New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-09-10
NOW 60 on wIrH TnE STORY

NOM 60 ON WITH THE STORY
With the waves and the wind be.
hind them, Knutsen saw the era,
line that was the island slowly
strengthen. The time came at Inst
when his weaker arms were shot
through with burning pain. that Ned
could also make II out II was still
weary miles away. And there was
still the dreadful probability--three
chances out of four that II was UNI
inhabited by human beings,
Soon the island began to take shape.
revealing itself as OF medium size In
comparison with many OF the islands
Of Bering Sea. yet seemingly large
enough to support kingdom.
The canoe pushed farther into the
harbor.
But at that instant less. who had
sat so quiet that her companions had
thought her asleep, uttered a low cry.
For all its 'suhdued tone, its living
note OF hope and amazemcnt caused
both men to turn to her. Her white
face was lifted, her blue eyes shining.
and she was pointing to the fringe of
timber at the end of the trail in the
snow.
What is it? she asked in low
tone. Isn't 1t man."
Her keen eyes had beheld what
Knutsens had missed-a dark form
half in shadow against the edge of
the scrub timber. For all that It was
less than quarter Of q milo distant
both men had to strain to make it
out. The explanation lay partly in
the depths OF the surrounding
shadows; partly in the fact that the
form was absolutely without motion.
Knutsen drove his oars with added
force into the water. The boat
they touched the bank.
Their deliverer. a great blond man
ceemingly of Northeastern Europe.
was already at the waters edge
watching them with a strange and In
applicable glitter in gray. sardonic
eyes. He was mighty, bearded
man, clothed in furs: already he was
bent. his hands on the bow of the /
boat Already Ned was climbing out |
upon the shore.
Partly to remove the silly dismay |
that had overwhelmed him, partly be- |
cause 1t was the first thought that /
would come to the mind of way
fArer of the sea. Knutsen turned with I
a question What island is dis?" he
asked.
The stranger turned with a grim,
meaning smile HELL he answered I
simply
Both Ned and Knutsen stood erect I
to stare at him. The wind made
curious whispers down through the
long slit Of the river valley. HE'LL"
knutsen echoed. rs dat its name
Its the name gave it. You'll
think it's that before you get away"
The strangers voice was deep and
full, so far-carrying, SO masterful,
that it might have been the articula
ton Of the raw elements among which
he lived, rather than the ,itterance of
human vocal chords.
His accent was plainly not that OF
an American. He had not been born
to tho English tongue; very plainly
he had learned it, thoroughly and la
/ oriously.
He was dressed from head TO foot
In furs and skins Of the most rare
and beautiful kinds. His Jacket and
trousers seemed to be OF lynx, his cap
was Enthusiastically silver fox.
The blond hair grew In great mat
about his lips and iowls. His nose
was straight, his eyebrows heavy, all
his features remarkably even and
veil proportional But none of these
esser features could he noticed be
,ause OF the compelling attraction of
his gray, vivid eyes.
Pardon me for not making my
,elf known sooner" he began in his
ieep. sardonic voice. MY name is
oonlsdorf-trapper, and seemingly
,wner of this island. At least I'm
he only living man on it. except
His speech. though
careless and queerly accented, had no