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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 1922)
VOPTTT PT ATTR SEMT-WTCEKLY TPTHl'NR. 1Vvvvvvv'vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvmvvvvvmva I he S si o He Would a Wis. Him an By JACK Copyright by AVVVVVVVVWVVVVVtVVVVVVVVVVVVVV 1 AN rarely places n prop er valuation upon IiIh wom ankind, at least not until deprived of them, lie lias no conception of the subtle atmosphere exhaled by .the nex feminine so long an he bullies In tt; but let It be withdrawn, and un wcr-growlng void begins to manifest Itself In his existence, nnd he becomes Jiungry, In n vague sort of way, for it something so Indefinite that he cannot characterize it. If ills comrades have no more experience than himself, they will shake their heads dubiously and dose him with strong physic. But the hunger will continue and become stronger; ho will loso Interest In the ithlngs of his overy-duy life nnd wax morbid; and one day, when the empti ness has become unbearable, a revela tion will dawn upon him. In the Yukon country, when this comes to pass, the man usually pro visions n poling boat, if it 'bo summer, .nnd If winter harnesses his dogs, and heads for the Southland. A few months later, supposing him to bo pos sessed of n faith in the country, ho returns with n wife to share with him In that faith, and Incidentally in his hardships. This hut serves to show the, Innjito selfishness, of, man. It also hrlrigs us to the trouble of "Scruff" Mackenzie, which occurred in tho old lnyt, before tho country was stamped ed nnd staked by tt tidal wave of cho- -cha-nuns. nnd when tho Klondike's vmly claim to notice was its salmon fisheries. Scruff Mackenzie boro tho carmurka 4f a frontier birth and n frontier life. Ills face was stamped with twenty-flvo .years of incessant strugglo with nn iuro In her wildest moods, the Inst two, tho wildest and hardest of all, linvlng been spent in groping for tho gold which lies in tho shadow of tho Arctic Circle. When tho yearning sickness cnmo upon him he wns not surprised, for he wns n practical man nnd had Been other men thus stricken. Hut ho showed no sign of his malady, wave that ho worked harder. All sum mer ho fought mosquitoes nnd washed Abo sure-thing bnrs of tho Stuart river for n doublo grub-stake. Then he iloatcd a rnft of house-logs down tho Yukon to Forty Mile, und put together ns 'comfortable a cabin as any tho ounp could boast of. Iii'fnct, It showed 'itfch cozy promise that many men elected to bo his partner nnd to come sand live with him. But ho crushed their aspirations with rough speech, peculiar for its strength nnd brovlty, and bought a double supply of grub from tho trading-post. Ho was n sturdy traveler, and his wolf-dogs could work harder and trav el farthor on less grub than any other itcam In tho Yukon. Three weeks Inter !ho strode into-a hunting camp of tho Upper Tnnana Sticks. They mar velod at his temerity ; for they hud a Ijad namo nnd had been known to kill whlto men for ns trifling a thing as n flhnrp ax or & broken rifle. But ho went among them single-handed, his hearing being a delicious composite of humility, familiarity, sang-froid, and ilnsolencc. It required ,n left hnnd and deep knowledge of tho bnrbnrlc mind effectually to handlo such dlvcrso weapons; but ho wns n past master In tho art, knowing when to conclllute and when to threaten with Jovo-llko wrath. t JIo first inado obelsanco to tho Chief Thllng-Tlnnch, presenting him with a ceuplo of pounds of blncktca and to hacco, and thereby winning his most cordlnl regard. Then ho mingled with tho men and maidens, and that night cavo n potlnch. Tho Bnow wns bentcn down In tho form of nn oblong, per haps n hundred feet In length and qunrter as many across. Down tho center n long flro wns built, whllo cither sldo was carpeted with spruce TmhikIib. The lodges were forsaken, nnd the flvescoro or eo members of tho trlbo gnvo tonguo to their folk' ehunts In honor