Evening star., 1937-02-07
Nosozine Section

if inaccurate - certain doom for all.
In a moment the boy lost his calm. De-
spair replaced hope when the feather stopped
quivering. 1t remained motionless for endless
minutes, and then began moving violently
from the intake of the seals lungs. Riko in
stantly drew back his right arm The harpoon
flew straight and true to the feather and
through the thin crust. Malu barked The
barbed spearhead of bone entered the flesh
of the seal, at once becoming detached from
the shaft as the seal plunged to the bottom.
The line connected to the bar was playing
out so rapidly that Riko could not check it;
and the wounded seal continued his frantic
dive into the depths Wrapped in his hands,
the line frightened around the boys worn fur
mittens and cut into his flesh. He would not
let go but he knew his strength was ebbing
The length of line, too was diminishing.
Line taut, Riko struggled to chunk of
ice that jutted from the surface. 1t was his
only chance. for the seal was proving him
self the stronger. Throwing double hitch
around the piece of ice, he braced his feet
against the chunk and held firmly to the end
of the line that remained. 1t became so taut
at the seals vicious tugging that Riko feared
it would snap. Sweating and pulling. he
listened to Malu's cries. The husky pressed
to his legs and nuzzled his nose against them.
barking loud urge for Riko to hold on.
The terrific strain eased and Riko noticed
thankfully that less of the line was being
taken up. The tugging became weaker.
Finally the line did not move at all. The
boy whispered grateful prayer The seal
was dead :. After rest Riko would haul
it up. -.
A growl of alarm from Malu startled the
boy. The dogs hair stiffened. Riko wheeled
around and saw. less than hundred feet
away. a hungry polar bear facing them menac-
ingly. The boy was shaken with fright. He
rubbed his bleeding hands across his face
and shook his head. "Nanook, the polar
bear!' he gasped.
Through blurred eyes he saw Malu un-
hesitatingly advance toward the massive
hulk. In muffled tones. he heard the growls
of the bear; and the snarlings of the dog
bent on protecting him. But this was an
overwhelmingly unequal match.
Malu nipped at Nanook's hind legs. The
bear was irritated. BY constant crcling and
nipping. Malu tried to distract his enemy
long enough for Riko to flee to the snowhouse
and save himself. The boy grasped the dogs
plan, Malu continued his harassing attacks,
darting swiftly away from the pawings of his
less agile foe.
But the bear moved on slowly toward Riko
and the ice hole. Malu advanced with him,
dancing about and blocking quick progress.
Riko staggered toward the two. He would
call Malu off and let the bear go to his feast
The seal would satisfy the bears hunger,
and perhaps Malu and Riko could return
safely to the igloo to await a fate that boy
and dog had tried to thwart.
Unexpectedly. fierce lash from the bears
huge paw struck Malu. There was whine
of pain. The blow had broken one of the dogs
legs. Riko sobbed, stumbled forward; his
interest and pity so concentrated on the dis
abled dog who was trying to get up. he was
unaware that the bear was upon him.
In his daze Riko cared not if the bear
clawed and ripped him to pieces. His head
spun dizzily as he listened to the distant
booming of ice cracking in the frozen fields
He heard an explosion and pitched, face
down. into the snow ...
Rikos head ached. He opened his eyes
slowly. His father was standing over him.
Riko was lying in an empty sledge, back of