Read Finders Keepers for Free Online

buildings around all four sides. “So this is where all the North West Mounted Police stayed.” He looked at the high wooden stockades, the lookout towers and the cannon, and started to laugh.
    Danny, puzzled, looked out of the window then back at Joshua. “What’s so funny?”
    Joshua waved his hand around. “All this.” He looked solemnly at Danny. “You guys must have been terrified of us First Nations to build stockades like this, and you know what…?”
    Danny shook his head.
    Joshua started to grin again. “We never attacked a fort in the whole of Alberta. The only attack this fort has seen is me.” Both boys started to laugh.
    â€œYup,” Joshua continued, “and it’s some fort when you can just kick open the gate and bust in.”
    â€œOK, Big Chief,” Danny chuckled, “let’s see how far the invasion can get.” He pointed to a building on the other side of the square. “That’s where the Indian Exhibit is. If we are careful we can get there by the walkway along the top of the walls.”
    Joshua walked to the lookout’s doorway and considered the narrow boardwalk running along the three sides of the stockade. It connected with a turret room in each corner. There was a fence on the drop side, but it wasn’t solid, just a couple of sturdy rails. “Someone will see us.”
    â€œOnly if we walk around,” Danny pointed out. Then he grinned and nudged Joshua in the ribs. “But we’re Indians, right?” He dropped to the floor and slithered out on his belly across the boards.
    Joshua rolled his eyes skyward, sighed, then dropped to the floor and followed close on Danny’s heels. “I’ve read about this in books,” he grumbled in a whisper as they paused halfway to the next turret, and rubbed aching elbows and scraped knees. “I reckon it was invented by a white man.”
    It took ages, but eventually they wriggled into the last turret without incident and thankfully stood up inside.
    They tiptoed silently down the steps and hid in the shadows again, holding their breath and listening.
    Faint snatches of conversation drifted from one of the buildings.
    Danny nodded with satisfaction. “They’re cleaning the chapel block,” he whispered to Joshua. “Sounds as though the Indian Exhibit hall is empty.”
    Joshua looked curiously at him. “Why are you so keen to get to that exhibit?”
    â€œTo check out the arrowheads,” Danny explained.
    â€œLook.” He pulled out the wad of tissues from his back pocket. “I found this, yesterday. On the reserve, just after I’d left you.” He unwound the wrappings and placed the point in Joshua’s outstretched palm.
    Joshua sucked in his breath with admiration. “Oooh,” he breathed, “It’s a beaut.” He looked up at Danny. “What are you going to do with it?”
    Danny stared in surprise. “Keep it, of course. It’s lucky.”
    Silently Joshua handed the point back.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” Danny asked, puzzled at the sudden feeling of tension between them. “Is something wrong?”
    Joshua shrugged. “Guess not. You found it.” He walked to a chink in the wall and peered through it. “By the way,” he threw over his shoulder, “it’s a lance point, not an arrowhead.”
    â€œYou know about this stuff?” asked Danny eagerly as he rewrapped the point and thrust it in his pocket. “Great, maybe we can make bows, or lances, or whatever, and play at being Indians.”
    â€œI don’t have to play at being ’Indian,’” said Joshua stiffly. “I’m Peigan.”
    Danny stared enviously at Joshua’s back. “I wish I was,” he said.
    Joshua turned round and looked at Danny for a long time. “No you don’t,” he said seriously. “Most people hate us.”
    Danny looked