Adventure Magazine Cover — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

The Cannikin Clink Clink ears full of the nonsense that the English Cempany has mouthed in London!” McIilivray laughed. Even the factor’s tace cracked. The youth seemed abashed at their merriment over his words. At his dour expression the partner broke out laugh- Ing again. “Come, lad,’ he chuckled. ‘You will learn better—if you but give over your notion of seeing places not seen before, and will stay with us. This very night you will see things not seen before; and thereafter will use ‘noble’ more sparingly.” So died in a timely laugh the suspicions of the wintering wolf and of the wizened hawk, Mclllivray. The four passed through the stockade entrance, followed by the rout clamoring tor liquor. Just within, at right of the broad, graveled path, was Indian Hall, a low, spacious structure used to heuse natives in winter when they came, in safe numbers, with peltry. The Bloods had put their young women in the hall, what time the tribe should remain at the fort. To the left were the rambling, hewn-log quarters of the métis canoe men and French employees. One hundred steps from the entrance, in center of the stockade, stood the massive, square and heavily armed factory, wherein were the warehouse, trading room, fur presses, living quarters for factor and clerks, the dining room and the “‘butter-tub.” Visibly taken with the good parts of the youth and determined he should enter the service, the partner kept him close, naming the buildings, coloring up the seasonal work of the post, lauding the N. W. and damning all rivals. Lady-Face was noncommittal; seemed averse to the service. The partner tried another tack to win him around. ‘You crossed lately from Scotland?” “Less than a year, by a month. I came as a St. Lawrence colonist.”’ “Then you know the Scotty poet, and newer songs of his than those we have been singing at the Beaver Club in Montreal?” “Aye. I know some. But lately, it is said, he is too much with his cups to write as he once did.” “T have heard. <A great pity, lad, that he can not drink soberly and seldom; for he is our only pride against the English rimers. They have no drinking songs to compare with his. You will sing us his newest tonight?” , bye: I shall. But in truth the English 49 Especially is 39 too, have rare ale songs. there one master—one song ‘There is none to compare with our own Scotty poet!” the partner interposed so strongly that the youth did not dispute him. Their talk was cut short. The beggarly Piegans, pressing forward as the party was about to enter the factory, were getting be- tween them and the door. At McDonald’s sharp order and click of his brass-barreled pistol they fell back. But one middle-aged Indian, whom Lady- Face had not seen when he searched the crowd, jostled close to him, thrust a clay- smeared face within a foot of the youth, ogled him, and cried a name in surprize. The partner and Mclllivray heard, but McDonald was several steps in advance. Lady-Face hesitated for a second, as- tonished, dismayed. Then, stiffening, he reached out a blow, a slight swing that seemed no more than the straightening of an arm. ‘The Piegan, caught pointedly on his chin as he opened his mouth to cry some- thing else, dropped limply, knocked com- pletely out of his senses. “The dog!’ Lady-Face said hotly, meet- ing the question in the partner’s eye. “I met him down the river when I was camped alone. He would have robbed me had I not awakened in time.” “With the wine he holds and the blow you gave him, he will sleep a good long while,” the partner replied. Lady-Face breathed deeply as he entered the building. | | Miva IN THE clerk’s room where Mc- He Donald had given him temporary =~ quarters Lady-Face waited for his pack, which had been lost among the other pieces at the décharge. It was half an hour in coming. He unlashed it carefully, to examine. A glance told him the pack had been searched thoroughly before it was brought. He laughed silently at this evidence of Mc- Illivray’s suspicions and at the wasted pains; for the rucksack contained only his spare clothes, his provisions, his camping outfit, his powder and lead. But Mclllivray’s suspicions and especi- ally the factor’s had to be allayed. With the two watching hawkishly, plans would come to naught. Lady-Face cursed the Piegan softly as he stepped down the tunnel- like hall to McDonald’s quarters. i NOOK C©