The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-09-25

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II Is a dreary affair 10 live near
the pole. for there Ia no going out
for many long months, aud nothing
70 break the weary monotony.
The day atter the hunting excur
sion was dark aud snowy. aud
Clawhonny could find no occupation
except polishing up the lee wallis OF
the hut aud emptylnE out the snow
which drifted into the long passage
leading Ia the inner door. The
Snow House" stood ont we'll. defy.
Ing storm and tempeat The SNOW
only Increased the thickness OF the
walls
They could do nothing but walt
i wasn't time 20 try to build a
boat.
The men we're compelled 10 spend
the greater part OF the DAYS Ia
complete idieness Haiteras loiied
on his bed absorbed Ia thought
Alsamont smoked or doxed, and the
doctor took care not Co disturb
either Of them. for he was Ia per
patual fear at a quarrel
Al meal time he always led the
conversation away from Irritating
topics. tie gave them dissertations
Oh history GEOGRAPHY OF meieorol.
ogy. handling his subject Ia an
easy. though philosophical man.
ner. drawing lessons from the most
trivial incidents.
Trusted BY All.
fila lnexhaustible memory was
never NJ loss for fact or iiiustFa
tion. while hts good humor and
Eenlailty made him the life aud soul
of the little company lie was i'm.
plicltiy trusted By all. even by Hat.
teFas. who cherished a deep affeo,
ton for him.
On the twenty sixth Of April. dur.
Ing the nighg. there Was sudden
change IN the weather The ther.
lnometer fell several degrees. and
the inmates of Doctors House
could hardly keep themselves warm
even IN their heda Algam0nt had
uharge OF the stove. aud he found Il
needed careful fcplenishinK 10
preserve the temperature AZ 80 de-
grees above zero
This increase OF cold bctoken~d
the coming end OF tho stormy
weather. and che doctor hailed n
gladly as the harbingcg Of bis favor
lie hunting and exploring expcdl.
tIons
lie rose early next morning and
with the others climbed up 70 the
top OF hill nearby. soon he found
numerous traces Of animals on all
sides. and this within circle OF
tao miics Of Fort Providence.
After gazing attentively at these
traces Tor some moments. the hunt
ers looked at each other silently
and then the doctor exclaimed;
Well. these are plain enough. I
think
Aye. only too plain. added Bell
Bears have been here
First.fate game" said Altamoni.
There's only one fault about IL
What Is fhatf" asked Bell
Too much 0f IT,
What do sou meanr"
Five Bears Sighted.
Il mean this there are distinct
traces az five bears. and five bears
are rather too much for five mon
Are you sares said Clawbonny.
Look and see for yourself Here
il one footprint and there II an.
other. quite diffrreat These claws
are far wider apart than those. and
see here. again. that paw belongs
70 a much smaller bear tell you
II you look carefully. you will are
the marks o. all five different bears
distinctly
You're right. said Bell. after a
close inspection
~ that's the case. then. said the
doctor. We must be careful. for
thaas animals are starving after the
severe winter. and they might be
extremely dangerous TO meet
You think they have discovered
our presence hereg
80 doubt of Il. otherwise why
should these footprints be tn cir.
cls round our fort ?" said Bell
You're right" said the doctor
ard. what's more. II IL certain that
they have been here last night
And other nights before that.
replied AitamOnt
Well. we can easily find nut "
they come tonight said Altamont
How
ny effaelng all the marks IN a