The Law of the North (Originally published as Empery.odt

7/26/2019 The Law of the North (Originally published as Empery.odt

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Law of the North (Originally publishedas Epery!" by #auel $le%ander &hite

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and withalost no restrictions whatsoe'er )ou ay copy it" gi'e it away orre*use it under the ters of the Project Gutenberg License includedwith this eBook or online at wwwgutenbergorg

Title+ The Law of the North (Originally published as Epery! $ #tory of Lo'e and Battle in ,upert-s Land

$uthor+ #auel $le%ander &hite

.llustrator+ Thornton #kidore

,elease /ate+ 0ebruary 1" 2314 5EBook 671892:

Language+ English

;;; #T$,T O0 TT G?TENBE,G EBOO@ T


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>OP),.G


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DD. BL$>@ 0E,G?#ON-# &.LE 2H7

DD.. 0$&N $N/ P$NTON?E#T 41K

L$& O0 Topany-s en The co'er" now no longer necessary" wasbrushed aside for a better 'iew .n the lead he recognied the suareshoulders and ighty breadth of Bruce /un'egan fro O%ford


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of superior education and chief trader to Aalcol Aacleod" the 0actor

&hen /un'egan with his hardy brigade of 'oyageurs cae abreast thecourier-s shelter" /reaulond was seied with a sudden spirit of huor"and launched a long*drawn" far*carrying cry

Ci'e le Nor-westaireMC he bellowed

$s autoatons" actuated by a single controlling spring" the en droppedwhate'er they bore and leaped to shelter behind perpendicular rocks"huge logs" or bullet*proof stups" only the ends of their rifles showinggri and suggesti'e in silent enace The discipline of defense whichfell upon the naturally without preconcerted thought" without 'olition"was pleasing to a an who lo'ed his >opany-s interests as did/reaulond oe out" Basil" he ordered &hat trick are you playing nowQ

The courier-s face" a clean*cut ask of brown cunning" grinned at thefro the fringing taarack

)ou be waste dose balls" he laughed &ho you t-ink eet wasQ Black0erguson" of de Nor-westaires" ebbeQ

)ou rascal" repro'ed /un'egan" your jokes will soe day get you aroasting o'er the wrong fire

CNonMC . tak- de good care of aself Black 0erguson an- hees en deydon- catch e wit- a eyes shut


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group before hi One face was strange Between tall Aaskwa" the Ojibwayfort runner and the ost trusted .ndian in the ser'ice" and &ahbiscaw"the >ree bowsan" stood the alien =ust the fraction of a inute Basilpuled o'er hi" then flashed his friendly grin at all his old friends

CBo- jou-" bo- jou-C" he greeted" in the northland fashion

CBo jou-C" /reaulond" they returned Good journeyQ

COuiC" responded the courier . ha'e no troubl- wit- deNor-westaires /ey too ooch busy get ready for de wintaire trade"ebbe

)ou-'e coe o'er fro Nelson ree cap on de @atchawan

&hatQ /un'egan cried in great surprise #he is in ,unning &olf-scapQ &hat foolery is thatQ .s Black 0erguson with her thereQ

CNonC" she be alone" the courier declared &-at she doin- . don-know &-en . try learn dat" she lak wan speetfire" yesM #he ha'e de

ission education an- talk lak CdiableC #he goin- ha'e de >rees t-rowe out de cap . kip uiet denM )ou goin- see herQ

$t onceM e%claied the chief trader" who" seeingly ipelled by asudden fe'erish unrest" ga'e swift" tart orders to his en to take uptheir burdens &hy didn-t you tell e this beforeQ

/at for tell de 0actor" Basil chided . no spik de idl- word lak wanold CfeeC


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Basil-s huge paw . heard hi naed with honor and with adiration

opany to ake a an of hi New en'ironentM The

prie'al law of adaptationM

/reaulond adjusted the tup*line and placed the canoe upon hisshoulders

C$u re'oirMC he called

C$u re'oirC" echoed the chief trader

Basil bobbed on o'er the rough portage" pondering on Glyndon as he went


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rabbit*skin blankets sat 0lora Aacleod" the 0actor-s fugiti'e daughteropanycannot afford to lose the trade of his tribe through any real or fanciedoffense in taking you away

/reaulond told you" 0lora Aacleod repeated spitefully


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$hM /un'egan e%claied . thought as uch But you were legallyarriedQ

0ather Aercerau%" the Nor-west priest" arried us

Bruce-s face brightened That-s good . know Aercerau% #o there couldha'e been no trickery )ou ha'e a copy of his registerQ

)es" answered 0lora . treasure that**and the child

#o will the 0actor" Bruce obser'ed

The daughter frowned at the repeated ention of the gri one who wouldpronounce judgent on her for disobeying his orders . hate hi" shedeclaredR . hate****

#topM interrupted /un'egan harshly . don-t want your confidences$nd take a little ad'ice fro e /on-t set your spirit up against his. know hi**perhaps better than you . yself rather fear to tell hi ofyour desertion

0earM e%claied 0lora" her glance running o'er /un'egan-s assi'e"si%*foot frae )ou ne'er felt it But let Aalcol AacLeod take care .ha'e power here ,unning &olf wishes e to stay The tribe . can twistlike a ri'er weed $nd the Nor-west >opany is 'ery acti'e in gainingground #o let the lord of O%ford


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di'orceM

There was" aditted 0lora grily"


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Bruce siled grily $nd her rewardQ he asked" and cursed hiselfinstantly because of the pain that oentarily changed the girl-se%pression opany-s en .f youweren-t you would not be Aalcol Aacleod-s chief trader

#he is a Nor-wester at heart opany-s roof with her uncle" a ser'ant of the sae organiation /oesthat fit in with her 'owQ $ fig for such 'owsM

#he has no other relati'e and no place else to li'e" asserted thechief trader $s for her resol'e" it is proof against changing" for.**ha'e tested it

Then" obser'ed Aacleod-s daughter" the Nor-wester has a good chanceof arrying her ree en coing backM

O'er the ridge which ried the cap with a rapart of spruce the.ndians dropped" one by one" bounding lightly fro rock to rock in

noiseless buckskins They threaded the birch belt and crossed the cedarslash" swung around the long bea'er eadow below" and eerged upon theflat ri'er point supporting their cap The chief trader saw they werecarrying nothing e%cept weapons

They ha'e left the carrying of the gae for the suaws" he obser'ed

No" cried 0lora" . can tell by their faces that the hunt has failedThey ha'e found no caribou and are in a bad ood )ou had better lea'ee here

