THE VALUE OF THEIR FUR 33 



back to the subject. Do you know what the 

 Men say of our Black King, Comrades ? &quot; 



&quot; They call him The Devil ! &quot; declared Jay. 



&quot; No they don t,&quot; objected Carcajou ; &quot; they 

 aver he s Wiesahkechack, the great Indian God, 

 who could change himself into Animals that s 

 what they think. You all know Fran9ois, the 

 French Half-breed, who trapped at Hay River 

 last Winter.&quot; 



&quot; He killed my First Cousin,&quot; sighed Marten. 



&quot;I lost a Son by him poisoned,&quot; moaned 

 Black King s Mother, the Red Widow, who 

 had been sitting quietly during the meeting 

 watching with maternal pride the form of her 

 son. 



&quot; Yes, he tried to catch me,&quot; boasted Carcajou, 

 &quot; but I outwitted him, and threw a Number Four 

 Steel Trap in the river. He had a fight with 

 a Chippewa Indian over it blamed him for 

 the theft. Oh, I enjoyed that. I was hidden 

 under a Spruce log, and watched Fran9ois pum 

 mel the Indian until he ran away. I don t 

 understand much French, but the Half-breed 

 used awful language. I wish they d always fight 

 amongst themselves.&quot; 



&quot; Why did n t the Chippewa squeeze Francois 

 till he was dead? that s what I should have 

 done,&quot; growled Muskwa. &quot; Do you remember 



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