The Coolidge examiner., 1938-11-03

his throat. With the strength of a
madman, the Naskapi fought to
free his neck from the white mans
fingers that closed on his windpipe
like a wise. But the hunter who
fought against time-the instant his
wound would suddenly slow his
heart-would not be denied. Hold.
ing his enemy with the grip of a
bear, he choked him into insensi-
bility.
Behind Alan, raging like a fury,
the husky, escaping the two shots
from the muzzle leaders, leaped and
slashed at the two retreating Indi-
ans who fought the frenzied dog
with their empty guns and their
knives. Avoiding by a side leap
the clubbed gun of one, Rough cata-
pulled into the older man who
slashed the air in a wild thrust as
the canny Ugava again lodged.
Then as the Indian stumbled back
ward, the dog leaped in and struck
with his long tusk at the exposed
throat, ripping the flesh like paper.
AS the Ungava made a side spring
away from his enemy, a gun butt
crashed on his skull. With a roar
of rage, the great dog staggered,
shook his head, then leaped back
as the gun butt again arched
,1h pYYf ha nlt nh
gun missed its mark, Rough leaped,
carrying the Indian beneath him to
the moss. A knife flashed in the
sun, as the maddened husky's tusks
snapped and tore, struck again and
again. The thrashing shape beneath
the dog suddenly relaxed. Mad with
rage, the Ungava shook the Naskapi
with a ripped jugular, like a rabbit.
Near him. the painting Alan lay
across the limp body of the Indian.
still pinning his throat with his
closed fingers. The swollen tongue
and bulging eyes told their story.
But in the face Of the man who
had won, there was a look of blank
amazement. He was till strong.
He felt no pain. He sat up and ran
his hand over his chest. There was
no blood! Then he found tear in
his powder-burned shirt close to his
ribs. Missed!
With glad yelp the husky left the
enemy he was worrying and sprang
to nuzzle his masters face. Alan
opened his arms to circle the blood
smeared name of his whining dog.
Roughly! Roughly You chewed
the leash and came looking for AL
an! Bless your shaggy, old heart!
You were just in time, h0y-just
barely in time!"
The lcve-snuffie of the white muz-
zle in Alan's face merged into a
low whine as Alan's arm rubbed
the slashed shoulder of his dog.
why, they got you'll" Alan care
fully examined the knife thrust in
the shoulder from which blood
oozed. Il knew they missed you
with the guns for you kept right aft
er them. II was too sudden for
them-that rush of yours! This cut
is not so bad, boy, but we must
get back to camp before it stiffens
and cripples YOU"
Toward evening, down on the riv-
er shore, two men and girl waited
for the return of the man and dog
who had gone into the barrens.
He must have found the deer"
observed McCord, "or he'd have
shown up before this"
"Plentee tam. He pack de beeg
back load of meat" said Noel, who
had wandered all day on the tundra
to the west without seeing a Carl
bou.
I'm wondering if anything has
happened" suggested Heather,
rocking nervously back and forth
on the gravel beach and hugging
her knees. 1--WE been feeling sort
of spooky all day-as if something
was wrong" She rose, running her
fingers through her mass of tum-
bIed hair and turned to gaze long
at the shoulder of the barren above
the valley.
(TO BE CONTINUED