of their guests. ' Scruff Mackenzie's two years had taucut mm Uio not many nun drcrt words of their vocabulary, nnd ho had llkowlso conquered their deep gutturals, their Jap anese Idioms, constructions, and hou oriflc nnd ngglutlnatlvo particles. So ho made oration after their manner, atlsfylng their lustlnctlvo pootry-lovo with crudo flights of eloquence and juotnphorlcnl contortions. After Thllng-Tlnueh nnd tho Shnmnn had responded In kind, ho made trifling presents to tho menfolk, Joined In their winging, und proved nn expert in their lfty-two-stlck gambling game. It was slow work und a stiff game fcut Scruff ' Mnckenzlu maneuvered cunningly, with un unconcern which wervod to puzzle tho Sticks. IIo took great care to Impress tho men that he wns n sure shot nnd u mighty hunt er, nnd tho camp rang with his plaudits when ho brought down n mooso at six hundred ynrds. Of a night ho visited in Chief Thllng-Tlnneh's. lodge of 4iiooso nnd cariboo skins, talking big .and dispensing tobneco with a lavlsl 'hand. Nor did he full to likewise ,honor tho Shnraau ; for he realized tho the Wooing Go to Indian Bride LONDON Jack London medicine man's influence with his peo ple, and wns anxious to make of him nn ally. But that worthy was high nnd mighty, refused to be propltlntcd, and was unerringly marked down as a prospective enemy. Though no opening presented for an Interview with Znrlnskn, Mackenzlo stole many n glnnce to her, giving fair warning of his Intent. And well sho know, yet coquettlshly surrounded her self with n ring of women whenever tho men were nway and ho had n chance. But he wns in no hurry; be sides, ho knew she could not help but think of him, nnd a fow dnys of such thought would only better his suit. At last, one night, when ho deemed the time to he ripe, ho abruptly left tho chief's Btnoky dwelling nnd hast ened to u neighboring lodge. As usual, she sut with squaws and maidens about her, nil engaged Insewlng moccnslns nnd beadwork. They laughed at his entrance, nnd hndlnngc, which linked Znrlnskn to him, ran high. But one after the other thoy were unceremoni ously bundled Into tho outer snow, whenco they hurried to spread tho tale through all tho camp. - His causo was well pleaded, In her tongue, for sho did not know his, nnd at the end of two hours he rose to go. "So Znrlnskn will como to the white man's lodge? Good I I go now to hnve tnlk with thy father, for he may not be so minded. And I will give him many tokens ; but ho must not ask toe much. If ho say no? Good I Znrlnskn shall yet come to tho whlto man's lodge." He hnd already lifted the skin flap to depart, when n low oxclamntlon brought him hack to tho girl's side. She brought herself to her knees on the bearskin mat, her face aglow with true Eve-light, nnd shyly unhuckoled his heavy belt. IIo looked down, per plexed, suspicious, his ears alert 'for tho slightest sound without. But. her next move disarmed his doubt, and he smiled with pleasure. Sho took from her sewing-bag n moosehldo sheath, bravo with bright beadwork, funtnstlc nlly designed. Sho drew his great hunting knife, gazed rovcrcntly along tho keen edge, half tempted to try It with her thumb, nnd shot It Into plnco In Its new home. Then she slipped the sheath along tho belt to Its customnry resting-place, just above tho hip. For all tho world, It was llko a scene of olden time a lady and her knight. Mackenzlo drew her up full height nnd swept her red Hps with his mustache the, to her, foreign caress of tho wolf. It was n meeting of tho stone ngo and tho steel. Thero wns n thrill of excitement In tho nlr us Scruff Mackenzie, a bulky bundle under his arm, threw open the flap of Thllng-Tlnneh's tent. Children wore running uhoijt In tho open, drag ging dry wood to tho scene of the potlnch, n babble of women's voices was growing In tensity, tho young men wero consulting In sullen groups, while from tho Shaman's lodge rose the eerie sounds of nn Incantation. Tho chief wns alone with his