Scout  turns    and  Gives   a Sharp whistle, the  kind  he  and Cowboy used  more then a few times in the past. When Cowboy  looks  over, He waves  him over    shouting,..when you have a  minute!

  Turning  back to Dick he says,..if the Money's   right, and you can  help with the  Up keep  of  My friend's  plane...  That would  come in , right handy, for  get in  and out of the  wilds..

 ...as for the Cowboy  and  Indian thing?... Can't  say I'm real happy  about that, But... if the pay is  right?.. I can do  it, if Cpwboy  goes  along  with it

The Sawmill


Charlie comes over Boy Howdy, them krauts love to watch a rope twirl.  They want to know all about you too, but they are afraid to talk to you Si.

Dick Young Cowboy, how would you like to greet guests for a ball tomorrow night, I'll pay you a crisp new 5 spot for the night.

Charlies eyes open up, Yes Sir, tell me where to be

Everyone would know that average pay for typical help is two bits an hour, great pay is 50 cents an hour.

Andres chimes in, Need any porters ?  I'll carry baggage or hang coats or whatever.

Dick Be at the lodge before dark tomorrow.

  Si  smiles  at Cowboy,..Don't know why they'd  be afraid.....I'm not  even wearing the scalps on my belt!...  he  laughs  softly,..just kidding..there  hasn't been scalp taking  for a few years  now.

 what  about   dressing  up?... I don't have  'buckskins' like you see in the  cinema ... and I sure don't have a suit....I have a Nice   warm Homespun shirt with  some beads on?  Woman  made it for  me in Utah. Got  one other pair of clean pants.... My Hat, and gunbelt , boots  and weapons  should do the trick though...I bet they don't see folks walking   around   dressed  like that?

The Sawmill


Dick lights up a cigarette with an ornate European lighter I will ask how they want you dressed.  I assume as authentic as possible.

Speaking of the dig.  Do you know where we can hire a surveyor and someone who can handle rock mining explosives ?
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:35, Tue 27 Aug 2019.

    Sipping  his   drink and looking  ruefully at the  glass,..I  worked   a Gold mine a tear or so  back, when me and Cowboy where Headed back north.. Irishman.... name of Brodie.. he was a  wiz  at  demo?... i was the only one  dumb enough to  go in the hole with him.... I learned  some things... You  get a good  drill man.. I  can Lay some sticks  for you... but i won't  use  Nitro.. saw two men and a Mule turned to  desert stew  cause   a Man Miss handled  a  vial...

Placid Lake Lodge


A porter dressed in a dark green bellhop uniform comes out of the lodge headed toward the float plane, he reaches for Amelia's suitcase.  Munro raises his voice, in his deep accented voice he warns I will handle Lady Farrington's baggage.  Then he passes the man a coin for his trouble.

Munro sticks his head in the plane, speaking to Iain.  I would like to take a 2-3 bottles of whiskey to use as barter with the porters if that is ok.

Are you staying here tonight ?

This message was last edited by the GM at 07:10, Tue 27 Aug 2019.

The Sawmill

Vay elbows Si
Don't forget about your experience digging with me in Guatemala. I'll never forget that old Mayan mine we were in and that skeleton fell on you. What was that you said ?

Vay chuckles, and passes a beer to Si

  He Takes the Beer with a  grateful nod, and a  bit of an embarrassed  smile. ..I  Try to  forget that Vay... that curse was supposed to come with that dig... you  guys talking about  it all  night before? Then  we go in there and that happens...

 playing to the crowd, he looks at the other Men...you know  how  my people feel about the Dead....

  Halfway  into his sip, he    hits  the  table  with a hand,..Just remembered.. we have a frenchman  with us..he knows  about  surveying  and such...least ways.... he told  us as  much?

Dick Hold that thought while I get a beer

Vay leans over, in a low tone To hell with that Dutch Crust, you'll be my guest at the dinner


The talking and drinking in the sawmill continues.  Si is introduced to the big Swede that Vay was messing with earlier, the farm kid, the old German and the Spaniard who works with them.

  Si   smiles    at  that  and give Vay a nod and a grin.

  When the  others  come over, Si  stands   offers his hand   and sits  when the introductions  are finished,..so?  All this here? Is every one here  for the Olympics  and   things that  are  feeding off of it?

Jimmy Montague who's just lit his pipe replies with some sarcasm
The games are relatively small, about 250 competitors from 17 nations, hosted by a lecherous librarian with wide anti-Semitic streak.

People are hungry around the world, with rumors of starvation in the Ukraine.  Money is devalued everywhere.  Germany has 6 million unemployed and they are using Reichsmarks to burn or wallpaper.  There are wars in the Middle East, Burma and South America.  Last September the Japs invaded and now control Manchuria, and just 4 days ago there was a bombing of a Jap rail line, and the Chinese are blamed.

And if that weren't enough. They take away drink from hard working men, making the producers criminals.

Jimmy pauses and takes a long drink of his cocktail, and a puff of his pipe.

No, Nothing brings the elites together like a competition so one might have bragging rights for the next few years.  The elites have brought their money for a chance to bloviate and show off to one another.

