diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35426-0.txt | 6209 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35426-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 141697 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35426-h/35426-h.htm | 6398 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35426-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 31019 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/35426-h/35426-h.htm | 1663 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/35426.txt | 1455 |
9 files changed, 15741 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/35426-0.txt b/35426-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..10ed279 --- /dev/null +++ b/35426-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6209 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Polaris--Of the Snows, by Charles B. +Stilson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Polaris--Of the Snows + +Author: Charles B. Stilson + +Release Date: December 3, 2021 [eBook #35426] + +Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed + Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLARIS--OF THE SNOWS *** + + + + + + Polaris--Of the Snows + + By CHARLES B. STILSON + + _Copyright 1915 by The Frank A. Munsey Company_ + + This story appeared in The All-Story Cavalier for December 18, 1915 + + +"North! North! To the north, Polaris. Tell the world--ah, tell +them--boy--The north! The north! You must go, Polaris!" + +Throwing the covers from his low couch, the old man arose and stood, a +giant, tottering figure. Higher and higher he towered. He tossed his +arms high, his features became convulsed; his eyes glazed. In his +throat the rising tide of dissolution choked his voice to a hoarse +rattle. He swayed. + +With a last desperate rallying of his failing powers he extended his +right arm and pointed to the north. Then he fell, as a tree falls, +quivered, and was still. + +His companion bent over the pallet, and with light, sure fingers closed +his eyes. In all the world he knew, Polaris never had seen a human +being die. In all the world he now was utterly alone! + +He sat down at the foot of the cot, and for many minutes gazed steadily +at the wall with fixed, unseeing eyes. A sputtering little lamp, which +stood on a table in the center of the room; flickered and went out. The +flames of the fireplace played strange tricks in the strange room. In +their uncertain glare, the features of the dead man seemed to writhe +uncannily. + +Garments and hangings of the skins of beasts stirred in the wavering +shadows, as though the ghosts of their one-time tenants were struggling +to reassert their dominion. At the one door and the lone window the +wind whispered, fretted, and shrieked. Snow as fine and hard as the +sands of the sea rasped across the panes. Somewhere without a dog +howled--the long, throaty ululation of the wolf breed. Another joined +in, and another, until a full score of canine voices wailed a weird +requiem. + +Unheeding, the living man sat as still as the dead. + +Once, twice, thrice, a little clock struck a halting, uncertain stroke. +When the fourth hour was passed it rattled crazily and stopped. The +fire died away to embers; the embers paled to ashes. As though they +were aware that something had gone awry, the dogs never ceased their +baying. The wind rose higher and higher, and assailed the house with +repeated shocks. Pale-gray and changeless day that lay across a sea of +snows peered furtively through the windows. + +At length the watcher relaxed his silent vigil. He arose, cast off +his coat of white furs, stepped to the wall of the room opposite to +the door, and shoved back a heavy wooden panel. A dark aperture was +disclosed. He disappeared and came forth presently, carrying several +large chunks of what appeared to be crumbling black rock. + +He threw them on the dying fire, where they snapped briskly, caught +fire, and flamed brightly. They were coal. + +From a platform above the fireplace he dragged down a portion of the +skinned carcass of a walrus. With the long, heavy-bladed knife from his +belt he cut it into strips. Laden with the meat, he opened the door +and went out into the dim day. + +The house was set against the side of a cliff of solid, black, +lusterless coal. A compact stockade of great boulders enclosed the +front of the dwelling. From the back of the building, along the base +of the cliff, ran a low shed of timber slabs, from which sounded the +howling and worrying of the dogs. + +As Polaris entered the stockade the clamor was redoubled. The rude +plank at the front of the shed, which was its door, was shaken +repeatedly as heavy bodies were hurled against it. + +Kicking an accumulation of loose snow away from the door, the man took +from its racks the bar which made it fast and let it drop forward. +A reek of steam floated from its opening. A shaggy head was thrust +forth, followed immediately by a great, gray body, which shot out as if +propelled from a catapult. + +Catching in its jaws the strip of flesh which the man dangled in front +of the doorway, the brute dashed across the stockade and crouched +against the wall, tearing at the meat. Dog after dog piled pell-mell +through the doorway, until at least twenty-five grizzled animals were +distributed about the enclosure, bolting their meal of walrus-flesh. + + * * * * * + +For a few moments the man sat on the roof of the shed and watched the +animals. Although the raw flesh stiffened in the frigid air before even +the jaws of the dogs could devour it and the wind cut like the lash of +a whip, the man, coatless and with head and arms bared, seemed to mind +neither the cold nor the blast. + +He had not the ruggedness of figure or the great height of the man who +lay dead within the house. He was of considerably more than medium +height, but so broad of shoulder and deep of chest that he seemed +short. Every line of his compact figure bespoke unusual strength--the +wiry, swift strength of an animal. + +His arms, white and shapely, rippled with muscles at the least +movement of his fingers. His hands were small, but powerfully shaped. +His neck was straight and not long. The thews spread from it to his +wide shoulders like those of a splendid athlete. The ears were set +close above the angle of a firm jaw, and were nearly hidden in a mass +of tawny, yellow hair, as fine as a woman's which swept over his +shoulders. + +Above a square chin were full lips and a thin, aquiline nose. Deep, +brown eyes, fringed with black lashes, made a marked contrast with the +fairness of his complexion and his yellow hair and brows. He was not +more than twenty-four years old. + +Presently he re-entered the house. The dogs flocked after him to the +door, whining and rubbing against his legs, but he allowed none of them +to enter with him. He stood before the dead man and, for the first time +in many hours, he spoke: + +"For this day, my father, you have waited many years. I shall not +delay. I will not fail you." + +From a skin sack he filled the small lamp with oil and lighted its wick +with a splinter of blazing coal. He set it where its feeble light shone +on the face of the dead. Lifting the corpse, he composed its limbs and +wrapped it in the great white pelt of a polar bear, tying it with many +thongs. Before he hid from view the quiet features he stood back with +folded arms and bowed head. + +"I think he would have wished this," he whispered, and he sang softly +that grand old hymn which has sped so many Christian soldiers from +their battlefield. "Nearer, My God, to Thee," he sang in a subdued, +melodious baritone. From a shelf of books which hung on the wall he +reached a leather-covered volume. "It was his religion," he muttered: +"It may be mine," and he read from the book: "_I am the resurrection +and the life, whoso believeth in Me, even though he die--_" and on +through the sonorous burial service. + +He dropped the book within the folds of the bearskin, covered the dead +face, and made fast the robe. Although the body was of great weight, he +shouldered it without apparent effort, took the lamp in one hand, and +passed through the panel in the wall. + +Within the bowels of the cliff a large cavern had been hollowed in the +coal. In a far corner a gray boulder had been hewn into the shape of a +tombstone. On its face were carved side by side two words: "Anne" and +"Stephen." At the foot of the stone were a mound and an open grave. He +laid the body in the grave and covered it with earth and loose coal. + +Again he paused, while the lamplight shone on the tomb. + +"May you rest in peace, O Anne, my mother, and Stephen, my father. I +never knew you, my mother, and, my father, I knew not who you were nor +who I am. I go to carry your message." + + * * * * * + +He rolled boulders onto the two mounds. The opening to the cave he +walled up with other boulders, piling a heap of them and of large +pieces of coal until it filled the low arch of the entrance. + +In the cabin he made preparations for a journey. + +One by one he threw on the fire books and other articles within the +room, until little was left but skins and garments of fur and an +assortment of barbaric weapons of the chase. + +Last he dragged from under the cot a long, oaken chest. + +Failing to find its key, he tore the lid from it with his strong hands. + +Some articles of feminine wearing apparel which were within it he +handled reverently, and at the same time curiously; for they were of +cloth. Wonderingly he ran his fingers over silk and fine laces. Those +he also burned. + +From the bottom of the chest he took a short, brown rifle and a brace +of heavy revolvers of a pattern and caliber famous in the annals of the +plainsmen. With them were belt and holsters. + +He counted the cartridges in the belt. Forty there were, and in the +chambers of the revolvers and the magazine of the rifle, eighteen +more. Fifty-eight shots with which to meet the perils that lay between +himself and that world of men to the north--if, indeed, the passing +years had not spoiled the ammunition. + +He divested himself of his clothing, bathed with melted snow-water, and +dressed himself anew in white furs. An omelet of eggs of wild birds and +a cutlet of walrus-flesh sufficed to stay his hunger, and he was ready +to face the unknown. + +In the stockade was a strongly built sledge. Polaris packed it with +quantities of meat both fresh and dried, of which there was a large +store in the cabin. What he did not pack on the sledge he threw to the +eager dogs. + +He laid his harness out on the snow, cracked his long whip, and called +up his team. "Octavius, Nero, Julius." Three powerful brutes bounded to +him and took their places in the string. "Juno, Hector, Pallas." Three +more grizzled snow-runners sprang into line. "Marcus." The great, +gray leader trotted sedately to the place at the head of the team. A +seven-dog team it was, all of them bearing the names before which Rome +and Greece had bowed. + +Polaris added to the burden of the sledge the brown rifle, several +spears, carved from oaken beams and tipped with steel, and a sealskin +filled with boiled snow-water. On his last trip into the cabin he took +from a drawer in the table a small, flat packet, sewn in membranous +parchment. + +"This is to tell the world my father's message and to tell who I am," +he said, and hid it in an inner pocket of his vest of furs. He buckled +on the revolver-belt, took whip and staff from the fireside, and drove +his dog-team out of the stockade onto the prairie of snow, closing the +gate on the howling chorus left behind. + +He proceeded several hundred yards, then tethered his dogs with a word +of admonition, and retraced his steps. + +In the stockade he did a strange and terrible thing. Long used to +seeing him depart from his team, the dogs had scattered and were +mumbling their bones in various corners. "If I leave these behind me, +they will perish miserably, or they will break out and follow, and I +may not take them with me," he muttered. + +From dog to dog he passed. To each he spoke a word of farewell. Each he +caressed with a pat on the head. Each he killed with a single grip of +his muscular hands, gripping them at the nape of the neck, where the +bones parted in his powerful fingers. Silently and swiftly he proceeded +until only one dog remained alive, old Paulus, the patriarch of the +pack. + +He bent over the animal, which raised its dim eyes to his and licked at +his hands. + +"Paulus, dear old friend that I have grown up with; farewell, Paulus," +he said. He pressed his face against the noble head of the dog. When +he raised it tears were coursing down his cheeks. Then Paulus's spirit +sped. + +Two by two he dragged the bodies into the cabin. + +"Of old a great general in that far world of men burned his ships that +he might not turn back. I will not turn back," he murmured. With a +splinter of blazing coal he fired the house and the dog-shed. He tore +the gate of the stockade from its hinges and cast it into the ruins. +With his great strength he toppled over the capping-stones of the +wall, and left it a ruin also. + +Then he rejoined the dog-team, set his back to the south pole, and +began his journey. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + THE FIRST WOMAN + + +Probably in all the world there was not the equal of the team of dogs +which Polaris had selected for his journey. Their ancestors in the long +ago had been the fierce, gray timberwolves of the north. Carefully +cross-bred, the strains in their blood were of the wolf, the great +Dane, and the mastiff; but the wolf strain held dominant. They had +the loyalty of the mastiff, the strength of the great Dane, and the +tireless sinews of the wolf. From the environment of their rearing they +were well furred and inured to the cold and hardships of the Antarctic. +They would travel far. + +Polaris did not ride on the sledge. He ran with the dogs, as swift and +tireless as they. A wonderful example of the adaptability to conditions +of the human race, his upbringing had given him the strength and +endurance of an animal. He had never seen the dog that he could not run +down. + +He, too, would travel fast and far. + +In the nature of the land through which they journeyed on their first +dash to the northward, there were few obstacles to quick progress. It +was a prairie of snow, wind-swept, and stretching like a desert as far +as eye could discern. Occasionally were upcroppings of coal cliffs +similar to the one where had been Polaris's home. On the first drive +they made a good fifty miles. + +Need of sleep, more than fatigue, warned both man and beasts of +camping-time. Polaris, who seemed to have a definite point in view, +urged on the dogs for an hour longer than was usual on an ordinary +trip, and they came to the border of the immense snow-plain. + +To the northeast lay a ridge of what appeared to be snow-covered hills. +Beyond the edge of the white prairie was a forest of ice. Millions +of jagged monoliths stood and lay, jammed closely together, in every +conceivable shape and angle. + +At some time a giant ice-flow had crashed down upon the land. It had +fretted and torn at the shore, had heaved itself up, with its myriad +gleaming tusks bared for destruction. Then nature had laid upon it a +calm, white hand, and had frozen it quiet and still and changeless. + +Away to the east a path was open, which skirted the field of broken ice +and led in toward the base of the hills. + +Polaris did not take that path. He turned west, following the line of +the ice-belt. Presently he found what he sought. A narrow lane led into +the heart of the icebergs. + +At the end of it, caught in the jaws of two giant bergs, hung fast, +as it had hung for years, the sorry wreck of a stout ship. Scarred +and rent by the grinding of its prison-ice and weather-beaten by the +rasping of wind-driven snow in a land where the snow never melts, still +on the square stern of the vessel could be read the dimming letters +which spelled "Yedda." + +Polaris unharnessed the pack, and man and dogs crept on board the hulk. +It was but a timber shell. Much of the decking had been cut away, and +everything movable had been taken from it for the building of the cabin +and the shed, now in black ruins fifty miles to the south. + +In an angle of the ice-wall, a few yards from the ship, Polaris pitched +his camp and built a fire with timbers from the wreck. He struck his +flame with a rudely fashioned tinder-box, catching the spark in fine +scrapings of wood and nursing it with his breath. He fed the dogs and +toasted meat for his own meal at the fire. With a large robe from the +sledge he bedded the team snugly beside the fire. + +With his own parka of furs he clambered aboard the ship, found a bunk +in the forecastle, and curled up for the night. + +Several hours later hideous clamor broke his dreamless slumber. +He started from the bunk and leaped from the ship's side into the +ice-lane. Every dog of the pack was bristling and snarling with rage. +Mixed with their uproar was a deeper, hoarser note of anger that came +from the throat of no dog--a note which the man knew well. + +The team was bunched a few feet ahead of the fire as Polaris came over +the rail of the ship. Almost shoulder to shoulder the seven crouched, +every head pointed up the path. They were quivering from head to tail +with anger, and seemed to be about to charge. + +Whipping the dogs back, the son of the snows ran forward to meet the +danger alone. He could afford to lose no dogs. He had forgotten the +guns, but he bore weapons with which he was better acquainted. + +With a long-hafted spear in his hand and the knife loosened in his belt +he bounded up the pathway and stood, wary but unafraid, fronting an +immense white bear. + +He was not a moment too soon. The huge animal had set himself for the +charge, and in another instant would have hurled its enormous weight +down on the dogs. The beast hesitated, confronted by this new enemy, +and sat back on its haunches to consider. + +Knowing his foe aforetime, Polaris took that opportunity to deliver +his own charge. He bounded forward and drove his tough spear with all +his strength into the white chest below the throat. Balanced as it +was on its haunches, the shock of the man's onset upset the bear, and +it rolled backward, a jet of blood spurting over its shaggy coat and +dyeing the snow. + +Like a flash the man followed his advantage. Before the brute could +turn or recover Polaris reached its back and drove his long-bladed +knife under the left shoulder. Twice he struck deep, and sprang aside. +The battle was finished. + +The beast made a last mighty effort to rear erect, tearing at the +spear-shaft, and went down under an avalanche of snarling, ferocious +dogs. For the team could refrain from conflict no longer, and charged +like a flying wedge to worry the dying foe. + +Replenishing his store of meat with strips from the newly slain bear, +Polaris allowed the pack to make a famous meal on the carcass. When +they were ready to take the trail again, he fired the ship with a +blazing brand, and they trotted forth along the snow-path to the east +with the skeleton of the stout old Yedda roaring and flaming behind +them. + + * * * * * + +For days Polaris pressed northward. To his right extended the range of +the white hills. To the left was the seemingly endless ice-field that +looked like the angry billows of a storm-tossed sea which had been +arrested at the height of tempest, its white-capped, upthrown waves +paralyzed cold and dead. + +Down the shore-line, where his path lay, a fierce wind blew +continuously and with increasing rigor. He was puzzled to find that +instead of becoming warmer as he progressed to the north and away from +the pole, the air was more frigid than it had been in his homeland. +Hardy as he was, there were times when the furious blasts chilled him +to the bone and when his magnificent dogs flinched and whimpered. + +Still he pushed on. The sledge grew lighter as the provisions were +consumed, and there were few marches that did not cover forty miles. +Polaris slept with the dogs, huddled in robes. The very food they +ate they must warm with the heat of their bodies before it could be +devoured. There was no vestige of anything to make fuel for a camp-fire. + +He had covered some hundreds of miles when he found the contour of the +country was changing. The chain of the hills swung sharply away to the +east, and the path broadened, fanwise, east and west. An undulating +plain of snow and ice-caps, rent by many fissures, lay ahead. + +This was the most difficult traveling of all. + +In the middle of their second march across the plain, the man noticed +that his gray snow-coursers were uneasy. They threw their snouts up to +the wind and growled angrily, scenting some unseen danger. Although he +had seen nothing larger than a fox since he entered the plain, bear +signs had been frequent, and Polaris welcomed a hunt to replenish his +larder. + +He halted the team and outspanned the dogs so they would be unhampered +by the sledge in case of attack. Bidding them remain behind, he went to +reconnoiter. + +He clambered to the summit of a snow-covered ice-crest and gazed ahead. +A great joy welled into his heart, a thanksgiving so keen that it +brought a mist to his eyes. + +He had found man! + +Not a quarter of a mile ahead of him, standing in the lee of a low +ridge, were two figures unmistakably human. At the instant he saw them +the wind brought to his nostrils, sensitive as those of an animal, a +strange scent that set his pulses bounding. He _smelled_ man and man's +fire! A thin spiral of smoke was curling over the back of the ridge. He +hurried forward. + +Hidden by the undulations of slopes and drifts he approached within +a few feet of them without being discovered. On the point of crying +aloud to them he stopped, paralyzed, and crouched behind a drift. For +these men to whom his heart called madly--the first of his own kind but +one whom he had ever seen--were tearing at each other's throats like +maddened beasts in an effort to take life! + +Like a man in a dream, Polaris heard their voices raised in curses. +They struggled fiercely but weakly. They were on the brink of one of +the deep fissures, or crevasses, which seamed this strange, forgotten +land. Each was striving to push the other into the chasm. + +Then one who seemed the stronger wrenched himself free and struck the +other in the face. The stricken man staggered, threw his arms above his +head, toppled, and crashed down the precipice. + +Polaris's first introduction to the civilization which he sought was +murder! For those were civilized white men who had fought. They wore +garments of cloth. Revolvers hung from their belts. Their speech, of +which he had heard little but cursing, was civilized English. + +Pale to the lips, the son of the wilderness leaped over the snow-drift +and strode toward the survivor. In the teachings of his father, murder +was the greatest of all crimes; its punishment was swift death. This +man who stood on the brink of the chasm which had swallowed his +companion had been the aggressor in the fight. He had struck first. He +had killed. In the heart of Polaris arose a terrible sense of outraged +justice. This waif of the eternal snows became the law. + +The stranger turned and saw him. He started violently, paled, and then +an angry flush mounted to his temples and an angry glint came into his +eyes. His crime had been witnessed, and by a strange white man. + +His hand flew to his hip, and he swung a heavy revolver up and fired, +speeding the bullet with a curse. He missed and would have fired again, +but his hour had struck. With the precision of an automaton Polaris +snatched one of his own pistols from the holster. He raised it above +the level of his shoulder, and fired on the drop. + +Not for nothing had he spent long hours practicing with his father's +guns, sighting and pulling the trigger countless times, although they +were empty. The man in front of him staggered, dropped his pistol, and +reeled dizzily. A stream of blood gushed from his lips. He choked, +clawed at the air, and pitched backward. + +The chasm which had received his victim, received the murderer also. + +Polaris heard a shrill scream to his right, and turned swiftly on his +heel, automatically swinging up his revolver to meet a new peril. + +Another being stood on the brow of the ridge--stood with clasped hands +and horror-stricken eyes. Clad almost the same as the others, there was +yet a subtle difference which garments could not disguise. + +Polaris leaned forward with his whole soul in his eyes. His hand fell +to his side. He had made his second discovery. He had discovered woman! + + + + + CHAPTER III + + POLARIS MAKES A PROMISE + + +Both stood transfixed for a long moment--the man with the wonder that +followed his anger, the woman with horror. Polaris drew a deep breath +and stepped a hesitating pace forward. + +The woman threw out her hands in a gesture of loathing. + +"Murderer!" she said in a low, deep voice, choked with grief. "Oh, +my brother; my poor brother!" She threw herself on the snow, sobbing +terribly. + +Rooted to the spot by her repelling gesture, Polaris watched her. So +one of the men had been her brother. Which one? His naturally clear +mind began to reassert itself. + +"Lady," he called softly. He did not attempt to go nearer to her. + +She raised her face from her arms, crept to her knees, and stared at +him stonily. "Well, murderer, finish your work," she said. "I am ready. +Ah, what had he--what had they done that you should take their lives?" + +"Listen to me, lady," said Polaris quietly. "You saw me--kill. Was that +man your brother?" + +The girl did not answer, but continued to gaze at him with +horror-stricken eyes. Her mouth quivered pitifully. + +"If that man was your brother, then I killed him, and with reason," +pursued Polaris calmly. "If he was not, then of your brother's death, +at least, I am guiltless. I did but punish his slayer." + +"His _slayer_! What are you saying?" gasped the girl. + +Polaris snapped open the breech of his revolver and emptied its +cartridges into his hand. He took the other revolver from its holster +and emptied it also. He laid the cartridge in his hand and extended it. + +"See," he said, "there are twelve cartridges, but only one empty shell. +Only two shots were fired--one by the man whom I killed, the other by +me." He saw that he had her attention, and repeated his question: "Was +that man your brother?" + +"No," she answered. + +"Then, you see, I could not have _shot_ your brother," said Polaris. +His face grew stern with the memory of the scene he had witnessed. +"They quarreled, your brother and the other man. I came behind the +drift yonder and saw them. I might have stopped them--but, lady, they +were the first men I had ever seen, save only one. I was bound by +surprise. The other man was the stronger. He struck your brother into +the crevasse. He would have shot me, but my mind returned to me, and +with anger at that which I saw, and I killed him. + +"In proof, lady, see--the snow between me and the spot yonder where +they stood is untracked. I have been no nearer." + +Wonderingly the girl followed with her eyes and the direction of his +pointing finger. She comprehended. + +"I--I believe you have told me the truth," she faltered. "They _had_ +quarreled. But--but--you said they were the first men you had ever +seen. How--what--" + +Polaris crossed the intervening slope and stood at her side. + +"That is a long tale, lady," he said simply. "You are in distress. I +would help you. Let us go to your camp. Come." + +The girl raised her eyes to his, and they gazed long at one another. +Polaris saw a slender figure of nearly his own height. She was clad in +heavy woolen garments. A hooded cap framed the long oval of her face. + +The eyes that looked into his were steady and gray. Long eyes they +were, delicately turned at the corners. Her nose was straight and high, +its end tilted ever so slightly. Full, crimson lips and a firm little +chin peeped over the collar of her jacket. A wisp of chestnut hair +swept her high brow and added its tale to a face that would have been +accounted beautiful in any land. + +In the eyes of Polaris she was divinity. + +The girl saw a young giant in the flower of his manhood. Clad in +splendid white furs of fox and bear, with a necklace of teeth of the +polar bear for adornment, he resembled those magnificent barbarians of +the Northland's ancient sagas. + +His yellow hair had grown long, and fell about his shoulders under his +fox-skin cap. The clean-cut lines of his face scarce were shaded by its +growth of red-gold beard and mustache. Except for the guns at his belt, +he might have been a young chief of vikings. His countenance was at +once eager, thoughtful, and determined. + +Barbaric and strange as he seemed, the girl found in his face that +which she might trust. She removed a mitten and extended a small, white +hand to him. Falling on one knee in the snow, Polaris kissed it, with +the grace of a knight of old doing homage to his lady fair. + +The girl flashed him another wondering glance from her long, gray eyes +that set all his senses tingling. Side by side they passed over the +ridge. + +Disaster had overtaken the camp which lay on the other side. Camp +it was by courtesy only--a miserable shelter of blankets and robes, +propped with pieces of broken sledge, a few utensils, the partially +devoured carcass of a small seal, and a tiny fire, kindled from +fragments of the sledge. In the snow some distance from the fire lay +the stiffened bodies of several sledge dogs, sinister evidence of the +hopelessness of the campers' position. + +Polaris turned questioningly to the girl. + +"We were lost in the storm," she said. "We left the ship, meaning to be +gone only a few hours, and then were lost in the blinding snow. That +was three days ago. How many miles we wandered I do not know. The dogs +became crazed and turned upon us. The men shot them. Oh, there seems so +little hope in this terrible land!" She shuddered. "But you--where did +you come from?" + +"Do not lose heart, lady," replied Polaris. "Always, in every land, +there is hope. There must be. I have lived here all my life. I have +come up from the far south. I know but one path--the path to the north, +to the world of men. Now I will fetch my sledge up, and then we shall +talk and decide. We will find your ship. I, Polaris, promise you that." + +He turned from her to the fire, and cast on its dying embers more +fragments of the splintered sledge. His eyes shone. He muttered to +himself: "A ship, a ship! Ah, but my father's God is good to his son!" + +He set off across the snow slopes to bring up the pack. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + HURLED SOUTH AGAIN + + +When his strong form had bounded from her view, the girl turned to +the little hut and shut herself within. She cast herself on a heap of +blankets, and gave way to her bereavement and terror. + +Her brother's corpse was scarcely cold at the bottom of the abyss. She +was lost in the trackless wastes--alone, save for this bizarre stranger +who had come out of the snows, this man of strange sayings, who seemed +a demigod of the wilderness. + +Could she trust him? She must. She recalled him kneeling in the snow, +and the courtierlike grace with which he kissed her hand. A hot flush +mounted to her eyes. She dried her tears. + +She heard him return to the camp, and heard the barking of the dogs. +Once he passed near the hut, but he did not intrude, and she remained +within. + +Womanlike, she set about the rearrangement of her hair and clothing. +When she had finished she crept to the doorway and peeped out. Again +her blushes burned her cheeks. She saw the son of the snows crouched +above the camp-fire, surrounded by a group of monstrous dogs. He had +rubbed his face with oil. A bright blade glittered in his hand. Polaris +was _shaving_! + +Presently she went out. The young man sprang to his feet, cracking +his long whip to restrain the dogs, which would have sprung upon the +stranger. They huddled away, their teeth bared, staring at her with +glowing eyes. Polaris seized one of them by the scruff of the neck, +lifted it bodily from the snow, and swung it in front of the girl. + +"Talk to him, lady," he said; "you must be friends. This is Julius." + +The girl bent over and fearlessly stroked the brute's head. + +"Julius, good dog," she said. At her touch the dog quivered and its +hackles rose. Under the caress of her hand it quieted gradually. The +bristling hair relaxed, and Julius's tail swung slowly to and fro in +an overture of amity. When Polaris loosed him, he sniffed in friendly +fashion at the girl's hands, and pushed his great head forward for more +caresses. + +Then Marcus, the grim leader of the pack, stalked majestically forward +for his introduction. + +"Ah, you have won Marcus!" cried Polaris. "And Marcus won is a friend +indeed. None of them would harm you now." Soon she had learned the name +and had the confidence of every dog of the pack, to the great delight +of their master. + +Among the effects in the camp was a small oil-stove, which Polaris +greeted with brightened eyes. "One like that we had, but it was worn +out long ago," he said. He lighted the stove and began the preparation +of a meal. + +She found that he had cleared the camp and put all in order. He had +dragged the carcasses of the dead dogs to the other side of the slope +and piled them there. His stock of meat was low, and his own dogs would +have no qualms if it came to making their own meals off these strangers +of their own kind. + +The girl produced from the remnants of the camp stores a few handfuls +of coffee and an urn. Polaris watched in wonderment as she brewed it +over the tiny stove and his nose twitched in reception of its delicious +aroma. They drank the steaming beverage, piping hot, from tin cups. In +the stinging air of the snowlands even the keenest grief must give way +to the pangs of hunger. The girl ate heartily of a meal that in a more +moderate climate she would have considered fit only for beasts. + +When their supper was completed they sat huddled in their furs at the +edge of the fire. Around them were crouched the dogs, watching with +eager eyes for any scraps which might fall to their share. + +"Now tell me who you are, and how you came here," questioned the girl. + +"Lady, my name is Polaris, and I think that I am an American +gentleman," he said, and a trace of pride crept into the words of the +answer. "I came here from a cabin and a ship that lie burned many +leagues to the southward. All my life I have lived there, with but one +companion, my father, who now is dead, and who sends me to the north +with a message to that world of men that lies beyond the snows, and +from which he long was absent." + +"A ship--a cabin--" The girl bent toward him in amazement. "And burned? +And you have lived--have grown up in this land of snow and ice and +bitter cold, where but few things can exist--I don't understand!" + +"My father has told me much, but not all. It is all in his message +which I have not seen," Polaris answered. "But that which I tell you +is truth. He was a seeker after new things. He came here to seek that +which no other man had found. He came in a ship with my mother and +others. All were dead before I came to knowledge. He had built a cabin +from the ruins of the ship, and he lived there until he died." + +"And you say that you are an American gentleman?" + +"That he told me, lady, although I do not know my name or his, except +that he was Stephen, and he called me Polaris." + +"And did he never try to get to the north?" asked the girl. + +"No. Many years ago, when I was a boy, he fell and was hurt. After that +he could do but little. He could not travel." + +"And you?" + +"I learned to seek food in the wilderness, lady; to battle with its +beasts, to wrest that which would sustain our lives from the snows and +the wastes." + +Much more of his life and of his father he told her under her wondering +questioning--a tale most incredible to her ears, but, as he said, the +truth. Finally he finished. + +"Now, lady, what of you?" he asked. "How came you here, and from where?" + +"My name is Rose--" + +"Ah, that is the name of a flower," said Polaris. "You were well named." + +He did not look at her as he spoke. His eyes were turned to the +snow slopes and were very wistful. "I have never seen a flower," he +continued slowly, "but my father said that of all created things they +were the fairest." + +"I have another name," said the girl. "It is Rose--Rose Emer." + +"And why did you come here, Rose Emer?" asked Polaris. + +"Like your father, I--we were seekers after new things, my brother and +I. Both our father and mother died, and left my brother John and myself +ridiculously rich. We had to use our money, so we traveled. We have +been over most of the world. Then a man--an American gentleman--a very +brave man, organized an expedition to come to the south to discover the +south pole. My brother and I knew him. We were very much interested in +his adventure. We helped him with it. Then John insisted that he would +come with the expedition, and--oh, they didn't wish me to come, but I +never had been left behind--I came, too." + +"And that brave man who came to seek the pole, where is he now?" + +"Perhaps he is dead--out there," said the girl, with a catch in her +voice. She pointed to the south. "He left the ship and went on, +days ago. He was to establish two camps with supplies. He carried +an air-ship with him. He was to make his last dash for the pole +through the air from the farther camp. His men were to wait for him +until--until they were sure that he would not come back." + +"An air-ship!" Polaris bent forward with sparkling eyes. "So there +_are_ airships, then! Ah, this man must be brave! How is he called?" + +"James Scoland is his name--Captain Scoland." + +"He went on whence I came? Did he go by that way?" Polaris pointed +where the white tops of the mountain range which he skirted pierced the +sky. + +"No. He took a course to the east of the mountains, where other +explorers of years before had been before him." + +"Yes, I have seen maps. Can you tell me where, or nearly where, we are +now?" he asked the girl. + +"This is Victoria Land," she answered. "We left the ship in a long bay, +extending in from Ross Sea, near where the 160th meridian joins the +80th parallel. We are somewhere within three days' journey from the +ship." + +"And so near to open water?" + +She nodded. + + * * * * * + +Rose Emer slept in the little shelter, with the grim Marcus curled on +a robe beside her pallet. Crouched among the dogs in the camp, Polaris +slept little. For hours he sat huddled, with his chin on his hands, +pondering what the girl had told him. Another man was on his way to the +pole--a very brave man--and he might reach it. And then--Polaris must +be very wary when he met that man who had won so great a prize. + +"Ah, my father," he sighed, "learning is mine through patience. History +of the world and of its wars and triumphs and failures, I know. Of its +tongues you have taught me, even those of the Roman and the Greek, long +since passed away; but how little do I know of the ways of men--and of +women! I shall be very careful, my father." + +Quite beyond any power of his to control, an antagonism was growing +within him for that man whom he had not seen; antagonism that was not +all due to the magnitude of the prize which the man might be winning, +or might be dying for. Indeed, had he been able to analyze it, that was +the least part of it. + +When they broke camp for their start they found that the perverse wind, +which had rested while they slept, had risen when they would journey, +and hissed bitterly across the bleak steppes of snow. Polaris made a +place on the sledge for the girl, and urged the pack into the teeth of +the gale. All day long they battled ahead in it, bearing left to the +west, where was more level pathway, than among the snow dunes. + +In an ever increasing blast they came in sight of open water. They +halted on a far-stretching field, much broken by huge masses, so +snow-covered that it was not possible to know whether they were of rock +or ice. Not a quarter of a mile beyond them, the edge of the field was +fretted by wind-lashed waves, which extended away to the horizon rim, +dotted with tossing icebergs of great height. + +Polaris pitched camp in the shelter of a towering cliff, and they made +themselves what comfort they could in the stinging cold. + +They had slept several hours when the slumbers of Polaris were pierced +by a woman's screams, the frenzied howling of the dogs, and the +thundering reverberations of grinding and crashing ice cliffs. A dash +of spray splashed across his face. + +He sprang to his feet in the midst of the leaping pack; as he did so +he felt the field beneath him sway and pitch like a hammock. For the +first time since he started for the north the Antarctic sun was shining +brightly--shining cold and clear on a great disaster! + +For they had pitched their camp on an ice floe. Whipped on by the gale, +the sea had risen under it, heaved it up and broken it. On a section +of the floe several acres in extent their little camp lay, at the very +brink of a gash in the ice-field which had cut them off from the land +over which they had come. + +The water was raging like a millrace through the widening rift between +them and the shore. Caught in a swift current and urged by the furious +wind, the broken-up floe was drifting, faster and faster--_back to the +south_! + + + + + CHAPTER V + + BATTLE ON THE FLOE + + +Helpless, Polaris stood at the brink of the rift, swirling water and +tossing ice throwing the spray about him in clouds. Here was opposition +against which his naked strength was useless. As if they realized that +they were being parted from the firm land, the dogs grouped at the edge +of the floe and sent their dismal howls across the raging swirl, only +to be drowned by the din of the crashing icebergs. + +Turning, Polaris saw Rose Emer. She stood at the doorway of the tent +of skins, staring across the wind-swept channel with a blank despair +looking from her eyes. + +"Ah, all is lost, now!" she gasped. + +Then the great spirit of the man rose into spoken words. "No, lady," +he called, his voice rising clearly above the shrieking and thundering +pandemonium. "We yet have our lives." + +As he spoke there was a rending sound at his feet. The dogs sprang +back in terror and huddled against the face of the ice cliff. Torn +away by the impact of some weightier body beneath, nearly half of the +ledge where they stood was split from the main body of the floe, and +plunged, heaving and crackling into the current. + +Polaris saved himself by a mighty spring. Right in the path of the gash +lay the sledge, and it hung balanced at the edge of the ice floe. Down +it swung, and would have slipped over, but Polaris saw it going. + +He clutched at the ends of the leathern dog-harness as they glided from +him across the ice and, with a tug, into which he put all the power of +his splendid muscles, he retrieved the sledge. Hardly had he dragged it +to safety when, with another roar of sundered ice, their foothold gaped +again and left them but a scanty shelf at the foot of the beetling berg. + +"Here we may not stay, lady," said Polaris. He swept the tent and its +robes into his arms and piled them on the sledge. Without waiting to +harness the dogs, he grasped the leather bands and alone pulled the +load along the ledge and around a shoulder of the cliff. + +At the other side of the cliff a ridge extended between the berg which +they skirted and another towering mountain of ice of similar formation. +Beyond the twin bergs lay the level plane of the floe, its edges +continually frayed by the attack of the waves and the onset of floating +ice. + +Along the incline of the ridge were several hollows partially filled +with drift snow. Knowing that on the ice cape, in such a tempest, +they must soon perish miserably, Polaris made camp in one of these +depressions where the deep snow tempered the chill of its foundation. + +In the clutch of the churning waters the floe turned slowly like an +immense wheel as it drifted in the current. Its course was away from +the shore to the southwest, and it gathered speed and momentum with +every passing second. The cove from whence it had been torn was already +a mere notch in the far-away shore-line. + +Around them was a scene of wild and compelling beauty. Leagues and +leagues of on-rushing water hurled its white-crested squadrons against +the precipitous sides of the flotilla of icebergs, tore at the edges +of the drifting floes, and threw itself in huge waves across the more +level planes, inundating them repeatedly. Clouds of lacelike spray hung +in the air after each attack, and cascading torrents returned to the +waves. + +Above it all the antarctic sun shone gloriously, splintering its golden +spears on the myriad pinnacles, minarets, battlements, and crags of +towering masses of crystal that reflected back into the quivering air +all the colors of the spectrum. Thinner crests blazed flame-red in +the rays. Other points glittered coldly blue. From a thousand lesser +scintillating spires the shifting play of the colors, from vermilion +to purple, from green to gold, in the lavish magnificence of nature's +magic, was torture to the eye that beheld. + +On the spine of the ridge stood Polaris, leaning on his long spear +and gazing with heightened color and gleaming eyes on those fairy +symbols of old mother nature. To the girl who watched him he seemed to +complete the picture. In his superb trappings of furs, and surrounded +by his shaggy servants, he was at one with his weird and terrible +surroundings. She admired--and shuddered. + +Presently, when he came down from the ridge, she asked him, with a +brave smile, "What, sir, will be the next move?" + +"That is in the hands of the great God, if such a one there be," he +said. "Whatever it may be, it shall find us ready. Somewhere we must +come to shore. When we do--on to the north and the ship, be it half a +world away." + +"But for food and warmth? We must have those, if we are to go in the +flesh." + +"Already they are provided for," he replied quickly. He was peering +sharply over her shoulder toward the mass of the other berg. With his +words the clustered pack set up an angry snarling and baying. She +followed his glance and paled. + +Lumbering forth from a narrow pass at the extremity of the ridge was a +gigantic polar bear. His little eyes glittered wickedly, hungrily, and +his long, red tongue crept out and licked his slavering chops. As he +came on, with ungainly, padding gait, his head swung ponderously to and +fro. + +Scarcely had he cleared the pass of his immense bulk when another +twitching white muzzle was protruded, and a second beast, in size +nearly equal to the first, set foot on the ridge and ambled on to the +attack. + +Reckless at least of this peril, the dogs would have leaped forward +to close with the invaders but their master intervened. The stinging, +cracking lash in his hand drove them from the foe. Their overlord, man, +elected to make the battle alone. + +In two springs he reached the sledge, tore the rifle from its +coverings, and was at the side of the girl. He thrust the weapon into +her hands. + +"Back, lady; back to the sledge!" he cried. "Unless I call, shoot not. +If you do shoot, aim for the throat when they rear, and leave the rest +to me and the dogs. Many times have I met these enemies, and I know +well how to deal with them." + +With another crack of the whip over the heads of the snarling pack, he +left her and bounded forward, spear in hand and long knife bared. + +Awkward of pace and unhurried, the snow kings came on to their feast. +In a thought the man chose his ground. Between him and the bears the +ridge narrowed so that for a few feet there was footway for but one of +the monsters at once. + +Polaris ran to where that narrow path began and threw himself on his +face on the ice. + +At that ruse the foremost bear hesitated. He reared and brushed his +muzzle with his formidable crescent-clawed paw. Polaris might have shot +then and ended at once the hardest part of his battle. But the man +held to a stubborn pride in his own weapons. Both of the beasts he +would slay, if he might, as he always had slain. His guns were reserved +for dire extremity. + +The bear settled to all fours again, and reached out a cautious paw +and felt along the path, its claws gouging seams in the ice. Assured +that the footing would hold, it crept out on the narrow way, nearer and +nearer to the motionless man. Scarce a yard from him it squatted. The +steam of its breath beat toward him. + +It raised one armed paw to strike. The girl cried out in terror and +raised the rifle. The man moved, and she hesitated. + +Down came the terrible paw, its curved claws projected and compressed +for the blow. It struck only the adamantine ice of the pathway, +splintering it. With the down-stroke timed to the second, the man had +leaped up and forward. + +As though set on a steel spring, he vaulted into the air, above the +clashing talons and gnashing jaws, and landed light and sure on the +back of his ponderous adversary. To pass an arm under the bear's +throat, to clip its back with the grip of his legs was the work of a +heart-beat's time for Polaris. + +With a stifled howl of rage the bear rose to its haunches, and the +man rose with it. He gave it no time to turn or settle. Exerting his +muscles of steel, he tugged the huge head back. He swung clear from the +body of his foe. His feet touched the path and held it. He shot one +knee into the back of the bear. + +The spear he had dropped when he sprang, but his long knife gleamed in +his hand, and he stabbed, once, twice, sending the blade home under +the brute's shoulder. He released his grip, spurned the yielding body +with his foot, and the huge hulk rolled from the path down the slope, +crimsoning the snow with its blood. + +Polaris bounded across the narrow ledge and regained his spear. He +smiled as there arose from the foot of the slope a hideous clamor that +told him that the pack had charged in, as usual, not to be restrained +at sight of the kill. He waved his hand to the girl, who stood, +statuelike, beside the sledge. + +Doubly enraged at its inability to participate in the battle which had +been the death of its mate, the smaller bear waited no longer when the +path was clear, but rushed madly with lowered head. Strong as he was, +the man knew that he could not hope to stay or turn that avalanche +of flesh and sinew. As it reached him he sprang aside where the path +broadened, lashing out with his keen-edged spear. + +His aim was true. Just over one of the small eyes the point of the +spear bit deep, and blood followed it. With tigerish agility the man +leaped over the beast, striking down as he did so. + +The bear reared on its hindquarters and whimpered, brushing at its eyes +with its forepaws. Its head gashed so that the flowing blood blinded +it, it was beaten. Before it stood its master. Bending back until his +body arched like a drawn bow, Polaris poised his spear and thrust home +at the broad chest. + +A death howl that was echoed back from the crashing cliffs was answer +to his stroke. The bear settled forward and sprawled in the snow. + +Polaris set his foot on the body of the fallen monster and gazed down +at the girl with smiling face. + +"Here, lady, are food and warmth for many days," he called. + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + INTO THE UNKNOWN + + +Southward, ever southward, the floating glory of the jeweled tide +bore them. Fast as they went, the wind-urged waters raced by them +faster still. Steel-blue surges, mountain high, tore by their refuge +in endless rush. From a sky gale-swept of all clouds, the sun shone +steadily through nightless days. + +Fragment after fragment of the drifting floe was rasped away and +ground to splinters among the staggering icebergs. As it dwindled in +dimensions, its revolving movement increased, until it reeled onward +like a giant gyroscope, and they who rode it grew giddy with its whirl. + +Around them nature played her heart-shaking music, and spread over +glittering tide and snow-splashed icebergs the wondrous, iridescent +filaments reflected from the facets of her monstrous gems. + +Then, as suddenly as it had risen, the wind died away. Cloudheads arose +and overcast the sky, the ragged waves smoothed into long rollers, and +their frightful pace was abated, although they continued to ride south +with a strong tide. + +A few hours later it seemed that the wind had been to the end of the +world and had turned to hurry northward again, for it began to beat up +steadily from ahead of them, but not strongly enough to overcome the +tide it had set with it in its headlong dash. + +To their left, far away, they could catch occasional glimpses of a +jagged coast-line. Out to the right little was to be seen but the +tossing flotilla of bergs, gradually fretting away into tide ice. + +With the return of the wind from the south, Polaris was puzzled to note +once more the recurrence of a phenomenon over which he had pondered +often. The air was growing warmer! + +Another manifestation came; more puzzling by far than that of the +warming breeze. One day they awoke and found the air filled with +drifting white particles. As far as the eye could see it seemed that a +shower of fine snow was falling. But the storm was not of snow! + +Settling weblike in the crannies of the ice, filming the crests of the +waves, hanging impalpably in the breeze, it was ashes that was falling! + +Whence came this strangest of all storms? Polaris and Rose Emer stared +at each other, completely at a loss. + +"If we are to go far enough, we are to find out some great new thing, +lady," said the man. + + * * * * * + +Soon after the battle with the bears they had abandoned the first +iceberg. The floe had broken away on that side until the berg's sheer +side was opposed to the fury of the wind and waves, and Polaris feared +that it would topple under the constant impact with other bergs, and +pitch them into the tide. + +They crossed the narrow path to the twin berg, threaded the pass of the +bears, and found on the farther side a cavern in the ice, partly filled +with drift snow, where the animals had made their lair. There they were +now confined, as in a castle. The plane of the floe had all been beaten +away. Even the ridge between the bergs was gone, and the waves rolled +between the twin towers of ice, still held together beneath the surface +of the waters by a bond that no crash had severed. + +The wind subsided, but the air remained warm. No longer were they +within the realm of eternal ice, for, outside their prison, the +surfaces of the revolving bergs at times actually dripped. The ice was +thawing! + +Then a kink in the current caught them and shot them straight to shore. +From the crest of their watchtower, Polaris and the girl viewed the +approach. Along the shore-line for miles the drift ice lay like a scum +on the water, with here and there the remnant of a mighty iceberg +jutting up. Of those, their own refuge was the largest remaining. + +Beyond the drift ice the land seemed covered with heavy snow, and far +inland were hills. To the northward, perhaps a mile, a mountain range +that seemed like a mighty wall curved from the horizon to the lap of +the sea, and terminated at the water's edge in a sheer and gleaming +face, many hundred feet high. Just ahead a promontory extended out +toward them, and beyond it lay a cove. The heavens to the southward +were piled with dull cloud-banks that curled and shifted in the slow +wind. + +"It may be that this will be a rough landing, lady," said Polaris. "Our +tower is going to pieces, and here we may not stay. I will make ready +the sledge. We must cross the drift ice to the shore in some manner." + +He packed their stores on the sledge, with the robes and all that made +their little camp, and hauled everything to what seemed the most solid +portion of the berg. Instinctive seemed the wisdom that guided the man. +The twin bergs, driven on by the last impulse of the current, plowed +through the drift ice like a stately ship, and were broken asunder +across the point of the promontory. Their revolutions laid them right +across the snow-covered point of land. + +As they swung on, the berg which they had quitted was southernmost. +There was a dull shock of impact, and beneath their feet the solid +ice quivered. The farther berg pushed on around the point in a swirl +of foam and ice. Their own ice castle swung to the north side of the +promontory, keeled over at a terrifying angle, and began to settle. + +Above them loomed the beetling masses of ice with the dark shadow of +the cave mouth. Below was the nose of the promontory, covered deep with +snow. Farther and farther leaned the berg. + +"We have but a moment!" cried Polaris. "We must leap. The berg will +fall on the land or slide into the sea. It is turning over!" + +He seized the sledge, half lifted it, and hurled it from the tilting +berg into the snow. Then he caught the girl in his arms and leaped, +putting all his strength into the jump. + +Out into the air they shot, and down, down. Around them as they fell +the sky seemed to be showering dogs as the seven of the pack followed +their master. Then man and girl and dogs vanished in the soft snow, and +the iceberg went thundering and crashing to its fall. + + + + + CHAPTER VII + + WHAT MANNER OF MEN? + + +Buried many feet in the snow, with the struggling mass of dogs above +and around them, Polaris and Rose Emer heard the muffled shock of the +mighty crag and felt the rock beneath them vibrate. Masses of ice +hurtled through the air and fell in the snow all about them, but they +were unscathed. + +When they floundered with much effort to the surface of the snow the +crystal cliff that had been their home was gone. The waves were tossing +and eddying where it had plunged over. Where it had ground the side of +the point snow and ice had been torn away, leaving exposed the naked +gray rocks. Around the head of the promontory drifted a long, low mass +of yellow ice, water-worn and unlovely, that had been the bottom of the +berg. + +About them the snow was crusted, and the crust was punctured with many +pits where fragments of the ice from the berg had fallen, and with +other pits where the seven dogs of the pack had pitched headlong. One +by one the gray runners crawled to the surface and emerged like rats +from their holes to sprawl upon the snow crust, looking exceedingly +foolish, as is the manner of dignified dogs when they are spilled +promiscuously into such a predicament. + +A little way from where the man and woman stood the sledge was upended +in the drift. If walked over quickly the crust of the snow was firm +enough to offer footing. + +Polaris soon righted the sledge, which had suffered no harm in its +fall, and inspanned the team. They set off for the shore over a +succession of dips and rises along the back of the promontory. + +Where it was joined to the shore, however, they found an obstacle. The +land bristled with a bulwark of rocks, snow, and ice of a height to +make it impossible for the man to guide the sledge over it. + +Rose Emer had come to look to Polaris in the face of each new +difficulty, finding in him an infinite resource and genius for +surmounting them. She turned to him now, and found that he had solved +the puzzle. + +"We can scramble over this," he said; "you and I and the dogs, and we +will find a spot suitable for landing the sledge along the shore. Then +I will return and manage with the sledge across the drift ice. It is +wedged in the cove yonder so firmly that it will be no great task." + +The girl glanced down into the cove, where the glittering scum of +fragments rose and fell with the swell of the waves, and her eyes +widened; but she offered no objection. She had yet to see this man fail +in what he attempted. + +Using his spear for an alpenstock, Polaris took her by the arm, and +they made the ascent of the rocks. Sometimes he lifted her as lightly +as though she were a babe and set her ahead of him, while he climbed to +a farther projection of the crags. Sometimes he carried her bodily in +one arm and climbed on easily with the double weight. + +So they reached the far side of the obstruction, and after them +scrambled and leaped the pack. + +To the east a plain stretched away toward the hills and the mountain +wall--a plain rifted deeply with many gulleys and chasms, but passable. +They found with little difficulty a break in the rocky rampart that +fringed the bank of the cove where the sledge might be landed, and +there Polaris left the girl and the dogs. He leaped onto the drift ice +with a wave of his hand and set out across the cove for the point, +marking as he went the safest and easiest course for his return with +the sledge. + +Rose Emer watched him cross and ascend the sloping side of the point. A +moment later he reappeared, dragging the sledge, and launched it on the +return trip. He disdained to lighten the load of it, in which manner he +might have made his transport much more easily in two journeys. + +Leaping from one large cake of ice to another, he hauled and pushed and +dragged the entire load. Where dangerous intervals of small ice lay +between the larger pieces, he crossed over, and with a heave of his +magnificent shoulders pulled the sledge quickly across. What ten men +might well have hesitated to attempt he accomplished with seeming ease. + +He was more than half-way across the cove when the attention of the +girl was distracted from him by a disturbance of the ice near the +cove's mouth. Where there had been little motion of the drift ice she +saw several of the fragments pitched suddenly from the water, and as +they fell back she thought she glimpsed beneath them in the water the +passing of a large, dark body. + +As she wondered the ice was thrown violently aside in half a dozen +places, and in the eddying water she saw the rudderlike fins and +lashing tails of a school of some sort of monsters of the sea. They +were headed in the direction of the laboring man. + +She called a warning to him, but in the midst of the grinding of the +drift and the noise of his own exertions he did not hear it. With no +warning the danger was upon him. + +He had dragged the sledge to the center of one of the larger cakes of +ice, and paused to select his next objective. There was a rush in the +water under the ice, the drift was parted suddenly, and a monstrous +head with open mouth and a terrifying array of gleaming tusks rose +dripping from the gap. + +Over the edge of the man's floating footing this dread apparition was +projected, a full eight feet of head and giant body thrust out of the +sea in an attempt to wriggle onto the ice cake. The big flake of ice, +perhaps fifteen feet across, tilted from the water under the weight of +the monster, and it seemed that the man and sledge would be pitched +straight into the yawning maw. + +Then, with a clash of disappointed jaws, the head was withdrawn, the +monster sank from sight, and the ice raft righted. + +Rose Emer sank on her knees in the snow. Around her crouched the dogs, +yelping, baying in fury at the sight of the diving danger. "Ah, Heaven +help him!" she gasped. "The killer-whales!" + + * * * * * + +Such were the monsters which beset Polaris. All around the piece of +ice on which he floated with the sledge the smaller drift was thrashed +by their plunging bodies. Again and again they thrust their frightful +snouts above the surface and strove to hurl themselves onto the ice +cake. Some of them were more than twenty feet in length. + +When the first hideous head appeared from the deep and nearly +overturned his float Polaris stood as if frozen, staring at it in +amazement. Such a thing he had never seen. He crouched on the ice and +tightened his grip on his long spear. When he saw the number of his +enemies he realized the futility of an attempt at battle with such +weapons as he bore. + +Immediately he became alert to outwit them. With his agility he might +have essayed to cross the ice and elude them safely were he unhampered +by the unwieldy sledge, but not for an instant did he consider +abandoning it. + +In a glance he picked out the next resting-spot, some feet distant +across the drift. He pushed the sledge almost to the edge at one side +of the cake, and sprang to the other side, halting on the brink and +bracing himself, with his spear-blade dug deeply into the ice. + +There was a rushing and thrashing of huge bodies as the killers piled +over one another in their eagerness to reach their prey. Several +frightful heads were thrust from the water, their dripping jaws +snapping within a few feet of the intrepid man. Quick as light he +dashed across the ice cake, snatched up the ends of the long harness, +and crossed the drift to the next large fragment. Watching his chances, +he yanked the sledge across to him. + +A dozen times he repeated his tactics successfully and worked in near +to shore. If he could accomplish his ruse once more he would win +through; he would be above water so shallow that even the bold killers +would not dare to follow him for fear of being stranded there. But +nearer to the landing the drift had been ground finer, and there was +not between him and the shore another large piece. There he made a +stand and considered. + +He heard the voice of the girl calling to him. + +"Shoot!" she cried. "Shoot and wound one of them! If you maim it badly +the others will turn and attack it. Then you can get away!" + +Polaris tossed his arm in sign that he had heard, and drew from their +holsters his brace of heavy revolvers. He had but an instant to wait. +One of the savage killers reared his immense and ugly snout from the +waters less than a rod away. Polaris fired both guns straight into the +gaping jaws. + +That was nearly his undoing, for so mighty a plunge did the scathed and +frightened monster give that it shot nearly the whole of its ponderous +body across the edge of the ice where the man stood and cracked the +cake clean in two. Then it sank into the water, convulsively opening +and closing its jaws, as if it would eject the stinging pellets which +it had received. The water was dyed red around it. + +In a trice the band of killers, which had dived at the report of the +shots, surrounded their wounded comrade, and the carnage began. All +thought of the man on the ice was abandoned for the moment as they rent +in fragments and devoured one of their own kind. Above their horrid +feasting the waves foamed crimson. + + * * * * * + +When he saw how things were faring below him the man lost not a moment +in crossing the remaining drift, dragging the sledge to the shore. + +He turned and saw the baffled killers flock sullenly off to sea, +whipping the drift contemptuously from their wake with lashing tails. + +"Rose Emer, I thank you," he said simply. "I was hard put to it to know +how to save the sledge, and you told me the right thing to do." + +She smiled admiringly. A savage apparition to be feared; an instrument +of deliverance sent by Providence; a friend and comrade to be admired +and trusted--all of these things in turn had Polaris been to her. She +found him a man wonderful in all his ways--a child of the vast chaos, +yet gentle, fierce and fearless in the face of peril, but possessed +of a natural courtesy as unfailing as it was untaught--savage, savior, +friend. Was he not becoming more than a friend--or was it all a glamour +of the snows and seas and dangers which would fade and thrill no more +when she returned to the things of every day? + +Eager to be on the march after the days of enforced inactivity, they +set off at once for the base of the mountain wall to the north, hoping +that somewhere in its curving length they might find a pass or a notch +in its face through which they might win the path to the far-away ship. + +Under the cracking lash of the Southlander the dogs ran fast and true; +but ever the mighty wall of the mountains stretched on, unbroken by +notch or crevice, its side gleaming with the smooth ice of many thawing +torrents that had frozen and frozen again until it was like a giant's +slide. + +If a man had many weeks to spare to the task he might cross it, cutting +his steps laboriously one by one. For them, with their dogs and sledge, +it was impassable. + +The curve of the range pushed them relentlessly farther to the south as +they went on to the south where far away across the plains lay other +hills, above which cloud masses curled and drifted always. + +On their third day's journey inland they found that which altered all +the course of their wanderings, and led them on to great new things. +They crossed the trail of the unknown. + +Swiftly the seven gray coursers of the snows were speeding, noses down +and plumed tails awave in the breeze of their going. The girl sat on +the sledge, and beside it the man raced, light of foot as the dogs, and +never tiring. + +Then, in the midst of his stride, Marcus, the leader, set his four feet +hard on the snow crust and slid on his hams, the six others piling up +at his back in confusion with sharp yelps of consternation. Over the +tangle of the pack whined and cracked the long whip of Polaris, and +cracked and whined vainly. Marcus would not budge. He lifted his gray +muzzle in a weird howl of protest and bewilderment, and the hair along +his spine bristled. + +Behind him Octavius, Julius, Nero, and Hector took up the cry of +astonishment, and the mellower notes of Pallas and Juno chimed in. + +Polaris straightened out, like the good driver that he was, the sad +kinks in the harness and ran forward; but he had gone but a few paces +when he, too, stopped in the snow, and stood staring ahead and down. + +They were at the brink of a trail! + +There it lay, stretching from somewhere near the base of the mountains, +away across the great plains--a broad, recently traveled path, with +footprints plain upon the snow--_the footprints of men!_ + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + THE STRANGER + + +Polaris stood so long at the lip of the strange path that Rose Emer +uncurled from her seat on the sledge and ran forward to see what held +him. + +"A path--in this wilderness!" she cried in wonder. And then: "Why, we +must be near to one of Captain Scoland's stations. Our troubles are +nearly at an end." + +"No, lady; I think these tracks lead to no station of your captain's, +and our troubles may be just begun. Here are the tracks of many men--" + +"But they must be those of our men," returned Rose Emer, "for who else +could have made them?" + +Polaris stepped into the trail and examined it with keen eyes. + +"Lady, did they of your company dress their feet as do you or as I do?" +he asked, pointing to his moccasins of bearskin. + +"Why, they wore heavy boots of felt, with an overshoe of leather, +spiked with steel," said the girl. + +"And did they have with them any beasts other than the dogs of which +you have told me?" queried Polaris. + +Rose Emer shook her head. "No, they had only the dogs," she replied. +"What tracks are there?" + +Polaris arose from his examination of the trail. "Now, of all the +strange things we have met by land and by sea, I account this the +strangest of all," he said. "Here are the footprints of many men whose +feet were clad as are my own, and with them the marks of a heavy sledge +and the tracks of four-footed animals new to me--unless, indeed, they +be those of dogs in boots--" + +"What? Show me where!" Rose Emer knelt beside him to stare at the +medley of footprints. She looked up at him wide-eyed a moment later. + +"Why, this is impossible!" she gasped. "And yet--what _can_ it mean? +Those are the hoofprints of unshod horses!" + +Polaris smiled down at her. "Remember the showers of ashes, Rose Emer; +and that I told you that we were to learn some great new thing if we +won safe to shore," he said. "Now are we at its gates. Stay--something +glimmers yonder in the trail!" + +He strode away, and returned shortly, bearing something that he had +plucked from the snow. + +"Bore any man in your company aught like this?" he asked, and held out +to her a long, slender-bladed knife. + +Wider grew the eyes of the girl in wonder as she took the weapon from +him and looked at it. It was of one piece, both blade and shaft, nicely +balanced and exquisitely wrought; but it was of no metal which the girl +had ever seen. Only in the finest of iridescent glass had she ever seen +the bewildering play of colors that was reflected from its bright blade +when the sunlight fell on it. It was nearly a foot long, needle-pointed +and razor-keen. + +From the glittering dagger to the man's face the girl looked slowly. +"There is no metal known in the world to-day like that from which this +knife is made," said she. "Who and what are they who dropped it here? +And here, there are letters on the blade. They look like Greek." + +She pointed to a beautifully clear inscription running down the blade. +It read as follows: + + ΟΧΑΛΚΕΥΣΚΑΡΔΕΠΟΙΗΜΕ + +Polaris took the knife quickly and read where the girl pointed. + +"A strange thing in a strange land," he said. "The words _are_ Greek. +They read: '_Ho chalkeus Kard epoié me_'--'Kard the Smith made me.'" + +In the midst of her amazement at their discovery the girl marveled +again at the living wonder who stood before them--a man who had +survived in this awful wilderness, and who had there acquired through +the patience of his father an education superior to her own, with all +her advantages. For Polaris spoke and read Greek and something of +Latin, besides being conversant with several of the languages of the +modern world. + +"Now we must make choice," he said. "Shall we cross this path and go +on, seeking a pass in the mountains? Shall we follow it back whither it +came from, or shall we follow on whither it leads, and asked of them +who made it if there be a way to the north that we may take?" + +"Polaris," she answered, and the heart of the man thrilled to the +answer, for it was the first time he had heard his name on her lips, +"it must be as you think best. In these places I am helpless, and you +are the master. We will do whatever you think for the best." + +"No, lady; in no way am I the master," he replied quickly. "I do but +wish to serve you. Perhaps it were better to go on alone. And then, +perhaps again, it were much time and wandering saved to find these folk +and ask them of the ways. It may be that they, too, have a ship and are +on the trail of the great pole, although something seems to tell me +that such is not so." + +"You mean that you think they _live here_?" asked the girl. + +Polaris inclined his head. "Yes, lady, and I am curious to see what +manner of men they may be, they who drive horses across the snows and +leave knives of unknown metal to mark their trail. Now it is for you to +say." + + * * * * * + +The end of it was that they turned south on the trail of the strange +people, and as they went they wondered much who Kard the Smith might +be, who stamped his wares with ancient Greek inscriptions, yet who did +not shoe his horses--or ponies, for the hoofprints were very small. + +It was only after some urging that Polaris persuaded the pack to take +the path. When they did he let them out to their speed, for the going +was plain, and he had no fear of accident in a road travelled by so +many. Straight on the trail led them toward the cloud-tipped mountain +cluster that lay dim to the south. + +As they traveled other circumstances arose to puzzle them. Once a +flight of strange birds passed far above them, flying in the same +direction. They came to a spot where the strangers had made camp, and +there were the remains of a fire _with charred wood_. Then as they drew +nearer, with many miles passed, they saw that the haze which hung about +the mountain summits appeared to be not of clouds, but of smoke. + +On the second stage of their journey Polaris halted the dogs at a new +wonder. + +"Lady," he said, "look hard and tell me the color of those hills, or is +it that my eyes are giving way to the snow blindness?" + +Rose Emer arose in the sledge and gazed at the hills, and cried: +"Green! Green! But how _can_ they be?" + +"Warm air, green hills, and people with horses," Polaris smiled. "It +seems that such are not all in the north. Ah, the good green hills I +have read of and which I have so longed to see!" + +On sped the dogs, and nearer and nearer loomed the hills of green, set +like immense, dull emeralds in the white of the snows. Only at their +summits were they black and craggy and scarred. Above them spiraled +shifting clouds of smoke. + +And as they journeyed, the sun shining on the softening snows, and the +air growing warmer and warmer, in an ice-locked sound five hundred +miles to the north, a little company of weary-faced men gathered on the +deck of the good ship Felix, and one of their number read the burial +service for the repose of Rose and John Emer and Homer Burleson, +strayed from the ship and given up for dead after a searching party had +failed to find any trace of them. + +As the travelers neared the base of the foot-hills of the mountain +range the ground became more uneven, being broken by rock slopes and +small hills, many of which were bare of snow. Around these the trail +wound zigzag. They swung around one of the sharp curves, and Polaris +reined in the dogs. + +"Now, lady, here comes one along the trail who may solve for us all our +riddles!" he cried, and pointed ahead. + + + + + CHAPTER IX + + THE LAND OF TWENTY MOONS + + +Not a quarter of a mile from them a man was running along the snow road +toward them--a tall man, and well formed. He ran, or trotted slowly, +with head bent, and many a sidewise glance along the borders of the +trail. + +"Now, I think that here is the owner of the knife come to seek it," +muttered Polaris; and seeing that the stranger bore a spear, he reached +his own long weapon from the sledge, and leaned on it as he watched the +approach of the runner, the same quiet smile on his face with which he +greeted all wonders. + +Not until he was within a hundred yards of the sledge did the man see +them. He came on fearlessly. + +He was a swarthy fellow, black of beard, with a strong, high-featured +visage, straight nose, and prominent cheek-bones. His hair hung from +beneath a pointed cap of coarse, gray cloth, and was cropped at his +collar. A tunic of brown material reached to his knees, and was clasped +in front with several buckles. His feet were shod with high, furred +moccasin-boots, which reached nearly to his knees, and which were bound +with cross-strings. Above them were tight-fitting breeches of the same +material as the tunic. + +In a broad leather belt swung a small ax, a pair of large fur gloves, +and an empty sheath. Ax-blade and buckles and the tip of his long, +straight spear were all of the same iridescent metal as the dagger +which Polaris had found in the snow. He was about forty years old. + +When within a short spear-throw, he stood gazing at them, his eyes +roving from man to girl, and from dogs to sledge, taking note of all. +Then he spoke, in a deep and not unpleasant voice. Rose Emer understood +a question in his inflection, but the language he spoke was unknown to +her. + +Polaris laughed and said quickly: "As it is written on the blade of the +knife, so does he speak, Lady. It is Greek." + +She looked from him to the stranger, wide-eyed. "What does he say?" + +"He says, 'Whence come you?' and now I will answer him as best I can +manage his tongue." + +He turned to the strange man and lifted his voice. "We come from the +north," he said. + +"And who may you be," he queried the man, "who come down from the white +north, through the lands where no man may travel, you who are like a +child of the great sun, and who drive strange animals, the like of +which were never seen?" and he pointed to the crouching dogs. "And who +is she, the woman, who hath the aspect of a princess, and who rideth +with thee across the snows?" + +"Polaris am I named--Polaris of the Snows and she who is with me is +Rose Emer, of America, and I am her servant. Now, who art thou, and how +called?" + +The man heard him with close attention. "I should judge thee little +likely to be servant to any, thou Polaris of the Snows," he answered +with a slow smile. "Part of thy words I comprehend not, but I name +myself Kard the Smith, of the city of Sardanes." + +"If thou are Kard the Smith, I have that which is thine," said Polaris, +and he stepped forward and held out the dagger. "It bears thy name." + +Kard took the weapon from him with a gesture of pleasure. "Not my name, +O stranger of the snows," he said, "but that of my grandsire, Kard the +Smith, three times removed, who did forge it. For that reason do I +value it so highly that I came alone on the Hunters' Road willing to +travel many weary miles and risk much to regain it." + +"Is this that thou speakest thine only tongue, Kard the Smith?" pursued +Polaris. + +Kard nodded, and his eyes opened wide. "Yes, surely. And thou, who +speakest it also, yet strangely, hast thou another?" + +"Yes," said Polaris, "and thy language, I have been taught, is dead in +the great world these many centuries. Who are thy people, and where is +the city of Sardanes?" + +"The great world!" repeated Kard. "The great world to the north, across +the snows! Aye, thy coming thence proves the tales of the priests and +historians of Sardanes, which, in truth, many of us had come to doubt. +To us, Sardanes and the wastes are all of the world. + +"The city lieth yonder," and he pointed over his shoulder toward the +smoking mountains. "Know thou, Polaris of the snows, that thou and thy +princess are the first of all strangers to come to Sardanes; and now do +I, Kard the Smith, bid thee a fair welcome." + +He bowed low to Rose Emer and to Polaris, sweeping the snow with his +rough cap. + + * * * * * + +Translating the outcome of his conversation with the stranger to Rose +Emer, Polaris started the team along the trail, and with Kard trotting +alongside the sledge, they set out for the mysterious city which he +said lay beyond the mountains. + +As they went, Polaris gathered from Kard that the people of Sardanes +had lived in their land a very great while, indeed; that their +population numbered some two thousand souls, and that they were ruled +by a hereditary king or prince. + +"For the rest, thou shalt learn it of the priests, who are more learned +than I," said Kard; "and thine own tale of marvels, beside which ours +is but a little thing, though I starve from desire to hear it, thou +shalt reserve for the ears of the Prince Helicon. It were meet that he +hear it first of all in Sardanes." + +In an atmosphere that grew momentarily more temperate, they drew near +to the green bulk of the mountains. + +"What maketh the warmth of this land?" called Polaris to Kard. + +The Smith raised his hand and pointed to the summits above them, where +the great smoke clouds hung heavily in the quiet air. + +"Within the bowels of the hills are the undying fires which have burned +from the first," he said. "They have saved the land from the wastes. +No matter how the storms rage on the snow plains, it is ever warm in +Sardanes. The city lieth in a valley, ringed round by a score of fire +mountains, set there by the gods when the world began. And when the +season of the great darkness falleth, the flare of the eternal flames +lighteth the valley. With the light of twenty moons is Sardanes ever +lighted. Wait and thou shalt see." + +Presently they came to the foot of the range. For a short distance +above them lay snow in patches on the slopes, and beyond that extended +a wide belt of grasses and trees. Still higher, all vegetation ceased, +and the earth was bare and brown, and the rocks were naked. + +Above all jutted the fire blackened crags of the summits, wild and +bleak. Just ahead of them yawned a pass, which some vast upheaval had +torn in the base of the range in the long ago. + +"Now must the lady walk with us," said Kard, "for the way is rough, and +the lack of snow will make it difficult for the animals to drag on the +sledge." + +He spoke truly. So rough was the way in places that Polaris must +add his own strength to the pull of the dogs. Kard the Smith would +willingly have aided also, but the dogs would not permit him to lay +hand on the traces, nor could Polaris prevail on them to be friendly +with the man. + +Up and up they climbed the many turns of the pass, its seamed walls of +rock beetling above them at both sides. So warm was it that Polaris, +sweating and pulling with the pack, took off his cloak and inner coat +of bearskin, and struggled on in his under-garment of seal fur. + +They came to the peak of the pass, and again it wound irregularly +downward for a space. Its sides were less precipitous. Long grasses and +shrubbery grew in the niches of the rocks, and the light of the sun +penetrated nearly to the path. + +"Ah, see, Polaris," cried Rose Emer, "there, in the rocks, my namesake +is nodding to me. A rose, and in this land!" + +In a cleft in the rock wall clung a brier, and on it bloomed a single +magnificent red blossom. After the weeks of hardship and grief and +journeying with death, the sight of the flower brought tears to the +eyes of the girl. + +While Kard stood and smiled, Polaris stopped the team. He clambered up +the rocks, clinging with his hands, and brought it down, its delicate +perfume thrilling his senses with a something soft and sweet that he +could not put into thought. Rose Emer took it from him and set it in +her breast. + +That was a picture Polaris never forgot--the rocky walls of the pass, +the sledge and the wild dogs, the strange figure of the Sardanian, the +girl and the red rose. + +She had removed her heavy coat and cap, and now walked on ahead of +them, her long blue sweater clinging to her lissom form, the sunshine +glinting in the coiled masses of her chestnut hair. They rounded +another turn, and Rose Emer gave a little gasp and stopped, and stood +transfixed. + +"Oh, here is, indeed, a garden of the gods!" she cried. + +There the rock ledges ended, and they stood at the lip of a long green +slope of sward, spangled with flowers. A valley lay before them, of +which they were at the lower end. Ringed by the smoking mountains, it +stretched away, some ten miles in length. From the lower hill slopes at +either side it was perhaps a short mile and a half across. Adown its +length, nearly in the middle, ran the silvery ribbon of a little river, +which bore away to the right at the lower end of the valley, and was +lost to sight in the base of the hills. + + * * * * * + +At either side of the river the land lay in rolling knolls and lush +meadows, with here and there a tangle of giant trees, and here and +there geometrical squares of tilled land--the whole spread out, from +where the travelers stood, in an immense patchwork pattern, riotous +with the colors of nature, and dotted with the white dwellings of men, +built of stone. + +On the higher slopes of the mountains at each side thick forests of +mighty trees grew. Above the line of vegetation, the bare earth gave +forth vapor from the inner heat, and farther up the naked rocks jutted +to the peaks, half hidden in their perpetual mists and smoke. + +There were twenty-one mountains, all of the same general appearance, +with one exception. One great hill alone, which towered over to the +left of them, was wooded thickly to its summit. + +Everywhere in the valley was the sound of life. Birds flashed back and +forth among the foliage; goats leaped among the rocks; small ponies +grazed in the meadows; men tilled the fields. From the distance up the +valley came the hum and splashing of a small waterfall. A couple of +miles away, at the right of the river, was a large square of buildings +that gleamed white in the sunlight, where many people were moving +about. + +"Behold, Sardanes!" said Kard the Smith, advancing to the edge of the +rock. + +Rose Emer caught the word Sardanes and echoed it. + +"Sardanes," she breathed, and turned to Polaris with an awed look in +her eyes. "It is as if a page of the ages had been turned back for us, +isn't it?" she asked. + +From the wondrous scene he glanced to the face of the girl and smiled +quietly, and she remembered that here was one who gazed for the first +time on the reality of the world of men of any age. + +Kard raised his voice in a long, shrill call. His voice was lost in the +angry baying of the dog pack as a small goat leaped from covert close +to them and clattered away up the ledges. + +At the combined clamor, several men raised their faces wonderingly from +their work in a field near by. For a moment they gazed in amazement at +the travelers, and then ran toward them, talking excitedly as they went. + +All were clad lightly in sleeveless tunics of cloth that reached the +knees. They wore no head coverings, and their faces and bare arms +were tanned from exposure to the sun. Their feet were covered with +leather sandals, buckled at the ankle. Their limbs were bare from the +sandals to the short, loose-legged trousers, which they wore beneath +their tunic skirts. The texture of their garments was dyed in several +different hues. + +Nearly all wore close-cropped beards like that of Kard, and their +hair was trimmed at the neck. Armlets and rings and the buckles on +their garments, all of the strange, iridescent metal, glittered in the +sunlight as they ran. + +For a moment there was a babel of astonished queries leveled at Kard +the Smith as the men pulled up and drank in the sight of the strangers +and their yet stranger beasts, now roused to a frenzy which required +all of the authority of Polaris to hold in bounds. "Who?" and "What?" +and "Where?" came in breathless succession from the mouths of the +Sardanians. + +"Now, be quiet, all of you, that I may tell you," commanded Kard with a +disgusted wave of his hand. They were spoiling his peroration for him. + +"These," and he waved his hand again, "be Polaris of the Snows, and +Rose Emer of America, come to visit Sardanes. The man with the sunlight +hair and eyes of the sky hath lived in the outer snows all his life, +he saith. The woman," and Kard bowed low, "is a great princess from the +world far to the north, beyond all the snows, the world whereof the +priests have sung." + +Truly, the imagination of Kard was equal to the effect he wished to +produce on his fellows. Their tongues stilled by their wonder, they +gazed at the man and the woman. Then, as by common impulse, they bowed +low, with sweeping gestures of their right hands. A fresh chorus of +questions would have broken out, but Kard quickly forstalled it. + +"The rest of my tale, also the wonders which the strangers may unfold, +wait the ear of the Prince Helicon," he said curtly. "Now, haste ye and +bring horses to transport the strangers' goods, for their beasts are +aweary, and we will proceed to the Judgement House." + +Two of the younger men hurried to one of the nearer dwellings and +returned shortly with two span of the small horses which grazed in the +meadows. They were in harness, and it was not difficult to attach them +to the sledge in place of the dogs, which Polaris took out of harness +and held in leash. Fearing that Sardanian legs would suffer if he did +not, he took the precaution to bind the muzzle of each dog with thongs. + +A lad mounted the sledge and cracked a long whip, and the stout ponies +bent to the work of hauling the sledge. + +With Kard leading the way, Polaris and Rose Emer set off in the +direction of the square of white buildings up the valley. Their dogs +huddled closely around them, a formidable body-guard, and with them +marched an escort of Sardanians, momentarily augmented by every new man +who set eyes on them. + + * * * * * + +Everything that he saw was a marvel to Polaris. And for Rose Emer, who +had wandered up and down the world considerably, the ancient valley was +spread with wonders. Never had she seen, outside of California, trees +of such giant girth and height as some of those which grew at the base +of the hills; and they were of no kin to the Californian Sequoia. Birds +that she could not name flew among their branches. + +Set in the midst of their orderly little farms were houses of a sort +not seen in the world to-day. They were constructed for the most part +of colored stone, faced with white, and with high-pillared porticoes. +Each brought a memory of a pictured temple of antiquity. + +They crossed the river on a small bridge of green stone. As they +drew nearer to the square of buildings they could see that it was +evidently a public gathering place. Each of its four fronts was a lofty +peristyle, inclosing a square of considerable size. Through its arches +they caught sight of a raised stage, facing many seats of stone. + +News of their coming had preceded them. From all directions people were +flocking into the public square and occupying the stone seats. + +"All who live in the valley are gathering to bid us welcome, lady," +said Polaris, and added an echo to the thoughts of the girl, "May our +leave-taking be as peaceful as our welcome!" + +When they had arrived at the square they found that it stood in the +center of a pleasant park, with clumps of trees, stone-curbed pools, +and playing fountains. Scattered about on massive pedestals were groups +of statuary of no mean artistry, some in white marble and others of +colored stones. For the most part fanciful subjects were represented, +but some of the groups evidently were of a historical significance. + +One, in particular, of large size, showed a company of men landing on +a shore from the decks of a ship. The vessel bore a marked resemblance +to an ancient galley, such as Rose Emer often had seen pictured. There +were the high decks and the banks of oars. + +All these sculptured men wore armor and trappings of patterns as +ancient as the ship, heightening the likeness of this place of +Sardanian art to an antique Greek statuary. Around the central building +lay a paved plaza. + +Conducted by their escort, which had grown to nearly a hundred men, +Rose Emer and Polaris and their gray comrades entered the building +through one of the high arches. The entrance led to one side of the +raised stage. + +While the members of their Sardanian escort scattered to the seats +below, Kard the Smith ushered the man and the girl to a flight of stone +steps by which they gained the dais. + +On the platform was another raised piece of marble work, of glistening +white, a flight of steps leading up to a carved double throne, set +between two pillars. Across the tops of the pillars was a scrolled +plinth, inscribed with Greek lettering as follows: + + ΕΛΙΚΩΝΚΡΕΩΝΤΗΣΣΑΡΔΑΝΗΣΟϘΘ + +"'Helicon, the ninety-ninth prince of Sardanes,'" Polaris translated +for Rose's benefit. "In the original, '_Helikon kreon tes Sardanes ho +kop-pa-theta_.'" + +On the space below the throne were a number of other stone seats. +Throne and platform were empty, with one exception. A little apart from +the other seats was one of black stone, and on it was seated a young +man. His garb was similar to that of the other Sardanians, but was of +exceedingly fine texture, and all of black, unrelieved by any ornament +or touch of color. + +When the strangers came upon the platform he turned toward them a +long-favored, highly intellectual countenance. His face was shaven +smoothly, and his long black hair was held back from his temples by a +band of black cloth. He reclined rather than sat in his stone chair, +with an elbow on its arm and his chin on his hand. + +As Polaris and Rose Emer became visible to the people below a subdued +hum of excitement arose; but the young man on the black stone seat +remained impassive, and regarded them with a steady, searching gaze, +with no outward evidence of surprise. + +"A greeting to thee, Kalin, priest of Sardanes!" called Kard, throwing +out his hand in salutation. The young man replied with a careless +movement of the hand that lay in his lap, without disturbing his +posture of repose. + +Down in the great hall hundreds of Sardanian eyes were centered on the +strangers. Momentarily the seats were filling with new arrivals. Nearly +half of the gathering were women, and many of them were handsome. + +They were costumed in kirtles, belted in below the bosom and flowing +loosely to below the knee. They wore their hair in plaits, coiled about +the tops of their heads. Ornaments of glittering metal bedecked their +garments and hair. Their feet were clad in sandals of soft leather, +laced above the ankles, and in half stockings of cloth, gartered and +bowed below the knees. Rose Emer was quick to note that some of them +were striking beauties. + +Without exception, they were brunettes. + +Kard conducted Polaris and the girl to seats at one side and a short +distance from the central throne. + +"We bide the coming of the Prince Helicon," he explained, "who cometh +shortly." + +For a few moments they sat in silence. Then voices were heard from +an entrance at the far side of the stage, and with one accord the +Sardanians in the hall rose from their seats. + +"The prince cometh!" murmured Kard. + +Polaris and Rose Emer arose also. + + + + + CHAPTER X + + THE GATEWAY TO THE FUTURE + + +Every Sardanian hand in the great hall was uplifted in salute as five +men entered through one of the pillared arches. Two of them were of +bearded middle age, evidently persons of station in the land; but the +eyes of the throng and the eyes of Rose Emer and Polaris passed them +indifferently, to gaze on the three who followed. + +It did not need the whisper of Kard the Smith, "He in the center is the +prince," to distinguish the ruler of Sardanes. He was not more richly +garbed than his companions, or differently. Neither was he taller than +they, or of more commanding presence. All of the three were of great +height, and all carried themselves regally. Something in the mien of +his high-featured, thoughtful face, in his large black eyes, and in the +lines of his smoothly shaven countenance bespoke his kingship as surely +as though a herald had preceded him and cried out: "This is Helicon, +Prince of Sardanes!" + +The three were brothers, Helicon, the eldest, was well under thirty +years. The two who walked on either side of him were of the startling +likeness to each other found only in twins. + +Surprise was written large on the features of all of the party as they +came into the open space before the throne, and they halted. The two +nobles stared frankly. The faces of the twin princes expressed a kindly +curiosity, not unmixed with the general awe in which the Sardanians +held the strangers. In the face of Helicon was a similar expression, +but with less of awe and more of grave dignity. + +His eyes roved over the pack of dogs, to him the most unusual figures +of the group; hesitated in admiration at the splendid form of Polaris, +and passed to Rose Emer. + +As their glances met, the eyes of the prince opened wide, and seemed +suddenly to become suffused. Then they snapped back to the face of +Polaris, and seemed to carry a quick question. The son of the snows +regarded him calmly; but there was in his calmness a challenge, the +more deadly because of its quietude. His right hand, which rested on +the neck of Marcus, contracted so powerfully that the dog whined in +pain. Polaris knew that he had found an enemy. + +Helicon swung on his heel and ascended the steps to the throne. + +The nobles and the two tall princes took seats, and Kard the Smith, +with the enthusiasm of the born orator, stood forth to tell his story. + +"The man, sayest thou, cometh out of the snows, and speaketh our +tongue?" interrupted Helicon in the midst of the tale. + +"Even so, prince," said Kard. + +"And the woman cometh from beyond, and speaketh not our language, +but one of her own, which the man speaketh also? And the woman is a +princess in her own land?" + +"That, O prince, is true!" + +"Then cease though thy tale, Kard, and let us hear from the man in our +tongue, of himself and of the princess, and of how they came hither." + +With little relish for such cutting short of his bombast, Kard the +Smith stood back and yielded the floor to Polaris. + +In a few words the man of the snows sketched the chances which had +brought the girl and himself to Sardanes. + +"Then thou wert reared in the great wilderness, and knowest naught of +the world, or of Sardanes, or even of who thou thyself art?" questioned +Helicon. His voice was even and courteously intoned; but, though the +man he questioned was of little experience, Polaris understood the +sneer that lay in the words. + +"So it seemeth, Prince Helicon," he answered quietly. + +"And the woman thou didst find in the snows, she is a princess? I can +well believe that." + +"Nay, prince, for she cometh from America, a great land where there are +no princes or princesses. Yet is she of high rank in her land, as her +birth and wealth entitle her." + +Helicon frowned. "How meanest thou--a land in which are neither +princes or princesses?" he asked quickly. "How, then, are the people in +that land ruled?" + +"By the people themselves are the people ruled in America, O prince," +Polaris answered. "The whole of the country and its lesser divisions +are governed by men chosen by the people to rule for certain spaces of +years, when others are chosen." + +"Are there, then, no kings or princes in the world?" asked Helicon +sharply. + +"Aye, princes and kings rule in many of the lands of the world," +answered Polaris, "but their power is limited more and more by the +wishes of their people. In some other lands the government is like that +in America." + +"Truly, this America of which thou speakest must be a strange country. +Here in Sardanes I hold the power of decision over life and death; aye, +even unto the Gateway to the Future extendeth the power of Sardanes's +prince." + +"Yet," and the voice of Polaris rang like a bell--"yet, of all lands in +the world, is America the greatest--and hath no prince or king." + +Over the face of the prince passed a flush of annoyance. He waved his +hand in dismissal of the conversation. + +"Hospitality shall be thine, outlander of the snows. Thou shalt rest +and be refreshed. More of thy strange tales will I hear anon. And the +girl--" His eyes softened as they strayed again to Rose Emer, and again +the red blood flashed up in his cheeks. For a moment he seemed lost in +his thoughts. + + * * * * * + +All through the interview the young man in the black stone seat had sat +motionless and attentive, his eyes glued on the strangers, his ears +drinking in every word spoken by Polaris, his expression rapt. Now he +arose and stepped forward. Before the Prince Helicon could speak again +he interposed. + +"If it be pleasing to the strangers, I, Kalin the Priest, will make +them welcome at mine own home in the Gateway to the Future." Without +waiting for the objection which the prince seemed to be framing, Kalin +addressed himself directly to Polaris. + +"Is the hospitality of Kalin welcome to thee, O man with the hair of +the sun? Much there is that Kalin fain would learn from thee, and +perhaps some little that he may tell thee in return. Say, wilt come, +thou and the woman?" + +Polaris looked into his eyes, and somewhere in their dreamy depths he +thought he read more meaning than the words of the priest conveyed to +him. He stepped forward and tendered his hand, a form of salutation +which, although new to the Sardanians, Kalin accepted. + +"Thy most kind offer of hospitality I accept for myself and for the +lady," Polaris said. "She hath, I fear, much need of rest." + +They left Helicon on the throne in the Judgement House, looking as if +he liked the new arrangement little enough. As they passed out of the +hall, five or six men, all dressed in somber black, detached themselves +from the crowd of Sardanians and joined Kalin the priest. Under his +direction they fetched the sledge and drove it toward the lower end of +the valley, whither Kalin and his two guests followed. + +On the way Polaris told Rose Emer of the meaning of the conversation +in the hall, which she had understood only so much as she was able to +guess from the demeanor of the prince and of Polaris. As they talked, +Kalin, although their tongue was unknown to him, courteously walked +ahead. + +"They seem to be a happy people, but I don't think I'm going to like +this prince of theirs," said Rose Emer when she heard the details of +the talk. "And you, who never have seen America, have so defended it +that you have put the gentleman out sadly. From what you have said to +him, he will think that we have no very exalted opinion of princes. If +he were not such a grave-looking personage I should think that he tried +to flirt with me." + +"What is the meaning of 'flirt,' lady?" asked Polaris. + +Rose Emer's answer was a silvery laugh. "Sometimes, in your cold and +snows, your knowledge makes me feel like a child; but when you get back +to where I came from you will have a great deal to learn," she said +lightly. + +In spite of the privations and terrors through which she had passed, +and the grief at the loss of her brother, the spirits of Rose Emer +were rising amazingly in the warmth and sunshine of Sardanes. For all +her lightness of speech, the girl could not but feel alarmed at the +expression she had read in the eyes of the Prince Helicon, although she +would not admit to Polaris that she had taken note of it. + +They crossed the little bridge again and the plain beyond it, and began +the ascent of the one green mountain that stood verdure-clad in strange +contrast to its score of bleak-crowned sisters. + +"What do they mean by the 'Gateway to the Future,' Polaris?" asked the +girl. + +Polaris, in turn, put the question to Kalin. + +"It lieth before us," said the priest, pointing to the green +mountainside. "Hast thou not noted that in all Sardanes no man or woman +is old, or crooked of body, or diseased? When the first chills of age +creep upon a Sardanian and bow his form and whiten his hair, then he +cometh to me and passeth through the gateway. Thither likewise come the +dead when one dieth in the land through a mischance or sudden illness. +To me also are brought the babes that are misshapen at birth or that +give promise of but puny life. + +"To that which lieth beyond life, be it of glory or of oblivion, all +Sardanians pass through the Gateway to the Future; and I, Kalin, am +guardian to the gateway. The gateway itself shalt thou see anon." + +Polaris translated. Rose Emer shuddered. "And I thought them such a +happy people!" she said. "How can they be with such strange, terrible +customs?" + +Kalin, it seemed, had the trick of reading people's thoughts, for he +answered: + +"It hath been so almost from the first. When our ancestors peopled +Sardanes they came to realize that for them to live on in the small +land and remain a people their numbers must be limited. Thus hath it +been done. + +"Sardanians know of no other way, and are content therewith. Think of +what is spared--terrible old age that creepeth on a strong man and +decays him; that withers his limbs and fades the bloom of youth in his +cheeks; of the horrors and distempers which make of life a misery and +a mockery; of the sorrow of living on misshapen and helpless. In thy +world do all such abide with thee?" + +Polaris told him that in the world each one waited for his appointed +hour of death, and that it was sin to hasten it for another or for +oneself. The priest shrugged his shoulders. + +Higher and higher they ascended the wooded slopes of the mighty hill, +and came to a ledge many yards in width, so earthed and covered with +vegetation and trees that it was like a huge terrace. There were a +number of dwellings similar to those below in the valley. At the back +of the terrace the side of the mountain was sheer for many feet and +covered with vines. + +In the center, at the level of the terrace, stood a giant façade of +white stone, carved and scrolled and pillared. Through its arches they +looked into the entrance to a lofty gallery in the heart of the rock. + +Kalin ushered them into a room in one of the houses, and attendants +fetched them fruits and bread with a sweet, unfermented wine. In +another building near the edge of the terrace he showed Polaris a +building, used as a stable for a number of the small ponies, where he +might bestow the dogs; and at his word another of his servants brought +both bread and flesh for the animals. When they were refreshed the +priest led them to couch-rooms, bidding them to rest. + +"Take thou thy rest well, man of the snows; there is much in thy path +to try thee," he said to Polaris with a slow smile. Thinking on the +enigma of his words, and of the wonders of the lost world, Polaris fell +into the deep sleep which his body craved. + + + + + CHAPTER XI + + THE FIERY PORTAL + + +Awaking after many hours, Polaris found Kalin standing by his couch. + +"Stranger, thou sleepest well. Like an untroubled babe's are thy +slumbers," said the priest. "And yet, if I read thee aright, thou art +in all ways a strong man. The woman is outdone and sleepeth well. There +is that which I would have thee see." + +He led him to the edge of the terrace. A little procession of +Sardanians was toiling up the path by which they had come. Among them +walked a man who was the center of the group, to whom the others, one +by one, spoke affectionately, but who answered little. As they came +nearer, Polaris saw that he was in the prime of his life and of noble +figure; but his limbs were wasted and his face was drawn with lines of +suffering. + +At the brink of the terrace the group halted. One by one his companions +bade the man farewell, lifting their hands in the Sardanian salute. One +young woman threw herself, weeping, into his arms, and he kissed her +tenderly. + +Then the other members of the party took their way down the +mountainside again, leading with them the weeping girl. The man came +on alone. On the terrace he was received by two of the black-robed +attendants of Kalin. + +The priest drew Polaris to one side, and they proceeded out of view of +the man by a roundabout way to the great stone arch. + +"Hither cometh one sore afflicted with illness who would pass the +gateway, and thou shalt see him pass," said the priest. + +They entered through the arch into the vast cavern beyond, and soon +were in darkness, to which, however, the eyes of Kalin seemed to be +well accustomed. He led Polaris swiftly through many galleries in the +bowels of the mountainside, ever upward, until they reached a broad +way, dimly lighted from above, which took a spiral course through the +rock. Up the spiral way they passed, and it gave after three or four +turns upon a wide, rocky floor, which curved away to either side of +where they emerged. + +Above them many feet towered the rocky ring of the volcano, of which +they were in the crater. Its walls were beetling, scarred with ancient +fires, seamed and ragged. Crag upon crag, ledge upon ledge, rose the +wall; to where its circle cut a round expanse of blue sky. + +All around them the massive rock reverberated to the muffled roar +of a great fire far below. Where the shelving rock floor gave into +space, clouds of luminous vapors rose from out the mighty pit of the +crater. Where the sun's rays beat down through it, far above them, +the billowing mass was golden. Directly ahead of them it seethed in a +shifting play of colors, now lurid red, now green and yellow and blue, +in the reflection cast up from the flickering flames below. + +At times the vapor clouds were wafted aside by air currents, and +Polaris could see the wall of the crater opposite, some two hundred +feet across the pit. + +To the left the shelf of rock narrowed to a mere thread of a pathway, +overhung by the bulge of the crag wall. At the right a number of low +buildings of rock had been constructed along the face of the cliff. + +Kalin led Polaris to where the rock overhung the path, and showed him +a number of footholds in the wall, by which he might climb to another +small ledge above, and from which he could command a view of the +platform, and also look down directly into the fearsome pit of flames. +The priest then withdrew to one of the buildings. + +Polaris crouched at the brink of the little shelf and gazed down +through the many-hued vapor clouds which were wafted by him +continuously. Occasionally, when they were swept aside by drafts of +air, he could see the very bottom of the crater over which he clung. It +was a sight to awe the heart of the bravest. + +Hundreds of feet from where he crouched seethed and boiled and eddied a +terrible caldron of chromatic heat. It was evident that the volcano was +slowly dying, a death that might continue for centuries. + +Nearer to the base of the crater its circumference was greater. At +its bottom, in the course of ages, the substance of the fires had +cooled, forming a crust against the calcined rock walls. As the fires +themselves had sunk lower they had added to the deposit of crust, +leaving it in the shape of a huge funnel. + +In the funnel itself stewed and sweltered a lake of fire. It was nearly +an acre in extent, bounded by the glowing circumference of the funnel. +Its molten substance boiled and eddied in a fury of heat. Immense +volumes of gas were continually belched up through it with startling +detonations, spouting many feet in the air, to flame a brief instant, +while the blazing masses they threw up with them fell splashing back +into the fearful reek. For yards above the surface of the caldron the +crust glowed a dull red. Even where the man sat the heat was withering. + +Voices on the rock shelf to his right drew the attention of Polaris +from the broiling inferno, into which he had gazed fascinated. + +From the spiral path up which he had lately climbed stepped one of the +black-garbed priests, bearing a flickering torch. Behind him, walking +with firm step and quiet gestures, was the Sardanian Polaris had seen +crossing the terrace. On either side of him marched two other priests, +and a fourth brought up the rear of the little procession. All four of +the priests wore veils, through which their eyes glittered somberly. + + * * * * * + +They halted a few feet from the brink of the fiery precipice. By the +light of the priest's torch Polaris saw that the rock floor had been +cut away into a runway, or chute, at a sharp angle from the floor +level, notching the edge of the declivity and ending sharply in the +empty air of the great pit. The sides of the trough glittered like +polished glass in the light rays. + +One of the priests disappeared into the nearest of the stone buildings +and came out bearing a disk of dark wood. It was concaved and not much +larger than a warrior's shield, which indeed it much resembled, for +within it were two loops of rope or thong, which might have served for +armholds. The priest set it down near the upper end of the channel in +the rock. + +More torches hung in cressets along the wall were lighted, their flames +reflecting from thousands of little veins and flecks of metal in the +rock, and heightening the eery effect of the strange scene. + +When these preparations were completed, Kalin stepped forth on the +ledge. He was garbed in a flowing robe of flame-red, his head hidden in +a veiled hood, of which the section that covered his face was white. + +He stepped in front of the waiting man and raised his hand in a solemn +salute. + +"Chloran, son of Sardon; thou hast come to the Gate?" he asked. + +"Aye, priest," answered Chloran. + +"Thy house is in order, thy farewells made, thy work done?" + +"Aye, Chloran stands ready." + +"Then thou comest content to the temple of the Lord Hephaistos?" + +"Well content." + +"Chloran, son of Sardon, we, the ministers of the Lord Hephaistos, are +but the guardians of the Gate. We know not what lieth beyond it, but +thou shalt soon learn. Be it of good or of evil for thee, thine own +heart mayest answer, the depths of which no man may know. I, Kalin the +Priest, bid thee farewell on thy journey to a greater knowledge than is +Kalin's. To the Lord Hephaistos, whose servant I am, I commend thee." + +He raised his hand again, and Chloran bowed his head. One of the +attendant priests came up, bearing a metal vase. + +"Quaff deeply of the wine of Hephaistos," said Kalin. The man clutched +the vase and drank. Almost immediately his eyes glazed, and he stood +like a man of stone. Two of the priests led him to the chute and seated +him on the wooden shield, binding his thighs with the thongs. + +"Welcome, Chloran, to the Gateway to the Future," cried Kalin. But +Chloran heard him not. The powerful drug in the wine bound his senses. +His head fell forward. At a sign from Kalin the two priests shoved the +shield into the chute. Down the polished way it whirled, and shot out +into the fiery rift. + +Polaris clung at the brink of the little ledge and strained his eyes +out into the terrible, fire-shot chasm to watch the fall. With its +living burden the shield whirled down through the curling vapors, +straight toward the molten caldron that tossed and roared in the +funnel. In a breath it had fallen so far that it looked like a toy +fluttering above the flames. + +Then it was gone. So intense was the heat into which it fell that it +seemed to dissolve into vapor before it ever touched the surface. A +long, yellow tongue of flame shot up from the surface of the lake. + +Polaris turned to the ledge. The priests had extinguished the torches +and disappeared. Presently Kalin came forth from his chapel and called +to him. With one more glance into the depths of the sinister pit, he +descended from his perch in the rock and joined the priest. + +They proceeded toward the chapel. + +As Polaris passed the chute he stumbled. His feet shot from under him +and down on his back he fell on the polished stone, and he, too, went +whizzing head first down the way that Chloran, son of Sardon, had taken +into the terrible fire-pit of Hephaistos! + +Head first he shot down. As he slid by a mighty effort he turned over +in the chute and thrust out his arms. The chute was about the width of +a man's height. Polaris was exceptionally broad of shoulder, and his +arms were long, so that his hands rubbed the sides of the chute. + +Just as his head thrust over the brink of the awful chasm his hands +found holds at either side of the chute. Whoever had cut the way in the +rock in the long ago had left, almost at the very edge, a cleft in each +side that was large enough for hand-grip. Very probably they were the +holds by which the artisans steadied themselves while they hewed and +polished the stone of the chute. + +In those clefts the groping fingers of Polaris caught and held. The +impetus of his body would have torn away the hold of a man less +splendidly muscled than the son of the snows; but with a mighty wrench +of his arms he stayed his progress and hung with head projected over +the brink of the pit. + +All in an instant it happened, and with no noise; for Polaris, fearful +as was his plight, did not cry out, and neither did Kalin, who saw him +fall. From out of the blackness that was behind him Polaris heard the +priest gasp, and then for a moment all was silence but for the roaring +of the fires far below. + +Kalin crept to the brink of the precipice and peered over. Below him he +saw the head of Polaris. + +"Now," he muttered to himself, but not so low that Polaris could +not hear him--"Now, I think it were well perhaps for Sardanes, and +especially well for the Prince Helicon, did I let this stranger go on +his way to Hephaistos. Nay, but he is a brave man, and I have come to +like him strangely, and I cannot. + +"Ho, thou, Polaris of the Snows, canst hold that grip of thine while I +fetch rope?" he called aloud. + +"Aye, Kalin the priest, I can hold for many minutes if so be thou art +minded to aid me," answered Polaris grimly. "If thou art not, then I go +hence through this strange gate of thine." + +"Hold, then," said the priest, and hurried to the chapel, marveling at +the hardihood of the man, who hung on the brink of death, and who cried +not for aid or mercy. + +Back he came in a moment with a stout rope and cast the loop of it over +Polaris's head. Then he stepped back, braced his feet against the rocky +floor, and, exerting a strength whereof his slender frame did not seem +capable, he dragged Polaris from his perilous resting-place. + + * * * * * + +When he felt the firmness of the floor beneath his feet again Polaris +drew a long breath. He turned to the priest and looked him closely in +the eyes. + +"Kalin, henceforth I may not doubt that in Sardanes I have found a +friend. Thanks for thy deed I have not the words to express to thee. If +ever thou are in evil case may I be as near to aid thee." He extended +his hand and wrung that of the priest until Kalin winced. + +Together the two went down the spiral way through the mountainside to +the house of the priest. + +"Thou hast taken note of all that occurred?" asked Kalin. Polaris +nodded. "And has understood?" continued the priest. + +"Not altogether. Who is the Lord Hephaistos? That name is known to me +as that of the armorer god of the Greeks of old, but only one of their +many gods. How is it that ye of Sardanes, who also speak the tongue of +those Greeks, worship the dead god of a people long dead?" + +"Stranger, thou speakest boldly to the hereditary priest of the +religion of Sardanes," replied Kalin, and a quizzical smile played +about his lips. "Thou spakest boldly also to the Prince of Sardanes, +thou, who art but one alone in a strange land. I think that fear +abides not in thee. But--" and he rested his hand on the shoulder of +Polaris--"perhaps Kalin doth but love thee the better for thy temerity. +And Kalin's self, although he be of Sardanes, yet seemeth at times to +feel strangely alone. As for the religion, I will show to thee the +annals of the Sardanians, with what of history, both of the people and +the religion, they contain. Perchance, in thy world, shouldst thou +indeed ever reach it--and it comes to me that thou wilt--these tales +will find ready ears, and be to thy great credit." + +From a stone seat in front of the house of the priest a figure arose +and came forward to meet them, and Polaris and Kalin halted and gazed +in wonder. Rose Emer it was--a new and amazing Rose. Ministered to by +one of the women of the priest's household, she had slept and bathed, +and then had arrayed herself in the full costume of a Sardanian lady of +quality, which the woman had brought her. + +Around her slender form, clinging to each gracious curve was draped a +flowing kirtle of a delicate blue tint, belted in below her bosom with +a broad girdle of soft, tan-colored leather. Its skirt swept the tops +of a pair of gossamer hose of the same hue as the gown. Her feet were +encased in neat little laced sandals of material similar to that of the +girdle. + +To complete the effect, her long chestnut hair was plaited and coiled +about her head in the Sardanian fashion, and the whole was set off +with a filmy blue veil, bound turban-wise, its tassels falling on her +shoulder. + +Kalin advanced and bowed, a courtly and sweeping genuflection. + +"Thou dost Sardanes honor, lady, and all the valley is the brighter for +thy beauty," he murmured. + +Then Kalin fetched forth a packet of manuscripts, well written in Greek +characters on parchments that were yellowed and crinkly with extreme +age. + +"Here be the records of a nation," he said, and set to work to sort +them over. + + + + + CHAPTER XII + + WAR AND AN ARMISTICE + + +From many an ancient parchment Kalin read to them bits of the lore +of the Sardanians, and a strange store of knowledge and incident did +the yellowed, leathery scraps unfold. For, as might be judged, the +Sardanians had come down from Antiquity; and, as might be guessed, they +were an offshoot of old Greece--the Greece that Homer sang. + +"Some great city had been sacked," explained the priest, "and from +its siege one adventurous party of warriors, with some of their +women, turned their faces from their home across the Aegean Seas to +the Pillars of Hercules even"--which means that they sailed through +the Mediterranean to the Straits of Gibraltar--"and passed the +pillars to the great seas beyond. There they sail north, seeking the +barbarous isles, where strange metals and red-haired slaves might be +gathered"--Britain. + +"From the isles they turned southward toward home again, but a great +tempest took their ship and whirled it away from the coasts. Down past +the Pillars of Hercules the storm drove them, along the coasts of +Libya"--Africa. "For weeks were they buffeted in a mighty gale, whirled +ever to the south into the gates of the ice gods. Nearly perishing in +the cold and for lack of food, on a day a mighty wave came from the +north and their ship rode the crest of it through the barriers of ice, +and came to this place. + +"On a snow-bound shore they landed, those Acheans, with their women and +their captives, and pushed on toward the green mountains, whose smoky +summits they could not see ahead of them to the south. Thus they came +to Sardanes, finding it even as ye see it this day, except that the +Gateway to the Future was then as are its sister mountains, for the +eternal fires flared at its top. + +"So was Sardanes peopled, and the Sardanians of to-day are all the +descendants of that little ship's company and their women and their +captives from the barbarous isles. For a time they were sore beset in +the valley by the great beasts which dwelt here, and they were fain to +make their homes in the caves of the smoking hills. But as the years +drew on they slew the beasts, and some of the great bones remain even +until now in witness of their struggles. Then they built their homes in +the valley and throve and multiplied and became a people." + +"But what of the Gateway to the Future and the worship of the Lord +Hephaistos?" asked Polaris, who had followed the tale of the priest +with minute attention, translating it the while to the girl, who +listened breathlessly to this unfolding of the pages of the dead past. + +"Hephaistos was the smith god of the Acheans," answered Kalin, "and +when they came hither they believed that it was Hephaistos who had +shown mercy to them and saved them out of the cold and the icy seas. +This valley, said the wise men, must be the forge and smithy of the god +himself. So, as he had taken them under his protection and set them to +dwell in his workshop, they came to worship him alone of all the gods +they had known. + +"Then, in time, when the ancient fires began to burn low in one of the +hills, it was believed that the god was angered, and many sacrifices +were made, that he might not forget the people and withdraw from the +valley the warmth and light of his forge fires. Should he do so, the +valley must go back to the arms of the snows and the people of Sardanes +perish miserable one by one with the coming of the terrible cold. + +"Thus grew up the customs of the religion which thou hast seen, but +ever the ancient fires eats deeper in the pit of the mountain, and ever +a great fear lies in the hearts of all Sardanians that some time the +fires of the other mountains will follow that fire and leave Sardanes +the prey of the ice and snow and darkness that wait without her gates." + +Then Kalin questioned Polaris in turn of the world, and listened with +an intentness that was wistful to stories of the histories of the +great peoples that have ruled the earth since the Greece of which his +traditions told him. + +"Ah, that I might see it!" he sighed. "Fain I am to fare to the North +with thee, and to see the great world and to learn new things before I +go into the darkness. But I know not how that may be." + +Polaris learned from the priest that his office had been handed down +from father to son for uncounted centuries, but that he himself +was unwed, and thus far had no successor. He learned further that +a few years before, on the coming of Prince Helicon to the throne +of Sardanes, there had been a division in church and state, as it +were--that the headstrong prince would have none of the domination or +advice of the priesthood in conducting the affairs of the kingdom. + +In consequence of that, there was a coolness between the prince and +Kalin, and each had his followers in the land. Some of the people +sided with the prince. Others were for the priests and the religion, +and looked with terror on anything that might anger further the Lord +Hephaistos. Thus far, however, there had been no open break, and the +relations of the prince and his brethren with Kalin and the priests of +the gateway, if cold, were not openly hostile. + +"And now," said Kalin, with a strange smile, "thou comest to Sardanes, +thou and the lady with thee, and Kalin sees a storm in the brewing." + +"How meanest thou?" questioned Polaris quickly, although he guessed +at Kalin's meaning. "We come but to tarry a brief space, and then to +find our way to the North again, where is the lady's home, and whither +Polaris carries a message of the dead." + +"That way to the North may be hard to win, my brother," answered Kalin. +"What wilt thou do if the Prince Helicon shall decree that thou goest +not?" + +Polaris laughed shortly. "Not by the Prince Helicon, or by any who +dwell in Sardanes, shall Polaris be kept from that way to the North," +he answered. "Not while the breath of life is in his body." + +"Whatsoever be thy ways, O stranger, know that Kalin wisheth thee +but good fortune, and will lend thee his aid to it. Aye, even though +it crosseth the desires of the Prince Helicon, as well it may," he +muttered. + +Grown suddenly sober, Rose Emer laid her hand earnestly on Polaris's +arm. "Can we go back to the North?" she asked. "Is it possible? Is +there a chance that we can cross those leagues of snow and ice and live +to find our ship?" + +The man looked into her eyes. "Lady, is it your wish to go?" he +questioned. + +"I must go back, back to my home, and--Oh, we _must_ go; but you--Will +it not be at the risk of our lives?" + +Polaris smiled quietly. "Where the Lady Rose wishes to go, Polaris will +not be left behind. I, too, _must_ go to the North. I will not even +suggest that you might wait here on a chance that I might fetch aid to +take you. We will go together, and, though the way be hard, as Kalin +here says, we will win through to the ship and to your home. Fear it +not." + +Impulsively the girl held out her hand to him, and Polaris bent over it +and kissed it. + +Through his half-closed, dreaming eyes, Kalin watched them, and smiled; +but with a wistful tightening at the corners of his mouth. + + * * * * * + +Three days they had rested at the dwelling of the priest, when there +came a messenger to the mountain from the Prince Helicon, bidding their +attendance at the Judgement House, where the prince would hear more of +their strange tales of the world. + +In a gorgeous state costume Rose Emer made a brave showing as they set +forth for the Judgement House, and beside her strode Polaris in the +full garb of a Sardanian noble, his gift from Kalin the priest. In dark +blue, edged with bands of white, he was costumed with his necklace +of bear's teeth falling on the broad bosom of his tunic. He carried +no weapon openly, but under the skirt of the tunic, in its leather +holster, he had belted one of his father's trusty revolvers. + +They found the Prince Helicon sitting as they had left him, on his +pillared throne, and Morolas and Minos, the tall twin brothers, lolled +on their seats of stone at the throne's foot. Several of the Sardanian +nobles occupied seats on the dais. A great number of the people were +gathered to hear more of the tales of the strangers. + +Many tales of the world Polaris told them, turning often to Rose Emer +for answers to those questions which his own knowledge did not hold. At +length he broached the subject that was uppermost in his mind, that of +their departure from the land. + +At his mention of going Helicon frowned. + +"And thou wilt rashly dare to cross the great deserts of snow in a vain +attempt to win back to the world?" he asked. + +"In the great desert was I reared, O prince," Polaris answered him. "I +fear not its terrors. I must face to the North, and soon--" + +"But surely thou wilt not think to expose the lady to the dangers of +the path," interrupted the prince. "She will remain in Sardanes, and, +if indeed thou shalt come safely to the other side of the snow wastes, +perchance her own people will find a means to come and transport her +afterward." + +"Nay, but she shall not remain here, prince," answered Polaris sharply +and steadily. "She, too, wishes to be on the way, and no one may +transport her across the bitter wilderness more safely than I, who know +how and have the ready means to travel it." + +Prince Helicon turned his eyes to Rose Emer. A flush mounted to his +cheeks and his eyes glittered as he drank in her loveliness. + +"How know I that the lady wishes to be so soon gone?" he asked. "It +is in my mind that Helicon, Prince of Sardanes, might persuade her to +remain, had I the words to talk to her in her own tongue." + +He paused and seemed to consider. Polaris watched him with narrowing +eyes, and in his anger would not answer lest he might say too much. + +"Now, say thou to the lady," spoke Helicon with sudden decision, "that +Helicon offers her the love of a prince and the half of the throne of +Sardanes. Tell her, and be sure that thou dost translate aright, and +her answer to me also." + + * * * * * + +Polaris's face was clouded, but he turned to Rose and repeated evenly +to her the proposal of the prince. + +Rose Emer paled and then flushed, and instinctively she rested her hand +on the arm of her comrade. + +"Say to the Prince Helicon that his words do me great honor, very great +honor," she answered; "but I am an American girl, and am lonely for my +own home and people. Now we are rested, and I wish to go, no matter +what may be the risks. And tell him also that I cannot be his wife, +because--because--I already am promised to another." + +Under his anger and back of his spirit a cold hand clutched at the +heart of the man of the snows, but he turned to the prince and repeated +the words of the girl. + +Helicon's eyes were bright with anger. "Art altogether sure that thou +hast made plain both my words and hers, O stranger?" he cried. + +"He doubts my words, lady," said Polaris. "Perhaps you can make him +understand." + +"I think I can," answered Rose. She fronted the prince, and stared him +coolly in the face. Then she turned and held out her arms toward the +North. Turning again to Helicon, she threw out her right hand, with +the palm toward him, in a repellent gesture. "I think you will not +misunderstand that, prince," she said in English. + +Nor did he. He sprang to his feet and took one step down from the +throne. + +"Now, by the gods of the gateway," he cried, "thou shalt not so flout +Helicon!" All forgetful that she could not understand a word, he raged +at the girl. "I say that thou shalt stay in Sardanes as I will, and thy +wanderer in strange places shall wander forth without thee, or--" + +There Kalin interrupted. + +"O prince, think well before thou speakest. Wouldst thou, the prince of +great and ancient Sardanes, mate with a woman outlander of whom thou +knowest naught? What will thy people think?" + +"And, O prince, think well again before thou sayest that which thou +canst not recall," broke in Polaris. "For I, Polaris of the Snows, tell +thee that this thing shall not be, though thou wert forty times prince. +I swear it by no dark portals of the future, but on the honor of an +American gentleman!" + +"A truce to thy interfering tongue, priest!" said Helicon furiously. +"And thou, man of the wilderness, bridle thy tongue also, lest it be +curbed for thee. In Sardanes Helicon is the master." + +One of the nobles, a middle-aged man, who had started from his seat, +now made himself heard. "O prince," he said anxiously, "I tell thee +that Kalin hath the right. It is not meet that thou shouldst take to +wife this woman from we know not where, who hath come among us. Let her +go, and the man with her, lest harm befall. See, already the people +murmur." + +It was true. Down in the great hall, where the gathered Sardanians had +listened breathless, arose now a babel of voices in protest. + +"Garlanes, be thou silent also," said Helicon, but the prince could not +turn a deaf ear to the murmurs of the people. He sank back in his seat, +and for a space rested his chin on his hand. At length he spoke again +in a low, choked voice. + +"Not that I fear thee, outlander; nor thee, priest; but it shall be as +the people wish. Now get thee gone, thou and the woman. In the time of +ten sleeps will Helicon answer thee, after he hath taken counsel with +his nobles and his people. Then will he say whether thou shalt go or +stay. Go hence until that time and abide in peace with Kalin." + +As the Sardanians measured time by sleeping and waking, and not by +days, in a land where the days were six months long, it would be ten +ordinary days until the prince made his decision. + +On their way back to the Gateway to the Future, Polaris said to Kalin: +"Now what shall hinder that I be gone before the time he set?" + +For once Kalin, the far-seeing, erred in his wisdom, for he made answer: + +"Nay, it were best to wait. I deem it not unlikely that the prince +will act in despite of the wishes of the nobles and of the people. In +any case, he is a faithful man, and no harm will come to thee in the +time he hath named." + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + + POLARIS HUNTS THE BEAR + + +Neither Polaris nor the girl was contented to rest all the hours +away on the grassy terraces of the gateway, but wandered together +through the valley, learning more of its wonders. Everywhere they +found industry. Men and women worked in their little farm plots and +vineyards, tending the fruits and grains in which the valley was rich; +many of them akin to those known in the outside world, and others which +would have made a life study for a botanist. + +In all Sardanes the work was so apportioned that the products of the +soil and of the craftsman supplied evenly the demands of the valley +dwellers. In one section lived and labored the weavers and the dyers +of cloths; in another the makers of sandals and articles of leather; +and in a roomy stone smithy they found Kard the Smith and his men, the +workers in metal, beating out buckles and jewelry, daggers, spears, and +implements of many other uses. + +Not many of the smiths were necessary, for the metal in which they +worked was of incredible hardness and durability, and was tempered by +the smiths to a fineness beyond any steel. It was that which had first +attracted the attention of Polaris in the Hunters' Road, when he found +the dagger of Kard gleaming in the snow-path. Ilium it was named, and +it was mined from the volcanic rock far up in the mountainside. + +Other metals were found in the rocks, but none of a quality to compare +with ilium, or none that had its iridescent beauty. + +Gems they also knew, and many an ornament worn by the Sardanian men and +maids flashed with bright stones. One variety, of a wonderful rich, red +luster, Rose Emer thought were rubies, but she was not enough versed +in gem learning to be sure. If they were rubies, they were of immense +value, for they were of large sizes, and most of them were flawless to +their depths. + +On the wall in the library of Kalin the priest hung a necklace of such, +containing a full score of magnificent stones, each of many carats +weight, fairly well cut into facets by the Sardanian lapidaries who had +fashioned them. Each stone was set in a ring of the glittering ilium, +attached one to another with links of the metal. + +One innovation the strangers took into the valley that was hailed with +acclaim. Until the advent of Polaris and Rose Emer not a button was +known in the length of the land. Everything sartorial was fastened with +buckles. + +Sardanian craftsmen and housewives were quick to note the uses of the +perforated disks, and buttons were straightaway the new fashion, and +were sewn on all garments. When enough were placed to answer their +purpose of holding things together still more were added for ornament, +until some of the Sardanian robes bore no distant likeness to the +creations of a Parisian modiste, with their rows of holeless buttons. + + * * * * * + +On the fifth day after their interview with the Prince Helicon, Kard +the Smith came to the gateway to repay their visit, and to bring an +invitation to Polaris to go out with a party of the hunters along the +Hunters' Road to the edge of the wilderness to hunt the white bear. + +Six Sardanians made up the hunting-party, of whom two were Kard the +Smith and Morolas, one of the tall brothers of Helicon. All were armed +with spears tipped with ilium blades, axes, and daggers, and they drove +with them a four-pony sledge, with which to take home their game. + +Much as Polaris would have liked to take with him the seven dogs, he +did not, for he dared not risk the lives of the animals in the fierce +sport. With the death of his dogs would die also his last chances of +winning back on the way to the North. + +Some hours along the snow-path they discovered the first signs of the +game which they sought, the white bear. The sledge was halted and the +ponies outspanned. One of the Sardanian hunters was left to keep the +camp, and the rest of the party set out on the fresh trail. + +Less than a mile away across the snow hummocks they came in sight of +their quarry, a magnificent specimen of the king of the pole lands, +sleek and fat and powerful from the good feeding he had found in the +temperate vicinity of the smoky hills. + +"There is the bear. Now, stranger of the snows, how dost thou take +him?" said Morolas. "I understand that thou hast taken many of his +kind single-handed--unless indeed that necklace of thine was plucked +from dead bones." + +Paying no attention whatever to the open sneer in the words of the +prince, Polaris made his preparation. He was too much pleased with the +prospect of the action before him to be nettled by the peevishness of +the Sardanian prince. Smilingly he loosened the long knife in his belt, +took a firm grip of his spear, one of his own steel-bladed shafts, and +crept forward across the snows where the monster awaited the coming of +the foe. + +For the bear had seen them, and paused, grumbling and sniffing, to +discover if these new animals might not be worth his trouble as a meal. + + * * * * * + +Plenty of temper had that bear. Before the man was within thirty feet +of him he stopped the slow swaying of his massive head, emitted a +snarling roar, and charged. Polaris stood at the dip of a slope in the +snow, alert and watchful for his chance to leap and thrust. + +As the avalanche of angry bear dashed down the incline its claws +slipped on an icy crusting, and it rolled, folding its head in almost +to its belly, like a huge snowball, scratching furiously at the snow +crust to stop itself and regain its footing. + +Straight at the man it shot, and as it reached him he sprang aside. + +The same mischance that had upset the animal now proved the undoing of +the man's well-aimed thrust. As he drew back his arm to strike, Polaris +felt his feet flying from under him. + +By exercising all of his tigerish agility he prevented himself from +rolling right under the ponderous body of his antagonist. Backward he +threw himself, struck a softer spot in the snow crust, and disappeared +in it up to his shoulders. + +Had Bruin stopped to consider his predicament, that would have been a +tight situation for Polaris; but the enraged mountain of flesh paid +no further attention to him. Instead he scrambled to his feet at the +foot of the slope, snarling more viciously than ever because of his +downfall, and charged on into the group of Sardanians. + +Before they could realize what was happening, and that Polaris had +failed to wound or turn the animal, he was upon them. They scattered, +thrusting their spears as they leaped from the path of the monster. + +One of them, Kard the Smith, was not so fortunate as the rest. He stood +directly in the path of the charge. As he leaped to one side a huge paw +whirled in the air and one of the curved talons caught in the slack of +his rough tunic, hurling him down as a mouse is spun from the claw of a +cat. Before his companions could return to his aid the bear was tearing +at the prostrate body of the smith. + +As soon as he fell through the snow crust Polaris threw himself forward +on his face along the surface, seeking a spot that would allow him to +stand upright. In an instant he was on his feet and forward in the wake +of the furious bear. His spear had fallen from his hand when he broke +into the soft snow, and had glided away over the glary crust for many +feet. There was no time to regain it if he was to aid Kard. Plucking +the knife from his belt, he rushed in. + +Seeming to sense the new danger, the bear whirled on its haunches, and, +holding the body of the Sardanian beneath it with one forepaw, struck +out madly at Polaris with the other. + +Polaris evaded the sweep of the blow by the smallest margin. He had +thrown off his gloves, and he caught the long hair on the flail-like +paw with his left hand. As the bear drew in his paw to deliver another +buffet, the man came with it. + +Never in all his bear fights had he come to grips with one of the +antarctic monarchs from the front in this wise; but there was no help +for it if he would save the smith. He was swept in against the wide +chest of the animal, and its terrible front paws were closed to crush +him as it raised one armed hind leg to rip him with its down-stroke, +and at the same time strove to bend its head down and tear with its +jaws. + +Menaced by the triple attack, Polaris threw his left arm over his head +and jammed his elbow into the throat of the bear below the angle of +its jaw, thrusting upward with all the power of his body. At the same +instant, quick as a wrestler, he passed one leg over the rising hind +leg of the bear. + +For the space of an eye flicker the two stood, statuesque, in the snow. +Then the man jerked back his shoulders, raised his right arm, and +buried the long knife in the white throat. + +Twice he stabbed home, and, feeling the clutching forepaws slacken, let +himself go limp, slid from the embrace of the bear, and sprawled in +the snow alongside the smith. He seized Kard, and with him rolled from +under the toppling, roaring mass of the enemy, which floundered in the +snow. + +It was the end for the bear, however. Tearing in agony at its wounded +throat, it reared again and fell backward, struggling terribly in the +release of life. + +All had happened in a matter of seconds. Kard, snatched from the very +jaws of death, stood gaping at the dying bear, unhurt aside from a bad +scare. Beside him, Polaris, his white surcoat streaked with blood, +stooped and cleaned his knife in the snow. The other Sardanians trooped +back somewhat sheepishly, all of them eyeing Polaris with manifest +admiration--all save Morolas, whose face was flushed, and in whose eye +was an ugly glint of anger or annoyance. + +"Methinks thou wert somewhat late, stranger," he growled, "and nearly +was Kard gathered to his fathers because of thy clumsiness." + +In the face of the facts, the futility of his remark caused Polaris +to laugh aloud. "In second thought I left him to thee, prince," he +said, "and did but take up the matter again when I saw thee otherwise +occupied." + +Morolas framed a hot retort, but thought better of it and swallowed +it unsaid. "Methinks thy laughter ill-timed," he muttered grimly to +himself. But Kard without a word seized the hand of Polaris, and bent +and kissed it. Morolas frowned the more. + +Polaris recovered his spear. With thongs the five men dragged the huge +carcass of the bear back to where they had left the pony sledge, and +loaded it on the sledge. + + * * * * * + +One more bear they met that day, much smaller than the first. It was +dispatched easily by the party, who bore it down with their spears. In +that conflict the honors fell more to the share of Morolas, and that +seemed partially to restore his temper. + +In Morolas dwelt a wild and unpleasant spirit, unbridled by the +discipline with which Helicon, the prince, controlled himself, and in +direct contrast to the sunny soul of his twin brother, Minos, known in +Sardanes as the "open-handed." + +Presently they returned to the sledge, packed on it the carcass of the +second bear, and made ready for their return to the city. + +Polaris laid aside his long spear and bent himself to the task of +making fast the bulky corpses of their quarry. Where there was work +afoot he was never backward. Indeed, in the long, weary years of their +lonely life, work and study were all that had kept wholesome the minds +and bodies of himself and his father. + +While he bent to make fast the last knot the other Sardanians drew away +from the sledge. He heard a scuffling in the snow and a sharp cry from +Kard the Smith--"It shall not be, Morolas!" followed by a snap like a +breaking stick. + +Between his left arm and his body a flash of light darted as the sun's +rays glittered on the ilium tip of a hurled spear, and the weapon was +buried in the side of the carcass which he had been making fast. + +He whirled on his heel. Morolas stood with his body still bowed and +outstretched arm as he had cast the spear. Kard had sprung in between, +and it was his weapon with which he had struck that of the prince that +had sounded like a breaking shaft. He had spoiled the aim of Morolas, +and surely saved the life of Polaris. + +Back of the prince stood the other four hunters with weapons poised. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + + FOR THE ROSE OF AMERICA + + +"I tell thee, prince, it shall not be!" shouted Kard hoarsely. "He hath +saved this day the life of Kard, and he shall not die thus. Look to +thyself, thou man of the snows," he flung over his shoulder, "thy death +waits!" + +"Away, fool!" raged Morolas, and whirled the smith from his path with +a sweep of his arm. He snatched a spear from one of the hunters, and +would have repeated his cast. + +That throw was never made. + +All had happened in the space that a man might count ten. In one glance +Polaris accepted the situation. His head shot forward, every muscle in +his body flexed, his face hardened and under his white-furred frontlet +his tawny eyes blazed like molten brass. He leaped from the side of the +sledge with lightning swiftness, cleared the space intervening with a +single bound, and tore the lifted spear from the hand of Morolas. He +threw the weapon on the ground, and for an instant the two men faced +each other, foot to foot and eye to eye. + +Neither spoke. From his superior height the prince glared down at the +son of the snows. + +With a motion so quick that the eye could not follow the blow, Polaris +struck, from the shoulder and with doubled fist. The tall prince +crumpled and went down, hurled fully his own length by the fierceness +of the blow. + +He never moved again. The fist of Polaris, impelled by all the mighty +strength stored in his muscles of steel, had struck Morolas full on the +breast-bone. Such was the power of the stroke that the man's chest had +caved in before it, and his heart had stopped. + +He lay scarcely twitching, and the dark blood welled from his lips and +stained the white snow. + +Never before had Polaris struck a man in anger with his naked hand, and +he was momentarily shaken by the result of his own blow. He hesitated +but an instant, however, for his blood was up. A Sardanian hunter knelt +in the snow by his dead master. + +"Gone is Morolas, brother to Helicon the prince," he wailed, and sprang +to his feet gnashing his teeth in fury. Kard cried aloud in horror, but +he leaped to the side of Polaris, to confront the four hunters. But he +struck no blow in defense of his friend; an ilium blade cast by one of +the hunters pierced him as he raised spear; and he, too, fell in the +snow. + +Across Kard's writhing body and the still corpse of Morolas the Prince, +leaped Polaris. The four hunters stood in a little group, he who had +thrown the spear at Kard slightly in advance of the others. + +That fact alone saved the life of Polaris. Before the unarmed hunter +could spring aside and give his comrades space in which to throw, +the man of the snows was upon them, a death-dealing fury. He caught +the first man by the shoulders, and by sheer strength swung him from +the ground and dashed him against his fellows. Head-on, he threw the +hunter, and the skull of the flying man crashed against the head of the +man next him with sickening force. + +Only two antagonists were left to confront him. + +An ilium spear swished past his head. He caught it out of the air, and +the man who had cast it died with it in his heart. Those Sardanians +were of fighting stock; the single remaining man gave back never a +step. His spear had been shaken from his hand, but he carried an ilium +ax in his belt, and this he whirled up to meet Polaris. + +It fell upon thin air. The son of the wilds crouched under its swing +like a trained boxer, came up with the Sardanian's guard, and struck +once with his long-bladed knife. + +The battle was finished. The trampled snow looked like a butcher's +shambles. + +Polaris stood with clenched hands, his face set like a stone. Under +other circumstances he might have felt remorse; he certainly would have +been moved to mercy. But he had been trapped like an animal, and he +joyed in the fierceness of the conflict, and felt no sting of regret +for the men he had slain. + +A voice called his name weakly from behind. He turned and beheld Kard +the Smith, not yet sped. He had dragged himself to his knees, and was +clutching at the great spear that was set in his side. + +"Polaris of the Snows," he gasped, "Kard dies for thee, who this +day saved Kard from the beast. Kard dies a traitor--to Sardanes's +prince. Haste thee--stranger--get thy strange snow-runners--get +them--from Kalin! Methinks the priest loves thee. He will aid thee--to +escape. Go--Helicon holds the Rose. Go--whilst thou mayest. Helicon +planned--that thou--shouldst die--this day--but--one Kard--turned +traitor. Farewell!" + + * * * * * + +Polaris knelt in the red snow and supported the body of the dying +smith. Twice the Sardanian essayed to speak again and could not. His +head rolled back, and he, too, was sped. + +A strange sight was Polaris as he stood up from the corpse of Kard, his +white fur surcoat besprinkled with the blood of men and beasts, his +handsome face scarred by his terrible anger, his tawny eyes blazing and +his broad chest rising and falling in gasps, as cold fear and hot wrath +beset him together. + +If he had ever doubted his love for the girl so strangely met, the +griping fear that strangled his heart and choked his throat put all +doubt to flight. + +"Helicon holds the Rose," he muttered through his whitened lips. "What +saidst thou, Kard? That I must escape? Nay, Kard; death shall find me +in thy valley of Sardanes, or I shall find Helicon, thy prince, and the +Rose. Yesterday, or was it many yesterdays agone?