Adventure, November 1915 — page 118: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

116 He gives the free-trader time to consider “And the girl, man, the girl?’ broke in Ivan, puffing violently upon his pipe. “Tust as I was planning escape with her, Helbaud came out and sent me off for a priest.” “A priest? To one of the Indian camps, eh?” ‘Ves, the Montagnais camp up the shore. He told me to bring the priest from there.”’ “Father Boccairre!” put in Sachelle the chief trader, nodding briefly over his short black pipe. ‘I’m know heem, me.” “And he dares?” boomed Ivan. “By Heffen! It is time I was taking this tefflish upstart by his slippery neck. When a Northman goes out to war on women, things will be coming to a strange pass. But losh, Helbaud is no Northman, either. I will be asking your pardon, men—” with a sweep of his pipe-stem ’round the fire— “for classing him with you. He will make no move, Francois, till you get back, eh?” “T think not,” brooded Lavergne, “‘but still I am afraid.” “How many men has the ronion?” “T hardly know. His river fleets run large, and there have been more men coming down from the North as well.” “How many will he be having altogether, Francois, are you thinking?” “Perhaps half a thousand. I am not sure. It is hard to keep track with the shifting of the packers and the Montrealers who bring up the trade goods. But I would count as many as fifteen brigades agent us if he drew on his whole force.” “By the beard of Torngak, but the man is strong!’ mused the Factor, caressing his pipe. ‘I see stern work ahead to go into such a stronghold and take out Dubawni and the girl. But his trade, Francois, how runs his trade in fur?” “Large,” answered Lavergne, “‘very large. I counted in his warehouses and under his sheds and tents two thousand, five hundred ninety-pound packs. Their value will touch two million dollars, and that without counting Dubawni’s cargo from Dubawni Post.” “‘Heffen preserve’s! I can not be letting this robbery goon any longer. Iam always loath to come to violence, but this man invites nothing else. Two millions, you say? I’ll warrant he has scoured the North and reached the Hudson’s Bay shore. The Adventure stakes are big, and the game will be big as well. I am telling you, Francois, and Sachelle, and all the rest that this man will not be quenched in a day or a night. “You have campaigned with me against many a treacherous whelp of a fur upstart, but the campaigns we have undertaken are but pleasure jaunts to what this affair will be. Strife in its essence, you will be under- standing! That is what the antagonism must be. Ifthe Arctic Fur wins the Kania- piskau, I may as well close the doors of Chimo and take ship back to far Glenelg. “But my imagination will be running away with me. We are not concerning ourselves with the ultimate blow just yet. We are concerning ourselves with Dubawni and his daughter. An enemy, you will be remembering, men, and a man who has thrown my advances back in my face. By Helbaud’s code I would sit where I am and let the third party work its will. If the Arctic Fur smashes Dubawni, the Hudson’s Bay does not have to do it? Yon’s cynical logic, eh?” “Out,” spat Sachelle, “if she’s come down to de fine t’ing, I’m guess dat be de strategy of de war. But ba gar! She ain’t be your code, Factor; she ain’t be ma code; she ain’t be de code of any man here. I’m know, me. We be of de Hudson’ S Bay, de honorable company, an’ ’spose we goin’, knock diable out dis man Dubawni tomorrow mornin’, we be bound by de w’ite man’s code to rescue heem tonight.” “Man,” smiled the Factor, ‘“‘you will be speaking after my own heart. And forbye, I am taking it, you are echoing the senti- ments of every one around the fire. But how do we go about it? That is the point. This is the council-fire, men, and I will be asking your advice. For, mark you, who goes to Manikuagan Portage tonight takes a risk, and I will not be forcing you into any risk under any stubborn mandate. I may have my views as to the best move to make, but I will be considering your views as well. This is the council-fire, I am saying, and any may speak with an open © voice,’ ae | THE Seven Islands, the Moisie, ~~ the Mingan and the Romaine men looked at one another through the - smoke of their pipes, and with common consent their eyes centered upon Sachelle for he was their spokesman in most things, COPMICLOOOKS (C©)