Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1901-07-11
ON The TRAIL OF
THET oTEM BEAR
y William Murray Graydon.



Two men stood on the primitive
landing stage at Nuchuk, the little
Alaskan settlement whose huts and
cabins clustered round an indenta ton
Of Cooks iulet. A short distance out
in the harbor the cargo steamer Yu-
/ kon lay at anchor.
Il Swell, what are you going to do
about it?" said Markham, an elderly
and experienced trader, who was the
company's agent at Nuchuk. ''You
must decide quickly, for there amt
much time. Better stop over for the
next boat. It's a rare chance, for you
are sure to fetch back a totem bear
perhaps couple of EN-
Sand the risk of Indians? The
tribes on the headwaters of the Copper
river have q bad name"
"They won't modest u.s." Markham
replied, hurriedly. "Come, what do
you say?" he added. ''The Yukon sails
within the hour
''Let her SAIL" exclaimed Quin, with
sudden decision II don't go with her
I've chosen for the totem bear"
Two days later Quin and Markham,
with ten hired coast Indians, were trav-
cling north. A journey of 100 miles
through an unexplored region, attend
ed with numerous difficulties and hard
ships, brought them to a good-sized
tributary of the Copper river. Here
they camped, and fortnight was
spent in constructing from felled
trees, by the aid of what tools they had
been able to transport, long, mar
row barge with tiny ca bin in the mid
die. This was completed one evening,
and the next morning the Indians were
missing to man.
The two voyagers embarked the fol-
lowing morning, and three days later,
towards the close of the afternoon,
they were drifting on the deep, rapid
tide of the Copper river.
sWhen are we going to tie up?" asked
Quin.
"Oh, any time you like. We had bet
ter slip on mile or two, though" AS
Markham spoke his face frightened
and his perplexed expression vanished.
He stood in a listening attitude, gazing
at tail pinnacle or rock that had sud-
denly been revealed by curve of the
channel From far down the river
foated dull. roaring noise.
"There are rapids yonder." he
added. ''We'll lay up here for the night,
1o
Ee bent to the oar, and within five
minutes the boat was alongside the
right-hand shore, where it was made
fast to the stump of a tree. 1t lay in
deep, swift water, off the end of
prcmontory that jutted dozen yards
into the river. Immediately below was
the mouth of a valley.
''By heavens, look yonder!" ex-
claimed Markham.
CHANGING in line with his compan-
ions outstretched arm, Quin beheld
huge animal standing 20 feet away at
the edge of the timber. He had no
need to ask what twas. He knew that
he was in the presence of totem bear
the first he had seen.
For q brief instant, swinging it's
massive head, the brute surveyed the
two men. Then, with sudden growl,
it turned and galloped clumsily into
the forest. L
II must have that bear!" cried Quin.
"It's a pity to shoot him, but can't
take him alive"
When they had gone nearly mile
up the valley the big footprints
seemed to suddenly disappear. They
pushed on for 100 yards. then stopped.
Night was close at hand, and the forest
was as dim as twilight.
"We've lost the brute!" exclaimed
Quin.
eyes, he must have turned off the
path" said Markham. we'll 60 lit
tie farther"
They left the path, bore for short
distance to the left through the trees
and emerged on small clearing.
They saw before them, standing dark
ly against the purple twilight, low,
square structure of logs. Itresembled
a hut, though it had neither door nor
window, and on the top of it squatted
q huge carved image-a totem bear.
'.There must be a village near by
whispered Quin. This looks like the
burial place of an Indian chief"
That's what it is-a chiefs grave
Markham replied, eagerly. 'Fm in
luck to End the spot again.
"What are you doing?" exclaimed
Quin, as his companion climbed to the
top of the structure. "Come down.
Don't desecrate the dead"
"It's al right. was the reply.
There's something in here want
AS he spoke his weight caused the
grave to suddenly collapse, and with
crash logs and totem fell in a sprawl
ing ruin, a quick leap saving Markham
from injury.
f[s landed on his feet and uttered q