--it was all for the +North. Now it is all for the Rose. I come, dear heart; I come, to win, +or to die in the losing!" + +He leaped to the sledge, tore away the thongs that bound the carcasses +of the dead bears and rolled them into the snow alongside the dead men. +He inspanned the four horses, sprang into the driver's seat, shook out +the many-molded lash and drove back toward Sardanes, as though hell's +door had opened and loosed its legion of furies along the Hunters' Road +behind him. + +Midway in his dash to the city, he halted the horses and sprang down. +With nose well down to catch the scent from the trail, and with his +plumed tail aflaunt as he galloped, a great gray dog toiled out through +the snows to meet him. + +"What, Marcus? You, too, have fought and bled!" he cried, as his loyal +servant leaped upon him, whining for the joy of the meeting. The +shoulder of the dog was gashed by a keen edge, so that his blood had +run down and dried on his breast and legs. And on the throat and jowl +of Marcus was other blood. + +"Now, do you alone live of all your tribe, Marcus? Shame on you, +Marcus, if you deserted to find your master while the fighting pack +died for the Rose! Or did it fall some other way that you alone come to +meet me?" + +Wondering much and fearing more, he flung the dog onto the sledge and +again lashed the ponies into a mad run. Snow fell, and they dashed on +through the storm, the man ever plying the long lash, the dog riding +behind him, reared, and with his paws on the man's shoulders, both +looking ahead, where the smoke curled around the mighty mountain-tops. + +When they came to the pass gashed in the foot-hills, where the snow +waves broke at the lips of the warm slopes, Polaris outspanned the +outworn ponies, and dismissed them with a parting crack of the long +whip. Freed of their burdens, the tired little beasts scuttled away up +the rocky hillsides, betaking themselves to soft pastures, to forget +the voice of the lash and the galling harness. + +Polaris and Marcus climbed the pass, and stood again at the brink +of the ledge of rock that overlooked the valley. Below them in the +sunshine lay Sardanes, never more peaceful. Men were working in the +fields, women singing from the homes and children were at play in the +meadows. Under its green bridges the little river rippled to the hill's +foot, its waterfall murmuring from the distance. + +Above it all, for an instant, Polaris stood gazing down, with no peace +of spirit, his heart and brain a red and raging fury. Sardanes's evil +genius was at her gates. + +Through the forests to the left the man and dog skirted the meadows +where none might see them, headed straight to the terraced declivity of +the Gateway to the Future. None was there to meet them as they set foot +on the last terrace and the house of the priest lay before them; but a +welcome sound greeted the ears of Polaris. It was the howling of the +dogs, which Marcus would have answered. A stern word silenced him. + +At the very threshold of the house of Kalin, the priest met Polaris. +His face was drawn and anxious and his right hand was bound in a white +bandage. At sight of the son of the snows and his gray body-guard. +Kalin started and a strange look passed athwart his melancholy features. + +Without setting foot on the door-stone, Polaris called sternly: +"Greeting to thee, Kalin the Priest. Tell me, and waste not thy words +in the telling, where fares the Rose?" + +Kalin threw forth his uninjured hand in a bitter gesture. "The Prince +Helicon--" he answered hoarsely, but Polaris broke in: + +"Ay, priest, Helicon holds the Rose. I learned as much but shortly. Now +if there has been treachery here, I am minded that Marcus shall tear +out a traitor's throat! Speak quickly. How falls it that the Rose is +gone, that the prince breaks faith and that thou hast allowed it?" + + * * * * * + +Unmoved by the threat, Kalin bent his deep eyes on Polaris. + +"No traitor dwells here," he answered. "Even now those faithful to me +in the valley gather to the rescue of the lady, it may be, though it +rend Sardanes with bitter strife. Ay, all that would Kalin attempt, +even though he deemed that thou wert dead in the snows, as Helicon +hinted. Helicon hath not had his will freely. A priest of Hephaistos +lieth yonder in his dwelling with a broken shoulder, and this hand was +injured in defense of the Rose. Kalin did but yield to force, that he +might later win by craft. Thy words do Kalin small honor, thou who are +as the brother of Kalin." + +"Thy pardon, Kalin, my words were rash. Consider that the maid is +dearer to me than aught I may hope to attain in the world, and this +thing that hath been done hath brought upon me a rage like unto nothing +I have ever known. Now tell me what thou mayest accomplish in my aid, +for I go hence to find Helicon the Prince." + +"Mine is half of the fault, brother," Kalin answered. "I should have +foreseen, but I guessed not that Helicon was mad enough for this. +Wide was the rift between us before; it hath passed all bridging now. +As I have said, many of the people hold to the ancient sway of the +priesthood of Hephaistos, and murmur at the changes which Helicon would +have. Already my messengers are among them, calling them to my aid. +Hadst thou not come, in a short space Kalin would have been on his way +to the Judgement House. It was ordered that thou shouldst die this day +on the Hunters' Road. How hast thou won free?" + +"Kard the Smith owed me somewhat, and could not stomach my killing. +He took a dead thrust for his hindrance. Yet did he warn in time, +and Morolas and four hunters keep him company whither he traveleth," +Polaris answered simply. + +Then Kalin told him how Helicon the Prince had come to the gateway +and taken Rose Emer thence by force. Kalin had made opposition, even +to raising his hand against the prince. In a scuffle, wherein he was +supported by one of his priests, he had been wounded in the hand by the +dagger of the prince, and the priest had been hurled to the ground, so +that his shoulder was cracked. + +"Only we two were here to oppose him," said Kalin, "and he had others +with him. Had I persisted, I had been slain by him in his fury. So +I submitted that I might be left to befriend the Rose. And she, she +loosed the great dog before she was taken, and set him forth on thy +trail. One of Helicon's men gashed him with a spear, and he would have +turned and given battle to all of them, but Rose urged him on." + +"And how went the Rose--calmly, or struggling and crying?" asked +Polaris, his jaws clinching at the thoughts called up by the words of +Kalin. + +"Nay, with head held high, tearless and saying nothing went the Rose," +the priest answered him. "The lady hath greatness of spirit. She went +in anger, but gave not way to fear." + +"Now we go to visit this prince of thine," said Polaris. He called +Marcus and shut the dog, protesting, with his fellows in the stable. +"Well would you like the fight with me, if fight there is to be, I +know, my Marcus, but I dare not risk you," he muttered. + +He ran to his room in the house of the priest. When he came forth there +swung from his waist his father's brace of heavy revolvers and the +filled cartridge belt, and in his hand he bore the brown rifle. He had +also an ilium-bladed spear, and in its sheath at his hip gleamed the +long dagger of Kard the Smith, that he had taken from the corpse of the +stout Sardanian. + +He counted much on his firearms now. Here were weapons of which even +Kalin knew not the secret. + +Among the few books in the cabin of his father was one which Polaris +had read and reread, and which, as boy and man, he had liked best +of them all. It was the "Ivanhoe" of Sir Walter Scott. He had +wondered much on its story of chivalry and battle in a far-off time. +Unconsciously much of his own language was couched in its quaint terms. + +Now, as he set forth, to fight, or to fall, if need be, for the lady of +his heart, there came to him a strange conceit, born of the old romance. + +Armed and ready, he stood at the top of the terrace, and while the +priest wondered, he raised his voice in his own tongue, not loudly, but +firmly and clearly, in the first battle cry ever heard in the valley of +Sardanes: + +"For the Rose of America! Polaris to the rescue!" + +Together he and Kalin passed down the terraced slopes of the Gateway to +the Future. + + + + + CHAPTER XV + + HEPHAISTOS CLAIMS A SACRIFICE + + +Kalin carried a bundle in his hand, and as they reached the thickets at +the foot of the hill he paused. + +"Now, for our purpose thou must go unknown of men. Thou canst hide +thyself in one of these." + +He shook out his bundle, and revealed two of the long sable robes of +his priestly order. He threw one of them over Polaris and donned the +other. They were loose and cowled, and covered both men entirely. + +"As a priest of Hephaistos thou goest," said Kalin. "Thou must leave +the spear, but that strange club of thine thou mayest hide beneath the +robe." + +"Nay, I can take the spear also," answered Polaris, and snapped the +stout shaft off short in his hands, so that the weapon was rendered +little longer than the rifle, and he could hide both of them under the +garment. + +"Priest," he said, as they started across the meadows toward the +bridge, "but shortly I said that in anger which I fain would recall, +for twice thou hast shown thyself a true man." + +Kalin waved his hand deprecatingly. "It is forgotten, as though it were +not," he said, with one of his rare and melancholy smiles. "Thou art as +my brother." + +"But now," persisted Polaris, "we fare on an errand to which thy +feeling of brotherhood doth not bind thee. Why goest thou into danger +with me, Kalin, into danger that may end in death, thou, who art of +this land, and its priest?" + +Kalin halted and regarded him strangely. "Say, thou, Polaris, thou +lovest Rose?" he questioned. Into the face of the man of the snows the +red blood flamed afresh. + +"Ay, so it seemeth--unto death," he said simply. + +The priest nodded slowly. "And the Rose--doth she return thy love, my +brother?" he asked. + +Then was Polaris silent for a long moment. "Nay," he answered at +length. "Nay, Kalin, the love of the Rose is not mine. Somewhat I have +guessed, and the rest her own words have made plain. There is a man--a +brave American--" the words cost him an effort, "whom she loveth, and +whom she will wed. He leadeth the party with which she came hither. He +fareth forth on a dangerous quest, to return in honor and greatness to +his own land--and the Rose--" He stopped. + +Again Kalin looked strangely into his eyes. "And to save her for +another thou darest all, even to thy life?" + +"Ay, the man is worthy. And that she loveth me not, should my love for +her be less that I should falter in her service? No, Kalin, that is not +the way of Polaris," answered the son of the snows. + +"And when thou hast won her way home, as I think thou wilt--for thou +darest all things, and the high gods love those greatly daring--what +then?" + +"I have a duty laid on me, in the far North; and then--I know not." + +Once again his strange smile passed over the face of Kalin the priest. +"Now, thou Polaris, we indeed are brothers in all. Know that I, too, +love the Rose, and would die even as thou wouldst, to save her, even to +save her for another--but I had hoped that the other might be thee--I +dearly hoped it. Nor that it may not be, lesseneth not the measure of +the service of Kalin." + +Polaris held out his hand, and his eyes were very bright as their +fingers clasped. + +"Kalin, my brother, may the gods set our feet in the same path, +wherever it leadeth," he said. + +As they proceeded toward the Judgement House they saw that many +Sardanians were gathered there, and ever among the throng passed back +and forth the black-robed figures of the priests of the gateway. + +Kalin stationed Polaris by a pillar in the great hall, not far from the +platform. + +"Stay thou there, brother, and be silent, unless great need cometh," he +said, and passed up the steps to his black stone seat near the throne. + +A friendly murmur arose from the Sardanians in the hall when they saw +the priest throw aside his robe and take his seat. That something +untoward was on foot it was easy to guess. All over the hall, the +voices of men were raised in discussion, and chiming with them the +voices of women also. And ever from group to group passed the priests +of Kalin, exhorting here and rebuking there, setting the stage for the +denouément planned by their master. + + * * * * * + +Presently entered Garlanes and a group of Sardanian nobles, among whom +towered Minos, the brother of the prince--Minos, whose twin brother lay +stiffening in the snow in the Hunters' Road. Then, after some delay, +came Helicon himself. + +As the prince ascended the steps to his throne, Polaris leaned forward +from his sheltering pillar, his whole frame taut as a bow-string, the +hand that held the brown rifle clenched so that it seemed that the +steel barrel itself would crumple in his terrible grip. + +Helicon's face was darkly clouded. He did not glance once in the +direction of Kalin, but sat a while in thought, and in all the hall was +silence. His musing ended, the prince raised his head. + +"Wherefore do the people of Sardanes gather in the Judgement House and +summon their ruler?" he asked harshly, and bent his stern gaze on the +people below the platform. + +None answered him. He smiled grimly, and again he questioned: "What +matter would Sardanes's people bring before Sardanes's prince? Speak." + +From among the people rose a subdued murmur, a note of protest, but no +man was bold enough to voice it. In a silence that followed Helicon sat +impatiently, his fingers twitching on the stone arms of his throne. + +From his seat Kalin the priest rose and stepped to the foot of the +throne. + +"Thy people murmur because of a deed that to them seemeth ill, Helicon +the Prince," he said. He paused, and behind him in the hall rose +another murmur of support from the people. + +"They are assembled in the Judgement House to beg that Helicon the +Prince shall sit in judgment on himself and render answer," continued +Kalin. "Thy people murmur because thou wouldst take to wife an alien +woman and place her with thee on the throne of Sardanes, supplanting +the right of a daughter of Sardanes. + +"They murmur," the priest raised his voice slightly, in a note of +accusation, "because thou hast reft her from the hospitality of +Sardanes's priest with violence, under a broken pledge, and that thou +hast lifted thy hand against the priests of Sardanes, the ministers +of the mighty Lord Hephaistos of the Gateway, who speak the word of +Hephaistos in Sardanes--" + +"Enough, priest!" shouted Helicon, red with rage. "Cease thy slander of +Sardanes's ruler!" He turned his eyes on the Sardanians in the hall. +"Helicon, Prince of Sardanes, rendereth account to no man," he cried. +"It is his will that he weddeth with the Rose maiden. Let the man who +gainsaith look to himself!" + +As the voices of the people were raised in an angry babel of protest, +he lifted his hand. + +"Beware," he cried, his voice ringing through the hall. "Take warning! +Helicon rules in Sardanes. Bitter shall be the punishment meted out to +him that opposeth the will of the prince." + +Before his fierce eyes the people fell silent again, and he turned +again to Kalin. + +"As for thee, priest," he said hoarsely, "get thee back with thy +black-robed crew, to thy station, and attend thy priestly duties. +Attend them well. Too long hath thy priesthood interfered in the +affairs of Sardanes. It shall be so no longer. Go, ere I am moved to +lessen thy number by one meddler!" + +He glared at the priest, and men in the hall stood all aghast at his +words. Many there were of the priest's party, but they knew that many +others were for the prince and against the priest, and none knew to +what lengths Helicon might go in his anger. + + * * * * * + +Still at the foot of the throne Kalin stood undaunted, and holding his +last card in the game. A bitter smile came to his lips, and his voice +was low and deep as he answered: + +"Prince, thou growest mad, who would override the will of thy people +and dare the anger of the god. It is the will of the god, as it is the +will of the people that thou shalt wed a maid of Sardanes." + +Assuming for his own purposes that he was unaware of the fate which had +been intended for Polaris, he continued: + +"When the stranger with whom the maid came hither returneth from the +hunt, then he shall take her and fare again to the north, as they +wish--" + +Helicon, secretly worried because of the long absence of Morolas and +his party, yet not dreaming of the end of their mission, broke in again. + +"The stranger cometh not again to Sardanes. He hath left the maid, and +fared alone on his road to the north. I will wed the maid. I, Helicon, +have said it, and it shall be." + +"Have thy hunters then returned?" asked Kalin pointedly. + +"Be thou silent, priest!" roared Helicon. Another thought flashed into +his mind. "Tarry thou here, for there shall be work for thee." He +turned to his brother Minos. "Go thou and fetch the Rose maid hither," +he said. + +Kalin stood back with folded arms, his head held high. In all the hall +was no sound, save the suppressed breathing of the people. Smiling, +as was his wont, the tall Minos left the hall through the pillared +entrance behind the throne. Helicon sat glowering, with his chin on his +hand, until he heard Minos returning. + +Then he sprang to his feet and stepped from the throne to the floor of +the platform, fronting Kalin. + +Minos and Rose Emer came into the hall. The girl's face was white, but +she did not falter as she advanced with Minos and stood near Helicon. +Only once her face lighted as she saw Kalin; then she turned her eyes, +and through the pillared façade of the Judgement House she scanned +anxiously the reaches of the valley. + +The heart of Polaris bounded as, crouched behind his pillar, he +followed the course of that gaze. She was looking for him to return--he +would not fail her! + +"Now, whether it be the will of the god or of the people, or of the +maid herself, I, Helicon, will wed the Rose," said the prince shortly. +"And thou, Kalin, of whom and of whose pratings I tire sadly, thou art +still priest in Sardanes--thou shalt wed us--now! Proceed!" + +An enigmatical smile overspread the face of the priest. Full in the +eyes of the angry prince he looked as he towered scarce a yard away. + +"Thou goest far in thy folly, Helicon," he said, and there was a note +of pity in his low tones. Then he raised his voice. "I wed thee not, +nor shall such a marriage ever be!" + +Helicon hissed a direction into the ear of Minos, and the tall prince, +still smiling, stepped toward the edge of the platform and fronted the +people in the lower section of the hall with dagger drawn and spear +aloft. Helicon snatched his own ilium blade from his girdle and leaped +on Kalin. + +He caught the priest by the shoulder, and sought to crush him to his +knees; but, great as was his strength, he could not bend the wiry form +to his will. Kalin stood firm. + +One searching glance he sent down the hall, where men were shouting and +urging forward, and where the foremost were held back by the menace of +Minos. Then the priest turned his gaze back to the face of Helicon. + +Up flashed the bright blade in the hand of the prince and quivered +over the heart of Kalin. "Choose, priest; choose or die!" he shouted +hoarsely. "Wed Helicon to the Rose and go hence, or refuse and +perish--and thy religion shall give way to a better!" + +"Strike, fool, and thou darest," said Kalin contemptuously, and lifted +no hand to save himself. + +Along the great arm of the prince the muscles tightened. The blade +came flashing down. Midway in his stroke Helicon shuddered. The knife +clattered on the stone floor. A crashing roar reverberated through the +judgment chamber, and a cloud of dark smoke floated upward. + +Helicon crashed down on his back with widespread arms--dead! + +A groan of awe rose in the hall. Everywhere men fell on their knees +and covered their faces. Even Kalin, greatly shaken, knelt. Rose Emer +swayed where she stood, and stretched out her arms with a glad cry of +"Polaris!" + +With his cowl thrown back from his golden head and his topaz eyes +flaming, Polaris strode onto the platform. Under the black robe he +clutched the smoking rifle. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + + HEPHAISTOS HATH SPOKEN + + +From his hiding-place behind the pillar Polaris had watched and +listened, leaving matters to the diplomacy of Kalin, hoping against +hope that the priest might persuade Helicon from his blind desires. +When he realized that the priest had failed he had crept forward from +pillar to pillar up the hall. + +While all men watched tensely the scene on the platform, and none noted +him, he had swung himself up on the dais, and stood behind the pillar +at its edge, watchful and with finger on trigger. Even then he had held +his hand until the last second of time that would avail to save his +friend. + +As he reached her side, Rose Emer collapsed with a shuddering cry, and +he caught her swooning body with his left arm. + +Of all the Sardanians, Kalin was first to command himself. Kalin, the +quick-witted, alone guessed that his aid came not from the god of +his people, although for a moment he, too, had bowed before what had +seemed to him the supernatural. He remembered the strangely fashioned +"club" which Polaris had borne from the mountain, and turned it to his +purposes. + +Without rising from his knees he tossed his hands above his head and +cried out: + +"The voice of the god hath spoken! I thank thee, Lord Hephaistos! Thou +hast upheld thy servant." + +Sardanians heard the words of their priest, and they believed. Nor +were Sardanian nerves stout enough to withstand such a startling +manifestation of the deity. With one accord the people broke from +the hall like sheep, and the nobles fled from one platform. Even the +sable-robed priests tarried not for another greeting from their god, +but scurried away with the rest. + +Only one man fled not. That was the great Prince Minos, now ruler of +Sardanes. From where he had knelt at the edge of the dais he arose and +came, smiling no longer, to where his brother lay, and knelt again +with bowed head, paying heed to naught else; for Minos had loved his +brother. + +With a silent gesture Kalin bade Polaris accompany him. + +Rose Emer still lay limp in his arms. He lifted her like an infant +and followed the priest. Back to the Gateway to the Future they went +without pausing; nor did they in all of the way thither encounter a +single Sardanian. The wrath of Hephaistos was abroad in the land, and +his people prayed in their homes. + +Far ahead of them hurried the little band of Kalin's priests, and +climbed the mountainside to their temple. None looked back. + +Polaris handed the rifle and the spear to Kalin, that he might the more +easily carry the girl. As they proceeded he explained to the priest the +agency which had saved him and slain the prince. + +"And in this tube lieth a death that striketh at a distance?" said the +priest curiously. "Well, brother, thou hast paid the score that lay +between us, and the score also that lay between the twain of us and +Prince Helicon. Truly, it was an ill day for Sardanes's prince when +Kard brought thee and the Rose maid into the valley." + +"For one purpose only have I killed," said Polaris solemnly. "The +deaths of the men I have slain may not be counted against me. Gladly +would I have gone hence without bloodshed, but they stood blind to +justice. I take the Rose safely from Sardanes again--peacefully, if may +be--but I take her, though it cost the lives of a hundred men." + +Shortly after they had crossed the river the girl's senses returned +to her, and she had opened her eyes for a brief instant, and had then +closed them again. + +Softly she lay in the arms of the young giant who carried her so +easily. Very close to hers was his handsome face. Very far away and +faint was the face of the American captain. Unconsciously she nestled +closer in the strong arms, and on his broad shoulder her head turned +closer to his. + + * * * * * + +Polaris fought a conflict, short and sharp, as he carried Rose Emer +up the terraced slopes of the Gateway to the Future. It was a battle +fiercer by far than any that he had waged with the Sardanians, and +within himself were both the friend and the foe. With that soft, warm, +yielding body in his arms, the dear, proud little head at rest on his +shoulder, with the perfume of her hair in his nostrils, with her whole +ineffable attraction lying about him, never stronger than now, like the +meshes of a magic net, Polaris was going quite mad. + +Lower and nearer he bent his head. Kalin, unseeing, stalked on ahead. +Nearer yet. The perfumed hair brushed his cheek. + +Wild thoughts crowded one another through his brain. Why should he face +the long, hard way to the north? Was there not here a kingdom ready +to a strong hand--to his hand, with the aid of the priest? Youth, a +kingdom to take for a little fighting, and the queen of his heart to +queen it in the kingdom--what more in reason might any man ask? + +Lower yet his head bent as he strode, and wild birth and bitter spirit +of the barren years strove in the man's soul with book-learned chivalry +and an old man's spoken precepts. + +Yet was the end of the struggle a foregone conclusion. A few short days +back it would have been different. Despite his strange culture, Polaris +had been little better than a barbarian. The impulses in his breast +were those of the primal man, and might not for long be fettered by +half-learned lessons of the brain. And then came the woman and love. +All of the loose strands of his being, although he knew it not, were +gathered together and held in one small, soft white hand. + +So, ere ever it was fought, his battle was decided. + +Her hair brushed his cheek. His head swam dizzily. He knew not if he +walked or staggered. Her breath intoxicated him. Their lips met, only +a touch, light as the brushing of birds in flight, but it thrilled the +man like racing fire. + +He started in every affrighted nerve. He dared not know that her lips +had answered to his touch. He dared not look at her face, swooned as he +believed her. With cheeks aflame, he strode on toward the house of the +priest, and did not discover the fiery signal raised in answer to his +own. + +Dim-eyed, he laid her on the stone bench at the priest's door, while he +brought water to dash in her face. But when he came with it he found +her recovered and sitting upright, with hands pressed tightly to her +face. Covered as he was with his own confusion, he did not notice that +which might have spared them both much trouble in the days to come. + +Following a succession of events which few men in the world could have +encountered, the steel-sinewed son of the snows now went on guard at +the house of Kalin while the priest and the girl slept, both of them +worn from their experiences in the last few hours. When they were +refreshed Polaris took his rest, and the priest stood watch. They dared +not relax vigilance, and there was none they might trust utterly, +except themselves. + +They pressed their preparations for their departure from the valley. +While Kalin gathered secretly all things needed to their journey, +Polaris packed the sledge. He mended his harness with care, and with +light, tough wood and thongs constructed extra snow-shoes. He also +cleaned and oiled his guns, and selected several stout spears. + +Beyond a return from the garb of the Sardanians to the stout clothing +she had worn from the outer world, the preparations of Rose Emer were +few. + + * * * * * + +Within twenty-four hours from the time of their return to the mountain +from the Judgement House, the storm gathered. Hard as they had labored, +they were not more than half finished with their work of preparation +for departure when Prince Minos climbed the slopes of the gateway. With +him came a file of stout Sardanians. Every man of the party was fully +armed. + +"Yonder cometh trouble in haste," said Polaris, when he noted the +approach of the prince and his men. "Go thou and talk with them, +brother," he said to Kalin. "My temper groweth short with these +Sardanians of thine; the more so with those of the royal breed. And, +brother, should thy parley come to an ill end, wave thy hands and cast +thyself on thy face, and I will clear the way before thee," and he +patted the brown rifle. + +"What is the pleasure of the Prince Minos?" asked Kalin, standing at +the top of the terrace path as the prince and his men paused in front +of him, where the way grew narrow. + +Minos made no answer, gazing sternly on Kalin. Old Garlanes, the noble, +spoke. + +"No words finds Minos, the prince," he said, "for his tongue is stilled +with sorrow--sorrow for the deaths of his brethren and with anger that +their slayer goeth unpunished." + +Kalin's start of surprise was well simulated. "How mean you, Garlanes?" +he exclaimed. "The brethren of the prince--" + +"Runners have come in who were sent on the trail of a hunting-party. +They report the corpses of Morolas, brother to the prince, and five +hunters lying in their blood in the Hunters' Road. Aye, they were done +to death with violence, and their bodies damaged by the beasts of the +wastes. + +"Nor does the Prince Minos"--and Garlanes lowered his voice to a mere +whisper--"believe that the death of his brother Helicon came from +Sardanes's god. On the corpse of the dead Helicon were found two +wounds, from which blood had flowed, and from the mouth of one of them +there fell this thing." + +Garlanes held out his hand with the leaden pellet of a rifle cartridge +in it. + +"This thing Minos thinketh not of the Lord Hephaistos, but rather +of the stranger yonder, whom thou harborest. With him, the prince +thinketh, thou mayest find others to match this which slew the Prince +Helicon. But how he managed to slay Morolas and five other strong men, +wounding them all in front, is beyond the power of Minos to guess. And +now, O Kalin, he biddeth me say unto you that thou shall render unto us +the stranger and the woman, or else we take them by force. Thou wilt +give them up to us, or art thou still deluded?" + +Kalin raised his hand in a gesture, commanding silence. "Let Kalin +ponder on this matter," he said quickly, and bowed his head in thought, +while Minos watched him with somber eyes. As he seemed to think the +priest turned over and over in his palm the pellet of lead from the +rifle of Polaris and pretended to attach great weight to it. + +"Nay, O Minos, my master, and Garlanes, his mouthpiece," said Kalin at +length, speaking lowly, so that Polaris might not hear him, "Kalin no +longer is blind. He sees that it is even as thou seest. But if these +things be true, and the stranger hath power to slay with a noise at a +distance, it is likely that his taking will be no easy task, and may +cost the lives of many. In anger, or to save himself, he might slay +thee, O Minos, and thee, Garlanes." + +Deeper grew the frown of Minos. Garlanes shuddered and glanced +apprehensively in the direction of Polaris, who sent him a grim and +unassuring smile. + +"It were better," went on Kalin softly, "to leave the matter in the +hands of Kalin and of the priests of the gateway. This stranger seemeth +to trust us. What many of ye might not accomplish with force may be +done by few of us by stealth and cunning. Leave the matter to the +servants of Hephaistos. He hath brought dire trouble to Sardanes. For +the doing to death of the Prince Helicon and the Prince Morolas and his +servants, this stranger from the wilderness of a surety shall die, even +though he _did_ save the life of Kalin." The voice of the priest became +a low hiss. "He and the woman with him shall go through the Gateway to +the Future as an offering to the Lord Hephaistos. Kalin hath spoken!" + +Minos, the prince, nodded his head slowly. "That were meet, priest," +he said, speaking for the first time. "That is the order of Minos. +See that it be done, and that quickly; for the blood of my murdered +brethren calls to Minos for vengeance. Yes, Kalin, see to it, and much +will be forgiven thee of other things wherein Minos hath had caused to +doubt." + +"When he sleepeth next it shall be done, prince," whispered Kalin. + +Minos and his men turned away and descended the terraces, satisfied +that the doom of Polaris and the Rose was sealed. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + + THE BATTLE IN THE CRATER + + +From the instant that the towering form of Minos disappeared through +the shrubbery of the terrace path, the exertions of Polaris and Kalin +were redoubled. In a few hours their preparations for the departure +into the wastes were complete. + +Cautious as they were, they could not be entirely secret in their +goings and comings about the mountain, and many a curious priestly eye +was cast upon their doings by the servants of Kalin. One of them, a +dark-faced rascal by the name of Analos, more prying than the others, +soon discovered not only that the sledge of the strangers was being +stocked and provisioned to its full capacity, as though for a journey, +but the nature of some of the articles packed upon it made him certain +that his master Kalin was to make use of them. + +Watchful for an opportunity, the priest Analos skirted the plateau and +slipped over the edge of the path. + +He was as stealthy as a cat, but Polaris saw him go, and caught a +glimpse of his face as he disappeared. + +"One of thy priests hath slipped away from thee, Kalin," he said. +"Methinks he hastened to Minos with a tale to tell." + +They went to the brink of the terrace. Far below them Analos was +scuttling for the meadows like a scared rabbit, his priestly gown +tucked well about his flying legs. + +In the small court in the rear of the house Polaris and Kalin finished +their work with the sledge and harnessed to it four of the small +Sardanian ponies, to drag it up through the spiral way of the Gateway +to the Future; for the path which Kalin purposed they should take led +straight through the gateway mountain, and was the only path out of the +valley, aside from the north pass, through which they had entered. + +Just before they started Kalin summoned his priests and bade them +farewell, giving them his blessing, which they took with bended knees +and bowed heads, and several of them sobbing; for they loved Kalin +well. His words forestalled words of surprise or of protest. + +"Children of Hephaistos, Kalin goeth hence for a time," he said. +"Perchance he will return; perchance thou shalt see his face no more. +Let none gainsay his going, for it is of the gods. Now, lest the wrath +of Minos lie heavily on thee, in suspicion that thou hast aided in the +passing of Kalin and the strangers from Sardanes, get thou gone from +the gateway to the valley, and spread diligently the report that Kalin +and the strange man cast thee forth, in danger of thy lives. Fare thee +well." + +In a body the priests descended the terraces. As they stood at the +top to see them go, Kalin caught the shoulder of Polaris and pointed +over toward the white-walled Judgement House. From its pillared façade +streamed forth a line of hurrying Sardanians, and the sun shone +brightly on the ilium blades. + +"Here come Minos and his men," said the priest shortly. "Take thy last +look on the valley of Sardanes, and let it be short." + +"Farewell, Sardanes--beautiful, horrible Sardanes," breathed Rose Emer. +Then she, too, turned to the flight, and shuddered slightly as she +turned. + +Then into the darkness of the arched portal and up through the spiraled +rocky way they urged the laboring ponies. Rose Emer carried two flaming +torches to light the gloom of the way, and the two men bent their +shoulders to the aid of the animals. Close at their heels slunk the +seven dogs of the pack, with hackles erect and eyes glowing in the +half dark of the place, the strangeness of which caused them many a +misunderstanding whimper. Stoutly the little horses bent to their work, +so that it chanced that they dragged the sledge out of the passage and +onto the shelf where were the chapels, at the same time that the first +of the runners of Minos leaped from the terrace path to the level of +the plateau, many feet below the fugitives. + +Polaris turned to the right, where the broad ledge curved away past the +chapels along the mighty ellipse of the crater. + +"Nay, brother, not that way!" called Kalin. "Here lieth the path," and +he turned the horses to the left, where the shelf narrowed at the point +where was the perch from which Polaris had witnessed the passing of +Chloran, Sardon's son. + +So close to the brink of the ledge loomed the bulge of the crater wall +that there was but the barest room for the passing of the sledge. +It required all of the skill and patience of the men to guide the +snorting, frightened ponies. One misstep would have whirled the beasts +and sledge into the roaring fire-pit below; but they passed the neck of +the pathway without mishap, and, after a few yards' progress, found the +way widening and more smooth. + + * * * * * + +Scarcely had they passed the narrowest of the path when a shout from +behind told them that Minos and his men had emerged from the tortuous +spiral in the bowels of the cliffside, and had gained the shelf rim. +Then Polaris turned back. + +"How far on lieth the vent in the wall of the mountain through which +we pass?" he asked of Kalin. The priest told him that it was nearly +half-way around the circumference of the crater rim. "Then haste thou +on, brother," said Polaris. "Get thee well through the last gate. I +will turn back and see what may be done to delay those who are in too +great haste behind us." + +With a word of explanation to the girl, he took several spears and the +brown rifle from the sledge. + +Kalin smiled at him grimly through the murk. + +"Methinks they will try first the broad way, or divide, and follow both +paths," he said, "and they who go by the broad way will be fooled, for +it cometh to naught but a bridgeless gap yonder." He pointed across the +pit. "Those who come this way, hold thou back as long as may be--and +then come thou swiftly, brother, and I will show thee means to close +the way behind us." + +Polaris ran back along the ledge. He came to the path neck again +without encountering any of the pursuers, although their voices sounded +from just beyond the bulge of the rock. Catching hand and footholds, he +swung himself easily to the perch above the path, crept forward, and +peered down at the platform. + +Like rats from a hole, fully forty Sardanians had crept up through the +winding passage. When they saw the light flaring redly before them they +charged forward with a shout, expecting to find their quarry; and then +they stood gaping in surprise on the red emptiness of the platform, +where for centuries no Sardanian had stood, save the priests of the god +and those about to die. + +In front of the chapels they gathered in a group, the fire vapor from +the abyss reflected from their staring faces in ghastly fashion. Only +Minos, the prince, tarried not to wonder. Swiftly he paced to the right +and to the left, inspecting the ledge with quick glances. + +"Haste on the track of the strangers!" he cried. "Of old time have I +heard it that through the gateway lieth another path from Sardanes to +the wastes. It is that to which the false priest guideth them. Yonder +seemeth scant room for their sledge. Let us follow here." + +He started along the broader way to the right, and his men, overcoming +in part their awe of the fearsome pit at their feet, began to follow; +albeit with care, and as far from the edge as they might walk. + +"Nay, not all of ye!" called back the prince. "Garlanes, go thou with +men and explore the narrower way yonder." + +With most of the Sardanians trailing at his back, Minos disappeared in +the murk beyond the chapels. Garlanes and fifteen men turned to the +pursuit of the narrow path. The old noble moved slowly, as though the +task to which he was set was little enough to his taste, and none of +his men was over hasty. + +In silence Polaris watched the advance. He was minded to stay his hand +from strife as long as might be, and, if possible, to frighten the +pursuers back long enough to give the priest the time needed to thread +the pass with the sledge. + +With that plan in mind, he prepared to surprise the men of Garlanes +when they should come near enough for his purpose. His trained ears, +deafened by the noises from the never silent crater pit, did not tell +him of a number of slinking forms that sniffed and crouched along the +rock wall and came to a halt almost at the foot of the jutting rock +where he crouched. + +Foremost of the party of Garlanes was a tall young man. It chanced +that, without seeing it, he had come to the beginning of the sinister +chute in the floorway of the shelf--that polished slide through which +all Sardanians were shot to their fiery ends. At his feet, unnoticed in +the half light cast by the flicker, lay one of the wooden shield-like +vehicles in which the victims rode to death. Ahead of him the man saw +that the way grew suddenly narrower. + +He paused and peered under his cupped hand. + +Out of the gloom ahead of him came suddenly an ear-splitting rattling, +followed by a hiss and a weird moaning that caused the hair at the nape +of his neck to stiffen. Immediately the place was in echo to a full +throated, hideous chorus, that froze the blood in the veins of the +boldest Sardanian who heard it. + + * * * * * + +Cowering, and with staring eyeballs, the members of the searching party +saw their leader shaken in his tracks, apparently crumpled up by an +unseen force and whirled from them--out over the abyss of fire. One +glimpse only they caught of his flying body, dark against the ruddy +glow of the steam and smoke from the crater heart. For an instant the +great hollow of the funnel rang with his agonized shrieks as he shot +downward, and he was gone. + +Only Polaris saw the end. Shaken with horror, he did not neglect to +turn to his advantage the accident; for accident it was. As the party +of Garlanes came on, he had smitten the wall at his side with the +shafts of the spears he carried, and had given vent at the same time to +a deep-chested groan. He did not know that the seven of the pack had +slunk back on his trail, and crouched at the foot of the rock, ready +for battle. Their echoing challenge to the foe startled him almost as +much as it did the Sardanians. + +The young leader, in the face of that blast of clamor, had started so +violently that he struck his shins against the shield of wood at his +feet, collapsed into it, and was whirled down the terrible chute to +instant death. + +Again the Sardanians proved their innate courage. Their companion torn +from them and cast to a fate that they could neither see nor explain, +his death-shrieks ringing in their ears, they did not break or give +back. They stood fast and made ready to advance. From the gloom in +front the menacing snarling of the dogs swelled in volume. It was +quieted again when spoke the voice of the dreaded stranger from the +snows. + +"Back, ye men of Sardanes!" thundered Polaris from the height. "Back, +ere the fate of him who hath but now passed the gateway be your fate! +Back, and let the servant of Hephaistos and the strangers depart from +the land in peace. Here along the narrow way lie many sorts of death!" + +Again he struck on the wall with the sheaf of spears. + +"Now one of you," shouted Garlanes, "haste and summon the Prince Minos +and the others. Tell them that here the snow-dweller and his devils +hold the path, and that with them will be the Rose maiden and the +priest. Haste!" + +One of the Sardanians set off along the ledge, making what haste he +dared. Garlanes himself advanced to the front. In the shifting light +from the chasm he found the opening to the chute, and warned his men +around it. + +With his long arms swinging low, and his face raised to meet whatever +fate might lie before him, he walked straight toward the neck of the +pathway. A sudden flare from the fire-pit showed him the way at the +foot of the rock bulge, showed him that it was choked with dogs, their +gnashing snouts and glaring eyes thrust at him from around the turn +of the wall--and showed him, towering above, clearly outlined for an +instant, the form of their master with raised spear. + +The time to fight had come. + +Others besides Garlanes saw Polaris in the flare of the fire. As the +son of the snows quitted his place and leaped down to the ledge among +the dogs, several spears splintered against the rock wall where he had +stood. + +Wondering much how Kalin and the Rose were faring, and if he might hold +off their pursuers until the sledge was through the wall safely, he +slipped along to the narrowest point of the path and ordered back the +dogs. Again a flare of fire from the depths showed his position to the +enemy, and an ilium-bladed spear was his greeting, hissing past his +cheek to go clattering down the declivity of the precipice. + +Urged by Garlanes, the Sardanians had crept dangerously near. Polaris +held his hand no longer. He steadied himself and hurled a spear. +The man next behind Garlanes fell to the floor of the ledge and lay +twitching horribly in silence. The glittering point of the spear was +set fast in his throat. Once more the light gave him opportunity, and +another stout Sardanian gave up the ghost before his unerring cast. + +Then Garlanes waited no longer for the coming of Minos, but gathered +his men and charged. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII + + THE HUMBLING OF MINOS + + +It was no part of Polaris's program to take part in a hand-to-hand +fight with the pursuers. There were seven of them remaining, and with +nothing but his own safety at stake, he might have been confident of +the issue; but he did not dare, under the circumstances, to take the +risk of the encounter. + +When he saw that a charge might be delayed no longer, he turned and ran +swiftly along the curve of the ledge, the dogs racing with him. He, +the fleetest of runners, now went at top speed. When he stopped, some +hundred and fifty feet away, Garlanes and his men had barely rounded +the bulge of rock to the wider part of the path. + +They charged the neck of the way, and, finding the way widen, where +there was nothing to take cover behind, they quite naturally hesitated +for the next move of their foe. + +That move came quickly. Garlanes, in the lead, heard something sing +past his ear like an angry bee. The man next behind him felt something +strike him over the heart, and he threw up his hands and crumpled to +the floor. The walls of the mighty tunnel flung back a crashing echo +to the sharp report of the rifle. Kneeling close to the wall, peering +through the fitful light, Polaris watched the effect of his shot. + +Vainly he hoped that superstition would come to his aid and hold +the Sardanians back from the carnage. They were dismayed. By the +intermittent flares of garish light from the throat of the volcano, +Polaris could see their consternation in their faces and gestures; but +he had not stopped them. + +After a momentary examination of the body of their comrade, they came +on, but slowly. + +With loud cries of encouragement, Prince Minos and his men, summoned by +the messenger from Garlanes, poured around the corner of the rock, and +the entire body came on apace. + +Again Polaris took up the retreat, running swiftly, and keeping well +out of the range of the spear casting. Presently when he deemed that +he must be nearly half-way around the rim of the crater, he came to +another narrower part of the pathway where a large rock lay behind +which he could crouch. There he decided to make his stand, and to +retreat no farther until the summons of Kalin should tell him that the +sledge was clear of the tunnel. + +He refilled the magazine of the rifle, and waiting calmly for the +flickering light to make his aim sure, he began methodically to pick +off the foremost pursuers, making every bullet count. Under the +pitiless accuracy of his fire, the Sardanians lagged uncertainly, but +always they crept nearer. + +Six times had the brown rifle sent its death unseen, almost unfelt, +across the arc of the crater rim, when there was a stir among the dogs +behind the marksman, a touch on his shoulder, a voice in his ear. + +"Come, brother, all is ready. Haste thee before they close in!" called +Kalin. + +Not a score of yards farther they came to a passage in the wall, or, +rather, a fissure through it, which seemed to have been floored by +the hand of man at some distant time. It led at right angles from +the crater shelf. As Polaris looked into it he could see that it was +lighted dimly by the light of day. It was barely wide enough for the +passage of the sledge, and it so twisted in the rock that it had been a +slow and difficult task for the priest to drive the ponies through. + +Circumstance willed that they were not to pass the tunnel without +further mishap and bloodshed. + +Slowly the enemy had crept up. When Kalin and Polaris broke cover and +dashed for the mouth of the tunnel, the foremost of the Sardanians was +only a short spear-throw behind. In the momentary pause at the mouth of +the tunnel, men and dogs were bunched, and offered a fair target to the +Sardanians leaping along the ledge. + +With a scream of pain and rage, the dog Pallas leaped thrice her height +from the floor and fell, writhing in her death agonies. A spear had +penetrated behind the poor brute's shoulder, nearly piercing the body +through. + +Her death wail was drowned in the terrible challenge that came from the +throats of the pack, and the cry of anger that rose from the lips of +her master. Kalin stood alone at the mouth of the narrow way, holding +the rifle that had been thrust into his hands. In the midst of his +leaping, snarling dogs, Polaris, raging like a demon at the slaughter +of his old playmate and servant, threw himself back into the teeth of +the charge of Minos's men. + +Clutching a heavy spear in his right hand, and whirling it like a toy, +and with a revolver in his left, he swept down the ledge, thrusting +and firing. Around him the six dogs of the pack fought after their own +fashion, rending and snapping like devils. + +In the face of that attack the Sardanians shrank aghast. + +Thirty feet or more back along the pathway Polaris fought blindly +for vengeance before his reason returned to him. In front of him the +Sardanians were huddled in the path, backing away and obstructed in +their flight by those behind who were pushing forward, under the +threats and commands of Minos, the Prince. + +Polaris's brain cleared. He heard the voice of Kalin calling to him to +return. He turned and raced swiftly to the tunnel, over the bodies of +the dead. Behind him the rush of pursuit gathered and came on again. + +Through the tunnel they raced, dogs and men, and came out into the +sunlight, which shone on crags and boulders and bare earth. + +"Quickly, now; the rocking stone--tip it over!" gasped the priest. + +Where the tunnel ended was its narrowest point. A man might reach out +and touch both walls. On the rock above the entrance beetled what +Kalin called the "rocking stone." It was an enormous boulder, the fang +of some glacial jaw in the primeval, or a fragment spat from the maw of +the volcano. Where it had come to rest, at the very verge of the tunnel +entrance, it was balanced. So nice was its adjustment on its natural +pedestal that the breath of a strong breeze caused it to sway, or rock +gently; the hand of a strong man might increase the oscillation greatly. + +"Tip it over!" gasped Kalin, pointing with his hand. + +A glance told Polaris his purpose. In the passage swelled the clamor of +pursuit. He sprang up the rocks, set his powerful shoulder under the +belly of the immense stone, and shoved with all his strength. + +Over swayed the stone--farther than it had ever swayed before in all +the centuries that it had stood there. The solid rock of its foundation +grated and crumbled. Over it swung but not far enough to fall. To the +straining man, whole minutes seemed to be passing as the stone hung; +then, despite his utmost effort, it shuddered--and swung back! + +Polaris turned and set his broad back to the surface of the stone as it +oscillated. He waited until its recoil swing was completed, and, as it +again inclined toward the fissure, he straightened his doubled legs and +put forth all the power in his magnificent muscles. + +He heard the roaring of the leaping blood in his ears. He heard the +uneasy crumbling of the rock at his feet. He shut his eyes and strained +grimly--triumphantly! The resistance ceased, and he threw himself on +his side to avoid falling. The huge boulder pitched into the tunnel, +grinding and crashing, and settled its weight of tons squarely across +the passage. + +As it went down, there was a flash of white beneath it, and the body of +a tall man shot through the portals that were closing forever, and fell +on his face on the slope. + +It was Minos the Prince! Outdistancing all his men, he had dashed +through the passage, and hurled himself at the daylight not one second +too soon to escape being crushed under the fall of the rocking stone. +Behind his flying heels it closed down, grimly and solidly, splintering +the walls at either side to make way for itself. When it rested on the +floor of the crevice it completely filled the entrance. Not a squirrel +could have clambered through. + + * * * * * + +Dully through the wall of rock penetrated the dismayed clamor of the +Sardanians in the passage, and the muted sound of their spears smiting +on the stone. No efforts of theirs could so much as shake the boulder. +Nothing short of giant powder would dislodge it. + +Desperate at his plight, made mad with fury, or surpassingly daring was +Minos the Prince, for he picked himself up with a shout and charged +headlong at the men and dogs who confronted him. + +"This task to me brother," shouted Polaris to Kalin, who lifted spear +to defend himself. Polaris had sprung down from the pedestal of the +rocking stone, and he leaped unhesitatingly into the path of Minos. + +With lightning swiftness he caught a grip on the haft of the spear +which the prince whirled up to pierce him. For a moment the two men +stood tense, with upstretched arms, battling fiercely, but without +motion, for the mastery of the weapon. Then Polaris widened his grip on +the shaft and twisted it sharply from his antagonist's grasp. + +They stood breathing deeply, and Polaris cast the spear away, at the +same time sternly ordering off the dogs which would have rushed on +Minos. + +"A trick," said Minos with a smile, glancing at his empty hands. +"Another trick, O clever stranger! Now try a fall with Minos, where +tricks will not avail." He flung his arms around Polaris. + +His grip was of steel. In all Sardanes the "smiling prince" was known +as the strongest man. Once, for a wager, he had trussed the legs of a +full grown pony, and had carried it on his shoulders unaided, from the +river to the Judgement House. + +Round about Polaris his long legs tightened, and he tugged upward +mightily, in an effort to tear his antagonist from his foothold and +hurl him down. He would have plucked an ordinary man from the earth +like a toy, but he was not pitted against an ordinary man. He was the +strongest man in Sardanes, but Sardanes was small, and her strong men +few. Polaris was perhaps the strongest man in the world. + +He stood firm. Not only that, but he thrust his hands upwards, gripping +the prince in the armpits, and slowly straightened his arms, despite +the utmost effort of the struggling prince to pinion them to his +sides. Strain as Minos might, he could not break that grip beneath his +shoulders. + +Slowly, very slowly, Polaris straightened his arms. As he did so, he +bent his hands in from the wrists, exerting an ever increasing pressure +at each side of Minos's broad chest. To his own intense astonishment, +the prince, whom no man ever had mastered, felt his foothold growing +insecure, felt his ribs slowly curving in and his breathing growing +short and painful, felt his mighty arms slipping. + +In vain he straightened up to his towering height and shook his sweep +of shoulders. His terrible grip was broken. + +Polaris suddenly loosed his hold, passed his arms up within those of +the prince, and brought them down with elbows bended, freeing himself +entirely. He caught Minos by the wrists, and exerting a strength that +almost crushed the bones, he pressed downward swiftly and relentlessly. + +The Prince of Sardanes knelt on the bare rock at the feet of the son of +the snows. + +No word had been spoken. Polaris let fall his enemy's wrists, and +pointed along the mountainside toward the pass that led into the valley. + +"Yonder lieth thy way, back to Sardanes, prince," he said gently. "Go +back to thy people and rule them wisely, O Minos. Seek not to follow +us. We go hence on a far journey, and will not be denied or turned. +As to the strife that hath arisen, no man can regret it more than I. +Farewell." + +Minos answered not, and Polaris turned to the girl and the priest. He +saw that all was in readiness for their going. Tethered to a tree below +them in the mountain's belt of green were the snorting ponies. He threw +out his arm in a sweeping gesture. "The way to the north is open," he +said. "Let us be going." + + + + + CHAPTER XIX + + KALIN WINS HIS KNOWLEDGE + + +For fifty miles Polaris and Kalin drove the Sardanian ponies along the +Hunters' Road, while the dogs of the pack raced strong and free at the +sides of the sledge. Alas, it was now but a five-dog pack! Octavius +had given his life in the crater, in the mad fight to avenge the death +of Pallas. Two Sardanians had fallen under his gashing jaws when a +spear-thrust found his vitals, and in his death-pain he had leaped +over the rim of the fire-pit to the molten lake in the depths. + +Of the pack remained Juno, Hector, Julius, Nero, and Marcus, the giant +leader. + +Urged on by voice and crack of whip, the ponies tore along the +snow-paths, mile after mile. Rose Emer rode on the sledge, and the men +beside it with the dogs. + +When they had traveled fifty miles or more, the little beasts showed +signs of going to pieces, and Polaris halted them. Enough fodder had +been taken from the valley to give the animal one good meal. The men +fed them and made camp. + +After the ponies were somewhat rested from their long pull in the +snows, Polaris pointed their noses toward home and whipped them into +the trail. Tossing their heads in the air, the little beasts set +off along the road in a cloud of fine snow-dust upflung from their +scurrying hoofs. + +"Yonder goeth the last link with thy land, Kalin," said Polaris, as the +men and the maid stood to watch the departure of the small horses. + +"Aye," replied the priest and smiled. "Now be _thy_ land my land. On to +the north," and he pointed ahead with steady hand to where the massive +ice barrier stood in their path, its glittering sides gleaming a steely +blue in the sunlight. He turned to Rose Emer. + +"Lady," he said in the halting English, of which he had acquired a +surprising knowledge, considering the few days that had elapsed since +he first had heard that tongue--"lady, Kalin--American--now." + +"Yes," smiled the girl in answer, "am I not well guarded? Two American +gentlemen to watch over me. I could have no better protectors." + +Kalin caught the significance of her remark, and smiled his wonderfully +sweet, sad smile--the smile that always struck to the heart of Polaris +with a prescience of sorrow to come. + +Inland they pushed, skirting the base of the towering ice-wall, seeking +for some spot where they might pass over or through it. Disaster dogged +fast on their heels, waiting to strike. + +On the seventh day out from the valley the first blow fell. + +They had passed the ice-ridge. After three days of groping along its +base, they came to a place where the mighty wall was deeply notched and +the slope was less steep. There, aided by a heavy fall of snow, which +partly melted and then froze, giving a scant foothold on the ice-hills, +they were able to pass. + + * * * * * + +One entire day was consumed in making passage. At length they passed +the wall in safety, and found themselves in an apparently interminable +stretch of plain and hummock and crevasse, where the going was slow and +laborious and exceedingly perilous. + +Then the priest fell ill. + +Either the unaccustomed fare--their diet now consisted almost entirely +of fish and boiled snow-water prepared over the little oil stove--or +the rigor of the atmosphere and the exertions caused a sudden decline +in the bodily powers of Kalin. Strive as he might, his waning strength +became apparent, and he lagged in the journeying through the steppes of +snow. + +The capstone of trouble came when his eyes unused to the continual +glare of the relentless sun on the fields of snow and the cliffs of +ice, gave way to the dread snow blindness, the _bête noir_ of all +explorers in polar regions. + +For hours he was able to conceal his blindness from his companions. +With stubborn will bent to the task, he ran on with the sledge, guiding +himself with his hand at its rail, after the last faint glimmerings of +sight had vanished. He had a splendid will, and he made it dominate +his weakening body long after it seemed that his muscular strength +was unequal to the demand of the trail. It was impossible for them to +travel as swiftly as they had, but he would not yield to his creeping +weakness, and still ran on. + +When the darkness fell he was undismayed and said nothing, hoping +against hope that it would pass away. He could no longer keep up his +pretense, however, at the first camping spot, and his companions saw +him groping helplessly once he had quitted the side of the sledge. + +His plight struck a chill to the stout heart of Polaris, who realized +that in speed lay their only hope of earthly salvation. Bitter +weather lay to the north of the ice barrier, and there was almost no +game from which to replenish their stock of food. The days of travel +had diminished it to the point where a fresh supply had come to be a +problem demanding speedy solution. + +Now, to accommodate their pace to that of the tottering blind man, or +to carry him, nearly doubling the load of the dogs, spelled almost sure +defeat. + +He gave no inklings of his foreboding to either Kalin or Rose Emer, but +cheered the priest as best he might in his affliction, and pressed on +with what speed was possible. Three more laps on the journey they made +before the steely fortitude of Kalin gave way, and he could no longer +force his exhausted limbs to bear the weight of his failing body. In +mid career across the snows, he stumbled from the path and fell prone +in lee of a huge drift. + +Polaris plucked him from the snow. + +"Kalin is outdone!" gasped the Sardanian. "Thou, my brother, and the +Lady Rose must go forward and leave me. On to the north, O brother! +Kalin dieth!" + +"Not so, Kalin," answered Polaris. "My breath will leave my body before +I desert my brother. Didst thou falter in Sardanes, when all were +against the strangers? And shall Polaris desert thee now?" + +"But for the lady's sake, thou must," persisted Kalin. "Thou mayest not +fail her, and delay is death." + +"She would not buy even her life at such a price, O Kalin," said +Polaris. "Together we will fare to the north, or together will we keep +eternal watch here in the snows." + +Unheedful of the protests of the priest, he carried him to the sledge +and rearranged the load on the vehicle, making a place for Kalin at the +rear behind the girl. Thus they took up again the tale of the journey, +but more slowly than they had yet traveled, the load taxing the powers +of the diminishing team-pack. + +Once broken in the pride of his endurance, the priest rapidly lost hold +on himself, and his vitality seemed to ooze from him with the passing +hours. At the second stop after Polaris had made a place for him on +the sledge the son of the snows discovered that one of his legs, which +seemed to be paralyzed, was frozen from foot to knee; yet Kalin did not +seem to know it. + +At the close of a particularly trying march--their going no longer +could be called a dash--Polaris made their camp at the sheltered +side of one of the hummocks of rock and ice with which the land was +sprinkled and all of them, dogs and humans, slumbered wearily for many +hours. + +Polaris awoke with a strange weight at his threat. It was the ilium +necklace of Kalin, in which glimmered the red stones. He held it up +for an instant in wonder at its presence there and then sprang to the +priest's sleeping parka. + +It was empty. Kalin was not in the camp! + + + + + CHAPTER XX + + HOPE--AND A WILL + + +Without arousing the girl, Polaris made hasty search. Some rods along +the back trail, he saw a break in the snow at the side of the trail. +There he found the priest lying on his back, with his face turned up to +the sun and his keen-pointed dagger piercing his heart. He had stumbled +thither as far as his endurance would sustain him. More joyful than +ever it had seemed in life was the half smile at the lips of the dead +man. + +That smile was the only message he had left. He had been dead for hours. + +Polaris drew the dagger from the dead heart that had loved him well and +hurled it afar in the snow. He smoothed the dress of the priest and +bore the body to the camp. Before he aroused the girl he placed the +corpse again in the sleeping parka. + +Then he called the girl and told her that Kalin was dead, but made no +mention of the way the priest had taken. + +"Ah, another brave heart stilled--and because of me!" she cried, and +the tears came, for she had liked the priest well. As she wept, Polaris +told her of the love the man had borne her. + +"And, lady," he said, "wherever Kalin is, he is well content, for he +has aided you toward your dearest wishes and his soul asked no more +than that." + +He dug with the blade of a spear at the foot of one of the icy +monoliths, and laid the corpse of Kalin there, while the dogs, which +always seemed to sense the presence of death, bayed a hoarse requiem +above the grave. But neither then nor at any future time did Polaris +tell the girl of the supreme sacrifice Kalin made at the last, not +wishing to make her suffer more regret. + +On the rude grave he had made he piled a few loose fragments of rock, +and turned to the task of breaking camp for the next northward lap into +the wild land. + + * * * * * + +Two hundred miles to the north and east, three men were gathered on the +snow crust in a little valley, wrenching and thrumming at the wires and +pinions of the first bird-machine that ever had penetrated into the +fastnesses of the antarctic. + +All was taut for the start. The wings were set. The engines responded +to the power. The propeller thrilled the air. Into the seat climbed a +lean, fur-clad young man, with a thin face, high cheek-bones shadowing +deep-set, cold, blue eyes, and a wisp of drab moustache above thin, +eager lips. + +"Ready there, Aronson," he said, to a man standing by. + +A second later Captain James Scoland sailed majestically away into the +white mystery of the unknown polar land. + +At the door of the snow house that had been their home for days, +Aronson and Mikel, who had pressed with him to his farthest south camp, +watched his going with shaded eyes. A tiny silken flag bearing the +stars and stripes, fluttered from one of the canvas plane wings. Mikel +watched it as far as it was distinguishable. + +"An' here's hopin' he carries Old Glory safely through to the pole--an' +back again!" he shouted. + +Leagues farther to the north, in another tiny camp, three other men +were waiting, also. Still farther on, in an ice-locked harbor, the good +ship Felix rode day by day, the little company of its crew watching +the slow passing of the hours, with every ear attuned to catch the +first voice returning from the south that should tell of success, or of +defeat and death. + +And were that tale of success, those on the ship nursed a heavy sorrow, +that would turn into bitterness all the glory of success. A glorious +maid and two men who had been of their company had strayed from the +ship and perished in the wilderness. + + * * * * * + +Silence. + +As far as the eye could reach, a dull wilderness, stretching wearily +under a leaden, sunless sky. A rolling plain of lusterless snow, cut +sharply here and there by crevasses, gashed at intervals by rifts of +unknown depths and tortuous gulleys. North and south seemingly without +bounds; east and west, many a mile of bleak fatigue between low, sullen +hills of gray. + +A land without sound, without life, and without hope. + +Yet, among the ridges in that dead and twilight chaos, something +stirred. A dark speck crawled on and on, writhing along the brinks of +the crevasses, skirting the yawning rifts, twisting in and out around +the hummocks, like the course of some wriggling vermin across the +cracked and gaping skin of a white, unholy corpse. + +Northward, ever northward, the blot dragged its crooked way. Nearer +would it resolve itself into two wearily plodding beasts, tugging, +slipping, stumbling, but going on, the creaking straps of their +leathern harness pulling a sledge with a heap of skins upon it. Still +nearer--a fur-clad, haggard man with hollow blazing eyes glittering +through an unkempt shock of golden hair and a gaunt gray dog with +drooping tail picking their way with soundless feet through the white +reaches, dragging their sledge; like a fantasy passing across the white +and silent dream of the cold end of the world. + +Once the dog had looked up into the face of the master, the dumb +eloquence of sacrifice shining through its eyes, an age-old fire. The +massive jaws slipped apart, but closed again; only a sigh was breathed +from the beast's broad chest. + +"Aye, Marcus, I know," muttered the man. "I know that you'll die on +your four feet, if you can, and in the straps. And I, Marcus," his +voice dropped to a whisper, "I'll die, too, Marcus, as you will--for +the Rose--all for the Rose--But not yet, Marcus; for the Rose yet +lives, and death is slow for the very strong." + +Five luckless days had passed since the priest had laid his burdens by. +One by one the cruel south had taken lives in toll, until only Polaris +and the grim pack leader stood in harness to race with death on the +course to the north. + +First polar bears, made mad by hunger, attacked the party, and two of +the dogs, Juno and Nero, died under the sweeping crescent claws. + +A nameless distemper, from which no dog, however carefully bred, is +quite immune, had seized both Hector and Julius. For hours they acted +strangely as they ran, and then, at a stopping place, they went quite +mad and turned on the man and girl. + +Hector went down to silence under the crushing jaws of Marcus, who rose +with a mighty roar to quell this insane mutiny; and Julius died on the +spear of Polaris. There were tears on the cheek of the man as he drove +the weapon home. + +Refashioning the harness to suit his own wide shoulders, Polaris then +took up the work of the lost dogs. For two long days of many marches he +and Marcus had dragged the sledge. Now, with their stock of provisions +dwindled away and their rations slender, the terrific strain of the +journey was telling almost to madness on the man and the dog. + +They came to rest in the shelter of one of the thousands of hummocks, +and Polaris realized, with a chill at his stout heart, that their march +had advanced them a bare score of miles from their last stopping place, +when they should have covered at least twice that distance. + +From her nestling place beneath the heap of furs on the sledge he +gently aroused Rose Emer. The girl rode most of the weary miles in +light and fitful slumbers, drowsy with the cold, and her brain at times +benumbed by the prospect, now nearer and nearer, of almost certain +disaster--a contingency which the man would not admit. + +She came forth listlessly, and they prepared their poor meal over the +fame of the little oil-burner, and ate it within the shelter of the +skins which the man stretched to confine the heat from the stove. They +divided their rations with Marcus, and girl and man and dog huddled at +the side of the sledge, to sleep if they might until the time for the +next setting forth along the terrible way. + + * * * * * + +Some hours later, when Polaris awakened her, ready for the next march +forward, she shook her head wearily. + +"No, my dear friend, you will have to go on without me. No," as he +opened his mouth in quick question, "listen to me. I have thought +it all out. If we continue on in this way we can proceed but a few +miserable miles at the best, and then perish in the snow. I am the +handicap. Without me, you and the dog could leave the sledge and go +on alone, and, perhaps, save yourselves. You were born and have lived +in this land, and you could get through alone; where, with me to look +after, you will not succeed." + +Polaris listened in silence, and a smile gathered at the corners of +his mouth, as sad and wistful as any of Kalin's. + +"Too much has been done and suffered already on my account," the girl +went on. "I cannot let you make this sacrifice. You are as brave and +true a gentleman as lives in the world to-day. All that human being can +do, you have done for me. You must not die for me. You must go on and +leave me--" + +Her voice broke, and she hid her face in her hands. She felt the touch +of Polaris's hand on her shoulder. + +"Lady," he began, and his strong voice quivered. "Lady, what has +Polaris done that you judge him so." + +"Ah, no, no!" she sobbed, "you have been good and brave and true, even +to the end--but the end is here. Oh, you _must_ go on--" + +For a moment the man stood and gazed down on her, as she sat with +her head bent low. He started to hold out his arms toward her, then +clenched his hands at his sides. Immediately he relaxed them, stooped, +and swung her lightly from her seat on the furs, and tucked her +tenderly in her place on the sledge. + +"Dear lady," he said softly, "never did Polaris think to quarrel with +you, and here, least of all places, is fitting for it. Yet speak no +more like this. Polaris will, he _must_ go on as he has gone. If he +dies, it will be the death of an American gentleman, not that of a +savage and a coward. Come, Marcus!" + +He slipped his shoulders into the harness with the dog, and again they +went forward into the gray unknown. Through tears the girl watched the +strong back bending to its task ahead of her. In her eyes a great light +kindled and burned steadily. Not all the antarctic snows might quench +it. + +They traversed four more laps across the snows, and were starting on +their fifth when the final calamity fell. + +As usual, they had camped close against the side of one of the larger +mounds or hummocks. It was of rock, coated heavily with ice and frozen +snow. On its beetling side, just above their little camp, a mass of +rock had cracked away from the main body of the hummock. Its slow +separation had been a matter of years, perhaps ages. That fracture +might have been begun by the grinding fangs of a glacier five thousand +years ago, and completed by the tireless and eternal frosts. + +There it was poised, masked by the snow and ice, waiting its time to +fall. + +At the moment that the travelers turned their faces from camp, and +Polaris started to assist Rose Emer to her seat on the sledge, the +hour struck for the fall. Rock grated on rock above them, warning the +man to spring back. He dragged the girl aside. A few pieces of ice +rattled down. Then the fragment, a weight of tons, toppled squarely +down upon the rear of the sledge, crushing it to splinters, and burying +it in the loose snow. + +They stared at the wreck, and Marcus growled and strained to free +himself from the harness. + +Polaris dug aside the covering snow. A moment's inspection showed that +the sledge was nothing but shattered uselessness. Indeed, could he have +repaired it, he had not the chance. It was beneath the mass of the +fallen rock, too great a weight for even his powers to remove. Some of +their vanishing store of provisions also lay under the rock. + +"We still can walk, lady," Polaris said. "We will go on together." + +"No, dear friend, we will not walk on," she replied. "See, my foot is +hurt, and I can scarcely stand upon it. A splinter of ice struck it +when the rock fell--" + +Polaris leaped to her side and examined the extended ankle. He found +it not broken, but bruised and swelling rapidly. It was true that she +could not walk on it, nor would for many days. + + * * * * * + +He made no answer to her last argument. He tore several skins robes +from the fore part of the sledge, and set her down on them. Then, as +well as he could, he bandaged the bruised ankle, winding it with strips +of hide, outside the girl's boot, for he dared not remove the coverings +from the injured limb lest the cold do it irreparable injury. + +His hasty surgery completed, he stepped to the ruin of the sledge and +filled two skin sacks with the remains of the meat which he could come +at. He strapped one of them on the back of Marcus, and the other he +slung on his own shoulders. + +With his knife he cut and fashioned at one of the skin robes. When he +approached the girl again he wore a rude sling, which he had passed +about his neck and shoulders, so that it hung across his broad chest. + +He plucked her from the snow, wrapped her in a robe, and set her in the +sling at his breast. He stooped, and with his knife cut Marcus out of +the useless harness. + +Unbelievable as it was that human beings so beset could continue to +exist, they proceeded thus for the space of two days. At the end of +each short march they huddled together in their robes--the girl and the +dog and the man, and warmed with the heat of their bodies their frozen +food, until they might chew and mumble it. Still closer they huddled +for their fitful slumbers. + +On the march the girl swooned many times with the throbbing pain of her +swollen ankle. Always she awoke to find herself in the man's arms. They +wound about her, a living barrier, which death itself could not pass. +All the weary miles of the weary marches he carried her. + +Under her weight, every muscle of his splendid body was racked with the +pangs of torture, until the fierce pain was succeeded by a numbness +that slowly enveloped his body and crept up to his brain. He felt that +he had been transformed into a marching machine of unfeeling steel. +He went on, bearing his burden, mile after mile, stolidly, doggedly, +splendidly. + +Two days passed. Polaris roused himself from where they slept huddled +in a little hollow in the snow. + +The mere rising to his feet was a matter of minutes, and he swayed +uncertainly. Once more he fought fiercely with the temptation to +acknowledge that this, indeed, was the end, and to follow the footsteps +of Kalin. Once more his courage upheld his resolve. He would go on. He +would walk until he could walk no longer. Then he would crawl on his +hands and knees, drag himself forward with his hands, but he would go +on. + +As he stooped there came to his ears a humming, faint and far away. +He arranged the robe and gathered Rose Emer gently into the sling. +With immense effort he straightened his knees and back and stood +erect again. Again the humming noise, nearer now, and louder! Marcus +floundered out of the hollow, both ears pricked, and growled a weak, +hoarse defiance. Polaris followed. + +From a distant humming the noise rose to a shrilling; from a shrilling +to a prolonged shriek. The man came out of the hollow, and his eyes +sought the sky, whence came the sound. His heart bounded and threatened +to burst in his breast. + + * * * * * + +Sharply outlined against the dazzling sky, sailing along on steady +planes like a great white bird of the air, her engine purring and +thrilling, and her propeller screaming, an air-ship passed athwart his +vision! + +Enthralled, his eyes followed it. It was less than half a mile away +to his right. He tried to shout aloud, but his voice was feeble, and +seemed to be thrown back at him from the air. Before he could rouse the +girl, or convey to her senses what was occurring, the ship of the air +had vanished. It dipped out of sight into the mouth of a little valley. + +He looked again. No, his eyes did not deceive. Smoke was curling up +from the valley, a thin blue spiral. The bird man had alighted there. +There was a camp of men. Food and warmth, rescue and life for his +precious burden--all were there in that little valley, a bare quarter +of a mile away across the snow. Could he ever reach it? + +Into his brain leaped a multitude of quick thoughts. Joy and the shadow +of an old suspicion came together. He knelt again in the snow and +aroused Rose Emer. + +"Lady," he said very softly, "you are saved. Yonder," and he pointed +across the snow toward the valley--"yonder is the smoke of a camp, and +an air-ship from the south just landed in that valley." + +Rose Emer strained her eyes across the snow. She saw the smoke and +comprehended. For an instant she bowed her face on her arms. When she +raised it her eyes were streaming. Out of hard despair tear time had +come again. She caught his hand to her breast, and then raised it to +her lips. He snatched it from her. + +"Oh, but I thank you; words are too feeble to say it. I thank you for +life, Polaris!" + +"Lady," he made answer, "I am going to make a strange request of you. +Yonder are those of your own people--the American captain and his men. +It is my wish that when we come among them you will say nothing of my +origin, of where you found me, or what has befallen us, more than is +necessary to tell--" + +"It is enough that you ask it," the girl broke in. "Never mind any +further reason. I will do as you say." + +He groped within the breast of his furred waistcoat and took out a +small, flat packet, sewn in membranous parchment. "One more favor of +your kindness, lady," he asked. "Please keep this packet until I ask +it of you again. It is the message which I carry to the world at the +north. Should I pass into the world of shadows, you will do me a +great service if you will open it and send its contents to whom it is +directed." + +Rose Emer took the packet and hid it in her bosom. + +"Now we will go on to the valley, before strength fails entirely," he +said. He straightened up again, and bent to the toil of the pathway +which he had marked out for himself. The girl leaned back against his +straining breast. Once more, when she might have spoken, she kept +silence. + +They went on. Slowly, uncertainly, for Polaris staggered much, foot by +foot, he fought his way across that bleak and endless quarter of a mile +of snow. + +Three hours after the air-ship had landed from its history-making dash +in and out of the jaws of the antarctic, Captain Scoland and his two +men were startled in their camp by an apparition. + +Down the slope of the valley and through a circle of snarling dogs that +rushed to attack and then slunk back affrighted, strode a grim-faced +and silent man. On he came like a machine, or like one who walks +wide-eyed at night. Behind him crept the tottering skeleton of a great +gray wolf dog. + +Slung across the breast of the man was a fur-wrapped bundle. With +measured tread he walked on to the door of the shelter, paused, and +with no word let his burden gently down into the snow. A corner of the +robe fell aside and disclosed the face of Rose Emer. She had swooned, +and lay like one dead. + +Captain Scoland sprang forward with a strained cry of surprise and +question. The strange man stood for an instant, his unseeing eyes fixed +on the snow reaches beyond the valley. Then he tossed his arms above +his head and pitched backward, inert and lifeless. The tottering wreck +of a dog crept up and licked his face. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI + + AMERICA! + + +"They say the wild man is going to live," said a voice. + +"Yes, Doc Clawson says he'll pull through all right," said another. +"He's had a close call, if ever a man had. I wonder who and what he is." + +"So do I," rejoined the first voice. "Do you believe that, that he is a +wild man?" + +"Dunno. What you goin' to believe?" The first voice became +confidential. "I heard Doc tell the mate that he hadn't spoke an +English word in all his sick ravings, except 'Lady,' which he might +have learned from the girl. Then there's the knife. Captain's got that. +It ain't like no metal any one ever saw. There's letters on it Doc says +are Greek, but nobody here can read 'em. Doc says he believes what the +chap jabbers is Greek too." + +"He's got a queer necklace, too," chimed in the second voice. "It's +made of the same kind of stuff as the knife is, and strung with red +pebbles. Wonder what they'll do with him?" + +"Sh-h-h! Don't you let your wonderin' run away with you. Cap's +actin' queerer and queerer. Did you notice him when he came aft this +mornin'--after the talk he had with the doc? I tell you somethin's gone +wrong, all right--" + +Scuffling footsteps broke the tenor of the voices, and they faded away +to a murmur, and then to silence. + +Those scraps of a conversation drifted to the mind of Polaris, where +for hours and hours a tiny spark of comprehension had been struggling +back into being. They were the first words that his returning +consciousness had understood. + +He opened his eyes. + +Surely that knot in the oaken beam above him was an old friend, the one +shaped so like the head of a horse. And that row of iron bolt-heads; +how often he had counted them over! He lay in a white-covered berth in +a small cabin, in which every seam and stitch and object was strangely +familiar, but which his reawakening consciousness refused to recognize. +Sunlight was streaming in through a partly opened port, and with it +came the sound of the sea. + +Slowly, for he found it required considerable effort, he turned over +on his side and looked about him. Where was he? Above all, how had he +got there? As he moved he felt something at his neck slip, and through +the open throat of the linen garment he wore fell the heavy loop of the +necklace of Kalin. + +Wondering, he stared at the iridescent links of ilium and the dull +red stones. Then the spring that held the tight-wound coil of memory +snapped, and the past unrolled like an endless ribbon. + +He was weak. He had been ill. Yes, now he held the key--that +conversation he had just heard. The "wild man" of whom the sailors +talked was himself. He smiled. Already his yellow beard had grown long +and ragged, and covered his throat. The knife, and the necklace--all of +the talk had referred to him. + +And they said that in all his delirium he had spoken no word of +English! He smiled to himself once more. So even when his conscious +self had departed from control of his body and mind, he had held fast +to his fanciful resolution. Rose Emer must also have kept her promise. +Not a soul but herself guessed who he was. + +But that last part of the sailors' talk? What did that mean? What +_were_ they going to do with him? + +In an instant he was alert and bitterly suspicious. He was on a ship, +a ship at sea. He was in the power of the American captain, the man +who had sought and probably found the great and mystic pole; also the +man who was the affianced husband of the girl whom Polaris had carried +across the snow deserts in his arms. Now he had a duty laid upon him, +which he secretly guessed would conflict sorely with the wishes of the +captain. While he lived, he would strive to carry out that duty. + + * * * * * + +But why had he lived? At the end of his terrible journey darkness had +fallen upon him in the camp; why had it ever lifted? If it had not, he +had been freed of his promise, and would have been content. + +What had happened since then? Where was Rose Emer? The gossip of the +sailors had included no news of her; but so the inference was that all +was well with her. Where was Marcus? How long had he been ill? + +These questions remained unanswered. He could not know that he had +lain heavy and inert on a sledge for days, with only the thickness of +their fur parkas separating him from Rose Emer, while Scoland's men, +abandoning all that did not make for speed, had driven dogs to death in +their wild dash back to the Felix. + +He could not know that he had been given up for dead by the men, and +that, even then, that conclusion brought little of regret to the heart +of the American commander. Nor could he know that Rose Emer would not +have it so, and that, under her entreaties, the supposed corpse had +been carried on to the ship, and to the good medical man on it, who +found that somewhere in the fastnesses of the silent form stretched +before him a tiny flicker of life still abode, and would respond to +care. + +That care he had received, and in good measure. To Dr. Clawson he +most certainly owed his life--twice over. Having saved it once, the +integrity of the physician withstood the hint, almost brutally direct, +from Scoland, that the man would be better off if he were let to die +quietly. + +Polaris was the one fly in the ointment of the daring captain of the +Felix. His vague suspicions concerning the origin of the stranger and +his business in the snow land had become an obsession. From the girl +he could obtain no satisfaction, and only food for more suspicion. She +would say little of her rescue, and less of her rescuer, taking refuge +from anything like investigation in the declaration that the stirring +of the memory of those days in the wilderness was too much for her +already overwrought nervous system. + +Scoland was a man greatly daring; he also was a man who would scruple +little to remove, by any means that seemed safe to himself, any +obstacle which stood between him and that which he desired. He had +striven for a great prize and won. Another prize lay almost within his +grasp. Should an obstacle to either intervene, he would do his utmost +to sweep it aside. + +Was this strange wanderer an obstacle? Could he be one of a party who +had penetrated the fastnesses of the snows, to wrest from jaws of berg +and glacier the secret of the pole? + +Captain Scoland had heard of no such party. When he thought of how the +man came, proofless, he smiled at his own suspicions. And yet--might +not others have waited for the return of this man, as the crew of the +Felix had waited for himself? + +Then there was the strange demeanor of the girl, her reticence and her +almost rapt interest in the man. Even now she might have been haunting +the sick man's cabin, but that Scoland had persuaded her that his mind +was gone, and that he was well enough off as far as the needs of the +body were concerned. + +To do the captain justice, the attitude of the girl, her interest in +the strange man, were the minor considerations. Everything must step +aside for his glory as the discoverer of the pole. Already the press of +two hemispheres was heralding his successful return, and the savants +of the nations were awaiting his proofs. There must be no cloud on his +title, no question of his right. He would make that sure. + +An unsuspected cunning in dealings with other men had been awakened +in the breast of Polaris. Suddenly awake to the full consciousness of +his mental powers, he was swayed by his suspicion, by the warnings +his father had given him long ago, his oft-repeated advice as to the +intentions and possible actions of the first white men he was apt to +meet. + +He was awake from delirium, and his head was clear. To all appearances +his mind still wandered. A little observation taught him when a sailor +brought him food from the cook's galley, and when to expect the visits +of the doctor. They soon found him changed in one respect. He accepted +food, and once or twice they surprised him floundering weakly about the +little cabin. But he showed them no brightness of mind. His glances +were vacant, his manners those of an imbecile almost. + +He bided his time. + +His strength came back to him slowly, although he concealed that fact. +They were far up the coast, not two weeks journey from New York, when +he first came to a realization of being, after his long siege of brain +fever and weakness. In those two weeks he took every measure to prepare +himself against their landing on American soil. + +He knew not at all what he should face, but he wished to be ready for +it with all his old-time strength and agility. Not entirely could he +disassociate his mind from the idea that opposition and trouble must be +answered with the strength of one's body. + +The man who brought the food and the physician who tended him came only +in the day time. Therefore Polaris spent most of his days supinely in +his berth. At night he was supremely active. Up and down the narrow +confines he paced. He leaped lightly. He stretched and strained each +limb and muscle. + +Hour after hour he endured the severest "calisthenics"--not those +taught in the gymnasium, but anything and everything in the line of the +motion to which his surroundings lent themselves. + + * * * * * + +At length the Felix day in Quarantine. The next day they would dock. +Scoland would meet and accept the homage of a nation which had gone +temporarily wild over his exploits. Before that landing he would +dispose of the living problem which lay and gibbered in the berth in +the cabin that had been Burleson's. + +Privately Scoland made arrangements with the authorities at a big +institution for the care of the insane up the river. They were to send +for the man. The captain explained that the patient was a member of his +crew who had lost the balance of his mind due to the hardships he had +endured. + +That night Polaris checkmated all the captain's carefully made +preparations. Tense with excitement, the son of the snows had realized +that they lay near the land. Then he had seen it from the port. +Snatches of talk of the sailors told him that it was New York at +last--the city of his dreams. One scrap of conversation focused all his +long-nursed doubts. + +They had sailed to Quarantine through an almost continual blare of +every kind of noise-making instrument on the decks of every ship they +passed or met. With his head at the port Polaris caught, in a sudden +interval of quiet, a few words from the deck above him. He recognized +the voice of Captain Scoland, talking to the mate. + +"They'll come for him in a launch at Quarantine," he said. "It's all +arranged. Here's the cabin key. Better take a couple of the boys to +help the keepers. He might try to make trouble." + +That was all--_and enough!