The Arvada enterprise., 1916-11-30
CHAPTER xxV-Continued.


Oh.' was all she replied: but |
could have sworn there was a note OF
disappointment In her voice
but my woman. my mate" kept
ringing In my head for the rest OF
tho day and for many days Yet never
did ring more loudly than that
night. as I watched her draw back
tho blanket OF moss from the coals.
blow up the fire. and cook the evening
meal. II must have been latent say.
asery stirring In me. for tho old
words. so bound up with the roots OF
the race. to grip me and thrill me.
And grip and thrill they did. TIL
fell asleep. murmuring them to myself
over and over again.
II was dark and cvil-appearing
thing. that hut. not nj for aught better
than swine In n civilized land: but for
US. who had known the misery OF the
open boat. 1t was snug little habita.
ton. Following the housewarming.
which was accomplished by means OF
seai-Oil and wick made from cotton
calking. came ;hc hunting for our win.
tcr's meat and the building OF the
second hut. II was simple affair.
now. 90 go forth in the morning and
return by noon with boatload OF
seals. And then. while | worked at
building the hut. Maud tried out the
oil from the blubbcr and kept slow
hro under the frames of meat had
heard OF jerking beef on the plains.
and our seal meat. cut in thin strips
and hung I'm the smoke. cured excel,
lently.
The second hut was easier to erect,
for ! built II against the first. and only
three walls were required. hut II was
work. hard work. nll of II. Maud and
! worked from dawn TIL dark. to the
limit OF our strength so that when
night came We crawlcd stiiily to bed
and slept the animallikc sleep OF cx.
haustion. And yet Maud declared that
Shc had never felt better or stronger
in her life. | knew this was true OF
myself. but hers was such lily
strength that feared she would break
down. Often and often. her last re.
serve force gone, | have seen her
stretched fiat on her back on the sand
In the way she had OF resting and re-
cupcrnting And then she would be
up on her feet and toiling hard ms
over Where she obtained this
strength was the marvel to me.
Think Of the long rest this winter"
WAS her reply to my remonstranccs
why well bo clamorous for somo
thing to do"
We hold n houscwarming In my hut
tho night It was rooted
II was pleasant evening indeed
and We voted that as n social frnction
on Endcavor island II had rot yet
been cclipscd Our minds were at
case. Not only had We resigned our
selves to tho bi,,cr winter. bu, We
were prepared for II, The seals could
depart on their mysterious Journey
into the south at any time. now, for
all We cared and the storms held no
terror tor us Not only were We sure
,f being dry and warm and sheltered
from tho wind but We had the softcF
and most luxurious mattresses that
could he made from moss This had
been Maud'E idea and Eho had herself
Icaiously gathered all the moss THIS
was to be my first uight on the mat
trcss. and knew | should sleep tho
swcctcr because sh" had mad. II.
Az she rose to so she turned to
me with the whimsical way she had
and said
Something is going to happen
hnppcnlng, for that matter. feel II
Something In coming here. to us II IN
coming now | don't kno" what but
u II coming
Good or bnd7" ! nskcd
She shook her head i don't know,
but 4, In there, somewhere
Shc pointed In the direction OF the
sea and wind
ITS a lee shore laughed. "oni
. am sure I'd rather b" here thnn ar.
irving, ~ night lik" this
"You are not ulshtcnodF asked
- stepped 60 open the door for her,
Her cyos looked braycly into mino.
And you feel we'll perfectly wcIl3'
Never better" was her answer
W. tu'krd n little longer bc'or"
Shc w,r'
',' rf Maud said