Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1901-07-19
NO.25.

the clamorers. so that he could confs-
cate It for his own use. It was al.
ready evening. and be too, was hungry
For the present. at least he stood in
no great actual fear Of starvation
As last resort the aedgling's tender
flesh would sustain life for several
days; but thirst presented a more Sc
rious problem, and before midnight ne
would willingly have undergone a
drenching for the sake OF rain.
Perpetual daylight reigns in that
season and latitude, and night differed
from day in temperature only.
To sleep was impossible; indeed he
dared not try to DO so; the risk Of
fatal fall was too great But hunger
thirst and anxiety united TO sharpen
Koyouk's wits. II occurred to him
that in the sack and nest he had ma
terial with which hq might accom-
plish his release unaiied.
When twine is scarce among the
Yukon natives it is a common prac-
tice for the women to separate the
warp anj woof Of canvas provision
sacks discarded by prospectors or
traders. the numerous short strings
thus obtained being we'll adapted for
netting and other purposes In this
manner Koyouk proposed to provide
himself with a long cord II was a
tedious task for boyish fingers but he
applied himself diligently and hope
fully to unraveling the sack.
The position and increasing
warmth of the sun proclaimed fore
noon when the work Of preparation
had been completed To one end Of
knotted cord he had attached a couple
Of stout sticks. dashed together cross
wise and weighted with his fire-box
and its contents. to serve as a sort of
grapple
Perched on the litchen covered spur.
he lowered the implement to the
ground, imparting TO it meanwhile a
swinging motion He was angling for
the twine which before climbing to
the. nest. he had not united from the
end of the rope, and which was still
lying in plain sight directly beneath
him.
ut was sad. after so much time and
pains. not to get it again without
help" Koyouk said afterward, when
recounting his experience to me.
But II so happened.
He was fishing for the rope with a
fair prospect of success when he heard
voices, and on looking down the val
ley he caught sight Of two youths from
his village running briskly toward
him. Speedy deliverance was assured
When they had attached the rope
to the grapple and he had drawn il up
and again affixed the double strand
over the spur, Koyouk stripped off his
parkie, knotted the sleeves together
and tied up the neck. Into this i'm
provised sack he slowed three of the
I fiedglngs whose superior qualities
were attested by the greater Vigor of
I their cries and then bade farewell to
4 the aerie.
His rescuers, who were hunting carl
bou. told him that so far as they knew.
his absence from home had not yet oc-
eassioned uneasiness. Chance alone
had led them to the monolith.
Regarding the subsequent history Of
/ the young ravens. one, droopei ami died
-.I Koyouk's trained dog. Jealous Of
the new rivals in its masters affec-
tion, despatched another But the
third survived, and the result fits edu.
cation even surpassed its instructors
expectation. During many months it
was our companion in camp and travel
and its remarkable traits seemed to
justify the boys assertion that the
raven is the legitimate king of the
birds,-Youth's Companion.