So, tomorrow night they will have a grand gala.  They will dress in the finest clothes, don their best jewelry and dine over the best food the world has to offer.  Chuckling as they boast and regale each other with tales of grandeur.  Then they will retire to the smoking room to make business plans, before rejoining one another to dance with the ladies.

One really should not miss it, I know I won't.

  there is a bit of a sad  smile   as  Si  pushes the brim of  his battered  Stedsen  up with one  finger...don't  see  me fitting in witht hem folks?  I'm all for eating, and some good  drink... stay away from smoking though, not good  for your if you have to hike alot... and the smell lets the animals know you';re  around..

 wasn't too far  back... in  Montana? he looked to Cowboy to see if  it was right...some rancher  hire d us to   chase off some  rustlers......  Cowboy stayed with the  herd  this one night, cause  one of the wrangles  was shot  from up in the woods?.....  Took me?.. maybe.. 2 Hours in the  dark to find him.... but it wasn't my   tracking... he had him  some of those    thin rolled  cigars?... he kept it   down behind this  rock, so's the   ash  wouldn't give him away... the funny thing  was..  I guess he thought himself  better then everyone esle cause he was a shooter from the war... Greman guy..... I didn't  even have  to  use  my  Gun... Just  My knife....  I have his rifle  back  with some   folks in Utah.. they are holding it  for me..along with   his  box of cigars.

Jim Jules asks Jimmy Montague
What was the name of that Injun that came out of the wilderness and you wrote a story about him just before I met you, maybe 10 years ago ?

Ishi ?

Yes, that's it...………… Si, you remind me of Ishi.  Do you know the story ?

 Si  shakes his head,..can't  say  i have?   Read papers..  ever now  and then a good  pulp story..  not many book stores  in the   woods!... got a lot of reading  down in hollywood ... some i had to read..some i wanted to read...

 we got  time?.. can you tell me  some of it?

Jim Jules shakes his head, No, I must defer to Mr Montague, he's the wordsmith.

Jimmy M Lieutenant, you'll have to get me a whiskey if I'm going to start telling stories.  He hands the navy officer a ten dollar bill, Bring the bottle

As Jim heads for the bar, Jimmy begins

Ishi was of the Yahi Tribe, of the Yana People who lived in the California wilderness. The Yahi believed all persons are equal and so lived with no political authorities.

Divided into groups, the Yahi use to hunt and gather for their food. The nation consisted of 400 people who lived isolated from the outer world and fought fiercely to defend their territory, which was close to the Californian landmines.

The Yahi were the first to experience the consequences of the gold rush. When more than 300,000 people from all around the United States came to California in their search for the precious metal, the territory of the Yahi became overwhelmed by the hostile gold miners.
The Yahi fought against the settlers but were eventually annihilated due to their lack of guns. A series of massacres decreased the numbers of the indigenous tribe to less than 100 people.

Jim had returned with a bottle of whiskey, and several tin cups.  He lines up the group and splashes generous liquor in each cup.  Jimmy takes a puff from his pipe, and sips from the cup.  Then continues.

With the rivers occupied by the gold diggers and the decreased number of deer in the forests, the Yahi lost their hunting spots and lived in starvation.

Ishi ran into the wilderness with some members of his tribe after the massacre of 40 of his tribesmen. Around 33 members of the Yahi tribe managed to escape, of which half were shot dead very soon after. Ishi remained in hiding for 44 years until a group of surveyors found their camp. Ishi and his relatives managed to escape, all but his sick mother. When Ishi returned to the camp, he found only his mother there, who died shortly after. The other relatives never returned, so he remained alone and spent the next 3 years wandering in the forests looking for food. In 1911, the desperate and starving man finally revealed himself to the modern world.

In 1911, the last of the Yana was captured while searching for food. The man who appeared around 50 years old wouldn’t tell his name to his captors, as per the old Yahi tradition not to reveal their names to the enemy.  He was sent to a university in San Fransisco to study, and was named Ishi by the scientists, which mean man in Yahi.

Five years later the last of the Yahi died, never revealing his true name. 

Remaining silent, Jimmy raises his cup in a toast.

   Si Listened  intently.   His face was  impassive, but the   grip on his    cup would  tighten from time to time.

  ..There  are  people of all nations who are like that man...you struggle  for  you life.. your family and your  people. Until such  time comes, when you  are ..alone.

 Turning to the other  fellow  he says,..I am honored  by your  remark, but i  feel this  ..Ishi.. may have been a  much better  man then me.

 he takes a  deeper swig of his  drink and Nods.

On the plane, Amelia had arranged with Iain to contact him by radio if she needed any help. She had a small suitcase radio that she could tune to the aircraft frequency. It would only be Morse, and she would only be able to receive if she were in her room, but at least it was a lifeline of sorts.

Not that she would be likely to need a lifeline once she was away from the plane and its wanted gangsters. She smiled when she mentioned this.

She passed Iain ten dollars as they had previously arranged, to cover painting the plane and any sundry expenses.

