The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-12

KNOWN 10 lu6SE MOu run
ming madly in chase Alwa..- ,sn clear,
cold nights could be seen the flashing
Of the moonbeams from their CLEAN
ing, hungry sides, and, although many
hunters had crossed the passes in other
years, they never returned, for the pack
slew them.
Nothing could deter Itika, however,
so he threaded his way up through the
range and, night coming. burrowed into
a drift to sleep in his caribou skin
Peering out into the darkness, he saw
the flashing lights a thousand times
brighter than ever before. The whole
heavens were ablaZe with shifting
streamers that raced and writhed back
and forth in wild revel. Listening, he
heard the hiss and whine of dry snow
under the feet of the pack and a dis
tant noise as Of rushing winds, al
though the air was deathIy still
with daylight he proceeded through
the range till he came out above a
magnificent valley. Descending the
slope, he entered a forest of towering
spruce, while on all sides the snow
was trampled with tracks as wide as
a snowshoe There came to him q
noise which as he proceeded increased
till it filed the woods. 1t was a fright.
full din, as though a thousand wolves
were bowling with the madness of the
kill Cautiously creeping nearer. be
found monstrous white animal strug
Cling beneath spruce which had fallen
upon it in such fashion as to pinion il
securely.
"All brave men are tender hearted
so Itika set to work with his ak and
cleared away the burden. regardless OF
the peril to himself When he had
released it the beast arose and, IN
stead Of running away, addressed him
IN the most polite and polished Indian,
without a trace of accent
"'You have saved my life Now,
what can 1 do for your
81 want to hunt in this valley. Ny
people are starving said Itika, at
which the wolf was greatly pleased
and rounded up the rest of the pack
to help in the kill.
Always thereafter when Itika came
a
drove hunted with him To this day
they run through the mountains on
cold, clear night in a multitude, while
the light of the moon f1ickers from
their white sides, flashing up into the
sky in weird, fantastic figures. Some
| people call it northern lights, but old
Isaac assured me earnestly, toothless
ly and with the light of ancient truth
as | lay snow blind in his lodge that
it IS nothing more remarkable than
the spirit of Itika and the great white
wolves"
what a queer legendr' she said
There must be many of them in thi;
country. l feel that I am going Il
like the north
Perhaps you will" Glenister re-
piled, although it is not a woman's
land"
Tell me what led you out here il
| the first place. You are an eastern
man You have had advantages, edu
cation, and yet you choose this. Yol
must love the north
Indeed l do! 1t calls to a fellow
in some strange way that gentlel
/ country never could. When once yoI
have lived the long, lazy June day:
/ that never end and heard geese honk
! ing under a warm, sunlit midnight, o.
when once you've hit the trail on {
winter morning so sharp and clea,
| that the air stings your lungs and thu
whole white, silent world glistens lik'
a jewel; yes, and when you've seen th'
dogs romping in harness till the slet
runners ring and the distant mountain
ranges come out like beautiful cary
ings. so close you can reach them
we'll, there's something in it tina
brings you back-that's all, no matte
where you've lost yourself. 1t mean
health and equality and unrestraint
That's what l like best, l dare say
the utter unrestraint.
"When l was a schoolboy used t
gaze at the map of Alaska for hours
I'd lose myself in it. 1t wasn't any
thing but a big, blank corner in tn
north then. with a name and noun
tains and mystery. The word Yukol
suggested to me everything unknown
| and weird-hairy mastodons, COLDER
river bars, savage Indians with bon
arrowheads and sealskin trousers
When l left college, came as fast a
ever l could-the adventure, suppose
1.-The law was considered my destiny
How the shades of old ChOate an
i Webster and Patrick Henry must hav
| walled when l forswore 1t! I'll be
Blackstone tore his whiskers."
II think you would have made sue
cess" said the girl, but he laughed.
well, anyhow, stepped out. leay
ing the way to the United States ST.
preme bench unobsuucted, and cam
north. l found it was where l belong
ed. l fitted in. I'm not contented-
don't think that. I'm ambitious, but
1 prefer these surroundings to the ott
ers-that's ALL I'm realizing my dt
sires. I've made a fortune. Now L
see what else the world has"
He suddenly turned TO her. "Se