Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-27


Os-s-.-.-s-.-s-s-.-.-s-.-
rne sun nasrened the movement or the /
trappers. Mukee's people from the
western Barren lands arrived first.
bringing with them great loads of
musk OK and caribou skins and an
army Of big footed. long legged Mac
kenzie bounds that pulled like horses
and walled like whipped puppies when
the huskies and Eskimo dogs set upon
them.
From east and west and south all
trails now led to the post. By the end
Of the third day after the arrival of
the company's supplies a babel of
lighting, yelling, ceaselessly moving
discord had driven forth the peace and
quiet in which Cummins' wife had
died. The lighting and discord were
among the dogs. and the yelling was a
necessary human accompaniment. Half
hundred packs. almost as wild and
as savage as the wolves from whom
half of them possessed strong inheri-
lance of blood. were thrown suddenly
into warning confusion.
There was no cessation ia the battle
/ OF the fangs. Half a dozen battles
were fought to the death each day
and night. Those that died were chief
] ly the south bred curs-mixtures of
mastif, Great Dane and sheep dogs
and the fatally slow Mackenzie hounds.
Yet beyond all this diScord and
bloody strife there was a great. throb-
bling human happineSs-a beating of
honest hearts filed to overfo wing
with the joys OF the moment. weld
ing OF new friendships. n renewal OF
old ones. a closer union of the broth
erhood that holds together all things
under the cold gray OF the northern
skies. There were no chickering's among
the hunters
These were days OF unprecedented
prosperity and triumph for the baby.
as they were for the company. The
cabin was half filed with strange
things, for all went to look upon the
little Melissa and gave something to
her. There were polar bears teeth.
brought down by the little black men
who in turn had got them from the
coast people; strange gods carved from
wood. bits Of fur, bushy foxtails. lynx
paws, dried fruits. candy bought at
fabulous prices in the store and musk
always and necessarily musk-from
Mukee's people OF the West Barrens.
Jan had not played upon bis violin
since the coming OF Jean de Gravois
but one evening be tuned bis strings
and said TO Melissa:
They have been good to you. my
Melissa. will give them re museek
OF Re viOlon."
IL was the big night at the post-the
night that is known from Athabasca to
Hudson bay as the night OF the carl
bou roast A week had passed. and
there were no more furs TO be disposed
Of. In the company's ledger each man
had received his credit. and IN the com.
pany's store the furs were piled high
and safe. Three caribou had been kill
ed by Perez and his hunters. and on
this night when Jan took down his
violin from its peg on the wall. q huge
Gre biazed in the open. and on splits six
inches In diameter the caribou were
roasting.
The air was filled With the sound and
y odor or the carnival. Above the fight,
: Ing and snarling of dogs the forest
!. people lifted their voices in wild cel
!, Urauon. forgetting in this one holiday
, Of the year the silence that they would
. carry back into the solitudes with
them. Shrill voices rose in meaning
less cries above the roaring OF the Ere
4 Caribou whips snapped hercely. Chip
pewayanS. Crees. Eskimos and breed.
). crowded in the red glare The factor:
=, men shouted and sang Ike mad. fol
: this was the compsny's annual GOOD
, tme"-the show that would lure many
OF these same men back again al the
: end OF another trapping season.
Huge boxes OF white bread wert
placed near TO the FIRE tub OF rea
= butter. brought $500 miles from across
the sea for the occasion. was set on :
4. gun case thrown where the heat playeC
upon IL in yellow glory. In a giant cop
\ per kettle. over a smaller FIRE bubbhe6
- and steamed half barrel Of coffee.
"a The richness Of the odors that drift,
a ed in the air set the dogs gatherin
/, upon their launches beyond the wal;
IA ing circle or masters. their lips drip
ping. their fangs Swapping in an eager
:. ness that was not for the flesh OF BET
- tie. And above Il all there gleame
;. down a billion stars from out OF tn
- skies ana the aurora flung its banner
a. through the pale night
~ Seated upon the edge OF one OF II