Not if we ha'e to fight the whole tribe" declared /un'egan

But his eyes" only" saw the >rees coing up to the sun*scalded cap


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>ree bucks cae slowly up the point" foring a sort of respectfulretinue to ,unning &olf" his son" Three 0eathers" and others of the headen whose dignity of tribal status allowed the to stalk in front

#lo'enly suaws and dirty" round*eyed children now appeared fro thedark interiors of wigwas which before had shown no sign of life Thesebegan to cluck their derision and to indulge in shrieking laughs ofridicule to the 'isible discofiture of the hunters ree" and theirinstant assuption of eekness 'ouched for the acid uality of hisphrases Then he approached /un'egan" with Three 0eathers at his heels

CBo- jou-C" ,unning &olfR Cbo- jou-C" Three 0eathers" greeted thechief trader

CBo- jou-C" #trong 0ather" returned the >ree chieftain with gra'epoliteness

Three 0eathers did not speak" but contented hiself with noddingsullenly


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.t was not so" spoke Three 0eathers aliciously .t was instead thebad agic of the white traders The spirits also were kind" for theyga'e us no gae and turned us fro our hunting that our suaws ight notbe stolen


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Neither" answered /un'egan The 0actor sent e any oons ago tofind his daughter and to bring her back to the 0ort

$h*hahM e%claied ,unning &olf Then it is e'en as Three 0eathers"the hasty one" saidM ree-s ar The

0actor did not know where the girl was $ll he knew was that sheharkened to the wooing of Black 0erguson" our eney #he ade trystswith hi in spite of our 'igilance" and finally escaped to his forts andarried hi Aarried hi and bore a son to hi in the face of Aacleod-sblack wrathM )ou know the #tern 0ather" ,unning &olf )ou know how sucha thing would gripe


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The tone of his last stateent told /un'egan that on this point he wasadaant 0lora Aacleod flounced back to her child" the wrath of her soulchoking at her lips

Aake ready" urged the chief trader &e start at once

onnear" an $erican and an e%*sailor who had drifted north by the,ed ,i'er route and entered the >opany-s ser'ice" did as directed" butthe bra'es ga'e ground sullenly Three 0eathers hiself becae'ociferous

/ogs and sons of dogs" he anatheatied the" you ha'e hearts ofwater to steal about" capturing woen

#hut up" ad'ised >onnear dryly

#alt ,at" Three 0eathers sent back" staping in ipotent rage" thereis no place for you here in the forest Get away to your Big &aters

onnear was swifter $lost

before the young chief realied it the sailor was upon hi The >ree-swrists were pinned behind his back in the grip of Pete-s left handR hewas whirled o'er the sailor-s knee and gi'en as sound a spanking as e'era recalcitrant child recei'ed

>onnear-s pal was hard with years of searing brineR and Three 0eatherswas blessed with no stoicis


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danced a sailor-s hornpipe in the center and hooted in delightfulanticipation of a fight

The crisis seeed ine'itable $ trade*gun barked in the rear Thebra'es" with urder in their untaed hearts" shook out their weaponsready to throw their weight against /un'egan-s line" but a deep*throated>ree 'oice held the on the 'erge of their adness

#topM called the 'ibrant 'oice of ,unning &olf" or . blast you withthe e'il spirit

$s one an the crowd turned and looked at the speaker

The old chief stood behind the with 0lora and her child rees obeyed There arose no urur" no protest

/un'egan knew ,unning &olf could not ha'e done this thing by his powersof chieftainship


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Below Bear .sland

uietly /un'egan shifted his bow till the canoe bore a course whichwould bring the directly in the path of the strange craft opany .t ight belong to the Nor-westers .tight carry free traders &hate'er it was" it was his duty to find out

&ar yellow the bark shone as the distance lessened #apphire glintsflashed out as the paddles flickered after each plunge #oon the en ofthe brigade could see that the craft contained four figures" but it wasAaskwa-s long*range 'ision which discerned their nationalities

Ojibways" twoR white en" two" he announced Good paddlers

$nd so it pro'ed when they drew near /un'egan saw" seated behind thenati'e bowsan" a keen*'isaged" lean" athletic an of forty ouldn-t .Q challenged /un'egan


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No" growled the black*bearded arshal $ show*down-s the thing thatwe-re after

)ou fooled e" laughed /un'egan But you had better e%hibit yourpapers Ay 0actor is death on free tradersR and . ha'e to report to hi"you know

&ho-s your 0actorQ the sooth*faced arshal asked as he di'ed into the

pocket of his buckskin coat that was stuffed under the forward thwart

Aacleod" of O%ford


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Like a hawk Granger had watched his face urs barkedR childrensuealedR nati'e tongues chattered in any languages Eager e%pectancy"intense interest" was the sensation of each huan being or anial thatwaited on the beach Their wild hearts" keyed to a lo'e of the 'astplaces" to a worship of all the attributes of wilderness life" couldne'er welcoe a brigade uno'ed That distinct institution of theopany was a thing which they idolied and re'ered Thecrowd in a fe'er of joyous e%citeent pressed to the 'ery water-s edgeand shifted the length of the landing Each inute of waiting theyfilled with claor and gesticulation" the hu of 'oices growing to a


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roar as /un'egan-s brigade approached within hailing distance

50ootnote 1+ Eskio sledge dogs:

But behind the a hea'y step sounded on the 'eranda of the 0actor-shouse" and looking" they saw the suare*set bulk of Aalcol Aacleod $hush blanketed the confusion Not a foot or tongue stirred by thelake*edge #o deep was the stillness that the slight wash of the

plunging canoes could be heard distinctly The 0actor did not speak" buthis bushy eyebrows lowered and the piercing gae of his steely" blackeyes was concentrated on the scene ree cap

Aacleod-s habitually acti'e brain seeed slow in coprehending thestateent The tight lines of his outh rela%ed" and his jaws jarred

apart in an attitude of sheer aaeent

#tern 0ather" ,unning &olf hastened to add" it is y wish and the&hite #uaw-s wish that she reain in y lodge $s for the sun and thestars and the south wind is y worship for her . ha'e coe for yourconsent ree deigod**that-s yconsentM $nd his strong hands hurled ,unning &olf headlong fro the


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'eranda steps alost to the ri of the gaping crowd

The old warrior picked hiself up in a freny of spirit and" forgettingall traditions and restraints" rushed insanely at the 0actor But/un'egan blocked his path and grasped the uplifted hand