blear- eyed wife, but n glunco sufficed to tell Mackenzlo that tho news was alroady old. So ho plunged nt onco Into tho business, shifting tho bended shenth prominently to the fore ns advertise ment of tho betrothal. "O Thllng-TInneh, mighty chief of tho Sticks und tho lnnd of tho Tnnana, ruler of tho salmon nnd tho bear, tho mooso nnd tho cnrlbool The white man Is beforo thee with a great pur pose. Many moons lias ins Iodgo been empty, nnd ho Is lonely. And his heart has eaten itself In silence, and grown hungry for a woman to sit beside him In his lodge, to meet him from tho hunt with warm lire and good food. IIo has heard strange things, tho putter of baby moccasins und the sound of children's voices. And one night a vision camo upon him, and he beheld the raven, who Is thy father, tho great raven, who Is the fnther of nil tho Sticks. And tho raven spake to tho lonely whlto man, saying : "Bind thou thy moccasins upon thee, uud gird thy snowshocs on, und lash thy sled with food for many sleeps and lino tokons for tho Chief Thllng-TInneh. For thou shnlt turn thy fnco to where tho mid "spring sun Is wont to sink below tho land, uud Journey to this great chief's hunting grounds. There thou shnlt make big presents, nnd Thllng-TInneh, who Is my son, shall becomo to thee ns u father. In his lodge there la n maiden Into whom I breathed tho breath of llfo for thee. This maiden shnlt thou tako to wife.' "O chief, thus spake tho grcut raven ; thus do I luy many presents at thy feet; thus and I come to tnko thy duughtcr I" The old man drew his furs nbout him with crudo consciousness of royalty, but delayed reply whllo n youngster crept in, delivered a quick message to appear beforo the council, and was gone. "O whlto man, whom wo havo named moose-killer, also known as tho wolf. and tho son of tho woltt We know thou comcst of n mighty race; wo aro proud to have thco our potluclt guest; hut tlio king-salmon docs not mate with nil- uufc-ouiniuu, uur uiu iuvcii viiu mu wolf." "Not sol" criod Mackenzie. "Tho daughter of tho raven havo I met In tho camps of the wolf -the squuw of Mortimer, the squaw of Trogldgo, tho squnw of Bnrnuby, who came two Ice runs back, and I havo heard of other squaws, though my eyes beheld them not" "Son, your words nro true; but it were evil mating, like the water with the sand, llko the snowflnke with the sun. But met you one Mnson und his squuw? No? He came ten Ice-runs ngo tho first of nil the wolves. And with him there wns n mighty man, strnlght as n willow-shoot, nnd tall; strong ns the bald-faced grizzly, with a heart like the full summer moon; his" "Ohl" lnt6rrupted Mackenzie, recog nizing the well-known northland fig ure "Mnlemuto Kid I" "Tho snme a mighty man. But saw you aught to the squaw? Sho was full sister to Znrlnskn." "Nny, chief ; but I havo heard. Ma son far, far to the north, n spruce tree, heavy with years, crushed out his llfo beneath. But his love was great, und ho had much gold. With this, nnd her boy, she Journeyed countless sleeps toward tho winter s noonday sun, and there she yet lives no biting frost, no snow, no summer's midnight sun, uo winter's noondny night." A second messenger interrupted with Imperative summons from the council. As Mackenzie threw him Into tho snow, he caught a glimpse of the swny lng forms before the council fire, heard the deep basses of the men In rhythmic chant, nnd knew the Shaman was fan nlng with anger of his people. Time pressed. He turned upon tho chief. "Cornel I wish thy child. And now Seel here are tobacco, tea, many cups of sugar, warm blankets, handker chiefs, both good nnd large ; and here, a truo rifle, with many bullets nnd much powder." "Nay," replied the old man, strug gling ngnlnst tho great wealth spread beforo him. "Even now nre my people come together. They will not have this marriage." "But thou art chief." "Yet do my young men rage because Swayed a Moment the wolves have taken their maidens So that they may not marry." "Listen, O