The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-10-28
Mem Naag'OO1leCl

ter, Shot?"
The Cog was clearly excited about
something With a whimper he rose
on his hind legs and paved the mans
| chest in dumb attempt to communicate
the reason for his protest.
"What Is it, old boy? What's over
on that shore you don't want us to
see?"
Tell me, Shot," called the girl,
and the dog left Guthrie to go to her
but was stopped by his leash.
It's more than queer" said Guthrie,
its uncanny. Well, I've got to find
that shore to make fresh start
Now, Shot, be quiet, will your
Again the driver called, "Marche,
| Castori"
The dogs leaned into their collars
and the sled started, but from Its
tail rose the bowls OF the protesting
! Shot
Good Lord, I've got to look into
this! I'll he back shortly" And,
stopping his team, Garth walked in
| to the murk.
He had advanced but a short dis
lance, doubled over the Ice, feeling
his way with his moccasins, when he
stopped. rs chill, like the touch of
cold wind, cut through him.
Tide crack!" he gasped. Within
step of the gray blur of ice on which
he stood, a black streak, fading into
the enveloping gloom, barred his way.
We're in the river mouth
among the tide cracks - Etienne
warned me-! Shot-old Shot, God
bless him-he knew!
Shots actions were clear enough
now. Coming upon the open water
toward which the sled was hurrying,
the airedale had returned on the
bound, barking warning as he came.
Then, as the dogs came on at trot,
Shot had catapulted into Castor, start
ing a fight and-stopping the sled.
Stunned, struck with remorse, Guthrie
crouched on the lip of the cash in the
river Ice, into which dogs, sled-all of
them, would have blindly plunged but
for Shots mad attack on the team.
To have led her to this-a hideous
death with the dogs drawn under by
the drag Of the sled. And Etienne
had warned him Of the tide cracks In
the river mouths. He had intended
making a wide swing around the
Kapiskau, but in his search for the
beach, had entered the river. But
or oh I'll MI &ho@
had through some uncanny instinct
sensed their danger and taken the
only method Of stopping the team.
Putting her trust In Garth Guthrie,
Shot had saved her. He turned back
to the team, thrilled with pride in the
dog who worried at his leash. The
love Of the man for his dog had been
cemented by yet one more bond Shot
had saved her for Garth Guthrie
"What did you findT she asked as
he reached the sled
Il learned that we'll have to back
track straight east" he said calmly.
"Why, aren't we heading for the
shore?" --a...-
Eyes, but we've got to get out of
this river. When strike the sea-ice,
I'm going to circle, hit the coast, and
give you some rest"
"But we ought to keep on"
mot in this blackness It's as thick
as Flemish rain in March, I've got
to lead the team" he did not add,
ito watch for water ahead"
Unleashing Shot, whom he Rugged
as he mumbled for a space into
hairy ear, Guthrie sent the airedale
out as an advance patrol. He had
found water once, he would find it
again If they stumbled upon another
tide crack. Leading Castor on
leash, he started straight east for the
Sea-ice.
For an hour they walked, Shot
ranging ahead while Guthrie, bent for
ward, eyes on the ice and his COM
pass dial, cautiously followed. Fearful
Of not yet having cleared the river
mouth, he led his dogs for another
hour, then circled into the northwest
and found the shore above Kapiskau
There he fed his dogs, cut willow and
alder, and with his cedar kindling got
q fire going to boil the kettles.
AS Joan Quarter sat by the COM
forting heat in the willow thicket,
Guthrie told her the story which he
had kept from her while he CROPPED
through the water traps of the river
mouth.
She sat with parted lips, her seri-
Gus eyes suspiciously bright, as Garth
explained why Shot had hurled him
self on the team.
And you never told me what you
found when you left us!"
"Why scare you? 1t was bad enough
as it was
She shook her head In protest "You
call me soldier, and treat me as
woman"
you are woman to me-too
precious to take out on a night like
this and drive into tide crack" he
replied, watching the light of the fire
play on her brooding eyes.
For answer she called: "Come here,
Shot-to me. 1 want to kiss you"
The airedale rose, stretched,
yawned, and wagged his way to her.
There" I'll never forget what you
did tonight. You deserve the v. c."
With grunt, Shot thrust his nose
toward her hood.
Look out, he's trying to return the
KISS" warned the man who envied his
dog.
Her white teeth flashed In amuse-
hot