The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-20
THE
SKYLINE
SPRUCE
bv Gibson MARSHALL
= 1000, A /. p,,y,.,, 4, lmnanJ
fpn-l,ra pusu Somplny

know OF the old mans delight at ths
entire lncident~-firnt tho anxious
hurried stroke Of tho paddle. then ths
movement Of nen's long fingers ms he
caught new hold. finally tho white
flame OF exultation that came into
his face. For himself. Hen instantly
lie suddenly found himself an ahso-
lutte master OF his craft: AZ the touch
Of the paddle controlling u as a mas
ter mechanic controls q delicate ma
chine.
The white waters were no moro 20
be feared He found that no knew.
as II by instinct. every trick OF the
riverman's trade-the slow stroke.
the fast stroke. tho best stroke for
long days sail. and tho little half
turn In his hands that put tho blade
on edge Ia tho water and gave him
tho finest control II was all -
familiar. 10 unspeakahiy dear 90 him
Clear. bright memories lowered close
20 him. almost within his grasp.
-Do you remember when you shot
the AthabaalSa RapsdsT' Exram had
asked II was all clear enough. In
that iife that was forgotten he had
evidently lived much In . ionnoe.
knowing every detail OF river life
Perhaps he had been q master canoe
is,l; a, least he felt sHsranse. surg
ing sense OF reif-cohfidenca and
power. Tie understood. now. why
the image OF rushing waters had
come 80 often into his dreams. Dim
pictures of river sccnes--cafsracts
white with foam. rapids with thun-
derous voices. reriious cddiee. and
then. Just beyond. CLASSY winters
where tho shadow Of the conce was
unhroken In the blue depths
ssrramed thru his mind. but they
wer. not bright enough for him 60
seize and hold
He enjoyed the first few hours OF
ernoon came indoicnce. and they were
both willing 10 glide with the cur
rent and watch tho ever-changsnk
vista Of tho shore. For the first time
since thoy had como into the real
North. Hen found opportunity 10 Oh
serve and study the country.
Already they were out Of sight OF
the last vestigc Of hahitation. and
the evergreen forests pushed down
10 the waters edge. From the mid
die OF the stream tho woods appeared
only a dark waii. but this was Inn
measurabiy fascinating 20 Ben. ~
suggested mystery. adventure: yet Its
deeper appeal. the thing that stirred
him and thrilled him 10 the quick.
he could neither understand nor
anaiyxe.
Sometimes q little ciump Of trees
stood apart. and from their shape he
identified them ~ the incornparnh's
spruce. perhaps the most dissin-
Eui-hed and beautiful Of an shs svcr-
greens. Tie marked their great
height. their slender fcrma. their
dark foliage that ever seemed TO be
siivered with frost: and they SEEMED
TO him TO answer. 70 the fullest az
tent. some vague expectation 1t
which he had scarcely BEEN aware.
The Wild life Of the river fifled
him with speeches delight. Some
times he saw the waters break ana
Eisam NJ the leap Of . mighty sAi-
months king FISH Of the North on
bis spring rush 70 the headwaterr
where he would spawn and die--~nd
often the canoe sent nocks Of water
fowl into night Hen dimiy felt that
on the trse-ciad shores larger. mare
glorious living creatures were stand
ing. hiding. watching the canoe glide
past The thought thrilled him.
Late afternoon. and they worked
closer to the shore. They were
watching for a place to land But
because the shadows Of twilight were
. already failing. the forest itself was
hardly more vivid TO their eyes. Once
II seemed 10 Ben that he saw the
underbrush move and WAIVER at the
waters edge. and his heart ieaped:
but whatever stirred kept itself con-
ceaied And now. In shs gray of
twilight. Exram saw the place TO
land.
n was n small lagoon into which
. creek cmpsied. ana beyond was an
open meadow. found 80 often and 40
Unexpectedly In tho North woods
Swiftly Ben turned the canoe into
shore.
Ezram climbed out and made fast.
and 10 busy was he with his work
that he did not glance at Ben. other
wise he Nigh, have beheld q phe-
nonenon that would have been Of
keen interest 10 the aiienist. Forest.
His young charge had suddenly
grown quite pale. Ben himself was
neither aware OF this nor Of the fact
that hfa haarf was hnrnnerfnr xiid-