Evening star., 1934-11-24
BY CAPT. F. e. KLEINSCHMIDT


A IRPLANE BASE, Eskimoland
~ November 24-Yesterday we
~ stayed at the castle to finish
\ up taking pictures of inter-
iors and of the great rein
deer herds. Also close-ups of Donner
and Bitten, Prancer and Dancer.
Cupid and Comet, Santas great
Christmas team.
With Christmas only a month
away, We know how busy Santa will
be getting ready to leave. Our
hearts are heavy with the impending
parting and We are filled with grief
at leaving this sanctuary of love for
mankind. but We realize We came on
mission and duty calls us to fulfill
our obligation to The Star which sent
US on this expedition for the children
Of Washington
Santa, also was loathe to see us
leave, and he insisted on accompany
ing us for a while, for two reasons
First. he feared for our safety at the
hands Of Layluk, the North Wind.
'Layluk is no friend of mine, and
never done one good deed If hn
hung up his stockings there would
be nothing in them on Christmas
morning" Santa said.
You escaped him on your way
up. but this may have been a sinister
design to destroy you on your way
back. I must see you safely past his
cave. Then you have a long trip
back to your Eskimo village where
you left your plane, with all its
dangers.
Il have not visited my neighbors
for a year and I want to see how
they are getting along with their
reindeer"
Start Trip Home.
We hitched up our own team, now
full Of spirit from their long rest.
Santa led the way and our deer
anxious to keep up with Santa's, Just
flew over the tundra until we came
to within few miles of Layluk's cave.
The North Wind rolled out of the
cave with the force of a cyclone and
swept the snow and ice fields with his
fury. Our faces and fingers were
frozen in a few minutes by the icy
blast, and our deer stopped, trembling
in their traces. Captain" Santa shout
ed, you will never make the pass
fighting Layluk as he is today. See,
even my magic deer cannot face that
fiend. He will be worse tonight for
there Is no moon. Turn back. Cap
tain. turn to the valley to the right"
Santa wheeled his team and we fol-
lowed, lashed by the whips of Layluk,
until we came to a shelter behind
some huge rocks in the Wiley. The
moment we had turned our backs to
the blizzard, Layluk blew snow and
ice into the hides of our deer to the
very skin to freeze them, but when
we stopped the wise animals again
faced the wind and shook the snow Off
What can we do, Santa?" cried
Mrs. Kleinschmidt. There is no other
way out Of your land but through the
cave OF this horrid spirit"
There is only one answer to that
problem" Santa replied.
What Is the answer?" she asked.
I'VE must 60 above him. I will load
you and your equipment into my sleigh
and take you soaring into the clouds.
Then We will be above Layluk and
can look down upon him, as do on
Christmas evening, and laugh as he
shakes his black mantel."
But Santa, you will overload your
sleigh. You are Of more use to the
world than all of us, and we will not
permit it,
You are good and brave" he said,
I'll prove to you it can be done"
How about my reindeer?" Patunuk,
the driver, asked. How can we travel
without our deer?" Don't worry
about your deer" replied Santa.
Captain, load all your equipment
into my sleigh and stow yourself and
Eskimos into it."
Then he produced a big piece of