Thllng-TInneh! Ere the night has passed into the day, the Wolf shall face his dogs to the mountains of the east and fare forth to tho country to the Yukon. And Zarlnska shall break trail for his dogs." "And ere tho night has gained its middle, my young men may fling to the dogs the flesh of the wolf, nnd his bones be scattered In the snow till the springtime lay them bare." It was threat nnd counter-threat Mackenzie's bronzed face flushed dark ly. He raised his voice. The old squaw, who till now had sat an Impas sive spectator, made to creep by him for the door. The song of the men broke suddenly, nnd thero wns u hub bub of many voices ns he whirled tho old woman roughly to her couch of skins. "Again I cry listen, O Thllng-TInneh 1 The wolf dies with teeth fast locked, and with him there shall sleep ten of thy strongest men men who are needed, for the hunting is hut be gun, und the fishing Is not many moons away. And again, of what profit should I die? I know the custom of thy peo ple; thy share of my wealth shall bo very small. Grant me thy child, and It shall all be thine. And yet again, my brothers will come, and they are many, and their liiaws are never filled ; and tho daughters of tho raven shnll bear chlluren In the lodges of tho wolf. My people are greater than thy people. It is destiny. Grant and all this weulth la thine." Moccasins wero crunching tho snow without. Mackenzlo threw his rlflo to cock, nnd loosened tho twin colts In his belt "Grant, 0 111611" "And yet will my people Say no." "Grant, and tho wealth Is thine. Then shnll I deul with thy people after." "Tho Wolf will havo it so. I will tftke his tokens but I would wnrn him." Mackenzie passed over the goods, taking care to clog the rifle's ejector, and cupping the bargain with n kaleidoscopic silk kerchief. Tho Sha man and half n dozen young braves entered, but he shouldered boldly among them and passed out. "Pack I" was his laconic greeting to Znrlnskn as he passed her lodge and hurried to harness his dogs. A few minutes luter he swopt Into the coun cil nt tho head of the team tho womnn by his side. lie took his place at the upper end of the oblong, by tho side of the chief. To his loft, n step to the rear, ho stationed Zarlnska her prop er place. Besides, the time was ripe for mischief, nnd there was need to guard his back. The singing nnd dancing censed, and the Shaman flnred up In rude elo quence. Through the sinuosities of their vast mythology, he worked cun ningly upon tho credulity of his peo ple. The ense wns strong. Opposing the creative principles ns embodied in the crow nnd the raven, he stlgmntlzed Mackenzie ns the -wolf, the fighting and the destructive principle. "Ay, my brothers, Jelchs is all-power I Did he not bring heaven-born fire that we might be warm? Did he not draw the sun, moon nnd stnrs from their holes that we might see? Did he not tench us that we might fight the spirits of famine nnd of frost? But now Jelchs is nngry with his children, nnd they nre grown to a handful, and ho will not help. For thoy have for gotten him, nnd done evil things, nnd trod bad trails, and taken his enemies Into their lodges to sit by their fires. And the raven is sorrowful nt tho wickedness of his children; but when they shnll rise up and show they hnve come back, he will come out of tho darkness to nld them. O brothers I the llre-hrlnger has whispered messages to thy shaman; the same shall ye hear, Let tho young men tnke the young women to their lodges; let them fly at the throat of the wolf; let them be undying In their enmity I Then shall and Pitched Forward. their women become fruitful, nnd they, shnll multiply Into n mighty people! And the raven shall lead great tribes of their futhers Und their fathers' fa thers from out of tho North ; and they shnll heat back the wolves till they nre as last year's camptlrcs ; and they shall again come to rule over all the land I 'TIs the message of Jelchs, tho rnven." This foreshndowlng of the