The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-04-23
REX RI ), j: BEACH
ADVENTURE
S T Q R S

approval In bis every attitude
as plainly az disgust peered
from the seams In his dark
face. It lurked in his scowl and In the
curl Of his long rawhide that bit
among the sled dogs. So at least
thought Willard as he chung to the
swinging sledge.
They were skirting the coast. keep
ing to the glare ice. wind swept and
clean. that lay outside the jumbled
shore pack. The team ran silently in
the free gait Of the gray wolf, romp-
ing in harness from pure Joy Of mo-
ton and the intoxication Of perfect
life. making the sled runners whine
like the song of cutlass.
This route is dangerous, Of course,
from hidden cracks in the foes. and
most travellers hug the bluffs, but be
who rides with Pierre "Feroce" takes
chances. 1t was this that had won
him the name of wild" Pierre. the
most reckless. ureless man of the
trails, a scoffer at peril. boiling
through danger with rush and frenzy,
overcoming sheerly by vigor those OBJ
stacles which destroy strong men In
the north.
The power that pulsed within him
cleaned from his eyes. rang in his
song. showed III the aggressive thrust
of his sensual face.
This particular morning, however,
Pierre's distemper had crystallized
into a great contempt for his compan-
ion. OF all trials the most detestable
is to bit the trail with half man. a
pale, anaemic weakling like this stran-
ger.
Though modest in the extent Of his
learning, Pierre gloated in freedom
OF speech the which no man dared
deny him. He turned to eye his COM
panion cynically for a second time,
and contempt was patent in his gaze
Willard appeared slender and pallid
in bis furs. though bis clear cut fea'
lures spoke a certain strength and
much refinement.
bah: t'ink you dam poor feller!'
he said finally, "'Ow you going stan
thees trip. eh? She's need beeg mans,
not leetle runt like you"
Amusement at this frankness glim'
mered in Wizards eyes.
"You're like all ignorant people.
You think in order to stand hardship
. q man should be able to toss a sack OF
-four tn his teeth or juggle q cask Of
salt horse"
& 'Sure ting" grtnned Pierre. THAT'S
/, right. Look at me. Eebbe YOU heal
bout Pierre 'Feroce' some time. chr
"Oh. yes: everybody knows you
knows you're 4 big bully. I've seen
you drink 4 quart Of this wood alcho
. hoi they call whisky up here and then
Jump the bar from q stand. but you're
oil animal-you haven't refinement and
the culture that makes real strength
It's the mind that makes US stand
punishment"
'.Ha. ha, bar laughed the Canadian
''W'at 4 fenny talk! She'll take the
heducate man for stan the col. chi
Mon Dieu!' He roared again till the
sled dogs turned fearful glances back
.wa.d and bushy tails dropped under
the weight Of their fright Great
noise came oftenest with great rage
from Pierre. and they had too fire
Quently felt them both to forget
Yes: you haven't the mentality
Some time you'h use up your physical
resources and 60 to pieces like q
burned wick
Pierre was greatly amused. His vel
low teeth shone, and he gave vent t.
violent mtrth as. following thu
thought, he pictured a naked mind
wandering over the bills with the
quicksilver at 60 degrees. j.
did you ever see q six day race
OF course not You barbarians haven
sunk to the level Of our dissolut'
east, where we Joy in Roman spec
tacles. But II you had you'd see IT.
viii that wins; it's the man that eat!
his soul by inches. The educated
soldier stands the campaign best Yol
run too much to muscle. You're mo-
balanced" .:t
II t'ink mebbe you'll ave chance TO
show i'm. thees stout will Of yours
She's going be long 'mush' troo tn
mountains. plentee snow. plentee cold.
Although Pierre's ridicule was gall
ing. Willard felt the charm Of TIL
morning too strongly to admit Of an
ger or to argue his pet theory.
The sun. brilliant aud cold. lent ,
!, paradoxicaI cheerfulness to the desc
lation. and. though never sign o
life broke the stiffness around them
the beauty of the scintillant. CLEAN
ing mountains. distinct as canoes. tina
guarded the bay. appealed to him will
the strange attraction OF the arctics-
that attraction that calls and calls in
sistently till men forsake Gods coun
try for its mystery.
he breathed the biting air cleanet
BY leagues Of lifeless barrens ans
voids of cracking frost till he achet
with the exhilaration Of perfec
morning on the Circle.
Also before him undulated the grand
est string Of dogs the coast had known
Seven there were. tall and gray. Will
tails IKE plumes. which none bu
Pierre could lay hand upon. fierce and
fearless as their master. He drove
with the killing cruelty Of stampeder;
and they loved him.
''You say you have grub cached al
the old Indian hut on the Good HopeT'
questioned Willard.
Sure! Five poun' bacon. leetle
dour and rice. cache one gum boot
too, ha! Good thing for make dre
aueeck. eh?"
''You bet! An old rubber boot comes
handy when its too cold to make
shavings."
Leaving the coast, they a0cended Z