The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-10-06
JContlnucd from yesterday

Continued from yesterday
lie would need not only this
great physical strength, but also
his enhanced mental powers IN the
trial and stress that were 10 come.
poomSdorfs tyranny could not hc
endured forever they were being
horne along toward a crisis as II
ON an ocean current. And Tor all
his growth. Ned never made the
fatal mistake or considering him
self a physical match for pooms'
dnrf. over and above tho fact that
the latter was armed with rifle
and pistol. Ned WAS stlll "A child
IN his hands II was simply ease
OF intrinsic limitations II WAS as
n the VOLT chain,llghtning sayas'
cry that he Is, should try 10 las
low tho venerable sriEzly bear.
sooner or later tho crisis would
fall upon them-a ut OF savage
, niger on Doomsdorf's part. or a
lvrong that could not be endured.
even II death were the penalty for
rebellion. Moreover. Ned could not
escape the haunting fear that such
crisis was actually imminent.
DoomsdorCs mood was an unccr.
tain thing at best; and lately Il had
spken a turn for the worse lie
was not getting the satisfaction
that he had anticipated out or
Ned's slavery: the situation had
lost It's novelty. and he WAS open
TO ans Satanic form OF diversion
that might occur 90 him, Ned
had mastered his trap lines, had
stood the gaft and was a better
man on account % 10, and Il was
time his master provided additional
entertainment Tor him, In these
dark. wintry days he remembered
the siberian prison with particular
vlvidness, and az such times the
s,ecly glitter was more pronounced
I'm his eyes. and certain things that
he had seen fingered ever IN his
mind. He kept remembering
stmnge ghosts Of men, ,olling in
the snowfall they died, and souls
that went out screaming under the
lash: and such remembmnees
moved him with dark. unspcak'
able lust. He thought he would
like to bring these noncompliance
20 life. Besides. his attitude to
ward BeSs was even more sinister.
He followed her motions with a
queer. searching. speculative gaze.
and now and then he offered her
little fayors,
A II he could only DO held in re-
ytraint few months more, Ned
knew perfectly that the longer the
crisis could be avertCd. the better
his chance for life and liberty. He
would have more opportunity 10
make preparations. 10 lay plans.
Besides. every day that he followed
his trap lines he was better trained
lin character and mind and body
for the test to come. The work
OF bringing out Ned Comets man
hood had never ceased.
Every day he had learned more
OF those savage natural forces that
find clearest expression in the.
North. He knew the wind and the
cold. snowslide and blizzard. but
also he knew hunger and fear and
travail and pain. All these things
taught him what they had to teach.
and all OF them served TO shape
him into the man he had grown TO
be. And one still. clear afternoon
the North sent home new re.
aliEation OF It's power.
He was working that part OF the
line from his TweIve.M Nile cabin
over the ridge toward the Forks
old rendezvous with
|.less. He was somewhat late in
crossing the range today. He had
taken several OF the larger fur.
bearers and had been obliged to
skin them laboriously, first thaw.
Ing them out over a fire in the
snow. so that midafternoon found
him Just emerging from the thick
copse where he had killed the
white wolf The blazed trail took