The Haunted Cabin

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 280, 26 November 1938, Page 6

The Haunted Cabin

Long Shout Story

*** A V laughter floated across the VJ river from the old Ojibway post. Joking, teasing and playlullv pushing one another about, the crowd of Indians presented an amazing contrast to their usual taciturn Ijehaviour. This was their day to be joyful, for the treaty money had come. I i Hi' l.i I ilr pntlni-e Itliltli' s,, many \. ll ■> ; l , 111 till' Inline (if the tlrCHt \\ liili' I in' 1n.11.i1l !l u. lit. Il«l« I ,11 , M I'll ' .11 ]I i-t 1 \ 1-il . 11 nil with 1,11:1 li. 1.1 ■. 11 •_ i. I 1..111' ||< .1 1.1 I - fill- evi' rv inru: 1..'|- ..f tlic tiil.c, frum tin* yinnip"'! I. i I ki.king ill his liliiukct to the ...I. i wrinkled yranil mot Iht. I ~ r .i .In \ or t tin I'U'i y Imiin n would !■■■ ,i in ill i. .na iii', with real money t< i v;■ i..1 lor w 11n 11• \• r In' fini.'ii'il (mm 111«• .i, k of trade -mmil- .'HI ii'ili'.' I \ (lis 1.!.i \ cil hv I In* I* rciicli cimpaiiVf factor. i,..\in:Jv tin si|iiaw- \\ . • 111 ■ I tinker bright i ,ill. ii |ifiiiI . in -I rings of beads with winch to ilc,.in 11' llicir iii . n -t'H *( iii . while their inrii would gravely weigh lII.' I Mill merit-' of ii .shilling stainless -i .-I hunting knife i.r a heavy blanket, mii.l ii n\ ii ni-.lv |.i"'l the lust of their le -i .ii reei- for ci tin in linn I purchase of the [i.MliMt ilelieaey the\ knew-, u crate of

I In' i rii \ in-.' f"i- acid fruit, * rare 11 <•.11 in i 11i11 111■ i *!11-1 11 u ililrriic I **. was in 111'■ ir lil I. .mml :i ciMti' hi oranges w<' 111 ■ I |irm i■l < - I lir mi'iius ill n spree us li ihii if mis it iiih drinking limit of the li.nl "lil din - u 11<• 11 whisky v.as an «' i i'|>iril mrilllllll nf I'vlinnge for Ih'.mit vki iij*. riir I'i■;11-1 in;' would Inst fur days. till e\ .• r v | ten ii y van spent iiihl I In' tribe \\ ihi l<l regret till I v *epanil'', ma ii y of thrni not. to meet again till another treaty day. Irishman And His Bride In a Canoe Suddenly the clnitter of the Indians era sod ns a now voice sounded from around a bend of the river. A clear baritone it wan, singing with a hearty Irish accent. A canoe swung around the bend and the song came vigorously across the water: "They're hanging meTi «nd women for the wearin' o' the Green." Rob Campbell, the Scotch factor, en me to the door of his post to see who were these new visitor*. "Why, 'tis Hinging Pat O'Neill and hia bride," ho said tofcthe treaty agent behind him, "come down to see the fun, I'll bet. I mind mo now the last time they were in we were talking of the treaty pay, and Pat promised the girl he'd bring her in to see it. A fine couple, that'. You'll like thorn. The girl'* «* bonny n limn as you'd find in a year's search. No wonder Pat always had a. song on his lips and a joke in his mouth." The canoe was brought dexterously in to the landing, and its two passengers disembarked. A tine figure of a man wan Pat O'Neill, tall, broadshouldered, long in the legs, with a pair of bright eve* that could be merry or dreamy. And a bonny lass indeed was his wife, with her soft ovnl fare, darkened now by a summer's tan. She «as a head shorter'than her lmslxind, hut Iter muscles were firm, and her figure had the trim balunce of the woman who can handle • pack on the trail ns well as a rim it. "Hello, Rob," wnid Pnt, "still cheating tho poor, benighted Indian out of his last red cent?" "Cheating, indeed!" cried Rob. "You know yourself I have to have eyes in the hack of my head, or they'd walk off with every bit of my otnek. How nre you, Kato ? Can you not keep that wild man of yours under control 7 I hear lie's jtwt driven off the last, neighbour you had with his goings-on." "Why, who's that, Rob?" naked Pat. "What neighbour?" "That breed, Frank, that had a cabin on tho lower river. He passed through here n couple of days ago, headed down river. Said the fur was all gone from up there, and he aimed to try hi« luck in ii now place. I think mysrlf he heard nonie of your unearthly singing and took it for tlio spirit Wcndigo haunting liim." "fre's no better judge of music than you if ho did." returned Pat, "and he's no judge of fur country either if lie nays that district is no good. We're going to be busier this year than ever. And now let's see what you have in the way of stores. Tliim should bo our last trip before tho freezc-up, and wo want to ntock up." " Then Indians Get An Idea " Tho important business or choosing supplies kept Pnt and Kate busy for the afternoon. They sat, up late, watching the Indians at their fun and exchanging new« with the factor and the treaty agent, but early next morning thev were on their way up river. As they paddled along, Pat broke off in Hie middle of A song to aak his wife « 'piention. Kate," he snid, "what do you think •» tho news Rob gave tie, that Frank moved out? That's the best fur country around here, nnd he knows it as well as we do. What do you think possessed him?" 1 know?" she replied. i A ho '" ,l think Wcndigo was 5 " 1 - Th "- M w™ Ilk. that lor „„ H ™ Two or three months Inter tliev found out tho IMt JTn,,t hZ Frank th,,t «iti, his obi ♦ «*> some of his old territory, going farther afield . n Usual. Tho freeze-up rllm „ j,, 1 /, a hi avy fall of unow, and the winter's trapping started in good earnest. Fur «a* plentiful that year, and tho two of tliem were kept buny 11 hours a dav -ring.ng ln their catch and preparimthe hides. ' ' « One morning P«t woko hie wife appciiMly rnrly. "f'onio along, darlin',"he eaid. "We've a lug day ahead of uh, l' m panning to wo oyer tho lower river trap line, down by i' rank« old place, and I'd like you j 5 !Pom ° wlt h me and look after the Jog«. Tnere'll bo a bigger cateh tfcero •ban I can ever t.oto on my back." "Sure Pat.," said Kato. "ThntH Tie line. Maybe we'll *eo Frank's ghoat." After a goo<l breakfast, they started out. Pat s day turned out even bigger than he had expected, for there wax a catch in nearly every trap, and all of them prune peltn. After a hn*tv noonday meal they continued they reached the end of the lin#, and the dog •led was loaded down. "We'd bc«t make fast time for home," •aid Pat. 'We've a good 12 milee to

