Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-05
BY JAMES
SOLlNER
CuRWOOD

Kazan's whole body relaxed and he
dragged himself to the girls feet.
"See, he likes the baby" she cried.
Mon pere. we must give him a name.
What shall It be?"
wait till morning for that" replied
the father. at is late, Joan. Go into the
tent and sleep. We have no dogs now,
and will travel slowly. So we must start
early"
with her hand on the tent flap, Joan
turned.
HE came with tho wolves" she said.
Let us call him Wolf" with one arm
she was holding the little Joan. The
other she stretched out to Kazan. wolff
Wolfv' she called softly.
Kazans eyes were on her. He knew
that she was speaking to him, and he
drew himself foot toward her.
He knows 1t alreadyl" she cried.
Good night, mon pere."
For long time after she had gone into
the tent old Pierre Radisson sat on the
edge of the sledge, facing tho fire, with
kazan as his feet. Suddenly the silence
was broken again by Gray VOLTS lonely
howl deep in the forest. Kazan lifted his
head and whined.
shes calling for you, boy" said Pierre
Understandings.
He coughed, and cutched n hand to
his breast, where the pain seemed rend-
ing him
"Frostbltten lung, ne said. speaking
straight at Kazan. Got It early in the
winter. up at Fond du Lac. Hope we'll
get home-in time-with the kids"
In the loneliness and emptiness of the
big northern wilderness one falls into the
habit of talking to ones self. But Ka-
zan's head was alert. and his eyes watch
full, so Pierre spoke to him.
We've got to get them home and
there's only you and me to do it," he
said, twisting his beard. Suddenly he
clenched his fists
His hollow raclking cough convulsed
him again.
"Home" he painted, clutching his chest
TITS SO miles straight north-to the
Churchill-and I pray to God well get
herewith the kids-before my lungs
give out"
He rose to his feet and staggered lit
tie as he walked. There was a collar
about Ka2an's neck and he chained him
to the sledge. After that he dragged
three or four small logs upon the fire and
went quietly into the tent where joan
and the baby were already asleep.
Several times that night Kazan heard
the distant voice of Gray Wolf calling
for him, but something told him that he
must not answer 1t now. Toward dawn
Gray Wolf came close in to the camp. and
for the first time Kazan replied to her.
His howl awakened the man. He came
out OF his tent peered for II few mo-
ments up at the sky. built UP the fire. and
began to prepare breakfast. He patted
kazan on the head, and gave him a
chunk of meat Joan came out few
moments later, leaving the baby asleep
in the tent. She ran up and kissed
Pierre, and then dropped down on her
knees beside KaZan. and talked to him
almost as he had heard her talk to the
baby. When she jumped up to help her
father Kazan followed her,s~and when
Joan saw him standing firmly upon his
legs she gave a cry of pleasure.
1t was a strange journey that began
into the North that day. Pierre Radisson
empted the sledge of everything but the
tent, blankets, food and the furry nest
for baby Joan. Then he harnessed him
self in the traces and dragged the sledge
over the snow. He coughed incessantly.
Its a cough I've had half the winter"
lied Pierre. careful that Joan saw no
sign of blood on his lips or beard. "Ill
keep in the cabin for week when we
get home"
Even Kazan, with the strange beast
knowledge which man. unable to explain
calls instinct, knew that what he said
because he had heard other men cough
sledge-dog ancestors had heard men
cough as Radisson coughed-and had
learned what followed.
More than once he had scented death in
tepees and cabins, which he had not en-
tered, and more than once he had shifted
at the mystery of death that was not