The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-10-04
CHAPTER XII

was or great OulK ana or VAST
strength; while the other was small
anG why, of the breed that clings like
louise to life while better men
perish.
The small man was breaking trail.
Down almost to mis- knees in the soft
snow. he sank at every step: yet ever
he dragged foot painfully upward
and made another. forward plunge.
Come on there, you darned little
shrimp: get move on you" growIed
the big man from within the frost.
fringed hood of his parka.
The little man started as If gal
vanized into sudden life. His eyes,
thickly waddeu with frost, glared out
with the fear of a hunted beast.
"Curse him. curse him." he within
pered; but once more he lifted those
Ieaden snowshoes and staggered on.
The big man dashed fiercely at the
dogs, and as they screamed at his
blows he laughed cruelty.
'Mush on there, you ours, or I'll
cut you in two," he stormed. and the
heavy whip fell on the yelling pack.
They were pulling for all they were
worth, their heads down. their shout
ders squared. Their breath came pant
ingIy. their tongues cleaned redly.
their white teeth shone.
Weary and worn were men and dogs
as they struggled onward in the grow.
ing gloom. but because of the feeling
in his heart the little man no longer
was conscious of bodily pain. 1t was
black murder that ragged there.
At last they reached the forest
fringe, and after few harsh direc-
lions the big man had the little one
making camp. The little man worked
with a strange willingness. AS he
gathered the firewoOd and filled the
Yukon stove, ne hummed merry air.
He produced sourdOugh bread (which
he fried in bacon fat, and some dried
moOse-meat.
To men of the trail this was treat
They ate ravenously, but they did not
speak.
The silence was broken by whin-
ming and scratching outside. Ii was
the five dogs crying for their sup
per. crying for the frozen fish they
had earned so well. They wondered
why ii was not forthcoming.
DOG feed all gomez"
"Yep," said the small man.
HI! I'll silence these brutes any
way"
He went to the door and laid onto
them so that they skunk away into the
shadows. But they did not bury
themselves in the snow and sleep.
They continued to prOwl round the
tent, hunger-mad and desperate.
Then rolling himself in robe, the
big man lay down and slept.
The little man did not sleep. He
was still turning over the thought that
had come to him. Outside in the afro
cious cold the whining malamutes
crept nearer and nearer. In the
agonies of hunger, they cried for fish.
and there was none for them, only
kicks and curses. They howled their
woes to the weary men.
The little man crawIed into his
sleeping bag, but he did not close his
eyes. He was watching.
About dawn he rose. An evil dawn
it was, sallow. sinister and askew.
The little man selected the heavy
handled whip for the job. Carefully
he felt its butt. then ne struck. 1t
was a shrewd blow and a neatly de-
Iivered. for the little man had been
in the business before. 1t fell on the
big mans head, and be crumpled up.
Then the little man took some raw
hide thongs and trussed up his victim.
He gathered up the rest of the pro-
visions, made a pack of the food and
dashed ii on his back. Then, after a
final look of gloating hate, he went off
and left the big man to his Rte.
The dogs were closing in. Nearer
and nearer they drew. They won
dered why their master did not wake:
they wondered why the little tent was
so still; why no plume of smoke rose
from the slim stovepipe All was
oddly quiet and lifeless Closer and
closer they crept to the silent tent
The man opened his eyes. Within
foot of his face were the fangs of a
malamute. AT his slight movement II
drew back with a snarl. and retreated
to the GOor. Locasto could see the
other dogs crouching and cycling him
fixedly. What could be the matterf
What had gotten into the brutes7
Where was the Worm? Where were
the provisions? Why was the tent
flap open and the stove stone-cold2
Then with a dawning comprehension
that he had been deserted, Locasto ut
tered a curse and tried to rise.
AT first he thought he was stiff with
cold. but a downward glance showed
him his condition. He was helpless
He grew sick at the pit of his stom-
ach. and lglared at the dogs. They
were drawing in on him Their gleam-
ing teeth snapped In his face. Violent.
Iy he shuddered. He must Try to free
himself, so that he could fight.
fTo BE cONTINuEDl