jrn. «n<l »c <lon't. want to sleep in the hn-li." there's not all flint hurry." replied Kale. "We can <lo it easily i'ih.iilli before it. gets t'Ht dark."' "It -i not t lie dark I'm worrying about." i-. i j<| l»at. "I don't 1i kf the looks of tlnit. sky. We're in for more snow, and plenty of it. or I miss my Smo enough they were not inore than ji mile on their way when the snow cornmenceil. At. fir*t it. fell slowly, in bi-_r. lazy (lakes; then it esme faster and laster. till they eonhl nee Tlo further than a cle<r- length ahead. And it wa-n't. long till they ha<l lost Ihe trail entirely. "We're niaybe a wee hit lost. We'll not -jet bark to en in11 to-night." sairl ]'at. Mill I k now pretty well where w<j are. and fli.it -s m»t above two miles from I'rank - old e.tbin. It we keep the wind to our hacks «e -hoiild strike it. You'll lie 11;i \ illur a i haiiee "to find out about I'ranks ghost yet, whether you like it or not."

ByRussell Cockburn

For another hour thev trudged steadily on. till at la«t. they reached what seemed to l>e an old clearing. In the centre of it wan a sturdy cabin, though empty and desolate in that wilderness. "What did I tell you?" said Pat cheerfully. "HereVt the cabin a* nice a<* you pleaw. We may !*• a bit short on grub, but at least we'll have a roof over our her.dn and a fire." Kate opened the door and lit a match to look about. "I don't think you need worry about jrrub, for I see enough here to feed us all winter. Frank must have known we'd he along thi* way and in need, or elite he left here in a tremendous hurry. Look, there's even oil in the lamp.

T\ lion the lamp was lit, Pat mw that what flic fa id was true. There were stores of every kind r-till on the luingi'J? r-helvec-. and a hiir stack of firewood piled n|> l.\ the fireplace. They couldn't have dune lietter if they'd ordered it in ad\ a nee. I liey settled ri-ht down to make themselves at home. I'at -..illout to bed down the dog* and feed them, while Kat got a fire going and supper under way. Alter flipper Kate was still full of curiosity iiis to the r-tate they'd found the cabin in. Sitting with Pat before the fire she tried to puzzle it out. "It isn't natural for a man to leave so much unlef-. he plans to come hack." she said. "Do you think Kolt Campbell was wrong about Frank -joing for good? Mayhe he'll turn tip in the middle of the iii«ht and flioo iif out." "No fear of that," said Pat. "Hi> wont turn up in this storm. 1 don't know what to think, though. Holt fee mod sure aliout his leaving for giMid. but if that's true, he went in an almighty hurry. X,. Indian would do that miles* something had soared hiii. stiff." "But what would scare, him here?" persisted Kate. "Surely you don't believe that nonsense about being haunted by Wendigo?" "Sure and Ido not. But.'' lie added, teasingly, "there's other thin than Wendigo. Maybe it was. the Banshee he hea rd." Kate shivered. Even when the Irish don't believe in the Ban-dice, they still don't like to think too much about her. Then, feeing that I'at was trying to tease her, she made light of it. ".Vow what would the Ha lichee be doing in this wilderness?" fhe a-ked. "She has enough to do tearing old women in Ireland." "Darlin*, you're not to make fun of the Banshee." said Pat almost sori ou.sly. "Wherever the Irish jo .she follows them, and when there's the smell of death in the air you'll hear her. Sometimes she'll groan like a man in mortal agony, other time*: she keens like a hag at a wake. I'd not like to hear her myself on a night like thin. - '

