New-York tribune., 1910-01-30
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JANUARY So 1910
On the Roof of the World
JANUARY 80. 1910
Continued iron, page 8

wherein the bear had fiattened himself Was
there something unduly solid IN that blue
shadow in the Crevice. No, a trick of the witch
lights, surely The piercing ewes returned to
their eager watching of the seals.
Precious his ammunition and indif-
ferent was his shooting with the old big
bore Hudson Bay musket, the man was begin
ming to think he would have to stake his
chances on the gun. But, suddenly, as if at a
hand-sweep of the Infinite. the great lights
vanished.
FOR few seconds, by the violence of the con
traSt, il seemed as if thick darkness had
fallen on the world
In those few seconds nOiSeleSS and swift as A
panther, the man had run over the ridge to
within dozen PAGES of the seals and paused
with spear uphtted, waiting till his ewes should
once more be able 70 see in the starlight glin-
mer- As he stood thus waiting. every sense
nerve, and muscle on the last strain of expect
anCy and readiness, he heard. or seemed to feel
as much as to hear, the rush of some great bulk
through the gloom. Then came a scramble
a heavy splash, a second splash, terrible Scuf-
Ting noise, and hoarSe, barking scream. The
man remembered that before the light went out
there had been three seals on the ice Two he
had heard escape What had befaIlen the
third
Fiercely, like a beast being robbed of It's
prey he Sprang forward several PAGES. Then
he stopped; for he could not Vet see clearly
enough to distinguish what was before him
HIS blood pounded through his veins. The cold
or eternity was flowing in upon him, here on
the naked roof of the world; but he had no
feeling or fear of it. All he felt was the presence
OF his foe there before him, close before him. in
the dark.
Then once more the light flooded back. the
wide flung silver radiance. as suddenly and
mysterlously as 1t had vanished.
Close beside the airhole, halt crouching on
the body OF the slain seal, with one great paw
uPhfted' and bloody Jaws open in defiance,
stood the bear, glaring at the man.
Without an InStant'S hesitation the man
hurled his spear. 1t flew true. But in that
same second the bear lifted his paw to ward off
the blow. fIe was not quite quick enough but
almost. The blade struck; but not where it
was AIMED. 1t bit deep, but not TO the life
With a growl of rage he tore it loose and
charged upon the man.
THE antagonists We're not more than twenty
PAGES apart,-and now a glory of colored |
nights, green. red and golden. went dancing |
1nadly over them, with whispering rUStling |
sound, as OF stiff silk Crumpled in vast folds |
he man 5 eyes were keen and steady In a |
Hash both hands were out of his great fur NIT
tens, which were tied bv thongs To his sleeves
The heavy muSket leaped TO his shoulder and
ms eve ran coolly along the barrel. There was
q thunderouS roar, as of a little cannon. \
dense cloud of smoke Sprang into the air lust |
before the muzzle of the gun
through the smoke towering shape with |
~ 'O I'" ''hu od'tSiAlS paws, nurled Itself. |
The man leaped TO one Side-but not quite far |
enough. One great paw, striking blindlv |
S1note him down, and as he fell the huge bulk |
fell half on him-only to roll over the next in |
Stant and lie huddled and motionleSS on the ice.
The man picked himself up, shook himself |
and a look OF halfdazed triumph went across
ms ms Swarthy face as he pulled on his mittenS /
hen ne smiled broadly, patted approvinglv the |
Old Hudson Bay muSket turned on his heels |
ana sent a long summoning cry across the ice /
toward the igloos at the foot OF the Little Hills