Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-07-05
ON THE TRAIL OF
THE TOTEM BEAR
Br william Murrar Grardon.

TWO men stood on the primitive
landing stage at Nuchuk, the little
Alaskan settlement whose huts and
cabins clustered round an indentation
of Cooks iulet. A short distance out
in the harbor the cargo steamer Yu-
kon lay at anchor.
"Wel, what are you going to do
about it?" said Markham, an elderly
and experienced trader, who was the
company's agent at Nuchuk. "Yon
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 totem bear
perhaps a couple of EN-"
"And the risk of Indians? The
tribes on the headwaters of the Copper
river have bad name"
"They won't molest us" Markham
replied, hurriedly. "Come, what do
you say?" he added. "The Yukon sails
within the hour"
"Let her sail" exclaimed Quin, with
sudden decision. 81 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. 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 a 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 cabin in the mid
die. This was completed one evening,
and the next morning the Indians were
missing to a 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.
"When are we going to tie upP" asked
Quin.
"Oh, any time you like. We had bet
ter slip on a mile or two, though" As
Markham spoke his face frightened
and his perplexed expression vanished.
He stood in listening attitude, gazing
at a tall pinnacle or rock that had sud
denly been revealed by a curve of the
channel. From far down the river
fioated dull, roaring noise.
"There are rapids yonder," he
added. "We'n lay up here for the night
and run them in the morning"
He 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 tree. Ii lay in
deep, swift water, off the end Of q
promontory that jutted dozen yards
into the river. Immediately below was
the mouth of valley.
"By heavens, look yonder!" ex
claimed Markham.
Glancing in line with his compan-
ions outstretched arm, Quin beheld 4
huge animal standing 20 feet away a.
the edge of the timber. He had NJ
need 10 ask what it was. He knew that
he was in the presence of totem beai
the first he had seen.
For a brief instant, swinging its
massive head, the brute surveyed tn,
two men. Then, with a sudden growl
it turned and galloped clumsily int
the forest.
Il must have that bear!" cried Quin
Its a pity to shoot him, but 1 can
take him alive"
When they had gone nearly a mill
up the valley the big footprint
seemed to suddenly disappear. The.
pushed on for 100 yards, then stopped
Night was close at hand, and the fores
was as dim as twilight.
We've lost the brutel" exclaimer
Quin.
"Yes. he must have turned off tn
} path" said Markham. "We1l go a lit
tie farther"
They left the path, bore for a shor
distance to the left through the tree
and emerged on a small clearing
They saw before them, standing dark
ly against the purple twilight, low
square structure of logs. It resemble
hut, though it had neither door no
window, and on the top of it squatte
a huge carved image-a totem bear.
There must be a village near by,
whispered Quin. "This looks like tn
burial place of an Indian chief"
''Thet's what it is-a chiefs grave,
Markham replied, eagerly. 'I'm
luck to find the spot again."
"What are you doing?" exclaime
Quin, as his companion climbed to tn
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