Tamowenuk

The Courage of

By
PHILIP H. GODSELL

F.R.G.S.

Author of “Arctic Trader’.
Fur Trader, Arctic Traveller and former
Inspecting Officer for the Hudson's Bay
Company.

*

A Saga of the Land of Purple Snows .. . of Eskimo Vengeance ... and

‘NEATH THE wolverine-trimmed hood
his caribou skin ahtegi Iksik’s genial face
panded into a broad grin as his slant-
ed huskies tore across the crusted drifts,
using the ice-shod komatik to leap and
ay as though imbued with life.

“Easy,” cried Tamowenuk, his fur-clad
fe, as she clutched desperately at the
whide lashing which held the load of
yzen caribou meat in place, “this komatik
rches like a wounded caribou.”

Iksik’s laugh ended in a croak of surprise.
cross the whiteness of the snow-swept
rens dark stains of smoke ascended high
to the coppery sky.
“Tk-kil-lin-ik—Indians!” shrilled Tamo-
nuk. “Quick—turn the dogs. Those
ters of Caribou will kill us.”

But Iksik had his own ideas. He'd trailed
e musk-oxen inland along the Arkilinik,
ided white fox pelts with the Kablunats

Fort Churchill, and once had journeyed
ep into the mist-enshrouded fastnesses of
e Polar ice-fields with a lone Mountie in
arch of an Eskimo murderer. Iksik prided
mself on being different from the rest of
e Igluliks. He was an adventurer as weil

a hunter, with supreme faith in his
ility to take care of himself. Sending his
ve-fathom walrus-hide whip .over the ears
his galloping team he drove straight to-
ards the redskin camp.

“Attay—Go ahead!” shrilled the rosy-
.eeked Tamowenuk, “only I’m afraid that
ell have trouble. Always the Ik-kil-lin-ik
ited the Eskimos.”

Ahead the snow was mottled with scrub
yruce. They were nearing the Land of
ittle Sticks—the no-man’s land usually
voided by the Eskimos on account of the
resence of their traditional enemies, the
-d men. Above the whiteness of the tundra
rose at last the conical skin lodges of the
log-Ribs. Hooded figures appeared here
nd there. Squaws ran shouting from lodge
) lodge. Slat-ribbed Indian curs snarled
Agry warning. Then, into the motley
orde of Indians careened the fan-shaped
am of huskies, yelping with delight as
1e swaying komatik sprayed the tawny by-
anders with a cascade of glittering
rystal.

For a moment Big Cheesie, mahogany-
xced chief of the Dog-Ribs, surveyed his
skimo visitors with mingled fear and
mazement. If these two Eaters of Raw
lesh were bold enough to enter the camp

HIRTEENTH EDITION

the Courage of a Stone-Age Mother.

of their ancient enemies there must be other
Eskimoes not far away. It would pay to be
polite. So the Dog-Ribs met Iksik’s friendly
“Chimo!” with guttural “Bo’jou’s!” and
smiling faces.

That night the throb of painted tom-
toms echoed far out over the frozen waters
as Eskimoes and Indians feasted on roasted
caribou meat and split the shinbones to dig
out the succulent marrow.

For two days and nights the feasting
continued till Iksik’s huge load of meat had
diminished almost to the vanishing point.

TREK AFTER FEASTING

“Ho! man from the land of polar bears,”
ejaculated Big Cheesie as he ponasked a
juicy caribou steak before the leaping flames
of his lodge fire, “tomorrow we leave for
Fort Fitzgerald, six sleeps towards the set-
ting sun. Come with us and see these white
men and all the riches in their wooden
lodges. Truly your heart will Fe glad-
dened.”

“That is fine, Big Brother,” grinned Ik-
sik. “I will go. Have your squaws take care
of my wife. She expects soon to have a
child.”

Hardly had the smoky red light of dawn
crept over the empurpled reaches of the
tundra than Iksik hitched the walrus-hide
breast straps about his wire-haired huskies,
rubbed noses with Tamowenuk, cracked his
long lash over the pointed ears of his
straining team and the cavalcade was under
way.

As the Eskimo’s well-fed huskies con-
tinued day after day to outdistance the
scrawny, ill-fed Indian curs the Dog-Ribs

commenced to mutter among themselves.
Over the crusted drifts of Nonacho Lake,
Tekulthli Lake and Hill Island Lake the
teams sped swiftly till, at sunset the sixth
day, they emerged from the forested mouth
of Dog River, careened with jangling bells
into the frozen settlement of Fort Fitz-
gerald and pulled up before the Hudson’s
Bay post.

The arrival of Big Cheesie and his mot-
ley braves was received by Billy Lyall, the
factor, with casual disinterest. Long ex-
perience with this troublesome and_ preda-
tory band had taught both him and the other
traders to keep them at a respectful distance.
Their furs traded, they were relegated to
the squalid cabins reserved for vis'ting red-
skins, and given the customary handout of
sowbelly, tea and hardtack.

But with Iksik it was different. Never
before had the residents of Fort Fitzgerald
seen an Eskimo in the flesh, and this cheer-
ful son of the Polar spaces was received
with open arms, his genial smile unlocking
the doors of every cabin and trading post
throughout the settlement. He was fed on
food and delicacies he'd never dreamed
existed. Presents of white man’s clothing,
knives, scissors, needles and shining axes
were heaped upon him although he had no
furs.

JeaLous Doc-Riss Start TROUBLE

Back in the Indian cabins the mutterings
of Cheesie’s Dog-Ribs became more rabid.
Why had they brought this Eater of Raw
Flesh to see the whites, only to be ignored
themselves while he was feted? Deeply the
spears of jealousy stabbed into their hearts.

Cast off without axe, kettle, blanket or the means of sustenance, Tamowenuk battled a way across
these snow-drifted Barrens to turn up safely a year later on the shores of Hudson Bay.

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