Tratling the Witch Killers of the Frozen North

* By

Peele a. GODSELL eRe Ges:

Author of: Arctic Trader; Romance of the Alaska Highway, etc.

*

EAR AND STARVATION EF stalked amongst the wigwams of

the Saulteaux. On a spruce bed*

in one of the birchbark lodges lay young Sapwaste, raving in delirium; possessed, said old Pecequan, the aged medicine man, with evil spirits— liable at any moment to become a cannibal weetigo and endanger the lives of every member of the band.

Few young squaws in the tribe had been as popular as Sapwaste, whose good looks, flashing white teeth, and ready smile had endeared her to young and old alike. Eagerly she’d been sought after by the young bucks, but it had remained for the son of Pecequan to lead her to his wigwam.

Late that fall the Miqua mapin, or Red Sucker band of the Saulteaux tribe, had obtained their fur debts from Factor Campbell at his palisaded fort at Island Lake, loaded up their birchbarks and paddled eastward to their Sandy Lake hunting grounds. Then Sapwaste had fallen ill. No longer did her silvery laughter en- liven the evenings around the lodge fires. Instead, she lapsed into delirium and strange words came tumbling from her lips. For days old Pecequan howled his medicine song and rattled his she-she-quon. Still she raved on in delirium.

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brought to justice.”

“The medicine murderers of Sandy Lake must be Those were the orders of Ser- geant “Daisy” Smith. Herein the writer, who was

at Norway House at the time, tells the answer—an epic of dauntless courage where two Mounttes faced a horde of outlaw Indians.

iat

Philip H. Godsell, the author, heard the story

of the killings told by Factor Campbell from

Island Lake Post, and later was present at the

trial of the killers. He also visited Sandy Lake,

scene of the killings and traded at the nearest

post to Island Lake in the heart of the Ojtb- way hunting grounds.

Deep in the forest Pecequan built himself a conjuring lodge of poles and moose skins and prepared to con- sult the manitous.

In all the panoply of his priestcraft Pecequan entered the medicine lodge.

Beady eyes glinting twixt narrowed lids, Niska tied the medicine man’s hands and feet with rawhide lines, squatted outside and beat his tom- tom.

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She Must Die

From above came a sound like rushing wind. Dimly through the darkened sky echoed a squeaky ani- mal voice. Questions were asked and answered in the squeaky spirit voice. Dripping with perspiration, and freed of his bonds, Pecequan staggered into the open and interpreted the message of the manitous. Sapwaste was possessed of evil spirits—she’d become a weetigo. She must die!

With his grey-haired brother, Chief Mistainninew, Pecequan took over the sick girl’s lodge. Two tawny braves, Angus Rae and Norman Fiddler, were chosen as executioners.

Preparations were short and simple. Each was to stand on opposite sides of the lodge, grab the cord that dangled through holes in the bark walls, and when the medicine drum throbbed within pull with all their might. That Sapwaste was the daughter-in-law of the medicine man meant nothing. Tribal laws decreed that she must die.

The drum throbbed out its macabre warning. The braves tugged on the writhing cords. From within came sounds of convulsive struggles. ‘The drum-beat ceased and, their dusky faces pale with fear, the hunters cast down the cord like a thing accursed and dived into their wigwams. From behind the bole of a pine Sapwaste’s

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