Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-11-04
CHAPTER I.

@lHE trail to kalvik leads down
from the northward mountains
over the tundra which tanks
" the tide fats. then creeps out
upon the salt ice of the river and
across to the village.
A Greek church. Russian school
with q cassocked priest presiding aud
about hundred houses beside the can
merry buildings make up the village.
Early one December afternoon there
entered upon this trail from the tim
berless bills far away to the northward
q weary team Of six dogs, driven by
two men.
The travellers had been plodding sui
lenly hour after hour. dispirited by the
weight of the storm.
"Fingerless" Fraser broke trail, and
Boyd Emerson drove.
"Another day like this and we'd both
be snow blind" observed Emerson
grizzly AZ be bent to his task. But
It can't be far to the river now"
An hour later they dropped from
the plain down through gutterlike
gully to the river, where they found q
trail. glass hard beneath its downy
covering. A cold breath sucked up
from the sea. Ahead they saw the
ragged ice upended by the tide. One
branch led to the village, which they
knew lay somewhere on the farther
side, hidden by mile or more or sift-
Ing snow.
The goih2 here was SO rough that
beth men lcaped from their seats and
ran beside the sled. They mounted q
swelling ridge aud rushed down to the
level river ice beyond. but as they did
SO they heard shivering creak on
every side and saw water rising about
the sled runners. Emerson shouted.
the dogs leaped. but with crash the
ice gave way, and for moment the
water closed over him. "Fingerless"
Fraser broke through in turn. gasping
as the icy water rose to his armpits.
Each man aimed to secure an inde.
pendent footing. but the efforts of all
only enlarged the pool. Emerson shout
ed:
"Cut the team loose. quick" But
the other spat out a mouthful of salt
water and spluttered:
Ill can't swim"
whereupon the first speaker half
swan himself through the slush to
the forward end of the sled and. seek
ing out the sheath knife from beneath
bis parka. cut the harness of the two
animals. Once free they scrambled to
safety and rolled in the dry snow.
Emerson next attempted to lift the
nose of the sled up on the ice. shout
ing at the remainder Of the team to
pull. but they only wagged their tails
and whined. Each time he tried to
lift the sled he crashed through fresh
ice. finally bearing the next pair OF
dogs with him and then the two AMI
mails in the lead. All of them became
hopelessly entangled.
Suddenly rang out sharp command
uttered in a new voice. Out of the
snow fog from the direction In which
they were headed broke a team. run.
ming full and free. Emerson marvel
ed at the OUTFIT. having never seen the
Ike In all his travels through the
nO4Sus AOA COSU 0ubk0ob VI AAS SsSSs'S
stood hip high to tall man. and
they were like wolves Of one pack.
gray and Eaunt and wicked. A tall
Indian runner left the team and lead
ed swiftly for the scene of the acct
dent The man ran forward till be
neared the edge Of the opening where
the tide had caused the does to sep
arute: then. nattening bis body on the
'"e he crawled out cautiously and
seized the lead dog. Carefully he
wormed bis way backward 70 security.
1t bad been q tickllsh operation, 70.
curing nice skill and dexterity. but
now that bis footing was sure tho
runner exerted bis whole strength. and
~ the dogs scratched and tore for
6rm foothold the sled came crunchiuS
closer and closer through the half inch
skin Of Ice. Then be reached down
and dragged Emessoo out. dripping
aud neeveless from ~ imnsesaoa. To
seshse TN rsscpea ~ saae@