/on-t do that" ,unning &olf" he warned )ou can only work your ownruin $ blow would ean your deathM

>hest hea'ing" eyes blaing" the >ree chieftain strained a oent afterhis insulter /un'egan-s strength forced hi back and instilled soesubstance of sanity &hen he found his 'oice" his speech trebled withhate

)ou are #tern 0ather now" he hissed in >ree" but . can change it to#oft 0ather****

Aacleod took a step forward as if on sudden ipulse to crush once forall a defiance flung in his teeth" but he caught the look of entreatyfor lenience in the chief trader-s eyes ree .- lord of this country E'ery an knows it E'eryan CustC know itM


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$s e'eryone at this and all the other northern posts understood" AalcolAacleod was ruled by twin passions+ pride and hate


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>hurch of England issionary" had perished in thewinter-s last bliard on Lone &olf Lake and the >opany had failed asyet to get a inister in his place" the spiritual welfare of O%fordatholic" disciple and pagan" ealot and scorner alike attended thekindly priest-s ser'ices and sought his generous aid in any pri'ate

atters&ith the bell-s suons they cae singly" in twos or threes" and ingroups of 'arying sie to take part in" or 'iew the orning ass as wellas to see the christening of 0lora Aacleod-s child

Bruce /un'egan left his business in the trading roo of the


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This is the best opportunity that you will e'er find" /un'egandeclared .f you want to go straight and li'e clean" the way is easy.t sees to e these lake breees" these pine woods" these outdoor daysare a long way reo'ed fro teptation


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get y things or . shall be late for ass

/un'egan thought to wait upon her" but the English clerk sprang infirst

.t is for e to ser'e" he declared . ust learn y business

$nd the chief trader e%perienced a pang of intense jealousy as he

watched the laughter and badinage of the two across the counter while/esirSe ade her purchases


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drifted in fro nowhere to the post about a year before .t was the0ool-s delight to go about hearing e'erything through dog*like ears"seeing e'erything through owlish eyes

None could find out who or what he was" or whence he had coe )et anyat O%ford harles .anAacleodM There will be no 0erguson in it


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$ urur stirred the asseblage at the 0actor-s rude reark" but theydared not add protest to their surprises /un'egan of course" hade%pected it fro the first

&ho stands as sponsor for this infantQ asked the priest

Aacleod swung hiself half round and nodded to /un'egan Bruce rose tohis feet" seeing with surprise that Gaspard" the 0ool" had also raised

hiself up by juping upon the seat

&ho stands sponsorQ

." suealed the idiot $lso" he can ha'e y nae" for if the truthcae out" it is as good as anyone-s and****


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&ait a oent" /esirSe" he begged . want you to proise esoething .-ll ha'e no peace till you do Aacleod has ordered e tobuild at once the new post on the site . selected****

@aattawaQ she ueried

)es .t is to hold the Nor-westers in check

/esirSe siled The copany of y fatherM she repro'ed gently

&ould that there were no need to fight theM /un'egan breathed &ouldthat . ight stay hereM But . cannot $nd it is torture for e to gowith fear and doubt in y ind . want your solen proise that thisan 0erguson shall ha'e no speech with you

&hyQ #he was looking at hi with her head turned sidewise like a saucybird

&hyQ Bruce echoed #urely you don-t ean that )ou know what he is)ou saw to*day what he has done They say he is hard set after you $ndyour heart should recoil fro the 'ery idea &hyQ )ou don-t ean it"

/esirSe )ou are not that shallowM


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Oh" your proud spiritM she laented $nd ine as proudM .t-s no use"Bruce .t-s no use

#he sprang up on the steps" but /un'egan caught her by the ars

/on-t" she protested There are people passing

They can-t see" he replied fe'erishly )ou usn-t go like thiswithout telling e ore &hy will you keep this barrier between usQ

. ha'e 'owed . will ne'er wed a an e%cept he be of y own copany

But whyQ &hat is the loyalty of old ser'ice to a woanQ

$s uch as to a an ,eeber e'ery an of the copanies was bred ofwoan .t is a atter of blood $nd loyalty to the Northwest >opany isin y blood

Because the feinine soul of her was beyond his understanding" the chieftrader was sitten with bitterness and anger $nd you will fore'er

swear by these Nor-westersQ he deanded )ou will swear by a lot offrontier ruffians herded under the leadership of such a scoundrel asBlack 0ergusonQ Tell e thatM

. ust" /esirSe answered

/un'egan turned on his heel without another word

But /esirSe was flying after hi as he reached the trail


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>rown weree%pressly forbidden to 'isit or trade in this iense tract iolationof the edict eant that trespassers ran the risk of sudden decease underthe judgent of the >opany-s ser'ants 0or these were entrusted not

only with the absolute proprietorship" supree onarchy" and e%clusi'etraffic of that undefined country known as ,upert-s Land" whichcoprised all the regions disco'ered or to be disco'ered within thegates of hristian prince or state were protected and withheld fro the>opany-s operation These clais were confired in 198H by the Treatyof ,yswick" only to be abandoned by the Treaty of ?trecht in 1H14 But

still 'oyageurs of the ad'enturous heart wet their paddle blades in the#askatchewan-s sinuous waters" winding on the far uest of peltriestoward the barrier of the ,ockies >onuest and cession interrupted sucho'erland enterprises" but shrewd English business heads began latersysteatically to direct these undertakings till the pursuit finally ledto the foration in 1HJ4 of the Northwest 0ur >opany of Aontreal

#ecure in its possession" strong in its kingship until now" the


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surprises and stern reprisalsR of secret plottings and bloodyskirishes $


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.t-s his idiocy Gaspard is harless )ou see they could no ore put aspy into O%ford opany would put a decent an in charge


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Gaspard stood speechless


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The floor shook with the spring of the en to their feet /un'egan hadinstantly leaped the length of the roo and lifted the dwarf in hishands" shaking hi to search out the truth of the stateent

/o you lieQ he cried tensely #peakM .s this an idiot-s fancyQ

Gaspard wriggled leent Neaire swung wide the stockade gates Bearing a forty*foot furcanoe" /un'egan and his en filed out on their ission The entranceclosed behind the ysterious going

CBon fortuneC" whispered Neaire

>


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Aarshy bea'er eadows" fringing the Bay" hedged the tiber line"spreading across to Aooswa ridge and gi'ing no solid footing e%cept whatwas afforded by a da tra'ersing the black water This ridge fell awaygradually to where O%ford oe" act suare with e The always gi'es a an a chance .t-sthe first offense" you know .-ll turn y canoe south on the inute


