The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1918-01-24
By JACK LONDON

Copyright by Jack London

medicine mans influence with his peO-
pie, and was anxious to make of him
IN ally. But that worthy was high
and mighty, refused to be propitiated,
and was unerringly marked down as a
prospective enemy.
Though no opening presented for an
interview with Zarinska, Mackenzie
stole many q glance to her, giving fair
warning Of his intent. And well she
knew, yet coquettishly surrounded her.
self with q ring of women whenever
the men were away and he had a
chance. But he was in no hurry; be-
sides, he knew she could not help but
think Of him, and few days of such
thought would only better his suit.
At last, one night, when he deemed
the time to be ripe, he abruptly left
the chiefs, smoky dwelling and hast
ened to a neighboring lodge. AS usual,
she sat with squaws and maidens about
her, all engaged in sewing moccasins
and beadwork. They laughed at his
entrance, and badinage, which linked
Zarinslza to him, ran high. But one
after the other they were unceremonl-
ously bundled into the, outer snow,
whence they hurried to spread the tale
through all the camp.
His cause was we'll pleaded, in her
tongue, Tor she did not know his, and
at the end of two hours he rose to 90.
$50 Zarinska will come to the white
mans lodge? Good! 60 now to
have talk with thy father, for he may
not be so minded. And will give him
many tokens; but he must not ask toe
much. If he say no? Good! Zarinska
shall yet come to the white mans
lodge"
He had already lifted the skin flap
brought him back to the girls side. She
brought herself to her knees on the
bearskin mat, her face aglow with true
Eve-light, and shyly unbuckeled his
heavy belt. He looked down, per-
picked, suspicious, his ears alert for
the slightest sound without. But her
next move disarmed his doubt, and he
smiled with pleasure. She took from
her sewing-bag a moosehide sheath,
brave with bright beadwork, fantastic
ally designed. She drew his great
hunting knife, gazed reverently along
the keen edge, half tempted to try it
with her thumb, and shot it into place
in its new home. Then she slipped the
sheath along the belt to its customary
resting-place, just above the hip.
For all the world, it was like scene
Of olden time-a lady and her knight.
Mackenzie drew her up full height and
swept her red lips with his mustache-
the, to her, foreign caress of the wolf.
1t was a meeting Of the stone age and
the steel.
There was thrill of excitement in
the air as Scruff Mackenzie, bulky
bundle under his arm, threw open the
flap Of Thling-Tinneh's tent. Children
were running about in the open, drag
ging dry wood to the scene of the
potlach, a babble of women's voices
was growing in tensity, the young men
were consulting in sullen groups, while
from the Shaman's lodge rose the eerie
sounds of an incarnation.
The chief was alone with his blear-
eyed wife, but glance sufficed to tell
Mackenzie that the news was already
old. So he plunged at once into the
business, shifting the beaded sheath
prominently to the fore rs ADVERTISE
ment of the betrothal.
20 Thing Tinneh, mighty chief Of
the Sticks and the land Of the Tanana,
ruler of the salmon and the bear, the
moose and the cariboo! The white
man is before thee with a great pur-
pose. Many moons has his lodge been
empty, and he is lonely. And his heart
has eaten itself in silence, and grown
hungry for woman to sit beside him
In his lodge, to meet him from the
hunt with warm fire and good food.
He has heard strange things, the patter
Of baby moccasins and the sound Of
children's voices. And one night
vision came upon him, and he beheld
the raven, who is thy father, the great
raven, who is the father Of all the
Sticks. And the raven spake to the
lonely white man. saying: Blind thou
thy moccasins upon thee, and grid thy
snowshoes on, and lash thy sled with
food for many sleeps and fine tokens
for the Chief Thing Tinneh. For thou
shalt turn thy face to where the mid
spring sun is wont to sink below the
land, and journey to this great chiefs
hunting grounds. There thou shalt
make big presents, and Thing Tinneh,
who is my son, shall become to thee
as a father. In his lodge there IL a
maiden into whom breathed the
breath Of life for thee. This maiden
shalt thou take to wife,
20 chief, thus spake the great raven;
thus do I lay many presents at thy
feet; thus and I come to take thy
daughter I"
The old man drew his furs about him
with crude consciousness of royalty,
but delayed reply while a youngster
crept In, delivered quick message
to appear before the council, and was