_ + +Soon after his return to consciousness Polaris had learned that the +door to the cabin where he lay was kept locked always. It had been one +of his earliest causes for suspicion. Some time after midnight that +night he set his powerful shoulder to that door, and pressed his weight +against it. Minutes he stood there, gradually increasing the pressure, +until the lock sprung in its wards with a slight snap, and the knob +yielded in his twisting fingers. + +The man who had brought the food had left in the cabin a few rough +garments such as the sailors wore. Polaris had donned them as he +occasionally left the berth in the day time. He wore them now. Had any +one met him, he scarcely would have been recognized as the "madman." He +had found a razor in Burleson's cabin, and had shift to shave himself +cleanly. He had hacked off the most of his long hair with the same +instrument, and had disposed of the evidences of his tonsorial efforts +by throwing all through the port into the harbor. Around his neck he +wore the necklace of Kalin. + +Only a half-defined notion of what he was about to do was in his mind, +but there was no fear. + +He stole along the silent corridor, and gained the deck and the +rail, without being observed by the lone sailor on watch near the +wheel-house. Ready to his hand, it seemed, were a short length of plank +and a trailing rope, attached firmly to some part of the ship, but long +enough and loose enough to serve him. + +With the plank under one arm he clambered over the rail and let himself +down with the rope. He could not swim a stroke, but he reached the +water, and with one arm over the stout bit of plank, he struck out +fearlessly for the glittering skyline of the great city that lay ahead. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII + + THIRTY DAYS + + +Before many hours Scoland raged quietly when he found that his "wild +man" had flown from the cage. But he was tongue-tied. He set cautious +inquiry on foot to ascertain what had become of the refugee. He could +do no more without publicity, which he did not court. His agents were +able to tell him no more than did the broken door of Burleson's cabin +on the Felix. Polaris was traceless. + +Worried intensely at the first by the disappearance and still +apprehensive of a blow at his fortunes from the hand of the snow +wanderer, as days went by and nothing was heard from the missing one +Scoland breathed more freely. Doubtless the man had gone overboard and +drowned; or, if he had reached shore, he had wandered on his ways and +would not be heard from again. + +Concealing the anxiety she felt, Rose Emer also secretly endeavored +to trace the lost Polaris. She met with no better success than had +Scoland. Her great-hearted protector was gone. + +Rumor had coupled her name with that of the hero of the hour, the +discoverer of the pole,[1] and with the foreecho of wedding bells. +Several times the subject was mentioned to her by the captain himself. +He found the girl strangely silent on the matter that, before their +trip to the south he had considered was almost settled. She did not +speed his wooing, and he was too busy a man for the time to try and +regain his lost advantage. + +[Footnote 1: The South Pole was actually discovered by Roald Amundsen +in 1911, a fact which the editors feel it is necessary to mention in +deference to the great explorer. The discrepancy need not detract from +the value of the great fantasy of the snow-country.] + +Dinners, receptions, fetes, and the lecture platform made continual +demands on him, and then the summons came to go to Washington and lay +the proofs of his polar discovery before the savants of the National +Geographic Society. + +Nearly a month had worn away since the Felix docked when Scoland +journeyed to the Capital to place in the hands of the gray and critical +members of the society the data of his explorations, that should fix +him for all time in the firmament of famous discoverers--first man to +stand at the southern pole. + + * * * * * + +More than two hours after he left the side of the Felix, Polaris +propelled his little craft into an angle at the side of a long, low +building that lay close to the harbor shore. He reached up, and his +fingers hooked over a stone edge. Softly he drew himself up and over. +He stood for the first time on the soil of his father's country. + +With many a close escape from the wheels of ferries and the noses of +propellers of other craft, of which a bewildering number were moving, +even at that hour, but without being seen of any man, he had made the +passage of the harbor. It was no mean accomplishment of itself. He was +both weary and hungry after the toil. The second need must wait for a +while. He saw near him the shrubbery of a little park. He crawled into +the bushes and fell asleep. + +Some three hours later, the dawn light shone revealingly on the soles +of his bare feet, thrust from under the bush. They caught the eye of a +policeman who was good-naturedly clearing the park of its "boarders." +He investigated. The appearance of the man who owned the feet was so +different from that of the ordinary "vag" habitués of the park, that +the bluecoat decided he must "run him in." + +Still sleepy and only half understanding, Polaris went meekly with the +policeman. He knew that he was in the hands of a representative of the +law of America, a law that his father had taught him must be reverenced +and obeyed in all its manifestations. + +With every instant unfolding to him a new wonder--from the startling +height of a many-storied skyscraper to a belated messenger boy puffing +at a cigarette--he was haled to a nearby station-house. + +Because he could not, or would not, explain how he came to be in the +park, and because his intense interest in the proceedings about him +tended to make his answers casual, the judge dismissed him with a curt, +"Ten or thirty." The son of the snows went to jail and knew no help for +it. + +He grew restive with the passing of the days in confinement. He had +left but one object in life, and that was the delivery of his father's +message. He had guessed for a long time that it had to do with a quest +similar to that of Scoland. Now the name of the captain was on every +lip. He had gone to Washington, to receive the official recognition of +his discovery. + +In Washington, Polaris would also liked to have been. And his message? +He had given it into the keeping of Rose Emer. Where was she? Would she +keep faith? + +Then it struck him with the suddenness of a blow that his message +might, even now, be in the keeping of the captain, the man who was to +be her husband. When he was on the verge of delirium, he had put his +most sacred trust into the hands of his enemy! + +He laughed at the irony of it. Still, he would go to Washington. The +rest was on the knees of the gods. She would keep faith, he knew, but +did it rest with her? + +Polaris learned much in those thirty days, for there is excellent +wisdom even in the bowels of a jail. Came at last the day of his +release, and found him in the middle of a puzzle. Not in all America +was there a person to whom he could turn in his extremity. He was +friendless and penniless. Under the circumstances, he could not bring +himself to ask aid of Rose Emer, even if he knew where she was to be +found. + +Then it was that his dead friend Kalin raised up friends for him, +friends and the power to carry out his project. + +On the day of his release he was directed to the window of the +property clerk's cage in the office of the prison. He found a small, +dark-browned man talking with the clerk at the window, who eyed him +curiously through thick, tortoise-rimmed spectacles of exaggerated +size, that were perched on his high, curved nose. + +"My necklace?" said Polaris, as he stood at the window of the cage. + +For a moment the clerk hesitated, and he and the little man stared +at Polaris. Up and down the little man's eyes roved, and finally a +friendly gleam came into them. + +"I have come down here to see you about that necklace," he said. "Mr. +Atkins, here, he has seen nothing like that necklace of yours. So he +has shown it to a friend of his who is one of my employees, and that +friend has told to me so much about it that I have come all the way +here once just to see it, and then again to see you." + +He paused and looked steadily at Polaris, who returned the gaze with +interest. What could the man want? Ah, he had it! Money! He would +give money for the necklace of Kalin; and money in this land would do +anything. It would take him to Washington. He could go as other men +went. His face brightened. + + * * * * * + +"Your necklace," pursued the little man, "would you consider selling +some of the stones? They are fine rubies, my friend, as no doubt you +know. Now tell me, and I read it in your eyes that you cannot lie, +are the stones yours? Would there be any legal question as to their +ownership?" + +"The necklace is mine," said Polaris gravely. "It was the gift of a +friend of mine who died, in a foreign land. Do you wish to buy it? I +will sell--" + +The little man smiled and answered quickly: + +"No, not even I wish to purchase the entire necklace. I should have to +float a loan to pay its value. But I would like to purchase three or +four of the stones." + +The end of it was that Polaris parted with three of the smaller stones +of the necklace at a price of seventeen thousand dollars--and glad +enough the jeweler was, to get them at that figure. By a miracle +Polaris had fallen into the hands of a man who could help him. He was +one of the most noted experts in gems in the metropolis--and honest. +Where another might have robbed him easily, this man gave him good +value for the stones. + +So it was that while the members of the geographic society were poring +over the notes and records of Scoland, and plying the captain with many +an admiring question, a young man broke in upon the deliberations. + +"Never mind the name," he said to the clerk in the anteroom. "I came +from the south with the Captain Scoland. They will wish to hear me." + +That sufficed, and he entered the council room of the society. He was +an exceedingly personable young man, he who thus strode into the den +of the savants. He stood a good six feet from his soles, but he was so +generously constructed as to shoulders and chest that he did not seem +tall. + +June had come, and he wore a handsome light textured suit. From the +top of his flaxen poll to his shoes, he bore evidences of the best +work of the metropolitan artists who had fitted him out in haste. A +native dignity almost obscured the stiffness with which he wore the +unaccustomed garments. + +Scoland sat at the head of a long table. On either side of it were +grouped the members of the society, the men of science who were +weighing his claims to the title of discoverer of the south pole. As +the young man entered the room the captain looked up quickly. + +Their eyes met. For an instant the brow of the captain was wrinkled, +as though he strove to recall a half-forgotten face. Then the interest +in the eyes faded, and he turned them back toward the table. The +metamorphosis was too complete for his recognition. + +Testy old President Dean turned his leaping blue eyes on the stranger. +At the foot of the table a little bowed old man with a puckered face +and snapping bright black eyes leaned forward in sudden excitement and +gripped the edge of the table until his gaunt knuckles whitened. + +"Well, young man, who are you, and what do you want here?" rapped out +the president. + +"My name is Polaris, which, so far as I know, is all of it," replied +the young man, and instantly the odd name he gave himself and the +quaintness of his speech had drawn him the interest of every man at the +table. + +"That which I want here, it may be more difficult for me to tell you," +he continued. "I came here from the far south in the ship of that +man"--he pointed to Scoland--"bringing a message to the world from a +man now dead, the man whom I believe first stood at the place of the +southern pole. He--" + +Polaris got no further. Scoland sprang to his feet in white rage. + +"What's this?" he shouted. "Some crazy man has wandered in here. I +never laid eyes on him before. Have him put out!" + + * * * * * + +For an instant there was silence in the room. At the foot of the table +old Zenas Wright, who had put some marks on the maps in his own day, +stared and stared. + +"Steve, Steve, I thought you had come back to me," he murmured. "But +you were a larger man, Steve, and that was years ago--years ago." + +"Yes, you have laid eyes on me before," said Polaris, addressing +Scoland. "A sick man came to your camp through the snows, bringing +a member of your party who was lost. You took him to the ship, and +your Dr. Clawson nursed him. You brought him to America. You thought +him crazy and--But that matters not. I am that sick man, the man who +disappeared. Any of your men will remember, or Dr. Clawson." + +Scoland sank back into his chair with a troubled face. President Dean +turned to him and said rather acidly: "You told us nothing of the +finding of a strange man in the polar regions. Is the story of this man +true?" + +Quickly the captain thought. It was true what this man said. Any member +of his crew would remember the "wild man." It would profit him not at +all to lie. + +"Why, yes," he assented. "There was such a man. But he could not, or +pretended that he could not, speak English. He appeared to be a savage +and an imbecile to boot. We brought him back with us. He disappeared +the night we reached quarantine. Now that I look at this man, it +seems that he may be the same, although he is changed greatly. He is +undoubtedly crazy." + +Scoland spoke confidently. Still, he felt in his heart a return of the +forebodings that had warned him against this man since first he had set +eyes upon him. + +"Who are you, lad, and how did you come to be in the south?" old Zenas +Wright spoke up from the foot of the table. His tone was kindly, and +there was no suspicion, only deep interest, in the keen eyes he turned +on the youth. + +"As best I may, I will answer those questions," said Polaris. "I was +born in the white south. My mother I never saw--only a grave with the +name Anne above it. My father sleeps beside that grave, and above him +is the name Stephen." + +Zenas Wright started visibly and seemed about to interrupt the tale, +but did not, and Polaris continued: + +"Other names than those I know not that they had. My father reared me, +and I never saw another human being until I met those of the party of +Captain Scoland. My father died. He gave me a message to bring to the +north--a message addressed to the National Geographic Society of the +United States. In that message, he told me, was the story of a great +discovery he had made--that would ring around the world--and in it also +was the history of myself, which he never told me. We lived far to the +south for many years, for my father hurt himself in a fall and could +not travel. + +"When he died and I came north, I passed and burned the ship in which +he went to the south. Its name was the Yedda. + +"This man has reached the pole. I do not wish to make his glory dim, +but--he is not the first to stand at the pole. I have come here--" + +He hesitated and glanced around the circuit of the big table. Every man +there was leaning forward in strained attention. + +"The message--the message your father sent?" queried President Dean, +and held out a shaking hand. "Give us that message." + +"I have lost that message," said Polaris quietly. + +Scoland burst into a peal of derisive laughter. "A joke, gentlemen--a +joke!" he cried. "I don't know who and what this young man is, but he +has a rare sense of humor." + +"Young man," continued the president severely, "this is a strange +tale you have told--an almost unbelievable tale. Yet this society has +listened to many strange tales. All that is lacking to make history of +the strangest of tales is proof. You say you have lost your message. +Without proof, no claim can stand before this society. I advise you +most strongly to find that message, if such a message you have, and +bring it before us. Until you do, the society cannot listen to you +further." + +He inclined his head and beckoned to the clerk at the door to show +Polaris from the room. Polaris hesitated. There apparently was nothing +more to be said. Still he hesitated. Then he heard two sounds behind +him that caused him to turn like lightning. They were a quick little +gasp and an astounded whine. + +Framed in the doorway stood a girl and a great gray dog! + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII + + A MESSAGE AND THE END + + +"Rose Emer!" + +With his whole heart in those two spoken words, Polaris made as if he +would spring forward. But masking the heart is the mind, and the mind +of Polaris held him still. So he stood, with his bosom swelling until +it seemed that it must burst the unwonted garments which confined it. + +One faithful soul was there whom conventions and the chill doubts that +beset human hearts and brains did not restrain. With one leap Marcus +crossed the space between the threshold and Polaris. He reared, and +when his paws rested on the shoulders of the man, the eyes of the dog +and man met. + +One searching look gave Marcus, and whined; and it seemed as though his +steadfast heart would break for joy. He dropped to all fours again. +With every muscle in his splendid body aquiver, he backed against the +man's legs and began to pivot around him slowly, baying the while to +the full extent of his powerful lungs. + +So Marcus told the world that he had found his master. + +"Polaris! Found at last!" More slow, but no less joyfully than did +Marcus, Rose Emer crossed from the doorway with extended hands. As she +walked she limped ever so slightly; noting which, Polaris's lips were +contracted with the pang of memory. + +"Not yet," she said, when he would have spoken. She whirled from him to +the scientists at the table. Every eye was on her. + +"Gentlemen," she began breathlessly, "you would not give this man a +hearing because he is unknown to you, because he tells a strange story, +and because he brought you no proof. I am Rose Emer, of whom you know. +I wish to speak to you for a few moments. It is of this man's story +that I wish to speak. Perhaps you shall have proof of the strangest +that he has told. Certainly I shall tell you of stranger. Will you hear +me?" + +As she paused, President Dean, who was born a Virginian, was at her +elbow with a chair. She took it, and sat facing the table. Polaris she +motioned to come and stand by her, and he took his stand by her chair, +with one hand resting upon its back and the other on the head of Marcus. + +"We will listen with pleasure to what Miss Emer has to say," said +President Dean, and resumed his seat. + +"There are certain passages in the expedition to discover the pole +which had not been told," she began. There was an almost imperceptible +shifting of seats as the men at the table leaned forward to catch +every word from the lips of the speaker. Scoland shot her a quick +glance and then sat sullenly picking at a blotter that lay before him. + +"There were certain happenings that have a mighty import for the +world," she continued, "which have not been even so much as hinted at. +They are in the keeping of this man here and myself. At his request I +kept silent; now is the time to speak. + +"Gentlemen, this man is neither poor nor without friends. All that +I have is his. He saved my life down there in the ice and snow and +horror--saved it and kept it, risking his own like a trifle a hundred +times over. No, I _will_ tell it all," as Polaris put forth a hand to +restrain her. + +With a dull red flush burning up in his cheeks, he folded his arms and +gazed steadily through the windows as the girl went on, telling the +spellbound assembly the amazing story. + +When she had finished she looked narrowly at Captain Scoland, and said: + +"I think that he was wise to decide to keep these things a secret until +now. All of these things are true, and I, Rose Emer, witness for them. +Now as to the other matter--the discoveries by this man's father and +the message he sent to the north--here is that message." + +From the bosom of her dress she drew an envelope-shaped packet sewn in +membrane. She handed it to President Dean. Through the transparent skin +that covered it, he saw on the yellowed paper that it was addressed to +the National Geographic Society, and to "Zenas Wright, if he still be a +member." + +For a moment he turned it over in his hands. Then he passed it to +Wright. + +"Open it, old friend, and read," he said. + +And this is what Zenas Wright read: + + "Most of the contents of this packet are proofs, to be laid at the + disposal of the society; for I have found the pole, Zenas. I have + stood where no other man has ever stood. But that's in the proofs, + Zenas--and you shall see them, if Polaris wins through with them. + If not--why, then, one more vain dream. + + "This is my son, Polaris, Zenas, who brings my message to the world. + You remember I always wanted to do big things. Well, I decided to + find the pole. I would go alone, and the glory of achievement would + be mine alone. Now I am dying here in the snows, and the only human + face I've seen for years is that of my son. + + "Briefly, I took enough money from my estates to serve my purposes + and went atraveling. Then I disappeared. I bought a ship, the Yedda, + in Japan. I had her fitted out in Nagasaki and Hong Kong. Then I + went to Australia. We sailed from there. + + "Alas I met _her_ before we sailed. I was mad. We eloped, and God + forgive me, I took her with me. She was the daughter of a wealthy + trader in Sydney, Horace Kering. + + "We sailed into the snows. We camped, and I pushed through with + dogs. I was gone months. I found the pole. I returned. They had + deserted. The scoundrels had gone and left her; only the old cook + was faithful. I never heard of them again, and often I hoped that + they were lost. + + "The child was born. She lived but a few short months. Then she + went, too. The cook also, he's dead these many years. The boy lived. + + "We would have come north together, but then I fell and hurt my leg. + I will never travel. The boy, he's taken care of both of us for + years. He knows not his own name, except that I call him Polaris. + I've educated him. For years I've trained his mind. The life has + trained his body. He's stronger than I ever was, and I was no + weakling. + + "When I go, he'll go to the north. That won't be long, now. My God, + I've been here twenty-four years! What must have happened out in + the world! But, Zenas, I'll not whine. Old comrade, if the boy + comes, be good to him. He's a good lad. There's enough left of the + old estate in California to make him rich, if it's been cared for. + I've left him no letter, but tell him that his old father loved him + well. + + "Good-by, Zenas. + + "Stephen Janess." + +Old Zenas Wright stopped reading and for a moment covered his eyes with +his wrinkled hands. Then he raised his head. He fumbled with the papers. + +"Here, the rest of them are observations and data," he said, and handed +them back to President Dean. Members of the society elbowed each other +to get a look at them. Under cover of the bustle, Polaris Janess +clasped the hand of Rose Emer. + +"Ah, lady," he whispered, "Polaris has a name at last--a name, and he +is an American gentleman, and--" He broke off suddenly and crossed to +the captain. + +Scoland sat like a man in a dream. + +"Yonder proofs there will show to the world my father's work. No lies +have been told or written, Captain Scoland," said Polaris, speaking +low. "You, too, have stood at the great pole. Your glory is just as +great. You are a brave man. My father would not wish to rob you of that +glory. I do not wish to stain the brightness of your achievement. What +has passed between us is forgotten. You were blinded for a while. I +remember naught but the kindness of your Dr. Clawson. Let us both be +silent about the treatment of the 'wild man.'" + +He held out his hand. + +For the barest fraction of a second Scoland hesitated. He was not an +entirely bad man. He was a very brave one. He gripped the hand of the +son of the snows. + +"And now," he said with an effort, "she's waiting; go to her." He +pointed to Rose Emer. + +Around the end of the table came marching Zenas Wright, his old eyes +shining. He came upon a tableau--a girl and a man and a dog, all +wordless, all eyes. + +"H-m-m-m, Zenas, you're an old fool!" he muttered. "They have no eyes +for you just now." He turned to stump back to the table, but thought +better of it and came back. + +"Lad," he said, "we--the members of this society--wish to examine the +records of your father's discoveries. We may want to ask you some +questions. Will you wait, you and the young woman--in here?" + + * * * * * + +He marched them to a small, empty room at the side, and almost thrust +them into it. Marcus edged in with them. The door was shut. They were +alone. + +Both of them stared out of the window. Minutes passed. Then: + +"Lady, how did you find me?" + +"One cannot sell three great rubies at the door of a jail, sir, and go +quite unnoticed," she answered, flushing. "My agents were on the watch. +They investigated, and I came on from Boston." + +Still she did not look at him. Polaris came a little nearer. + +"Why did you tell them all--" + +"That you are a hero!" she flashed hotly. "I want all the world to know +it!" She faced him at last. + +"And--but--the captain?" + +She looked at him. + +In a second his arms were around her. For the second time their lips +met. Time flew by unheeded. Marcus looked at them in wonder, and then +curled calmly on a rug and stretched his nose. + +Finally: + +"But I am only a poor, half-savage--" + +"Hush! I love you!" + +Presently they heard through the closed door the muffled sound of +shouting. It was the members of the society cheering Stephen Janess. + + * * * * * + + This is the first of a group of three famous "Polaris" stories. The + next of the trilogy is "Minos of Sardanes." + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLARIS--OF THE SNOWS *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. + +START: FULL LICENSE + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the +person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph +1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the +Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when +you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work +on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and + most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no + restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it + under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this + eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the + United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where + you are located before using this eBook. + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format +other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain +Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +provided that: + +* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation." + +* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm + works. + +* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + +* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at +www.gutenberg.org + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without +widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular +state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. + +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: www.gutenberg.org + +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/35426-h.zip b/35426-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..47b3923 --- /dev/null +++ b/35426-h.zip diff --git a/35426-h/35426-h.htm b/35426-h/35426-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc5954f --- /dev/null +++ b/35426-h/35426-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6398 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Polaris--of the Snows, by Charles B. Stilson. + </title> + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> + + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +div.titlepage { + text-align: center; + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; +} + +div.titlepage p { + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + font-weight: bold; + line-height: 1.5; + margin-top: 3em; +} + +.ph1 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; } +.ph1 { font-size: medium; margin: .83em auto; } + +.ph2 { text-align: right; text-indent: 0em; } +.ph2 { font-size: medium; margin: .83em auto; } + +.overline {text-decoration: overline;} + </style> + </head> +<body> +<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Polaris--Of the Snows, by Charles B. Stilson</p> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> + +<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Polaris--Of the Snows</p> + <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Charles B. Stilson</p> +<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: December 3, 2021 [eBook #35426]</p> + <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net</p> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLARIS--OF THE SNOWS ***</div> + +<div class="titlepage"> + +<h1>Polaris—Of the Snows</h1> + +<h2>By CHARLES B. STILSON</h2> + +<p><i>Copyright 1915 by The Frank A. Munsey Company</i></p> + +<p>This story appeared in The All-Story Cavalier for December 18, 1915</p> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p>"North! North! To the north, Polaris. Tell the world—ah, tell +them—boy—The north! The north! You must go, Polaris!"</p> + +<p>Throwing the covers from his low couch, the old man arose and stood, a +giant, tottering figure. Higher and higher he towered. He tossed his +arms high, his features became convulsed; his eyes glazed. In his +throat the rising tide of dissolution choked his voice to a hoarse +rattle. He swayed.</p> + +<p>With a last desperate rallying of his failing powers he extended his +right arm and pointed to the north. Then he fell, as a tree falls, +quivered, and was still.</p> + +<p>His companion bent over the pallet, and with light, sure fingers closed +his eyes. In all the world he knew, Polaris never had seen a human +being die. In all the world he now was utterly alone!</p> + +<p>He sat down at the foot of the cot, and for many minutes gazed steadily +at the wall with fixed, unseeing eyes. A sputtering little lamp, which +stood on a table in the center of the room; flickered and went out. The +flames of the fireplace played strange tricks in the strange room. In +their uncertain glare, the features of the dead man seemed to writhe +uncannily.</p> + +<p>Garments and hangings of the skins of beasts stirred in the wavering +shadows, as though the ghosts of their one-time tenants were struggling +to reassert their dominion. At the one door and the lone window the +wind whispered, fretted, and shrieked. Snow as fine and hard as the +sands of the sea rasped across the panes. Somewhere without a dog +howled—the long, throaty ululation of the wolf breed. Another joined +in, and another, until a full score of canine voices wailed a weird +requiem.</p> + +<p>Unheeding, the living man sat as still as the dead.</p> + +<p>Once, twice, thrice, a little clock struck a halting, uncertain stroke. +When the fourth hour was passed it rattled crazily and stopped. The +fire died away to embers; the embers paled to ashes. As though they +were aware that something had gone awry, the dogs never ceased their +baying. The wind rose higher and higher, and assailed the house with +repeated shocks. Pale-gray and changeless day that lay across a sea of +snows peered furtively through the windows.</p> + +<p>At length the watcher relaxed his silent vigil. He arose, cast off +his coat of white furs, stepped to the wall of the room opposite to +the door, and shoved back a heavy wooden panel. A dark aperture was +disclosed. He disappeared and came forth presently, carrying several +large chunks of what appeared to be crumbling black rock.</p> + +<p>He threw them on the dying fire, where they snapped briskly, caught +fire, and flamed brightly. They were coal.</p> + +<p>From a platform above the fireplace he dragged down a portion of the +skinned carcass of a walrus. With the long, heavy-bladed knife from his +belt he cut it into strips. Laden with the meat, he opened the door +and went out into the dim day.</p> + +<p>The house was set against the side of a cliff of solid, black, +lusterless coal. A compact stockade of great boulders enclosed the +front of the dwelling. From the back of the building, along the base +of the cliff, ran a low shed of timber slabs, from which sounded the +howling and worrying of the dogs.</p> + +<p>As Polaris entered the stockade the clamor was redoubled. The rude +plank at the front of the shed, which was its door, was shaken +repeatedly as heavy bodies were hurled against it.</p> + +<p>Kicking an accumulation of loose snow away from the door, the man took +from its racks the bar which made it fast and let it drop forward. +A reek of steam floated from its opening. A shaggy head was thrust +forth, followed immediately by a great, gray body, which shot out as if +propelled from a catapult.</p> + +<p>Catching in its jaws the strip of flesh which the man dangled in front +of the doorway, the brute dashed across the stockade and crouched +against the wall, tearing at the meat. Dog after dog piled pell-mell +through the doorway, until at least twenty-five grizzled animals were +distributed about the enclosure, bolting their meal of walrus-flesh.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>For a few moments the man sat on the roof of the shed and watched the +animals. Although the raw flesh stiffened in the frigid air before even +the jaws of the dogs could devour it and the wind cut like the lash of +a whip, the man, coatless and with head and arms bared, seemed to mind +neither the cold nor the blast.</p> + +<p>He had not the ruggedness of figure or the great height of the man who +lay dead within the house. He was of considerably more than medium +height, but so broad of shoulder and deep of chest that he seemed +short. Every line of his compact figure bespoke unusual strength—the +wiry, swift strength of an animal.</p> + +<p>His arms, white and shapely, rippled with muscles at the least +movement of his fingers. His hands were small, but powerfully shaped. +His neck was straight and not long. The thews spread from it to his +wide shoulders like those of a splendid athlete. The ears were set +close above the angle of a firm jaw, and were nearly hidden in a mass +of tawny, yellow hair, as fine as a woman's which swept over his +shoulders.</p> + +<p>Above a square chin were full lips and a thin, aquiline nose. Deep, +brown eyes, fringed with black lashes, made a marked contrast with the +fairness of his complexion and his yellow hair and brows. He was not +more than twenty-four years old.</p> + +<p>Presently he re-entered the house. The dogs flocked after him to the +door, whining and rubbing against his legs, but he allowed none of them +to enter with him. He stood before the dead man and, for the first time +in many hours, he spoke:</p> + +<p>"For this day, my father, you have waited many years. I shall not +delay. I will not fail you."</p> + +<p>From a skin sack he filled the small lamp with oil and lighted its wick +with a splinter of blazing coal. He set it where its feeble light shone +on the face of the dead. Lifting the corpse, he composed its limbs and +wrapped it in the great white pelt of a polar bear, tying it with many +thongs. Before he hid from view the quiet features he stood back with +folded arms and bowed head.</p> + +<p>"I think he would have wished this," he whispered, and he sang softly +that grand old hymn which has sped so many Christian soldiers from +their battlefield. "Nearer, My God, to Thee," he sang in a subdued, +melodious baritone. From a shelf of books which hung on the wall he +reached a leather-covered volume. "It was his religion," he muttered: +"It may be mine," and he read from the book: "<i>I am the resurrection +and the life, whoso believeth in Me, even though he die—</i>" and on +through the sonorous burial service.</p> + +<p>He dropped the book within the folds of the bearskin, covered the dead +face, and made fast the robe. Although the body was of great weight, he +shouldered it without apparent effort, took the lamp in one hand, and +passed through the panel in the wall.</p> + +<p>Within the bowels of the cliff a large cavern had been hollowed in the +coal. In a far corner a gray boulder had been hewn into the shape of a +tombstone. On its face were carved side by side two words: "Anne" and +"Stephen." At the foot of the stone were a mound and an open grave. He +laid the body in the grave and covered it with earth and loose coal.</p> + +<p>Again he paused, while the lamplight shone on the tomb.</p> + +<p>"May you rest in peace, O Anne, my mother, and Stephen, my father. I +never knew you, my mother, and, my father, I knew not who you were nor +who I am. I go to carry your message."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>He rolled boulders onto the two mounds. The opening to the cave he +walled up with other boulders, piling a heap of them and of large +pieces of coal until it filled the low arch of the entrance.</p> + +<p>In the cabin he made preparations for a journey.</p> + +<p>One by one he threw on the fire books and other articles within the +room, until little was left but skins and garments of fur and an +assortment of barbaric weapons of the chase.</p> + +<p>Last he dragged from under the cot a long, oaken chest.</p> + +<p>Failing to find its key, he tore the lid from it with his strong hands.</p> + +<p>Some articles of feminine wearing apparel which were within it he +handled reverently, and at the same time curiously; for they were of +cloth. Wonderingly he ran his fingers over silk and fine laces. Those +he also burned.</p> + +<p>From the bottom of the chest he took a short, brown rifle and a brace +of heavy revolvers of a pattern and caliber famous in the annals of the +plainsmen. With them were belt and holsters.</p> + +<p>He counted the cartridges in the belt. Forty there were, and in the +chambers of the revolvers and the magazine of the rifle, eighteen +more. Fifty-eight shots with which to meet the perils that lay between +himself and that world of men to the north—if, indeed, the passing +years had not spoiled the ammunition.</p> + +<p>He divested himself of his clothing, bathed with melted snow-water, and +dressed himself anew in white furs. An omelet of eggs of wild birds and +a cutlet of walrus-flesh sufficed to stay his hunger, and he was ready +to face the unknown.</p> + +<p>In the stockade was a strongly built sledge. Polaris packed it with +quantities of meat both fresh and dried, of which there was a large +store in the cabin. What he did not pack on the sledge he threw to the +eager dogs.</p> + +<p>He laid his harness out on the snow, cracked his long whip, and called +up his team. "Octavius, Nero, Julius." Three powerful brutes bounded to +him and took their places in the string. "Juno, Hector, Pallas." Three +more grizzled snow-runners sprang into line. "Marcus." The great, +gray leader trotted sedately to the place at the head of the team. A +seven-dog team it was, all of them bearing the names before which Rome +and Greece had bowed.</p> + +<p>Polaris added to the burden of the sledge the brown rifle, several +spears, carved from oaken beams and tipped with steel, and a sealskin +filled with boiled snow-water. On his last trip into the cabin he took +from a drawer in the table a small, flat packet, sewn in membranous +parchment.</p> + +<p>"This is to tell the world my father's message and to tell who I am," +he said, and hid it in an inner pocket of his vest of furs. He buckled +on the revolver-belt, took whip and staff from the fireside, and drove +his dog-team out of the stockade onto the prairie of snow, closing the +gate on the howling chorus left behind.</p> + +<p>He proceeded several hundred yards, then tethered his dogs with a word +of admonition, and retraced his steps.</p> + +<p>In the stockade he did a strange and terrible thing. Long used to +seeing him depart from his team, the dogs had scattered and were +mumbling their bones in various corners. "If I leave these behind me, +they will perish miserably, or they will break out and follow, and I +may not take them with me," he muttered.</p> + +<p>From dog to dog he passed. To each he spoke a word of farewell. Each he +caressed with a pat on the head. Each he killed with a single grip of +his muscular hands, gripping them at the nape of the neck, where the +bones parted in his powerful fingers. Silently and swiftly he proceeded +until only one dog remained alive, old Paulus, the patriarch of the +pack.</p> + +<p>He bent over the animal, which raised its dim eyes to his and licked at +his hands.</p> + +<p>"Paulus, dear old friend that I have grown up with; farewell, Paulus," +he said. He pressed his face against the noble head of the dog. When +he raised it tears were coursing down his cheeks. Then Paulus's spirit +sped.</p> + +<p>Two by two he dragged the bodies into the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Of old a great general in that far world of men burned his ships that +he might not turn back. I will not turn back," he murmured. With a +splinter of blazing coal he fired the house and the dog-shed. He tore +the gate of the stockade from its hinges and cast it into the ruins. +With his great strength he toppled over the capping-stones of the +wall, and left it a ruin also.</p> + +<p>Then he rejoined the dog-team, set his back to the south pole, and +began his journey.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE FIRST WOMAN</h3> + + +<p>Probably in all the world there was not the equal of the team of dogs +which Polaris had selected for his journey. Their ancestors in the long +ago had been the fierce, gray timberwolves of the north. Carefully +cross-bred, the strains in their blood were of the wolf, the great +Dane, and the mastiff; but the wolf strain held dominant. They had +the loyalty of the mastiff, the strength of the great Dane, and the +tireless sinews of the wolf. From the environment of their rearing they +were well furred and inured to the cold and hardships of the Antarctic. +They would travel far.</p> + +<p>Polaris did not ride on the sledge. He ran with the dogs, as swift and +tireless as they. A wonderful example of the adaptability to conditions +of the human race, his upbringing had given him the strength and +endurance of an animal. He had never seen the dog that he could not run +down.</p> + +<p>He, too, would travel fast and far.</p> + +<p>In the nature of the land through which they journeyed on their first +dash to the northward, there were few obstacles to quick progress. It +was a prairie of snow, wind-swept, and stretching like a desert as far +as eye could discern. Occasionally were upcroppings of coal cliffs +similar to the one where had been Polaris's home. On the first drive +they made a good fifty miles.</p> + +<p>Need of sleep, more than fatigue, warned both man and beasts of +camping-time. Polaris, who seemed to have a definite point in view, +urged on the dogs for an hour longer than was usual on an ordinary +trip, and they came to the border of the immense snow-plain.</p> + +<p>To the northeast lay a ridge of what appeared to be snow-covered hills. +Beyond the edge of the white prairie was a forest of ice. Millions +of jagged monoliths stood and lay, jammed closely together, in every +conceivable shape and angle.</p> + +<p>At some time a giant ice-flow had crashed down upon the land. It had +fretted and torn at the shore, had heaved itself up, with its myriad +gleaming tusks bared for destruction. Then nature had laid upon it a +calm, white hand, and had frozen it quiet and still and changeless.</p> + +<p>Away to the east a path was open, which skirted the field of broken ice +and led in toward the base of the hills.</p> + +<p>Polaris did not take that path. He turned west, following the line of +the ice-belt. Presently he found what he sought. A narrow lane led into +the heart of the icebergs.</p> + +<p>At the end of it, caught in the jaws of two giant bergs, hung fast, +as it had hung for years, the sorry wreck of a stout ship. Scarred +and rent by the grinding of its prison-ice and weather-beaten by the +rasping of wind-driven snow in a land where the snow never melts, still +on the square stern of the vessel could be read the dimming letters +which spelled "Yedda."</p> + +<p>Polaris unharnessed the pack, and man and dogs crept on board the hulk. +It was but a timber shell. Much of the decking had been cut away, and +everything movable had been taken from it for the building of the cabin +and the shed, now in black ruins fifty miles to the south.</p> + +<p>In an angle of the ice-wall, a few yards from the ship, Polaris pitched +his camp and built a fire with timbers from the wreck. He struck his +flame with a rudely fashioned tinder-box, catching the spark in fine +scrapings of wood and nursing it with his breath. He fed the dogs and +toasted meat for his own meal at the fire. With a large robe from the +sledge he bedded the team snugly beside the fire.</p> + +<p>With his own parka of furs he clambered aboard the ship, found a bunk +in the forecastle, and curled up for the night.</p> + +<p>Several hours later hideous clamor broke his dreamless slumber. +He started from the bunk and leaped from the ship's side into the +ice-lane. Every dog of the pack was bristling and snarling with rage. +Mixed with their uproar was a deeper, hoarser note of anger that came +from the throat of no dog—a note which the man knew well.</p> + +<p>The team was bunched a few feet ahead of the fire as Polaris came over +the rail of the ship. Almost shoulder to shoulder the seven crouched, +every head pointed up the path. They were quivering from head to tail +with anger, and seemed to be about to charge.</p> + +<p>Whipping the dogs back, the son of the snows ran forward to meet the +danger alone. He could afford to lose no dogs. He had forgotten the +guns, but he bore weapons with which he was better acquainted.</p> + +<p>With a long-hafted spear in his hand and the knife loosened in his belt +he bounded up the pathway and stood, wary but unafraid, fronting an +immense white bear.</p> + +<p>He was not a moment too soon. The huge animal had set himself for the +charge, and in another instant would have hurled its enormous weight +down on the dogs. The beast hesitated, confronted by this new enemy, +and sat back on its haunches to consider.</p> + +<p>Knowing his foe aforetime, Polaris took that opportunity to deliver +his own charge. He bounded forward and drove his tough spear with all +his strength into the white chest below the throat. Balanced as it +was on its haunches, the shock of the man's onset upset the bear, and +it rolled backward, a jet of blood spurting over its shaggy coat and +dyeing the snow.</p> + +<p>Like a flash the man followed his advantage. Before the brute could +turn or recover Polaris reached its back and drove his long-bladed +knife under the left shoulder. Twice he struck deep, and sprang aside. +The battle was finished.</p> + +<p>The beast made a last mighty effort to rear erect, tearing at the +spear-shaft, and went down under an avalanche of snarling, ferocious +dogs. For the team could refrain from conflict no longer, and charged +like a flying wedge to worry the dying foe.</p> + +<p>Replenishing his store of meat with strips from the newly slain bear, +Polaris allowed the pack to make a famous meal on the carcass. When +they were ready to take the trail again, he fired the ship with a +blazing brand, and they trotted forth along the snow-path to the east +with the skeleton of the stout old Yedda roaring and flaming behind +them.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>For days Polaris pressed northward. To his right extended the range of +the white hills. To the left was the seemingly endless ice-field that +looked like the angry billows of a storm-tossed sea which had been +arrested at the height of tempest, its white-capped, upthrown waves +paralyzed cold and dead.</p> + +<p>Down the shore-line, where his path lay, a fierce wind blew +continuously and with increasing rigor. He was puzzled to find that +instead of becoming warmer as he progressed to the north and away from +the pole, the air was more frigid than it had been in his homeland. +Hardy as he was, there were times when the furious blasts chilled him +to the bone and when his magnificent dogs flinched and whimpered.</p> + +<p>Still he pushed on. The sledge grew lighter as the provisions were +consumed, and there were few marches that did not cover forty miles. +Polaris slept with the dogs, huddled in robes. The very food they +ate they must warm with the heat of their bodies before it could be +devoured. There was no vestige of anything to make fuel for a camp-fire.</p> + +<p>He had covered some hundreds of miles when he found the contour of the +country was changing. The chain of the hills swung sharply away to the +east, and the path broadened, fanwise, east and west. An undulating +plain of snow and ice-caps, rent by many fissures, lay ahead.</p> + +<p>This was the most difficult traveling of all.</p> + +<p>In the middle of their second march across the plain, the man noticed +that his gray snow-coursers were uneasy. They threw their snouts up to +the wind and growled angrily, scenting some unseen danger. Although he +had seen nothing larger than a fox since he entered the plain, bear +signs had been frequent, and Polaris welcomed a hunt to replenish his +larder.</p> + +<p>He halted the team and outspanned the dogs so they would be unhampered +by the sledge in case of attack. Bidding them remain behind, he went to +reconnoiter.</p> + +<p>He clambered to the summit of a snow-covered ice-crest and gazed ahead. +A great joy welled into his heart, a thanksgiving so keen that it +brought a mist to his eyes.</p> + +<p>He had found man!</p> + +<p>Not a quarter of a mile ahead of him, standing in the lee of a low +ridge, were two figures unmistakably human. At the instant he saw them +the wind brought to his nostrils, sensitive as those of an animal, a +strange scent that set his pulses bounding. He <i>smelled</i> man and man's +fire! A thin spiral of smoke was curling over the back of the ridge. He +hurried forward.</p> + +<p>Hidden by the undulations of slopes and drifts he approached within +a few feet of them without being discovered. On the point of crying +aloud to them he stopped, paralyzed, and crouched behind a drift. For +these men to whom his heart called madly—the first of his own kind but +one whom he had ever seen—were tearing at each other's throats like +maddened beasts in an effort to take life!</p> + +<p>Like a man in a dream, Polaris heard their voices raised in curses. +They struggled fiercely but weakly. They were on the brink of one of +the deep fissures, or crevasses, which seamed this strange, forgotten +land. Each was striving to push the other into the chasm.</p> + +<p>Then one who seemed the stronger wrenched himself free and struck the +other in the face. The stricken man staggered, threw his arms above his +head, toppled, and crashed down the precipice.</p> + +<p>Polaris's first introduction to the civilization which he sought was +murder! For those were civilized white men who had fought. They wore +garments of cloth. Revolvers hung from their belts. Their speech, of +which he had heard little but cursing, was civilized English.</p> + +<p>Pale to the lips, the son of the wilderness leaped over the snow-drift +and strode toward the survivor. In the teachings of his father, murder +was the greatest of all crimes; its punishment was swift death. This +man who stood on the brink of the chasm which had swallowed his +companion had been the aggressor in the fight. He had struck first. He +had killed. In the heart of Polaris arose a terrible sense of outraged +justice. This waif of the eternal snows became the law.</p> + +<p>The stranger turned and saw him. He started violently, paled, and then +an angry flush mounted to his temples and an angry glint came into his +eyes. His crime had been witnessed, and by a strange white man.</p> + +<p>His hand flew to his hip, and he swung a heavy revolver up and fired, +speeding the bullet with a curse. He missed and would have fired again, +but his hour had struck. With the precision of an automaton Polaris +snatched one of his own pistols from the holster. He raised it above +the level of his shoulder, and fired on the drop.</p> + +<p>Not for nothing had he spent long hours practicing with his father's +guns, sighting and pulling the trigger countless times, although they +were empty. The man in front of him staggered, dropped his pistol, and +reeled dizzily. A stream of blood gushed from his lips. He choked, +clawed at the air, and pitched backward.</p> + +<p>The chasm which had received his victim, received the murderer also.</p> + +<p>Polaris heard a shrill scream to his right, and turned swiftly on his +heel, automatically swinging up his revolver to meet a new peril.</p> + +<p>Another being stood on the brow of the ridge—stood with clasped hands +and horror-stricken eyes. Clad almost the same as the others, there was +yet a subtle difference which garments could not disguise.</p> + +<p>Polaris leaned forward with his whole soul in his eyes. His hand fell +to his side. He had made his second discovery. He had discovered woman!</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>POLARIS MAKES A PROMISE</h3> + + +<p>Both stood transfixed for a long moment—the man with the wonder that +followed his anger, the woman with horror. Polaris drew a deep breath +and stepped a hesitating pace forward.</p> + +<p>The woman threw out her hands in a gesture of loathing.</p> + +<p>"Murderer!" she said in a low, deep voice, choked with grief. "Oh, +my brother; my poor brother!" She threw herself on the snow, sobbing +terribly.</p> + +<p>Rooted to the spot by her repelling gesture, Polaris watched her. So +one of the men had been her brother. Which one? His naturally clear +mind began to reassert itself.</p> + +<p>"Lady," he called softly. He did not attempt to go nearer to her.</p> + +<p>She raised her face from her arms, crept to her knees, and stared at +him stonily. "Well, murderer, finish your work," she said. "I am ready. +Ah, what had he—what had they done that you should take their lives?"</p> + +<p>"Listen to me, lady," said Polaris quietly. "You saw me—kill. Was that +man your brother?"</p> + +<p>The girl did not answer, but continued to gaze at him with +horror-stricken eyes. Her mouth quivered pitifully.</p> + +<p>"If that man was your brother, then I killed him, and with reason," +pursued Polaris calmly. "If he was not, then of your brother's death, +at least, I am guiltless. I did but punish his slayer."</p> + +<p>"His <i>slayer</i>! What are you saying?" gasped the girl.</p> + +<p>Polaris snapped open the breech of his revolver and emptied its +cartridges into his hand. He took the other revolver from its holster +and emptied it also. He laid the cartridge in his hand and extended it.</p> + +<p>"See," he said, "there are twelve cartridges, but only one empty shell. +Only two shots were fired—one by the man whom I killed, the other by +me." He saw that he had her attention, and repeated his question: "Was +that man your brother?"</p> + +<p>"No," she answered.</p> + +<p>"Then, you see, I could not have <i>shot</i> your brother," said Polaris. +His face grew stern with the memory of the scene he had witnessed. +"They quarreled, your brother and the other man. I came behind the +drift yonder and saw them. I might have stopped them—but, lady, they +were the first men I had ever seen, save only one. I was bound by +surprise. The other man was the stronger. He struck your brother into +the crevasse. He would have shot me, but my mind returned to me, and +with anger at that which I saw, and I killed him.</p> + +<p>"In proof, lady, see—the snow between me and the spot yonder where +they stood is untracked. I have been no nearer."</p> + +<p>Wonderingly the girl followed with her eyes and the direction of his +pointing finger. She comprehended.</p> + +<p>"I—I believe you have told me the truth," she faltered. "They <i>had</i> +quarreled. But—but—you said they were the first men you had ever +seen. How—what—"</p> + +<p>Polaris crossed the intervening slope and stood at her side.</p> + +<p>"That is a long tale, lady," he said simply. "You are in distress. I +would help you. Let us go to your camp. Come."</p> + +<p>The girl raised her eyes to his, and they gazed long at one another. +Polaris saw a slender figure of nearly his own height. She was clad in +heavy woolen garments. A hooded cap framed the long oval of her face.</p> + +<p>The eyes that looked into his were steady and gray. Long eyes they +were, delicately turned at the corners. Her nose was straight and high, +its end tilted ever so slightly. Full, crimson lips and a firm little +chin peeped over the collar of her jacket. A wisp of chestnut hair +swept her high brow and added its tale to a face that would have been +accounted beautiful in any land.</p> + +<p>In the eyes of Polaris she was divinity.</p> + +<p>The girl saw a young giant in the flower of his manhood. Clad in +splendid white furs of fox and bear, with a necklace of teeth of the +polar bear for adornment, he resembled those magnificent barbarians of +the Northland's ancient sagas.</p> + +<p>His yellow hair had grown long, and fell about his shoulders under his +fox-skin cap. The clean-cut lines of his face scarce were shaded by its +growth of red-gold beard and mustache. Except for the guns at his belt, +he might have been a young chief of vikings. His countenance was at +once eager, thoughtful, and determined.</p> + +<p>Barbaric and strange as he seemed, the girl found in his face that +which she might trust. She removed a mitten and extended a small, white +hand to him. Falling on one knee in the snow, Polaris kissed it, with +the grace of a knight of old doing homage to his lady fair.</p> + +<p>The girl flashed him another wondering glance from her long, gray eyes +that set all his senses tingling. Side by side they passed over the +ridge.</p> + +<p>Disaster had overtaken the camp which lay on the other side. Camp +it was by courtesy only—a miserable shelter of blankets and robes, +propped with pieces of broken sledge, a few utensils, the partially +devoured carcass of a small seal, and a tiny fire, kindled from +fragments of the sledge. In the snow some distance from the fire lay +the stiffened bodies of several sledge dogs, sinister evidence of the +hopelessness of the campers' position.</p> + +<p>Polaris turned questioningly to the girl.</p> + +<p>"We were lost in the storm," she said. "We left the ship, meaning to be +gone only a few hours, and then were lost in the blinding snow. That +was three days ago. How many miles we wandered I do not know. The dogs +became crazed and turned upon us. The men shot them. Oh, there seems so +little hope in this terrible land!" She shuddered. "But you—where did +you come from?"</p> + +<p>"Do not lose heart, lady," replied Polaris. "Always, in every land, +there is hope. There must be. I have lived here all my life. I have +come up from the far south. I know but one path—the path to the north, +to the world of men. Now I will fetch my sledge up, and then we shall +talk and decide. We will find your ship. I, Polaris, promise you that."</p> + +<p>He turned from her to the fire, and cast on its dying embers more +fragments of the splintered sledge. His eyes shone. He muttered to +himself: "A ship, a ship! Ah, but my father's God is good to his son!"</p> + +<p>He set off across the snow slopes to bring up the pack.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>HURLED SOUTH AGAIN</h3> + + +<p>When his strong form had bounded from her view, the girl turned to +the little hut and shut herself within. She cast herself on a heap of +blankets, and gave way to her bereavement and terror.</p> + +<p>Her brother's corpse was scarcely cold at the bottom of the abyss. She +was lost in the trackless wastes—alone, save for this bizarre stranger +who had come out of the snows, this man of strange sayings, who seemed +a demigod of the wilderness.</p> + +<p>Could she trust him? She must. She recalled him kneeling in the snow, +and the courtierlike grace with which he kissed her hand. A hot flush +mounted to her eyes. She dried her tears.</p> + +<p>She heard him return to the camp, and heard the barking of the dogs. +Once he passed near the hut, but he did not intrude, and she remained +within.</p> + +<p>Womanlike, she set about the rearrangement of her hair and clothing. +When she had finished she crept to the doorway and peeped out. Again +her blushes burned her cheeks. She saw the son of the snows crouched +above the camp-fire, surrounded by a group of monstrous dogs. He had +rubbed his face with oil. A bright blade glittered in his hand. Polaris +was <i>shaving</i>!</p> + +<p>Presently she went out. The young man sprang to his feet, cracking +his long whip to restrain the dogs, which would have sprung upon the +stranger. They huddled away, their teeth bared, staring at her with +glowing eyes. Polaris seized one of them by the scruff of the neck, +lifted it bodily from the snow, and swung it in front of the girl.</p> + +<p>"Talk to him, lady," he said; "you must be friends. This is Julius."</p> + +<p>The girl bent over and fearlessly stroked the brute's head.</p> + +<p>"Julius, good dog," she said. At her touch the dog quivered and its +hackles rose. Under the caress of her hand it quieted gradually. The +bristling hair relaxed, and Julius's tail swung slowly to and fro in +an overture of amity. When Polaris loosed him, he sniffed in friendly +fashion at the girl's hands, and pushed his great head forward for more +caresses.</p> + +<p>Then Marcus, the grim leader of the pack, stalked majestically forward +for his introduction.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you have won Marcus!" cried Polaris. "And Marcus won is a friend +indeed. None of them would harm you now." Soon she had learned the name +and had the confidence of every dog of the pack, to the great delight +of their master.</p> + +<p>Among the effects in the camp was a small oil-stove, which Polaris +greeted with brightened eyes. "One like that we had, but it was worn +out long ago," he said. He lighted the stove and began the preparation +of a meal.</p> + +<p>She found that he had cleared the camp and put all in order. He had +dragged the carcasses of the dead dogs to the other side of the slope +and piled them there. His stock of meat was low, and his own dogs would +have no qualms if it came to making their own meals off these strangers +of their own kind.</p> + +<p>The girl produced from the remnants of the camp stores a few handfuls +of coffee and an urn. Polaris watched in wonderment as she brewed it +over the tiny stove and his nose twitched in reception of its delicious +aroma. They drank the steaming beverage, piping hot, from tin cups. In +the stinging air of the snowlands even the keenest grief must give way +to the pangs of hunger. The girl ate heartily of a meal that in a more +moderate climate she would have considered fit only for beasts.</p> + +<p>When their supper was completed they sat huddled in their furs at the +edge of the fire. Around them were crouched the dogs, watching with +eager eyes for any scraps which might fall to their share.</p> + +<p>"Now tell me who you are, and how you came here," questioned the girl.</p> + +<p>"Lady, my name is Polaris, and I think that I am an American +gentleman," he said, and a trace of pride crept into the words of the +answer. "I came here from a cabin and a ship that lie burned many +leagues to the southward. All my life I have lived there, with but one +companion, my father, who now is dead, and who sends me to the north +with a message to that world of men that lies beyond the snows, and +from which he long was absent."</p> + +<p>"A ship—a cabin—" The girl bent toward him in amazement. "And burned? +And you have lived—have grown up in this land of snow and ice and +bitter cold, where but few things can exist—I don't understand!"</p> + +<p>"My father has told me much, but not all. It is all in his message +which I have not seen," Polaris answered. "But that which I tell you +is truth. He was a seeker after new things. He came here to seek that +which no other man had found. He came in a ship with my mother and +others. All were dead before I came to knowledge. He had built a cabin +from the ruins of the ship, and he lived there until he died."</p> + +<p>"And you say that you are an American gentleman?"</p> + +<p>"That he told me, lady, although I do not know my name or his, except +that he was Stephen, and he called me Polaris."</p> + +<p>"And did he never try to get to the north?" asked the girl.</p> + +<p>"No. Many years ago, when I was a boy, he fell and was hurt. After that +he could do but little. He could not travel."</p> + +<p>"And you?"</p> + +<p>"I learned to seek food in the wilderness, lady; to battle with its +beasts, to wrest that which would sustain our lives from the snows and +the wastes."</p> + +<p>Much more of his life and of his father he told her under her wondering +questioning—a tale most incredible to her ears, but, as he said, the +truth. Finally he finished.</p> + +<p>"Now, lady, what of you?" he asked. "How came you here, and from where?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Rose—"</p> + +<p>"Ah, that is the name of a flower," said Polaris. "You were well named."</p> + +<p>He did not look at her as he spoke. His eyes were turned to the +snow slopes and were very wistful. "I have never seen a flower," he +continued slowly, "but my father said that of all created things they +were the fairest."</p> + +<p>"I have another name," said the girl. "It is Rose—Rose Emer."</p> + +<p>"And why did you come here, Rose Emer?" asked Polaris.</p> + +<p>"Like your father, I—we were seekers after new things, my brother and +I. Both our father and mother died, and left my brother John and myself +ridiculously rich. We had to use our money, so we traveled. We have +been over most of the world. Then a man—an American gentleman—a very +brave man, organized an expedition to come to the south to discover the +south pole. My brother and I knew him. We were very much interested in +his adventure. We helped him with it. Then John insisted that he would +come with the expedition, and—oh, they didn't wish me to come, but I +never had been left behind—I came, too."</p> + +<p>"And that brave man who came to seek the pole, where is he now?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he is dead—out there," said the girl, with a catch in her +voice. She pointed to the south. "He left the ship and went on, +days ago. He was to establish two camps with supplies. He carried +an air-ship with him. He was to make his last dash for the pole +through the air from the farther camp. His men were to wait for him +until—until they were sure that he would not come back."</p> + +<p>"An air-ship!" Polaris bent forward with sparkling eyes. "So there +<i>are</i> airships, then! Ah, this man must be brave! How is he called?"</p> + +<p>"James Scoland is his name—Captain Scoland."</p> + +<p>"He went on whence I came? Did he go by that way?" Polaris pointed +where the white tops of the mountain range which he skirted pierced the +sky.</p> + +<p>"No. He took a course to the east of the mountains, where other +explorers of years before had been before him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have seen maps. Can you tell me where, or nearly where, we are +now?" he asked the girl.</p> + +<p>"This is Victoria Land," she answered. "We left the ship in a long bay, +extending in from Ross Sea, near where the 160th meridian joins the +80th parallel. We are somewhere within three days' journey from the +ship."</p> + +<p>"And so near to open water?"</p> + +<p>She nodded.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Rose Emer slept in the little shelter, with the grim Marcus curled on +a robe beside her pallet. Crouched among the dogs in the camp, Polaris +slept little. For hours he sat huddled, with his chin on his hands, +pondering what the girl had told him. Another man was on his way to the +pole—a very brave man—and he might reach it. And then—Polaris must +be very wary when he met that man who had won so great a prize.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my father," he sighed, "learning is mine through patience. History +of the world and of its wars and triumphs and failures, I know. Of its +tongues you have taught me, even those of the Roman and the Greek, long +since passed away; but how little do I know of the ways of men—and of +women! I shall be very careful, my father."</p> + +<p>Quite beyond any power of his to control, an antagonism was growing +within him for that man whom he had not seen; antagonism that was not +all due to the magnitude of the prize which the man might be winning, +or might be dying for. Indeed, had he been able to analyze it, that was +the least part of it.</p> + +<p>When they broke camp for their start they found that the perverse wind, +which had rested while they slept, had risen when they would journey, +and hissed bitterly across the bleak steppes of snow. Polaris made a +place on the sledge for the girl, and urged the pack into the teeth of +the gale. All day long they battled ahead in it, bearing left to the +west, where was more level pathway, than among the snow dunes.</p> + +<p>In an ever increasing blast they came in sight of open water. They +halted on a far-stretching field, much broken by huge masses, so +snow-covered that it was not possible to know whether they were of rock +or ice. Not a quarter of a mile beyond them, the edge of the field was +fretted by wind-lashed waves, which extended away to the horizon rim, +dotted with tossing icebergs of great height.</p> + +<p>Polaris pitched camp in the shelter of a towering cliff, and they made +themselves what comfort they could in the stinging cold.</p> + +<p>They had slept several hours when the slumbers of Polaris were pierced +by a woman's screams, the frenzied howling of the dogs, and the +thundering reverberations of grinding and crashing ice cliffs. A dash +of spray splashed across his face.</p> + +<p>He sprang to his feet in the midst of the leaping pack; as he did so +he felt the field beneath him sway and pitch like a hammock. For the +first time since he started for the north the Antarctic sun was shining +brightly—shining cold and clear on a great disaster!</p> + +<p>For they had pitched their camp on an ice floe. Whipped on by the gale, +the sea had risen under it, heaved it up and broken it. On a section +of the floe several acres in extent their little camp lay, at the very +brink of a gash in the ice-field which had cut them off from the land +over which they had come.</p> + +<p>The water was raging like a millrace through the widening rift between +them and the shore. Caught in a swift current and urged by the furious +wind, the broken-up floe was drifting, faster and faster—<i>back to the +south</i>!</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>BATTLE ON THE FLOE</h3> + + +<p>Helpless, Polaris stood at the brink of the rift, swirling water and +tossing ice throwing the spray about him in clouds. Here was opposition +against which his naked strength was useless. As if they realized that +they were being parted from the firm land, the dogs grouped at the edge +of the floe and sent their dismal howls across the raging swirl, only +to be drowned by the din of the crashing icebergs.</p> + +<p>Turning, Polaris saw Rose Emer. She stood at the doorway of the tent +of skins, staring across the wind-swept channel with a blank despair +looking from her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Ah, all is lost, now!" she gasped.</p> + +<p>Then the great spirit of the man rose into spoken words. "No, lady," +he called, his voice rising clearly above the shrieking and thundering +pandemonium. "We yet have our lives."</p> + +<p>As he spoke there was a rending sound at his feet. The dogs sprang +back in terror and huddled against the face of the ice cliff. Torn +away by the impact of some weightier body beneath, nearly half of the +ledge where they stood was split from the main body of the floe, and +plunged, heaving and crackling into the current.</p> + +<p>Polaris saved himself by a mighty spring. Right in the path of the gash +lay the sledge, and it hung balanced at the edge of the ice floe. Down +it swung, and would have slipped over, but Polaris saw it going.</p> + +<p>He clutched at the ends of the leathern dog-harness as they glided from +him across the ice and, with a tug, into which he put all the power of +his splendid muscles, he retrieved the sledge. Hardly had he dragged it +to safety when, with another roar of sundered ice, their foothold gaped +again and left them but a scanty shelf at the foot of the beetling berg.</p> + +<p>"Here we may not stay, lady," said Polaris. He swept the tent and its +robes into his arms and piled them on the sledge. Without waiting to +harness the dogs, he grasped the leather bands and alone pulled the +load along the ledge and around a shoulder of the cliff.</p> + +<p>At the other side of the cliff a ridge extended between the berg which +they skirted and another towering mountain of ice of similar formation. +Beyond the twin bergs lay the level plane of the floe, its edges +continually frayed by the attack of the waves and the onset of floating +ice.</p> + +<p>Along the incline of the ridge were several hollows partially filled +with drift snow. Knowing that on the ice cape, in such a tempest, +they must soon perish miserably, Polaris made camp in one of these +depressions where the deep snow tempered the chill of its foundation.</p> + +<p>In the clutch of the churning waters the floe turned slowly like an +immense wheel as it drifted in the current. Its course was away from +the shore to the southwest, and it gathered speed and momentum with +every passing second. The cove from whence it had been torn was already +a mere notch in the far-away shore-line.</p> + +<p>Around them was a scene of wild and compelling beauty. Leagues and +leagues of on-rushing water hurled its white-crested squadrons against +the precipitous sides of the flotilla of icebergs, tore at the edges +of the drifting floes, and threw itself in huge waves across the more +level planes, inundating them repeatedly. Clouds of lacelike spray hung +in the air after each attack, and cascading torrents returned to the +waves.</p> + +<p>Above it all the antarctic sun shone gloriously, splintering its golden +spears on the myriad pinnacles, minarets, battlements, and crags of +towering masses of crystal that reflected back into the quivering air +all the colors of the spectrum. Thinner crests blazed flame-red in +the rays. Other points glittered coldly blue. From a thousand lesser +scintillating spires the shifting play of the colors, from vermilion +to purple, from green to gold, in the lavish magnificence of nature's +magic, was torture to the eye that beheld.</p> + +<p>On the spine of the ridge stood Polaris, leaning on his long spear +and gazing with heightened color and gleaming eyes on those fairy +symbols of old mother nature. To the girl who watched him he seemed to +complete the picture. In his superb trappings of furs, and surrounded +by his shaggy servants, he was at one with his weird and terrible +surroundings. She admired—and shuddered.</p> + +<p>Presently, when he came down from the ridge, she asked him, with a +brave smile, "What, sir, will be the next move?"</p> + +<p>"That is in the hands of the great God, if such a one there be," he +said. "Whatever it may be, it shall find us ready. Somewhere we must +come to shore. When we do—on to the north and the ship, be it half a +world away."</p> + +<p>"But for food and warmth? We must have those, if we are to go in the +flesh."</p> + +<p>"Already they are provided for," he replied quickly. He was peering +sharply over her shoulder toward the mass of the other berg. With his +words the clustered pack set up an angry snarling and baying. She +followed his glance and paled.</p> + +<p>Lumbering forth from a narrow pass at the extremity of the ridge was a +gigantic polar bear. His little eyes glittered wickedly, hungrily, and +his long, red tongue crept out and licked his slavering chops. As he +came on, with ungainly, padding gait, his head swung ponderously to and +fro.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he cleared the pass of his immense bulk when another +twitching white muzzle was protruded, and a second beast, in size +nearly equal to the first, set foot on the ridge and ambled on to the +attack.</p> + +<p>Reckless at least of this peril, the dogs would have leaped forward +to close with the invaders but their master intervened. The stinging, +cracking lash in his hand drove them from the foe. Their overlord, man, +elected to make the battle alone.</p> + +<p>In two springs he reached the sledge, tore the rifle from its +coverings, and was at the side of the girl. He thrust the weapon into +her hands.</p> + +<p>"Back, lady; back to the sledge!" he cried. "Unless I call, shoot not. +If you do shoot, aim for the throat when they rear, and leave the rest +to me and the dogs. Many times have I met these enemies, and I know +well how to deal with them."</p> + +<p>With another crack of the whip over the heads of the snarling pack, he +left her and bounded forward, spear in hand and long knife bared.</p> + +<p>Awkward of pace and unhurried, the snow kings came on to their feast. +In a thought the man chose his ground. Between him and the bears the +ridge narrowed so that for a few feet there was footway for but one of +the monsters at once.</p> + +<p>Polaris ran to where that narrow path began and threw himself on his +face on the ice.</p> + +<p>At that ruse the foremost bear hesitated. He reared and brushed his +muzzle with his formidable crescent-clawed paw. Polaris might have shot +then and ended at once the hardest part of his battle. But the man +held to a stubborn pride in his own weapons. Both of the beasts he +would slay, if he might, as he always had slain. His guns were reserved +for dire extremity.</p> + +<p>The bear settled to all fours again, and reached out a cautious paw +and felt along the path, its claws gouging seams in the ice. Assured +that the footing would hold, it crept out on the narrow way, nearer and +nearer to the motionless man. Scarce a yard from him it squatted. The +steam of its breath beat toward him.</p> + +<p>It raised one armed paw to strike. The girl cried out in terror and +raised the rifle. The man moved, and she hesitated.</p> + +<p>Down came the terrible paw, its curved claws projected and compressed +for the blow. It struck only the adamantine ice of the pathway, +splintering it. With the down-stroke timed to the second, the man had +leaped up and forward.</p> + +<p>As though set on a steel spring, he vaulted into the air, above the +clashing talons and gnashing jaws, and landed light and sure on the +back of his ponderous adversary. To pass an arm under the bear's +throat, to clip its back with the grip of his legs was the work of a +heart-beat's time for Polaris.