The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1910-09-06

ff@OHB tran to KalVik leads down
I from the mort Inward mountains
over the tundra which TANKS
4 the tide fats. then creeps out
upon the salt ice of the river and
across TO the village.
a Greek church. Russian school
with a cassocked priest presiding and
about a hundred houses beside the cam
nery buildings make up the village.
Early one December afternoon there
entered upon this trntl from the tim
berless hills far away to the northward
weary team of SIX dogs: driven by
two men.
The travellers had been plodding sui
lIenly hour after hour. dIspiFited by the
weight OF the storm.
..FIngerless'. Fraser broke trail. and
Boyd Emerson drove.
Another day like this and we'd both
be snow bIInd.'' Observed Emerson
/; 1t can't be far to the river now"
An hour later they dropped from
the plain down through a gutterlike
gully to the river, where they found
! TRAN, glass hard beneath its downy
covering. A cold breath sucked up
from the sea. Ahead they saw the
ragged ice appended 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 going here was SO rough that
beth men Ieaped from their seats and
ran beside the sled. They mounted a
swelling ridge and rushed down to the
level river zee beyond, but as they did
SO they heard a shivering creak on
every side and saw water rising about
the sled runners. Emerson shouted.
lthe dogs leaped, but with crash the
ice gave way, and for moment the
water closed over him. "FinGerless"
Fraser broke through In turn. gnsptng
as the icy water rose to his armpits.
Each man aimed to secure m indie
pendent footing. but the efforts OF az
only enlarged the pool. Emerson shout
ed:
"Cut the team loose, Quick"' But
the other spat out mouthful OF salt
water and spluttered:
I'll can't swimI'
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
his parIza. 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 entRngled.
Suddenly rang ont sharp command
uttered In a new voice. Out OF the
snow fog from the direction in which
they were headed broke a team, rum
ming full and free. Emerson marvel
ed at the outfit, having never seen the
Hike in all his travels through the
north, for each animal Of the twelve
stood hip high to a tall man, and
they were like wolves OF one pack.
gray and gaunt and wicked. A tall
Indian runner left the team and head
ed SWIFTLY for the scene of the acct
dent. . The man ran forward till he
neared the edge OF the opening where
the tide had caused the foes to sep
arate; then. iAattening his body on the,
Ice, he crawled ont cautiously and
seized the lead dog. Carefully he
lRotmed HIS way bacletva 10 security.
u haa been atticklish operation, re-.
curing nice skim and dexterity. but
\ floJSI that his foofirng WIS sure tlan,