The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-09-29

On May 20, for the first time,
the sun never set. The glowing
disc Just touched the boundary
line of the horizon, and rose again
Immediately. The period was
now entered when the day lasts
"a hours.
Next morning there was a mag
nificent halo; the monarch of day
appeared surrounded by a lumin-
GUS circle.
The doctor recommended his
sowing, for he had plenty of seed,
but he was surprised to find sor-
rel growing already between the
half-dried stones, and even pale
sickly heaths trying to show their
delicate pink blossoms.
At last 1t began to be really hot
weather. On the fifteenth of June
the thermometer stood at 81 de-
grees above zero.
BY the middle of June the sloop
had made good progress, and Hat
teras, Altamont and the doctor
went hunting.
The three hunters, accompanied
by Duke, set out ON Monday, the
seventeenth of June, at six in the
morning, each man armed with a
double-barreled gun, a Ratchet
and snow knife, and provisions
for several days.
About noon of the second day
they sighted two ferocious musk
oxen, and surrounded them on a
plateau.
The oxen had begun to shake
themselves impatiently at Duke,
trying to kick him off, when Hat
teras started up right in front of
them, shouting and chasing them
back.
This was the signal for Alta
mont and the doctor to rush for
ward and fire, but at sight of two
assailants, the terrified animals
wheeled round and attacked Hat
teras. He met their onset with a
firm, steady foot and fired
straight at their heads. But both
his bullets were powerless. They
rushed upon the unfortunate man
like furies, and threw him on the
ground in an instant.
"He is a dead mani" exclaimed
the doctor, in despairing accents.
A tremendous struggle was go
ing on in Altamont's breast at the
sight of his PROSTATE foe, and
though his first impulse was to
hasten to his help, he stopped
short, battling with himself and
his prejudices. But his hesitation
scarcely lasted half a second, his
better self conquered, and ex-
claiming, "No, it would be cow
ardly!" he rushed forward with
lClawbonny.
Hatteras full well understood
how his rival felt, but would rath-
er have died than have begged his
AtVi NShtiohs IIo"ONCiS nc hdu
hardly time to think about it, be-
fore Altamont was at his side.
He could not have held out
much longer, for 1t was impossi-
BILE to ward off the blows of horns
and hoofs of two such powerful
antagonists, and in few minutes
more he must have ben torn to
pieces. But suddenly two shots
resounded, and Hatteras felt the
balls Craze his head.
"Courage!" shouted Altamont
flinging away his discharged
weapon land throwing himself
fright in front of the raging ami
mails. One Of them, shot to the
heart, fell dead as he reached the
lspot, while the other dashed mad
lily on Hatteras, and was about tt
lgore the unfortunate captain will
his horns, when Altamont plunged
Ibis snow knife far into the beast.
wide open jaws with one hand
with the other dealt him such 6
tremendout blow on the head
with the Ratchet, that the skull
was completely split open.
1t was done SO quickly that II
Seemed like a flash of lightning
and all was over. The second OF
Hay dead, and Clawbonny shouted
"Hurrah! hurrah!"
Hatteras was saved.
He owed his life to the man he
hated the most. What a storm OF
conflicting passions this must
have reused in his SOUL But
where was the emotion he could
no master2
Howeper. his action was prompt
whatever his feelings might be
Without a moments hesitancy, he
went up to his rival, and said in a
lgraye voice:
"Altamont. you have saved my
Iiife!"
"You saved mine" replied the
american.
There was a moments silence
and then Altamont added:
Were quits, Hatteras.
''No, Altamont." said the cap
tain; when the doctor dragged
you out of your icy tomb I did not