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for you at O%ford


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Before /un'egan had felt the depressing gloo of the Nor-wester-sshadow Now he felt the flaing insult of the Nor-wester-s flesh

?nder that insult his blood stung as under the stroke of a dog*whip Thescintillating fire grew in his darkened eyes


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leading a dash for the canoe and shouting the onnear andBurke ran knee deep into the water with the big craft Gaspard 0olletwas the first to leap in" but he sank clean through the botto with ahowl of disay Like a dripping rag they pulled hi out" and >onnear

copletely e%hausted his store of sailor-s e%pleti'es

#ilence" ordered /un'egan sharply &hat-s wrong with you thereQ TheNor-westers were shooting fro the incline abo'e the co'e and theirbullets spat in the water

onnear answered #oeoneca'ed in Aichael-s head with a gun stockR Gray Eagle was shot**. saw hifallM $nd old ,unning &olf fired the shotM

The >ree joined the" ehQ . e%pected that &here-s AaskwaQ


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cursed good looks" his woan-s eyes" his easy annersM $nd ark this"0ather" . could ha'e hi drafted in a inute to our farthest post Often.- tepted to do itM

The kindly priest laid a hand on /un'egan-s ar" feeling the chieftrader-s uscles tighten under his inward eotions

#on" Brochet obser'ed" these are strenuous hours with the agents of

two great copanies stri'ing for the o'erlordship But in the idst ofall the conflicts" the defeats" the triuphs" who is the real 'ictorQ

The opany" declared /un'egan loyally

The priest laughed Not the aterial conueror" he e%plained . eanwhat sort of spirit holds the real supreacyQ

The an with the hea'iest hand" was the chief trader-s practicalanswer

No" Brochet contradicted" the an who rules hiselfM .f you sent awaythis handsoe Edwin Glyndon out of en'y" you would be only indulging

your own petty hate >onuer your passions" y son That is the truekingshipM .f you cannot win a woan-s will on your erits" don-t win itat all No benefit e'er cae of such a 'ictory gained by nothing butstrength or craft

/un'egan paced uneasily in front of his trading roo" his eyes glancingfurti'ely toward the blank doorway of the store through which Glyndonand /esirSe had disappeared

)et . go this afternoon with y en to build @aattawa" lea'ing a freefield to hi" he brooded .s that not gi'ing Glyndon an ad'antagewhich you ad'ise e not to take yself The rule works both ways itsees to e

That" Brochet declared judicially" is the natural course of thingsThe other is uite different


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please e 'ery uch

opany-sbooks is three hundred bea'er


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purse would be suandered on fascinating" but useless" finery

Big Otter traded ne%t The way he leaned o'er /un'egan-s counter showedthat they were old friends

Now coes y weak brother" he of the old libs" the aged bones" thewaning strength" bantered the chief trader 0or hi there is a debt ofone hundred castors recorded

But Big Otter siled at /un'egan-s joke" knowing that his libs weresound as any young buck-s" reebering that his catch ran well o'erthree hundred

#trong 0ather-s tongue akes erry" he returned &here is theyouthful bra'e who can follow y tracksQ

. don-t know hi" aditted the chief trader" laughing" but ,unning0ire is aking a ighty nae #oe fine day he ay follow you

Big Otter sniffed in contradiction Let us wait and see" he suggested

/un'egan passed o'er a string of castors longer than the pre'ious oneThree hundred and fifty castors is your debt" great one" he siled"and to the . add twenty Thus you stand high with us But in returnfor the present you ust tell e how you anage to keep your peace ofind" your strength of body

The unweakened Ojibway chuckled uietly

. lo'e not" he answered . hate not . drea not

$bruptly he strode out

$nd /un'egan" pondering" wondered if e'er was born the white an who

could thus get his debt in life

$ll the long forenoon the .ndian trappers cae to get their credit Thesi% reaining Ojibways filed up $ppeared the twel'e &ood >rees Theeaciated .rouois Bea'er Tail cae hubly and in gratitude But ,unning&olf-s band fro the @atchawan failed to arri'e Not a hunter of histribe showed face in the palisaded yard No canoe fro his caps touchedprow on O%ford shore

$lthough Aalcol Aacleod had before boasted his unconcern at such anissue" the confronting of the stern truth weighed upon his taciturnspirits The >ree chief had fallen in with Black 0erguson-s party andjoined it" because he had been seen fighting in their ranks but a few

nights earlier The fact that none of his kind had reported showed that,unning &olf had reached the by essenger /oubtless by now the fieryThree 0eathers and his brethren had swelled the Nor-west forces

This knowledge plunged Aacleod in a black ood


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fleet of canoes pointed o'er O%ford-s waters The crowd cheered adly"dinning farewells and firing continual Cfeu*de*joiesC They thrilled atthe sight of the brawn going forth to build @aattawa to shut out theNor-westers fro the alley These looked able to do itR brown*aredwhite enR swarthy post .ndiansR the hardy CUtisCR the dashing'oyageurs The watchers- pulses leaped with adiration for theindefatigable leader who had tra'elled thus at the head of countlessbrigades on soe stern ission for the >opany 0or hi they raised a

story cry of appreciation which was heartily echoed back by the en ofthe fleet

But /un'egan heeded not the uproarious approbation The last glance hecast back centered on one handsoe" siling face in the throng" the faceof Edwin Glyndon Two other faces he issed" and his eyes looked ahead"searching the island*dotted e%panse of water

Aany iles of sil'er surface O%ford Lake unrolled before theR anylong" peaceful" shining ilesM $n intense cal irrored it The fiery"autun sun glaed the whole The 'i'id shores floated double along itssides The sky lay down in its depths with great fish swiing aong thewhite cloudsR while so still swooned the water that the 'ery 'eining and

shading of color in the reflected foliage could be definitely traced$s o'er sil'ered glass was the passing of the brigade Each blotch ofcanoe botto" each bit of o'erhanging duffle" each ui'ering sinewstraining on the paddle flashed up fro below

Lightening the labor of their stroke" the debonair 'oyageurs broke intotheir failiar boating song+

CEn roulant a boule roulante****C

$nd chanting ore swiftly" they sang in 'oices which blended with theartistic char nature alone can gi'e+

C$h fils du roi" tu es Uchant" En roulant a boule" Toutes les plues s-en 'ont au 'ent" ,ouli roulant" a boule roulantC

