Dick Kent with the Malemute Mail

ver a large part of the vast, immutable north, proceeding far from known haunts into lands which seldom had heard

of all vegetation, so breathless, weird and forlorn that life passed on in horror, fearful o

nd its denizens had bred in him a certain uncanny wisdom. Insects and beasts and birds-he knew them all with the unerring certainty of a trained naturalist. Yet now, standing in the

he largest tepee, they sailed through the air, drumming as they went. Their speed and size and the horrible noise they made so

tes. As this bird drew close to the clearing, an incredible thing happened. It fluttered suddenly and began to fall. It came down, spinning, righted itself, coasted along for quite a dista

to reach their destination, had probably forgotten their offspring, which was probably just learning to fly. At any rate, though the Indian stood a long

enormous size of the creature's eyes-three or four times larger than the eyes of his own people-composed of some peculiar substance which glinted and sparkled under the bright reflection of the sun. Then Kantisepa noted another peculiarity: Although possessing legs almost identical to his own, this strange being

trange power of sailing through the air. It, together with the two others, had come from some remote land beyond the stars. Trembling in every limb, he approached the strange being, who had crawled away from the

g down within the center of the wreckage, he saw the form of another creature, identical to the first except that this one was hopelessly cr

he stars and started off in the direction of the village. He would take him to the chief medicine man, who, if he coul

Finally the sun slid down to a far corner of the world until only a dazzling sector of light remained. Kantisepa made camp just as night dropped its curtain of dusk over the earth. Near at hand, he could hear the murmur of a tiny stream, above which a mist arose, spreading out

e thought, a sudden fe

g him in his own blanket to shut out the damp cool air, he had kept silent vigil. Time crept on, its movements so slow and wearied that it seemed to

ed the dry grass uneasily at his feet. Kantisepa was very tired. His body was stiff and sore. When h

dwellings that stood row on row within a narrow, peaceful valley. Through the center of the vill

tlessly in the dead grass or waded knee-deep in the riffles of the brook. Here and there Kantisepa discerned the squ

b tepees. Sharp cries arose. Led by the most nimble of foot, the entire populace raced forward to meet the returning hunter. Soon he was completely surrounded. Inquisitive eyes peered down at the strange bei

have brought amon

red proudly. "He came on a ship which sailed th

bring a curse upon us?"

the perspirati

ed. "A number of his comrades in other magic ships of

and examined the part

mere stripling youth.

a shook

e other with him,

ef dismissed the jostling crowd

plimented him. "Raise him up

ue unclouded skies. Together Kantisepa and the chi

ple," said Kantisepa. "His wonder ship of the ai

rden gently on a soft rabbit-robe, then rose with a wea

If you will summon the chief men of the village, this

ype="