Part 15 (1/2)

She had often seen the antics of the Eskiy (cohts

She had seen the motion which Ad-loo-at practiced now She had seen theh as their heads with both feet, landing again on their feet with a smile She had adht the to realize that they were part of the training for just such eencies as this

Now her eyes were on the wolf, and now on the boy As the wolf approached she cringed back to the very end of her jerk-line She saw his red tongue lolling, heard the chop-chop of his iron jaws and caught the wicked gleam of his eyes

The boy appeared to time his pace, for he caave forth a wild snort of rage He appeared to be unconscious of the fact that he was as defenseless as his driver

Now the as but a few yards away Suddenly, pausing, he sprang quickly to the right, to the left, then to the right again Before the deer could recover his bewildered senses, the wolf leaped full for his side

But so, the Eski face to face with the surprised and enraged wolf, he poised his lance for the fatal thrust

But at that instant, with a bellow of fear, the deer bolted

In wild consternation Marian tugged at the skin-rope In another moment she had the deer under control and turned to witness a battle royal The Eskiile as a cat, he had landed upon his feet and had turned to face the enemy

He was not a moment too soon, for with a snarl of fury the as upon hileae, half of fear, as the wolf fell backward But he was on his feet again It was to no purpose All was over in an instant Long practice with the lance had given the boy power to baffle his eneht to the wild beast's heart

”Come,” Marian was startled by the sound of his voice at her side She had ed to retain her hold on the jerk-rein She now felt it being taken fro lifted onto the sled and, the next moment, sensed the cool breeze that fanned her cheek They were racing away to join Lucile and to continue their journey

As she looked back, she saw the cowardly pack snarling over the bones of their fallen leader, and realizing that all danger was past, settled down in her place with a sigh as she said:

”That--that was a very close one”

”Too o--how you say it--pre--pre--”

”Prepared,” suppleain without rifles”

”Oh! yes Mebby,” the boy sht Mebby rifle miss fire Him never miss fire” He patted first his lance, then the ht arm ”Better prepared think mine”

Marian smiled as the brown boy ran ahead to free his own deer and prepare to continue the journey ”Surely,” she thought, ”physical fitness is a great thing The boy has paid us well for fighting his battles for hiet Sound”

No further adventures befell them on their journey, but it ith thankful hearts that they saw the fae at East Cape As the reindeer ca from their sled, but Ad-loo-at ravely ”You safe--I no stay”

”But you must rest--and eat,” remonstrated Lucile ”And the reindeers, they need rest”

”Huh,” ca ”Better ti--we rest at camp”

”But youthat I--that you--” Lucile fuht words She sensed that the boy, for all his youth, had a grown-up way of looking at things There was that talisht he had left theet Sound--the three elk teeth set with jade and an uncut diao, Marian, till I coloo, to return an instant later, the odd jewel gleaht of it a smile spread over Ad-loo-at's face ”Ch--k!” he chuckled

”You must take it back,” Lucile dehed boisterously ”It is a charm,”

he said ”Can one Chukche take back a charm? It will keep you--what you say?--safe, yes Me, I have this” He held up his lance