Messiah's coming brought a hoarse howl from tho Sticks us they leaped to their feet. Mackenzlo slipped the thumbs of his mittens, and waited. Thero was a clamor for the Fox, not to ho stilled till one of the young men stepped for ward to speak. "Brothers! The Shaman has spok en wisely. The wolves have taken our women, nnd our men are childless. We are grown to u handful. The wolves have taken our warm furs and given for them evil spirits which dwell In bottles, and clothes which come not from the beaver or. tho lynx, but nre mado from the grass. And they nre not warm, and our men die of strange sicknesses. I, tho Fox, have taken no woman to wife; and why? Twice have the muldens which pleased me gone to tho camps of the Wolf. Even now I have laid by skins of the beaver, of the moose, of the cariboo, that I might win favor In the eyes of Thllng-Tln nch, that I might marry Zarlnska, his daughter. Even now nre her snow shoes bound to her feet, ready to hreal trail for tho dogs of the Wolf. Nor do I speak for myself alone. As I have done, so has the 'bear. He, too, had fain been the father of her children, nnd many skins has ho cured there to. I speak for all tho young men who know not wives. The wolves nre over hungry. Always do they take tho To the rnvens nre left the leavings. "Ihero Is Gugklul" he cried Bru tally pointing out one of tho women, who was a cripple. "Her logs are bent llko tho ribs of n birch canoe. She cannot gather wood nor carry the hleat .,f the hunters. Did tho wolves choose her?"' "Ail nil" vociferated his tribesmen. "There Is MoyrI, whoso eyes nro crossed by the evil spirit. Even the babes are affrighted when they gaze upon her, nnd It is said the bald-face gives her tho trail. Was sho chosen?" Again the cruel upplause rang out. "And there sits Plschct. She does not hearken to my words. Never has she heard tho cry of the chit-chat, the voice of her husband, the bnhble of her child. She lives In the white silence. Cared the wolves aught for her? No 1 ThelrsMs the choice of the kill; ours the leavings. "Brothers, It shnll not be 1 No more shall tho wolves slink among our camp fires. Tho time Is come." A great streamer of fire, the aurora borealls, Tnirple. green nnd yellow, shot across the zenith, bridging horizon to horizon. With hend thrown back and nrms extended, he swayed to his climax. "Behold I The spirits of our fathers have arisen and great deeds aro afoot this night!" He stepped back, and another young mnn somewhat diffidently came for ward, pushed on by his comrades. He towered a full hend above them, his broad chest defiantly bared to the frost. He swung tentntlvely from one foot to the other. Words halted upon his tongue, nnd ho wns 111 nt ease. Ills face was horrible to look upon, for It had at one time been hnlf torn nway by some terrific blow. At Inst he struck his brenst with his clenched fist, draw ing sound ns from n drum, nnd his voice rumbled forth us the surf from an ocean cavern. "I am the Bear the Silver-Tip and the Son of the Stiver-Tip ! When my voice wns yet ns a girl's, I slew the lynx, the moose, nnd the cnrlhoo ; when It whistled like tho wolverines from under n enche, I crossed the Mountains of the South nnd slew three of tho White Rivers; when it became as the roar of the Chinook, I met the bald faced grizzly, but gave no trail." At this he paused, his hand slgnlfl enntly sweeping ncross his hideous scars. "I nm not ns tho Fox. My tongue Is frozen llko the river. I cannot make great talk. My words ore few. The Fox says great deeds are afoot this night. Good! Tnlk flows from his tongue like tho freshets of the spring, hut he Is chnry of deeds. This night shall I do battle with the Wolf. shall slay him, and Znrlnskn shall sit by my fire. The Bear has spoken." Though pandemonium rnged about him, Scruff Mackenzie held his ground, "Brothers! The White Mnn, whom ye have chosen to call the Wolf, came among you with fair "words. He was not like the Innult; he spoke not lies, He