</p> + +<p>With a stifled howl of rage the bear rose to its haunches, and the +man rose with it. He gave it no time to turn or settle. Exerting his +muscles of steel, he tugged the huge head back. He swung clear from the +body of his foe. His feet touched the path and held it. He shot one +knee into the back of the bear.</p> + +<p>The spear he had dropped when he sprang, but his long knife gleamed in +his hand, and he stabbed, once, twice, sending the blade home under +the brute's shoulder. He released his grip, spurned the yielding body +with his foot, and the huge hulk rolled from the path down the slope, +crimsoning the snow with its blood.</p> + +<p>Polaris bounded across the narrow ledge and regained his spear. He +smiled as there arose from the foot of the slope a hideous clamor that +told him that the pack had charged in, as usual, not to be restrained +at sight of the kill. He waved his hand to the girl, who stood, +statuelike, beside the sledge.</p> + +<p>Doubly enraged at its inability to participate in the battle which had +been the death of its mate, the smaller bear waited no longer when the +path was clear, but rushed madly with lowered head. Strong as he was, +the man knew that he could not hope to stay or turn that avalanche +of flesh and sinew. As it reached him he sprang aside where the path +broadened, lashing out with his keen-edged spear.</p> + +<p>His aim was true. Just over one of the small eyes the point of the +spear bit deep, and blood followed it. With tigerish agility the man +leaped over the beast, striking down as he did so.</p> + +<p>The bear reared on its hindquarters and whimpered, brushing at its eyes +with its forepaws. Its head gashed so that the flowing blood blinded +it, it was beaten. Before it stood its master. Bending back until his +body arched like a drawn bow, Polaris poised his spear and thrust home +at the broad chest.</p> + +<p>A death howl that was echoed back from the crashing cliffs was answer +to his stroke. The bear settled forward and sprawled in the snow.</p> + +<p>Polaris set his foot on the body of the fallen monster and gazed down +at the girl with smiling face.</p> + +<p>"Here, lady, are food and warmth for many days," he called.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>INTO THE UNKNOWN</h3> + + +<p>Southward, ever southward, the floating glory of the jeweled tide +bore them. Fast as they went, the wind-urged waters raced by them +faster still. Steel-blue surges, mountain high, tore by their refuge +in endless rush. From a sky gale-swept of all clouds, the sun shone +steadily through nightless days.</p> + +<p>Fragment after fragment of the drifting floe was rasped away and +ground to splinters among the staggering icebergs. As it dwindled in +dimensions, its revolving movement increased, until it reeled onward +like a giant gyroscope, and they who rode it grew giddy with its whirl.</p> + +<p>Around them nature played her heart-shaking music, and spread over +glittering tide and snow-splashed icebergs the wondrous, iridescent +filaments reflected from the facets of her monstrous gems.</p> + +<p>Then, as suddenly as it had risen, the wind died away. Cloudheads arose +and overcast the sky, the ragged waves smoothed into long rollers, and +their frightful pace was abated, although they continued to ride south +with a strong tide.</p> + +<p>A few hours later it seemed that the wind had been to the end of the +world and had turned to hurry northward again, for it began to beat up +steadily from ahead of them, but not strongly enough to overcome the +tide it had set with it in its headlong dash.</p> + +<p>To their left, far away, they could catch occasional glimpses of a +jagged coast-line. Out to the right little was to be seen but the +tossing flotilla of bergs, gradually fretting away into tide ice.</p> + +<p>With the return of the wind from the south, Polaris was puzzled to note +once more the recurrence of a phenomenon over which he had pondered +often. The air was growing warmer!</p> + +<p>Another manifestation came; more puzzling by far than that of the +warming breeze. One day they awoke and found the air filled with +drifting white particles. As far as the eye could see it seemed that a +shower of fine snow was falling. But the storm was not of snow!</p> + +<p>Settling weblike in the crannies of the ice, filming the crests of the +waves, hanging impalpably in the breeze, it was ashes that was falling!</p> + +<p>Whence came this strangest of all storms? Polaris and Rose Emer stared +at each other, completely at a loss.</p> + +<p>"If we are to go far enough, we are to find out some great new thing, +lady," said the man.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Soon after the battle with the bears they had abandoned the first +iceberg. The floe had broken away on that side until the berg's sheer +side was opposed to the fury of the wind and waves, and Polaris feared +that it would topple under the constant impact with other bergs, and +pitch them into the tide.</p> + +<p>They crossed the narrow path to the twin berg, threaded the pass of the +bears, and found on the farther side a cavern in the ice, partly filled +with drift snow, where the animals had made their lair. There they were +now confined, as in a castle. The plane of the floe had all been beaten +away. Even the ridge between the bergs was gone, and the waves rolled +between the twin towers of ice, still held together beneath the surface +of the waters by a bond that no crash had severed.</p> + +<p>The wind subsided, but the air remained warm. No longer were they +within the realm of eternal ice, for, outside their prison, the +surfaces of the revolving bergs at times actually dripped. The ice was +thawing!</p> + +<p>Then a kink in the current caught them and shot them straight to shore. +From the crest of their watchtower, Polaris and the girl viewed the +approach. Along the shore-line for miles the drift ice lay like a scum +on the water, with here and there the remnant of a mighty iceberg +jutting up. Of those, their own refuge was the largest remaining.</p> + +<p>Beyond the drift ice the land seemed covered with heavy snow, and far +inland were hills. To the northward, perhaps a mile, a mountain range +that seemed like a mighty wall curved from the horizon to the lap of +the sea, and terminated at the water's edge in a sheer and gleaming +face, many hundred feet high. Just ahead a promontory extended out +toward them, and beyond it lay a cove. The heavens to the southward +were piled with dull cloud-banks that curled and shifted in the slow +wind.</p> + +<p>"It may be that this will be a rough landing, lady," said Polaris. "Our +tower is going to pieces, and here we may not stay. I will make ready +the sledge. We must cross the drift ice to the shore in some manner."</p> + +<p>He packed their stores on the sledge, with the robes and all that made +their little camp, and hauled everything to what seemed the most solid +portion of the berg. Instinctive seemed the wisdom that guided the man. +The twin bergs, driven on by the last impulse of the current, plowed +through the drift ice like a stately ship, and were broken asunder +across the point of the promontory. Their revolutions laid them right +across the snow-covered point of land.</p> + +<p>As they swung on, the berg which they had quitted was southernmost. +There was a dull shock of impact, and beneath their feet the solid +ice quivered. The farther berg pushed on around the point in a swirl +of foam and ice. Their own ice castle swung to the north side of the +promontory, keeled over at a terrifying angle, and began to settle.</p> + +<p>Above them loomed the beetling masses of ice with the dark shadow of +the cave mouth. Below was the nose of the promontory, covered deep with +snow. Farther and farther leaned the berg.</p> + +<p>"We have but a moment!" cried Polaris. "We must leap. The berg will +fall on the land or slide into the sea. It is turning over!"</p> + +<p>He seized the sledge, half lifted it, and hurled it from the tilting +berg into the snow. Then he caught the girl in his arms and leaped, +putting all his strength into the jump.</p> + +<p>Out into the air they shot, and down, down. Around them as they fell +the sky seemed to be showering dogs as the seven of the pack followed +their master. Then man and girl and dogs vanished in the soft snow, and +the iceberg went thundering and crashing to its fall.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>WHAT MANNER OF MEN?</h3> + + +<p>Buried many feet in the snow, with the struggling mass of dogs above +and around them, Polaris and Rose Emer heard the muffled shock of the +mighty crag and felt the rock beneath them vibrate. Masses of ice +hurtled through the air and fell in the snow all about them, but they +were unscathed.</p> + +<p>When they floundered with much effort to the surface of the snow the +crystal cliff that had been their home was gone. The waves were tossing +and eddying where it had plunged over. Where it had ground the side of +the point snow and ice had been torn away, leaving exposed the naked +gray rocks. Around the head of the promontory drifted a long, low mass +of yellow ice, water-worn and unlovely, that had been the bottom of the +berg.</p> + +<p>About them the snow was crusted, and the crust was punctured with many +pits where fragments of the ice from the berg had fallen, and with +other pits where the seven dogs of the pack had pitched headlong. One +by one the gray runners crawled to the surface and emerged like rats +from their holes to sprawl upon the snow crust, looking exceedingly +foolish, as is the manner of dignified dogs when they are spilled +promiscuously into such a predicament.</p> + +<p>A little way from where the man and woman stood the sledge was upended +in the drift. If walked over quickly the crust of the snow was firm +enough to offer footing.</p> + +<p>Polaris soon righted the sledge, which had suffered no harm in its +fall, and inspanned the team. They set off for the shore over a +succession of dips and rises along the back of the promontory.</p> + +<p>Where it was joined to the shore, however, they found an obstacle. The +land bristled with a bulwark of rocks, snow, and ice of a height to +make it impossible for the man to guide the sledge over it.</p> + +<p>Rose Emer had come to look to Polaris in the face of each new +difficulty, finding in him an infinite resource and genius for +surmounting them. She turned to him now, and found that he had solved +the puzzle.</p> + +<p>"We can scramble over this," he said; "you and I and the dogs, and we +will find a spot suitable for landing the sledge along the shore. Then +I will return and manage with the sledge across the drift ice. It is +wedged in the cove yonder so firmly that it will be no great task."</p> + +<p>The girl glanced down into the cove, where the glittering scum of +fragments rose and fell with the swell of the waves, and her eyes +widened; but she offered no objection. She had yet to see this man fail +in what he attempted.</p> + +<p>Using his spear for an alpenstock, Polaris took her by the arm, and +they made the ascent of the rocks. Sometimes he lifted her as lightly +as though she were a babe and set her ahead of him, while he climbed to +a farther projection of the crags. Sometimes he carried her bodily in +one arm and climbed on easily with the double weight.</p> + +<p>So they reached the far side of the obstruction, and after them +scrambled and leaped the pack.</p> + +<p>To the east a plain stretched away toward the hills and the mountain +wall—a plain rifted deeply with many gulleys and chasms, but passable. +They found with little difficulty a break in the rocky rampart that +fringed the bank of the cove where the sledge might be landed, and +there Polaris left the girl and the dogs. He leaped onto the drift ice +with a wave of his hand and set out across the cove for the point, +marking as he went the safest and easiest course for his return with +the sledge.</p> + +<p>Rose Emer watched him cross and ascend the sloping side of the point. A +moment later he reappeared, dragging the sledge, and launched it on the +return trip. He disdained to lighten the load of it, in which manner he +might have made his transport much more easily in two journeys.</p> + +<p>Leaping from one large cake of ice to another, he hauled and pushed and +dragged the entire load. Where dangerous intervals of small ice lay +between the larger pieces, he crossed over, and with a heave of his +magnificent shoulders pulled the sledge quickly across. What ten men +might well have hesitated to attempt he accomplished with seeming ease.</p> + +<p>He was more than half-way across the cove when the attention of the +girl was distracted from him by a disturbance of the ice near the +cove's mouth. Where there had been little motion of the drift ice she +saw several of the fragments pitched suddenly from the water, and as +they fell back she thought she glimpsed beneath them in the water the +passing of a large, dark body.</p> + +<p>As she wondered the ice was thrown violently aside in half a dozen +places, and in the eddying water she saw the rudderlike fins and +lashing tails of a school of some sort of monsters of the sea. They +were headed in the direction of the laboring man.</p> + +<p>She called a warning to him, but in the midst of the grinding of the +drift and the noise of his own exertions he did not hear it. With no +warning the danger was upon him.</p> + +<p>He had dragged the sledge to the center of one of the larger cakes of +ice, and paused to select his next objective. There was a rush in the +water under the ice, the drift was parted suddenly, and a monstrous +head with open mouth and a terrifying array of gleaming tusks rose +dripping from the gap.</p> + +<p>Over the edge of the man's floating footing this dread apparition was +projected, a full eight feet of head and giant body thrust out of the +sea in an attempt to wriggle onto the ice cake. The big flake of ice, +perhaps fifteen feet across, tilted from the water under the weight of +the monster, and it seemed that the man and sledge would be pitched +straight into the yawning maw.</p> + +<p>Then, with a clash of disappointed jaws, the head was withdrawn, the +monster sank from sight, and the ice raft righted.</p> + +<p>Rose Emer sank on her knees in the snow. Around her crouched the dogs, +yelping, baying in fury at the sight of the diving danger. "Ah, Heaven +help him!" she gasped. "The killer-whales!"</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Such were the monsters which beset Polaris. All around the piece of +ice on which he floated with the sledge the smaller drift was thrashed +by their plunging bodies. Again and again they thrust their frightful +snouts above the surface and strove to hurl themselves onto the ice +cake. Some of them were more than twenty feet in length.</p> + +<p>When the first hideous head appeared from the deep and nearly +overturned his float Polaris stood as if frozen, staring at it in +amazement. Such a thing he had never seen. He crouched on the ice and +tightened his grip on his long spear. When he saw the number of his +enemies he realized the futility of an attempt at battle with such +weapons as he bore.</p> + +<p>Immediately he became alert to outwit them. With his agility he might +have essayed to cross the ice and elude them safely were he unhampered +by the unwieldy sledge, but not for an instant did he consider +abandoning it.</p> + +<p>In a glance he picked out the next resting-spot, some feet distant +across the drift. He pushed the sledge almost to the edge at one side +of the cake, and sprang to the other side, halting on the brink and +bracing himself, with his spear-blade dug deeply into the ice.</p> + +<p>There was a rushing and thrashing of huge bodies as the killers piled +over one another in their eagerness to reach their prey. Several +frightful heads were thrust from the water, their dripping jaws +snapping within a few feet of the intrepid man. Quick as light he +dashed across the ice cake, snatched up the ends of the long harness, +and crossed the drift to the next large fragment. Watching his chances, +he yanked the sledge across to him.</p> + +<p>A dozen times he repeated his tactics successfully and worked in near +to shore. If he could accomplish his ruse once more he would win +through; he would be above water so shallow that even the bold killers +would not dare to follow him for fear of being stranded there. But +nearer to the landing the drift had been ground finer, and there was +not between him and the shore another large piece. There he made a +stand and considered.</p> + +<p>He heard the voice of the girl calling to him.</p> + +<p>"Shoot!" she cried. "Shoot and wound one of them! If you maim it badly +the others will turn and attack it. Then you can get away!"</p> + +<p>Polaris tossed his arm in sign that he had heard, and drew from their +holsters his brace of heavy revolvers. He had but an instant to wait. +One of the savage killers reared his immense and ugly snout from the +waters less than a rod away. Polaris fired both guns straight into the +gaping jaws.</p> + +<p>That was nearly his undoing, for so mighty a plunge did the scathed and +frightened monster give that it shot nearly the whole of its ponderous +body across the edge of the ice where the man stood and cracked the +cake clean in two. Then it sank into the water, convulsively opening +and closing its jaws, as if it would eject the stinging pellets which +it had received. The water was dyed red around it.</p> + +<p>In a trice the band of killers, which had dived at the report of the +shots, surrounded their wounded comrade, and the carnage began. All +thought of the man on the ice was abandoned for the moment as they rent +in fragments and devoured one of their own kind. Above their horrid +feasting the waves foamed crimson.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>When he saw how things were faring below him the man lost not a moment +in crossing the remaining drift, dragging the sledge to the shore.</p> + +<p>He turned and saw the baffled killers flock sullenly off to sea, +whipping the drift contemptuously from their wake with lashing tails.</p> + +<p>"Rose Emer, I thank you," he said simply. "I was hard put to it to know +how to save the sledge, and you told me the right thing to do."</p> + +<p>She smiled admiringly. A savage apparition to be feared; an instrument +of deliverance sent by Providence; a friend and comrade to be admired +and trusted—all of these things in turn had Polaris been to her. She +found him a man wonderful in all his ways—a child of the vast chaos, +yet gentle, fierce and fearless in the face of peril, but possessed +of a natural courtesy as unfailing as it was untaught—savage, savior, +friend. Was he not becoming more than a friend—or was it all a glamour +of the snows and seas and dangers which would fade and thrill no more +when she returned to the things of every day?</p> + +<p>Eager to be on the march after the days of enforced inactivity, they +set off at once for the base of the mountain wall to the north, hoping +that somewhere in its curving length they might find a pass or a notch +in its face through which they might win the path to the far-away ship.</p> + +<p>Under the cracking lash of the Southlander the dogs ran fast and true; +but ever the mighty wall of the mountains stretched on, unbroken by +notch or crevice, its side gleaming with the smooth ice of many thawing +torrents that had frozen and frozen again until it was like a giant's +slide.</p> + +<p>If a man had many weeks to spare to the task he might cross it, cutting +his steps laboriously one by one. For them, with their dogs and sledge, +it was impassable.</p> + +<p>The curve of the range pushed them relentlessly farther to the south as +they went on to the south where far away across the plains lay other +hills, above which cloud masses curled and drifted always.</p> + +<p>On their third day's journey inland they found that which altered all +the course of their wanderings, and led them on to great new things. +They crossed the trail of the unknown.</p> + +<p>Swiftly the seven gray coursers of the snows were speeding, noses down +and plumed tails awave in the breeze of their going. The girl sat on +the sledge, and beside it the man raced, light of foot as the dogs, and +never tiring.</p> + +<p>Then, in the midst of his stride, Marcus, the leader, set his four feet +hard on the snow crust and slid on his hams, the six others piling up +at his back in confusion with sharp yelps of consternation. Over the +tangle of the pack whined and cracked the long whip of Polaris, and +cracked and whined vainly. Marcus would not budge. He lifted his gray +muzzle in a weird howl of protest and bewilderment, and the hair along +his spine bristled.</p> + +<p>Behind him Octavius, Julius, Nero, and Hector took up the cry of +astonishment, and the mellower notes of Pallas and Juno chimed in.</p> + +<p>Polaris straightened out, like the good driver that he was, the sad +kinks in the harness and ran forward; but he had gone but a few paces +when he, too, stopped in the snow, and stood staring ahead and down.</p> + +<p>They were at the brink of a trail!</p> + +<p>There it lay, stretching from somewhere near the base of the mountains, +away across the great plains—a broad, recently traveled path, with +footprints plain upon the snow—<i>the footprints of men!</i></p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>THE STRANGER</h3> + + +<p>Polaris stood so long at the lip of the strange path that Rose Emer +uncurled from her seat on the sledge and ran forward to see what held +him.</p> + +<p>"A path—in this wilderness!" she cried in wonder. And then: "Why, we +must be near to one of Captain Scoland's stations. Our troubles are +nearly at an end."</p> + +<p>"No, lady; I think these tracks lead to no station of your captain's, +and our troubles may be just begun. Here are the tracks of many men—"</p> + +<p>"But they must be those of our men," returned Rose Emer, "for who else +could have made them?"</p> + +<p>Polaris stepped into the trail and examined it with keen eyes.</p> + +<p>"Lady, did they of your company dress their feet as do you or as I do?" +he asked, pointing to his moccasins of bearskin.</p> + +<p>"Why, they wore heavy boots of felt, with an overshoe of leather, +spiked with steel," said the girl.</p> + +<p>"And did they have with them any beasts other than the dogs of which +you have told me?" queried Polaris.</p> + +<p>Rose Emer shook her head. "No, they had only the dogs," she replied. +"What tracks are there?"</p> + +<p>Polaris arose from his examination of the trail. "Now, of all the +strange things we have met by land and by sea, I account this the +strangest of all," he said. "Here are the footprints of many men whose +feet were clad as are my own, and with them the marks of a heavy sledge +and the tracks of four-footed animals new to me—unless, indeed, they +be those of dogs in boots—"</p> + +<p>"What? Show me where!" Rose Emer knelt beside him to stare at the +medley of footprints. She looked up at him wide-eyed a moment later.</p> + +<p>"Why, this is impossible!" she gasped. "And yet—what <i>can</i> it mean? +Those are the hoofprints of unshod horses!"</p> + +<p>Polaris smiled down at her. "Remember the showers of ashes, Rose Emer; +and that I told you that we were to learn some great new thing if we +won safe to shore," he said. "Now are we at its gates. Stay—something +glimmers yonder in the trail!"</p> + +<p>He strode away, and returned shortly, bearing something that he had +plucked from the snow.</p> + +<p>"Bore any man in your company aught like this?" he asked, and held out +to her a long, slender-bladed knife.</p> + +<p>Wider grew the eyes of the girl in wonder as she took the weapon from +him and looked at it. It was of one piece, both blade and shaft, nicely +balanced and exquisitely wrought; but it was of no metal which the girl +had ever seen. Only in the finest of iridescent glass had she ever seen +the bewildering play of colors that was reflected from its bright blade +when the sunlight fell on it. It was nearly a foot long, needle-pointed +and razor-keen.</p> + +<p>From the glittering dagger to the man's face the girl looked slowly. +"There is no metal known in the world to-day like that from which this +knife is made," said she. "Who and what are they who dropped it here? +And here, there are letters on the blade. They look like Greek."</p> + +<p>She pointed to a beautifully clear inscription running down the blade. +It read as follows:</p> + +<p class="ph1">ΟΧΑΛΚΕΥΣΚΑΡΔΕΠΟΙΗΜΕ</p> + +<p>Polaris took the knife quickly and read where the girl pointed.</p> + +<p>"A strange thing in a strange land," he said. "The words <i>are</i> Greek. +They read: '<i>Ho chalkeus Kard epoié me</i>'—'Kard the Smith made me.'"</p> + +<p>In the midst of her amazement at their discovery the girl marveled +again at the living wonder who stood before them—a man who had +survived in this awful wilderness, and who had there acquired through +the patience of his father an education superior to her own, with all +her advantages. For Polaris spoke and read Greek and something of +Latin, besides being conversant with several of the languages of the +modern world.</p> + +<p>"Now we must make choice," he said. "Shall we cross this path and go +on, seeking a pass in the mountains? Shall we follow it back whither it +came from, or shall we follow on whither it leads, and asked of them +who made it if there be a way to the north that we may take?"</p> + +<p>"Polaris," she answered, and the heart of the man thrilled to the +answer, for it was the first time he had heard his name on her lips, +"it must be as you think best. In these places I am helpless, and you +are the master. We will do whatever you think for the best."</p> + +<p>"No, lady; in no way am I the master," he replied quickly. "I do but +wish to serve you. Perhaps it were better to go on alone. And then, +perhaps again, it were much time and wandering saved to find these folk +and ask them of the ways. It may be that they, too, have a ship and are +on the trail of the great pole, although something seems to tell me +that such is not so."</p> + +<p>"You mean that you think they <i>live here</i>?" asked the girl.</p> + +<p>Polaris inclined his head. "Yes, lady, and I am curious to see what +manner of men they may be, they who drive horses across the snows and +leave knives of unknown metal to mark their trail. Now it is for you to +say."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>The end of it was that they turned south on the trail of the strange +people, and as they went they wondered much who Kard the Smith might +be, who stamped his wares with ancient Greek inscriptions, yet who did +not shoe his horses—or ponies, for the hoofprints were very small.</p> + +<p>It was only after some urging that Polaris persuaded the pack to take +the path. When they did he let them out to their speed, for the going +was plain, and he had no fear of accident in a road travelled by so +many. Straight on the trail led them toward the cloud-tipped mountain +cluster that lay dim to the south.</p> + +<p>As they traveled other circumstances arose to puzzle them. Once a +flight of strange birds passed far above them, flying in the same +direction. They came to a spot where the strangers had made camp, and +there were the remains of a fire <i>with charred wood</i>. Then as they drew +nearer, with many miles passed, they saw that the haze which hung about +the mountain summits appeared to be not of clouds, but of smoke.</p> + +<p>On the second stage of their journey Polaris halted the dogs at a new +wonder.</p> + +<p>"Lady," he said, "look hard and tell me the color of those hills, or is +it that my eyes are giving way to the snow blindness?"</p> + +<p>Rose Emer arose in the sledge and gazed at the hills, and cried: +"Green! Green! But how <i>can</i> they be?"</p> + +<p>"Warm air, green hills, and people with horses," Polaris smiled. "It +seems that such are not all in the north. Ah, the good green hills I +have read of and which I have so longed to see!"</p> + +<p>On sped the dogs, and nearer and nearer loomed the hills of green, set +like immense, dull emeralds in the white of the snows. Only at their +summits were they black and craggy and scarred. Above them spiraled +shifting clouds of smoke.</p> + +<p>And as they journeyed, the sun shining on the softening snows, and the +air growing warmer and warmer, in an ice-locked sound five hundred +miles to the north, a little company of weary-faced men gathered on the +deck of the good ship Felix, and one of their number read the burial +service for the repose of Rose and John Emer and Homer Burleson, +strayed from the ship and given up for dead after a searching party had +failed to find any trace of them.</p> + +<p>As the travelers neared the base of the foot-hills of the mountain +range the ground became more uneven, being broken by rock slopes and +small hills, many of which were bare of snow. Around these the trail +wound zigzag. They swung around one of the sharp curves, and Polaris +reined in the dogs.</p> + +<p>"Now, lady, here comes one along the trail who may solve for us all our +riddles!" he cried, and pointed ahead.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>THE LAND OF TWENTY MOONS</h3> + + +<p>Not a quarter of a mile from them a man was running along the snow road +toward them—a tall man, and well formed. He ran, or trotted slowly, +with head bent, and many a sidewise glance along the borders of the +trail.</p> + +<p>"Now, I think that here is the owner of the knife come to seek it," +muttered Polaris; and seeing that the stranger bore a spear, he reached +his own long weapon from the sledge, and leaned on it as he watched the +approach of the runner, the same quiet smile on his face with which he +greeted all wonders.</p> + +<p>Not until he was within a hundred yards of the sledge did the man see +them. He came on fearlessly.</p> + +<p>He was a swarthy fellow, black of beard, with a strong, high-featured +visage, straight nose, and prominent cheek-bones. His hair hung from +beneath a pointed cap of coarse, gray cloth, and was cropped at his +collar. A tunic of brown material reached to his knees, and was clasped +in front with several buckles. His feet were shod with high, furred +moccasin-boots, which reached nearly to his knees, and which were bound +with cross-strings. Above them were tight-fitting breeches of the same +material as the tunic.</p> + +<p>In a broad leather belt swung a small ax, a pair of large fur gloves, +and an empty sheath. Ax-blade and buckles and the tip of his long, +straight spear were all of the same iridescent metal as the dagger +which Polaris had found in the snow. He was about forty years old.</p> + +<p>When within a short spear-throw, he stood gazing at them, his eyes +roving from man to girl, and from dogs to sledge, taking note of all. +Then he spoke, in a deep and not unpleasant voice. Rose Emer understood +a question in his inflection, but the language he spoke was unknown to +her.</p> + +<p>Polaris laughed and said quickly: "As it is written on the blade of the +knife, so does he speak, Lady. It is Greek."</p> + +<p>She looked from him to the stranger, wide-eyed. "What does he say?"</p> + +<p>"He says, 'Whence come you?' and now I will answer him as best I can +manage his tongue."</p> + +<p>He turned to the strange man and lifted his voice. "We come from the +north," he said.</p> + +<p>"And who may you be," he queried the man, "who come down from the white +north, through the lands where no man may travel, you who are like a +child of the great sun, and who drive strange animals, the like of +which were never seen?" and he pointed to the crouching dogs. "And who +is she, the woman, who hath the aspect of a princess, and who rideth +with thee across the snows?"</p> + +<p>"Polaris am I named—Polaris of the Snows and she who is with me is +Rose Emer, of America, and I am her servant. Now, who art thou, and how +called?"</p> + +<p>The man heard him with close attention. "I should judge thee little +likely to be servant to any, thou Polaris of the Snows," he answered +with a slow smile. "Part of thy words I comprehend not, but I name +myself Kard the Smith, of the city of Sardanes."</p> + +<p>"If thou are Kard the Smith, I have that which is thine," said Polaris, +and he stepped forward and held out the dagger. "It bears thy name."</p> + +<p>Kard took the weapon from him with a gesture of pleasure. "Not my name, +O stranger of the snows," he said, "but that of my grandsire, Kard the +Smith, three times removed, who did forge it. For that reason do I +value it so highly that I came alone on the Hunters' Road willing to +travel many weary miles and risk much to regain it."</p> + +<p>"Is this that thou speakest thine only tongue, Kard the Smith?" pursued +Polaris.</p> + +<p>Kard nodded, and his eyes opened wide. "Yes, surely. And thou, who +speakest it also, yet strangely, hast thou another?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Polaris, "and thy language, I have been taught, is dead in +the great world these many centuries. Who are thy people, and where is +the city of Sardanes?"</p> + +<p>"The great world!" repeated Kard. "The great world to the north, across +the snows! Aye, thy coming thence proves the tales of the priests and +historians of Sardanes, which, in truth, many of us had come to doubt. +To us, Sardanes and the wastes are all of the world.</p> + +<p>"The city lieth yonder," and he pointed over his shoulder toward the +smoking mountains. "Know thou, Polaris of the snows, that thou and thy +princess are the first of all strangers to come to Sardanes; and now do +I, Kard the Smith, bid thee a fair welcome."</p> + +<p>He bowed low to Rose Emer and to Polaris, sweeping the snow with his +rough cap.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Translating the outcome of his conversation with the stranger to Rose +Emer, Polaris started the team along the trail, and with Kard trotting +alongside the sledge, they set out for the mysterious city which he +said lay beyond the mountains.</p> + +<p>As they went, Polaris gathered from Kard that the people of Sardanes +had lived in their land a very great while, indeed; that their +population numbered some two thousand souls, and that they were ruled +by a hereditary king or prince.</p> + +<p>"For the rest, thou shalt learn it of the priests, who are more learned +than I," said Kard; "and thine own tale of marvels, beside which ours +is but a little thing, though I starve from desire to hear it, thou +shalt reserve for the ears of the Prince Helicon. It were meet that he +hear it first of all in Sardanes."</p> + +<p>In an atmosphere that grew momentarily more temperate, they drew near +to the green bulk of the mountains.</p> + +<p>"What maketh the warmth of this land?" called Polaris to Kard.</p> + +<p>The Smith raised his hand and pointed to the summits above them, where +the great smoke clouds hung heavily in the quiet air.</p> + +<p>"Within the bowels of the hills are the undying fires which have burned +from the first," he said. "They have saved the land from the wastes. +No matter how the storms rage on the snow plains, it is ever warm in +Sardanes. The city lieth in a valley, ringed round by a score of fire +mountains, set there by the gods when the world began. And when the +season of the great darkness falleth, the flare of the eternal flames +lighteth the valley. With the light of twenty moons is Sardanes ever +lighted. Wait and thou shalt see."</p> + +<p>Presently they came to the foot of the range. For a short distance +above them lay snow in patches on the slopes, and beyond that extended +a wide belt of grasses and trees. Still higher, all vegetation ceased, +and the earth was bare and brown, and the rocks were naked.</p> + +<p>Above all jutted the fire blackened crags of the summits, wild and +bleak. Just ahead of them yawned a pass, which some vast upheaval had +torn in the base of the range in the long ago.</p> + +<p>"Now must the lady walk with us," said Kard, "for the way is rough, and +the lack of snow will make it difficult for the animals to drag on the +sledge."</p> + +<p>He spoke truly. So rough was the way in places that Polaris must +add his own strength to the pull of the dogs. Kard the Smith would +willingly have aided also, but the dogs would not permit him to lay +hand on the traces, nor could Polaris prevail on them to be friendly +with the man.</p> + +<p>Up and up they climbed the many turns of the pass, its seamed walls of +rock beetling above them at both sides. So warm was it that Polaris, +sweating and pulling with the pack, took off his cloak and inner coat +of bearskin, and struggled on in his under-garment of seal fur.</p> + +<p>They came to the peak of the pass, and again it wound irregularly +downward for a space. Its sides were less precipitous. Long grasses and +shrubbery grew in the niches of the rocks, and the light of the sun +penetrated nearly to the path.</p> + +<p>"Ah, see, Polaris," cried Rose Emer, "there, in the rocks, my namesake +is nodding to me. A rose, and in this land!"</p> + +<p>In a cleft in the rock wall clung a brier, and on it bloomed a single +magnificent red blossom. After the weeks of hardship and grief and +journeying with death, the sight of the flower brought tears to the +eyes of the girl.</p> + +<p>While Kard stood and smiled, Polaris stopped the team. He clambered up +the rocks, clinging with his hands, and brought it down, its delicate +perfume thrilling his senses with a something soft and sweet that he +could not put into thought. Rose Emer took it from him and set it in +her breast.</p> + +<p>That was a picture Polaris never forgot—the rocky walls of the pass, +the sledge and the wild dogs, the strange figure of the Sardanian, the +girl and the red rose.</p> + +<p>She had removed her heavy coat and cap, and now walked on ahead of +them, her long blue sweater clinging to her lissom form, the sunshine +glinting in the coiled masses of her chestnut hair. They rounded +another turn, and Rose Emer gave a little gasp and stopped, and stood +transfixed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, here is, indeed, a garden of the gods!" she cried.</p> + +<p>There the rock ledges ended, and they stood at the lip of a long green +slope of sward, spangled with flowers. A valley lay before them, of +which they were at the lower end. Ringed by the smoking mountains, it +stretched away, some ten miles in length. From the lower hill slopes at +either side it was perhaps a short mile and a half across. Adown its +length, nearly in the middle, ran the silvery ribbon of a little river, +which bore away to the right at the lower end of the valley, and was +lost to sight in the base of the hills.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>At either side of the river the land lay in rolling knolls and lush +meadows, with here and there a tangle of giant trees, and here and +there geometrical squares of tilled land—the whole spread out, from +where the travelers stood, in an immense patchwork pattern, riotous +with the colors of nature, and dotted with the white dwellings of men, +built of stone.</p> + +<p>On the higher slopes of the mountains at each side thick forests of +mighty trees grew. Above the line of vegetation, the bare earth gave +forth vapor from the inner heat, and farther up the naked rocks jutted +to the peaks, half hidden in their perpetual mists and smoke.</p> + +<p>There were twenty-one mountains, all of the same general appearance, +with one exception. One great hill alone, which towered over to the +left of them, was wooded thickly to its summit.</p> + +<p>Everywhere in the valley was the sound of life. Birds flashed back and +forth among the foliage; goats leaped among the rocks; small ponies +grazed in the meadows; men tilled the fields. From the distance up the +valley came the hum and splashing of a small waterfall. A couple of +miles away, at the right of the river, was a large square of buildings +that gleamed white in the sunlight, where many people were moving +about.</p> + +<p>"Behold, Sardanes!" said Kard the Smith, advancing to the edge of the +rock.</p> + +<p>Rose Emer caught the word Sardanes and echoed it.</p> + +<p>"Sardanes," she breathed, and turned to Polaris with an awed look in +her eyes. "It is as if a page of the ages had been turned back for us, +isn't it?" she asked.</p> + +<p>From the wondrous scene he glanced to the face of the girl and smiled +quietly, and she remembered that here was one who gazed for the first +time on the reality of the world of men of any age.</p> + +<p>Kard raised his voice in a long, shrill call. His voice was lost in the +angry baying of the dog pack as a small goat leaped from covert close +to them and clattered away up the ledges.</p> + +<p>At the combined clamor, several men raised their faces wonderingly from +their work in a field near by. For a moment they gazed in amazement at +the travelers, and then ran toward them, talking excitedly as they went.</p> + +<p>All were clad lightly in sleeveless tunics of cloth that reached the +knees. They wore no head coverings, and their faces and bare arms +were tanned from exposure to the sun. Their feet were covered with +leather sandals, buckled at the ankle. Their limbs were bare from the +sandals to the short, loose-legged trousers, which they wore beneath +their tunic skirts. The texture of their garments was dyed in several +different hues.</p> + +<p>Nearly all wore close-cropped beards like that of Kard, and their +hair was trimmed at the neck. Armlets and rings and the buckles on +their garments, all of the strange, iridescent metal, glittered in the +sunlight as they ran.</p> + +<p>For a moment there was a babel of astonished queries leveled at Kard +the Smith as the men pulled up and drank in the sight of the strangers +and their yet stranger beasts, now roused to a frenzy which required +all of the authority of Polaris to hold in bounds. "Who?" and "What?" +and "Where?" came in breathless succession from the mouths of the +Sardanians.</p> + +<p>"Now, be quiet, all of you, that I may tell you," commanded Kard with a +disgusted wave of his hand. They were spoiling his peroration for him.</p> + +<p>"These," and he waved his hand again, "be Polaris of the Snows, and +Rose Emer of America, come to visit Sardanes. The man with the sunlight +hair and eyes of the sky hath lived in the outer snows all his life, +he saith. The woman," and Kard bowed low, "is a great princess from the +world far to the north, beyond all the snows, the world whereof the +priests have sung."</p> + +<p>Truly, the imagination of Kard was equal to the effect he wished to +produce on his fellows. Their tongues stilled by their wonder, they +gazed at the man and the woman. Then, as by common impulse, they bowed +low, with sweeping gestures of their right hands. A fresh chorus of +questions would have broken out, but Kard quickly forstalled it.</p> + +<p>"The rest of my tale, also the wonders which the strangers may unfold, +wait the ear of the Prince Helicon," he said curtly. "Now, haste ye and +bring horses to transport the strangers' goods, for their beasts are +aweary, and we will proceed to the Judgement House."</p> + +<p>Two of the younger men hurried to one of the nearer dwellings and +returned shortly with two span of the small horses which grazed in the +meadows. They were in harness, and it was not difficult to attach them +to the sledge in place of the dogs, which Polaris took out of harness +and held in leash. Fearing that Sardanian legs would suffer if he did +not, he took the precaution to bind the muzzle of each dog with thongs.</p> + +<p>A lad mounted the sledge and cracked a long whip, and the stout ponies +bent to the work of hauling the sledge.</p> + +<p>With Kard leading the way, Polaris and Rose Emer set off in the +direction of the square of white buildings up the valley. Their dogs +huddled closely around them, a formidable body-guard, and with them +marched an escort of Sardanians, momentarily augmented by every new man +who set eyes on them.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Everything that he saw was a marvel to Polaris. And for Rose Emer, who +had wandered up and down the world considerably, the ancient valley was +spread with wonders. Never had she seen, outside of California, trees +of such giant girth and height as some of those which grew at the base +of the hills; and they were of no kin to the Californian Sequoia. Birds +that she could not name flew among their branches.</p> + +<p>Set in the midst of their orderly little farms were houses of a sort +not seen in the world to-day. They were constructed for the most part +of colored stone, faced with white, and with high-pillared porticoes. +Each brought a memory of a pictured temple of antiquity.</p> + +<p>They crossed the river on a small bridge of green stone. As they +drew nearer to the square of buildings they could see that it was +evidently a public gathering place. Each of its four fronts was a lofty +peristyle, inclosing a square of considerable size. Through its arches +they caught sight of a raised stage, facing many seats of stone.</p> + +<p>News of their coming had preceded them. From all directions people were +flocking into the public square and occupying the stone seats.</p> + +<p>"All who live in the valley are gathering to bid us welcome, lady," +said Polaris, and added an echo to the thoughts of the girl, "May our +leave-taking be as peaceful as our welcome!"</p> + +<p>When they had arrived at the square they found that it stood in the +center of a pleasant park, with clumps of trees, stone-curbed pools, +and playing fountains. Scattered about on massive pedestals were groups +of statuary of no mean artistry, some in white marble and others of +colored stones. For the most part fanciful subjects were represented, +but some of the groups evidently were of a historical significance.</p> + +<p>One, in particular, of large size, showed a company of men landing on +a shore from the decks of a ship. The vessel bore a marked resemblance +to an ancient galley, such as Rose Emer often had seen pictured. There +were the high decks and the banks of oars.</p> + +<p>All these sculptured men wore armor and trappings of patterns as +ancient as the ship, heightening the likeness of this place of +Sardanian art to an antique Greek statuary. Around the central building +lay a paved plaza.</p> + +<p>Conducted by their escort, which had grown to nearly a hundred men, +Rose Emer and Polaris and their gray comrades entered the building +through one of the high arches. The entrance led to one side of the +raised stage.</p> + +<p>While the members of their Sardanian escort scattered to the seats +below, Kard the Smith ushered the man and the girl to a flight of stone +steps by which they gained the dais.</p> + +<p>On the platform was another raised piece of marble work, of glistening +white, a flight of steps leading up to a carved double throne, set +between two pillars. Across the tops of the pillars was a scrolled +plinth, inscribed with Greek lettering as follows:</p> + +<p class="ph1">ΕΛΙΚΩΝΚΡΕΩΝΤΗΣΣΑΡΔΑΝΗΣΟ<span class="overline">ϘΘ</span></p> + +<p>"'Helicon, the ninety-ninth prince of Sardanes,'" Polaris translated +for Rose's benefit. "In the original, '<i>Helikon kreon tes Sardanes ho +kop-pa-theta</i>.'"</p> + +<p>On the space below the throne were a number of other stone seats. +Throne and platform were empty, with one exception. A little apart from +the other seats was one of black stone, and on it was seated a young +man. His garb was similar to that of the other Sardanians, but was of +exceedingly fine texture, and all of black, unrelieved by any ornament +or touch of color.</p> + +<p>When the strangers came upon the platform he turned toward them a +long-favored, highly intellectual countenance. His face was shaven +smoothly, and his long black hair was held back from his temples by a +band of black cloth. He reclined rather than sat in his stone chair, +with an elbow on its arm and his chin on his hand.</p> + +<p>As Polaris and Rose Emer became visible to the people below a subdued +hum of excitement arose; but the young man on the black stone seat +remained impassive, and regarded them with a steady, searching gaze, +with no outward evidence of surprise.</p> + +<p>"A greeting to thee, Kalin, priest of Sardanes!" called Kard, throwing +out his hand in salutation. The young man replied with a careless +movement of the hand that lay in his lap, without disturbing his +posture of repose.</p> + +<p>Down in the great hall hundreds of Sardanian eyes were centered on the +strangers. Momentarily the seats were filling with new arrivals. Nearly +half of the gathering were women, and many of them were handsome.</p> + +<p>They were costumed in kirtles, belted in below the bosom and flowing +loosely to below the knee. They wore their hair in plaits, coiled about +the tops of their heads. Ornaments of glittering metal bedecked their +garments and hair. Their feet were clad in sandals of soft leather, +laced above the ankles, and in half stockings of cloth, gartered and +bowed below the knees. Rose Emer was quick to note that some of them +were striking beauties.</p> + +<p>Without exception, they were brunettes.</p> + +<p>Kard conducted Polaris and the girl to seats at one side and a short +distance from the central throne.</p> + +<p>"We bide the coming of the Prince Helicon," he explained, "who cometh +shortly."</p> + +<p>For a few moments they sat in silence. Then voices were heard from +an entrance at the far side of the stage, and with one accord the +Sardanians in the hall rose from their seats.</p> + +<p>"The prince cometh!" murmured Kard.</p> + +<p>Polaris and Rose Emer arose also.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE GATEWAY TO THE FUTURE</h3> + + +<p>Every Sardanian hand in the great hall was uplifted in salute as five +men entered through one of the pillared arches. Two of them were of +bearded middle age, evidently persons of station in the land; but the +eyes of the throng and the eyes of Rose Emer and Polaris passed them +indifferently, to gaze on the three who followed.</p> + +<p>It did not need the whisper of Kard the Smith, "He in the center is the +prince," to distinguish the ruler of Sardanes. He was not more richly +garbed than his companions, or differently. Neither was he taller than +they, or of more commanding presence. All of the three were of great +height, and all carried themselves regally. Something in the mien of +his high-featured, thoughtful face, in his large black eyes, and in the +lines of his smoothly shaven countenance bespoke his kingship as surely +as though a herald had preceded him and cried out: "This is Helicon, +Prince of Sardanes!"</p> + +<p>The three were brothers, Helicon, the eldest, was well under thirty +years. The two who walked on either side of him were of the startling +likeness to each other found only in twins.</p> + +<p>Surprise was written large on the features of all of the party as they +came into the open space before the throne, and they halted. The two +nobles stared frankly. The faces of the twin princes expressed a kindly +curiosity, not unmixed with the general awe in which the Sardanians +held the strangers. In the face of Helicon was a similar expression, +but with less of awe and more of grave dignity.</p> + +<p>His eyes roved over the pack of dogs, to him the most unusual figures +of the group; hesitated in admiration at the splendid form of Polaris, +and passed to Rose Emer.</p> + +<p>As their glances met, the eyes of the prince opened wide, and seemed +suddenly to become suffused. Then they snapped back to the face of +Polaris, and seemed to carry a quick question. The son of the snows +regarded him calmly; but there was in his calmness a challenge, the +more deadly because of its quietude. His right hand, which rested on +the neck of Marcus, contracted so powerfully that the dog whined in +pain. Polaris knew that he had found an enemy.</p> + +<p>Helicon swung on his heel and ascended the steps to the throne.</p> + +<p>The nobles and the two tall princes took seats, and Kard the Smith, +with the enthusiasm of the born orator, stood forth to tell his story.</p> + +<p>"The man, sayest thou, cometh out of the snows, and speaketh our +tongue?" interrupted Helicon in the midst of the tale.</p> + +<p>"Even so, prince," said Kard.</p> + +<p>"And the woman cometh from beyond, and speaketh not our language, +but one of her own, which the man speaketh also? And the woman is a +princess in her own land?"</p> + +<p>"That, O prince, is true!"</p> + +<p>"Then cease though thy tale, Kard, and let us hear from the man in our +tongue, of himself and of the princess, and of how they came hither."</p> + +<p>With little relish for such cutting short of his bombast, Kard the +Smith stood back and yielded the floor to Polaris.</p> + +<p>In a few words the man of the snows sketched the chances which had +brought the girl and himself to Sardanes.</p> + +<p>"Then thou wert reared in the great wilderness, and knowest naught of +the world, or of Sardanes, or even of who thou thyself art?" questioned +Helicon. His voice was even and courteously intoned; but, though the +man he questioned was of little experience, Polaris understood the +sneer that lay in the words.</p> + +<p>"So it seemeth, Prince Helicon," he answered quietly.</p> + +<p>"And the woman thou didst find in the snows, she is a princess? I can +well believe that."</p> + +<p>"Nay, prince, for she cometh from America, a great land where there are +no princes or princesses. Yet is she of high rank in her land, as her +birth and wealth entitle her."</p> + +<p>Helicon frowned. "How meanest thou—a land in which are neither +princes or princesses?" he asked quickly. "How, then, are the people in +that land ruled?"</p> + +<p>"By the people themselves are the people ruled in America, O prince," +Polaris answered. "The whole of the country and its lesser divisions +are governed by men chosen by the people to rule for certain spaces of +years, when others are chosen."</p> + +<p>"Are there, then, no kings or princes in the world?" asked Helicon +sharply.</p> + +<p>"Aye, princes and kings rule in many of the lands of the world," +answered Polaris, "but their power is limited more and more by the +wishes of their people. In some other lands the government is like that +in America."</p> + +<p>"Truly, this America of which thou speakest must be a strange country. +Here in Sardanes I hold the power of decision over life and death; aye, +even unto the Gateway to the Future extendeth the power of Sardanes's +prince."</p> + +<p>"Yet," and the voice of Polaris rang like a bell—"yet, of all lands in +the world, is America the greatest—and hath no prince or king."</p> + +<p>Over the face of the prince passed a flush of annoyance. He waved his +hand in dismissal of the conversation.</p> + +<p>"Hospitality shall be thine, outlander of the snows. Thou shalt rest +and be refreshed. More of thy strange tales will I hear anon. And the +girl—" His eyes softened as they strayed again to Rose Emer, and again +the red blood flashed up in his cheeks. For a moment he seemed lost in +his thoughts.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>All through the interview the young man in the black stone seat had sat +motionless and attentive, his eyes glued on the strangers, his ears +drinking in every word spoken by Polaris, his expression rapt. Now he +arose and stepped forward. Before the Prince Helicon could speak again +he interposed.</p> + +<p>"If it be pleasing to the strangers, I, Kalin the Priest, will make +them welcome at mine own home in the Gateway to the Future." Without +waiting for the objection which the prince seemed to be framing, Kalin +addressed himself directly to Polaris.</p> + +<p>"Is the hospitality of Kalin welcome to thee, O man with the hair of +the sun? Much there is that Kalin fain would learn from thee, and +perhaps some little that he may tell thee in return. Say, wilt come, +thou and the woman?"</p> + +<p>Polaris looked into his eyes, and somewhere in their dreamy depths he +thought he read more meaning than the words of the priest conveyed to +him. He stepped forward and tendered his hand, a form of salutation +which, although new to the Sardanians, Kalin accepted.</p> + +<p>"Thy most kind offer of hospitality I accept for myself and for the +lady," Polaris said. "She hath, I fear, much need of rest."</p> + +<p>They left Helicon on the throne in the Judgement House, looking as if +he liked the new arrangement little enough. As they passed out of the +hall, five or six men, all dressed in somber black, detached themselves +from the crowd of Sardanians and joined Kalin the priest. Under his +direction they fetched the sledge and drove it toward the lower end of +the valley, whither Kalin and his two guests followed.</p> + +<p>On the way Polaris told Rose Emer of the meaning of the conversation +in the hall, which she had understood only so much as she was able to +guess from the demeanor of the prince and of Polaris. As they talked, +Kalin, although their tongue was unknown to him, courteously walked +ahead.</p> + +<p>"They seem to be a happy people, but I don't think I'm going to like +this prince of theirs," said Rose Emer when she heard the details of +the talk. "And you, who never have seen America, have so defended it +that you have put the gentleman out sadly. From what you have said to +him, he will think that we have no very exalted opinion of princes. If +he were not such a grave-looking personage I should think that he tried +to flirt with me."</p> + +<p>"What is the meaning of 'flirt,' lady?" asked Polaris.</p> + +<p>Rose Emer's answer was a silvery laugh. "Sometimes, in your cold and +snows, your knowledge makes me feel like a child; but when you get back +to where I came from you will have a great deal to learn," she said +lightly.</p> + +<p>In spite of the privations and terrors through which she had passed, +and the grief at the loss of her brother, the spirits of Rose Emer +were rising amazingly in the warmth and sunshine of Sardanes. For all +her lightness of speech, the girl could not but feel alarmed at the +expression she had read in the eyes of the Prince Helicon, although she +would not admit to Polaris that she had taken note of it.</p> + +<p>They crossed the little bridge again and the plain beyond it, and began +the ascent of the one green mountain that stood verdure-clad in strange +contrast to its score of bleak-crowned sisters.</p> + +<p>"What do they mean by the 'Gateway to the Future,' Polaris?" asked the +girl.</p> + +<p>Polaris, in turn, put the question to Kalin.</p> + +<p>"It lieth before us," said the priest, pointing to the green +mountainside. "Hast thou not noted that in all Sardanes no man or woman +is old, or crooked of body, or diseased? When the first chills of age +creep upon a Sardanian and bow his form and whiten his hair, then he +cometh to me and passeth through the gateway. Thither likewise come the +dead when one dieth in the land through a mischance or sudden illness. +To me also are brought the babes that are misshapen at birth or that +give promise of but puny life.</p> + +<p>"To that which lieth beyond life, be it of glory or of oblivion, all +Sardanians pass through the Gateway to the Future; and I, Kalin, am +guardian to the gateway. The gateway itself shalt thou see anon."</p> + +<p>Polaris translated. Rose Emer shuddered. "And I thought them such a +happy people!" she said. "How can they be with such strange, terrible +customs?"</p> + +<p>Kalin, it seemed, had the trick of reading people's thoughts, for he +answered:</p> + +<p>"It hath been so almost from the first. When our ancestors peopled +Sardanes they came to realize that for them to live on in the small +land and remain a people their numbers must be limited. Thus hath it +been done.</p> + +<p>"Sardanians know of no other way, and are content therewith. Think of +what is spared—terrible old age that creepeth on a strong man and +decays him; that withers his limbs and fades the bloom of youth in his +cheeks; of the horrors and distempers which make of life a misery and +a mockery; of the sorrow of living on misshapen and helpless. In thy +world do all such abide with thee?"</p> + +<p>Polaris told him that in the world each one waited for his appointed +hour of death, and that it was sin to hasten it for another or for +oneself. The priest shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>Higher and higher they ascended the wooded slopes of the mighty hill, +and came to a ledge many yards in width, so earthed and covered with +vegetation and trees that it was like a huge terrace. There were a +number of dwellings similar to those below in the valley. At the back +of the terrace the side of the mountain was sheer for many feet and +covered with vines.</p> + +<p>In the center, at the level of the terrace, stood a giant façade of +white stone, carved and scrolled and pillared. Through its arches they +looked into the entrance to a lofty gallery in the heart of the rock.</p> + +<p>Kalin ushered them into a room in one of the houses, and attendants +fetched them fruits and bread with a sweet, unfermented wine. In +another building near the edge of the terrace he showed Polaris a +building, used as a stable for a number of the small ponies, where he +might bestow the dogs; and at his word another of his servants brought +both bread and flesh for the animals. When they were refreshed the +priest led them to couch-rooms, bidding them to rest.</p> + +<p>"Take thou thy rest well, man of the snows; there is much in thy path +to try thee," he said to Polaris with a slow smile. Thinking on the +enigma of his words, and of the wonders of the lost world, Polaris fell +into the deep sleep which his body craved.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>THE FIERY PORTAL</h3> + + +<p>Awaking after many hours, Polaris found Kalin standing by his couch.</p> + +<p>"Stranger, thou sleepest well. Like an untroubled babe's are thy +slumbers," said the priest. "And yet, if I read thee aright, thou art +in all ways a strong man. The woman is outdone and sleepeth well. There +is that which I would have thee see."</p> + +<p>He led him to the edge of the terrace. A little procession of +Sardanians was toiling up the path by which they had come. Among them +walked a man who was the center of the group, to whom the others, one +by one, spoke affectionately, but who answered little. As they came +nearer, Polaris saw that he was in the prime of his life and of noble +figure; but his limbs were wasted and his face was drawn with lines of +suffering.</p> + +<p>At the brink of the terrace the group halted. One by one his companions +bade the man farewell, lifting their hands in the Sardanian salute. One +young woman threw herself, weeping, into his arms, and he kissed her +tenderly.</p> + +<p>Then the other members of the party took their way down the +mountainside again, leading with them the weeping girl. The man came +on alone. On the terrace he was received by two of the black-robed +attendants of Kalin.</p> + +<p>The priest drew Polaris to one side, and they proceeded out of view of +the man by a roundabout way to the great stone arch.</p> + +<p>"Hither cometh one sore afflicted with illness who would pass the +gateway, and thou shalt see him pass," said the priest.</p> + +<p>They entered through the arch into the vast cavern beyond, and soon +were in darkness, to which, however, the eyes of Kalin seemed to be +well accustomed. He led Polaris swiftly through many galleries in the +bowels of the mountainside, ever upward, until they reached a broad +way, dimly lighted from above, which took a spiral course through the +rock. Up the spiral way they passed, and it gave after three or four +turns upon a wide, rocky floor, which curved away to either side of +where they emerged.</p> + +<p>Above them many feet towered the rocky ring of the volcano, of which +they were in the crater. Its walls were beetling, scarred with ancient +fires, seamed and ragged. Crag upon crag, ledge upon ledge, rose the +wall; to where its circle cut a round expanse of blue sky.</p> + +<p>All around them the massive rock reverberated to the muffled roar +of a great fire far below. Where the shelving rock floor gave into +space, clouds of luminous vapors rose from out the mighty pit of the +crater. Where the sun's rays beat down through it, far above them, +the billowing mass was golden. Directly ahead of them it seethed in a +shifting play of colors, now lurid red, now green and yellow and blue, +in the reflection cast up from the flickering flames below.</p> + +<p>At times the vapor clouds were wafted aside by air currents, and +Polaris could see the wall of the crater opposite, some two hundred +feet across the pit.</p> + +<p>To the left the shelf of rock narrowed to a mere thread of a pathway, +overhung by the bulge of the crag wall. At the right a number of low +buildings of rock had been constructed along the face of the cliff.</p> + +<p>Kalin led Polaris to where the rock overhung the path, and showed him +a number of footholds in the wall, by which he might climb to another +small ledge above, and from which he could command a view of the +platform, and also look down directly into the fearsome pit of flames. +The priest then withdrew to one of the buildings.</p> + +<p>Polaris crouched at the brink of the little shelf and gazed down +through the many-hued vapor clouds which were wafted by him +continuously. Occasionally, when they were swept aside by drafts of +air, he could see the very bottom of the crater over which he clung. It +was a sight to awe the heart of the bravest.</p> + +<p>Hundreds of feet from where he crouched seethed and boiled and eddied a +terrible caldron of chromatic heat. It was evident that the volcano was +slowly dying, a death that might continue for centuries.</p> + +<p>Nearer to the base of the crater its circumference was greater. At +its bottom, in the course of ages, the substance of the fires had +cooled, forming a crust against the calcined rock walls. As the fires +themselves had sunk lower they had added to the deposit of crust, +leaving it in the shape of a huge funnel.</p> + +<p>In the funnel itself stewed and sweltered a lake of fire. It was nearly +an acre in extent, bounded by the glowing circumference of the funnel. +Its molten substance boiled and eddied in a fury of heat. Immense +volumes of gas were continually belched up through it with startling +detonations, spouting many feet in the air, to flame a brief instant, +while the blazing masses they threw up with them fell splashing back +into the fearful reek. For yards above the surface of the caldron the +crust glowed a dull red. Even where the man sat the heat was withering.</p> + +<p>Voices on the rock shelf to his right drew the attention of Polaris +from the broiling inferno, into which he had gazed fascinated.</p> + +<p>From the spiral path up which he had lately climbed stepped one of the +black-garbed priests, bearing a flickering torch. Behind him, walking +with firm step and quiet gestures, was the Sardanian Polaris had seen +crossing the terrace. On either side of him marched two other priests, +and a fourth brought up the rear of the little procession. All four of +the priests wore veils, through which their eyes glittered somberly.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>They halted a few feet from the brink of the fiery precipice. By the +light of the priest's torch Polaris saw that the rock floor had been +cut away into a runway, or chute, at a sharp angle from the floor +level, notching the edge of the declivity and ending sharply in the +empty air of the great pit. The sides of the trough glittered like +polished glass in the light rays.</p> + +<p>One of the priests disappeared into the nearest of the stone buildings +and came out bearing a disk of dark wood. It was concaved and not much +larger than a warrior's shield, which indeed it much resembled, for +within it were two loops of rope or thong, which might have served for +armholds. The priest set it down near the upper end of the channel in +the rock.</p> + +<p>More torches hung in cressets along the wall were lighted, their flames +reflecting from thousands of little veins and flecks of metal in the +rock, and heightening the eery effect of the strange scene.</p> + +<p>When these preparations were completed, Kalin stepped forth on the +ledge. He was garbed in a flowing robe of flame-red, his head hidden in +a veiled hood, of which the section that covered his face was white.</p> + +<p>He stepped in front of the waiting man and raised his hand in a solemn +salute.</p> + +<p>"Chloran, son of Sardon; thou hast come to the Gate?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Aye, priest," answered Chloran.</p> + +<p>"Thy house is in order, thy farewells made, thy work done?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, Chloran stands ready."</p> + +<p>"Then thou comest content to the temple of the Lord Hephaistos?"</p> + +<p>"Well content."</p> + +<p>"Chloran, son of Sardon, we, the ministers of the Lord Hephaistos, are +but the guardians of the Gate. We know not what lieth beyond it, but +thou shalt soon learn. Be it of good or of evil for thee, thine own +heart mayest answer, the depths of which no man may know. I, Kalin the +Priest, bid thee farewell on thy journey to a greater knowledge than is +Kalin's. To the Lord Hephaistos, whose servant I am, I commend thee."</p> + +<p>He raised his hand again, and Chloran bowed his head. One of the +attendant priests came up, bearing a metal vase.</p> + +<p>"Quaff deeply of the wine of Hephaistos," said Kalin. The man clutched +the vase and drank. Almost immediately his eyes glazed, and he stood +like a man of stone. Two of the priests led him to the chute and seated +him on the wooden shield, binding his thighs with the thongs.</p> + +<p>"Welcome, Chloran, to the Gateway to the Future," cried Kalin. But +Chloran heard him not. The powerful drug in the wine bound his senses. +His head fell forward. At a sign from Kalin the two priests shoved the +shield into the chute. Down the polished way it whirled, and shot out +into the fiery rift.</p> + +<p>Polaris clung at the brink of the little ledge and strained his eyes +out into the terrible, fire-shot chasm to watch the fall. With its +living burden the shield whirled down through the curling vapors, +straight toward the molten caldron that tossed and roared in the +funnel. In a breath it had fallen so far that it looked like a toy +fluttering above the flames.</p> + +<p>Then it was gone. So intense was the heat into which it fell that it +seemed to dissolve into vapor before it ever touched the surface. A +long, yellow tongue of flame shot up from the surface of the lake.</p> + +<p>Polaris turned to the ledge. The priests had extinguished the torches +and disappeared. Presently Kalin came forth from his chapel and called +to him. With one more glance into the depths of the sinister pit, he +descended from his perch in the rock and joined the priest.</p> + +<p>They proceeded toward the chapel.</p> + +<p>As Polaris passed the chute he stumbled. His feet shot from under him +and down on his back he fell on the polished stone, and he, too, went +whizzing head first down the way that Chloran, son of Sardon, had taken +into the terrible fire-pit of Hephaistos!</p> + +<p>Head first he shot down. As he slid by a mighty effort he turned over +in the chute and thrust out his arms. The chute was about the width of +a man's height. Polaris was exceptionally broad of shoulder, and his +arms were long, so that his hands rubbed the sides of the chute.</p> + +<p>Just as his head thrust over the brink of the awful chasm his hands +found holds at either side of the chute. Whoever had cut the way in the +rock in the long ago had left, almost at the very edge, a cleft in each +side that was large enough for hand-grip. Very probably they were the +holds by which the artisans steadied themselves while they hewed and +polished the stone of the chute.</p> + +<p>In those clefts the groping fingers of Polaris caught and held. The +impetus of his body would have torn away the hold of a man less +splendidly muscled than the son of the snows; but with a mighty wrench +of his arms he stayed his progress and hung with head projected over +the brink of the pit.</p> + +<p>All in an instant it happened, and with no noise; for Polaris, fearful +as was his plight, did not cry out, and neither did Kalin, who saw him +fall. From out of the blackness that was behind him Polaris heard the +priest gasp, and then for a moment all was silence but for the roaring +of the fires far below.</p> + +<p>Kalin crept to the brink of the precipice and peered over. Below him he +saw the head of Polaris.</p> + +<p>"Now," he muttered to himself, but not so low that Polaris could +not hear him—"Now, I think it were well perhaps for Sardanes, and +especially well for the Prince Helicon, did I let this stranger go on +his way to Hephaistos. Nay, but he is a brave man, and I have come to +like him strangely, and I cannot.</p> + +<p>"Ho, thou, Polaris of the Snows, canst hold that grip of thine while I +fetch rope?" he called aloud.</p> + +<p>"Aye, Kalin the priest, I can hold for many minutes if so be thou art +minded to aid me," answered Polaris grimly. "If thou art not, then I go +hence through this strange gate of thine."</p> + +<p>"Hold, then," said the priest, and hurried to the chapel, marveling at +the hardihood of the man, who hung on the brink of death, and who cried +not for aid or mercy.</p> + +<p>Back he came in a moment with a stout rope and cast the loop of it over +Polaris's head. Then he stepped back, braced his feet against the rocky +floor, and, exerting a strength whereof his slender frame did not seem +capable, he dragged Polaris from his perilous resting-place.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>When he felt the firmness of the floor beneath his feet again Polaris +drew a long breath. He turned to the priest and looked him closely in +the eyes.</p> + +<p>"Kalin, henceforth I may not doubt that in Sardanes I have found a +friend. Thanks for thy deed I have not the words to express to thee. If +ever thou are in evil case may I be as near to aid thee." He extended +his hand and wrung that of the priest until Kalin winced.</p> + +<p>Together the two went down the spiral way through the mountainside to +the house of the priest.</p> + +<p>"Thou hast taken note of all that occurred?" asked Kalin. Polaris +nodded. "And has understood?" continued the priest.</p> + +<p>"Not altogether. Who is the Lord Hephaistos? That name is known to me +as that of the armorer god of the Greeks of old, but only one of their +many gods. How is it that ye of Sardanes, who also speak the tongue of +those Greeks, worship the dead god of a people long dead?"</p> + +<p>"Stranger, thou speakest boldly to the hereditary priest of the +religion of Sardanes," replied Kalin, and a quizzical smile played +about his lips. "Thou spakest boldly also to the Prince of Sardanes, +thou, who art but one alone in a strange land. I think that fear +abides not in thee. But—" and he rested his hand on the shoulder of +Polaris—"perhaps Kalin doth but love thee the better for thy temerity. +And Kalin's self, although he be of Sardanes, yet seemeth at times to +feel strangely alone. As for the religion, I will show to thee the +annals of the Sardanians, with what of history, both of the people and +the religion, they contain. Perchance, in thy world, shouldst thou +indeed ever reach it—and it comes to me that thou wilt—these tales +will find ready ears, and be to thy great credit."</p> + +<p>From a stone seat in front of the house of the priest a figure arose +and came forward to meet them, and Polaris and Kalin halted and gazed +in wonder. Rose Emer it was—a new and amazing Rose. Ministered to by +one of the women of the priest's household, she had slept and bathed, +and then had arrayed herself in the full costume of a Sardanian lady of +quality, which the woman had brought her.</p> + +<p>Around her slender form, clinging to each gracious curve was draped a +flowing kirtle of a delicate blue tint, belted in below her bosom with +a broad girdle of soft, tan-colored leather. Its skirt swept the tops +of a pair of gossamer hose of the same hue as the gown. Her feet were +encased in neat little laced sandals of material similar to that of the +girdle.</p> + +<p>To complete the effect, her long chestnut hair was plaited and coiled +about her head in the Sardanian fashion, and the whole was set off +with a filmy blue veil, bound turban-wise, its tassels falling on her +shoulder.</p> + +<p>Kalin advanced and bowed, a courtly and sweeping genuflection.</p> + +<p>"Thou dost Sardanes honor, lady, and all the valley is the brighter for +thy beauty," he murmured.</p> + +<p>Then Kalin fetched forth a packet of manuscripts, well written in Greek +characters on parchments that were yellowed and crinkly with extreme +age.</p> + +<p>"Here be the records of a nation," he said, and set to work to sort +them over.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>WAR AND AN ARMISTICE</h3> + + +<p>From many an ancient parchment Kalin read to them bits of the lore +of the Sardanians, and a strange store of knowledge and incident did +the yellowed, leathery scraps unfold. For, as might be judged, the +Sardanians had come down from Antiquity; and, as might be guessed, they +were an offshoot of old Greece—the Greece that Homer sang.</p> + +<p>"Some great city had been sacked," explained the priest, "and from +its siege one adventurous party of warriors, with some of their +women, turned their faces from their home across the Aegean Seas to +the Pillars of Hercules even"—which means that they sailed through +the Mediterranean to the Straits of Gibraltar—"and passed the +pillars to the great seas beyond. There they sail north, seeking the +barbarous isles, where strange metals and red-haired slaves might be +gathered"—Britain.</p> + +<p>"From the isles they turned southward toward home again, but a great +tempest took their ship and whirled it away from the coasts. Down past +the Pillars of Hercules the storm drove them, along the coasts of +Libya"—Africa. "For weeks were they buffeted in a mighty gale, whirled +ever to the south into the gates of the ice gods. Nearly perishing in +the cold and for lack of food, on a day a mighty wave came from the +north and their ship rode the crest of it through the barriers of ice, +and came to this place.</p> + +<p>"On a snow-bound shore they landed, those Acheans, with their women and +their captives, and pushed on toward the green mountains, whose smoky +summits they could not see ahead of them to the south. Thus they came +to Sardanes, finding it even as ye see it this day, except that the +Gateway to the Future was then as are its sister mountains, for the +eternal fires flared at its top.</p> + +<p>"So was Sardanes peopled, and the Sardanians of to-day are all the +descendants of that little ship's company and their women and their +captives from the barbarous isles. For a time they were sore beset in +the valley by the great beasts which dwelt here, and they were fain to +make their homes in the caves of the smoking hills. But as the years +drew on they slew the beasts, and some of the great bones remain even +until now in witness of their struggles. Then they built their homes in +the valley and throve and multiplied and became a people."</p> + +<p>"But what of the Gateway to the Future and the worship of the Lord +Hephaistos?" asked Polaris, who had followed the tale of the priest +with minute attention, translating it the while to the girl, who +listened breathlessly to this unfolding of the pages of the dead past.</p> + +<p>"Hephaistos was the smith god of the Acheans," answered Kalin, "and +when they came hither they believed that it was Hephaistos who had +shown mercy to them and saved them out of the cold and the icy seas. +This valley, said the wise men, must be the forge and smithy of the god +himself. So, as he had taken them under his protection and set them to +dwell in his workshop, they came to worship him alone of all the gods +they had known.</p> + +<p>"Then, in time, when the ancient fires began to burn low in one of the +hills, it was believed that the god was angered, and many sacrifices +were made, that he might not forget the people and withdraw from the +valley the warmth and light of his forge fires. Should he do so, the +valley must go back to the arms of the snows and the people of Sardanes +perish miserable one by one with the coming of the terrible cold.</p> + +<p>"Thus grew up the customs of the religion which thou hast seen, but +ever the ancient fires eats deeper in the pit of the mountain, and ever +a great fear lies in the hearts of all Sardanians that some time the +fires of the other mountains will follow that fire and leave Sardanes +the prey of the ice and snow and darkness that wait without her gates."</p> + +<p>Then Kalin questioned Polaris in turn of the world, and listened with +an intentness that was wistful to stories of the histories of the +great peoples that have ruled the earth since the Greece of which his +traditions told him.</p> + +<p>"Ah, that I might see it!" he sighed. "Fain I am to fare to the North +with thee, and to see the great world and to learn new things before I +go into the darkness. But I know not how that may be."</p> + +<p>Polaris learned from the priest that his office had been handed down +from father to son for uncounted centuries, but that he himself +was unwed, and thus far had no successor. He learned further that +a few years before, on the coming of Prince Helicon to the throne +of Sardanes, there had been a division in church and state, as it +were—that the headstrong prince would have none of the domination or +advice of the priesthood in conducting the affairs of the kingdom.</p> + +<p>In consequence of that, there was a coolness between the prince and +Kalin, and each had his followers in the land. Some of the people +sided with the prince. Others were for the priests and the religion, +and looked with terror on anything that might anger further the Lord +Hephaistos. Thus far, however, there had been no open break, and the +relations of the prince and his brethren with Kalin and the priests of +the gateway, if cold, were not openly hostile.</p> + +<p>"And now," said Kalin, with a strange smile, "thou comest to Sardanes, +thou and the lady with thee, and Kalin sees a storm in the brewing."