Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-08-10

iAOSNhtAJ bhO oLOpDcu anu
nosed the hard frozen surface of the
snow-covered ice. Silseepa, lsneeling,
saw few faint scratches there and
rose with glowing cheeks and flashing
eyes.
ut is Nanultr' he whispered, breath
lessly. Good dog, good Khimils, keep
on" And cautiously they followed up
the trail
Upon cluster of rugged hummocks
they found the bear lazily doing in
the noontide sun, and, keeping well to
leeward, stole upon him with such si-
lent tread that Nanuk took no note of
their approach, nor dreamed an enemy
shared the field with him, until we'll
aimed bullet pierced his side and the
red blood spurted forth Then with
a roar of mingled rage and pain the
great beast rose and faced the daring
boy-who now was hastily reloading
his clumsy weapon-paused moment
and flung himself at his foe; but ere
he reached his aim the gun was poised
and two shots rang out simultaneously.
The monster staggered blindlv,
turned and beat the air with his huge
forepaws, then fell on his side, and,
drawing his knife, Silseepa leaped upon
| him.
"Be not so fast" harsh voice called
out, angrily. "Nanuk is dead, but it's
because of me. And were | not still
young enough to hunt, thy carcass
would need skinning, not the bears"
And Mauterjek, the shaman, stood be-
side him.
Look! Here thy bullet sped-and
here again. This is the killing blow,
here in the neck. 1t is the place to
strike. None but Il foolish bov would
aim so low. What do you still dis
pute mep Be off at once and send the
team and sledge; if nothing else; thy
limbs know how to run. And tell no
lying tales how thou didst kill"
Sikeepa, knife in hand, remained
erect. His color came and went
throughout this speech, but otherwise
he seemed unmoved by it, Then, stoop-
iag quickly, he severed one big fore
paw, slung it in moose OF sealslsin
thong, and with it on his shoulder
strobe away, nor answered Mauteriek
by single word.
Khimik hungrily Tapped the warm,
red blood; but the shaman drove him
off with vigorous blows, and, whining,
he limped away on the road his master
was pursuing with nervous steps.
That night, when all had feasted
and hunger was memory fading fast.
Sikeepa called the people to assemble
and in few words told them of the
hunt.
"Mauterjels claims the killing blow
Us his; yet you all saw the wound in
Nanuk's neck. The bear was facing
me, its side to him; say, then, whose
bullet was it did the work? He has
reviled me in terms unjust, unfit. Had
he been younger he would have heard
from me. do not war with age, nor
handy words. Is he to be your chief
tain, or am II"
The people looked anxiously at one
another.
The shaman rose with brows dark
knit as night; his teeth were ground
together and his bronzed features
twitched. A moment passed before he
could control his rage sufficiently to
speak in measured tones, and then he
said:
children, this upstart boy, this ly-
ing cub, would have you say that he
had slain the bear; that he alone had
found the camp this food; that he
alone was fit to rule the tribe!"
Then swaying his body slowly to
and fro, beginning in low voice, but
gradually gaining force with elo-
quence:
Who Is 1T drives away your aches and
pains; restores your health and heals
your wounds; charms the wild things
which furnish us with food, brings
buiyea (the seaD to your spears, draws
tleet-foot tooktoo from the inland
wastes?
who weayes the spell to keep our
ancient foes, the mountain folk, from
spreading out upon our hunting ground
to kill our deer and seals, to steal our
wives, to trap our men like foxes in
their holes?
If this young crow should set him
over us, look not to Mauterjelz 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 be left to build you burial
cairns; the wolves shall end it! This
prophesy, l, Mauterjekl Oh, people,
hear and heed your Mauterjek!"
And the harsh voice of the shaman
rose to shrieking pitch, the people
swayed to the rude rhythm of his
speech; and Kupa threw himself, face
downward, moaning: "Aillahl Ills
thou hast said it. Ahaillah! thou art
our shaman and our chief; Aillah!"
The morning star shone brightly
overhead when a solitary figure APP
peared before the group OF icy huts,
and low voice called: "Khimils, comn
Hluk! haukv'
A whine responded as the dog thrust
his sharp muzzle against Silkeepa's
hand; and slowly, but without hesits-
tion and with not one backward look,
the youth and his mute comrade faced
the south and left the camp behind.
"Khimilt, | have heard them tell "he