The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-07-12
Ak0Wma'S RuSe.
BY George Harlow Clark

y By George Harlow Clark.
Akowma was a lad of seventee,
when this incident happened
With his widowed mother an,
a twin brother, Nipsu, he livet
in one OF a half-dozen cabin,
forming small settlement on tn,
Koyukuk. The village was near tn.
mouth Of stream which had it:
source in the Lockwood Hills, north
of the arctic circle.
1t was severe winter. Besides the
cold, the natives had also to contend
with famine. Salmon, on which they
Eelicd principally for food, had beer
less abundant the preceding summer
than usual. and when the season
closed it had been foreseen that the
stock of dried fish would be exhausted
long before spring.
Y The utmost exertion on the part OF
the hunters had failed to make up for
the deficiency; moose and caribou had
apparently migrated, and the black
bears, too, had disappeared. By the
end Of January the little community
was face to face with actual starva-
top.
rtAkowma's mother had a brother
dwelling farther up the koyukuk. In
the hope that he might be able to
spare little food for them, his starv-
ing relatives resolved to apply to him
for help.
Accordingly, early in February,
Nipsu set out for his uncles cabin,
while Akowma stayed at home to hunt
grouse, ptarmigan and other small
creatures, on which the natives were
now forced to subsist.
Although the river is so crooked
that three days were required to make
the Journey by canoe, single long
day's march overland would suffice;
but the trail was practicable only in
cold weather, when the innumerable
eends and swamps we're frozen over.
Ordinarily Nipsu would have trav.
~ with sledge and dogs, but the last
3stheir faithful draft-animals had
eeen long since sacrificed, and he was
compelled to trust to his snow-shoes.
This was no hardship, however, to the
youth, who, like all native lads, was
% expert snow-shoe runner.
In case game of some kind should
g encountered, he took with him a
1usket that had belonged to his faith
q, together with a few rounds Of am
munition. A rawhide pack-strap, to
De used in bringing home the provi
sions, II his mission proved successful,
c0npleted his equipment.
sDaily during Nipsu's absence Akow-
~ ranged the woods assiduously, in
common with the other men. He was
9rmed only with bow and arrows, but
tuese answered his purpose admira-
oy for he was skillful archer and his
shooting was confined to birds.
tray jays, the mocking birds of the
" north; the black-and-white wood
pecker plying his pick industriously
With the resonant rat-a-tat-tat on
spruce and poplar; pine-grosbeaks;
eFossbills which, except for their
qaeer, scissor-like bills, were living
ah;ntures of the grosbeaks; sleek
Dn waxwings, with pointed crests
4uy erected-all these were tar
sc1 Tor his unerring shafts.
aeaaaherto he would have disdained
9 draw bow for the sake of such in
nsnifcant quarry, but now, spurred
Y munger, he did so without com
.dnction. The redpolls and chicka-
- !. alone were not molested; younger
'fas might hunt them, but they were
Qsprightly and cheerful that hespre-
lssfeQ to spare them. Besidesy1hey |
seFe such tiny morsels that it was
s.rdly worth while to pluck them.
Nipeu had been gone two days when |
1unter reported having discovered
/. ~ tfesh tracks of wolf near a lake |
Il tneast of the settlement, and not
~ from the path to their kinsman's
pm. AS the footprints were appar-
~ those of single animal, Akow-
hoped that his brother might meet |
- kill it.
sFWolf meat is better than no meat,
nuther," he said.
Out she, fearing it might be fore
inner OF a numerous pack, was
Hatmed by the news.
When the bears 60 the wolves
p said she, repeating a tribal
verb. II pray that Nipsu may not
= thsm."
bis brother was expected to re-
pe next day, Akowma, who had
I'D to join him on the trail.
.e!ed IN that direction throughout
forenoon. The weather, which had
ssously been intensely cold, was !
rating. presaging a storm.
u eossn Or more birds Of various