"Now. Pat. that's enough of your noiir-cnse," said Kate briskly. "The lii>t thing you know you'll have me hearing things all night." . The cabin was a coiiiui<>di<>us alfair with two rooms t" it and Kale took the lamp into the second room with her. leaving Pat to lini-h his pipe by the light of the lire. He - : i ( there till his pipe u m>s done, then threw r-oine wood on the lire and turned to go to the other room, .lust as he reached the door there was a deep groan behind him. "Mother of Mercy, what's that!" lie whi-jK'l'ed to himself. The lire was leaping up the chimnev. and by its light he could see the whole room, but there was nothing there. ""lit- like a child I am." lie rea-i-tired himself. "hearing things in the dark." When he went into the other room, Kate was already ill her bunk. "What was that queer noise you made outside?" she asked. "1 thought for a minute you were hurt." "Nothing' at all." he replied. "1 just let. out a groan for tie. stitTncss in my hone*, 'lis a hard day we've, had and I'm glad we've 110 need to li-e early tomorrow." Haunting Of a Cabin When he found h7r» bed. Pat lay there a moment wondering about the noise, knowing there must have been -oiiie thing if Kate had heard it. too. Hut weariness crept over him and soon he dropp<-d otr to sleep. It might have been three hours later when Pat awoke with a start. Some thing had disturbed him. but before he was well awake it had gone. He lax there a moment, straining- his ears for I any unfamiliar sound, but there was nothing'. Quietly he swung out "f the hunk, but Kite wakened a.~ he moved. "What is it. Pat':" she a-ked. "Nothing," he said. "I'll jiist be putting some wood oil the tire." He xvent into the other room and stoked the tire with sticks of green birch. He waited a moment to see that the flames were taking hold, then turned to the bedroom. At the door he paused and as he stood there, again that mysterious, deep groan sounded through the room. Kate cried out. "Pat! Pat!" she called. "What was that t" He orowed over to b»»r bunk. "I don't know what it wn<. Kate." In* .-aM, "but don't worry. I*ll !*onn b«» finding out..'' I "No, no, Pat," she begged. "Don't go in there again. I've been having' the most terrible dreams —all nlxiut gho-ts and banshees. I I'm frightened. Pat." "Now, darlin', don't you be worrying about a bit of a dream," he reassured her. "It was my fault for telling you about the banshee. I'll stay here with von. and you forget about such things," He slipfwvl his arms about her. and for a minute or two they .-at .-ilent in the dark-news. Then from the other room came a queer sound —a rustling, rattling sound as though something were being dragged across the floor. "Pat. xvhats that noise?" wlii-pcred Kate through trembling lips. "I don't know," he replied, "but, begotis. I'm going to find out." Quickly lie lit the lamp and threw o|>eii the door to the front room. Nothing moved. Nothing was out of place. Finally lie returned to Kate. "Nothing there," he «aid in the most cheerful tone lie could muster. "I'm thinking we're a pair of babies, hearing things in the dark." As he finished speaking, once more through the open door came the sound of a mournful, hollow groan. He dashed back into the other room, but again the ghontly visitor had vanished without a trace. "Now- by all the saint* on high," exclaimed Pat, "I'm going to find out what made that noise if I have to *fav up all •light. 11l sit. me down there with the IfWnp and just dare him to poke his no M . out again." "I won't stay here alone in the dark." Mid Kate. "I'll come with you." 'I llc.v snatched up two or three blanket* from the bunks and. setting the lamp oil the table beside them,™ proceeded to make themselves as comfortable ns possible in a huge home-made armchair before the fire. For a long