came as a friend, us one who would bo n brother. But your men have had their say, and the time for soft words Is past. First, I will tell you thnt the Shaman has an evil tongue nnd is n fnlse prophet, thnt the messages he spake are not those of the Flre-Bring-er. His ears aro locked to the voice of the raven, nnd out of his own head he weaves cunning fnncles, nnd he has made fools of you. no has nrt power. When the dogs were killed and eaten, and your stomachs were heavy with untnnned hide nnd strips of moccnslns; when the old men died, nnd the old women died, nnd the babes at the dry dugs of the mothers died; when the land was dark, and ye perished as do tho salmon in the fall ; ay. when the famine was upon you, did the Shaman bring rewnrd to your hunters? Did the Shaman put ment In your bellies? Again I say, tho Shaman Is without power. Thus ! I spit upon his face !" Though taken aback by the sncrl- 'ege, there was no uproar. Some of the Women were even frightened, but among the men thero wns nn uplifting, as though In preparation or anticipa tion of the miracle. All eyes were turned upon the two central figures. The priest realized tho crucial mo ment, felt his power tottering, opened his mouth in denunclutlon, but fled backwnrd before the truculent advance,. upraised fist, and flashing eyes of Mackenzie. He sneered and resumed. "Wns I stricken dend? Did tho light ning burn me? Did the stars fall from the sky nnd crush me? Pish 1 I havo done with the ditg. Now will I tell you of my people, who nre the mightiest of nil the peoples, who rule In all the lands. At first wo hunt ns I hunt, ulone. After thnt we hunt In packs; nnd nt last, llko the cariboo-run, we sweep across all tho land. Those whom we take Into our lodges live; those who will not como die. Zarlnska Is n come ly maiden, full and strong, fit to be come the mother of wolves. Though I die, such shnll she become; for my brothers nre many, and they will fol low the scent of my dogs. Listen to the Law of tho Wolf: Whoso taketh the life of one Wolf, tho forfeit shnll ten of his people pny. In mnny lands tins the price been paid ; lu many lands shnll It yet be paid. "Now will I deal with the Fox and the Bear. It seems they hnve cast eyes upon the maiden. So? Behold, I havo bought her ! Thllng-TInneh leans jip on tho rifle; tho goods of purchase aro by his fire. Yet will I be fair to tho young men. To the Fox, whoso tonguo Is dry with my words, will I give of tobneco five long plugs. Thus will his mouth be wetted that he may make much noise In tho council. But to the Bcnr, of whom I am well proud, will I give of blankets two; of flour, twenty cups; of tobacco, doublo that of tho Fox; and If he fnre with me over tho Mountains of the Enst, then will I glvo him a rifle, ranto to Thllng-Tlnneh's. choice meat at the killing. If not? Gond! The AVoIf Is weary or speech. Yet once again will ho say the law : 'Whoso taketh the life of one Wolf, the forfeit shall ten of his people pny.' Mackenzlo smiled us he stepped hnck to his old position, hut at heart he was full of trouble. The night wns yet dark. The girl came to his side, nnd he lis tened closely ns she told of the Benr's battle-tricks with tho knife. The decision was for war. In n trice, scores of moccasins were widen ing the space of beaten snow by the flro. There wns much chatter about the seeming defeat of the Shaman; some averred he had hut withheld his power, while others conned past events nnd ngrecd with the Wolf. Tho Benr came to the center of the battle ground, n long naked hunting-knife of Russian make In his bund. The Fox culled attention to Muckenzle's revolvers: so he stripped his belt, buckling It nbout Zarlnska, Into whose hands lie also intrusted Ids rifle. She shook her head that she could not shoot small chance hnd n woman to handle such precious things. "Then, If danger come by my hnck, cry nlood, 'My husbundl No; thus, 'My husband I' " He laughed as she repeated It, pinched her cheek und