She had also spoken with the African.
"Mr Munro, I wonder if you would be so kind as to act as my assistant? Things might be different in England, but I fear in this 'neck of the woods' as the locals say, the only occupation that will be believable for an African, is a servant. At least it will provide you with a warm bed for the night, and I really could do with someone reliable to keep an eye on things. I would be most grateful for your help."

When she disembarked, she thanked the young man pleasantly for his assistance.
"Why, thank you, Mr Henry, most kind of you." If his eyes were seeking anything beyond polite thanks, he was to be disappointed.

She went inside with Munro's aid. Now she just had to meet her business colleague.

Placid Lake Lodge

Munro This is acceptable to me.  I have been to many ports like this before.  This is not new to me, I am happy to help.  I am thankful you liberated me from my previous job.  Don't worry about me, there are real benefits of being seen, but not being seen.  Plus, I'm sure you'd return the favor to me if our rolls were reversed.


Mr Henry is a complete gentleman, escorting Amelia to the door, opening it for her, only saying Good Evening Lady before turning and heading back down the steps toward the aircraft.

The man behind the check in desk greets Amelia warmly.  Good Evening, my name is Horace, how may I help you ?  After pleasantries Horace the Concierge checks in Lady Amelia and hands her a note that was sitting in the pigeon hole for her room numbered 218.  The Note reads,


Horace comments, Your Valet will find common lodging in the basement with the porters.

Lake Placid Docks

Iain had his plane resting briefly as his passengers disembarked.  Iain took stock in the disposition of all his passengers.

Amelia and Munro were headed up to the Lake Placid Lodge to stay
Si, Charley and Mickey went to a local speakeasy
Rene and Doc(Vitto) were back at the cabin

Now coming onto the dock was a man dressed in a fleece lined jacket.  The man greets Iain warmly, Sounds like you have that wasp engine well tuned?  Let me ask you something, you have a noticeable horsepower drop off at high altitudes don't you ?

It was clearly more of a statement than a question.  This seemingly friendly guy, who came out of nowhere appeared to know something about aircraft engines.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:40, Thu 29 Aug 2019.

The Sawmill


Jimmy Montague stands, I think that's enough for me boys.  I will see you tomorrow.  With that Jimmy, Jim Jules and Dick Quirin head to their lodging in town.  The three say good bye and shake hands on their way out.

Charlie signals for Si to come over to his table, where he sits with the huge man, an middle aged grizzly man, a young American and an olive skinned man.

Charlie introduces Si to each of them.

This is
August Steiner - the middle aged man
Sven Johansson - the huge man
Mark - the young American
then stumbles with the last mans name, Javier Atzoza, Actosa, the olive skinned man tries to help Charlie pronounce it, then the Spanish man spells out his last name, Otxoa

  Si gives  waves  and  a nod to the others  who leave.  Seeing Charlie's   motion, the HAlf  Breed  heads over  to the table.

    Greetings,  I  am Si Darkshadow.. me a Charlie work together  and traveled   around a bit as we  tried to scare up some jobs..

   Trying to get a feel from them   by a look in thie reyes  and   the grip of thier handshake.  You folks    live around here..or looking for  work from this Olympics , thing?

 Turning to Charile he adds,we have  a Jopb  coming  at  a dig site, if you want in... and  You egt to greet guests  in your   wrangler  clothes..., so we're set  for a while, for a change...

The Sawmill


The older man identified as August Steiner speaks
Vee verk har, for da Olympiad, build da race courses, vee did
speaking with a thick german accent

The kid Mark speaks up A dig, now I'm all for working, but you mean digging ditches ?

   Si  smiled at the man who said   they helped  with the track.

 turning to the younger fellow he said,.. We've   done that... he nodded to Cowboy,..nothing  wrong  with good , hard  honest Labor.. as long as the folks   pay you..if they don't..well... you settle  the bill  however you have to.

 ..but this  is a 'dig'..they call it that because they found some Histroy things they want to dig up..study..and ship off  to museums ..of  course, if it is  exciting  enough,  people with deep  pockets  try to buy some of the   things for thier  Manor houses and such.... Differasnt  kind of Digging..sometimes hard... some  times easy, 'cause you can't break anything.... and depending  on who funds the  dig?.. your  pay is  either good... or great.

Young Mark replies excitedly
Oh, like King Tut stuff.  That sounds keen.  I'm in.

The others shrug their shoulders and agree.

Jobs are hard to come by and seldom turned down or questioned in these times.

Munroe's idea about bartering whiskey might have some merit. Amelia took one of the bottles in her baggage, leaving three on the plane. Two bottles had been left at the cabin, one for the trapper and one inside Doc, and the other 19 crates had been stashed in the woods around Silver Lake.

Having found Munro a bed for the night, Amelia decided to turn in herself. It was 10pm and it had been a long, and cold, day. A warm bath followed by a soft bed would be most welcome. Once Munro had helped her to settle her bags into her room, she left him to his own devices and called for a maid to run a bath for her and arrange her fripparies.

She wasn't too worried about the others. It had sounded as if they'd found themselves a party at that sawmill. She wouldn't be surprised if they drank into the small hours and then fell into a stupor under whatever table had last propped them up. Men did things like that.