Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-09-05

snoy Aouuu tne Uear lhzily uOLiuH u
the noontlde sun, and, keeping well 4
leewsrd, stole upon him with such 81
lent tread that Nanuk took no note o
their approach, nor dreamed an enem,
shared the field with him, until well
aimed bullet pierced bis side snd tn
red blood spurted forth. Then witt
roar Of mingled rage and pain tn
great beast rose and faced the dsrinl
boy-who now was hastily relosdin(
his clumsy wsspon-paused q momen
and flung himself at his foe; but err
hs reached bis aim the gun WAS poiss'
and two shots rang out simultsne ously
Tho monster staggered blindly
turned and beat the air with his hug
forepaws, then fell ON his side, and
drawing his knife. Sikeepa lsaped upoi
him.
BE not no fast" . harsh voice callet
out, angrily. "Nanuk 10 dead, but VII
because Of me. And were not still
young enough TO hunt, thy GARCIA
would need skinning, not tho bear'A
And Mauterjek, the shamsn, stood 10
side him.
Look Here thy bullet sped-ant
here again. This Is the killing blow
here In tho neck. II 10 the place II
strike. None but = foolish boy woult
aim 10 low. What do you still dis
pute me' Be of st once and send Ii,
team and sledgeI II nothing else, TIL
limba know how TO run. And tell n,
lying tales how thou didst kill"
Sikeepa, knife In hand, remainsi
erect His color came and wen
throughout this speech, but otherwlal
he seemed unmoved byit. Then, stoop
Ing quickly, he severed ono big fore
paw, slung II In . moose Of sealskir
thong, and with II on his shoulder
strobe away, nor answered Msuterjel
BY . single word.
Khimik hungrily Tapped tho warm
red blood; but the shamsn drove hin
of with vigorous blows, and, whining
he limped away on the road his master
was pursuing with nervous steps.
That night, when all had fesstst
and hunger WAS memory fading fast
Sikeeps called the people to assemble
and In few words told them Of TIL
hunt.
"Mauterjek claims the killing blow
as his, yet you all saw the wound Ii
Nanuks neck. The bear was facing
me, IT. side to him; say, then, whoss
bullet was 1t did the workp He hal
rcviled me In terms unjust, unfit. Hsi
he been younger he would have heard
from me- I do not war with ago, mol
handy worda Is be to DO your chief
tain, or am II"
Tho people looked anxlously at one
another
Tho shaman rose with brows dark
knit as night, his teeth were ground
together and his bronsed featurel
twitched. A moment passed before he
could control his rage sufficiently Il
speak In measured tones, and then he
said.
children, this upstart boy, this ly'
ing cub, would have you say that hs
had slain the bear; that he alone hat
found the camp this food; that be
alone was ct to rule the tribe"
Then swaying his body slowly K
and fro, beginning In . low voice, but
gradually gaining force with clio
quence:
"whoisit drives away your aches and
pains; restores your health and heall
your wounds; charms tho wild things
which furnish us with food, brings
buiyea the seaD to your spears, draws
feet-foot tooktoo from the inland
wastes?
who weaves the spell to keep our
ancient foes, the mountain folk, from
spreading out upon our bunting ground
to kill our deer and seals, to steal our
wives, 10 trap our men like foxes In
their holes?
III this young crow should set him
over us, look not to Mauterjek again
when food is gone; look not to Mauter.
jek when Illness comes.
War with the tribes, and worse;
disease, and worse; famine, and worse,
ay, death, and worse shall come; for
hone shall DO left to build you burial
cairns; the wolves shall end III This
prophesy, |, Mauterjekl Oh, people,
hear and heed your Mauterjekl"
And the harsh voice Of the shaman
rose to shrieking pitch, the people
Awayed to the rude rhythm Of hia
speech; and Kupa threw himself, face
downward, moaning: "Aillahl IT'S
thou hast said 1t. Ahaillahl thou art
our shaman and our chief; Allah"
The morning star shone brightly
overhead when q solitary figure ap-
peared before the group Of Icy huts,
and low voice called: "Khimik, come
Haukl hauk"
A whine responded as the dog thrust
his sharp muzzle against Sikeepa's
hand; and slowly, but without hesita-
tion and with not one backward look,
the youth aud his mute comrade faced
the south and left the camp behind.
"Khimik, I have heard them tell, he
said, "of strange, good men, with faces
like the snow, who come to teach the
people wondrous truths
"They worship something which they
call a Book a package made Of
waters, like crisp, dry leaves from Of
the berry vines, and covered with
strange marks, at which they look and
tell Of many things that some believe
"'Tis many days and In q warmer
landi but we will 60 to them and see II
there DO place for you and me. IN. Y.
Independent
Tho difference in valuation Of prop.