</p> + +<p>"How meanest thou?" questioned Polaris quickly, although he guessed +at Kalin's meaning. "We come but to tarry a brief space, and then to +find our way to the North again, where is the lady's home, and whither +Polaris carries a message of the dead."</p> + +<p>"That way to the North may be hard to win, my brother," answered Kalin. +"What wilt thou do if the Prince Helicon shall decree that thou goest +not?"</p> + +<p>Polaris laughed shortly. "Not by the Prince Helicon, or by any who +dwell in Sardanes, shall Polaris be kept from that way to the North," +he answered. "Not while the breath of life is in his body."</p> + +<p>"Whatsoever be thy ways, O stranger, know that Kalin wisheth thee +but good fortune, and will lend thee his aid to it. Aye, even though +it crosseth the desires of the Prince Helicon, as well it may," he +muttered.</p> + +<p>Grown suddenly sober, Rose Emer laid her hand earnestly on Polaris's +arm. "Can we go back to the North?" she asked. "Is it possible? Is +there a chance that we can cross those leagues of snow and ice and live +to find our ship?"</p> + +<p>The man looked into her eyes. "Lady, is it your wish to go?" he +questioned.</p> + +<p>"I must go back, back to my home, and—Oh, we <i>must</i> go; but you—Will +it not be at the risk of our lives?"</p> + +<p>Polaris smiled quietly. "Where the Lady Rose wishes to go, Polaris will +not be left behind. I, too, <i>must</i> go to the North. I will not even +suggest that you might wait here on a chance that I might fetch aid to +take you. We will go together, and, though the way be hard, as Kalin +here says, we will win through to the ship and to your home. Fear it +not."</p> + +<p>Impulsively the girl held out her hand to him, and Polaris bent over it +and kissed it.</p> + +<p>Through his half-closed, dreaming eyes, Kalin watched them, and smiled; +but with a wistful tightening at the corners of his mouth.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Three days they had rested at the dwelling of the priest, when there +came a messenger to the mountain from the Prince Helicon, bidding their +attendance at the Judgement House, where the prince would hear more of +their strange tales of the world.</p> + +<p>In a gorgeous state costume Rose Emer made a brave showing as they set +forth for the Judgement House, and beside her strode Polaris in the +full garb of a Sardanian noble, his gift from Kalin the priest. In dark +blue, edged with bands of white, he was costumed with his necklace +of bear's teeth falling on the broad bosom of his tunic. He carried +no weapon openly, but under the skirt of the tunic, in its leather +holster, he had belted one of his father's trusty revolvers.</p> + +<p>They found the Prince Helicon sitting as they had left him, on his +pillared throne, and Morolas and Minos, the tall twin brothers, lolled +on their seats of stone at the throne's foot. Several of the Sardanian +nobles occupied seats on the dais. A great number of the people were +gathered to hear more of the tales of the strangers.</p> + +<p>Many tales of the world Polaris told them, turning often to Rose Emer +for answers to those questions which his own knowledge did not hold. At +length he broached the subject that was uppermost in his mind, that of +their departure from the land.</p> + +<p>At his mention of going Helicon frowned.</p> + +<p>"And thou wilt rashly dare to cross the great deserts of snow in a vain +attempt to win back to the world?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"In the great desert was I reared, O prince," Polaris answered him. "I +fear not its terrors. I must face to the North, and soon—"</p> + +<p>"But surely thou wilt not think to expose the lady to the dangers of +the path," interrupted the prince. "She will remain in Sardanes, and, +if indeed thou shalt come safely to the other side of the snow wastes, +perchance her own people will find a means to come and transport her +afterward."</p> + +<p>"Nay, but she shall not remain here, prince," answered Polaris sharply +and steadily. "She, too, wishes to be on the way, and no one may +transport her across the bitter wilderness more safely than I, who know +how and have the ready means to travel it."</p> + +<p>Prince Helicon turned his eyes to Rose Emer. A flush mounted to his +cheeks and his eyes glittered as he drank in her loveliness.</p> + +<p>"How know I that the lady wishes to be so soon gone?" he asked. "It +is in my mind that Helicon, Prince of Sardanes, might persuade her to +remain, had I the words to talk to her in her own tongue."</p> + +<p>He paused and seemed to consider. Polaris watched him with narrowing +eyes, and in his anger would not answer lest he might say too much.</p> + +<p>"Now, say thou to the lady," spoke Helicon with sudden decision, "that +Helicon offers her the love of a prince and the half of the throne of +Sardanes. Tell her, and be sure that thou dost translate aright, and +her answer to me also."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Polaris's face was clouded, but he turned to Rose and repeated evenly +to her the proposal of the prince.</p> + +<p>Rose Emer paled and then flushed, and instinctively she rested her hand +on the arm of her comrade.</p> + +<p>"Say to the Prince Helicon that his words do me great honor, very great +honor," she answered; "but I am an American girl, and am lonely for my +own home and people. Now we are rested, and I wish to go, no matter +what may be the risks. And tell him also that I cannot be his wife, +because—because—I already am promised to another."</p> + +<p>Under his anger and back of his spirit a cold hand clutched at the +heart of the man of the snows, but he turned to the prince and repeated +the words of the girl.</p> + +<p>Helicon's eyes were bright with anger. "Art altogether sure that thou +hast made plain both my words and hers, O stranger?" he cried.</p> + +<p>"He doubts my words, lady," said Polaris. "Perhaps you can make him +understand."</p> + +<p>"I think I can," answered Rose. She fronted the prince, and stared him +coolly in the face. Then she turned and held out her arms toward the +North. Turning again to Helicon, she threw out her right hand, with +the palm toward him, in a repellent gesture. "I think you will not +misunderstand that, prince," she said in English.</p> + +<p>Nor did he. He sprang to his feet and took one step down from the +throne.</p> + +<p>"Now, by the gods of the gateway," he cried, "thou shalt not so flout +Helicon!" All forgetful that she could not understand a word, he raged +at the girl. "I say that thou shalt stay in Sardanes as I will, and thy +wanderer in strange places shall wander forth without thee, or—"</p> + +<p>There Kalin interrupted.</p> + +<p>"O prince, think well before thou speakest. Wouldst thou, the prince of +great and ancient Sardanes, mate with a woman outlander of whom thou +knowest naught? What will thy people think?"</p> + +<p>"And, O prince, think well again before thou sayest that which thou +canst not recall," broke in Polaris. "For I, Polaris of the Snows, tell +thee that this thing shall not be, though thou wert forty times prince. +I swear it by no dark portals of the future, but on the honor of an +American gentleman!"</p> + +<p>"A truce to thy interfering tongue, priest!" said Helicon furiously. +"And thou, man of the wilderness, bridle thy tongue also, lest it be +curbed for thee. In Sardanes Helicon is the master."</p> + +<p>One of the nobles, a middle-aged man, who had started from his seat, +now made himself heard. "O prince," he said anxiously, "I tell thee +that Kalin hath the right. It is not meet that thou shouldst take to +wife this woman from we know not where, who hath come among us. Let her +go, and the man with her, lest harm befall. See, already the people +murmur."</p> + +<p>It was true. Down in the great hall, where the gathered Sardanians had +listened breathless, arose now a babel of voices in protest.</p> + +<p>"Garlanes, be thou silent also," said Helicon, but the prince could not +turn a deaf ear to the murmurs of the people. He sank back in his seat, +and for a space rested his chin on his hand. At length he spoke again +in a low, choked voice.</p> + +<p>"Not that I fear thee, outlander; nor thee, priest; but it shall be as +the people wish. Now get thee gone, thou and the woman. In the time of +ten sleeps will Helicon answer thee, after he hath taken counsel with +his nobles and his people. Then will he say whether thou shalt go or +stay. Go hence until that time and abide in peace with Kalin."</p> + +<p>As the Sardanians measured time by sleeping and waking, and not by +days, in a land where the days were six months long, it would be ten +ordinary days until the prince made his decision.</p> + +<p>On their way back to the Gateway to the Future, Polaris said to Kalin: +"Now what shall hinder that I be gone before the time he set?"</p> + +<p>For once Kalin, the far-seeing, erred in his wisdom, for he made answer:</p> + +<p>"Nay, it were best to wait. I deem it not unlikely that the prince +will act in despite of the wishes of the nobles and of the people. In +any case, he is a faithful man, and no harm will come to thee in the +time he hath named."</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>POLARIS HUNTS THE BEAR</h3> + + +<p>Neither Polaris nor the girl was contented to rest all the hours +away on the grassy terraces of the gateway, but wandered together +through the valley, learning more of its wonders. Everywhere they +found industry. Men and women worked in their little farm plots and +vineyards, tending the fruits and grains in which the valley was rich; +many of them akin to those known in the outside world, and others which +would have made a life study for a botanist.</p> + +<p>In all Sardanes the work was so apportioned that the products of the +soil and of the craftsman supplied evenly the demands of the valley +dwellers. In one section lived and labored the weavers and the dyers +of cloths; in another the makers of sandals and articles of leather; +and in a roomy stone smithy they found Kard the Smith and his men, the +workers in metal, beating out buckles and jewelry, daggers, spears, and +implements of many other uses.</p> + +<p>Not many of the smiths were necessary, for the metal in which they +worked was of incredible hardness and durability, and was tempered by +the smiths to a fineness beyond any steel. It was that which had first +attracted the attention of Polaris in the Hunters' Road, when he found +the dagger of Kard gleaming in the snow-path. Ilium it was named, and +it was mined from the volcanic rock far up in the mountainside.</p> + +<p>Other metals were found in the rocks, but none of a quality to compare +with ilium, or none that had its iridescent beauty.</p> + +<p>Gems they also knew, and many an ornament worn by the Sardanian men and +maids flashed with bright stones. One variety, of a wonderful rich, red +luster, Rose Emer thought were rubies, but she was not enough versed +in gem learning to be sure. If they were rubies, they were of immense +value, for they were of large sizes, and most of them were flawless to +their depths.</p> + +<p>On the wall in the library of Kalin the priest hung a necklace of such, +containing a full score of magnificent stones, each of many carats +weight, fairly well cut into facets by the Sardanian lapidaries who had +fashioned them. Each stone was set in a ring of the glittering ilium, +attached one to another with links of the metal.</p> + +<p>One innovation the strangers took into the valley that was hailed with +acclaim. Until the advent of Polaris and Rose Emer not a button was +known in the length of the land. Everything sartorial was fastened with +buckles.</p> + +<p>Sardanian craftsmen and housewives were quick to note the uses of the +perforated disks, and buttons were straightaway the new fashion, and +were sewn on all garments. When enough were placed to answer their +purpose of holding things together still more were added for ornament, +until some of the Sardanian robes bore no distant likeness to the +creations of a Parisian modiste, with their rows of holeless buttons.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>On the fifth day after their interview with the Prince Helicon, Kard +the Smith came to the gateway to repay their visit, and to bring an +invitation to Polaris to go out with a party of the hunters along the +Hunters' Road to the edge of the wilderness to hunt the white bear.</p> + +<p>Six Sardanians made up the hunting-party, of whom two were Kard the +Smith and Morolas, one of the tall brothers of Helicon. All were armed +with spears tipped with ilium blades, axes, and daggers, and they drove +with them a four-pony sledge, with which to take home their game.</p> + +<p>Much as Polaris would have liked to take with him the seven dogs, he +did not, for he dared not risk the lives of the animals in the fierce +sport. With the death of his dogs would die also his last chances of +winning back on the way to the North.</p> + +<p>Some hours along the snow-path they discovered the first signs of the +game which they sought, the white bear. The sledge was halted and the +ponies outspanned. One of the Sardanian hunters was left to keep the +camp, and the rest of the party set out on the fresh trail.</p> + +<p>Less than a mile away across the snow hummocks they came in sight of +their quarry, a magnificent specimen of the king of the pole lands, +sleek and fat and powerful from the good feeding he had found in the +temperate vicinity of the smoky hills.</p> + +<p>"There is the bear. Now, stranger of the snows, how dost thou take +him?" said Morolas. "I understand that thou hast taken many of his +kind single-handed—unless indeed that necklace of thine was plucked +from dead bones."</p> + +<p>Paying no attention whatever to the open sneer in the words of the +prince, Polaris made his preparation. He was too much pleased with the +prospect of the action before him to be nettled by the peevishness of +the Sardanian prince. Smilingly he loosened the long knife in his belt, +took a firm grip of his spear, one of his own steel-bladed shafts, and +crept forward across the snows where the monster awaited the coming of +the foe.</p> + +<p>For the bear had seen them, and paused, grumbling and sniffing, to +discover if these new animals might not be worth his trouble as a meal.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Plenty of temper had that bear. Before the man was within thirty feet +of him he stopped the slow swaying of his massive head, emitted a +snarling roar, and charged. Polaris stood at the dip of a slope in the +snow, alert and watchful for his chance to leap and thrust.</p> + +<p>As the avalanche of angry bear dashed down the incline its claws +slipped on an icy crusting, and it rolled, folding its head in almost +to its belly, like a huge snowball, scratching furiously at the snow +crust to stop itself and regain its footing.</p> + +<p>Straight at the man it shot, and as it reached him he sprang aside.</p> + +<p>The same mischance that had upset the animal now proved the undoing of +the man's well-aimed thrust. As he drew back his arm to strike, Polaris +felt his feet flying from under him.</p> + +<p>By exercising all of his tigerish agility he prevented himself from +rolling right under the ponderous body of his antagonist. Backward he +threw himself, struck a softer spot in the snow crust, and disappeared +in it up to his shoulders.</p> + +<p>Had Bruin stopped to consider his predicament, that would have been a +tight situation for Polaris; but the enraged mountain of flesh paid +no further attention to him. Instead he scrambled to his feet at the +foot of the slope, snarling more viciously than ever because of his +downfall, and charged on into the group of Sardanians.</p> + +<p>Before they could realize what was happening, and that Polaris had +failed to wound or turn the animal, he was upon them. They scattered, +thrusting their spears as they leaped from the path of the monster.</p> + +<p>One of them, Kard the Smith, was not so fortunate as the rest. He stood +directly in the path of the charge. As he leaped to one side a huge paw +whirled in the air and one of the curved talons caught in the slack of +his rough tunic, hurling him down as a mouse is spun from the claw of a +cat. Before his companions could return to his aid the bear was tearing +at the prostrate body of the smith.</p> + +<p>As soon as he fell through the snow crust Polaris threw himself forward +on his face along the surface, seeking a spot that would allow him to +stand upright. In an instant he was on his feet and forward in the wake +of the furious bear. His spear had fallen from his hand when he broke +into the soft snow, and had glided away over the glary crust for many +feet. There was no time to regain it if he was to aid Kard. Plucking +the knife from his belt, he rushed in.</p> + +<p>Seeming to sense the new danger, the bear whirled on its haunches, and, +holding the body of the Sardanian beneath it with one forepaw, struck +out madly at Polaris with the other.</p> + +<p>Polaris evaded the sweep of the blow by the smallest margin. He had +thrown off his gloves, and he caught the long hair on the flail-like +paw with his left hand. As the bear drew in his paw to deliver another +buffet, the man came with it.</p> + +<p>Never in all his bear fights had he come to grips with one of the +antarctic monarchs from the front in this wise; but there was no help +for it if he would save the smith. He was swept in against the wide +chest of the animal, and its terrible front paws were closed to crush +him as it raised one armed hind leg to rip him with its down-stroke, +and at the same time strove to bend its head down and tear with its +jaws.</p> + +<p>Menaced by the triple attack, Polaris threw his left arm over his head +and jammed his elbow into the throat of the bear below the angle of +its jaw, thrusting upward with all the power of his body. At the same +instant, quick as a wrestler, he passed one leg over the rising hind +leg of the bear.</p> + +<p>For the space of an eye flicker the two stood, statuesque, in the snow. +Then the man jerked back his shoulders, raised his right arm, and +buried the long knife in the white throat.</p> + +<p>Twice he stabbed home, and, feeling the clutching forepaws slacken, let +himself go limp, slid from the embrace of the bear, and sprawled in +the snow alongside the smith. He seized Kard, and with him rolled from +under the toppling, roaring mass of the enemy, which floundered in the +snow.</p> + +<p>It was the end for the bear, however. Tearing in agony at its wounded +throat, it reared again and fell backward, struggling terribly in the +release of life.</p> + +<p>All had happened in a matter of seconds. Kard, snatched from the very +jaws of death, stood gaping at the dying bear, unhurt aside from a bad +scare. Beside him, Polaris, his white surcoat streaked with blood, +stooped and cleaned his knife in the snow. The other Sardanians trooped +back somewhat sheepishly, all of them eyeing Polaris with manifest +admiration—all save Morolas, whose face was flushed, and in whose eye +was an ugly glint of anger or annoyance.</p> + +<p>"Methinks thou wert somewhat late, stranger," he growled, "and nearly +was Kard gathered to his fathers because of thy clumsiness."</p> + +<p>In the face of the facts, the futility of his remark caused Polaris +to laugh aloud. "In second thought I left him to thee, prince," he +said, "and did but take up the matter again when I saw thee otherwise +occupied."</p> + +<p>Morolas framed a hot retort, but thought better of it and swallowed +it unsaid. "Methinks thy laughter ill-timed," he muttered grimly to +himself. But Kard without a word seized the hand of Polaris, and bent +and kissed it. Morolas frowned the more.</p> + +<p>Polaris recovered his spear. With thongs the five men dragged the huge +carcass of the bear back to where they had left the pony sledge, and +loaded it on the sledge.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>One more bear they met that day, much smaller than the first. It was +dispatched easily by the party, who bore it down with their spears. In +that conflict the honors fell more to the share of Morolas, and that +seemed partially to restore his temper.</p> + +<p>In Morolas dwelt a wild and unpleasant spirit, unbridled by the +discipline with which Helicon, the prince, controlled himself, and in +direct contrast to the sunny soul of his twin brother, Minos, known in +Sardanes as the "open-handed."</p> + +<p>Presently they returned to the sledge, packed on it the carcass of the +second bear, and made ready for their return to the city.</p> + +<p>Polaris laid aside his long spear and bent himself to the task of +making fast the bulky corpses of their quarry. Where there was work +afoot he was never backward. Indeed, in the long, weary years of their +lonely life, work and study were all that had kept wholesome the minds +and bodies of himself and his father.</p> + +<p>While he bent to make fast the last knot the other Sardanians drew away +from the sledge. He heard a scuffling in the snow and a sharp cry from +Kard the Smith—"It shall not be, Morolas!" followed by a snap like a +breaking stick.</p> + +<p>Between his left arm and his body a flash of light darted as the sun's +rays glittered on the ilium tip of a hurled spear, and the weapon was +buried in the side of the carcass which he had been making fast.</p> + +<p>He whirled on his heel. Morolas stood with his body still bowed and +outstretched arm as he had cast the spear. Kard had sprung in between, +and it was his weapon with which he had struck that of the prince that +had sounded like a breaking shaft. He had spoiled the aim of Morolas, +and surely saved the life of Polaris.</p> + +<p>Back of the prince stood the other four hunters with weapons poised.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>FOR THE ROSE OF AMERICA</h3> + + +<p>"I tell thee, prince, it shall not be!" shouted Kard hoarsely. "He hath +saved this day the life of Kard, and he shall not die thus. Look to +thyself, thou man of the snows," he flung over his shoulder, "thy death +waits!"</p> + +<p>"Away, fool!" raged Morolas, and whirled the smith from his path with +a sweep of his arm. He snatched a spear from one of the hunters, and +would have repeated his cast.</p> + +<p>That throw was never made.</p> + +<p>All had happened in the space that a man might count ten. In one glance +Polaris accepted the situation. His head shot forward, every muscle in +his body flexed, his face hardened and under his white-furred frontlet +his tawny eyes blazed like molten brass. He leaped from the side of the +sledge with lightning swiftness, cleared the space intervening with a +single bound, and tore the lifted spear from the hand of Morolas. He +threw the weapon on the ground, and for an instant the two men faced +each other, foot to foot and eye to eye.</p> + +<p>Neither spoke. From his superior height the prince glared down at the +son of the snows.</p> + +<p>With a motion so quick that the eye could not follow the blow, Polaris +struck, from the shoulder and with doubled fist. The tall prince +crumpled and went down, hurled fully his own length by the fierceness +of the blow.</p> + +<p>He never moved again. The fist of Polaris, impelled by all the mighty +strength stored in his muscles of steel, had struck Morolas full on the +breast-bone. Such was the power of the stroke that the man's chest had +caved in before it, and his heart had stopped.</p> + +<p>He lay scarcely twitching, and the dark blood welled from his lips and +stained the white snow.</p> + +<p>Never before had Polaris struck a man in anger with his naked hand, and +he was momentarily shaken by the result of his own blow. He hesitated +but an instant, however, for his blood was up. A Sardanian hunter knelt +in the snow by his dead master.</p> + +<p>"Gone is Morolas, brother to Helicon the prince," he wailed, and sprang +to his feet gnashing his teeth in fury. Kard cried aloud in horror, but +he leaped to the side of Polaris, to confront the four hunters. But he +struck no blow in defense of his friend; an ilium blade cast by one of +the hunters pierced him as he raised spear; and he, too, fell in the +snow.</p> + +<p>Across Kard's writhing body and the still corpse of Morolas the Prince, +leaped Polaris. The four hunters stood in a little group, he who had +thrown the spear at Kard slightly in advance of the others.</p> + +<p>That fact alone saved the life of Polaris. Before the unarmed hunter +could spring aside and give his comrades space in which to throw, +the man of the snows was upon them, a death-dealing fury. He caught +the first man by the shoulders, and by sheer strength swung him from +the ground and dashed him against his fellows. Head-on, he threw the +hunter, and the skull of the flying man crashed against the head of the +man next him with sickening force.</p> + +<p>Only two antagonists were left to confront him.</p> + +<p>An ilium spear swished past his head. He caught it out of the air, and +the man who had cast it died with it in his heart. Those Sardanians +were of fighting stock; the single remaining man gave back never a +step. His spear had been shaken from his hand, but he carried an ilium +ax in his belt, and this he whirled up to meet Polaris.</p> + +<p>It fell upon thin air. The son of the wilds crouched under its swing +like a trained boxer, came up with the Sardanian's guard, and struck +once with his long-bladed knife.</p> + +<p>The battle was finished. The trampled snow looked like a butcher's +shambles.</p> + +<p>Polaris stood with clenched hands, his face set like a stone. Under +other circumstances he might have felt remorse; he certainly would have +been moved to mercy. But he had been trapped like an animal, and he +joyed in the fierceness of the conflict, and felt no sting of regret +for the men he had slain.</p> + +<p>A voice called his name weakly from behind. He turned and beheld Kard +the Smith, not yet sped. He had dragged himself to his knees, and was +clutching at the great spear that was set in his side.</p> + +<p>"Polaris of the Snows," he gasped, "Kard dies for thee, who this +day saved Kard from the beast. Kard dies a traitor—to Sardanes's +prince. Haste thee—stranger—get thy strange snow-runners—get +them—from Kalin! Methinks the priest loves thee. He will aid thee—to +escape. Go—Helicon holds the Rose. Go—whilst thou mayest. Helicon +planned—that thou—shouldst die—this day—but—one Kard—turned +traitor. Farewell!"</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Polaris knelt in the red snow and supported the body of the dying +smith. Twice the Sardanian essayed to speak again and could not. His +head rolled back, and he, too, was sped.</p> + +<p>A strange sight was Polaris as he stood up from the corpse of Kard, his +white fur surcoat besprinkled with the blood of men and beasts, his +handsome face scarred by his terrible anger, his tawny eyes blazing and +his broad chest rising and falling in gasps, as cold fear and hot wrath +beset him together.</p> + +<p>If he had ever doubted his love for the girl so strangely met, the +griping fear that strangled his heart and choked his throat put all +doubt to flight.</p> + +<p>"Helicon holds the Rose," he muttered through his whitened lips. "What +saidst thou, Kard? That I must escape? Nay, Kard; death shall find me +in thy valley of Sardanes, or I shall find Helicon, thy prince, and the +Rose. Yesterday, or was it many yesterdays agone?—it was all for the +North. Now it is all for the Rose. I come, dear heart; I come, to win, +or to die in the losing!"</p> + +<p>He leaped to the sledge, tore away the thongs that bound the carcasses +of the dead bears and rolled them into the snow alongside the dead men. +He inspanned the four horses, sprang into the driver's seat, shook out +the many-molded lash and drove back toward Sardanes, as though hell's +door had opened and loosed its legion of furies along the Hunters' Road +behind him.</p> + +<p>Midway in his dash to the city, he halted the horses and sprang down. +With nose well down to catch the scent from the trail, and with his +plumed tail aflaunt as he galloped, a great gray dog toiled out through +the snows to meet him.</p> + +<p>"What, Marcus? You, too, have fought and bled!" he cried, as his loyal +servant leaped upon him, whining for the joy of the meeting. The +shoulder of the dog was gashed by a keen edge, so that his blood had +run down and dried on his breast and legs. And on the throat and jowl +of Marcus was other blood.</p> + +<p>"Now, do you alone live of all your tribe, Marcus? Shame on you, +Marcus, if you deserted to find your master while the fighting pack +died for the Rose! Or did it fall some other way that you alone come to +meet me?"</p> + +<p>Wondering much and fearing more, he flung the dog onto the sledge and +again lashed the ponies into a mad run. Snow fell, and they dashed on +through the storm, the man ever plying the long lash, the dog riding +behind him, reared, and with his paws on the man's shoulders, both +looking ahead, where the smoke curled around the mighty mountain-tops.</p> + +<p>When they came to the pass gashed in the foot-hills, where the snow +waves broke at the lips of the warm slopes, Polaris outspanned the +outworn ponies, and dismissed them with a parting crack of the long +whip. Freed of their burdens, the tired little beasts scuttled away up +the rocky hillsides, betaking themselves to soft pastures, to forget +the voice of the lash and the galling harness.</p> + +<p>Polaris and Marcus climbed the pass, and stood again at the brink +of the ledge of rock that overlooked the valley. Below them in the +sunshine lay Sardanes, never more peaceful. Men were working in the +fields, women singing from the homes and children were at play in the +meadows. Under its green bridges the little river rippled to the hill's +foot, its waterfall murmuring from the distance.</p> + +<p>Above it all, for an instant, Polaris stood gazing down, with no peace +of spirit, his heart and brain a red and raging fury. Sardanes's evil +genius was at her gates.</p> + +<p>Through the forests to the left the man and dog skirted the meadows +where none might see them, headed straight to the terraced declivity of +the Gateway to the Future. None was there to meet them as they set foot +on the last terrace and the house of the priest lay before them; but a +welcome sound greeted the ears of Polaris. It was the howling of the +dogs, which Marcus would have answered. A stern word silenced him.</p> + +<p>At the very threshold of the house of Kalin, the priest met Polaris. +His face was drawn and anxious and his right hand was bound in a white +bandage. At sight of the son of the snows and his gray body-guard. +Kalin started and a strange look passed athwart his melancholy features.</p> + +<p>Without setting foot on the door-stone, Polaris called sternly: +"Greeting to thee, Kalin the Priest. Tell me, and waste not thy words +in the telling, where fares the Rose?"</p> + +<p>Kalin threw forth his uninjured hand in a bitter gesture. "The Prince +Helicon—" he answered hoarsely, but Polaris broke in:</p> + +<p>"Ay, priest, Helicon holds the Rose. I learned as much but shortly. Now +if there has been treachery here, I am minded that Marcus shall tear +out a traitor's throat! Speak quickly. How falls it that the Rose is +gone, that the prince breaks faith and that thou hast allowed it?"</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Unmoved by the threat, Kalin bent his deep eyes on Polaris.</p> + +<p>"No traitor dwells here," he answered. "Even now those faithful to me +in the valley gather to the rescue of the lady, it may be, though it +rend Sardanes with bitter strife. Ay, all that would Kalin attempt, +even though he deemed that thou wert dead in the snows, as Helicon +hinted. Helicon hath not had his will freely. A priest of Hephaistos +lieth yonder in his dwelling with a broken shoulder, and this hand was +injured in defense of the Rose. Kalin did but yield to force, that he +might later win by craft. Thy words do Kalin small honor, thou who are +as the brother of Kalin."</p> + +<p>"Thy pardon, Kalin, my words were rash. Consider that the maid is +dearer to me than aught I may hope to attain in the world, and this +thing that hath been done hath brought upon me a rage like unto nothing +I have ever known. Now tell me what thou mayest accomplish in my aid, +for I go hence to find Helicon the Prince."</p> + +<p>"Mine is half of the fault, brother," Kalin answered. "I should have +foreseen, but I guessed not that Helicon was mad enough for this. +Wide was the rift between us before; it hath passed all bridging now. +As I have said, many of the people hold to the ancient sway of the +priesthood of Hephaistos, and murmur at the changes which Helicon would +have. Already my messengers are among them, calling them to my aid. +Hadst thou not come, in a short space Kalin would have been on his way +to the Judgement House. It was ordered that thou shouldst die this day +on the Hunters' Road. How hast thou won free?"</p> + +<p>"Kard the Smith owed me somewhat, and could not stomach my killing. +He took a dead thrust for his hindrance. Yet did he warn in time, +and Morolas and four hunters keep him company whither he traveleth," +Polaris answered simply.</p> + +<p>Then Kalin told him how Helicon the Prince had come to the gateway +and taken Rose Emer thence by force. Kalin had made opposition, even +to raising his hand against the prince. In a scuffle, wherein he was +supported by one of his priests, he had been wounded in the hand by the +dagger of the prince, and the priest had been hurled to the ground, so +that his shoulder was cracked.</p> + +<p>"Only we two were here to oppose him," said Kalin, "and he had others +with him. Had I persisted, I had been slain by him in his fury. So +I submitted that I might be left to befriend the Rose. And she, she +loosed the great dog before she was taken, and set him forth on thy +trail. One of Helicon's men gashed him with a spear, and he would have +turned and given battle to all of them, but Rose urged him on."</p> + +<p>"And how went the Rose—calmly, or struggling and crying?" asked +Polaris, his jaws clinching at the thoughts called up by the words of +Kalin.</p> + +<p>"Nay, with head held high, tearless and saying nothing went the Rose," +the priest answered him. "The lady hath greatness of spirit. She went +in anger, but gave not way to fear."</p> + +<p>"Now we go to visit this prince of thine," said Polaris. He called +Marcus and shut the dog, protesting, with his fellows in the stable. +"Well would you like the fight with me, if fight there is to be, I +know, my Marcus, but I dare not risk you," he muttered.</p> + +<p>He ran to his room in the house of the priest. When he came forth there +swung from his waist his father's brace of heavy revolvers and the +filled cartridge belt, and in his hand he bore the brown rifle. He had +also an ilium-bladed spear, and in its sheath at his hip gleamed the +long dagger of Kard the Smith, that he had taken from the corpse of the +stout Sardanian.</p> + +<p>He counted much on his firearms now. Here were weapons of which even +Kalin knew not the secret.</p> + +<p>Among the few books in the cabin of his father was one which Polaris +had read and reread, and which, as boy and man, he had liked best +of them all. It was the "Ivanhoe" of Sir Walter Scott. He had +wondered much on its story of chivalry and battle in a far-off time. +Unconsciously much of his own language was couched in its quaint terms.</p> + +<p>Now, as he set forth, to fight, or to fall, if need be, for the lady of +his heart, there came to him a strange conceit, born of the old romance.</p> + +<p>Armed and ready, he stood at the top of the terrace, and while the +priest wondered, he raised his voice in his own tongue, not loudly, but +firmly and clearly, in the first battle cry ever heard in the valley of +Sardanes:</p> + +<p>"For the Rose of America! Polaris to the rescue!"</p> + +<p>Together he and Kalin passed down the terraced slopes of the Gateway to +the Future.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>HEPHAISTOS CLAIMS A SACRIFICE</h3> + + +<p>Kalin carried a bundle in his hand, and as they reached the thickets at +the foot of the hill he paused.</p> + +<p>"Now, for our purpose thou must go unknown of men. Thou canst hide +thyself in one of these."</p> + +<p>He shook out his bundle, and revealed two of the long sable robes of +his priestly order. He threw one of them over Polaris and donned the +other. They were loose and cowled, and covered both men entirely.</p> + +<p>"As a priest of Hephaistos thou goest," said Kalin. "Thou must leave +the spear, but that strange club of thine thou mayest hide beneath the +robe."</p> + +<p>"Nay, I can take the spear also," answered Polaris, and snapped the +stout shaft off short in his hands, so that the weapon was rendered +little longer than the rifle, and he could hide both of them under the +garment.</p> + +<p>"Priest," he said, as they started across the meadows toward the +bridge, "but shortly I said that in anger which I fain would recall, +for twice thou hast shown thyself a true man."</p> + +<p>Kalin waved his hand deprecatingly. "It is forgotten, as though it were +not," he said, with one of his rare and melancholy smiles. "Thou art as +my brother."</p> + +<p>"But now," persisted Polaris, "we fare on an errand to which thy +feeling of brotherhood doth not bind thee. Why goest thou into danger +with me, Kalin, into danger that may end in death, thou, who art of +this land, and its priest?"</p> + +<p>Kalin halted and regarded him strangely. "Say, thou, Polaris, thou +lovest Rose?" he questioned. Into the face of the man of the snows the +red blood flamed afresh.</p> + +<p>"Ay, so it seemeth—unto death," he said simply.</p> + +<p>The priest nodded slowly. "And the Rose—doth she return thy love, my +brother?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Then was Polaris silent for a long moment. "Nay," he answered at +length. "Nay, Kalin, the love of the Rose is not mine. Somewhat I have +guessed, and the rest her own words have made plain. There is a man—a +brave American—" the words cost him an effort, "whom she loveth, and +whom she will wed. He leadeth the party with which she came hither. He +fareth forth on a dangerous quest, to return in honor and greatness to +his own land—and the Rose—" He stopped.</p> + +<p>Again Kalin looked strangely into his eyes. "And to save her for +another thou darest all, even to thy life?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, the man is worthy. And that she loveth me not, should my love for +her be less that I should falter in her service? No, Kalin, that is not +the way of Polaris," answered the son of the snows.</p> + +<p>"And when thou hast won her way home, as I think thou wilt—for thou +darest all things, and the high gods love those greatly daring—what +then?"</p> + +<p>"I have a duty laid on me, in the far North; and then—I know not."</p> + +<p>Once again his strange smile passed over the face of Kalin the priest. +"Now, thou Polaris, we indeed are brothers in all. Know that I, too, +love the Rose, and would die even as thou wouldst, to save her, even to +save her for another—but I had hoped that the other might be thee—I +dearly hoped it. Nor that it may not be, lesseneth not the measure of +the service of Kalin."</p> + +<p>Polaris held out his hand, and his eyes were very bright as their +fingers clasped.</p> + +<p>"Kalin, my brother, may the gods set our feet in the same path, +wherever it leadeth," he said.</p> + +<p>As they proceeded toward the Judgement House they saw that many +Sardanians were gathered there, and ever among the throng passed back +and forth the black-robed figures of the priests of the gateway.</p> + +<p>Kalin stationed Polaris by a pillar in the great hall, not far from the +platform.</p> + +<p>"Stay thou there, brother, and be silent, unless great need cometh," he +said, and passed up the steps to his black stone seat near the throne.</p> + +<p>A friendly murmur arose from the Sardanians in the hall when they saw +the priest throw aside his robe and take his seat. That something +untoward was on foot it was easy to guess. All over the hall, the +voices of men were raised in discussion, and chiming with them the +voices of women also. And ever from group to group passed the priests +of Kalin, exhorting here and rebuking there, setting the stage for the +denouément planned by their master.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Presently entered Garlanes and a group of Sardanian nobles, among whom +towered Minos, the brother of the prince—Minos, whose twin brother lay +stiffening in the snow in the Hunters' Road. Then, after some delay, +came Helicon himself.</p> + +<p>As the prince ascended the steps to his throne, Polaris leaned forward +from his sheltering pillar, his whole frame taut as a bow-string, the +hand that held the brown rifle clenched so that it seemed that the +steel barrel itself would crumple in his terrible grip.</p> + +<p>Helicon's face was darkly clouded. He did not glance once in the +direction of Kalin, but sat a while in thought, and in all the hall was +silence. His musing ended, the prince raised his head.</p> + +<p>"Wherefore do the people of Sardanes gather in the Judgement House and +summon their ruler?" he asked harshly, and bent his stern gaze on the +people below the platform.</p> + +<p>None answered him. He smiled grimly, and again he questioned: "What +matter would Sardanes's people bring before Sardanes's prince? Speak."</p> + +<p>From among the people rose a subdued murmur, a note of protest, but no +man was bold enough to voice it. In a silence that followed Helicon sat +impatiently, his fingers twitching on the stone arms of his throne.</p> + +<p>From his seat Kalin the priest rose and stepped to the foot of the +throne.</p> + +<p>"Thy people murmur because of a deed that to them seemeth ill, Helicon +the Prince," he said. He paused, and behind him in the hall rose +another murmur of support from the people.</p> + +<p>"They are assembled in the Judgement House to beg that Helicon the +Prince shall sit in judgment on himself and render answer," continued +Kalin. "Thy people murmur because thou wouldst take to wife an alien +woman and place her with thee on the throne of Sardanes, supplanting +the right of a daughter of Sardanes.</p> + +<p>"They murmur," the priest raised his voice slightly, in a note of +accusation, "because thou hast reft her from the hospitality of +Sardanes's priest with violence, under a broken pledge, and that thou +hast lifted thy hand against the priests of Sardanes, the ministers +of the mighty Lord Hephaistos of the Gateway, who speak the word of +Hephaistos in Sardanes—"</p> + +<p>"Enough, priest!" shouted Helicon, red with rage. "Cease thy slander of +Sardanes's ruler!" He turned his eyes on the Sardanians in the hall. +"Helicon, Prince of Sardanes, rendereth account to no man," he cried. +"It is his will that he weddeth with the Rose maiden. Let the man who +gainsaith look to himself!"</p> + +<p>As the voices of the people were raised in an angry babel of protest, +he lifted his hand.</p> + +<p>"Beware," he cried, his voice ringing through the hall. "Take warning! +Helicon rules in Sardanes. Bitter shall be the punishment meted out to +him that opposeth the will of the prince."</p> + +<p>Before his fierce eyes the people fell silent again, and he turned +again to Kalin.</p> + +<p>"As for thee, priest," he said hoarsely, "get thee back with thy +black-robed crew, to thy station, and attend thy priestly duties. +Attend them well. Too long hath thy priesthood interfered in the +affairs of Sardanes. It shall be so no longer. Go, ere I am moved to +lessen thy number by one meddler!"</p> + +<p>He glared at the priest, and men in the hall stood all aghast at his +words. Many there were of the priest's party, but they knew that many +others were for the prince and against the priest, and none knew to +what lengths Helicon might go in his anger.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Still at the foot of the throne Kalin stood undaunted, and holding his +last card in the game. A bitter smile came to his lips, and his voice +was low and deep as he answered:</p> + +<p>"Prince, thou growest mad, who would override the will of thy people +and dare the anger of the god. It is the will of the god, as it is the +will of the people that thou shalt wed a maid of Sardanes."</p> + +<p>Assuming for his own purposes that he was unaware of the fate which had +been intended for Polaris, he continued:</p> + +<p>"When the stranger with whom the maid came hither returneth from the +hunt, then he shall take her and fare again to the north, as they +wish—"</p> + +<p>Helicon, secretly worried because of the long absence of Morolas and +his party, yet not dreaming of the end of their mission, broke in again.</p> + +<p>"The stranger cometh not again to Sardanes. He hath left the maid, and +fared alone on his road to the north. I will wed the maid. I, Helicon, +have said it, and it shall be."</p> + +<p>"Have thy hunters then returned?" asked Kalin pointedly.</p> + +<p>"Be thou silent, priest!" roared Helicon. Another thought flashed into +his mind. "Tarry thou here, for there shall be work for thee." He +turned to his brother Minos. "Go thou and fetch the Rose maid hither," +he said.</p> + +<p>Kalin stood back with folded arms, his head held high. In all the hall +was no sound, save the suppressed breathing of the people. Smiling, +as was his wont, the tall Minos left the hall through the pillared +entrance behind the throne. Helicon sat glowering, with his chin on his +hand, until he heard Minos returning.</p> + +<p>Then he sprang to his feet and stepped from the throne to the floor of +the platform, fronting Kalin.</p> + +<p>Minos and Rose Emer came into the hall. The girl's face was white, but +she did not falter as she advanced with Minos and stood near Helicon. +Only once her face lighted as she saw Kalin; then she turned her eyes, +and through the pillared façade of the Judgement House she scanned +anxiously the reaches of the valley.</p> + +<p>The heart of Polaris bounded as, crouched behind his pillar, he +followed the course of that gaze. She was looking for him to return—he +would not fail her!</p> + +<p>"Now, whether it be the will of the god or of the people, or of the +maid herself, I, Helicon, will wed the Rose," said the prince shortly. +"And thou, Kalin, of whom and of whose pratings I tire sadly, thou art +still priest in Sardanes—thou shalt wed us—now! Proceed!"</p> + +<p>An enigmatical smile overspread the face of the priest. Full in the +eyes of the angry prince he looked as he towered scarce a yard away.</p> + +<p>"Thou goest far in thy folly, Helicon," he said, and there was a note +of pity in his low tones. Then he raised his voice. "I wed thee not, +nor shall such a marriage ever be!"</p> + +<p>Helicon hissed a direction into the ear of Minos, and the tall prince, +still smiling, stepped toward the edge of the platform and fronted the +people in the lower section of the hall with dagger drawn and spear +aloft. Helicon snatched his own ilium blade from his girdle and leaped +on Kalin.</p> + +<p>He caught the priest by the shoulder, and sought to crush him to his +knees; but, great as was his strength, he could not bend the wiry form +to his will. Kalin stood firm.</p> + +<p>One searching glance he sent down the hall, where men were shouting and +urging forward, and where the foremost were held back by the menace of +Minos. Then the priest turned his gaze back to the face of Helicon.</p> + +<p>Up flashed the bright blade in the hand of the prince and quivered +over the heart of Kalin. "Choose, priest; choose or die!" he shouted +hoarsely. "Wed Helicon to the Rose and go hence, or refuse and +perish—and thy religion shall give way to a better!"</p> + +<p>"Strike, fool, and thou darest," said Kalin contemptuously, and lifted +no hand to save himself.</p> + +<p>Along the great arm of the prince the muscles tightened. The blade +came flashing down. Midway in his stroke Helicon shuddered. The knife +clattered on the stone floor. A crashing roar reverberated through the +judgment chamber, and a cloud of dark smoke floated upward.</p> + +<p>Helicon crashed down on his back with widespread arms—dead!</p> + +<p>A groan of awe rose in the hall. Everywhere men fell on their knees +and covered their faces. Even Kalin, greatly shaken, knelt. Rose Emer +swayed where she stood, and stretched out her arms with a glad cry of +"Polaris!"</p> + +<p>With his cowl thrown back from his golden head and his topaz eyes +flaming, Polaris strode onto the platform. Under the black robe he +clutched the smoking rifle.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>HEPHAISTOS HATH SPOKEN</h3> + + +<p>From his hiding-place behind the pillar Polaris had watched and +listened, leaving matters to the diplomacy of Kalin, hoping against +hope that the priest might persuade Helicon from his blind desires. +When he realized that the priest had failed he had crept forward from +pillar to pillar up the hall.</p> + +<p>While all men watched tensely the scene on the platform, and none noted +him, he had swung himself up on the dais, and stood behind the pillar +at its edge, watchful and with finger on trigger. Even then he had held +his hand until the last second of time that would avail to save his +friend.</p> + +<p>As he reached her side, Rose Emer collapsed with a shuddering cry, and +he caught her swooning body with his left arm.</p> + +<p>Of all the Sardanians, Kalin was first to command himself. Kalin, the +quick-witted, alone guessed that his aid came not from the god of +his people, although for a moment he, too, had bowed before what had +seemed to him the supernatural. He remembered the strangely fashioned +"club" which Polaris had borne from the mountain, and turned it to his +purposes.</p> + +<p>Without rising from his knees he tossed his hands above his head and +cried out:</p> + +<p>"The voice of the god hath spoken! I thank thee, Lord Hephaistos! Thou +hast upheld thy servant."</p> + +<p>Sardanians heard the words of their priest, and they believed. Nor +were Sardanian nerves stout enough to withstand such a startling +manifestation of the deity. With one accord the people broke from +the hall like sheep, and the nobles fled from one platform. Even the +sable-robed priests tarried not for another greeting from their god, +but scurried away with the rest.</p> + +<p>Only one man fled not. That was the great Prince Minos, now ruler of +Sardanes. From where he had knelt at the edge of the dais he arose and +came, smiling no longer, to where his brother lay, and knelt again +with bowed head, paying heed to naught else; for Minos had loved his +brother.</p> + +<p>With a silent gesture Kalin bade Polaris accompany him.</p> + +<p>Rose Emer still lay limp in his arms. He lifted her like an infant +and followed the priest. Back to the Gateway to the Future they went +without pausing; nor did they in all of the way thither encounter a +single Sardanian. The wrath of Hephaistos was abroad in the land, and +his people prayed in their homes.</p> + +<p>Far ahead of them hurried the little band of Kalin's priests, and +climbed the mountainside to their temple. None looked back.</p> + +<p>Polaris handed the rifle and the spear to Kalin, that he might the more +easily carry the girl. As they proceeded he explained to the priest the +agency which had saved him and slain the prince.</p> + +<p>"And in this tube lieth a death that striketh at a distance?" said the +priest curiously. "Well, brother, thou hast paid the score that lay +between us, and the score also that lay between the twain of us and +Prince Helicon. Truly, it was an ill day for Sardanes's prince when +Kard brought thee and the Rose maid into the valley."</p> + +<p>"For one purpose only have I killed," said Polaris solemnly. "The +deaths of the men I have slain may not be counted against me. Gladly +would I have gone hence without bloodshed, but they stood blind to +justice. I take the Rose safely from Sardanes again—peacefully, if may +be—but I take her, though it cost the lives of a hundred men."</p> + +<p>Shortly after they had crossed the river the girl's senses returned +to her, and she had opened her eyes for a brief instant, and had then +closed them again.</p> + +<p>Softly she lay in the arms of the young giant who carried her so +easily. Very close to hers was his handsome face. Very far away and +faint was the face of the American captain. Unconsciously she nestled +closer in the strong arms, and on his broad shoulder her head turned +closer to his.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Polaris fought a conflict, short and sharp, as he carried Rose Emer +up the terraced slopes of the Gateway to the Future. It was a battle +fiercer by far than any that he had waged with the Sardanians, and +within himself were both the friend and the foe. With that soft, warm, +yielding body in his arms, the dear, proud little head at rest on his +shoulder, with the perfume of her hair in his nostrils, with her whole +ineffable attraction lying about him, never stronger than now, like the +meshes of a magic net, Polaris was going quite mad.</p> + +<p>Lower and nearer he bent his head. Kalin, unseeing, stalked on ahead. +Nearer yet. The perfumed hair brushed his cheek.</p> + +<p>Wild thoughts crowded one another through his brain. Why should he face +the long, hard way to the north? Was there not here a kingdom ready +to a strong hand—to his hand, with the aid of the priest? Youth, a +kingdom to take for a little fighting, and the queen of his heart to +queen it in the kingdom—what more in reason might any man ask?</p> + +<p>Lower yet his head bent as he strode, and wild birth and bitter spirit +of the barren years strove in the man's soul with book-learned chivalry +and an old man's spoken precepts.</p> + +<p>Yet was the end of the struggle a foregone conclusion. A few short days +back it would have been different. Despite his strange culture, Polaris +had been little better than a barbarian. The impulses in his breast +were those of the primal man, and might not for long be fettered by +half-learned lessons of the brain. And then came the woman and love. +All of the loose strands of his being, although he knew it not, were +gathered together and held in one small, soft white hand.</p> + +<p>So, ere ever it was fought, his battle was decided.</p> + +<p>Her hair brushed his cheek. His head swam dizzily. He knew not if he +walked or staggered. Her breath intoxicated him. Their lips met, only +a touch, light as the brushing of birds in flight, but it thrilled the +man like racing fire.</p> + +<p>He started in every affrighted nerve. He dared not know that her lips +had answered to his touch. He dared not look at her face, swooned as he +believed her. With cheeks aflame, he strode on toward the house of the +priest, and did not discover the fiery signal raised in answer to his +own.</p> + +<p>Dim-eyed, he laid her on the stone bench at the priest's door, while he +brought water to dash in her face. But when he came with it he found +her recovered and sitting upright, with hands pressed tightly to her +face. Covered as he was with his own confusion, he did not notice that +which might have spared them both much trouble in the days to come.</p> + +<p>Following a succession of events which few men in the world could have +encountered, the steel-sinewed son of the snows now went on guard at +the house of Kalin while the priest and the girl slept, both of them +worn from their experiences in the last few hours. When they were +refreshed Polaris took his rest, and the priest stood watch. They dared +not relax vigilance, and there was none they might trust utterly, +except themselves.</p> + +<p>They pressed their preparations for their departure from the valley. +While Kalin gathered secretly all things needed to their journey, +Polaris packed the sledge. He mended his harness with care, and with +light, tough wood and thongs constructed extra snow-shoes. He also +cleaned and oiled his guns, and selected several stout spears.</p> + +<p>Beyond a return from the garb of the Sardanians to the stout clothing +she had worn from the outer world, the preparations of Rose Emer were +few.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Within twenty-four hours from the time of their return to the mountain +from the Judgement House, the storm gathered. Hard as they had labored, +they were not more than half finished with their work of preparation +for departure when Prince Minos climbed the slopes of the gateway. With +him came a file of stout Sardanians. Every man of the party was fully +armed.</p> + +<p>"Yonder cometh trouble in haste," said Polaris, when he noted the +approach of the prince and his men. "Go thou and talk with them, +brother," he said to Kalin. "My temper groweth short with these +Sardanians of thine; the more so with those of the royal breed. And, +brother, should thy parley come to an ill end, wave thy hands and cast +thyself on thy face, and I will clear the way before thee," and he +patted the brown rifle.</p> + +<p>"What is the pleasure of the Prince Minos?" asked Kalin, standing at +the top of the terrace path as the prince and his men paused in front +of him, where the way grew narrow.</p> + +<p>Minos made no answer, gazing sternly on Kalin. Old Garlanes, the noble, +spoke.</p> + +<p>"No words finds Minos, the prince," he said, "for his tongue is stilled +with sorrow—sorrow for the deaths of his brethren and with anger that +their slayer goeth unpunished."</p> + +<p>Kalin's start of surprise was well simulated. "How mean you, Garlanes?" +he exclaimed. "The brethren of the prince—"</p> + +<p>"Runners have come in who were sent on the trail of a hunting-party. +They report the corpses of Morolas, brother to the prince, and five +hunters lying in their blood in the Hunters' Road. Aye, they were done +to death with violence, and their bodies damaged by the beasts of the +wastes.</p> + +<p>"Nor does the Prince Minos"—and Garlanes lowered his voice to a mere +whisper—"believe that the death of his brother Helicon came from +Sardanes's god. On the corpse of the dead Helicon were found two +wounds, from which blood had flowed, and from the mouth of one of them +there fell this thing."</p> + +<p>Garlanes held out his hand with the leaden pellet of a rifle cartridge +in it.</p> + +<p>"This thing Minos thinketh not of the Lord Hephaistos, but rather +of the stranger yonder, whom thou harborest. With him, the prince +thinketh, thou mayest find others to match this which slew the Prince +Helicon. But how he managed to slay Morolas and five other strong men, +wounding them all in front, is beyond the power of Minos to guess. And +now, O Kalin, he biddeth me say unto you that thou shall render unto us +the stranger and the woman, or else we take them by force. Thou wilt +give them up to us, or art thou still deluded?"</p> + +<p>Kalin raised his hand in a gesture, commanding silence. "Let Kalin +ponder on this matter," he said quickly, and bowed his head in thought, +while Minos watched him with somber eyes. As he seemed to think the +priest turned over and over in his palm the pellet of lead from the +rifle of Polaris and pretended to attach great weight to it.</p> + +<p>"Nay, O Minos, my master, and Garlanes, his mouthpiece," said Kalin at +length, speaking lowly, so that Polaris might not hear him, "Kalin no +longer is blind. He sees that it is even as thou seest. But if these +things be true, and the stranger hath power to slay with a noise at a +distance, it is likely that his taking will be no easy task, and may +cost the lives of many. In anger, or to save himself, he might slay +thee, O Minos, and thee, Garlanes."</p> + +<p>Deeper grew the frown of Minos. Garlanes shuddered and glanced +apprehensively in the direction of Polaris, who sent him a grim and +unassuring smile.</p> + +<p>"It were better," went on Kalin softly, "to leave the matter in the +hands of Kalin and of the priests of the gateway. This stranger seemeth +to trust us. What many of ye might not accomplish with force may be +done by few of us by stealth and cunning. Leave the matter to the +servants of Hephaistos. He hath brought dire trouble to Sardanes. For +the doing to death of the Prince Helicon and the Prince Morolas and his +servants, this stranger from the wilderness of a surety shall die, even +though he <i>did</i> save the life of Kalin." The voice of the priest became +a low hiss. "He and the woman with him shall go through the Gateway to +the Future as an offering to the Lord Hephaistos. Kalin hath spoken!"</p> + +<p>Minos, the prince, nodded his head slowly. "That were meet, priest," +he said, speaking for the first time. "That is the order of Minos. +See that it be done, and that quickly; for the blood of my murdered +brethren calls to Minos for vengeance. Yes, Kalin, see to it, and much +will be forgiven thee of other things wherein Minos hath had caused to +doubt."</p> + +<p>"When he sleepeth next it shall be done, prince," whispered Kalin.</p> + +<p>Minos and his men turned away and descended the terraces, satisfied +that the doom of Polaris and the Rose was sealed.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>THE BATTLE IN THE CRATER</h3> + + +<p>From the instant that the towering form of Minos disappeared through +the shrubbery of the terrace path, the exertions of Polaris and Kalin +were redoubled. In a few hours their preparations for the departure +into the wastes were complete.</p> + +<p>Cautious as they were, they could not be entirely secret in their +goings and comings about the mountain, and many a curious priestly eye +was cast upon their doings by the servants of Kalin. One of them, a +dark-faced rascal by the name of Analos, more prying than the others, +soon discovered not only that the sledge of the strangers was being +stocked and provisioned to its full capacity, as though for a journey, +but the nature of some of the articles packed upon it made him certain +that his master Kalin was to make use of them.</p> + +<p>Watchful for an opportunity, the priest Analos skirted the plateau and +slipped over the edge of the path.</p> + +<p>He was as stealthy as a cat, but Polaris saw him go, and caught a +glimpse of his face as he disappeared.</p> + +<p>"One of thy priests hath slipped away from thee, Kalin," he said. +"Methinks he hastened to Minos with a tale to tell."</p> + +<p>They went to the brink of the terrace. Far below them Analos was +scuttling for the meadows like a scared rabbit, his priestly gown +tucked well about his flying legs.</p> + +<p>In the small court in the rear of the house Polaris and Kalin finished +their work with the sledge and harnessed to it four of the small +Sardanian ponies, to drag it up through the spiral way of the Gateway +to the Future; for the path which Kalin purposed they should take led +straight through the gateway mountain, and was the only path out of the +valley, aside from the north pass, through which they had entered.</p> + +<p>Just before they started Kalin summoned his priests and bade them +farewell, giving them his blessing, which they took with bended knees +and bowed heads, and several of them sobbing; for they loved Kalin +well. His words forestalled words of surprise or of protest.</p> + +<p>"Children of Hephaistos, Kalin goeth hence for a time," he said. +"Perchance he will return; perchance thou shalt see his face no more. +Let none gainsay his going, for it is of the gods. Now, lest the wrath +of Minos lie heavily on thee, in suspicion that thou hast aided in the +passing of Kalin and the strangers from Sardanes, get thou gone from +the gateway to the valley, and spread diligently the report that Kalin +and the strange man cast thee forth, in danger of thy lives. Fare thee +well."</p> + +<p>In a body the priests descended the terraces. As they stood at the +top to see them go, Kalin caught the shoulder of Polaris and pointed +over toward the white-walled Judgement House. From its pillared façade +streamed forth a line of hurrying Sardanians, and the sun shone +brightly on the ilium blades.</p> + +<p>"Here come Minos and his men," said the priest shortly. "Take thy last +look on the valley of Sardanes, and let it be short."</p> + +<p>"Farewell, Sardanes—beautiful, horrible Sardanes," breathed Rose Emer. +Then she, too, turned to the flight, and shuddered slightly as she +turned.</p> + +<p>Then into the darkness of the arched portal and up through the spiraled +rocky way they urged the laboring ponies. Rose Emer carried two flaming +torches to light the gloom of the way, and the two men bent their +shoulders to the aid of the animals. Close at their heels slunk the +seven dogs of the pack, with hackles erect and eyes glowing in the +half dark of the place, the strangeness of which caused them many a +misunderstanding whimper. Stoutly the little horses bent to their work, +so that it chanced that they dragged the sledge out of the passage and +onto the shelf where were the chapels, at the same time that the first +of the runners of Minos leaped from the terrace path to the level of +the plateau, many feet below the fugitives.</p> + +<p>Polaris turned to the right, where the broad ledge curved away past the +chapels along the mighty ellipse of the crater.</p> + +<p>"Nay, brother, not that way!" called Kalin. "Here lieth the path," and +he turned the horses to the left, where the shelf narrowed at the point +where was the perch from which Polaris had witnessed the passing of +Chloran, Sardon's son.</p> + +<p>So close to the brink of the ledge loomed the bulge of the crater wall +that there was but the barest room for the passing of the sledge. +It required all of the skill and patience of the men to guide the +snorting, frightened ponies. One misstep would have whirled the beasts +and sledge into the roaring fire-pit below; but they passed the neck of +the pathway without mishap, and, after a few yards' progress, found the +way widening and more smooth.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Scarcely had they passed the narrowest of the path when a shout from +behind told them that Minos and his men had emerged from the tortuous +spiral in the bowels of the cliffside, and had gained the shelf rim. +Then Polaris turned back.</p> + +<p>"How far on lieth the vent in the wall of the mountain through which +we pass?" he asked of Kalin. The priest told him that it was nearly +half-way around the circumference of the crater rim. "Then haste thou +on, brother," said Polaris. "Get thee well through the last gate. I +will turn back and see what may be done to delay those who are in too +great haste behind us."</p> + +<p>With a word of explanation to the girl, he took several spears and the +brown rifle from the sledge.</p> + +<p>Kalin smiled at him grimly through the murk.</p> + +<p>"Methinks they will try first the broad way, or divide, and follow both +paths," he said, "and they who go by the broad way will be fooled, for +it cometh to naught but a bridgeless gap yonder." He pointed across the +pit. "Those who come this way, hold thou back as long as may be—and +then come thou swiftly, brother, and I will show thee means to close +the way behind us."</p> + +<p>Polaris ran back along the ledge. He came to the path neck again +without encountering any of the pursuers, although their voices sounded +from just beyond the bulge of the rock. Catching hand and footholds, he +swung himself easily to the perch above the path, crept forward, and +peered down at the platform.</p> + +<p>Like rats from a hole, fully forty Sardanians had crept up through the +winding passage. When they saw the light flaring redly before them they +charged forward with a shout, expecting to find their quarry; and then +they stood gaping in surprise on the red emptiness of the platform, +where for centuries no Sardanian had stood, save the priests of the god +and those about to die.</p> + +<p>In front of the chapels they gathered in a group, the fire vapor from +the abyss reflected from their staring faces in ghastly fashion. Only +Minos, the prince, tarried not to wonder. Swiftly he paced to the right +and to the left, inspecting the ledge with quick glances.</p> + +<p>"Haste on the track of the strangers!" he cried. "Of old time have I +heard it that through the gateway lieth another path from Sardanes to +the wastes. It is that to which the false priest guideth them. Yonder +seemeth scant room for their sledge. Let us follow here."</p> + +<p>He started along the broader way to the right, and his men, overcoming +in part their awe of the fearsome pit at their feet, began to follow; +albeit with care, and as far from the edge as they might walk.</p> + +<p>"Nay, not all of ye!" called back the prince. "Garlanes, go thou with +men and explore the narrower way yonder."</p> + +<p>With most of the Sardanians trailing at his back, Minos disappeared in +the murk beyond the chapels. Garlanes and fifteen men turned to the +pursuit of the narrow path. The old noble moved slowly, as though the +task to which he was set was little enough to his taste, and none of +his men was over hasty.</p> + +<p>In silence Polaris watched the advance. He was minded to stay his hand +from strife as long as might be, and, if possible, to frighten the +pursuers back long enough to give the priest the time needed to thread +the pass with the sledge.</p> + +<p>With that plan in mind, he prepared to surprise the men of Garlanes +when they should come near enough for his purpose. His trained ears, +deafened by the noises from the never silent crater pit, did not tell +him of a number of slinking forms that sniffed and crouched along the +rock wall and came to a halt almost at the foot of the jutting rock +where he crouched.</p> + +<p>Foremost of the party of Garlanes was a tall young man. It chanced +that, without seeing it, he had come to the beginning of the sinister +chute in the floorway of the shelf—that polished slide through which +all Sardanians were shot to their fiery ends. At his feet, unnoticed in +the half light cast by the flicker, lay one of the wooden shield-like +vehicles in which the victims rode to death. Ahead of him the man saw +that the way grew suddenly narrower.</p> + +<p>He paused and peered under his cupped hand.</p> + +<p>Out of the gloom ahead of him came suddenly an ear-splitting rattling, +followed by a hiss and a weird moaning that caused the hair at the nape +of his neck to stiffen. Immediately the place was in echo to a full +throated, hideous chorus, that froze the blood in the veins of the +boldest Sardanian who heard it.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Cowering, and with staring eyeballs, the members of the searching party +saw their leader shaken in his tracks, apparently crumpled up by an +unseen force and whirled from them—out over the abyss of fire. One +glimpse only they caught of his flying body, dark against the ruddy +glow of the steam and smoke from the crater heart. For an instant the +great hollow of the funnel rang with his agonized shrieks as he shot +downward, and he was gone.</p> + +<p>Only Polaris saw the end. Shaken with horror, he did not neglect to +turn to his advantage the accident; for accident it was. As the party +of Garlanes came on, he had smitten the wall at his side with the +shafts of the spears he carried, and had given vent at the same time to +a deep-chested groan. He did not know that the seven of the pack had +slunk back on his trail, and crouched at the foot of the rock, ready +for battle. Their echoing challenge to the foe startled him almost as +much as it did the Sardanians.</p> + +<p>The young leader, in the face of that blast of clamor, had started so +violently that he struck his shins against the shield of wood at his +feet, collapsed into it, and was whirled down the terrible chute to +instant death.</p> + +<p>Again the Sardanians proved their innate courage. Their companion torn +from them and cast to a fate that they could neither see nor explain, +his death-shrieks ringing in their ears, they did not break or give +back. They stood fast and made ready to advance. From the gloom in +front the menacing snarling of the dogs swelled in volume. It was +quieted again when spoke the voice of the dreaded stranger from the +snows.</p> + +<p>"Back, ye men of Sardanes!" thundered Polaris from the height. "Back, +ere the fate of him who hath but now passed the gateway be your fate! +Back, and let the servant of Hephaistos and the strangers depart from +the land in peace. Here along the narrow way lie many sorts of death!"</p> + +<p>Again he struck on the wall with the sheaf of spears.</p> + +<p>"Now one of you," shouted Garlanes, "haste and summon the Prince Minos +and the others. Tell them that here the snow-dweller and his devils +hold the path, and that with them will be the Rose maiden and the +priest. Haste!"</p> + +<p>One of the Sardanians set off along the ledge, making what haste he +dared. Garlanes himself advanced to the front. In the shifting light +from the chasm he found the opening to the chute, and warned his men +around it.</p> + +<p>With his long arms swinging low, and his face raised to meet whatever +fate might lie before him, he walked straight toward the neck of the +pathway. A sudden flare from the fire-pit showed him the way at the +foot of the rock bulge, showed him that it was choked with dogs, their +gnashing snouts and glaring eyes thrust at him from around the turn +of the wall—and showed him, towering above, clearly outlined for an +instant, the form of their master with raised spear.</p> + +<p>The time to fight had come.</p> + +<p>Others besides Garlanes saw Polaris in the flare of the fire. As the +son of the snows quitted his place and leaped down to the ledge among +the dogs, several spears splintered against the rock wall where he had +stood.</p> + +<p>Wondering much how Kalin and the Rose were faring, and if he might hold +off their pursuers until the sledge was through the wall safely, he +slipped along to the narrowest point of the path and ordered back the +dogs. Again a flare of fire from the depths showed his position to the +enemy, and an ilium-bladed spear was his greeting, hissing past his +cheek to go clattering down the declivity of the precipice.</p> + +<p>Urged by Garlanes, the Sardanians had crept dangerously near. Polaris +held his hand no longer. He steadied himself and hurled a spear. +The man next behind Garlanes fell to the floor of the ledge and lay +twitching horribly in silence. The glittering point of the spear was +set fast in his throat. Once more the light gave him opportunity, and +another stout Sardanian gave up the ghost before his unerring cast.</p> + +<p>Then Garlanes waited no longer for the coming of Minos, but gathered +his men and charged.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>THE HUMBLING OF MINOS</h3> + + +<p>It was no part of Polaris's program to take part in a hand-to-hand +fight with the pursuers. There were seven of them remaining, and with +nothing but his own safety at stake, he might have been confident of +the issue; but he did not dare, under the circumstances, to take the +risk of the encounter.</p> + +<p>When he saw that a charge might be delayed no longer, he turned and ran +swiftly along the curve of the ledge, the dogs racing with him. He, +the fleetest of runners, now went at top speed. When he stopped, some +hundred and fifty feet away, Garlanes and his men had barely rounded +the bulge of rock to the wider part of the path.</p> + +<p>They charged the neck of the way, and, finding the way widen, where +there was nothing to take cover behind, they quite naturally hesitated +for the next move of their foe.</p> + +<p>That move came quickly. Garlanes, in the lead, heard something sing +past his ear like an angry bee. The man next behind him felt something +strike him over the heart, and he threw up his hands and crumpled to +the floor. The walls of the mighty tunnel flung back a crashing echo +to the sharp report of the rifle. Kneeling close to the wall, peering +through the fitful light, Polaris watched the effect of his shot.</p> + +<p>Vainly he hoped that superstition would come to his aid and hold +the Sardanians back from the carnage. They were dismayed. By the +intermittent flares of garish light from the throat of the volcano, +Polaris could see their consternation in their faces and gestures; but +he had not stopped them.</p> + +<p>After a momentary examination of the body of their comrade, they came +on, but slowly.</p> + +<p>With loud cries of encouragement, Prince Minos and his men, summoned by +the messenger from Garlanes, poured around the corner of the rock, and +the entire body came on apace.</p> + +<p>Again Polaris took up the retreat, running swiftly, and keeping well +out of the range of the spear casting. Presently when he deemed that +he must be nearly half-way around the rim of the crater, he came to +another narrower part of the pathway where a large rock lay behind +which he could crouch. There he decided to make his stand, and to +retreat no farther until the summons of Kalin should tell him that the +sledge was clear of the tunnel.</p> + +<p>He refilled the magazine of the rifle, and waiting calmly for the +flickering light to make his aim sure, he began methodically to pick +off the foremost pursuers, making every bullet count. Under the +pitiless accuracy of his fire, the Sardanians lagged uncertainly, but +always they crept nearer.</p> + +<p>Six times had the brown rifle sent its death unseen, almost unfelt, +across the arc of the crater rim, when there was a stir among the dogs +behind the marksman, a touch on his shoulder, a voice in his ear.</p> + +<p>"Come, brother, all is ready. Haste thee before they close in!" called +Kalin.</p> + +<p>Not a score of yards farther they came to a passage in the wall, or, +rather, a fissure through it, which seemed to have been floored by +the hand of man at some distant time. It led at right angles from +the crater shelf. As Polaris looked into it he could see that it was +lighted dimly by the light of day. It was barely wide enough for the +passage of the sledge, and it so twisted in the rock that it had been a +slow and difficult task for the priest to drive the ponies through.</p> + +<p>Circumstance willed that they were not to pass the tunnel without +further mishap and bloodshed.</p> + +<p>Slowly the enemy had crept up. When Kalin and Polaris broke cover and +dashed for the mouth of the tunnel, the foremost of the Sardanians was +only a short spear-throw behind. In the momentary pause at the mouth of +the tunnel, men and dogs were bunched, and offered a fair target to the +Sardanians leaping along the ledge.</p> + +<p>With a scream of pain and rage, the dog Pallas leaped thrice her height +from the floor and fell, writhing in her death agonies. A spear had +penetrated behind the poor brute's shoulder, nearly piercing the body +through.</p> + +<p>Her death wail was drowned in the terrible challenge that came from the +throats of the pack, and the cry of anger that rose from the lips of +her master. Kalin stood alone at the mouth of the narrow way, holding +the rifle that had been thrust into his hands. In the midst of his +leaping, snarling dogs, Polaris, raging like a demon at the slaughter +of his old playmate and servant, threw himself back into the teeth of +the charge of Minos's men.</p> + +<p>Clutching a heavy spear in his right hand, and whirling it like a toy, +and with a revolver in his left, he swept down the ledge, thrusting +and firing. Around him the six dogs of the pack fought after their own +fashion, rending and snapping like devils.</p> + +<p>In the face of that attack the Sardanians shrank aghast.</p> + +<p>Thirty feet or more back along the pathway Polaris fought blindly +for vengeance before his reason returned to him. In front of him the +Sardanians were huddled in the path, backing away and obstructed in +their flight by those behind who were pushing forward, under the +threats and commands of Minos, the Prince.</p> + +<p>Polaris's brain cleared. He heard the voice of Kalin calling to him to +return. He turned and raced swiftly to the tunnel, over the bodies of +the dead. Behind him the rush of pursuit gathered and came on again.</p> + +<p>Through the tunnel they raced, dogs and men, and came out into the +sunlight, which shone on crags and boulders and bare earth.</p> + +<p>"Quickly, now; the rocking stone—tip it over!" gasped the priest.</p> + +<p>Where the tunnel ended was its narrowest point. A man might reach out +and touch both walls. On the rock above the entrance beetled what +Kalin called the "rocking stone." It was an enormous boulder, the fang +of some glacial jaw in the primeval, or a fragment spat from the maw of +the volcano. Where it had come to rest, at the very verge of the tunnel +entrance, it was balanced. So nice was its adjustment on its natural +pedestal that the breath of a strong breeze caused it to sway, or rock +gently; the hand of a strong man might increase the oscillation greatly.</p> + +<p>"Tip it over!" gasped Kalin, pointing with his hand.</p> + +<p>A glance told Polaris his purpose. In the passage swelled the clamor of +pursuit. He sprang up the rocks, set his powerful shoulder under the +belly of the immense stone, and shoved with all his strength.</p> + +<p>Over swayed the stone—farther than it had ever swayed before in all +the centuries that it had stood there. The solid rock of its foundation +grated and crumbled. Over it swung but not far enough to fall. To the +straining man, whole minutes seemed to be passing as the stone hung; +then, despite his utmost effort, it shuddered—and swung back!</p> + +<p>Polaris turned and set his broad back to the surface of the stone as it +oscillated. He waited until its recoil swing was completed, and, as it +again inclined toward the fissure, he straightened his doubled legs and +put forth all the power in his magnificent muscles.</p> + +<p>He heard the roaring of the leaping blood in his ears. He heard the +uneasy crumbling of the rock at his feet. He shut his eyes and strained +grimly—triumphantly! The resistance ceased, and he threw himself on +his side to avoid falling. The huge boulder pitched into the tunnel, +grinding and crashing, and settled its weight of tons squarely across +the passage.</p> + +<p>As it went down, there was a flash of white beneath it, and the body of +a tall man shot through the portals that were closing forever, and fell +on his face on the slope.