Page:Hendryx--Connie Morgan with the Mounted.djvu/224

206 they're sensible ghosts they won't try any monkey business with the Mounted."

The officer laughed. "You'll do," he said. "Of course there are no such things as ghosts, but it's hard to make the Indians believe it. In fact, it's hard to make 'em believe anything a white man believes. Ordinarily I don't pay any attention to their yarns. But this case is a little different." He picked a paper from his desk. "Here's a letter that was brought in by a trapper yesterday. It's from MacFarland, chief trader at the Tilton Lake, H. B. C. Post:

"'Superintendent commanding B Division, Royal North-west Mounted Police, Dawson, Y. T.

"'Sir:

"'I beg to call your attention to the fact that the Indians in the vicinity of Red Tail Lake have abandoned their hunting ground and have moved to the immediate vicinity of this post. They insist that a ghost or tamahnawus has taken possession of the Red Tail Lake country, and they refuse to go back until the police come and chase it away. These Indians have great respect for the Mounted, and if you can spare a man or two I think they can be persuaded to return without trouble. I am calling your atten-