challoner quietly
”He says he bought hi that didn't belong to him”
For a moment MacDonnell was silent Then he said:
”But that wasn't what I had you co that froze ht Your outfit starts for your post up in the Reindeer Lake county to-”
”Then could you, with one ofaround by way of the Jackson's Knee? You'd lose a week, but you could overtake your outfit before it reached the Reindeer--and it would be ahappened over there”
Again he looked at Miki
”GAWD!” he breathed
Challoner waited He thought he saw a shudder pass through the Factor's shoulders
”I'd goof ht this winter, Challoner I OUGHT to go Why--(a sudden glow shot into his eyes)--I knew this Nanette Le Beau when she was SO HIGH, fifteen years ago I watched her grow up, Challoner If I hadn't been married--then--I'd have fallen in love with her Do you know her, Challoner? Did you ever see Nanette Le Beau?”
Challoner shook his head
”An angel--if God ever h his red beard ”She lived over beyond the Jackson's Knee with her father And he died, froze to death crossing Red Eye Lake one night I've always thought Jacques Le Beau MADE her marry hihtened at being alone Anyway, she o I saw her last Now and then I've heard things, but I didn't believe--not all of them I didn't believe that Le Beau beat her, and knocked her dohen he wanted to I didn't believe he dragged her through the snow by her hair one day until she was nearly dead They were just rumours, and he was seventy miles away
But I believe theuess he told ain he looked at Miki
”You see, Durant tellsin one of his traps, took hiht When Durant caht hie to show his temper that Nanette interfered Le Beau knocked her down, and then ju her when the dog went for him and killed hih fear that I'd have the dog shot if he was an out-and-out o by way of the Jackson's Knee
I want you to investigate, and I want you to do what you can for Nanette Le Beau My Indian will bring her back to Port O' God”
With Scotch stoicism MacDonnell had repressed whatever excitement he may have felt He spoke quietly But the curious shudder went through his shoulders again Challoner stared at him in blank a--has killed a man?”
”Yes He killed hi in the big fight to-day UGH!” As Challoner's eyes fell slowly upon Miki, the Factor added: ”But Grouse Piet's dog was better than the man If what I hear about Le Beau was true he's better dead than alive
Challoner, if you didn't think it too o that way--and see Nanette--”