The Red Cloud chief., 1907-10-18

released II the beast arose and, In.
stead Of running away, addressed him
in the most polite and polished Indian,
without Il trace of accent.
"'You have saved my life. Now,
what can l do for your
"I want to hunt in this valley. My
people are starving said Itlka. at
which Ire wolf was greatly pleased
and rounded up the rest of the pack
to help In the Kill.
always thereafter when Itika came
TO the valley of the Yukon the giant
drove hunted with him. To this day
they run through the mountains on
cold, clear night in Il multitude, while
the light of the moon flickers from
their white sides, flashing up into the
sky I'm weird, fantastic figures. Some
people call 1t northern lights, but old
Isaac assured me earnestly, toothless-
" and with the light of ancient truth
as | lay snow blind In his lodge that
1t Is nothing more remarkable than
the spirit of Itika and the great white
wolves"
What n queer Legend" she said.
"There must be many of them in his
country. feel that l am going to
like the north"
perhaps you will" Glcnister re-
piled, although it is not a woman's
land"
"Tell me what led you out here In
the first place. You are an eastern
man. You have had advantages, edu-
cation, and yet you choose this. You
must love the north
Indeed | do! 1t calls to a fellow
In some strange way that a gcntler
country never could. When once you
have lived the long. lazy June days
that never end and heard geese honk-
ing under n warm. sunlit midnight, or
when once you've hit the trail on Il
winter morning so sharp and clear
that the air stings your lungs and the
whole white, silent world g~liStens like
Il jewel: yes, and when you've seen the
dogs romping in harness till the Sled
INNER ring and the distant mountain
ranges come out like beautiful cary
ings, So close you can reach them
well. there's something in 1t that
brings you back-that's all, no matter
where you've lost yourself. 1t means
health and equality and unrestraint'
That's what | like best. | dare say
the utter unrestraint.
"When | was a schoolboy1 used TO
gaze ut the map Of Alaska for hours.
I'd lose myself in it. 1t wasn't any
thing but a big, blank corner in the
north then, with a name and noun
tains and mystery. The word YUKON
suggested to me everything unknown
and weird-hairy mastodons. golden
river bars. savage Indians with bone
arrowheads and sealskin trousers.
When | left college. | came as fast as
ever | could-the adventure, suppose.
"The law was considered my destiny.
How the shades of old Choate and
Webster and Patrick Henry mus have
walled when | forswore 1t. III bet
Blackstone tore his whiSkerS.'
II think you would have made a sue
cess said the girl, but he laughed.
"Well, anyhow, | stepped out, leav-
ing the way to the United States SUI
preme bench un~obstructed, and came
north. | found it was where ! belong
ell. | fitted in. I'm not contented-
don't think that. I'm ambitious, but !
prefer these surroundings to the 9th
ers-that's all. I'm realizing my de
sires. I've made n fortune. Now Ill
see what else the world has"
He suddenly turned to her. "See
here" he abruptly questioned, whats
your nameT'
She started and glanced toward
where Dextry had stood, only to find
that the old fronticrsman had slipped
away during the tale.
"Helen Chester" she replied.
"Helen Chester" he repeated mus
ingly. what a pretty name! i
seems almost a pity to change ito
marry, as you will"
81 am not going to Nome to get mar
ried."
He glanced at her quickly.
'Then you won't like this country
You are two years too early. YO,
ought to wait till there are railroads
and telephones and tables d'hote ant
chaperons. It's a mans country yet
81 don't see why 1t isn't a woman
! country too. Surely we can take
part in tanning II. Yonder on the Ore
, gon is a complete railroad, which will
. be running from the coast to the mine
= In a few weeks. Another ship bacl
. there has the wire and poles and fix
,, ings for a telephone system, which wi
? go up in a night. AS to tables d'hots
l saw a real French count In Seattl
> with a monocle. He's bringing In
n restaurant outfit, imported snails an
Z patos do foia pras All that's wantin