By &indy .sland they uickened their pace" chorusing loudly+

CEn roulant a boule roulante" En roulant a bouleR /erriUre che*nous y*a*t*un- UtangR En roulant a bouleC

#o the brigade went $nd O%ford .BLE

Off >aribou Point &ahbiscaw" the bowsan of /un'egan-s canoe" cried outsharply in his nati'e tongue The craft turned aside fro a jagged reef


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of rock that poked like a pike-s nose alost to the surface Then theysped on with increasing rapidity The >ree knew e'ery channel" e'eryfang" e'ery shoal" e'ery bar in the shallows of O%ford Lake $nd ofe'ery other lake and ri'er in his district there was a ap in his ind

.t is the uneualled gift of the true red an to reeber country o'erwhich he has tra'elled but once Not only does he recall the trails orthe waterways but the things which go to ake those trails or waterways


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bucked the onstrous seas which broke o'er the canoe bows till eachbailer-s uscles craped under the strain of clearing shipped water" orhow the craft" sliding eteor*like down the passed surge crests" slappedand pounded in the wa'e troughs till the bottos broke in rents and thedaring crews won the shore race with death by a scant paddle-s stroke

Likewise a brief obituary states that Gabriel 0onderel was killed in askirish with soe of ,unning &olf-s tribe at the >hannel /u Loup )et

there is no word of how the now hostile >rees" strong in nubers and ledby the fiery Three 0eathers held back /un'egan-s en for four days tillfinally the chief trader ran the rocky passage in the dark beneath a'icious fire that wounded a half*doen 'oyageurs besides snuffing out0onderel-s breath

Two burnings of the unfinished palisades by stealthy eneiesR threenight attacks of cobined bodies of Nor-westers and ,unning &olf-s>reesR the finding of a full powder bag standing aong the flour sacksdrying before the fire**all these were ildly notedM

But between the brief lines of this daybook which reposed upon/un'egan-s desk in the trading roo of 0ort @aattawa could be read the

whole round of a 'irile" courageous e%istenceR could be felt the pulseof danger and hidden enaceR could be witnessed the keen draa of theiniical wilderness conflict >rowded into these northen-s short spanof onths were years of endea'or They took cogniance of no restrainingliits to this and that undertaking Theirs were the herculean things"the endless creations" the hot abitions Out of the 'ast resources ofthe northland they established a well*defined era" a cycle of supreacy"an epoch of undying history which would round their full conuest of theland

The powerful instruents of their healthy bodies were applied by theshrewdness of their concentrated inds" guarded always by the blessingof sane leadership Through his wise counsels Bruce /un'egan conser'edthe powers of his retainers and turned the along the reuired channels"

directing brain and sinew" blood and spirit" to the profit of the$ncient and opany

O'er e'ery part of the 0ort hung his rigid" progressi'e discipline $tdaybreak all the post .ndians" the 'oyageurs" the ser'ants wereengaged upon their 'arious tasks" fashioning" constructing" finishingMThey labored with care" but with the erriest of dispositions $t se'enthey breakfasted .n an hour the hu of work rose again Leisure couldwait for the deep winter snowsM

Outside the trading roo a great flagstaff was reared before the groundfroe too solidly ?p the pine stick ran the >opany-s crison ensign"arking another step of conuest" flinging defiance to the Nor-westers"

shutting out the stronghold of 0ort La ,oche fro the @atchawan alley

Tuultuous cheering greeted the first flap of the banner #houts oresincere than patriotic cries rang out loudly The >opany-s adherentsbut 'oiced their allegiance

Ci'e La >opagnieMC e%ulted the ipetuous Baptiste erenne" atypical 'oyageur

CGrace V /ieuMC pealed his corades" stridently**CGrace V /ieuMCLike soe wild orison to an in'isible god**the >opany god it ight


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be**their usical tongues chanted the phrase

>ould the Nor-westers ha'e seen these outland sons thus greet theirflag" chests big with the eotional breath of lo'e" cheeks bright withthe inspiring blood that coes of proud prestige" eyes burning with thefire of eternal loyalty" they would ha'e stopped to think >ould Black0erguson ha'e witnessed the scene" he would ha'e understood that he wascobating not iron deterination aloneR not reckless strength" not

unswer'ing pertinacity" but a stern faith in a power so 'ast as to bealost beyond coprehensionR a belief in a precedence doinant andcoplete" a lo'e of an ideal which e'en death could not conuer becauseit e%tended beyond through that e%alted ediu of herois $nd where theideal is raised to the clear eye of faith rests the cause in'incible

>


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$nd it didM $ greasy wrack of clouds asked the sunset The north windblew out of the $rctic circle with a huing like 'ibrating wires Thewraith of desolation went eerily shrieking round and round Then out ofinky space the snow cae down" dri'ing fiercely on a forty*ile gale tosother the gauntness of the rugged forest in a swirl of white 0orthirty*si% hours the froen flakes pelted the stout stockades The snowlay in foay le'els in the tiber" ten feet deep in the hollows" andwind*packed to treendous hardness on the ice*bound lakes and ri'ers

The days becae less strenuous now in 0ort @aattawa The nights grewlong The


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>oe to the trading roo when you get wared" /reaulond" he reuested.-d like to see you

COuiC" assented Basil &-en . get dis cold out a bones

/un'egan disappeared The


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/reaulond stepped to the door


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->ross de ClacCM &-en de snow she stop fallin- soe" . see dose trainswan eenit coe o'aire de trail

,unM Neaire adonished Tell de 0actor dat" ueeckM

The cache runner bolted into the trading roo Aacleod was not there/onald Auir" the assistant trader" held charge

CLesC @aattawa trains" he howled A-sieu-" dey be coe o'aire deClacC

Bargaining ceased Trade slipped fro the en-s inds /onald Auirjuped up and suinted through the open doorway" distinguishing nothingin the swishing cloud*rifts of snow onnear hadbestowed upon O%ford


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and hustled his superior to his roo where he had thoughtfully prepareda set of dry garents

)on-s wha- ye need" he declared )e-ll feel warer wi- a change opany" they were here at the >opany-s call $nd they hadcoe as /esirSe Laard had idly prophesied

@ip back" Aaurice Nicolet ordered the O%ford onnear prophesiedknowingly #he-s been blowin- for fifty hours now )ou-ll see the winddrop about idnight

erenne ade a gesture of unbelief Aebbe" he grunted" ebbe

. know it" growled >onnear Let e tell you" 0renchy" that .-'eweathered ore gales than you e'er heard of .t-ll be cal to*orrow andcolder than a Belle .sle ice*berg