time they sat there without a word. Slowly Kate's arm slipped from the arm of tlie chair till it hung to the floor. Her head rested 011 Pat's shoulder and she f.tl asleep. Pat tried hard to stay awake, but soon he, too, dozed off. Pat was awakened by a shrill scream from his wife. He straightened up, alert ill a moment. "What is it, Kate?"' lie asked, '"lib. Pat." she said. '"Such a horrible dream! 1 thought some terrible beast ua-; ••seeping up on me. like a huge bear, only it had flaming green eyes. It caine clo-cr and closer till finally it stretched out a paw and grasped my hand. Then 1 woke up. but I'at! I could still feel -ouiething hairy brushing against my ;i rm. What wa* it ?" "Only your imagination, darlin"," Pat replied. "Wait a minute till 1 get this it hi founded lamp lit and we'll make Mire." After a little trouble he lit the lamp and again made a thorough search of both room-;, but as before, there was i not 11in!_■* t here. "Will we be able to go home to-day. I 'a t V" Ka t e a sked. "I'm afraid not." he yplied. "'J'he storm's conic ■■■■ worse Than ever, and tlx- snow is drifting badly. I'm afraid it won t blow itself out for another (lav at lca-t." Nlic stooped down in front of the fireplace and began blowing on the embers. I hen she called her husband over to her. "I'at. what's this?'' she a.-ked. "What's tlii- fireplace made of?" "It looks like clay or mud plastered over stones. Hut wait a moment." He took a knife from his pocket and dug intently at the clay: then announced, I hat s not stone; itV blocks of green poplar under the clay. A fireplace made of Wood." "Hut look. Pat." said Kate, "it's just like ;i flight ot steps up the chimney, and look at those long scratches." " I hose steps are probably there because t hey used blocks of different sizes and put the larger ones at the bottom." explained Pat. "Hut, by gully. the scratches look as it something had been i:-ing them fo climb down the chimnev. I wonder if that might be our strange \ isitor ?" 'I hev talked if. over and finally decided to bring Ma 11 v. the lead dog of their team, into the cabin to sleep tllHt "'"ht. If there s any beast coming down the chimney Mallv won't let him get away," said Pat. They went fo bed and lay awake listening for a while, but all was silent, and after a time they slept. Hours later Pat was suddenly wakened by the sound of a terrific struggle from the front room, accompanied by sharp growls from Mallv and wild cries of some other beast. I he struggle seemed to reach a climax, then there was silence, broken only for a moment bv Mally's barking. I at jumped out. of bed. lit the lamp and hurried into the front room. Mallv was standing almost in the fire, barking madly up the chimney. Kate came into the room as Pat tried to quiet the do". What was it, Pat?" she asked. Dog Settled The Banshee "I guess Mally's been having a tussle with you Banshee." said Pat with a grin. "I'm not sure what sort of a beast if was, but it s gone up the chimney and I don't think it'll be down again to-night. (Jo on back to bed. I'll tenet it out. in the morning." There was no further disturbance that night. and in the morning after breakfast Pat proceeded to "ferret out" the intruder. Kaking out the lire, he first tried climbing up the chimney, but found it was too narrow. 1 can t get up there. ' he fold Kate, but I \ e found where the rascal hides out. 1 here s a block missing from the chimney up near the roof. He must have a nest somewhere over the rafters and be using the chimney to get in and out. 1 II have to take a bit of the roof ott to get at, him. If Frank hadn't wanted a ceiling as well as a roof we wouldn't have had all this trouble." As the storm had stopped during the nigut, I'at had little trouble making a large hole in the roof near the chimnev. Mr then took a long pole and poked aioiind exploring]y in the space beneath. "cs there all right.' he called to Kate, "hut 1 can't get him out. Maybe it I leave him lie II come out by himself." Pat dropped down from the roof and got his rilie from tlux cabin. He and Kate, with Mallv beside tliein. waited, watching tin* hole, and after five minutes an in.(Hiring nose sniffed out from tli" opening. A head and ears followed, and then the whole, animal—a creature

about four times 1' e size of a skunk. Pat took careful aim and fired, and the beast fell to the ground. "A wolverine," he said, "and the first I've seen around here in a year. That's, a good riddance. He's the worst trap robber of them all. I'm afraid his sk' n 's t ) badly singed to be of any use, but we'll hang it up where Frank can see it if lie comes back. He'll know from the burns where it came from. Don't you think that's a good idea?" Now here's the funniest part of the story. Xext time Pat went down to the post he met that Frank and told him how his Weiuligo had turned firßt into a Banshee and then into a wolverine. "You can gc bark to the cabin now," lie «aid. "It takes an Irishman to deal with a ghost." Frank just grunted. "Huh." he said. "Weudigo come first. Mebbe Banshee cliiise out Wcndigo. I dur.no. Mebbe wolverine chase out Banshee. T dunno. Too many mebbes about that place. You chase out wolverine, better you keep cabin. Mebbe Wendigo come back. You can have him."