Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1913-02-14

Those Eskimo dogs are demonsT'
he growled. "lf they knew how to
stand on their legs they'd eat our hus-
kies alive. VIII you help me with
thIs?"
Jan was at work In an instant ban.
daging the wounded hand.
at ees not Deep" he said. and then.
without looking up. he added. THE
missioner did not come"
"No." said Cummins shortly. "Nei-
ther has the mail. He Is with that"
He did not notice the sudden trem-
Bile Of JAMS fingers, nor did be see
the startled look that shot into the
boys down turned eyes. Jan finished
his bandaging without betraying his
emotion and went back with Cummins
to the company's store.
The next morning two Chlppewayans
trailed in with team OF mongrel ours
from the south. Thereafter Cummins
found but little time to devote to Me-
llsse. The snow was softening rapid.
ly. and the daily Increasing warmth of
the sun hastened the movement OF the
trappers. Mukee's people fre1n 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.
kenzle hounds 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
dlscOrd had driven forth the peace and
quiet in which Cummins' wife had
died. The lighting and dlscord were
among the dogs, and the yelling was a
necessary human accompaniment. Half
a hundred packs. almost as wild and
as savage as the wolves from whom
half OF them possessed a strong inheri-
tance of blood. were thrown suddenly
| ahtV "oAAAhk NOhAuoiOus
There was no cessation in the battle
Of the fangs. Half dozen battles
were fought to the death each day
and night Those that died were chief.
ly the south bred curs-mixtures of
mastiff, 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 filled to overiiowing
with the joys of the moment. a weld.
ing of new friendships. a renewal OF
old ones. 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 fllled with strange
things. for all went to look upon the
little Melisse 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 his violin
since the coming Of Jean de Gravois.
but one evening he tuned his strings
and said to Melisse:
"They have been good to you, my
Melisse. win give them ze museek
of re vioIon."
1t 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. huge
fire blazed In the open. and on spits six
inches in diameter tfps caribou were
roasting.
The air was filed with the sound and
odor. Of the carnival. Above the fight.