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/un'egan dressed hastily onnear answered . ha'en-t seen hi Guess he-s with theother O%ford


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No" growled Aacleod" he wasn-t with the fur trains


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re*paced the council roo with long" sa'age strides The 0actor watchedhi" siling cynically" as if at the disco'ery of soe new trait in thean $ doen ties the chief trader traped the floor Then he whirledin the iddle of a stride

This thing was planned" he a'erred The clerk was approached fro theoutside

. know that Aacleod-s eyes darkened and narrowed a little

By whoQ

.t is ob'ious

The Nor-westers**directlyQ

?ndoubtedly The 0actor laid down the report upon the council table/un'egan resued his frantic walk" again pausing uncertainly

But the eans**the eansM he e%claied petulantly

Aacleod-s teeth snapped shut and opened grudgingly for his speech


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$nd thatQ

/un'egan hesitated &hen . brought 0lora Aacleod and ,unning &olfhere" he coenced awkwardly" . et a strange canoe on Lake Leeau .nthat canoe with two .ndian paddlers were two ?nited #tates arshalsnaed Granger and Garfield Their passes were good Their papers .reuested of the

The chief trader paused to note the effect of his words on Aacleod Butthere was no effect e%cept that the 0actor had suared his bulk in hiscouncil chair as if to face an eergency

Go on" he urged grily

.t seeed they were searching for a an who they suspected of li'ingin this wilderness under an assued nae They had his photographM

Aalcol Aacleod shifted forward in a startled fashion

)ou saw that photographQ

. did)ou knew itQ

No

The o'eent of the 0actor-s body was swiftly re'ersed


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/un'egan leaned his ars on the table directly opposite Aacleod"eeting unafraid the piercing glances of those electric eyes" the eyeswhich he could now recognie as belonging to the original of thephotograph

Because it is now necessary" he answered .f it were not" . would notha'e opened the subject .n the space of another day" or two" those

deputies will ake O%ford opany-s officers cannot effect that fundaentalduty**ser'ice

The 0actor looked long at /un'egan" ar'eling at his integrity" his lackof low curiosity" his allegiance

Bruce" he said**and it was not often he used the >hristiannae**you-re one of the true" northern breed" the shut*outhed enM Lete tell you a little phase of $erican life Twenty years ago thereli'ed o'er there in one of the big cities a faily by the nae ofAacfarlane The faily consisted of the husband and wife" a daughter"and a son There was also an intruding eleent" and this intruder wasnaed =aes 0unster )ou see" 0unster had lo'ed Aacfarlane-s wife beforeshe arried" and e'en after the arriage he could not like an honorablean get o'er his passion /o you follow eQ

/un'egan nodded


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AushM AushM cried the .ndian dog dri'ers >rackM >rackM snapped thewhips in weird staccato These sounds with the noises of tra'el were theonly ones to echo through the white stillness 0or the rest the losely they guarded their energies &ith all his relentless power andsubtlety the frost fiend ight not take the unawaresM

#teadily o'ed the long line of en across the wind*packed surface ofO%ford Lake" their bodies leaning forward at identical angles" theirlibs swinging with achine*like regularity #houlders hea'ing at theircollars" the dog teas ran in their own peculiar fashion" heads down"tongues lolling between steaing jaws #o e%actly alike the outfitsseeed that the hindost ones ight ha'e been the oft*repeated shadow of

the foreost brushing back across the snows" indistinct" 'ague beneaththe waning starlight

uitting O%ford Lake at @owasin .nlet" the trains ascended @abeke ,idgethat they ight ake the descent on the other side to the sooth ice ofBlaing Pine ,i'er which would afford the easy progress for any iles$ong the trees of the crest the ca'alcade lost definition The en wereerely shadows on the snow" flicking ghost*like between the silhouettedtree trunks The dogs were wolfish things sneaking low to the groundThe utter silence of the orning was ethereal in its intangibility#harp detonations of frost*split trees brought contrasts that ripped thescreen of silence with weird" unearthly noises $ phosphorescent glierseared the crust Little shadowy shapes began to dance before the en-ssnow*stung eyes $ suggestion of irages drifted here and there"

ocking" oppressi'e" supernatural" phantasagoric

&here the course of arch led fro the ele'ated ridge to the low ri'ersurface the incline fell so sharply that e%tree care was necessary toake the descent in safety The .ndian dog dri'ers whipped up theirteas to force the in a direct line" while soe clung to the sledgesthat they ight not break away wildly and o'er*run the rushing CgiddSsCThe plunge beat up a cloud of foaing snow particles #led after sledshot down The en half coasted" half ran with aaing speed on thefeathery slope $n iense groo'e in the white co'ering of the ountainside showed after the They turned down Blaing Pine" on the banks ofwhich was the .ndian encapent that 0ather Brochet had gone to 'isit inhis ission of adinistering to the sick

Aaskwa" the tireless" still broke the trail /un'egan sent forward Black0o%" a sinewy #alteau% .ndian" to relie'e hi for a space" but theOjibway siled a little and refused

#trong 0ather" protested Black 0o%" dropping back" this Aaskwa theswift one will not listen Nor will he gi'e e the task


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he should take soe rest

/un'egan sped forward till he was running side by side with the Ojibway

Aaskwa" y brother" he urged" take the easy place for an hour .t isnot well to punish yourselfM

The fort runner siled again


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. know**that is" . heard" he answered slowly Tell e all about thatarriage" BrochetM

The priest raised his hand in a deprecating fashion and shook his headout of sad pity for his friend-s disappointent

There is nothing to tell" was his low response .t was a swift" eager

wooing**a sort of autun dreaM The golden woods and the white oonswere theirs for an uninterrupted" rapturous space The fascination wasintense .ts durability . cannot judge The clia% copelled theirarriage Ay hope is that Glyndon ay pro'e worthyM

$en" /un'egan breathed


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$u foyer de notre chauiUre" Nous pressait sur son coeur joyeu% Aa chUreQ Et nous baisions ses blancs che'eu% Tous deu%C

$lost while Baptiste sang" the eal was ready The onnear kicked the .rishan-s cal'es fro behind with the toes ofhis snowshoes

&alk faster" an" he urged .t akes it twice as easy and the frostdoesn-t touch you then

But Terence shi'ered in the trail The sweat of the orning-s tra'el hadchilled on hi at the noonday halt" and he felt the lowering teperaturekeenly

.t-s so beastly cowld" he groaned disally" that e thoughts freee-fore Oi can e%press thi

