Raymond S. Spears

“ In Conklin’s feelings there was sincere regard for the grave and handsome woman. He had, indeed, given the poor devils of underdeveloped humans straight talk on the way they were to treat Pretty Shells and without raising his fist or drawing his gun he had explained unmistakably to the riders who were at fault the immeasurable benefit to themselves in treating her—in treating every woman and man—right, not cheating, bullying, insulting any one. ”

“ Conklin, having made sure of what was taking place, immediately hastened on his way to the main cabin occupied by Pretty Shells. As her friend he angrily resented the attempt to run her out of the fur pocket which was hers by every right of the wilderness code. She had been here for years with her husband, learning the runways of the wild life and cutting traps-lines to the crossings of the pelage-wearers, building trap-cubbies at these places. ”

“ Moreover the cubbies which Pretty Shells had reconstructed and made ready for bait and traps when the furs should be prime had been kicked down, the old chips scattered about and fresh boughs covering them trampled—warning to the woman, if the newcomer knew she was a woman—that he was going to take this region to be his own. He had carried his hacked line clear down to the edge of the timber line, thereby serving notice that he claimed all the south side of the Singing Bird timber belt. ”

“ Conklin said. “I don’t care a whoop where you ride, if you keep out of this side the main ridge of the Singing Birds. How about it?”
“I’ll pull my freight sure pop!” the man exclaimed, catching his breath in anxious, unbelieving hope.
“All right—I’m not hunting rewards on humans. Any wolves this side the summit are mine, though. When they cross to yon side, they’re yours. ”

“ The tree stub made the back of the pen, and over the top had been thrown a small armful of green spruce boughs, some of which the builder had broken off himself, and some of which he had taken from the neatly cut boughs that Pretty Shells had used to cover the top of one of her reconstructed cubbies which he had destroyed.
A practised woodsman, a pretty able wildcrafter, had built the bait cabin, but his job had been carelessly done. His ax work had not been very accurate. His carelessness would be obvious to any observer. ”

“ Conklin declared. “The old Running Voice trap-lines and cabins go with this main cabin. There they lie— They cover all this side the mountains with old and new blazes. You’ve been showing your snoot this side the divide, and you’ve come once too often. You came down off the Middle Pass east of the high peaks this morning. You crossed the connecting inlet above this Falling Leaves lake and cut along the outlying ridge through the marten country. Then you came in on the wagon tracks I brought my supplies on from Bell Brand ranch. ”

“ In one corner was a wide bunk, the springs made of a network of rawhide ropes covered with a foot-deep compact layer of evergreen boughs from which came the most of the fragrance. On this was a large horse-hide which had been worked soft. ”