The Patrol of the Sun Dance Trail [33]
arouse suspicion and defeat our aim, while my going after him, no matter how keenly, will be accounted for on personal grounds."
"There is something in that, but do you think you can get him?"
"I am going to get him," said Cameron quietly.
The superintendent glanced at his face.
"By Jove, I believe you will! But remember, you can count on me and on my Force to a man any time and every time to back you up, and there's my hand on it. And now, let's get at this thing. We have a cunning devil to do with and he has gathered about him the very worst elements on the reserves."
Together they sat and made their plans till far on into the night. But as a matter of fact they could make little progress. They knew well it would be extremely difficult to discover their man. Owing to the state of feeling throughout the reserves the source of information upon which the Police ordinarily relied had suddenly dried up or become untrustworthy. A marked change had come over the temper of the Indians. While as yet they were apparently on friendly terms and guilty of no open breach of the law, a sullen and suspicious aloofness marked the bearing of the younger braves and even of some of the chiefs toward the Police. Then, too, among the Piegans in the south and among the Sarcees whose reserve was in the neighborhood of Calgary an epidemic of cattle-stealing had broken out and the Police were finding it increasingly difficult to bring the criminals to justice. Hence with this large increase in crime and with the changed attitude and temper of the Indians toward the Police, such an amount of additional patrol-work was necessary that the Police had almost reached the limit of their endurance.
"In fact, we have really a difficult proposition before us, short- handed as we are," said the Superintendent as they closed their interview. "Indeed, if things become much worse we may find it necessary to organize the settlers as Home Guards. An outbreak on the Saskatchewan might produce at any moment the most serious results here and in British Columbia. Meantime, while we stand ready to help all we can, it looks to me, Cameron, that you are right and that in this business you must go it alone pretty much."
"I realize that, sir," replied Cameron. "But first I must get my house built and things in shape, then I hope to take this up."
"Most certainly," replied the Superintendent. "Take a month. He can't do much more harm in a month, and meantime we shall do our utmost to obtain information and we shall keep you informed of anything we discover."
The Superintendent and Sergeant accompanied Cameron and his friend to the door.
"It is a black night," said Sergeant Crisp. "I hope they're not running any 'wet freight' in to-night."
"It's a good night for it, Sergeant," said Dr. Martin. "Do you expect anything to come in?"
"I have heard rumors," replied the Sergeant, "and there is a freight train standing right there now which I have already gone through but upon which it is worth while still to keep an eye."
"Well, good-night," said the Superintendent, shaking Cameron by the hand. "Keep me posted and when within reach be sure and see me. Good-night, Dr. Martin. We may want you too before long."
"All right, sir, you have only to say the word."
The night was so black that the trail which in the daylight was worn smooth and plainly visible was quite blotted out. The light from the Indian camp fire, which was blazing brightly a hundred yards away, helped them to keep their general direction.
"For a proper black night commend me to the prairie," said the doctor. "It is the dead level does it, I believe. There is nothing to cast a reflection or a shadow."
"It will be better in a few minutes," said Cameron, "when we get our night sight."
"You are off the trail a bit, I think," said the doctor.
"Yes, I know. I am hitting toward the fire. The light makes it better going that way."
"I say, that chap appears to be going some. Quite a song and dance he's giving them," said the doctor, pointing
"There is something in that, but do you think you can get him?"
"I am going to get him," said Cameron quietly.
The superintendent glanced at his face.
"By Jove, I believe you will! But remember, you can count on me and on my Force to a man any time and every time to back you up, and there's my hand on it. And now, let's get at this thing. We have a cunning devil to do with and he has gathered about him the very worst elements on the reserves."
Together they sat and made their plans till far on into the night. But as a matter of fact they could make little progress. They knew well it would be extremely difficult to discover their man. Owing to the state of feeling throughout the reserves the source of information upon which the Police ordinarily relied had suddenly dried up or become untrustworthy. A marked change had come over the temper of the Indians. While as yet they were apparently on friendly terms and guilty of no open breach of the law, a sullen and suspicious aloofness marked the bearing of the younger braves and even of some of the chiefs toward the Police. Then, too, among the Piegans in the south and among the Sarcees whose reserve was in the neighborhood of Calgary an epidemic of cattle-stealing had broken out and the Police were finding it increasingly difficult to bring the criminals to justice. Hence with this large increase in crime and with the changed attitude and temper of the Indians toward the Police, such an amount of additional patrol-work was necessary that the Police had almost reached the limit of their endurance.
"In fact, we have really a difficult proposition before us, short- handed as we are," said the Superintendent as they closed their interview. "Indeed, if things become much worse we may find it necessary to organize the settlers as Home Guards. An outbreak on the Saskatchewan might produce at any moment the most serious results here and in British Columbia. Meantime, while we stand ready to help all we can, it looks to me, Cameron, that you are right and that in this business you must go it alone pretty much."
"I realize that, sir," replied Cameron. "But first I must get my house built and things in shape, then I hope to take this up."
"Most certainly," replied the Superintendent. "Take a month. He can't do much more harm in a month, and meantime we shall do our utmost to obtain information and we shall keep you informed of anything we discover."
The Superintendent and Sergeant accompanied Cameron and his friend to the door.
"It is a black night," said Sergeant Crisp. "I hope they're not running any 'wet freight' in to-night."
"It's a good night for it, Sergeant," said Dr. Martin. "Do you expect anything to come in?"
"I have heard rumors," replied the Sergeant, "and there is a freight train standing right there now which I have already gone through but upon which it is worth while still to keep an eye."
"Well, good-night," said the Superintendent, shaking Cameron by the hand. "Keep me posted and when within reach be sure and see me. Good-night, Dr. Martin. We may want you too before long."
"All right, sir, you have only to say the word."
The night was so black that the trail which in the daylight was worn smooth and plainly visible was quite blotted out. The light from the Indian camp fire, which was blazing brightly a hundred yards away, helped them to keep their general direction.
"For a proper black night commend me to the prairie," said the doctor. "It is the dead level does it, I believe. There is nothing to cast a reflection or a shadow."
"It will be better in a few minutes," said Cameron, "when we get our night sight."
"You are off the trail a bit, I think," said the doctor.
"Yes, I know. I am hitting toward the fire. The light makes it better going that way."
"I say, that chap appears to be going some. Quite a song and dance he's giving them," said the doctor, pointing