The sailor kicked hi again to cheer hi on BuckoM BuckoM he growled

$nd Baptiste erenne" siling" flashed white teeth o'er his shoulder andrearked+

Aebbe you don- lak reebaire soet-ing lak dat in your own countreeMEh" dat so" A-sieu BurkeQ

Terence frowned Baptiste-s sile grew ore ischie'ous as he continued+


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CTe sou'ient*il de cette aie" /ouce copagne de a 'ieQ /ans les bois" en cueillant la fleur =olie"


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read wilderness signs which no white an li'ing could e'er interpret oe to the top of the ridge of

balsa first Then we can bind the Little 0ool

Aaskwa pushed through the trees with a slouching o'eent


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>


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)es" grubled /un'egan" he has fooled us for a tie But that tie isgone

&hile the wolf li'es" his teeth ay still rend" Aaskwa philosophiedLet the Little 0ool dieM Else will he work #trong 0ather greater har

The cal suggestion brought an e%pression of repugnance to the chieftrader-s face

. can-t do thatM he objected

.t is well" rearked the Ojibway . ha'e counseled

$s a prisoner he cannot do us any har" /un'egan persisted

. ha'e counseled" Aaskwa repeated &hen #trong 0ather wishes it hadbeen done he will reeber y counsel

aribou ,idges" looing up" shut off the flaesfro the Nor-westers- 'iew $lso" /un'egan posted an .ndian lookout onthe height abo'e the other bi'ouac to carry warning of any untowardo'e The dogs- jaws were tied with strips of buckskin that they ightnot growl or bark" for sounds carried far in the frosty air


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$ttention was now paid to Gaspard 0ollet" and he was placed in thecustody of two onnear tersely )our outh-s as big as the .rishsea

)es" snapped Burke" an- it-s swallowed better sailors than yerself

Baptiste ade an angry gesture for uiet and otioned furti'ely to where/un'egan stood silently waring hiself on the other side of the fire

C#aprieMC )ou be stubborn ansM he snarled conteptuously

But now the order cae to o'e #e'eral .ndians were left with thesledges and the newly*ade prisoner The rest of the en filed off in

the direction of the balsa ridge .ts crest was reached silently and inperfect order There the en paused at a point directly o'er the capthey purposed to rush

Aaskwa" with /un'egan" sur'eyed the slope" conteplating the oent ofdescent 0ar below they could see the line of crackling fire with thebanked snow at the sides glowing pink beneath the blae Etched outdully against each fitful flae" the suatting figures crouched low $tties a hand was cleanly outlined in the white upper light as it raisedfood to outh $ tea pail passing down the line of en flashedinterittently


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Now while they eat is the tie" #trong 0ather" the Ojibway fort runnerurured They think only of their stoachs" and their ars are nothandy .f we are swift and sure on our feet not a shot need be fired

ery well" assented /un'egan )ou lead . will stay on your heels

Let the en ake no sound" warned Aaskwa &e go without noise as

close as possible $s soon as their dogs scent us we ust spring likethe hungry panther

The chief trader passed a whispered caution to his retainers

@eep close to us" he adjured" and rush when we rushM Grasp thefellows and pre'ent the fro shootingM There is no need for bloodshed"and we cannot afford to lose any of our nuber E'ery an we ha'e willbe needed at 0ort BrondelM

There was a faint" dissatisfied urur at this coand 0resh in theinds of the loser and closer they stole till" seeing their eneies soplainly" the idea that they thesel'es ust be seen ipressed itselfwith e'er*increasing power

Aaskwa treaded the e'ergreen aisles like a swift wraith


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The suspicious huskies blew loudly and growled .nstincti'ely theNor-west guards reached uickly for their guns" only to be seied by theshoulders and hurled back into the snow The cap turned instantly to aass of rolling" grappling bodies ,ed coals kicked into the banks sentforth hissing stea clouds 0eet staped and plunged and twisted hereand there" throwing up white spurts of snow" knocking burning branchesthrough the air" tripping opponents with sa'age force

The struggle took place practically in silence e%cept for the uneasysnarling of the dogs and the hea'y breathing and occasional oaths of theen Often a knife blade gleaed redly as it poised for a blow The thudof steel on flesh and the groan of pain followed

Then" bringing the clia% of brute sa'agery" the growling huskiescharged" indifferent whether their chisel*like fangs sliced aster oraster-s foe But they had waited too longM The oent when theirassault ight ha'e seriously hindered the


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whitefish in a flash and fought with slower corades for their reainingportion #lowly the tuult died down and the dogs crept up close to thelower end of the fire" where brush beds had been thrown for the


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$lso #oft Eyes" the traitor" who cae fro o'er the Big &aters

$ye" indeed" urured /un'egan" and the 0actor proposes to deal withhi .t will be dark dealing" . fancy" for Edwin Glyndon

&e shall eet" too" Aaskwa went on oratorically" the wise >hief,unning &olf and his hasty son" Three 0eathers

.n the fight we ay eet the" for we know ,unning &olf has added histribe-s strength to that of Black 0erguson in defense of 0ort La ,oche

There at the last will we stalk the Black 0erguson in his lair"rejoiced the Ojibway .t will be a good stalk" #trong 0ather The oldwolf is worthy of a hard chase $nd" #trong 0ather" there is one otherwe shall seeM

&hoQ

The 0air OneM The niece of old Pierre**her that #oft Eyes took towifeM

/un'egan winced" finding no words Aaskwa 'oiced soething that hade'ol'ed in his facile ind

#trong 0ather is y brother" he declared" and . ha'e read ybrother-s thoughts .t was his wish to place the 0air One at his ownfireside That is still his desire" although he does not fulfill it .f#trong 0ather were an .ndian" it would swiftly be done )et the .ndian-sways are not the ways of the white an


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abruptly

)ir*r*r*ee*eeM echoed the weird" panicky screech of a lyn%

Aaskwa cur'ed his hands about his outh and replied with the hornedowl-s full*throated whoop

@ee*yoo*oo*oo*ooM he ua'ered in a uick" e'er*diinishing treolo

$t the pre*arranged signal the rest of the O%ford opany-s post #hel'es held neat arraysof goodsR orderly piles of bales and bo%es were ranged about the wallsRbut no person could be seen

$s any en as the store was capable of accoodating crowded after/un'egan .n their shoepacks they walked soft*footed as panthers

These 0rench


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There reained the trading*roo and the factor-s uarters to search/un'egan concluded that there was no separate house for the factor ofthe post" because a stairway led up through the store ceiling