re-entered the circle. Not only In reach nnd stnture had the Bear the advantage of him, but his blade was longer by n good two Inches. Scruff Mackenzie hnd looked Into the eyes of men before, nnd he knew it wns n mnn who stood against him; yet he quickened to the glint of light on the steel, to the dom inant pulse of his race. Twice he pricked tho Bear, getting tiwny unscathed; but the third time caught, and to save himself, free hands closed on fighting hands, nnd they enme together. Then did he rea lize the tremendous strength of his op ponent. His muscled were knotted in painful lumps, nnd cords and tendons threatened to snnp with the strain; yet nearer nnd nenrer camo the Rus sian steel. He tried to break nway, but only weakened himself. Tho fur clad circle closed In, certain of nnd anxious to see tho final stroke. But wltjh wrestler's trick, swinging partly to the side, he struck at his adversary with his head. Involuntarily the Bear leaned buck, disturbing his cen ter of gravity. Simultaneous with this, Mackenzie tripped properly and throw his whole weight forwnrd, hurl ing him clear through the circle Into the deep snow. The Bear floundered out nnd came back full tilt. "Oh, my husband 1" Zarlnskn's voice rang out, vibrant with danger. To the twnng of n bow-string, Mac kenzie swept low to the ground, and a bone-barbed arrow passed over him into the breast of the Bear, whose mo mentum cnrrled him over his crouch ing foe. The next instant Mackenzie wns up and about. Tho Bear lay mo tionless, but across the fire was the Shaman, drawing a second nrrow. Mackenzie's knife lenped short in the air. He caught the heavy blade by tho point There was a flash of light as it spanned the fire. Then the Sha man, the lil 1 1 alone nppearlng without his throat, swayed a moment nnd pitched forward into the glowing em bers. Click! click! the Fox hnd pos sessed himself of Thllng-Tlnneh's rifle nnd wns vainly trying to throw n shell Into placfc. But he dropped It nt the sound of Mackenzie's laughter. "So the Fox has not learned the way of the plaything? He Is yet a woman. Come.! Bring it, that I mny show thee!" The Fox hesitated. "Come, I say-" He slouched forward like a beaten cur. 'Thus, nnd thus; so the thing is done." A shell flew Into place and the trigger was nt cock as Mackenzie brought It to- shoulder. "The Fox has said great deeds were afoot this night, nnd he spoke trne. There huve been great deeds, yet least among them were those of the Fox. Is ho still Intent to take Zarln ska to his lodge? Is he minded to trend the trail already broken by the Shaman nnd the Bear? No? Good!" Mackenzie turned contemptuously and drew his knife from the priest's throat. "Aro any of the young men so mind ed? If so, the Wolf will tnke them by two and three till none nre left. No? Good. Thllng-TInneh, I now give thee this rifle a second time. If In the days to come thou shouldst journey to the country of the Yukon, know thou thnt there shall alwnys be a place and much food by the fire of the Wolf. The night Is now passing into the day. 'I go, but I may come again. And for the last time, remember the Law of the Wolf 1" He was supernatural In their sight as he rejoined Zarlnska. She took her place at the head, of the team, und the dogs swung into motion. A few mo ments later they were swallowed up by tho ghostly forest. Till now Mac kenzie had wnlted ; he slopped Into his snowshoes to follow. "Hns the Wolf forgotten the five long plugs?" Mackenzie turned upon the' Fox an grlly; then the humor of it struck him. "I will glvo thee one short plug." "As the Wolf sees fit," meekly re sponded the Fox, stretching out hi hand. The Heart and Reason. The heart has reasons which the rea son does not know. It Is the heart that feels God, not the reason. Tho primary truths nro not demonstrable, and yet our knowledge of them Is none tho less certain. Principles aro felt propositions aro proved. Truths may bo nhovo reason tud yet not contrary to reason. r
