The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-01-17
..METEK, THE pROVIDER..
BY Fisher Ames, Jr.


cold and uneasy. He blew out his
cheeks to warm them, and now and
then he glanced curiously at Metek.
He had not expected to find his COM
panion so obstinate.
When they camped for the night in
the lee Of q hummock, Ootimiah
thought 1t was the last half Of the
game. Surely Metek would cry off in
the morning. Then he, Ootimiah,
would have his laugh again, and re-
sumo his insulting chant with new
zest.
He did not feel like laughing now
There was sense of something in the
air that cowed him. 1t seemed to
him. although he could not see them,
that black storm-clouds were stealing
in from the sea and massing overhead;
that the sky was setting its scenery
for one of its sudden dramas.
That night the great skin that holds
back the north winds burst, and it
blew as If it meant to strip the world
of its atmosphere. The bitter eddies
and back-drafts caught at the sledges
till they jerked frantically at their
lance anchors, and the reindeer robes
broke loose many times from under the
boys bodies.
While the wild air tore above them,
underneath the sea surged In its deep
bed, thrusting upward against the foe
with mighty shoulders. Swift shivers
ran through the ice. 1t groaned and
doomed with the tumult Of battle
field. Now, with noise Of thunder
wide chasms opened and the white
water gushed out, seething. Now,
with slow, grinding roar, pressure
ridge would lift its long rampant across
the ice. But dominating all other
storm sounds was the cannonade Of the
bergs as they hurled their thousand ton
blocks crashing upon the foe.
Poor Ootimiah prayed to the things
that haunt their ravines that they
would spare him. His belief in the
efficiency Of his prayers was not great,
but they We're straws, at least, at
which to clutch.
The black morning found the wind
still blowing gale, and sweeping with
1t veil Of cutting snow. 1t was mad
ness to go on in the teeth of such a
storm, with no food for themselves or
for the dogs.
What shall we do?" asked the
| frightened Ootimiah. Even the brown
anuk himself could not face such
weather"
1--WE will go on" said Metek, tran
GULLY, and he threw out the long whip
lash. Its report was lost in the roar
| Of the wind.
Dimly Ootimiah began to perceive the
presence Of master spirit. This
Metek, younger than himself, whom he
had called nahme, had set his teeth in
a purpose, and neither cold nor hunger
nor the dark wings of death itself
would cause him to relax his hold.
The mere inkling Of such tenaclty
alarmed flabbly little Ootimiah almost
as much as the riot of the elements
The blue and white fox-skin jumper
even the waving fox-tail which Meteb
held between his teeth to protect his
face from the wind-assumed an un
cannily unfamiliar aspect. This was
not the Metek he had known, this
squat silent thing that made him fee
more alone than he had ever felt wher
hunting by himself far out on the foe.
Fear swelled In his heart, and ht
urged his dogs forward till they ran as
one team with Metek's. "Come ba ckv
he shouted through the roar of wine
and ice.
Metek turned his head. The rim oi
his hood was feathered thick witt
frost, and his eyes shone like crumb!
Of new ice. Silently he stretched Z
mittened hand toward the north.
From the lofty cliffs inland a sudder
great sound greeted them. 1t rolled
majestic, over their heads, and diet
gradually away far to the eastward.
"'Tis the anuk thingw shouted
Metek. HE is calling to his children
Onwardp
Ootimiah had heard of the colossa
genius Of the walrus tribe that lives OIL
the tops Of bare and beetling cliffs
He had no desire to make his &C
quaintance. "Die If you wishw b.
called, shrilly, to Metek. II am goini
back. There is nothing here but ice
devils and that beast thing that be
witches men,"
He swung his dogs about, and the.
came willingly. AS they straightene,
out on the homeward road, he cast
last look at the squat, purposeful bacl
in the foxskin jumper. Then the dark
: ness blotted it out.
. The anuk thing did not speak agair
but Metek knew that he was there
: watching him with friendly eyes. II
} was sure the creature was beneflcen
when presently the confusing snov
: ceased to fall. In the darkness b
] coud feel now the clear arch Of III