creek about which were some small cotton- woods growing close together. At just the right height of a stirrup was a spot where the flimsy bark of the tree had been scraped off. That demonstration proved beyond ques- tion that the trackers knew their business. They had been following that same trail for weeks and months. No matter where it led they had followed it unerringly. And now it looked as if it was about to end. For the tracks were pointing towards a peninsula which ran out into a lake. Fernie quickly threw a line of armed men across the peninsula and they began to move for- REID-COATES HARDWARE LTD. Sporting Goods Fishing Tackle Hardware Penticton, B.C. Comfort Service The Three Gables Hotel 23 Rooms with Bath Penticton, B.C. Complete Overhaul and Wreck Repairs PERCY BENT LTD. Ford, Mercury and Lincoln Zephyr Cars Nanaimo Ave. Penticton, B. C. CARTER BROS. LTD. PENTICTON, B.C. McLeod River Hard and Michael Coal Wood General Hauling Sawdust GRAND FORKS GARAGE General Motors Parts and Service Full Mechanical and Body Repairs —2— Phone 20 Penticton, B. C. WINTER EDITION ward, slowly, cautiously, watching every tree, log or stone for signs of the fugitives. The posse advanced in extended order. Suddenly they broke from cover at a spot where a campfire was still smouldering. Flour, rice, sugar and blankets were strewn about indicating that the outlaws had taken sudden flight. A quick search proved this to be true. By some uncanny means they had sensed the approach of the posse and had heaped wood on the fire. They had then fallen back from the peninsula and vanished into the wooded area once more. The Indian trackers, for the first time in the pursuit, now became excited. They rushed to their horses and galloped off on the new trail, certain that their quarry could not be far ahead. For three miles they galloped madly through the heavily wooded Six of these Handsome Silver Medals were to be Presented to the Indian Chiefs - ~- - but they refused them country, their pack horses doing their best to keep up. We now come to one of the most extraor- dinary incidents in this hectic pursuit. About four miles from the peninsula the Indian trackers stopped. They had lost the trail. Not that there wasn’t one; that was the trouble; there were dozens of them; but they had been made by wild horses. The outlaws had run into a band of wild animals and had driven them ahead of them thus effec- tually hiding their own trail. To locate it now seemed hopeless. Nothing, however, was hopeless to these trackers. They picked up the trail next day at noon and once more they were in hot pursuit. Other officers had been searching the country and had picked up plenty of in- formation. It was learned that Spintlum’s youth had not been too bright. He had gotten himself into some trouble and had taken refuge at a place named Big Fish Lake. It would be natural for him to head towards this country now. The posses began to converge on Big Fish. The outlaws trail was picked up at Bona- parte, near Fish Lake and about 100 miles southeast of Canoe Creek Reserve. Here it was learned they abandond a horse stolen earlier in the pursuit and had stolen another one from a squaw. By checking on various reports it was estimated that the posses were now less than 14 hours behind the fleeing pair. One thing was certain; though the cap- ture of the killers was problematical, the hot pursuit and quickly formed cordon had prevented the fugitives from getting into the Clearwater country. If they had suc- ceeded in doing this, they would have been lost. The thing now, police reasoned, was to keep them on the move until they were even- tually forced to come out in the open and be taken. During July and August the pursuit did not slacken. The outlaws were seen at various points and on August 15th it was reported that they were in the Empire Val- ley, near a new bridge being erected to cross the Fraser. One of the outlaws’ wives had been seen crossing this bridge quite frequent- ly. Posses scoured the area but with no success. The chase was now reaching a climax. The pressure on pursuers and pursued was terrific. The posses could not get enough horses and they had great difficulty in main- taining their supply lines. Fernie and his men were now at Big Fish Lake. There was a small island out in the lake and it was reported that something was moving about on the island. A white man reported that he had seen someone come down to the water’s edge in the evening. Excitement gripped the posse. Were the killers at bay at last? If so, someone was certain to die. Fernie looked at the island. He glanced at his men. If the outlaws were there they would have a clear field of fire for some time Compliments of Penticton Sawmills Ltd. * PENTICTON, B.C. Phone 266 PENTICTON TRADING ASSOCIATION LTD. CO-OPERATIVE STORE General Merchandise Penticton British Columbia Page Seventy-five