The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-09-02

Soucl were Seuuclng the hunters from
Elkwan. And Christmas was but six
days away-Christmas, with teams
from the three winds drifting down
the valley into Elkwan for the trade
and the feast at New Years.
There was little time to be lost If
they were to win the hunters of Aki-
miski and lead them across the strait.
So the five dogs took the uphill work
at a trot, while the men trailed the
sled.
In the middle Of the morning the
men left the trap-line and breaking
trail ahead Of the dogs, slowly climbed
the last rise of the barrens. In places
the lack of snow on the brittle heath
made the work of the dogs heart
breaking. While the fiat toboggan
slid over the frozen tundra, the husk-
les, seeking footing, constantly broke
through. Shortly, their bleeding feet
forced a stop while moccasins were
dashed to their legs. But at last, pant
ing dogs and men stood on the roof
of the island.
Through the glasses Garth made out
the white delta Of the Elkwan, and
his thoughts drifted to two women
who had once shared his quarters
there-two women who did not shrink
at scars.
But it was bitter cold on the open
ridge and the dog-team turned down,
seeking the valley Of the Rabbit,
masked by intervening hills. Over the
tundra the snowshOes packed the trail
for the sliding toboggan, while the
dogs ran, where the hard snow on the
heath gave them footing, and shaved,
where they broke through the low
bushes of the brushed barren when
they threw their weight into their
collars.
AS the day advanced, the frost
strengthened. A veil of haze slowly
curtained the low-swinging sun, and
the dOg-team hurried on, for the night
would fall in early afternoon, and to
be caught on the high tundra by a
wind meant swift freezing.
Still before them the endless hill
lifted to the horizon with no indica-
ton of the break of low valley where
timber would give them shelter and a
cooking fire. At noon it was evident
that Etienne was worried. Never be-
fore had Garth seen his head man use
the whip on his dogs as he used 1t
that day; never in their journeys had
the fur-lined hood, circled with ice and
rhine, turned so often while the slit
like eyes of the half-breed consulted
the horizon.
"Beeg blow comm. Mooch snow,
she fall soon."
1T can't be far now" said Garth.
We've surely made the twenty miles.
The Rabbit must head over that hill. T"
"Eef we don't get off dees high
countree before de win blow, we ne
vaire get off," was the quiet rejoin-
der. --...-
Its colder, already" And Garth
took in the belt of his parka.
de dog weel not travel mooch more.
Dere feet are cut to pieces on dis
frozen BUSH"
On up the next ascent the limping
dogs, with breath trailing behind like
ribbons of smoke, followed the trail
breakers. Gaining the backbone of
the ridge, the men stood with startled
eyes looking north. Instead of the
wide basin of the Rabbit headwaters
with its scrub-fringed lakes, they
looked across a treeless barren.
The grave eyes Of Etienne met
Garth's puzzled look. m
Those Indians lied"
"No," objected the half-breed. eve
| travel YER slow. Feet ees ovair dere. "
And he pointed to the far ridge.
1T will be dark when we hit it."
zone hour more light and de win
rise" muttered Savanna as he patted
Castor, who lay at his feet, his steam.
ing red tongue hanging from a mouth
hung with ice. You YER tired, Cas-
tor? You max dat ridge?"
The powerful leader got to his sore
feet and whined as if he understood,
but the Hstless team lay sprawled on
the trail.
Its come" announced Garth, as a
curtain of snow drifted in from the
northeast.
"We go! Up, mes enfants! Allons /!
Marche, Castor."
An hour later, five dogs sheathed
in white, plodding slowly behind two
| ghostlike shapes, reached the rim of
the basin of the Rabbit headwaters.
Dimly below them, through the pail of
snow and gathering dusk, the men
traced the scrub edging the lakes with
shadow. AS they stood in the rising
| wind as the dogs rested, night shut
down, wiping from their eyes the goal
they sought, as a sponge wipes clean
a slate.
i've got the compass direction,
north, northwest" said Garth.
Etienne shook his snow-crusted hood.
keep de win on right cheek. So
long cheek froze, we head right for de
timber" He turned to the dogs, white
as the snow they lay on. ''Marche,
Casto-, mon bravew And swapping
his whip, he tugged at the harnesses
until the reluctant brutes got to their
feet.
CTo BE CONTINUED