</p> + +<p>It was Minos the Prince! Outdistancing all his men, he had dashed +through the passage, and hurled himself at the daylight not one second +too soon to escape being crushed under the fall of the rocking stone. +Behind his flying heels it closed down, grimly and solidly, splintering +the walls at either side to make way for itself. When it rested on the +floor of the crevice it completely filled the entrance. Not a squirrel +could have clambered through.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Dully through the wall of rock penetrated the dismayed clamor of the +Sardanians in the passage, and the muted sound of their spears smiting +on the stone. No efforts of theirs could so much as shake the boulder. +Nothing short of giant powder would dislodge it.</p> + +<p>Desperate at his plight, made mad with fury, or surpassingly daring was +Minos the Prince, for he picked himself up with a shout and charged +headlong at the men and dogs who confronted him.</p> + +<p>"This task to me brother," shouted Polaris to Kalin, who lifted spear +to defend himself. Polaris had sprung down from the pedestal of the +rocking stone, and he leaped unhesitatingly into the path of Minos.</p> + +<p>With lightning swiftness he caught a grip on the haft of the spear +which the prince whirled up to pierce him. For a moment the two men +stood tense, with upstretched arms, battling fiercely, but without +motion, for the mastery of the weapon. Then Polaris widened his grip on +the shaft and twisted it sharply from his antagonist's grasp.</p> + +<p>They stood breathing deeply, and Polaris cast the spear away, at the +same time sternly ordering off the dogs which would have rushed on +Minos.</p> + +<p>"A trick," said Minos with a smile, glancing at his empty hands. +"Another trick, O clever stranger! Now try a fall with Minos, where +tricks will not avail." He flung his arms around Polaris.</p> + +<p>His grip was of steel. In all Sardanes the "smiling prince" was known +as the strongest man. Once, for a wager, he had trussed the legs of a +full grown pony, and had carried it on his shoulders unaided, from the +river to the Judgement House.</p> + +<p>Round about Polaris his long legs tightened, and he tugged upward +mightily, in an effort to tear his antagonist from his foothold and +hurl him down. He would have plucked an ordinary man from the earth +like a toy, but he was not pitted against an ordinary man. He was the +strongest man in Sardanes, but Sardanes was small, and her strong men +few. Polaris was perhaps the strongest man in the world.</p> + +<p>He stood firm. Not only that, but he thrust his hands upwards, gripping +the prince in the armpits, and slowly straightened his arms, despite +the utmost effort of the struggling prince to pinion them to his +sides. Strain as Minos might, he could not break that grip beneath his +shoulders.</p> + +<p>Slowly, very slowly, Polaris straightened his arms. As he did so, he +bent his hands in from the wrists, exerting an ever increasing pressure +at each side of Minos's broad chest. To his own intense astonishment, +the prince, whom no man ever had mastered, felt his foothold growing +insecure, felt his ribs slowly curving in and his breathing growing +short and painful, felt his mighty arms slipping.</p> + +<p>In vain he straightened up to his towering height and shook his sweep +of shoulders. His terrible grip was broken.</p> + +<p>Polaris suddenly loosed his hold, passed his arms up within those of +the prince, and brought them down with elbows bended, freeing himself +entirely. He caught Minos by the wrists, and exerting a strength that +almost crushed the bones, he pressed downward swiftly and relentlessly.</p> + +<p>The Prince of Sardanes knelt on the bare rock at the feet of the son of +the snows.</p> + +<p>No word had been spoken. Polaris let fall his enemy's wrists, and +pointed along the mountainside toward the pass that led into the valley.</p> + +<p>"Yonder lieth thy way, back to Sardanes, prince," he said gently. "Go +back to thy people and rule them wisely, O Minos. Seek not to follow +us. We go hence on a far journey, and will not be denied or turned. +As to the strife that hath arisen, no man can regret it more than I. +Farewell."</p> + +<p>Minos answered not, and Polaris turned to the girl and the priest. He +saw that all was in readiness for their going. Tethered to a tree below +them in the mountain's belt of green were the snorting ponies. He threw +out his arm in a sweeping gesture. "The way to the north is open," he +said. "Let us be going."</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>KALIN WINS HIS KNOWLEDGE</h3> + + +<p>For fifty miles Polaris and Kalin drove the Sardanian ponies along the +Hunters' Road, while the dogs of the pack raced strong and free at the +sides of the sledge. Alas, it was now but a five-dog pack! Octavius +had given his life in the crater, in the mad fight to avenge the death +of Pallas. Two Sardanians had fallen under his gashing jaws when a +spear-thrust found his vitals, and in his death-pain he had leaped +over the rim of the fire-pit to the molten lake in the depths.</p> + +<p>Of the pack remained Juno, Hector, Julius, Nero, and Marcus, the giant +leader.</p> + +<p>Urged on by voice and crack of whip, the ponies tore along the +snow-paths, mile after mile. Rose Emer rode on the sledge, and the men +beside it with the dogs.</p> + +<p>When they had traveled fifty miles or more, the little beasts showed +signs of going to pieces, and Polaris halted them. Enough fodder had +been taken from the valley to give the animal one good meal. The men +fed them and made camp.</p> + +<p>After the ponies were somewhat rested from their long pull in the +snows, Polaris pointed their noses toward home and whipped them into +the trail. Tossing their heads in the air, the little beasts set +off along the road in a cloud of fine snow-dust upflung from their +scurrying hoofs.</p> + +<p>"Yonder goeth the last link with thy land, Kalin," said Polaris, as the +men and the maid stood to watch the departure of the small horses.</p> + +<p>"Aye," replied the priest and smiled. "Now be <i>thy</i> land my land. On to +the north," and he pointed ahead with steady hand to where the massive +ice barrier stood in their path, its glittering sides gleaming a steely +blue in the sunlight. He turned to Rose Emer.</p> + +<p>"Lady," he said in the halting English, of which he had acquired a +surprising knowledge, considering the few days that had elapsed since +he first had heard that tongue—"lady, Kalin—American—now."</p> + +<p>"Yes," smiled the girl in answer, "am I not well guarded? Two American +gentlemen to watch over me. I could have no better protectors."</p> + +<p>Kalin caught the significance of her remark, and smiled his wonderfully +sweet, sad smile—the smile that always struck to the heart of Polaris +with a prescience of sorrow to come.</p> + +<p>Inland they pushed, skirting the base of the towering ice-wall, seeking +for some spot where they might pass over or through it. Disaster dogged +fast on their heels, waiting to strike.</p> + +<p>On the seventh day out from the valley the first blow fell.</p> + +<p>They had passed the ice-ridge. After three days of groping along its +base, they came to a place where the mighty wall was deeply notched and +the slope was less steep. There, aided by a heavy fall of snow, which +partly melted and then froze, giving a scant foothold on the ice-hills, +they were able to pass.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>One entire day was consumed in making passage. At length they passed +the wall in safety, and found themselves in an apparently interminable +stretch of plain and hummock and crevasse, where the going was slow and +laborious and exceedingly perilous.</p> + +<p>Then the priest fell ill.</p> + +<p>Either the unaccustomed fare—their diet now consisted almost entirely +of fish and boiled snow-water prepared over the little oil stove—or +the rigor of the atmosphere and the exertions caused a sudden decline +in the bodily powers of Kalin. Strive as he might, his waning strength +became apparent, and he lagged in the journeying through the steppes of +snow.</p> + +<p>The capstone of trouble came when his eyes unused to the continual +glare of the relentless sun on the fields of snow and the cliffs of +ice, gave way to the dread snow blindness, the <i>bête noir</i> of all +explorers in polar regions.</p> + +<p>For hours he was able to conceal his blindness from his companions. +With stubborn will bent to the task, he ran on with the sledge, guiding +himself with his hand at its rail, after the last faint glimmerings of +sight had vanished. He had a splendid will, and he made it dominate +his weakening body long after it seemed that his muscular strength +was unequal to the demand of the trail. It was impossible for them to +travel as swiftly as they had, but he would not yield to his creeping +weakness, and still ran on.</p> + +<p>When the darkness fell he was undismayed and said nothing, hoping +against hope that it would pass away. He could no longer keep up his +pretense, however, at the first camping spot, and his companions saw +him groping helplessly once he had quitted the side of the sledge.</p> + +<p>His plight struck a chill to the stout heart of Polaris, who realized +that in speed lay their only hope of earthly salvation. Bitter +weather lay to the north of the ice barrier, and there was almost no +game from which to replenish their stock of food. The days of travel +had diminished it to the point where a fresh supply had come to be a +problem demanding speedy solution.</p> + +<p>Now, to accommodate their pace to that of the tottering blind man, or +to carry him, nearly doubling the load of the dogs, spelled almost sure +defeat.</p> + +<p>He gave no inklings of his foreboding to either Kalin or Rose Emer, but +cheered the priest as best he might in his affliction, and pressed on +with what speed was possible. Three more laps on the journey they made +before the steely fortitude of Kalin gave way, and he could no longer +force his exhausted limbs to bear the weight of his failing body. In +mid career across the snows, he stumbled from the path and fell prone +in lee of a huge drift.</p> + +<p>Polaris plucked him from the snow.</p> + +<p>"Kalin is outdone!" gasped the Sardanian. "Thou, my brother, and the +Lady Rose must go forward and leave me. On to the north, O brother! +Kalin dieth!"</p> + +<p>"Not so, Kalin," answered Polaris. "My breath will leave my body before +I desert my brother. Didst thou falter in Sardanes, when all were +against the strangers? And shall Polaris desert thee now?"</p> + +<p>"But for the lady's sake, thou must," persisted Kalin. "Thou mayest not +fail her, and delay is death."</p> + +<p>"She would not buy even her life at such a price, O Kalin," said +Polaris. "Together we will fare to the north, or together will we keep +eternal watch here in the snows."</p> + +<p>Unheedful of the protests of the priest, he carried him to the sledge +and rearranged the load on the vehicle, making a place for Kalin at the +rear behind the girl. Thus they took up again the tale of the journey, +but more slowly than they had yet traveled, the load taxing the powers +of the diminishing team-pack.</p> + +<p>Once broken in the pride of his endurance, the priest rapidly lost hold +on himself, and his vitality seemed to ooze from him with the passing +hours. At the second stop after Polaris had made a place for him on +the sledge the son of the snows discovered that one of his legs, which +seemed to be paralyzed, was frozen from foot to knee; yet Kalin did not +seem to know it.</p> + +<p>At the close of a particularly trying march—their going no longer +could be called a dash—Polaris made their camp at the sheltered +side of one of the hummocks of rock and ice with which the land was +sprinkled and all of them, dogs and humans, slumbered wearily for many +hours.</p> + +<p>Polaris awoke with a strange weight at his threat. It was the ilium +necklace of Kalin, in which glimmered the red stones. He held it up +for an instant in wonder at its presence there and then sprang to the +priest's sleeping parka.</p> + +<p>It was empty. Kalin was not in the camp!</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>HOPE—AND A WILL</h3> + + +<p>Without arousing the girl, Polaris made hasty search. Some rods along +the back trail, he saw a break in the snow at the side of the trail. +There he found the priest lying on his back, with his face turned up to +the sun and his keen-pointed dagger piercing his heart. He had stumbled +thither as far as his endurance would sustain him. More joyful than +ever it had seemed in life was the half smile at the lips of the dead +man.</p> + +<p>That smile was the only message he had left. He had been dead for hours.</p> + +<p>Polaris drew the dagger from the dead heart that had loved him well and +hurled it afar in the snow. He smoothed the dress of the priest and +bore the body to the camp. Before he aroused the girl he placed the +corpse again in the sleeping parka.</p> + +<p>Then he called the girl and told her that Kalin was dead, but made no +mention of the way the priest had taken.</p> + +<p>"Ah, another brave heart stilled—and because of me!" she cried, and +the tears came, for she had liked the priest well. As she wept, Polaris +told her of the love the man had borne her.</p> + +<p>"And, lady," he said, "wherever Kalin is, he is well content, for he +has aided you toward your dearest wishes and his soul asked no more +than that."</p> + +<p>He dug with the blade of a spear at the foot of one of the icy +monoliths, and laid the corpse of Kalin there, while the dogs, which +always seemed to sense the presence of death, bayed a hoarse requiem +above the grave. But neither then nor at any future time did Polaris +tell the girl of the supreme sacrifice Kalin made at the last, not +wishing to make her suffer more regret.</p> + +<p>On the rude grave he had made he piled a few loose fragments of rock, +and turned to the task of breaking camp for the next northward lap into +the wild land.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Two hundred miles to the north and east, three men were gathered on the +snow crust in a little valley, wrenching and thrumming at the wires and +pinions of the first bird-machine that ever had penetrated into the +fastnesses of the antarctic.</p> + +<p>All was taut for the start. The wings were set. The engines responded +to the power. The propeller thrilled the air. Into the seat climbed a +lean, fur-clad young man, with a thin face, high cheek-bones shadowing +deep-set, cold, blue eyes, and a wisp of drab moustache above thin, +eager lips.</p> + +<p>"Ready there, Aronson," he said, to a man standing by.</p> + +<p>A second later Captain James Scoland sailed majestically away into the +white mystery of the unknown polar land.</p> + +<p>At the door of the snow house that had been their home for days, +Aronson and Mikel, who had pressed with him to his farthest south camp, +watched his going with shaded eyes. A tiny silken flag bearing the +stars and stripes, fluttered from one of the canvas plane wings. Mikel +watched it as far as it was distinguishable.</p> + +<p>"An' here's hopin' he carries Old Glory safely through to the pole—an' +back again!" he shouted.</p> + +<p>Leagues farther to the north, in another tiny camp, three other men +were waiting, also. Still farther on, in an ice-locked harbor, the good +ship Felix rode day by day, the little company of its crew watching +the slow passing of the hours, with every ear attuned to catch the +first voice returning from the south that should tell of success, or of +defeat and death.</p> + +<p>And were that tale of success, those on the ship nursed a heavy sorrow, +that would turn into bitterness all the glory of success. A glorious +maid and two men who had been of their company had strayed from the +ship and perished in the wilderness.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Silence.</p> + +<p>As far as the eye could reach, a dull wilderness, stretching wearily +under a leaden, sunless sky. A rolling plain of lusterless snow, cut +sharply here and there by crevasses, gashed at intervals by rifts of +unknown depths and tortuous gulleys. North and south seemingly without +bounds; east and west, many a mile of bleak fatigue between low, sullen +hills of gray.</p> + +<p>A land without sound, without life, and without hope.</p> + +<p>Yet, among the ridges in that dead and twilight chaos, something +stirred. A dark speck crawled on and on, writhing along the brinks of +the crevasses, skirting the yawning rifts, twisting in and out around +the hummocks, like the course of some wriggling vermin across the +cracked and gaping skin of a white, unholy corpse.</p> + +<p>Northward, ever northward, the blot dragged its crooked way. Nearer +would it resolve itself into two wearily plodding beasts, tugging, +slipping, stumbling, but going on, the creaking straps of their +leathern harness pulling a sledge with a heap of skins upon it. Still +nearer—a fur-clad, haggard man with hollow blazing eyes glittering +through an unkempt shock of golden hair and a gaunt gray dog with +drooping tail picking their way with soundless feet through the white +reaches, dragging their sledge; like a fantasy passing across the white +and silent dream of the cold end of the world.</p> + +<p>Once the dog had looked up into the face of the master, the dumb +eloquence of sacrifice shining through its eyes, an age-old fire. The +massive jaws slipped apart, but closed again; only a sigh was breathed +from the beast's broad chest.</p> + +<p>"Aye, Marcus, I know," muttered the man. "I know that you'll die on +your four feet, if you can, and in the straps. And I, Marcus," his +voice dropped to a whisper, "I'll die, too, Marcus, as you will—for +the Rose—all for the Rose—But not yet, Marcus; for the Rose yet +lives, and death is slow for the very strong."</p> + +<p>Five luckless days had passed since the priest had laid his burdens by. +One by one the cruel south had taken lives in toll, until only Polaris +and the grim pack leader stood in harness to race with death on the +course to the north.</p> + +<p>First polar bears, made mad by hunger, attacked the party, and two of +the dogs, Juno and Nero, died under the sweeping crescent claws.</p> + +<p>A nameless distemper, from which no dog, however carefully bred, is +quite immune, had seized both Hector and Julius. For hours they acted +strangely as they ran, and then, at a stopping place, they went quite +mad and turned on the man and girl.</p> + +<p>Hector went down to silence under the crushing jaws of Marcus, who rose +with a mighty roar to quell this insane mutiny; and Julius died on the +spear of Polaris. There were tears on the cheek of the man as he drove +the weapon home.</p> + +<p>Refashioning the harness to suit his own wide shoulders, Polaris then +took up the work of the lost dogs. For two long days of many marches he +and Marcus had dragged the sledge. Now, with their stock of provisions +dwindled away and their rations slender, the terrific strain of the +journey was telling almost to madness on the man and the dog.</p> + +<p>They came to rest in the shelter of one of the thousands of hummocks, +and Polaris realized, with a chill at his stout heart, that their march +had advanced them a bare score of miles from their last stopping place, +when they should have covered at least twice that distance.</p> + +<p>From her nestling place beneath the heap of furs on the sledge he +gently aroused Rose Emer. The girl rode most of the weary miles in +light and fitful slumbers, drowsy with the cold, and her brain at times +benumbed by the prospect, now nearer and nearer, of almost certain +disaster—a contingency which the man would not admit.</p> + +<p>She came forth listlessly, and they prepared their poor meal over the +fame of the little oil-burner, and ate it within the shelter of the +skins which the man stretched to confine the heat from the stove. They +divided their rations with Marcus, and girl and man and dog huddled at +the side of the sledge, to sleep if they might until the time for the +next setting forth along the terrible way.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Some hours later, when Polaris awakened her, ready for the next march +forward, she shook her head wearily.</p> + +<p>"No, my dear friend, you will have to go on without me. No," as he +opened his mouth in quick question, "listen to me. I have thought +it all out. If we continue on in this way we can proceed but a few +miserable miles at the best, and then perish in the snow. I am the +handicap. Without me, you and the dog could leave the sledge and go +on alone, and, perhaps, save yourselves. You were born and have lived +in this land, and you could get through alone; where, with me to look +after, you will not succeed."</p> + +<p>Polaris listened in silence, and a smile gathered at the corners of +his mouth, as sad and wistful as any of Kalin's.</p> + +<p>"Too much has been done and suffered already on my account," the girl +went on. "I cannot let you make this sacrifice. You are as brave and +true a gentleman as lives in the world to-day. All that human being can +do, you have done for me. You must not die for me. You must go on and +leave me—"</p> + +<p>Her voice broke, and she hid her face in her hands. She felt the touch +of Polaris's hand on her shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Lady," he began, and his strong voice quivered. "Lady, what has +Polaris done that you judge him so."</p> + +<p>"Ah, no, no!" she sobbed, "you have been good and brave and true, even +to the end—but the end is here. Oh, you <i>must</i> go on—"</p> + +<p>For a moment the man stood and gazed down on her, as she sat with +her head bent low. He started to hold out his arms toward her, then +clenched his hands at his sides. Immediately he relaxed them, stooped, +and swung her lightly from her seat on the furs, and tucked her +tenderly in her place on the sledge.</p> + +<p>"Dear lady," he said softly, "never did Polaris think to quarrel with +you, and here, least of all places, is fitting for it. Yet speak no +more like this. Polaris will, he <i>must</i> go on as he has gone. If he +dies, it will be the death of an American gentleman, not that of a +savage and a coward. Come, Marcus!"</p> + +<p>He slipped his shoulders into the harness with the dog, and again they +went forward into the gray unknown. Through tears the girl watched the +strong back bending to its task ahead of her. In her eyes a great light +kindled and burned steadily. Not all the antarctic snows might quench +it.</p> + +<p>They traversed four more laps across the snows, and were starting on +their fifth when the final calamity fell.</p> + +<p>As usual, they had camped close against the side of one of the larger +mounds or hummocks. It was of rock, coated heavily with ice and frozen +snow. On its beetling side, just above their little camp, a mass of +rock had cracked away from the main body of the hummock. Its slow +separation had been a matter of years, perhaps ages. That fracture +might have been begun by the grinding fangs of a glacier five thousand +years ago, and completed by the tireless and eternal frosts.</p> + +<p>There it was poised, masked by the snow and ice, waiting its time to +fall.</p> + +<p>At the moment that the travelers turned their faces from camp, and +Polaris started to assist Rose Emer to her seat on the sledge, the +hour struck for the fall. Rock grated on rock above them, warning the +man to spring back. He dragged the girl aside. A few pieces of ice +rattled down. Then the fragment, a weight of tons, toppled squarely +down upon the rear of the sledge, crushing it to splinters, and burying +it in the loose snow.</p> + +<p>They stared at the wreck, and Marcus growled and strained to free +himself from the harness.</p> + +<p>Polaris dug aside the covering snow. A moment's inspection showed that +the sledge was nothing but shattered uselessness. Indeed, could he have +repaired it, he had not the chance. It was beneath the mass of the +fallen rock, too great a weight for even his powers to remove. Some of +their vanishing store of provisions also lay under the rock.</p> + +<p>"We still can walk, lady," Polaris said. "We will go on together."</p> + +<p>"No, dear friend, we will not walk on," she replied. "See, my foot is +hurt, and I can scarcely stand upon it. A splinter of ice struck it +when the rock fell—"</p> + +<p>Polaris leaped to her side and examined the extended ankle. He found +it not broken, but bruised and swelling rapidly. It was true that she +could not walk on it, nor would for many days.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>He made no answer to her last argument. He tore several skins robes +from the fore part of the sledge, and set her down on them. Then, as +well as he could, he bandaged the bruised ankle, winding it with strips +of hide, outside the girl's boot, for he dared not remove the coverings +from the injured limb lest the cold do it irreparable injury.</p> + +<p>His hasty surgery completed, he stepped to the ruin of the sledge and +filled two skin sacks with the remains of the meat which he could come +at. He strapped one of them on the back of Marcus, and the other he +slung on his own shoulders.</p> + +<p>With his knife he cut and fashioned at one of the skin robes. When he +approached the girl again he wore a rude sling, which he had passed +about his neck and shoulders, so that it hung across his broad chest.</p> + +<p>He plucked her from the snow, wrapped her in a robe, and set her in the +sling at his breast. He stooped, and with his knife cut Marcus out of +the useless harness.</p> + +<p>Unbelievable as it was that human beings so beset could continue to +exist, they proceeded thus for the space of two days. At the end of +each short march they huddled together in their robes—the girl and the +dog and the man, and warmed with the heat of their bodies their frozen +food, until they might chew and mumble it. Still closer they huddled +for their fitful slumbers.</p> + +<p>On the march the girl swooned many times with the throbbing pain of her +swollen ankle. Always she awoke to find herself in the man's arms. They +wound about her, a living barrier, which death itself could not pass. +All the weary miles of the weary marches he carried her.</p> + +<p>Under her weight, every muscle of his splendid body was racked with the +pangs of torture, until the fierce pain was succeeded by a numbness +that slowly enveloped his body and crept up to his brain. He felt that +he had been transformed into a marching machine of unfeeling steel. +He went on, bearing his burden, mile after mile, stolidly, doggedly, +splendidly.</p> + +<p>Two days passed. Polaris roused himself from where they slept huddled +in a little hollow in the snow.</p> + +<p>The mere rising to his feet was a matter of minutes, and he swayed +uncertainly. Once more he fought fiercely with the temptation to +acknowledge that this, indeed, was the end, and to follow the footsteps +of Kalin. Once more his courage upheld his resolve. He would go on. He +would walk until he could walk no longer. Then he would crawl on his +hands and knees, drag himself forward with his hands, but he would go +on.</p> + +<p>As he stooped there came to his ears a humming, faint and far away. +He arranged the robe and gathered Rose Emer gently into the sling. +With immense effort he straightened his knees and back and stood +erect again. Again the humming noise, nearer now, and louder! Marcus +floundered out of the hollow, both ears pricked, and growled a weak, +hoarse defiance. Polaris followed.</p> + +<p>From a distant humming the noise rose to a shrilling; from a shrilling +to a prolonged shriek. The man came out of the hollow, and his eyes +sought the sky, whence came the sound. His heart bounded and threatened +to burst in his breast.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Sharply outlined against the dazzling sky, sailing along on steady +planes like a great white bird of the air, her engine purring and +thrilling, and her propeller screaming, an air-ship passed athwart his +vision!</p> + +<p>Enthralled, his eyes followed it. It was less than half a mile away +to his right. He tried to shout aloud, but his voice was feeble, and +seemed to be thrown back at him from the air. Before he could rouse the +girl, or convey to her senses what was occurring, the ship of the air +had vanished. It dipped out of sight into the mouth of a little valley.</p> + +<p>He looked again. No, his eyes did not deceive. Smoke was curling up +from the valley, a thin blue spiral. The bird man had alighted there. +There was a camp of men. Food and warmth, rescue and life for his +precious burden—all were there in that little valley, a bare quarter +of a mile away across the snow. Could he ever reach it?</p> + +<p>Into his brain leaped a multitude of quick thoughts. Joy and the shadow +of an old suspicion came together. He knelt again in the snow and +aroused Rose Emer.</p> + +<p>"Lady," he said very softly, "you are saved. Yonder," and he pointed +across the snow toward the valley—"yonder is the smoke of a camp, and +an air-ship from the south just landed in that valley."</p> + +<p>Rose Emer strained her eyes across the snow. She saw the smoke and +comprehended. For an instant she bowed her face on her arms. When she +raised it her eyes were streaming. Out of hard despair tear time had +come again. She caught his hand to her breast, and then raised it to +her lips. He snatched it from her.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I thank you; words are too feeble to say it. I thank you for +life, Polaris!"</p> + +<p>"Lady," he made answer, "I am going to make a strange request of you. +Yonder are those of your own people—the American captain and his men. +It is my wish that when we come among them you will say nothing of my +origin, of where you found me, or what has befallen us, more than is +necessary to tell—"</p> + +<p>"It is enough that you ask it," the girl broke in. "Never mind any +further reason. I will do as you say."</p> + +<p>He groped within the breast of his furred waistcoat and took out a +small, flat packet, sewn in membranous parchment. "One more favor of +your kindness, lady," he asked. "Please keep this packet until I ask +it of you again. It is the message which I carry to the world at the +north. Should I pass into the world of shadows, you will do me a +great service if you will open it and send its contents to whom it is +directed."</p> + +<p>Rose Emer took the packet and hid it in her bosom.</p> + +<p>"Now we will go on to the valley, before strength fails entirely," he +said. He straightened up again, and bent to the toil of the pathway +which he had marked out for himself. The girl leaned back against his +straining breast. Once more, when she might have spoken, she kept +silence.</p> + +<p>They went on. Slowly, uncertainly, for Polaris staggered much, foot by +foot, he fought his way across that bleak and endless quarter of a mile +of snow.</p> + +<p>Three hours after the air-ship had landed from its history-making dash +in and out of the jaws of the antarctic, Captain Scoland and his two +men were startled in their camp by an apparition.</p> + +<p>Down the slope of the valley and through a circle of snarling dogs that +rushed to attack and then slunk back affrighted, strode a grim-faced +and silent man. On he came like a machine, or like one who walks +wide-eyed at night. Behind him crept the tottering skeleton of a great +gray wolf dog.</p> + +<p>Slung across the breast of the man was a fur-wrapped bundle. With +measured tread he walked on to the door of the shelter, paused, and +with no word let his burden gently down into the snow. A corner of the +robe fell aside and disclosed the face of Rose Emer. She had swooned, +and lay like one dead.</p> + +<p>Captain Scoland sprang forward with a strained cry of surprise and +question. The strange man stood for an instant, his unseeing eyes fixed +on the snow reaches beyond the valley. Then he tossed his arms above +his head and pitched backward, inert and lifeless. The tottering wreck +of a dog crept up and licked his face.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>AMERICA!</h3> + + +<p>"They say the wild man is going to live," said a voice.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Doc Clawson says he'll pull through all right," said another. +"He's had a close call, if ever a man had. I wonder who and what he is."</p> + +<p>"So do I," rejoined the first voice. "Do you believe that, that he is a +wild man?"</p> + +<p>"Dunno. What you goin' to believe?" The first voice became +confidential. "I heard Doc tell the mate that he hadn't spoke an +English word in all his sick ravings, except 'Lady,' which he might +have learned from the girl. Then there's the knife. Captain's got that. +It ain't like no metal any one ever saw. There's letters on it Doc says +are Greek, but nobody here can read 'em. Doc says he believes what the +chap jabbers is Greek too."</p> + +<p>"He's got a queer necklace, too," chimed in the second voice. "It's +made of the same kind of stuff as the knife is, and strung with red +pebbles. Wonder what they'll do with him?"</p> + +<p>"Sh-h-h! Don't you let your wonderin' run away with you. Cap's +actin' queerer and queerer. Did you notice him when he came aft this +mornin'—after the talk he had with the doc? I tell you somethin's gone +wrong, all right—"</p> + +<p>Scuffling footsteps broke the tenor of the voices, and they faded away +to a murmur, and then to silence.</p> + +<p>Those scraps of a conversation drifted to the mind of Polaris, where +for hours and hours a tiny spark of comprehension had been struggling +back into being. They were the first words that his returning +consciousness had understood.</p> + +<p>He opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>Surely that knot in the oaken beam above him was an old friend, the one +shaped so like the head of a horse. And that row of iron bolt-heads; +how often he had counted them over! He lay in a white-covered berth in +a small cabin, in which every seam and stitch and object was strangely +familiar, but which his reawakening consciousness refused to recognize. +Sunlight was streaming in through a partly opened port, and with it +came the sound of the sea.</p> + +<p>Slowly, for he found it required considerable effort, he turned over +on his side and looked about him. Where was he? Above all, how had he +got there? As he moved he felt something at his neck slip, and through +the open throat of the linen garment he wore fell the heavy loop of the +necklace of Kalin.</p> + +<p>Wondering, he stared at the iridescent links of ilium and the dull +red stones. Then the spring that held the tight-wound coil of memory +snapped, and the past unrolled like an endless ribbon.</p> + +<p>He was weak. He had been ill. Yes, now he held the key—that +conversation he had just heard. The "wild man" of whom the sailors +talked was himself. He smiled. Already his yellow beard had grown long +and ragged, and covered his throat. The knife, and the necklace—all of +the talk had referred to him.</p> + +<p>And they said that in all his delirium he had spoken no word of +English! He smiled to himself once more. So even when his conscious +self had departed from control of his body and mind, he had held fast +to his fanciful resolution. Rose Emer must also have kept her promise. +Not a soul but herself guessed who he was.</p> + +<p>But that last part of the sailors' talk? What did that mean? What +<i>were</i> they going to do with him?</p> + +<p>In an instant he was alert and bitterly suspicious. He was on a ship, +a ship at sea. He was in the power of the American captain, the man +who had sought and probably found the great and mystic pole; also the +man who was the affianced husband of the girl whom Polaris had carried +across the snow deserts in his arms. Now he had a duty laid upon him, +which he secretly guessed would conflict sorely with the wishes of the +captain. While he lived, he would strive to carry out that duty.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>But why had he lived? At the end of his terrible journey darkness had +fallen upon him in the camp; why had it ever lifted? If it had not, he +had been freed of his promise, and would have been content.</p> + +<p>What had happened since then? Where was Rose Emer? The gossip of the +sailors had included no news of her; but so the inference was that all +was well with her. Where was Marcus? How long had he been ill?</p> + +<p>These questions remained unanswered. He could not know that he had +lain heavy and inert on a sledge for days, with only the thickness of +their fur parkas separating him from Rose Emer, while Scoland's men, +abandoning all that did not make for speed, had driven dogs to death in +their wild dash back to the Felix.</p> + +<p>He could not know that he had been given up for dead by the men, and +that, even then, that conclusion brought little of regret to the heart +of the American commander. Nor could he know that Rose Emer would not +have it so, and that, under her entreaties, the supposed corpse had +been carried on to the ship, and to the good medical man on it, who +found that somewhere in the fastnesses of the silent form stretched +before him a tiny flicker of life still abode, and would respond to +care.</p> + +<p>That care he had received, and in good measure. To Dr. Clawson he +most certainly owed his life—twice over. Having saved it once, the +integrity of the physician withstood the hint, almost brutally direct, +from Scoland, that the man would be better off if he were let to die +quietly.</p> + +<p>Polaris was the one fly in the ointment of the daring captain of the +Felix. His vague suspicions concerning the origin of the stranger and +his business in the snow land had become an obsession. From the girl +he could obtain no satisfaction, and only food for more suspicion. She +would say little of her rescue, and less of her rescuer, taking refuge +from anything like investigation in the declaration that the stirring +of the memory of those days in the wilderness was too much for her +already overwrought nervous system.</p> + +<p>Scoland was a man greatly daring; he also was a man who would scruple +little to remove, by any means that seemed safe to himself, any +obstacle which stood between him and that which he desired. He had +striven for a great prize and won. Another prize lay almost within his +grasp. Should an obstacle to either intervene, he would do his utmost +to sweep it aside.</p> + +<p>Was this strange wanderer an obstacle? Could he be one of a party who +had penetrated the fastnesses of the snows, to wrest from jaws of berg +and glacier the secret of the pole?</p> + +<p>Captain Scoland had heard of no such party. When he thought of how the +man came, proofless, he smiled at his own suspicions. And yet—might +not others have waited for the return of this man, as the crew of the +Felix had waited for himself?</p> + +<p>Then there was the strange demeanor of the girl, her reticence and her +almost rapt interest in the man. Even now she might have been haunting +the sick man's cabin, but that Scoland had persuaded her that his mind +was gone, and that he was well enough off as far as the needs of the +body were concerned.</p> + +<p>To do the captain justice, the attitude of the girl, her interest in +the strange man, were the minor considerations. Everything must step +aside for his glory as the discoverer of the pole. Already the press of +two hemispheres was heralding his successful return, and the savants +of the nations were awaiting his proofs. There must be no cloud on his +title, no question of his right. He would make that sure.</p> + +<p>An unsuspected cunning in dealings with other men had been awakened +in the breast of Polaris. Suddenly awake to the full consciousness of +his mental powers, he was swayed by his suspicion, by the warnings +his father had given him long ago, his oft-repeated advice as to the +intentions and possible actions of the first white men he was apt to +meet.</p> + +<p>He was awake from delirium, and his head was clear. To all appearances +his mind still wandered. A little observation taught him when a sailor +brought him food from the cook's galley, and when to expect the visits +of the doctor. They soon found him changed in one respect. He accepted +food, and once or twice they surprised him floundering weakly about the +little cabin. But he showed them no brightness of mind. His glances +were vacant, his manners those of an imbecile almost.</p> + +<p>He bided his time.</p> + +<p>His strength came back to him slowly, although he concealed that fact. +They were far up the coast, not two weeks journey from New York, when +he first came to a realization of being, after his long siege of brain +fever and weakness. In those two weeks he took every measure to prepare +himself against their landing on American soil.</p> + +<p>He knew not at all what he should face, but he wished to be ready for +it with all his old-time strength and agility. Not entirely could he +disassociate his mind from the idea that opposition and trouble must be +answered with the strength of one's body.</p> + +<p>The man who brought the food and the physician who tended him came only +in the day time. Therefore Polaris spent most of his days supinely in +his berth. At night he was supremely active. Up and down the narrow +confines he paced. He leaped lightly. He stretched and strained each +limb and muscle.</p> + +<p>Hour after hour he endured the severest "calisthenics"—not those +taught in the gymnasium, but anything and everything in the line of the +motion to which his surroundings lent themselves.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>At length the Felix day in Quarantine. The next day they would dock. +Scoland would meet and accept the homage of a nation which had gone +temporarily wild over his exploits. Before that landing he would +dispose of the living problem which lay and gibbered in the berth in +the cabin that had been Burleson's.</p> + +<p>Privately Scoland made arrangements with the authorities at a big +institution for the care of the insane up the river. They were to send +for the man. The captain explained that the patient was a member of his +crew who had lost the balance of his mind due to the hardships he had +endured.</p> + +<p>That night Polaris checkmated all the captain's carefully made +preparations. Tense with excitement, the son of the snows had realized +that they lay near the land. Then he had seen it from the port. +Snatches of talk of the sailors told him that it was New York at +last—the city of his dreams. One scrap of conversation focused all his +long-nursed doubts.</p> + +<p>They had sailed to Quarantine through an almost continual blare of +every kind of noise-making instrument on the decks of every ship they +passed or met. With his head at the port Polaris caught, in a sudden +interval of quiet, a few words from the deck above him. He recognized +the voice of Captain Scoland, talking to the mate.</p> + +<p>"They'll come for him in a launch at Quarantine," he said. "It's all +arranged. Here's the cabin key. Better take a couple of the boys to +help the keepers. He might try to make trouble."</p> + +<p>That was all—<i>and enough!</i></p> + +<p>Soon after his return to consciousness Polaris had learned that the +door to the cabin where he lay was kept locked always. It had been one +of his earliest causes for suspicion. Some time after midnight that +night he set his powerful shoulder to that door, and pressed his weight +against it. Minutes he stood there, gradually increasing the pressure, +until the lock sprung in its wards with a slight snap, and the knob +yielded in his twisting fingers.</p> + +<p>The man who had brought the food had left in the cabin a few rough +garments such as the sailors wore. Polaris had donned them as he +occasionally left the berth in the day time. He wore them now. Had any +one met him, he scarcely would have been recognized as the "madman." He +had found a razor in Burleson's cabin, and had shift to shave himself +cleanly. He had hacked off the most of his long hair with the same +instrument, and had disposed of the evidences of his tonsorial efforts +by throwing all through the port into the harbor. Around his neck he +wore the necklace of Kalin.</p> + +<p>Only a half-defined notion of what he was about to do was in his mind, +but there was no fear.</p> + +<p>He stole along the silent corridor, and gained the deck and the +rail, without being observed by the lone sailor on watch near the +wheel-house. Ready to his hand, it seemed, were a short length of plank +and a trailing rope, attached firmly to some part of the ship, but long +enough and loose enough to serve him.</p> + +<p>With the plank under one arm he clambered over the rail and let himself +down with the rope. He could not swim a stroke, but he reached the +water, and with one arm over the stout bit of plank, he struck out +fearlessly for the glittering skyline of the great city that lay ahead.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>THIRTY DAYS</h3> + + +<p>Before many hours Scoland raged quietly when he found that his "wild +man" had flown from the cage. But he was tongue-tied. He set cautious +inquiry on foot to ascertain what had become of the refugee. He could +do no more without publicity, which he did not court. His agents were +able to tell him no more than did the broken door of Burleson's cabin +on the Felix. Polaris was traceless.</p> + +<p>Worried intensely at the first by the disappearance and still +apprehensive of a blow at his fortunes from the hand of the snow +wanderer, as days went by and nothing was heard from the missing one +Scoland breathed more freely. Doubtless the man had gone overboard and +drowned; or, if he had reached shore, he had wandered on his ways and +would not be heard from again.</p> + +<p>Concealing the anxiety she felt, Rose Emer also secretly endeavored +to trace the lost Polaris. She met with no better success than had +Scoland. Her great-hearted protector was gone.</p> + +<p>Rumor had coupled her name with that of the hero of the hour, the +discoverer of the pole,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> and with the foreecho of wedding bells. +Several times the subject was mentioned to her by the captain himself. +He found the girl strangely silent on the matter that, before their +trip to the south he had considered was almost settled. She did not +speed his wooing, and he was too busy a man for the time to try and +regain his lost advantage.</p> + +<p>Dinners, receptions, fetes, and the lecture platform made continual +demands on him, and then the summons came to go to Washington and lay +the proofs of his polar discovery before the savants of the National +Geographic Society.</p> + +<p>Nearly a month had worn away since the Felix docked when Scoland +journeyed to the Capital to place in the hands of the gray and critical +members of the society the data of his explorations, that should fix +him for all time in the firmament of famous discoverers—first man to +stand at the southern pole.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>More than two hours after he left the side of the Felix, Polaris +propelled his little craft into an angle at the side of a long, low +building that lay close to the harbor shore. He reached up, and his +fingers hooked over a stone edge. Softly he drew himself up and over. +He stood for the first time on the soil of his father's country.</p> + +<p>With many a close escape from the wheels of ferries and the noses of +propellers of other craft, of which a bewildering number were moving, +even at that hour, but without being seen of any man, he had made the +passage of the harbor. It was no mean accomplishment of itself. He was +both weary and hungry after the toil. The second need must wait for a +while. He saw near him the shrubbery of a little park. He crawled into +the bushes and fell asleep.</p> + +<p>Some three hours later, the dawn light shone revealingly on the soles +of his bare feet, thrust from under the bush. They caught the eye of a +policeman who was good-naturedly clearing the park of its "boarders." +He investigated. The appearance of the man who owned the feet was so +different from that of the ordinary "vag" habitués of the park, that +the bluecoat decided he must "run him in."</p> + +<p>Still sleepy and only half understanding, Polaris went meekly with the +policeman. He knew that he was in the hands of a representative of the +law of America, a law that his father had taught him must be reverenced +and obeyed in all its manifestations.</p> + +<p>With every instant unfolding to him a new wonder—from the startling +height of a many-storied skyscraper to a belated messenger boy puffing +at a cigarette—he was haled to a nearby station-house.</p> + +<p>Because he could not, or would not, explain how he came to be in the +park, and because his intense interest in the proceedings about him +tended to make his answers casual, the judge dismissed him with a curt, +"Ten or thirty." The son of the snows went to jail and knew no help for +it.</p> + +<p>He grew restive with the passing of the days in confinement. He had +left but one object in life, and that was the delivery of his father's +message. He had guessed for a long time that it had to do with a quest +similar to that of Scoland. Now the name of the captain was on every +lip. He had gone to Washington, to receive the official recognition of +his discovery.</p> + +<p>In Washington, Polaris would also liked to have been. And his message? +He had given it into the keeping of Rose Emer. Where was she? Would she +keep faith?</p> + +<p>Then it struck him with the suddenness of a blow that his message +might, even now, be in the keeping of the captain, the man who was to +be her husband. When he was on the verge of delirium, he had put his +most sacred trust into the hands of his enemy!</p> + +<p>He laughed at the irony of it. Still, he would go to Washington. The +rest was on the knees of the gods. She would keep faith, he knew, but +did it rest with her?</p> + +<p>Polaris learned much in those thirty days, for there is excellent +wisdom even in the bowels of a jail. Came at last the day of his +release, and found him in the middle of a puzzle. Not in all America +was there a person to whom he could turn in his extremity. He was +friendless and penniless. Under the circumstances, he could not bring +himself to ask aid of Rose Emer, even if he knew where she was to be +found.</p> + +<p>Then it was that his dead friend Kalin raised up friends for him, +friends and the power to carry out his project.</p> + +<p>On the day of his release he was directed to the window of the +property clerk's cage in the office of the prison. He found a small, +dark-browned man talking with the clerk at the window, who eyed him +curiously through thick, tortoise-rimmed spectacles of exaggerated +size, that were perched on his high, curved nose.</p> + +<p>"My necklace?" said Polaris, as he stood at the window of the cage.</p> + +<p>For a moment the clerk hesitated, and he and the little man stared +at Polaris. Up and down the little man's eyes roved, and finally a +friendly gleam came into them.</p> + +<p>"I have come down here to see you about that necklace," he said. "Mr. +Atkins, here, he has seen nothing like that necklace of yours. So he +has shown it to a friend of his who is one of my employees, and that +friend has told to me so much about it that I have come all the way +here once just to see it, and then again to see you."</p> + +<p>He paused and looked steadily at Polaris, who returned the gaze with +interest. What could the man want? Ah, he had it! Money! He would +give money for the necklace of Kalin; and money in this land would do +anything. It would take him to Washington. He could go as other men +went. His face brightened.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>"Your necklace," pursued the little man, "would you consider selling +some of the stones? They are fine rubies, my friend, as no doubt you +know. Now tell me, and I read it in your eyes that you cannot lie, +are the stones yours? Would there be any legal question as to their +ownership?"</p> + +<p>"The necklace is mine," said Polaris gravely. "It was the gift of a +friend of mine who died, in a foreign land. Do you wish to buy it? I +will sell—"</p> + +<p>The little man smiled and answered quickly:</p> + +<p>"No, not even I wish to purchase the entire necklace. I should have to +float a loan to pay its value. But I would like to purchase three or +four of the stones."</p> + +<p>The end of it was that Polaris parted with three of the smaller stones +of the necklace at a price of seventeen thousand dollars—and glad +enough the jeweler was, to get them at that figure. By a miracle +Polaris had fallen into the hands of a man who could help him. He was +one of the most noted experts in gems in the metropolis—and honest. +Where another might have robbed him easily, this man gave him good +value for the stones.</p> + +<p>So it was that while the members of the geographic society were poring +over the notes and records of Scoland, and plying the captain with many +an admiring question, a young man broke in upon the deliberations.</p> + +<p>"Never mind the name," he said to the clerk in the anteroom. "I came +from the south with the Captain Scoland. They will wish to hear me."</p> + +<p>That sufficed, and he entered the council room of the society. He was +an exceedingly personable young man, he who thus strode into the den +of the savants. He stood a good six feet from his soles, but he was so +generously constructed as to shoulders and chest that he did not seem +tall.</p> + +<p>June had come, and he wore a handsome light textured suit. From the +top of his flaxen poll to his shoes, he bore evidences of the best +work of the metropolitan artists who had fitted him out in haste. A +native dignity almost obscured the stiffness with which he wore the +unaccustomed garments.</p> + +<p>Scoland sat at the head of a long table. On either side of it were +grouped the members of the society, the men of science who were +weighing his claims to the title of discoverer of the south pole. As +the young man entered the room the captain looked up quickly.</p> + +<p>Their eyes met. For an instant the brow of the captain was wrinkled, +as though he strove to recall a half-forgotten face. Then the interest +in the eyes faded, and he turned them back toward the table. The +metamorphosis was too complete for his recognition.</p> + +<p>Testy old President Dean turned his leaping blue eyes on the stranger. +At the foot of the table a little bowed old man with a puckered face +and snapping bright black eyes leaned forward in sudden excitement and +gripped the edge of the table until his gaunt knuckles whitened.</p> + +<p>"Well, young man, who are you, and what do you want here?" rapped out +the president.</p> + +<p>"My name is Polaris, which, so far as I know, is all of it," replied +the young man, and instantly the odd name he gave himself and the +quaintness of his speech had drawn him the interest of every man at the +table.</p> + +<p>"That which I want here, it may be more difficult for me to tell you," +he continued. "I came here from the far south in the ship of that +man"—he pointed to Scoland—"bringing a message to the world from a +man now dead, the man whom I believe first stood at the place of the +southern pole. He—"</p> + +<p>Polaris got no further. Scoland sprang to his feet in white rage.</p> + +<p>"What's this?" he shouted. "Some crazy man has wandered in here. I +never laid eyes on him before. Have him put out!"</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>For an instant there was silence in the room. At the foot of the table +old Zenas Wright, who had put some marks on the maps in his own day, +stared and stared.</p> + +<p>"Steve, Steve, I thought you had come back to me," he murmured. "But +you were a larger man, Steve, and that was years ago—years ago."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you have laid eyes on me before," said Polaris, addressing +Scoland. "A sick man came to your camp through the snows, bringing +a member of your party who was lost. You took him to the ship, and +your Dr. Clawson nursed him. You brought him to America. You thought +him crazy and—But that matters not. I am that sick man, the man who +disappeared. Any of your men will remember, or Dr. Clawson."</p> + +<p>Scoland sank back into his chair with a troubled face. President Dean +turned to him and said rather acidly: "You told us nothing of the +finding of a strange man in the polar regions. Is the story of this man +true?"</p> + +<p>Quickly the captain thought. It was true what this man said. Any member +of his crew would remember the "wild man." It would profit him not at +all to lie.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," he assented. "There was such a man. But he could not, or +pretended that he could not, speak English. He appeared to be a savage +and an imbecile to boot. We brought him back with us. He disappeared +the night we reached quarantine. Now that I look at this man, it +seems that he may be the same, although he is changed greatly. He is +undoubtedly crazy."</p> + +<p>Scoland spoke confidently. Still, he felt in his heart a return of the +forebodings that had warned him against this man since first he had set +eyes upon him.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, lad, and how did you come to be in the south?" old Zenas +Wright spoke up from the foot of the table. His tone was kindly, and +there was no suspicion, only deep interest, in the keen eyes he turned +on the youth.</p> + +<p>"As best I may, I will answer those questions," said Polaris. "I was +born in the white south. My mother I never saw—only a grave with the +name Anne above it. My father sleeps beside that grave, and above him +is the name Stephen."</p> + +<p>Zenas Wright started visibly and seemed about to interrupt the tale, +but did not, and Polaris continued:</p> + +<p>"Other names than those I know not that they had. My father reared me, +and I never saw another human being until I met those of the party of +Captain Scoland. My father died. He gave me a message to bring to the +north—a message addressed to the National Geographic Society of the +United States. In that message, he told me, was the story of a great +discovery he had made—that would ring around the world—and in it also +was the history of myself, which he never told me. We lived far to the +south for many years, for my father hurt himself in a fall and could +not travel.</p> + +<p>"When he died and I came north, I passed and burned the ship in which +he went to the south. Its name was the Yedda.</p> + +<p>"This man has reached the pole. I do not wish to make his glory dim, +but—he is not the first to stand at the pole. I have come here—"</p> + +<p>He hesitated and glanced around the circuit of the big table. Every man +there was leaning forward in strained attention.</p> + +<p>"The message—the message your father sent?" queried President Dean, +and held out a shaking hand. "Give us that message."</p> + +<p>"I have lost that message," said Polaris quietly.</p> + +<p>Scoland burst into a peal of derisive laughter. "A joke, gentlemen—a +joke!" he cried. "I don't know who and what this young man is, but he +has a rare sense of humor."</p> + +<p>"Young man," continued the president severely, "this is a strange +tale you have told—an almost unbelievable tale. Yet this society has +listened to many strange tales. All that is lacking to make history of +the strangest of tales is proof. You say you have lost your message. +Without proof, no claim can stand before this society. I advise you +most strongly to find that message, if such a message you have, and +bring it before us. Until you do, the society cannot listen to you +further."</p> + +<p>He inclined his head and beckoned to the clerk at the door to show +Polaris from the room. Polaris hesitated. There apparently was nothing +more to be said. Still he hesitated. Then he heard two sounds behind +him that caused him to turn like lightning. They were a quick little +gasp and an astounded whine.</p> + +<p>Framed in the doorway stood a girl and a great gray dog!</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>A MESSAGE AND THE END</h3> + + +<p>"Rose Emer!"</p> + +<p>With his whole heart in those two spoken words, Polaris made as if he +would spring forward. But masking the heart is the mind, and the mind +of Polaris held him still. So he stood, with his bosom swelling until +it seemed that it must burst the unwonted garments which confined it.</p> + +<p>One faithful soul was there whom conventions and the chill doubts that +beset human hearts and brains did not restrain. With one leap Marcus +crossed the space between the threshold and Polaris. He reared, and +when his paws rested on the shoulders of the man, the eyes of the dog +and man met.</p> + +<p>One searching look gave Marcus, and whined; and it seemed as though his +steadfast heart would break for joy. He dropped to all fours again. +With every muscle in his splendid body aquiver, he backed against the +man's legs and began to pivot around him slowly, baying the while to +the full extent of his powerful lungs.</p> + +<p>So Marcus told the world that he had found his master.</p> + +<p>"Polaris! Found at last!" More slow, but no less joyfully than did +Marcus, Rose Emer crossed from the doorway with extended hands. As she +walked she limped ever so slightly; noting which, Polaris's lips were +contracted with the pang of memory.</p> + +<p>"Not yet," she said, when he would have spoken. She whirled from him to +the scientists at the table. Every eye was on her.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," she began breathlessly, "you would not give this man a +hearing because he is unknown to you, because he tells a strange story, +and because he brought you no proof. I am Rose Emer, of whom you know. +I wish to speak to you for a few moments. It is of this man's story +that I wish to speak. Perhaps you shall have proof of the strangest +that he has told. Certainly I shall tell you of stranger. Will you hear +me?"</p> + +<p>As she paused, President Dean, who was born a Virginian, was at her +elbow with a chair. She took it, and sat facing the table. Polaris she +motioned to come and stand by her, and he took his stand by her chair, +with one hand resting upon its back and the other on the head of Marcus.</p> + +<p>"We will listen with pleasure to what Miss Emer has to say," said +President Dean, and resumed his seat.</p> + +<p>"There are certain passages in the expedition to discover the pole +which had not been told," she began. There was an almost imperceptible +shifting of seats as the men at the table leaned forward to catch +every word from the lips of the speaker. Scoland shot her a quick +glance and then sat sullenly picking at a blotter that lay before him.</p> + +<p>"There were certain happenings that have a mighty import for the +world," she continued, "which have not been even so much as hinted at. +They are in the keeping of this man here and myself. At his request I +kept silent; now is the time to speak.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, this man is neither poor nor without friends. All that +I have is his. He saved my life down there in the ice and snow and +horror—saved it and kept it, risking his own like a trifle a hundred +times over. No, I <i>will</i> tell it all," as Polaris put forth a hand to +restrain her.</p> + +<p>With a dull red flush burning up in his cheeks, he folded his arms and +gazed steadily through the windows as the girl went on, telling the +spellbound assembly the amazing story.</p> + +<p>When she had finished she looked narrowly at Captain Scoland, and said:</p> + +<p>"I think that he was wise to decide to keep these things a secret until +now. All of these things are true, and I, Rose Emer, witness for them. +Now as to the other matter—the discoveries by this man's father and +the message he sent to the north—here is that message."</p> + +<p>From the bosom of her dress she drew an envelope-shaped packet sewn in +membrane. She handed it to President Dean. Through the transparent skin +that covered it, he saw on the yellowed paper that it was addressed to +the National Geographic Society, and to "Zenas Wright, if he still be a +member."</p> + +<p>For a moment he turned it over in his hands. Then he passed it to +Wright.</p> + +<p>"Open it, old friend, and read," he said.</p> + +<p>And this is what Zenas Wright read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"Most of the contents of this packet are proofs, to be laid at the +disposal of the society; for I have found the pole, Zenas. I have +stood where no other man has ever stood. But that's in the proofs, +Zenas—and you shall see them, if Polaris wins through with them. If +not—why, then, one more vain dream.</p> + +<p>"This is my son, Polaris, Zenas, who brings my message to the world. +You remember I always wanted to do big things. Well, I decided to find +the pole. I would go alone, and the glory of achievement would be mine +alone. Now I am dying here in the snows, and the only human face I've +seen for years is that of my son.</p> + +<p>"Briefly, I took enough money from my estates to serve my purposes and +went atraveling. Then I disappeared. I bought a ship, the Yedda, in +Japan. I had her fitted out in Nagasaki and Hong Kong. Then I went to +Australia. We sailed from there.</p> + +<p>"Alas I met <i>her</i> before we sailed. I was mad. We eloped, and God +forgive me, I took her with me. She was the daughter of a wealthy +trader in Sydney, Horace Kering.</p> + +<p>"We sailed into the snows. We camped, and I pushed through with dogs. +I was gone months. I found the pole. I returned. They had deserted. +The scoundrels had gone and left her; only the old cook was faithful. +I never heard of them again, and often I hoped that they were lost.</p> + +<p>"The child was born. She lived but a few short months. Then she went, +too. The cook also, he's dead these many years. The boy lived.</p> + +<p>"We would have come north together, but then I fell and hurt my leg. I +will never travel. The boy, he's taken care of both of us for years. +He knows not his own name, except that I call him Polaris. I've +educated him. For years I've trained his mind. The life has trained +his body. He's stronger than I ever was, and I was no weakling.</p> + +<p>"When I go, he'll go to the north. That won't be long, now. My God, +I've been here twenty-four years! What must have happened out in the +world! But, Zenas, I'll not whine. Old comrade, if the boy comes, be +good to him. He's a good lad. There's enough left of the old estate in +California to make him rich, if it's been cared for. I've left him no +letter, but tell him that his old father loved him well.</p> + +<p>"Good-by, Zenas.</p> + +<p class="ph2">"Stephen Janess."</p></div> + +<p>Old Zenas Wright stopped reading and for a moment covered his eyes with +his wrinkled hands. Then he raised his head. He fumbled with the papers.</p> + +<p>"Here, the rest of them are observations and data," he said, and handed +them back to President Dean. Members of the society elbowed each other +to get a look at them. Under cover of the bustle, Polaris Janess +clasped the hand of Rose Emer.</p> + +<p>"Ah, lady," he whispered, "Polaris has a name at last—a name, and he +is an American gentleman, and—" He broke off suddenly and crossed to +the captain.</p> + +<p>Scoland sat like a man in a dream.</p> + +<p>"Yonder proofs there will show to the world my father's work. No lies +have been told or written, Captain Scoland," said Polaris, speaking +low. "You, too, have stood at the great pole. Your glory is just as +great. You are a brave man. My father would not wish to rob you of that +glory. I do not wish to stain the brightness of your achievement. What +has passed between us is forgotten. You were blinded for a while. I +remember naught but the kindness of your Dr. Clawson. Let us both be +silent about the treatment of the 'wild man.'"</p> + +<p>He held out his hand.</p> + +<p>For the barest fraction of a second Scoland hesitated. He was not an +entirely bad man. He was a very brave one. He gripped the hand of the +son of the snows.</p> + +<p>"And now," he said with an effort, "she's waiting; go to her." He +pointed to Rose Emer.</p> + +<p>Around the end of the table came marching Zenas Wright, his old eyes +shining. He came upon a tableau—a girl and a man and a dog, all +wordless, all eyes.</p> + +<p>"H-m-m-m, Zenas, you're an old fool!" he muttered. "They have no eyes +for you just now." He turned to stump back to the table, but thought +better of it and came back.</p> + +<p>"Lad," he said, "we—the members of this society—wish to examine the +records of your father's discoveries. We may want to ask you some +questions. Will you wait, you and the young woman—in here?"</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>He marched them to a small, empty room at the side, and almost thrust +them into it. Marcus edged in with them. The door was shut. They were +alone.</p> + +<p>Both of them stared out of the window. Minutes passed. Then:</p> + +<p>"Lady, how did you find me?"</p> + +<p>"One cannot sell three great rubies at the door of a jail, sir, and go +quite unnoticed," she answered, flushing. "My agents were on the watch. +They investigated, and I came on from Boston."</p> + +<p>Still she did not look at him. Polaris came a little nearer.</p> + +<p>"Why did you tell them all—"</p> + +<p>"That you are a hero!" she flashed hotly. "I want all the world to know +it!" She faced him at last.</p> + +<p>"And—but—the captain?"</p> + +<p>She looked at him.</p> + +<p>In a second his arms were around her. For the second time their lips +met. Time flew by unheeded. Marcus looked at them in wonder, and then +curled calmly on a rug and stretched his nose.</p> + +<p>Finally:</p> + +<p>"But I am only a poor, half-savage—"</p> + +<p>"Hush! I love you!"</p> + +<p>Presently they heard through the closed door the muffled sound of +shouting. It was the members of the society cheering Stephen Janess.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p class="ph1">This is the first of a group of three famous "Polaris" stories. The +next of the trilogy is "Minos of Sardanes."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The South Pole was actually discovered by Roald Amundsen +in 1911, a fact which the editors feel it is necessary to mention in +deference to the great explorer. The discrepancy need not detract from +the value of the great fantasy of the snow-country.</p></div> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLARIS--OF THE SNOWS ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. +</div> + +<div style='margin:0.83em 0; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE<br /> +<span style='font-size:smaller'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE<br /> +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</span> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person +or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the +Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when +you share it without charge with others. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work +on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: +</div> + +<blockquote> + <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most + other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions + whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms + of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online + at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you + are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws + of the country where you are located before using this eBook. + </div> +</blockquote> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg™ License. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format +other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain +Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +provided that: +</div> + +<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation.” + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ + works. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. + </div> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread +public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state +visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. +</div> + +</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/35426-h/images/cover.jpg b/35426-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f523a16 --- /dev/null +++ b/35426-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e2c32d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #35426 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35426) diff --git a/old/35426-h/35426-h.htm b/old/35426-h/35426-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..48b5a2a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/35426-h/35426-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1663 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Polaris Of The Snows, by Charles B. Stilson. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Polaris of the Snows, by Charles B. Stilson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Polaris of the Snows + +Author: Charles B. Stilson + +Release Date: February 28, 2011 [EBook #35426] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLARIS OF THE SNOWS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1>POLARIS OF THE SNOWS</h1> + +<h2>by Charles B. Stilson</h2> + +<h3>All-Story Weekly</h3> + +<h3><i>December 18, 1915-January 1, 1916</i></h3> + +<hr style="width: 85%;" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#POLARIS_OF_THE_SNOWS">POLARIS OF THE SNOWS</a><br /> +<a href="#THE_FIRST_WOMAN">THE FIRST WOMAN</a><br /> +<a href="#POLARIS_MAKES_A_PROMISE">POLARIS MAKES A PROMISE</a><br /> +<a href="#HURLED_SOUTH_AGAIN">HURLED SOUTH AGAIN</a><br /> +<a href="#BATTLE_ON_THE_FLOE">BATTLE ON THE FLOE</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + +<hr style="width: 85%;" /> + +<h2><a name="POLARIS_OF_THE_SNOWS" id="POLARIS_OF_THE_SNOWS"></a>POLARIS OF THE SNOWS</h2> + +<p>"North! North! To the north, Polaris. Tell the world—ah, tell +them—boy—The north! The north! You must go, Polaris!"</p> + +<p>Throwing the covers from his low couch, the old man arose and stood, a +giant, tottering figure. Higher and higher he towered. He tossed his +arms high, his features became convulsed; his eyes glazed. In his throat +the rising tide of dissolution choked his voice to a hoarse rattle. He +swayed.</p> + +<p>With a last desperate rallying of his failing powers he extended his +right arm and pointed to the north. Then he fell, as a tree falls, +quivered, and was still.</p> + +<p>His companion bent over the pallet, and with light, sure fingers closed +his eyes. In all the world he knew, Polaris never had seen a human being +die. In all the world he now was utterly alone!</p> + +<p>He sat down at the foot of the cot, and for many minutes gazed steadily +at the wall with fixed, unseeing eyes. A sputtering little lamp, which +stood on a table in the center of the room, flickered and went out. The +flames of the fireplace played strange tricks in the strange room. In +their uncertain glare, the features of the dead man seemed to writhe +uncannily.</p> + +<p>Garments and hangings of the skins of beasts stirred in the wavering +shadows, as though the ghosts of their one-time tenants were struggling +to reassert their dominion. At the one door and the lone window the wind +whispered, fretted, and shrieked. Snow as fine and hard as the sands of +the sea rasped across the panes. Somewhere without a dog howled—the +long, throaty ululation of the wolf breed. Another joined in, and +another, until a full score of canine voices wailed a weird requiem.</p> + +<p>Unheeding, the living man sat as still as the dead.</p> + +<p>Once, twice, thrice, a little clock struck a halting, uncertain stroke. +When the fourth hour was passed it rattled crazily and stopped. The fire +died away to embers; the embers paled to ashes. As though they were +aware that something had gone awry, the dogs never ceased their baying. +The wind rose higher and higher, and assailed the house with repeated +shocks. Pale-gray and changeless day that lay across a sea of snows +peered furtively through the windows.</p> + +<p>At length the watcher relaxed his silent vigil. He arose, cast off his +coat of white furs, stepped to the wall of the room opposite to the +door, and shoved back a heavy wooden panel. A dark aperture was +disclosed. He disappeared and came forth presently, carrying several +large chunks of what appeared to be crumbling black rock.</p> + +<p>He threw them on the dying fire, where they snapped briskly, caught +fire, and flamed brightly. They were coal.</p> + +<p>From a platform above the fireplace he dragged down a portion of the +skinned carcass of a walrus. With the long, heavy-bladed knife from his +belt he cut it into strips. Laden with the meat, he opened the door and +went out into the dim day.</p> + +<p>The house was set against the side of a cliff of solid, black, +lusterless coal. A compact stockade of great boulders enclosed the front +of the dwelling. From the back of the building, along the base of the +cliff, ran a low shed of timber slabs, from which sounded the howling +and worrying of the dogs.</p> + +<p>As Polaris entered the stockade the clamor was redoubled. The rude plank +at the front of the shed, which was its door, was shaken repeatedly as +heavy bodies were hurled against it.</p> + +<p>Kicking an accumulation of loose snow away from the door, the man took +from its racks the bar which made it fast and let it drop forward. A +reek of steam floated from its opening. A shaggy head was thrust forth, +followed immediately by a great, gray body, which shot out as if +propelled from a catapult.</p> + +<p>Catching in its jaws the strip of flesh which the man dangled in front +of the doorway, the brute dashed across the stockade and crouched +against the wall, tearing at the meat. Dog after dog piled pell-mell +through the doorway, until at least twenty-five grizzled animals were +distributed about the enclosure, bolting their meal of walrus-flesh.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>For a few moments the man sat on the roof of the shed and watched the +animals. Although the raw flesh stiffened in the frigid air before even +the jaws of the dogs could devour it and the wind cut like the lash of a +whip, the man, coatless and with head and arms bared, seemed to mind +neither the cold nor the blast.</p> + +<p>He had not the ruggedness of figure or the great height of the man who +lay dead within the house. He was of considerably more than medium +height, but so broad of shoulder and deep of chest that he seemed short. +Every line of his compact figure bespoke unusual strength—the wiry, +swift strength of an animal.</p> + +<p>His arms, white and shapely, rippled with muscles at the least movement +of his fingers. His hand were small, but powerfully shaped. His neck was +straight and not long. The thews spread from it to his wide shoulders +like those of a splendid athlete. The ears were set close above the +angle of a firm jaw, and were nearly hidden in a mass of tawny, yellow +hair, as fine as a woman's, which swept over his shoulders.</p> + +<p>Above a square chin were full lips and a thin, aquiline nose. Deep, +brown eyes, fringed with black lashes, made a marked contrast with the +fairness of his complexion and his yellow hair and brows. He was not +more than twenty-four years old.</p> + +<p>Presently he re-entered the house. The dogs flocked after him to the +door, whining and rubbing against his legs, but he allowed none of them +to enter with him. He stood before the dead man and, for the first time +in many hours, he spoke:</p> + +<p>"For this day, my father, you have waited many years. I shall not delay. +I will not fail you."</p> + +<p>From a skin sack he filled the small lamp with oil and lighted its wick +with a splinter of blazing coal. He set it where its feeble light shone +on the face of the dead. Lifting the corpse, he composed its limbs and +wrapped it in the great white pelt of a polar bear, tying it with many +thongs. Before he hid from view the quiet features he stood back with +folded arms and bowed head.</p> + +<p>"I think he would have wished this," he whispered, and he sang softly +that grand old hymn which has sped so many Christian soldiers from their +battlefield. "Nearer, My God, to Thee," he sang in a subdued, melodious +baritone. From a shelf of books which hung on the wall he reached a +leather-covered volume. "It was his religion," he muttered: "It may be +mine," and he read from the book: "<i>I am the resurrection and the life, +whoso believeth in Me, even though he died</i>—" and on through the +sonorous burial service.</p> + +<p>He dropped the book within the folds of the bearskin, covered the dead +face, and made fast the robe. Although the body was of great weight, he +shouldered it without apparent effort, took the lamp in one hand, and +passed through the panel in the wall.</p> + +<p>Within the bowels of the cliff a large cavern had been hollowed in the +coal. In a far corner a gray boulder had been hewn into the shape of a +tombstone. On its face were carved side by side two words: "Anne" and +"Stephen." At the foot of the stone were a mound and an open grave. He +laid the body in the grave and covered it with earth and loose coal.</p> + +<p>Again he paused, while the lamplight shone on the tomb.</p> + +<p>"May you rest in peace, O Anne, my mother, and Stephen, my father. I +never knew you, my mother, and, my father, I knew not who you were nor +who I am. I go to carry your message."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>He rolled boulders onto the two mounds. The opening to the cave he +walled up with other boulders, piling a heap of them and of large pieces +of coal until it filled the low arch of the entrance.</p> + +<p>In the cabin he made preparations for a journey.</p> + +<p>One by one he threw on the fire books and other articles within the +room, until little was left but skins and garments of fur and an +assortment of barbaric weapons of the chase.</p> + +<p>Last he dragged from under the cot a long, oaken chest.</p> + +<p>Failing to find its key, he tore the lid from it with his strong hands.