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The unintelligible cry rising within the an choked in his dry throat


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future because her eyes prophesied things which could ne'er be

Now you know" she replied" pointing at the table . ha'e shown youwhy

$nd in her words /un'egan read the answer to ore than one riddle

#oeone o'ed behind the ostentatiously in order to attract attention

Bruce turned uickly The tall Ojibway fort runner stood there

&hat is it" AaskwaQ

Two essengers claoring at the gates" #trong 0ather &hat is yourwillQ

. will go with you" y brother" the chief trader decided .t is wellto see who they are" yself


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$hM you istake y eaning" Aaskwa" obser'ed the chief traderhastily The woan is in y protection" not in y possession

#oM the fort runner e%claied with a slight inflection of surpriseThe 0rench


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declared &hite*water or Nor-westers" it is all the saeM

Bruce ade a fatalistic gesture

. belie'e you" 0atherR . belie'e you" he returned Ne'ertheless weust always aid oursel'es Let us portage to the other end of the rapidand try to end our canoe

But first he fished their sunken outfit fro the clear water of thechannel Brochet went down and found the paddles where they had beencast upon the sand below Little


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#he pleaded for a little tie against his eagerness" answered theNor-wester" and she stalls hi off thus ouchant on the serrated headland it lay soe si%tyfeet abo'e ri'er le'el" coanding the waterway" grinning like a

powerful onster" ipregnable" austere" forbidding #trongest of all theNor-west posts" ost cunningly built" ost substantially fortified" theere thought of bringing anyone o'er its stockades unresisted seeedaddest folly

The priest had in his day seen any weird*looking dens bristling withdefence" sacking of wrong*doing" selling of spilled blood But thisipressed hi abo'e all as likely to be the abode of e%treeale'olence E'en to enter it" he felt" would be like putting one-s headinto a wild beast-s lair not knowing what inute it ight be snappedoff

Brochet was glad at this crisis that he had ne'er seen Black 0erguson


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bounded inside" the breathless priest on his heels $ single candle"burning serenely" lighted an epty roo

Legions of fiends and de'ilsM blaspheed the angry Nor-wester"blundering round in sheer astonishent EscapedQ .t can-t be" 0atherAarcinM #he could not ha'e gone through the store Ay en would ha'eseen $nd yonder door" the only other way out" leads into the upper partof the fur*house where the powder is stored .t is lockedM &hat

traitor****

The grating of a key interrupted hi 0erguson whirled at the sound Thedoor he had entioned had opened and closed softly 0lora" paler thanwhen Brochet had last seen her and with the shadow of disappointent inher eyes" uietly broke the key in the lock #he failed to recognie thepriest whose face was partly concealed by his hood

)ou**youM 0erguson shrieked" choking with terrible wrath

." she answered unflinchingly . told you that you would ne'er arryher Neither shall youM


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delicate position which in the e'ent of disco'ery would becoe fatalBlack 0erguson thought the ipression was siply attendant upon hisabnoral e%citeent as he raced across the yard to the fur*house

There the priest sweated with a 'ery natural fear when they et a groupof .ndians who had been storing bales by torchlight Trooping back frotheir work" the red glea licking across their coppery features" Brochetsaw ,unning &olf" his hot*tepered son Three 0eathers and others of the

>ree tribe fro the @atchawan

eering a little" the priest walked on 0erguson-s right side on the edgeof the ring of light Thus he a'oided encountering the fairly andescaped keen eyes that would ha'e undoubtedly recognied hi e'en underhis uffling capote

CBo- jou-" bo- jou-C" the >rees grunted" and stalked on

.nto the fur*house between rows of strong*odored pelts the Nor-westerhurried through the dark with Brochet ?p the long ladder which was wideenough for both to clib abreast they hastened 0erguson threw back theceiling trapdoor with a resounding clang The tableau that et the two

en-s eyes as they pushed up their heads was one to be staped indeliblyon their eories

$ candle gleaing beside her in a sconce on the wall" /esirSe Laardcrouched behind a heap of powder kegs in the iddle of the roo The topof the central keg had been broken in The powder-s black crystals shonewith an awesoe refraction of light $nd" white*lipped" tense*fibered"/esirSe held the great pistol in her hand so that its ule was buriedin the deadly stuff


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ankles" while 0ather Brochet trebled for the sake of the girl


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They can-t be far off" he e%plained $ few iles behind >artienne-scanoeM That would be all**just enough to keep well out of sight orsound $nd . shouldn-t wonder if they-re about La ,oche nowM

But what can two en doQ cried /esirSe" utterly hopeless


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)ou forget there is a God who still works iracles $nd through earthlyinstruentsM ,eeber the fur*chuteM

But it is drawn up e'ery night" the girl protested

To*night it cannot be" for the noise is coing fro it The >rees and'oyageurs were unloading fur*bales They ha'e been careless and left it

down Or perhaps they ha'e not finished Pray


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&ait a oent" 0ather &ait till . strike a atchM

.n the nae of


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the bows #wiftly the birch*barks skied the bloody streaks the torchescast on the black water They changed their course slightly" and theleading one forged along within a few yards of /un'egan-s craft

/isco'ery seeed certain The chief trader whispered to Basil and feltfor his weapons in the canoe botto oices of the oncoing en strucksharp and clear through the oist air

.t seeed like an earthuakeM soeone was saying

.nstantly /un'egan knew the 'oice**the 0actor-sM


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#o between Aacleod and Granger" as they clibed the twisting path cutthrough rock to the landing by the watergate" the priest walked"outlining what had taken place Behind the" with /un'egan and Garfield"toiled /esirSe #he would not be left alone below Aaskwa and &ahbiscawhad gone ahead with the rest of the


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$ye" and a job for you" urured /un'egan

But Granger had leaped at the nae" dragging Aacleod by the ar

LookM he urged LookM &ill you swear to hiQ

The red glare bathed the white face The 0actor-s eyes focused on the

features and grew full of terrible light and would not coe away

.t-s**it-s**0unster" he choked

/un'egan saw his right hand clench and clutch the air


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The scenes are laid along the waters of the >uberland" the lair ofoonshiner and feudsan The knight is a oonshiner-s son" and theheroine a beautiful girl per'ersely christened The Blight Twoipetuous young #outherners- fall under the spell of The Blight-schars and she learns what a large part jealousy and pistols ha'e in thelo'e aking of the ountaineers

.ncluded in this 'olue is harles E


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The Law of the North (Originally published as Empery.odt