Part 11 (1/2)
”I'm not knowin' yet They'll be some way showin',” promised Bob, ”but we'll have t' think un out first”
”What was the ht all the Indians were friendly to white ain to the canoe
”They's Mingen Injuns,” explained Bob ”I were forgettin' t' tell you, Shad When as t' th' post, Douglas Caens co Hill trail an'
tells he they'd not let any white trapper hunt above th' Big Hill trail They's likely seen our tilt up th' river, an' laid for us I'in' you here an' not tellin' you, Shad”
”Oh, don't worry about that, Bob I'd have come just the same,”
assured Shad ”In fact, I'd have been all the more ready to come, with the prospect of a scrap with Indians in view If I'd known, though, I'd have had my eyes open andtheht in the current”
”Injuns were never givin' me trouble before, an' I weren't takin'
their threatenin' t' Douglas in earnest, so I forgets all about un till I sees th' Injuns at th' portage trail,” Bob explained
”'Twouldn't have done t' kill any of un, Shad If you had, th' rest would have laid in th' bushes an' killed us, for they's no knowin' how one back an' laid for Ed an' dick an'
Bill an' killed they before they'd be knowin' they was any trouble
”Now 'tis more 'n likely th' Injuns is thinkin' we be th' only white ettin' out o' here we'll give warnin' t' Ed an' th' others, an' being on th' lookout one of us can hold off a hull passel o' Injuns, for we has Winchesters, an' all they has is et off this island before the others come to look for us? What then?” asked Shad
”If they oes lookin' for us, they'll be knoe're missin' for some cause Bill Caens were sayin' last year, an' they'll suspicion 'tis th'
Mingens an' be watchin' for un”
”But I don't understand yet what objection the Mingens have to our trapping here I supposed this was the country of your Nascaupee friends”
”'Tis this way,” Bob explained ”Th' Nascaupees hunts t' th'
n'uth'ard, th' Bay Mountaineers t' th' east'ard, an' th' Mingens t'
th' s'uth'ard, an' all of un coens, when deer's scarce t' th' s'uth'ard, an' they thinks if white trappers is about th' deer'll be drove out”
”Well, Bob, let's boil the kettle and try to figure out a plan of escape,” suggested Shad ”With the reaction froer”
”They's not a , Shad,” Bob announced sorrowfully, ”only a bit o' tea with th' kettle an' our cups I leaves un all in th' tilt, thinkin' we'd get back t' th' next tilt an' use th' grub that's there, an' I just leaves th' bit o' tea in th' bag”
”No grub!” exclai down on that wall We can't stay here and starve!”
”An' we can't make th' landin' 'Twould be sure drownin' t' try”
”Then it is just a choice between drowning and starving? For my part, I'd rather drown and have it over with, than starve to death!”
”Th' Lard weren't showin' us here just t' have us die right off,” said Bob quietly ”He were savin' us because He's wantin us t' live, an'
He'll be thinkin' if we tries t' make th' landin' knoe can't make un, that we're not wantin' t' live If we takes time now t' plan un out, th' Lard'll show us how”
”I wish I had your faith, Bob, but I haven't, and I' a try for the shore,” insisted Shad ”However, let us ue the matter out later”