Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-20

then the beasts muscles Taxed. stiffening
while they Strengthened; and the huge body
swayed backward, dead.
From the chief came much the same kind
Of q grunt as had come from the bear at
the fall of his foe. CHANGING with only a
kind of contemptuous curiosity at his
wounded arm, he stepped quickly to the
side of his PROSTATE follower and bent
over him.
"You have got what you deserve for
breaking my ORDERS" he said, grimly
''Yet turn over that may attend to your
wounds before you bleed to DEATH"
In the activity which followed Robert OF
Normandy took no part He leaned against
a tree with his arms folded upon his breast
his eyes upon the slain bear, which half OF
the party were hastily converting Into
steaks and hide The men muttered to each
other that the southerner was ina rage be-
cause he had lost his chance, but that was
only part of the truth. His fixed eyes nc
longer saw the bear; his ears were deaf to
the voices around him. He saw again q
shadowy room, lit by leaping flames and
shifting eyes; and once more a lisping voice
Kissed its "jargon" into his ear.
II see Left Ericsson standing upon earth
where never man stood before; and 1 see
you standing by his side, though you do not
look as you look now: for your hair !, is long \,
your luck is to be good or bad ~
He said slowly to himself, like man talk
ing in his sleep, TT has been settled, and
1t Is to be bad.'
Then the room passed from his vision. He
saw In its place Rolls derisive smile, and
heard again his hooking query:
IT'S 1t your opinion that Left Ericsson
needs your protection against wild beasts?''
OF sudden he flung back his head and
burst into a loud laugh that Jared on the
ear like grating steel.
When at last Lodin's wounds were dressed
so that he could be helped along between
two Of this comrades the party began a
ROT, TlNyf he iva t1ax,
to the shining white beach again they were
a battered-looking lot. There was not a
mantle among them but what hung in tat
tiers, nor scratched face that did not
mingle blood with berry juice But at their
head the huge bearskin was borne like a
captured banner. At the sight OF It their
waiting comrades burst into shouts of ad-
miration and envy that reached as far az
the anchored ship.
Never was such sport heard ORA
better land is nowhere to be found" they
clamored. I'm one month we could secure
enough skins to make US wealthy for the
And then some muttered asides were add.
ed: 1T Is great pity to leave such a
placer; 1T Is folly to give up certain
wealth for vague possibilities" And
tpough the dissatisfaction rose no louder
than murmur. it spread on every hand
like fire in brush.
Now there was one man among the ex-
plorers who had been member of Biorn
herJuiiSSonS crew. ana was br1mful OF
conceit and the ambition to be leader
among his fellows. Wher the command
to embark swelled the mui lurs almost to
an outspoken grumbling, he thought he
saw chance to push into prominence and
swaggered boldly forward.
IF 1t is not your intention to come back
and profit by this discovery. chief, I must
tell you that we will not willingly return to
the ship Certainly not until we have Sc
cured at least one bear apiece. We are
free men, Left Ericsson. and it Is not to
our minds to be led altogether by the"
Whether or not he had meant to say
nose" no one ever knew. At that moment
the chief wheeled and looked at him, with
a glance so different from Biorn Herjulfs-