The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-01-17

The hunters 'neyer left the igloos
when the foe was squeezing, but
Metek was not afraid. He had only
one thought-to redeem himself and
bring back meat to his starving people.
On he drove, his gaze fixed on the
pale outlines of a vast berg, which
seemed to stretch an impregnable bar
rier across his path. As he drew
nearer he heard the sinister chant Of
the wind moaning through its sharp
notches. And all at once his. ear
caught a gruff, explosive, putting
sound.
Rising to his knees, he looked for.
ward. A long, dark discoloratlon lay
at the foot of the berg. 1t was fresh
black Ice making over recent break
in the foe. With a shout he let out his
long whip-lash.
Metek drove as near as he dared,
and tethered the dogs to projection
Of the Aoe. Then he gathered up his
weapons and went on, crouching, to-
ward the discolored area.
It was newer than he had thought,
and bent like stiff leather under his
feet; but he knew its toughness, and
glided rapidly forward toward the
jagged hole which the game had just
left.
Presently the spot Of open water was
agitated. 1t darkened, and then the
broad, brlstled muzzle and white tusks
Of a great bull anuk appeared. The
big, circular eyes fixed themselves
upon Metek in wide stare Of surprise.
Metek slowly raised his left arm
and pointed at the walrus, who. full Of
curiosity, reared his huge bulk above
the water. When the pale spot be-
meath his left flpper was visible,
Metek's right arm shot forward, and
the harpoon flew true to its mark.
The bull diyed with a sputtering roar.
Metek darted back with the end Of
the line, and swiftly drove into the
ice the iron-pointed stake to which 1t
was fastened. Then, with both feet,
he stood upon the line, close to the
little stake.
The tough strip OF sealskin straight
ened with jerk, and lay taut as a
bowsring; but the ingenious anchor
held. Metek watched it with keen
and anxious eye The moment he saw
the strain relax, he plucked up the
stake and carried 1t to a new spot
some yards away.
He was none too quick. Two furious
cows rose just beneath the stand he
had left, shattering the ice to bits. To
their bellows of wrath Metek respond
ed with a mocking shout; but for the
bull he reserved sharper welcome.
Lance in hand, he met the aIflik as
1t rose in a smother of effervescing
water, and as 1t strove to charge at
him through the ice, breaking off great
tables with its tusks, he darted swiftly
about in front of the beast. With
every forward leap he thrust the keen,
fleam-shaped blade deep into the I'M
wieldy body, until the water turned
red. .,.
Spent and badly wounded, the walrus
sank at last, and Metek sprang again
to his stake.
Five times he shifted his ground,
and five times the belligerent cows
broke through the ice almost under
tllis feet. But luck was with him. Wet
with salt spray and blood, he rejoiced
in the fight.
"a ~, ,,o robt ~, no vo Il y, ba shout
ed. "Meat for the mother and the
babe within the hood! Meat for the
strong hunter! Meat from the hand Of
Metek nahme"
The ice spit upward and almost let
him fall on the fat, wrinkled nape of
one Of the cows. BY miracle Of agil-
ity lie lanced her deep behind the
shoulder and got away. Almost ST.
multaneously the bull rose, and he
found himself between the two, the
water gushing up about his ankles.
Metek struck the bull across the face,
binding him for the moment, and ran
over the strip Of bending ice toward
a lighter, firmer patch. On this he
btOppSu Win an dSIlc tui HI
The COW seemed hit in some vital
part, for she spun in an aimless circle
on her broad belly; but the bull was
still full of fight.
AS the vicious creature charged
| through the ice Metek struck twice
with a true aim. The anuk gave q
last below, slipped back, and floated
bloated brown island, among the
rocking ice cakes.
Mctek could hardly restrain himself
from leaping upon it and cutting off q
long-needed strip of blubber; but II
was not his own mouth he had come
to fill. While there was chance tt
secure more meat he must think neither
of hunger nor of WEAKNESS.
Almost exhausted, he staggered bacl
to the COW, and delivered final lance
thrust that despatched her. Then will
his knife he made inclsions in the two
inch thick skin Of his prizes and teth
cred them to stakes by means OF
pair of ussuk lines.
After that three dogs and q tired
but happy Eskimo had glorious
feast. So royalty did they stuff them
selves that for two hours not one O
the four could move foot. Like nobl
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