</p> + +<p>Some articles of feminine wearing apparel which were within it he +handled reverently, and at the same time curiously; for they were of +cloth. Wonderingly he ran his fingers over silk and fine laces. Those he +also burned.</p> + +<p>From the bottom of the chest he took a short, brown rifle and a brace of +heavy revolvers of a pattern and caliber famous in the annals of the +plainsmen. With them were belt and holsters.</p> + +<p>He counted the cartridges in the belt. Forty there were, and in the +chambers of the revolvers and the magazine of the rifle, eighteen more. +Fifty-eight shots with which to meet the perils that lay between himself +and that world of men to the north—if, indeed, the passing years had +not spoiled the ammunition.</p> + +<p>He divested himself of his clothing, bathed with melted snow-water, and +dressed himself anew in white furs. An omelet of eggs of wild birds and +a cutlet of walrus-flesh sufficed to stay his hunger, and he was ready +to face the unknown.</p> + +<p>In the stockade was a strongly build sledge. Polaris packed it with +quantities of meat both fresh and dried, of which there was a large +store in the cabin. What he did not pack on the sledge he threw to the +eager dogs.</p> + +<p>He laid his harness out on the snow, cracked his long whip, and called +up his team. "Octavius, Nero, Julius." Three powerful brutes bounded to +him and took their places in the string. "Juno, Hector, Pallas." Three +more grizzled snow-runners sprang into line. "Marcus." The great, gray +leader trotted sedately to the place at the head of the team. A +seven-dog team it was, all of them bearing the names before which Rome +and Greece had bowed.</p> + +<p>Polaris added to the burden of the sledge the brown rifle, several +spears, carved from oaken beams and tipped with steel, and a sealskin +filled with boiled snow-water. On his last trip into the cabin he took +from a drawer in the table a small, flat packet, sewn in membranous +parchment.</p> + +<p>"This is to tell the world my father's message and to tell who I am," he +said, and hid it in an inner pocket of his vest of furs. He buckled on +the revolver-belt, took whip and staff from the fireside, and drove his +dog-team out of the stockade onto the prairie of snow, closing the gate +on the howling chorus left behind.</p> + +<p>He proceeded several hundred yards, then tethered his dogs with a word +of admonition, and retraced his steps.</p> + +<p>In the stockade he did a strange and terrible thing. Long used to seeing +him depart from his team, the dogs had scattered and were mumbling their +bones in various corners. "If I leave these behind me, they will perish +miserably, or they will break out and follow, and I may not take them +with me," he muttered.</p> + +<p>From dog to dog he passed. To each he spoke a word of farewell. Each he +caressed with a pat on the head. Each he killed with a single grip of +his muscular hands, gripping them at the nape of the neck, where the +bones parted in his powerful fingers. Silently and swiftly he proceeded +until only one dog remained alive, old Paulus, the patriarch of the +pack.</p> + +<p>He bent over the animal, which raised its dim eyes to his and licked at +his hands.</p> + +<p>"Paulus, dear old friend that I have grown up with; farewell, Paulus," +he said. He pressed his face against the noble head of the dog. When he +raised it tears were coursing down his cheeks. Then Paulus's spirit +sped.</p> + +<p>Two by two he dragged the bodies into the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Of old a great general in that far world of men burned his ships that +he might not turn back. I will not turn back," he murmured. With a +splinter of blazing coal he fired the house and the dog-shed. He tore +the gate of the stockade from its hinges and cast it into the ruins. +With his great strength he toppled over the capping-stones of the wall, +and left it a ruin also.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_FIRST_WOMAN" id="THE_FIRST_WOMAN"></a>2. THE FIRST WOMAN</h2> + + +<p>Probably in all the world there was not the equal of the team of dogs +which Polaris had selected for his journey. Their ancestors in the long +ago had been the fierce, gray timberwolves of the north. Carefully +cross-bred, the strains in their blood were of the wolf, the great Dane, +and the mastiff; but the wolf strain held dominant. They had the +loyalty of the mastiff, the strength of the great Dane, and the +tireless sinews of the wolf. From the environment of their rearing they +were well furred and inured to the cold and hardships of the Antarctic. +They would travel far.</p> + +<p>Polaris did not ride on the sledge. He ran with the dogs, as swift and +tireless as they. A wonderful example of the adaptability to conditions +of the human race, his upbringing had given him the strength and +endurance of an animal. He had never seen the dog that he could not run +down.</p> + +<p>He, too, would travel fast and far.</p> + +<p>In the nature of the land through which they journeyed on their first +dash to the northward, there were few obstacles to quick progress. It +was a prairie of snow, wind-swept, and stretching like a desert as far +as eye could discern. Occasionally were upcroppings of coal cliffs +similar to the one where had been Polaris's home. On the first drive +they made a good fifty miles.</p> + +<p>Need of sleep, more than fatigue, warned both man and beasts of +camping-time. Polaris, who seemed to have a definite point in view, +urged on the dogs for an hour longer than was usual on an ordinary trip, +and they came to the border of the immense snow-plain.</p> + +<p>To the northeast lay a ridge of what appeared to be snow-covered hills. +Beyond the edge of the white prairie was a forest of ice. Millions of +jagged monoliths stood and lay, jammed closely together, in every +conceivable shape and angle.</p> + +<p>At some time a giant ice-flow had crashed down upon the land. It had +fretted and torn at the shore, had heaved itself up, with its myriad +gleaming tusks bared for destruction. Then nature had laid upon it a +calm, white hand, and had frozen it quiet and still and changeless.</p> + +<p>Away to the east a path was open, which skirted the field of broken ice +and led in toward the base of the hills.</p> + +<p>Polaris did not take that path. He turned west, following the line of +the ice-belt. Presently he found what he sought. A narrow lane led into +the heart of the iceberg.</p> + +<p>At the end of it, caught in the jaws of two giant bergs, hung fast, as +it had hung for years, the sorry wreck of a stout ship. Scarred and rent +by the grinding of its prison-ice, and weather-beaten by the rasping of +wind-driven snow in a land where the snow never melts, still on the +square stern of the vessel could be read the dimming letters which +spelled "Yedda."</p> + +<p>Polaris unharnessed the pack, and man and dogs crept on board the hulk. +It was but a timber shell. Much of the decking had been cut away, and +everything movable had been taken from it for the building of the cabin +and the shed, now in black ruins fifty miles to the south.</p> + +<p>In an angle of the ice-wall, a few yards from the ship, Polaris pitched +his camp and built a fire with timbers from the wreck. He struck his +flame with a rudely fashioned tinder-box, catching the spark in fine +scrapings of wood and nursing it with his breath. He fed the dogs and +toasted meat for his own meal at the fire. With a large robe from the +sledge he bedded the team snugly beside the fire.</p> + +<p>With his own parka of furs he clambered aboard the ship, found a bunk in +the forecastle, and curled up for the night.</p> + +<p>Several hours later hideous clamor broke his dreamless slumber. He +started from the bunk and leaped from the ship's side into the ice-lane. +Every dog of the pack was bristling and snarling with rage. Mixed with +their uproar was a deeper, hoarser note of anger that came from the +throat of no dog—a note which the man knew well.</p> + +<p>The team was bunched a few feet ahead of the fire as Polaris came over +the rail of the ship. Almost shoulder to shoulder the seven crouched, +every head pointed up the path. They were quivering from head to tail +with anger, and seemed to be about to charge.</p> + +<p>Whipping the dogs back, the son of the snows ran forward to meet the +danger alone. He could afford to lose no dogs. He had forgotten the +guns, but he bore weapons with which he was better acquainted.</p> + +<p>With a long-hafted spear in his hand and the knife loosened in his belt +he bounded up the pathway and stood, wary but unafraid, fronting an +immense white bear.</p> + +<p>He was not a moment too soon. The huge animal had set himself for the +charge, and in another instant would have hurled its enormous weight +down on the dogs. The beast hesitated, confronted by this new enemy, and +sat back on its haunches to consider.</p> + +<p>Knowing his foe aforetime, Polaris took that opportunity to deliver his +own charge. He bounded forward and drove his tough spear with all his +strength into the white chest below the throat. Balanced as it was on +its haunches, the shock of the man's onset upset the bear, and it rolled +backward, a jet of blood spurting over its shaggy coat and, dyeing the +snow.</p> + +<p>Like a flash the man followed his advantage. Before the brute could turn +or recover Polaris reached its back and drove his long-bladed knife +under the left shoulder. Twice he struck deep, and sprang aside. The +battle was finished.</p> + +<p>The beast made a last mighty effort to rear erect, tearing at the +spear-shaft, and went down under an avalanche of snarling, ferocious +dogs. For the team could refrain from conflict no longer, and charged +like a flying wedge to worry the dying foe.</p> + +<p>Replenishing his store of meat with strips from the newly slain bear, +Polaris allowed the pack to make a famous meal on the carcass. When they +were ready to take the trail again, he fired the ship with a blazing +brand, and they trotted forth along the snow-path to the east with the +skeleton of the stout old <i>Yedda</i> roaring and flaming behind them.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>For days Polaris pressed northward. To his right extended the range of +the white hills. To the left was the seemingly endless ice-field that +looked like the angry billows of a storm-tossed sea which had been +arrested at the height of tempest, its white-capped, upthrown waves +paralyzed cold and dead.</p> + +<p>Down the shore-line, where his path lay, a fierce wind blew continuously +and with increasing rigor. He was puzzled to find that instead of +becoming warmer as he progressed to the north and away from the pole, +the air was more frigid than it had been in his homeland. Hardy as he +was, there were times when the furious blasts chilled him to the bone +and when his magnificent dogs flinched and whimpered.</p> + +<p>Still he pushed on. The sledge grew lighter as the provisions were +consumed, and there were few marches that did not cover forty miles. +Polaris slept with the dogs, huddled in robes. The very food they ate +they must warm with the heat of their bodies before it could be +devoured. There was no vestige of anything to make fuel for a camp-fire.</p> + +<p>He had covered some hundreds of miles when he found the contour of the +country was changing. The chain of the hills swung sharply away to the +east, and the path broadened, fanwise, east and west. An undulating +plain of snow and ice-caps, rent by many fissures, lay ahead.</p> + +<p>This was the most difficult traveling of all.</p> + +<p>In the middle of their second march across the plain, the man noticed +that his gray snow-coursers were uneasy. They threw their snouts up to +the wind and growled angrily, scenting some unseen danger. Although he +had seen nothing larger than a fox since he entered the plain, bear +signs had been frequent, and Polaris welcomed a hunt to replenish his +larder.</p> + +<p>He halted the team and outspanned the dogs so they would be unhampered +by the sledge in case of attack. Bidding them remain behind, he went to +reconnoiter.</p> + +<p>He clambered to the summit of a snow-covered ice-crest and gazed ahead. +A great joy welled into his heart, a thanksgiving so keen that it +brought a mist to the eyes.</p> + +<p>He had found man!</p> + +<p>Not a quarter of a mile ahead of him, standing in the lee of a low +ridge, were two figures unmistakably human. At the instant he saw them +the wind brought to his nostrils, sensitive as those of an animal, a +strange scent that set his pulses bounding. He <i>smelled</i> man and man's +fire! A thin spiral of smoke was curling over the back of the ridge. He +hurried forward.</p> + +<p>Hidden by the undulations of slopes and drifts he approached within a +few feet of them without being discovered. On the point of crying aloud +to them he stopped, paralyzed, and crouched behind a drift. For these +men to whom his heart called madly—the first of his own kind but one +whom he had ever seen—were tearing at each other's throats like +maddened beasts in an effort to take life!</p> + +<p>Like a man in a dream, Polaris heard their voices raised in curses. They +struggled fiercely but weakly. They were on the brink of one of the deep +fissures, or crevasses, which seamed this strange, forgotten land. Each +was striving to push the other into the chasm.</p> + +<p>Then one who seemed the stronger wrenched himself free and struck the +other in the face. The stricken man staggered, threw his arms above his +head, toppled, and crashed down the precipice.</p> + +<p>Polaris's first introduction to the civilization which he sought was +murder! For those were civilized white men who had fought. They wore +garments of cloth. Revolvers hung from their belts. Their speech, of +which he had heard little but cursing, was civilized English.</p> + +<p>Pale to the lips, the son of the wilderness leaped over the snow-drift +and strode toward the survivor. In the teachings of his father, murder +was the greatest of all crimes; its punishment was swift death. This man +who stood on the brink of the chasm which had swallowed his companion +had been the aggressor in the fight. He had struck first. He had killed. +In the heart of Polaris arose a terrible sense of outraged justice. This +waif of the eternal snows became the law.</p> + +<p>The stranger turned and saw him. He started violently, paled, and then +an angry flush mounted to his temples and an angry glint came into his +eyes. His crime had been witnessed, and by a strange white man.</p> + +<p>His hand flew to his hip, and he swung a heavy revolver up and fired, +speeding the bullet with a curse. He missed and would have fired again, +but his hour had struck. With the precision of an automaton Polaris +snatched one of his own pistols from the holster. He raised it above the +level of his shoulder, and fired on the drop.</p> + +<p>Not for nothing had he spent long hours practicing with his father's +guns, sighting and pulling the trigger countless times, although they +were empty. The man in front of him staggered, dropped his pistol, and +reeled dizzily. A stream of blood gushed from his lips. He choked, +clawed at the air, and pitched backward.</p> + +<p>The chasm which had received his victim, received the murderer also.</p> + +<p>Polaris heard a shrill scream to his right, and turned swiftly on his +heel, automatically swinging up his revolver to meet a new peril.</p> + +<p>Another being stood on the brow of the ridge—stood with clasped hands +and horror-stricken eyes. Clad almost the same as the others, there was +yet a subtle difference which garments could not disguise.</p> + +<p>Polaris leaned forward with his whole soul in his eyes. His hand fell to +his side. He had made his second discovery. He had discovered woman!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="POLARIS_MAKES_A_PROMISE" id="POLARIS_MAKES_A_PROMISE"></a>3. POLARIS MAKES A PROMISE</h2> + + +<p>Both stood transfixed for a long moment—the man with the wonder that +followed his anger, the woman with horror. Polaris drew a deep breath +and stepped a hesitating pace forward.</p> + +<p>The woman threw out her hands in a gesture of loathing.</p> + +<p>"Murderer!" she said in a low, deep voice, choked with grief. "Oh, my +brother; my poor brother!" She threw herself on the snow, sobbing +terribly.</p> + +<p>Rooted to the spot by her repelling gesture, Polaris watched her. So one +of the men had been her brother. Which one? His naturally clear mind +began to reassert itself.</p> + +<p>"Lady," he called softly. He did not attempt to go nearer to her.</p> + +<p>She raised her face from her arms, crept to her knees, and stared at him +stonily. "Well, murderer, finish your work," she said. "I am ready. Ah, +what had he—what had they done that you should take their lives?"</p> + +<p>"Listen to me, lady," said Polaris quietly. "You saw me—kill. Was that +man your brother?"</p> + +<p>The girl did not answer, but continued to gaze at him with +horror-stricken eyes. Her mouth quivered pitifully.</p> + +<p>"If that man was your brother, then I killed him, and with reason," +pursued Polaris calmly. "If he was not, then of your brother's death, at +least, I am guiltless. I did but punish his slayer."</p> + +<p>"His <i>slayer</i>! What are you saying?" gasped the girl.</p> + +<p>Polaris snapped open the breech of his revolver and emptied its +cartridges into his hand. He took the other revolver from its holster +and emptied it also. He laid the cartridge in his hand and extended it.</p> + +<p>"See," he said, "there are twelve cartridges, but only one empty shell. +Only two shots were fired—one by the man whom I killed, the other by +me." He saw that he had her attention, and repeated his question: "Was +that man your brother?"</p> + +<p>"No," she answered.</p> + +<p>"Then, you see, I could not have <i>shot</i> your brother," said Polaris. His +face grew stern with the memory of the scene he had witnessed. "They +quarreled, your brother and the other man. I came behind the drift +yonder and saw them. I might have stopped them—but, lady, they were the +first men I had ever seen, save only one. I was bound by surprise. The +other man was stronger. He struck your brother into the crevasse. He +would have shot me, but my mind returned to me, and with anger at that +which I saw, and I killed him.</p> + +<p>"In proof, lady, see—the snow between me and the spot yonder where they +stood is untracked. I have been no nearer."</p> + +<p>Wonderingly the girl followed with her eyes and the direction of his +pointing finger. She comprehended.</p> + +<p>"I—I believe you have told me the truth," she faltered. "They <i>had</i> +quarreled. But—but—you said they were the first men you had ever seen. +How—what—"</p> + +<p>Polaris crossed the intervening slope and stood at her side.</p> + +<p>"That is a long tale, lady," he said simply. "You are in distress. I +would help you. Let us go to your camp. Come."</p> + +<p>The girl raised her eyes to his, and they gazed long at one another. +Polaris saw a slender figure of nearly his own height. She was clad in +heavy woolen garments. A hooded cap framed the long oval of her face.</p> + +<p>The eyes that looked into his were steady and gray. Long eyes they were, +delicately turned at the corners. Her nose was straight and high, its +end tilted ever so slightly. Full, crimson lips and a firm little chin +peeped over the collar of her jacket. A wisp of chestnut hair swept her +high brow and added its tale to a face that would have been accounted +beautiful in any land.</p> + +<p>In the eyes of Polaris she was divinity.</p> + +<p>The girl saw a young giant in the flower of his manhood. Clad in +splendid white furs of fox and bear, with a necklace of teeth of the +polar bear for adornment, he resembled those magnificent barbarians of +the Northland's ancient sagas.</p> + +<p>His yellow hair had grown long, and fell about his shoulders under his +fox-skin cap. The clean-cut lines of his face scarce were shaded by its +growth of red-gold beard and mustache. Except for the guns at his belt +he might have been a young chief of vikings. His countenance was at once +eager, thoughtful, and determined.</p> + +<p>Barbaric and strange as he seemed, the girl found in his face that which +she might trust. She removed a mitten and extended a small, white hand +to him. Falling on one knee in the snow, Polaris kissed it, with the +grace of a knight of old doing homage to his lady fair.</p> + +<p>The girl flashed him another wondering glance from her long, gray eyes +that set all his senses tingling. Side by side they passed over the +ridge.</p> + +<p>Disaster had overtaken the camp which lay on the other side. Camp it was +by courtesy only—a miserable shelter of blankets and robes, propped +with pieces of broken sledge, a few utensils, the partially devoured +carcass of a small seal, and a tiny fire, kindled from fragments of the +sledge. In the snow some distance from the fire lay the stiffened bodies +of several sledge dogs, sinister evidence of the hopelessness of the +campers' position.</p> + +<p>Polaris turned questioningly to the girl.</p> + +<p>"We were lost in the storm," she said. "We left the ship, meaning to be +gone only a few hours, and then were lost in the blinding snow. That was +three days ago. How many miles we wandered I do not know. The dogs +became crazed and turned upon us. The men shot them. Oh, there seems so +little hope in this terrible land!" She shuddered. "But you—where did +you come from?"</p> + +<p>"Do not lose heart, lady," replied Polaris. "Always, in every land, +there is hope. There must be. I have lived here all my life. I have come +up from the far south. I know but one path—the path to the north, to +the world of men. Now I will fetch my sledge up, and then we shall talk +and decide. We will find your ship. I, Polaris, promise you that."</p> + +<p>He turned from her to the fire, and cast on its dying embers more +fragments of the splintered sledge. His eyes shone. He muttered to +himself: "A ship, a ship! Ah, but my father's God is good to his son!"</p> + +<p>He set off across the snow slopes to bring up the pack.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="HURLED_SOUTH_AGAIN" id="HURLED_SOUTH_AGAIN"></a>4. HURLED SOUTH AGAIN</h2> + + +<p>When his strong form had bounded from her view, the girl turned to the +little hut and shut herself within. She cast herself on a heap of +blankets, and gave way to her bereavement and terror.</p> + +<p>Her brother's corpse was scarcely cold at the bottom of the abyss. She +was lost in the trackless wastes—alone, save for this bizarre stranger +who had come out of the snows, this man of strange saying, who seemed a +demigod of the wilderness.</p> + +<p>Could she trust him? She must. She recalled him kneeling in the snow, +and the courtierlike grace with which he kissed her hand. A hot flush +mounted to her eyes. She dried her tears.</p> + +<p>She heard him return to the camp, and heard the barking of the dogs. +Once he passed near the hut, but he did not intrude, and she remained +within.</p> + +<p>Womanlike, she set about the rearrangement of her hair and clothing. +When she had finished she crept to the doorway and peeped out. Again her +blushes burned her cheeks. She saw the son of the snows crouched above +the camp-fire, surrounded by a group of monstrous dogs. He had rubbed +his face with oil. A bright blade glittered in his hand. Polaris was +<i>shaving</i>!</p> + +<p>Presently she went out. The young man sprang to his feet, cracking his +long whip to restrain the dogs, which would have sprung upon the +stranger. They huddled away, their teeth bared, staring at her with +glowing eyes. Polaris seized one of them by the scruff of the neck, +lifted it bodily from the snow, and swung it in front of the girl.</p> + +<p>"Talk to him, lady," he said; "you must be friends. This is Julius."</p> + +<p>The girl bent over and fearlessly stroked the brute's head.</p> + +<p>"Julius, good dog," she said. At her touch the dog quivered and its +hackles rose. Under the caress of her hand it quieted gradually. The +bristling hair relaxed, and Julius's tail swung slowly to and fro in an +overture of amity. When Polaris loosed him, he sniffed in friendly +fashion at the girl's hands, and pushed his great head forward for more +caresses.</p> + +<p>Then Marcus, the grim leader of the pack, stalked majestically forward +for his introduction.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you have won Marcus!" cried Polaris. "And Marcus won is a friend +indeed. None of them would harm you now." Soon she had learned the name +and had the confidence of every dog of the pack, to the great delight of +their master.</p> + +<p>Among the effects in the camp was a small oil-stove, which Polaris +greeted with brightened eyes. "One like that we had, but it was worn out +long ago," he said. He lighted the stove and began the preparation of a +meal.</p> + +<p>She found that he had cleared the camp and put all in order. He had +dragged the carcasses of the dead dogs to the other side of the slope +and piled them there. His stock of meat was low, and his own dogs would +have no qualms if it came to making their own meals of these strangers +of their own kind.</p> + +<p>The girl produced from the remnants of the camp stores a few handfuls of +coffee and an urn. Polaris watched in wonderment as she brewed it over +the tiny stove and his nose twitched in reception of its delicious +aroma. They drank the steaming beverage, piping hot, from tin cups. In +the stinging air of the snowlands even the keenest grief must give way +to the pangs of hunger. The girl ate heartily of a meal that in a more +moderate climate she would have considered fit only for beasts.</p> + +<p>When their supper was completed they sat huddled in their furs at the +edge of the fire. Around them were crouched the dogs, watching with +eager eyes for any scraps which might fall to their share.</p> + +<p>"Now tell me who you are, and how you came here," questioned the girl.</p> + +<p>"Lady, my name is Polaris, and I think that I am an American gentleman," +he said, and a trace of pride crept into the words of the answer. "I +came here from a cabin and a ship that lie burned many leagues to the +southward. All my life I have lived there, with but one companion, my +father, who now is dead, and who sends me to the north with a message to +that world of men that lies beyond the snows, and from which he long was +absent."</p> + +<p>"A ship—a cabin—" The girl bent toward him in amazement. "And burned? +And you have lived—have grown up in this land of snow and ice and +bitter cold, where but few things can exist—I don't understand!"</p> + +<p>"My father has told me much, but not all. It is all in his message which +I have not seen," Polaris answered. "But that which I tell you is truth. +He was a seeker after new things. He came here to seek that which no +other man had found. He came in a ship with my mother and others. All +were dead before I came to knowledge. He had built a cabin from the +ruins of the ship, and he lived there until he died."</p> + +<p>"And you say that you are an American gentleman?"</p> + +<p>"That he told me, lady, although I do not know my name or his, except +that he was Stephen, and he called me Polaris."</p> + +<p>"And did he never try to get to the north?" asked the girl.</p> + +<p>"No. Many years ago, when I was a boy, he fell and was hurt. After that +he could do but little. He could not travel."</p> + +<p>"And you?"</p> + +<p>"I learned to seek food in the wilderness, lady; to battle with its +beasts, to wrest that which would sustain our lives from the snows and +the wastes."</p> + +<p>Much more of his life and of his father he told her under her wondering +questioning—a tale most incredible to her ears, but, as he said, the +truth. Finally he finished.</p> + +<p>"Now, lady, what of you?" he asked. "How came you here, and from where?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Rose—"</p> + +<p>"Ah, that is the name of a flower," said Polaris. "You were well named."</p> + +<p>He did not look at her as he spoke. His eyes were turned to the snow +slopes and were very wistful. "I have never seen a flower," he continued +slowly, "but my father said that of all created things they were the +fairest."</p> + +<p>"I have another name," said the girl. "It is Rose—Rose Emer."</p> + +<p>"And why did you come here, Rose Emer?" asked Polaris.</p> + +<p>"Like your father, I—we were seekers after new things, my brother and +I. Both our father and mother died, and left my brother John and myself +ridiculously rich. We had to use our money, so we traveled. We have been +over most of the world. Then a man—an American gentleman—a very brave +man, organized an expedition to come to the south to discover the south +pole. My brother and I knew him. We were very much interested in his +adventure. We helped him with it. Then John insisted that he would come +with the expedition, and—oh, they didn't wish me to come, but I never +had been left behind—I came, too."</p> + +<p>"And that brave man who came to seek the pole, where is he now?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he is dead—out there," said the girl, with a catch in her +voice. She pointed to the south. "He left the ship and went on, days +ago. He was to establish two camps with supplies. He carried an airship +with him. He was to make his last dash for the pole through the air from +the farther camp. His men were to wait for him until—until they were +sure that he would not come back."</p> + +<p>"An airship!" Polaris bent forward with sparkling eyes. "So there <i>are</i> +airships, then! Ah, this man must be brave! How is he called?"</p> + +<p>"James Scoland is the name—Captain Scoland."</p> + +<p>"He went on whence I came? Did he go by that way?" Polaris pointed where +the white tops of the mountain range which he skirted pierced the sky.</p> + +<p>"No. He took a course to the east of the mountains, where other +explorers of years before had been before him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have seen maps. Can you tell me where, or nearly where, we are +now?" he asked the girl.</p> + +<p>"This is Victoria Land," she answered. "We left the ship in a long bay, +extending in from Ross Sea, near where the 160th meridian joins the 80th +parallel. We are somewhere within three days' journey from the ship."</p> + +<p>"And so near to open water?"</p> + +<p>She nodded.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Rose Emer slept in the little shelter, with the grim Marcus curled on a +robe beside her pallet. Crouched among the dogs in the camp, Polaris +slept little. For hours he sat huddled, with his chin on his hands, +pondering what the girl had told him. Another man was on his way to the +pole—a very brave man—and he might reach it. And then—Polaris must be +very wary when he met that man who had won so great a prize.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my father," he sighed, "learning is mine through patience. History +of the world and of its wars and triumphs and failures, I know. Of its +tongues you have taught me, even those of the Roman and the Greek, long +since passed away; but how little do I know of the ways of men—and of +women! I shall be very careful, my father."</p> + +<p>Quite beyond any power of his to control, an antagonism was growing +within him for that man whom he had not seen; antagonism that was not +all due to the magnitude of the prize which the man might be winning, or +might be dying for. Indeed, had he been able to analyze it, that was the +least part of it.</p> + +<p>When they broke camp for their start they found that the perverse wind, +which had rested while they slept, had risen when they would journey, +and hissed bitterly across the bleak steppes of snow. Polaris made a +place on the sledge for the girl, and urged the pack into the teeth of +the gale. All day long they battled ahead in it, bearing left to the +west, where was more level pathway, than among the snow dunes.</p> + +<p>In an ever increasing blast they came in sight of open water. They +halted on a far-stretching field, much broken by huge masses, so +snow-covered that it was not possible to know whether they were of rock +or ice. Not a quarter of a mile beyond them, the edge of the field was +fretted by wind-lashed waves, which extended away to the horizon rim, +dotted with tossing icebergs of great height.</p> + +<p>Polaris pitched camp in the shelter of a towering cliff, and they made +themselves what comfort they could in the stinging cold.</p> + +<p>They had slept several hours when the slumbers of Polaris were pierced +by a woman's screams, the frenzied howling of the dogs, and the +thundering reverberations of grinding and crashing ice cliffs. A dash of +spray splashed across his face.</p> + +<p>He sprang to his feet in the midst of the leaping pack; as he did so he +felt the field beneath him sway and pitch like a hammock. For the first +time since he started for the north the Antarctic sun was shining +brightly—shining cold and clear on a great disaster!</p> + +<p>For they had pitched their camp on an ice floe. Whipped on by the gale, +the sea had risen under it, heaved it up and broken it. On a section of +the floe several acres in extent their little camp lay, at the very +brink of a gash in the ice-field which had cut them off from the land +over which they had come.</p> + +<p>The water was raging like a millrace through the widening rift between +them and the shore. Caught in a swift current and urged by the furious +wind, the broken-up floe was drifting, faster and faster—<i>back to the +south</i>!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BATTLE_ON_THE_FLOE" id="BATTLE_ON_THE_FLOE"></a>5. BATTLE ON THE FLOE</h2> + + +<p>Helpless, Polaris stood at the brink of the rift, swirling water and +tossing ice throwing the spray about him in clouds. Here was opposition +against which his naked strength was useless. As if they realized that +they were being parted from the firm land, the dogs grouped at the edge +of the floe and sent their dismal howls across the raging swirl, only to +be drowned by the din of the crashing icebergs.</p> + +<p>Turning, Polaris saw Rose Emer. She stood at the doorway of the tent of +skins, staring across the wind-swept channel with a blank despair +looking from her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Ah, all is lost, now!" she gasped.</p> + +<p>Then the great spirit of the man rose into spoken words. "No, lady," he +called, his voice rising clearly above the shrieking and thundering +pandemonium. "We yet have our lives."</p> + +<p>As he spoke there was a rending sound at his feet. The dogs sprang back +in terror and huddled against the face of the ice cliff. Torn away by +the impact of some weightier body beneath, nearly half of the ledge +where they stood was split from the main body of the floe, and plunged, +heaving and crackling into the current.</p> + +<p>Polaris saved himself by a mighty spring. Right in the path of the gash +lay the sledge, and it hung balanced at the edge of the ice floe. Down +it swung, and would have slipped over, but Polaris saw it going.</p> + +<p>He clutched at the ends of the leathern dog-harness as they glided from +him across the ice, and, with a tug, into which he put all the power of +his splendid muscles, he retrieved the sledge. Hardly had he dragged it +to safety when, with another roar of sundered ice, their foothold gaped +again and left them but a scanty shelf at the foot of the beetling berg.</p> + +<p>"Here we may not stay, lady," said Polaris. He swept the tent and its +robes into his arms and piled them on the sledge. Without waiting to +harness the dogs, he grasped the leather bands and alone pulled the load +along the ledge and around a shoulder of the cliff.</p> + +<p>At the other side of the cliff a ridge extended between the berg which +they skirted and another towering mountain of ice of similar formation. +Beyond the twin bergs lay the level plane of the floe, its edges +continually frayed by the attack of the waves and the onset of floating +ice.</p> + +<p>Along the incline of the ridge were several hollows partially filled +with drift snow. Knowing that on the ice cape, in such a tempest, they +must soon perish miserably, Polaris made camp in one of these +depressions where the deep snow tempered the chill of its foundation.</p> + +<p>In the clutch of the churning waters the floe turned slowly like an +immense wheel as it drifted in the current. Its course was away from the +shore to the southwest, and it gathered speed and momentum with every +passing second. The cove from whence it had been torn was already a mere +notch in the faraway shore line.</p> + +<p>Around them was a scene of wild and compelling beauty. Leagues and +leagues of on-rushing water hurled its white-crested squadrons against +the precipitous sides of the flotilla of icebergs, tore at the edges of +the drifting floes, and threw itself in huge waves across the more level +planes, inundating them repeatedly. Clouds of lacelike spray hung in the +air after each attack, and cascading torrents returned to the waves.</p> + +<p>Above it all the Antarctic sun shone gloriously, splintering its golden +spears on the myriad pinnacles, minarets, battlements, and crags of +towering masses of crystal that reflected back into the quivering air +all the colors of the spectrum. Thinner crests blazed flame-red in the +rays. Other points glittered coldly blue. From a thousand lesser +scintillating spires the shifting play of the colors, from vermilion to +purple, from green to gold, in the lavish magnificence of nature's +magic, was torture to the eye that beheld.</p> + +<p>On the spine of the ridge stood Polaris, leaning on his long spear and +gazing with heightened color and gleaming eyes on those fairy symbols of +old mother nature. To the girl who watched him he seemed to complete the +picture. In his superb trappings of furs, and surrounded by his shaggy +servants, he was at one with his weird and terrible surroundings. She +admired—and shuddered.</p> + +<p>Presently, when he came down from the ridge, she asked him, with a brave +smile, "What, sir, will be the next move?"</p> + +<p>"That is in the hands of the great God, if such a one there be," he +said. "Whatever it may be, it shall find us ready. Somewhere we must +come to shore. When we do—on to the north and the ship, be it half a +world away."</p> + +<p>"But for food and warmth? We must have those, if we are to go in the +flesh."</p> + +<p>"Already they are provided for," he replied quickly. He was peering +sharply over her shoulder toward the mass of the other berg. With his +words the clustered pack set up an angry snarling and baying. She +followed his glance and paled.</p> + +<p>Lumbering forth from a narrow pass at the extremity of the ridge was a +gigantic polar bear. His little eyes glittered wickedly, hungrily, and +his long, red tongue crept out and licked his slavering chops. As he +came on, with ungainly, padding gait, his head swung ponderously to and +fro.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he cleared the pass of his immense bulk when another +twitching white muzzle was protruded, and a second beast, in size nearly +equal to the first, set foot on the ridge and ambled on to the attack.</p> + +<p>Reckless at least of this peril, the dogs would have leaped forward to +close with the invaders but their master intervened. The stinging, +cracking lash in his hand drove them from the foe. Their overlord, man, +elected to make the battle alone.</p> + +<p>In two springs he reached the sledge, tore the rifle from its coverings, +and was at the side of the girl. He thrust the weapon into her hands.</p> + +<p>"Back, lady; back to the sledge!" he cried. "Unless I call, shoot not. +If you do shoot, aim for the throat when they rear, and leave the rest +to me and the dogs. Many times have I met these enemies, and I know well +how to deal with them."</p> + +<p>With another crack of the whip over the heads of the snarling pack, he +left her and bounded forward, spear in hand and long knife bared.</p> + +<p>Awkward of pace and unhurried, the snow kings came on to their feast. In +a thought the man chose his ground. Between him and the bears the ridge +narrowed so that for a few feet there was footway for but one of the +monsters at once.</p> + +<p>Polaris ran to where that narrow path began and threw himself on his +face on the ice.</p> + +<p>At that ruse the foremost bear hesitated. He reared and brushed his +muzzle with his formidable crescent-clawed paw. Polaris might have shot +then and ended at once the hardest part of his battle. But the man held +to a stubborn pride in his own weapons. Both of the beasts he would +slay, if he might, as he always had slain. His guns were reserved for +dire extremity.</p> + +<p>The bear settled to all fours again, and reached out a cautious paw and +felt along the path, its claws gouging seams in the ice. Assured that +the footing would hold, it crept out on the narrow way, nearer and +nearer to the motionless man. Scarce a yard from him it squatted. The +steam of its breath beat toward him.</p> + +<p>It raised one armed paw to strike. The girl cried out in terror and +raised the rifle. The man moved, and she hesitated.</p> + +<p>Down came the terrible paw, its curved claws projected and compressed +for the blow. It struck only the adamantine ice of the pathway, +splintering it. With the down stroke timed to the second, the man had +leaped up and forward.</p> + +<p>As though set on a steel spring, he vaulted into the air, above the +clashing talons and gnashing jaws, and landed light and sure on the back +of his ponderous adversary. To pass an arm under the bear's throat, to +clip its back with the grip of his legs was the work of a heart-beat's +time for Polaris.</p> + +<p>With a stifled howl of rage the bear rose to its haunches, and the man +rose with it. He gave it no time to turn or settle. Exerting his muscles +of steel, he tugged the huge head back. He swung clear from the body of +his foe. His feet touched the path and held it. He shot one knee into +the back of the bear.</p> + +<p>The spear he had dropped when he sprang, but his long knife gleamed in +his hand, and he stabbed, once, twice, sending the blade home under the +brute's shoulder. He released his grip; spurned the yielding body with +his foot, and the huge hulk rolled from the path down the slope, +crimsoning the snow with its blood.</p> + +<p>Polaris bounded across the narrow ledge and regained his spear. He +smiled as there arose from the foot of the slope a hideous clamor that +told him that the pack had charged in, as usual, not to be restrained at +sight of the kill. He waved his hand to the girl, who stood, statuelike, +beside the sledge.</p> + +<p>Doubly enraged at its inability to participate in the battle which had +been the death of its mate, the smaller bear waited no longer when the +path was clear, but rushed madly with lowered head. Strong as he was, +the man knew that he could not hope to stay or turn that avalanche of +flesh and sinew. As it reached him he sprang aside where the path +broadened, lashing out with his keen-edged spear.</p> + +<p>His aim was true. Just over one of the small eyes the point of the spear +bit deep, and blood followed it. With tigerish agility the man leaped +over the beast, striking down as he did so.</p> + +<p>The bear reared on its hindquarters and whimpered, brushing at its eyes +with its forepaws. Its head gashed so that the flowing blood blinded it, +it was beaten. Before it stood its master. Bending back until his body +arched like a drawn bow, Polaris poised his spear and thrust home at the +broad chest.</p> + +<p>A death howl that was echoed back from the crashing cliffs was answer to +his stroke. The bear settled forward and sprawled in the snow.</p> + +<p>Polaris set his foot on the body of the fallen monster and gazed down at +the girl with smiling face.</p> + +<p>"Here, lady, are food and warmth for many days," he called.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Polaris of the Snows, by Charles B. Stilson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLARIS OF THE SNOWS *** + +***** This file should be named 35426-h.htm or 35426-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/4/2/35426/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/35426.txt b/old/35426.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed07645 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/35426.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1455 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Polaris of the Snows, by Charles B. Stilson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Polaris of the Snows + +Author: Charles B. Stilson + +Release Date: February 28, 2011 [EBook #35426] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLARIS OF THE SNOWS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + POLARIS OF THE SNOWS + + by Charles B. Stilson + + All-Story Weekly + + _December 18, 1915-January 1, 1916_ + + + + +"North! North! To the north, Polaris. Tell the world--ah, tell +them--boy--The north! The north! You must go, Polaris!" + +Throwing the covers from his low couch, the old man arose and stood, a +giant, tottering figure. Higher and higher he towered. He tossed his +arms high, his features became convulsed; his eyes glazed. In his throat +the rising tide of dissolution choked his voice to a hoarse rattle. He +swayed. + +With a last desperate rallying of his failing powers he extended his +right arm and pointed to the north. Then he fell, as a tree falls, +quivered, and was still. + +His companion bent over the pallet, and with light, sure fingers closed +his eyes. In all the world he knew, Polaris never had seen a human being +die. In all the world he now was utterly alone! + +He sat down at the foot of the cot, and for many minutes gazed steadily +at the wall with fixed, unseeing eyes. A sputtering little lamp, which +stood on a table in the center of the room, flickered and went out. The +flames of the fireplace played strange tricks in the strange room. In +their uncertain glare, the features of the dead man seemed to writhe +uncannily. + +Garments and hangings of the skins of beasts stirred in the wavering +shadows, as though the ghosts of their one-time tenants were struggling +to reassert their dominion. At the one door and the lone window the wind +whispered, fretted, and shrieked. Snow as fine and hard as the sands of +the sea rasped across the panes. Somewhere without a dog howled--the +long, throaty ululation of the wolf breed. Another joined in, and +another, until a full score of canine voices wailed a weird requiem. + +Unheeding, the living man sat as still as the dead. + +Once, twice, thrice, a little clock struck a halting, uncertain stroke. +When the fourth hour was passed it rattled crazily and stopped. The fire +died away to embers; the embers paled to ashes. As though they were +aware that something had gone awry, the dogs never ceased their baying. +The wind rose higher and higher, and assailed the house with repeated +shocks. Pale-gray and changeless day that lay across a sea of snows +peered furtively through the windows. + +At length the watcher relaxed his silent vigil. He arose, cast off his +coat of white furs, stepped to the wall of the room opposite to the +door, and shoved back a heavy wooden panel. A dark aperture was +disclosed. He disappeared and came forth presently, carrying several +large chunks of what appeared to be crumbling black rock. + +He threw them on the dying fire, where they snapped briskly, caught +fire, and flamed brightly. They were coal. + +From a platform above the fireplace he dragged down a portion of the +skinned carcass of a walrus. With the long, heavy-bladed knife from his +belt he cut it into strips. Laden with the meat, he opened the door and +went out into the dim day. + +The house was set against the side of a cliff of solid, black, +lusterless coal. A compact stockade of great boulders enclosed the front +of the dwelling. From the back of the building, along the base of the +cliff, ran a low shed of timber slabs, from which sounded the howling +and worrying of the dogs. + +As Polaris entered the stockade the clamor was redoubled. The rude plank +at the front of the shed, which was its door, was shaken repeatedly as +heavy bodies were hurled against it. + +Kicking an accumulation of loose snow away from the door, the man took +from its racks the bar which made it fast and let it drop forward. A +reek of steam floated from its opening. A shaggy head was thrust forth, +followed immediately by a great, gray body, which shot out as if +propelled from a catapult. + +Catching in its jaws the strip of flesh which the man dangled in front +of the doorway, the brute dashed across the stockade and crouched +against the wall, tearing at the meat. Dog after dog piled pell-mell +through the doorway, until at least twenty-five grizzled animals were +distributed about the enclosure, bolting their meal of walrus-flesh. + + * * * * * + +For a few moments the man sat on the roof of the shed and watched the +animals. Although the raw flesh stiffened in the frigid air before even +the jaws of the dogs could devour it and the wind cut like the lash of a +whip, the man, coatless and with head and arms bared, seemed to mind +neither the cold nor the blast. + +He had not the ruggedness of figure or the great height of the man who +lay dead within the house. He was of considerably more than medium +height, but so broad of shoulder and deep of chest that he seemed short. +Every line of his compact figure bespoke unusual strength--the wiry, +swift strength of an animal. + +His arms, white and shapely, rippled with muscles at the least movement +of his fingers. His hand were small, but powerfully shaped. His neck was +straight and not long. The thews spread from it to his wide shoulders +like those of a splendid athlete. The ears were set close above the +angle of a firm jaw, and were nearly hidden in a mass of tawny, yellow +hair, as fine as a woman's, which swept over his shoulders. + +Above a square chin were full lips and a thin, aquiline nose. Deep, +brown eyes, fringed with black lashes, made a marked contrast with the +fairness of his complexion and his yellow hair and brows. He was not +more than twenty-four years old. + +Presently he re-entered the house. The dogs flocked after him to the +door, whining and rubbing against his legs, but he allowed none of them +to enter with him. He stood before the dead man and, for the first time +in many hours, he spoke: + +"For this day, my father, you have waited many years. I shall not delay. +I will not fail you." + +From a skin sack he filled the small lamp with oil and lighted its wick +with a splinter of blazing coal. He set it where its feeble light shone +on the face of the dead. Lifting the corpse, he composed its limbs and +wrapped it in the great white pelt of a polar bear, tying it with many +thongs. Before he hid from view the quiet features he stood back with +folded arms and bowed head. + +"I think he would have wished this," he whispered, and he sang softly +that grand old hymn which has sped so many Christian soldiers from their +battlefield. "Nearer, My God, to Thee," he sang in a subdued, melodious +baritone. From a shelf of books which hung on the wall he reached a +leather-covered volume. "It was his religion," he muttered: "It may be +mine," and he read from the book: "_I am the resurrection and the life, +whoso believeth in Me, even though he died_--" and on through the +sonorous burial service. + +He dropped the book within the folds of the bearskin, covered the dead +face, and made fast the robe. Although the body was of great weight, he +shouldered it without apparent effort, took the lamp in one hand, and +passed through the panel in the wall. + +Within the bowels of the cliff a large cavern had been hollowed in the +coal. In a far corner a gray boulder had been hewn into the shape of a +tombstone. On its face were carved side by side two words: "Anne" and +"Stephen." At the foot of the stone were a mound and an open grave. He +laid the body in the grave and covered it with earth and loose coal. + +Again he paused, while the lamplight shone on the tomb. + +"May you rest in peace, O Anne, my mother, and Stephen, my father. I +never knew you, my mother, and, my father, I knew not who you were nor +who I am. I go to carry your message." + + * * * * * + +He rolled boulders onto the two mounds. The opening to the cave he +walled up with other boulders, piling a heap of them and of large pieces +of coal until it filled the low arch of the entrance. + +In the cabin he made preparations for a journey. + +One by one he threw on the fire books and other articles within the +room, until little was left but skins and garments of fur and an +assortment of barbaric weapons of the chase. + +Last he dragged from under the cot a long, oaken chest. + +Failing to find its key, he tore the lid from it with his strong hands. + +Some articles of feminine wearing apparel which were within it he +handled reverently, and at the same time curiously; for they were of +cloth. Wonderingly he ran his fingers over silk and fine laces. Those he +also burned. + +From the bottom of the chest he took a short, brown rifle and a brace of +heavy revolvers of a pattern and caliber famous in the annals of the +plainsmen. With them were belt and holsters. + +He counted the cartridges in the belt. Forty there were, and in the +chambers of the revolvers and the magazine of the rifle, eighteen more. +Fifty-eight shots with which to meet the perils that lay between himself +and that world of men to the north--if, indeed, the passing years had +not spoiled the ammunition. + +He divested himself of his clothing, bathed with melted snow-water, and +dressed himself anew in white furs. An omelet of eggs of wild birds and +a cutlet of walrus-flesh sufficed to stay his hunger, and he was ready +to face the unknown. + +In the stockade was a strongly build sledge. Polaris packed it with +quantities of meat both fresh and dried, of which there was a large +store in the cabin. What he did not pack on the sledge he threw to the +eager dogs. + +He laid his harness out on the snow, cracked his long whip, and called +up his team. "Octavius, Nero, Julius." Three powerful brutes bounded to +him and took their places in the string. "Juno, Hector, Pallas." Three +more grizzled snow-runners sprang into line. "Marcus." The great, gray +leader trotted sedately to the place at the head of the team. A +seven-dog team it was, all of them bearing the names before which Rome +and Greece had bowed. + +Polaris added to the burden of the sledge the brown rifle, several +spears, carved from oaken beams and tipped with steel, and a sealskin +filled with boiled snow-water. On his last trip into the cabin he took +from a drawer in the table a small, flat packet, sewn in membranous +parchment. + +"This is to tell the world my father's message and to tell who I am," he +said, and hid it in an inner pocket of his vest of furs. He buckled on +the revolver-belt, took whip and staff from the fireside, and drove his +dog-team out of the stockade onto the prairie of snow, closing the gate +on the howling chorus left behind. + +He proceeded several hundred yards, then tethered his dogs with a word +of admonition, and retraced his steps. + +In the stockade he did a strange and terrible thing. Long used to seeing +him depart from his team, the dogs had scattered and were mumbling their +bones in various corners. "If I leave these behind me, they will perish +miserably, or they will break out and follow, and I may not take them +with me," he muttered. + +From dog to dog he passed. To each he spoke a word of farewell. Each he +caressed with a pat on the head. Each he killed with a single grip of +his muscular hands, gripping them at the nape of the neck, where the +bones parted in his powerful fingers. Silently and swiftly he proceeded +until only one dog remained alive, old Paulus, the patriarch of the +pack. + +He bent over the animal, which raised its dim eyes to his and licked at +his hands. + +"Paulus, dear old friend that I have grown up with; farewell, Paulus," +he said. He pressed his face against the noble head of the dog. When he +raised it tears were coursing down his cheeks. Then Paulus's spirit +sped. + +Two by two he dragged the bodies into the cabin. + +"Of old a great general in that far world of men burned his ships that +he might not turn back. I will not turn back," he murmured. With a +splinter of blazing coal he fired the house and the dog-shed. He tore +the gate of the stockade from its hinges and cast it into the ruins. +With his great strength he toppled over the capping-stones of the wall, +and left it a ruin also. + + + + +2. THE FIRST WOMAN + + +Probably in all the world there was not the equal of the team of dogs +which Polaris had selected for his journey. Their ancestors in the long +ago had been the fierce, gray timberwolves of the north. Carefully +cross-bred, the strains in their blood were of the wolf, the great Dane, +and the mastiff; but the wolf strain held dominant. They had the +loyalty of the mastiff, the strength of the great Dane, and the +tireless sinews of the wolf. From the environment of their rearing they +were well furred and inured to the cold and hardships of the Antarctic. +They would travel far. + +Polaris did not ride on the sledge. He ran with the dogs, as swift and +tireless as they. A wonderful example of the adaptability to conditions +of the human race, his upbringing had given him the strength and +endurance of an animal. He had never seen the dog that he could not run +down. + +He, too, would travel fast and far. + +In the nature of the land through which they journeyed on their first +dash to the northward, there were few obstacles to quick progress. It +was a prairie of snow, wind-swept, and stretching like a desert as far +as eye could discern. Occasionally were upcroppings of coal cliffs +similar to the one where had been Polaris's home. On the first drive +they made a good fifty miles. + +Need of sleep, more than fatigue, warned both man and beasts of +camping-time. Polaris, who seemed to have a definite point in view, +urged on the dogs for an hour longer than was usual on an ordinary trip, +and they came to the border of the immense snow-plain. + +To the northeast lay a ridge of what appeared to be snow-covered hills. +Beyond the edge of the white prairie was a forest of ice. Millions of +jagged monoliths stood and lay, jammed closely together, in every +conceivable shape and angle. + +At some time a giant ice-flow had crashed down upon the land. It had +fretted and torn at the shore, had heaved itself up, with its myriad +gleaming tusks bared for destruction. Then nature had laid upon it a +calm, white hand, and had frozen it quiet and still and changeless. + +Away to the east a path was open, which skirted the field of broken ice +and led in toward the base of the hills. + +Polaris did not take that path. He turned west, following the line of +the ice-belt. Presently he found what he sought. A narrow lane led into +the heart of the iceberg. + +At the end of it, caught in the jaws of two giant bergs, hung fast, as +it had hung for years, the sorry wreck of a stout ship. Scarred and rent +by the grinding of its prison-ice, and weather-beaten by the rasping of +wind-driven snow in a land where the snow never melts, still on the +square stern of the vessel could be read the dimming letters which +spelled "Yedda." + +Polaris unharnessed the pack, and man and dogs crept on board the hulk. +It was but a timber shell. Much of the decking had been cut away, and +everything movable had been taken from it for the building of the cabin +and the shed, now in black ruins fifty miles to the south. + +In an angle of the ice-wall, a few yards from the ship, Polaris pitched +his camp and built a fire with timbers from the wreck. He struck his +flame with a rudely fashioned tinder-box, catching the spark in fine +scrapings of wood and nursing it with his breath. He fed the dogs and +toasted meat for his own meal at the fire. With a large robe from the +sledge he bedded the team snugly beside the fire. + +With his own parka of furs he clambered aboard the ship, found a bunk in +the forecastle, and curled up for the night. + +Several hours later hideous clamor broke his dreamless slumber. He +started from the bunk and leaped from the ship's side into the ice-lane. +Every dog of the pack was bristling and snarling with rage. Mixed with +their uproar was a deeper, hoarser note of anger that came from the +throat of no dog--a note which the man knew well. + +The team was bunched a few feet ahead of the fire as Polaris came over +the rail of the ship. Almost shoulder to shoulder the seven crouched, +every head pointed up the path. They were quivering from head to tail +with anger, and seemed to be about to charge. + +Whipping the dogs back, the son of the snows ran forward to meet the +danger alone. He could afford to lose no dogs. He had forgotten the +guns, but he bore weapons with which he was better acquainted. + +With a long-hafted spear in his hand and the knife loosened in his belt +he bounded up the pathway and stood, wary but unafraid, fronting an +immense white bear. + +He was not a moment too soon. The huge animal had set himself for the +charge, and in another instant would have hurled its enormous weight +down on the dogs. The beast hesitated, confronted by this new enemy, and +sat back on its haunches to consider. + +Knowing his foe aforetime, Polaris took that opportunity to deliver his +own charge. He bounded forward and drove his tough spear with all his +strength into the white chest below the throat. Balanced as it was on +its haunches, the shock of the man's onset upset the bear, and it rolled +backward, a jet of blood spurting over its shaggy coat and, dyeing the +snow. + +Like a flash the man followed his advantage. Before the brute could turn +or recover Polaris reached its back and drove his long-bladed knife +under the left shoulder. Twice he struck deep, and sprang aside. The +battle was finished. + +The beast made a last mighty effort to rear erect, tearing at the +spear-shaft, and went down under an avalanche of snarling, ferocious +dogs. For the team could refrain from conflict no longer, and charged +like a flying wedge to worry the dying foe. + +Replenishing his store of meat with strips from the newly slain bear, +Polaris allowed the pack to make a famous meal on the carcass. When they +were ready to take the trail again, he fired the ship with a blazing +brand, and they trotted forth along the snow-path to the east with the +skeleton of the stout old _Yedda_ roaring and flaming behind them. + + * * * * * + +For days Polaris pressed northward. To his right extended the range of +the white hills. To the left was the seemingly endless ice-field that +looked like the angry billows of a storm-tossed sea which had been +arrested at the height of tempest, its white-capped, upthrown waves +paralyzed cold and dead. + +Down the shore-line, where his path lay, a fierce wind blew continuously +and with increasing rigor. He was puzzled to find that instead of +becoming warmer as he progressed to the north and away from the pole, +the air was more frigid than it had been in his homeland. Hardy as he +was, there were times when the furious blasts chilled him to the bone +and when his magnificent dogs flinched and whimpered. + +Still he pushed on. The sledge grew lighter as the provisions were +consumed, and there were few marches that did not cover forty miles. +Polaris slept with the dogs, huddled in robes. The very food they ate +they must warm with the heat of their bodies before it could be +devoured. There was no vestige of anything to make fuel for a camp-fire. + +He had covered some hundreds of miles when he found the contour of the +country was changing. The chain of the hills swung sharply away to the +east, and the path broadened, fanwise, east and west. An undulating +plain of snow and ice-caps, rent by many fissures, lay ahead. + +This was the most difficult traveling of all. + +In the middle of their second march across the plain, the man noticed +that his gray snow-coursers were uneasy. They threw their snouts up to +the wind and growled angrily, scenting some unseen danger. Although he +had seen nothing larger than a fox since he entered the plain, bear +signs had been frequent, and Polaris welcomed a hunt to replenish his +larder. + +He halted the team and outspanned the dogs so they would be unhampered +by the sledge in case of attack. Bidding them remain behind, he went to +reconnoiter. + +He clambered to the summit of a snow-covered ice-crest and gazed ahead. +A great joy welled into his heart, a thanksgiving so keen that it +brought a mist to the eyes. + +He had found man! + +Not a quarter of a mile ahead of him, standing in the lee of a low +ridge, were two figures unmistakably human. At the instant he saw them +the wind brought to his nostrils, sensitive as those of an animal, a +strange scent that set his pulses bounding. He _smelled_ man and man's +fire! A thin spiral of smoke was curling over the back of the ridge. He +hurried forward. + +Hidden by the undulations of slopes and drifts he approached within a +few feet of them without being discovered. On the point of crying aloud +to them he stopped, paralyzed, and crouched behind a drift. For these +men to whom his heart called madly--the first of his own kind but one +whom he had ever seen--were tearing at each other's throats like +maddened beasts in an effort to take life! + +Like a man in a dream, Polaris heard their voices raised in curses. They +struggled fiercely but weakly. They were on the brink of one of the deep +fissures, or crevasses, which seamed this strange, forgotten land. Each +was striving to push the other into the chasm. + +Then one who seemed the stronger wrenched himself free and struck the +other in the face. The stricken man staggered, threw his arms above his +head, toppled, and crashed down the precipice. + +Polaris's first introduction to the civilization which he sought was +murder! For those were civilized white men who had fought. They wore +garments of cloth. Revolvers hung from their belts. Their speech, of +which he had heard little but cursing, was civilized English. + +Pale to the lips, the son of the wilderness leaped over the snow-drift +and strode toward the survivor. In the teachings of his father, murder +was the greatest of all crimes; its punishment was swift death. This man +who stood on the brink of the chasm which had swallowed his companion +had been the aggressor in the fight. He had struck first. He had killed. +In the heart of Polaris arose a terrible sense of outraged justice. This +waif of the eternal snows became the law. + +The stranger turned and saw him. He started violently, paled, and then +an angry flush mounted to his temples and an angry glint came into his +eyes. His crime had been witnessed, and by a strange white man. + +His hand flew to his hip, and he swung a heavy revolver up and fired, +speeding the bullet with a curse. He missed and would have fired again, +but his hour had struck. With the precision of an automaton Polaris +snatched one of his own pistols from the holster. He raised it above the +level of his shoulder, and fired on the drop. + +Not for nothing had he spent long hours practicing with his father's +guns, sighting and pulling the trigger countless times, although they +were empty. The man in front of him staggered, dropped his pistol, and +reeled dizzily. A stream of blood gushed from his lips. He choked, +clawed at the air, and pitched backward. + +The chasm which had received his victim, received the murderer also. + +Polaris heard a shrill scream to his right, and turned swiftly on his +heel, automatically swinging up his revolver to meet a new peril. + +Another being stood on the brow of the ridge--stood with clasped hands +and horror-stricken eyes. Clad almost the same as the others, there was +yet a subtle difference which garments could not disguise. + +Polaris leaned forward with his whole soul in his eyes. His hand fell to +his side. He had made his second discovery. He had discovered woman! + + + + +3. POLARIS MAKES A PROMISE + + +Both stood transfixed for a long moment--the man with the wonder that +followed his anger, the woman with horror. Polaris drew a deep breath +and stepped a hesitating pace forward. + +The woman threw out her hands in a gesture of loathing. + +"Murderer!" she said in a low, deep voice, choked with grief. "Oh, my +brother; my poor brother!" She threw herself on the snow, sobbing +terribly. + +Rooted to the spot by her repelling gesture, Polaris watched her. So one +of the men had been her brother. Which one? His naturally clear mind +began to reassert itself. + +"Lady," he called softly. He did not attempt to go nearer to her. + +She raised her face from her arms, crept to her knees, and stared at him +stonily. "Well, murderer, finish your work," she said. "I am ready. Ah, +what had he--what had they done that you should take their lives?" + +"Listen to me, lady," said Polaris quietly. "You saw me--kill. Was that +man your brother?" + +The girl did not answer, but continued to gaze at him with +horror-stricken eyes. Her mouth quivered pitifully. + +"If that man was your brother, then I killed him, and with reason," +pursued Polaris calmly. "If he was not, then of your brother's death, at +least, I am guiltless. I did but punish his slayer." + +"His _slayer_! What are you saying?" gasped the girl. + +Polaris snapped open the breech of his revolver and emptied its +cartridges into his hand. He took the other revolver from its holster +and emptied it also. He laid the cartridge in his hand and extended it. + +"See," he said, "there are twelve cartridges, but only one empty shell. +Only two shots were fired--one by the man whom I killed, the other by +me." He saw that he had her attention, and repeated his question: "Was +that man your brother?" + +"No," she answered. + +"Then, you see, I could not have _shot_ your brother," said Polaris. His +face grew stern with the memory of the scene he had witnessed. "They +quarreled, your brother and the other man. I came behind the drift +yonder and saw them. I might have stopped them--but, lady, they were the +first men I had ever seen, save only one. I was bound by surprise. The +other man was stronger. He struck your brother into the crevasse. He +would have shot me, but my mind returned to me, and with anger at that +which I saw, and I killed him. + +"In proof, lady, see--the snow between me and the spot yonder where they +stood is untracked. I have been no nearer." + +Wonderingly the girl followed with her eyes and the direction of his +pointing finger. She comprehended. + +"I--I believe you have told me the truth," she faltered. "They _had_ +quarreled. But--but--you said they were the first men you had ever seen. +How--what--" + +Polaris crossed the intervening slope and stood at her side. + +"That is a long tale, lady," he said simply. "You are in distress. I +would help you. Let us go to your camp. Come." + +The girl raised her eyes to his, and they gazed long at one another. +Polaris saw a slender figure of nearly his own height. She was clad in +heavy woolen garments. A hooded cap framed the long oval of her face. + +The eyes that looked into his were steady and gray. Long eyes they were, +delicately turned at the corners. Her nose was straight and high, its +end tilted ever so slightly. Full, crimson lips and a firm little chin +peeped over the collar of her jacket. A wisp of chestnut hair swept her +high brow and added its tale to a face that would have been accounted +beautiful in any land. + +In the eyes of Polaris she was divinity. + +The girl saw a young giant in the flower of his manhood. Clad in +splendid white furs of fox and bear, with a necklace of teeth of the +polar bear for adornment, he resembled those magnificent barbarians of +the Northland's ancient sagas. + +His yellow hair had grown long, and fell about his shoulders under his +fox-skin cap. The clean-cut lines of his face scarce were shaded by its +growth of red-gold beard and mustache. Except for the guns at his belt +he might have been a young chief of vikings. His countenance was at once +eager, thoughtful, and determined. + +Barbaric and strange as he seemed, the girl found in his face that which +she might trust. She removed a mitten and extended a small, white hand +to him. Falling on one knee in the snow, Polaris kissed it, with the +grace of a knight of old doing homage to his lady fair. + +The girl flashed him another wondering glance from her long, gray eyes +that set all his senses tingling. Side by side they passed over the +ridge. + +Disaster had overtaken the camp which lay on the other side. Camp it was +by courtesy only--a miserable shelter of blankets and robes, propped +with pieces of broken sledge, a few utensils, the partially devoured +carcass of a small seal, and a tiny fire, kindled from fragments of the +sledge. In the snow some distance from the fire lay the stiffened bodies +of several sledge dogs, sinister evidence of the hopelessness of the +campers' position. + +Polaris turned questioningly to the girl. + +"We were lost in the storm," she said. "We left the ship, meaning to be +gone only a few hours, and then were lost in the blinding snow. That was +three days ago. How many miles we wandered I do not know. The dogs +became crazed and turned upon us. The men shot them. Oh, there seems so +little hope in this terrible land!" She shuddered. "But you--where did +you come from?" + +"Do not lose heart, lady," replied Polaris. "Always, in every land, +there is hope. There must be. I have lived here all my life. I have come +up from the far south. I know but one path--the path to the north, to +the world of men. Now I will fetch my sledge up, and then we shall talk +and decide. We will find your ship. I, Polaris, promise you that." + +He turned from her to the fire, and cast on its dying embers more +fragments of the splintered sledge. His eyes shone. He muttered to +himself: "A ship, a ship! Ah, but my father's God is good to his son!" + +He set off across the snow slopes to bring up the pack. + + + + +4. HURLED SOUTH AGAIN + + +When his strong form had bounded from her view, the girl turned to the +little hut and shut herself within. She cast herself on a heap of +blankets, and gave way to her bereavement and terror. + +Her brother's corpse was scarcely cold at the bottom of the abyss. She +was lost in the trackless wastes--alone, save for this bizarre stranger +who had come out of the snows, this man of strange saying, who seemed a +demigod of the wilderness. + +Could she trust him? She must. She recalled him kneeling in the snow, +and the courtierlike grace with which he kissed her hand. A hot flush +mounted to her eyes. She dried her tears. + +She heard him return to the camp, and heard the barking of the dogs. +Once he passed near the hut, but he did not intrude, and she remained +within. + +Womanlike, she set about the rearrangement of her hair and clothing. +When she had finished she crept to the doorway and peeped out. Again her +blushes burned her cheeks. She saw the son of the snows crouched above +the camp-fire, surrounded by a group of monstrous dogs. He had rubbed +his face with oil. A bright blade glittered in his hand. Polaris was +_shaving_! + +Presently she went out. The young man sprang to his feet, cracking his +long whip to restrain the dogs, which would have sprung upon the +stranger. They huddled away, their teeth bared, staring at her with +glowing eyes. Polaris seized one of them by the scruff of the neck, +lifted it bodily from the snow, and swung it in front of the girl. + +"Talk to him, lady," he said; "you must be friends. This is Julius." + +The girl bent over and fearlessly stroked the brute's head. + +"Julius, good dog," she said. At her touch the dog quivered and its +hackles rose. Under the caress of her hand it quieted gradually. The +bristling hair relaxed, and Julius's tail swung slowly to and fro in an +overture of amity. When Polaris loosed him, he sniffed in friendly +fashion at the girl's hands, and pushed his great head forward for more +caresses. + +Then Marcus, the grim leader of the pack, stalked majestically forward +for his introduction. + +"Ah, you have won Marcus!" cried Polaris. "And Marcus won is a friend +indeed. None of them would harm you now." Soon she had learned the name +and had the confidence of every dog of the pack, to the great delight of +their master. + +Among the effects in the camp was a small oil-stove, which Polaris +greeted with brightened eyes. "One like that we had, but it was worn out +long ago," he said. He lighted the stove and began the preparation of a +meal. + +She found that he had cleared the camp and put all in order. He had +dragged the carcasses of the dead dogs to the other side of the slope +and piled them there. His stock of meat was low, and his own dogs would +have no qualms if it came to making their own meals of these strangers +of their own kind. + +The girl produced from the remnants of the camp stores a few handfuls of +coffee and an urn. Polaris watched in wonderment as she brewed it over +the tiny stove and his nose twitched in reception of its delicious +aroma. They drank the steaming beverage, piping hot, from tin cups. In +the stinging air of the snowlands even the keenest grief must give way +to the pangs of hunger. The girl ate heartily of a meal that in a more +moderate climate she would have considered fit only for beasts. + +When their supper was completed they sat huddled in their furs at the +edge of the fire. Around them were crouched the dogs, watching with +eager eyes for any scraps which might fall to their share. + +"Now tell me who you are, and how you came here," questioned the girl. + +"Lady, my name is Polaris, and I think that I am an American gentleman," +he said, and a trace of pride crept into the words of the answer. "I +came here from a cabin and a ship that lie burned many leagues to the +southward. All my life I have lived there, with but one companion, my +father, who now is dead, and who sends me to the north with a message to +that world of men that lies beyond the snows, and from which he long was +absent." + +"A ship--a cabin--" The girl bent toward him in amazement. "And burned? +And you have lived--have grown up in this land of snow and ice and +bitter cold, where but few things can exist--I don't understand!" + +"My father has told me much, but not all. It is all in his message which +I have not seen," Polaris answered. "But that which I tell you is truth. +He was a seeker after new things. He came here to seek that which no +other man had found. He came in a ship with my mother and others. All +were dead before I came to knowledge. He had built a cabin from the +ruins of the ship, and he lived there until he died." + +"And you say that you are an American gentleman?" + +"That he told me, lady, although I do not know my name or his, except +that he was Stephen, and he called me Polaris." + +"And did he never try to get to the north?" asked the girl. + +"No. Many years ago, when I was a boy, he fell and was hurt. After that +he could do but little. He could not travel." + +"And you?" + +"I learned to seek food in the wilderness, lady; to battle with its +beasts, to wrest that which would sustain our lives from the snows and +the wastes." + +Much more of his life and of his father he told her under her wondering +questioning--a tale most incredible to her ears, but, as he said, the +truth. Finally he finished. + +"Now, lady, what of you?" he asked. "How came you here, and from where?" + +"My name is Rose--" + +"Ah, that is the name of a flower," said Polaris. "You were well named." + +He did not look at her as he spoke. His eyes were turned to the snow +slopes and were very wistful. "I have never seen a flower," he continued +slowly, "but my father said that of all created things they were the +fairest." + +"I have another name," said the girl. "It is Rose--Rose Emer." + +"And why did you come here, Rose Emer?" asked Polaris. + +"Like your father, I--we were seekers after new things, my brother and +I. Both our father and mother died, and left my brother John and myself +ridiculously rich. We had to use our money, so we traveled. We have been +over most of the world. Then a man--an American gentleman--a very brave +man, organized an expedition to come to the south to discover the south +pole. My brother and I knew him. We were very much interested in his +adventure. We helped him with it. Then John insisted that he would come +with the expedition, and--oh, they didn't wish me to come, but I never +had been left behind--I came, too." + +"And that brave man who came to seek the pole, where is he now?" + +"Perhaps he is dead--out there," said the girl, with a catch in her +voice. She pointed to the south. "He left the ship and went on, days +ago. He was to establish two camps with supplies. He carried an airship +with him. He was to make his last dash for the pole through the air from +the farther camp. His men were to wait for him until--until they were +sure that he would not come back." + +"An airship!" Polaris bent forward with sparkling eyes. "So there _are_ +airships, then! Ah, this man must be brave! How is he called?" + +"James Scoland is the name--Captain Scoland." + +"He went on whence I came? Did he go by that way?" Polaris pointed where +the white tops of the mountain range which he skirted pierced the sky. + +"No. He took a course to the east of the mountains, where other +explorers of years before had been before him." + +"Yes, I have seen maps. Can you tell me where, or nearly where, we are +now?" he asked the girl. + +"This is Victoria Land," she answered. "We left the ship in a long bay, +extending in from Ross Sea, near where the 160th meridian joins the 80th +parallel. We are somewhere within three days' journey from the ship." + +"And so near to open water?" + +She nodded. + + * * * * * + +Rose Emer slept in the little shelter, with the grim Marcus curled on a +robe beside her pallet. Crouched among the dogs in the camp, Polaris +slept little. For hours he sat huddled, with his chin on his hands, +pondering what the girl had told him. Another man was on his way to the +pole--a very brave man--and he might reach it. And then--Polaris must be +very wary when he met that man who had won so great a prize. + +"Ah, my father," he sighed, "learning is mine through patience. History +of the world and of its wars and triumphs and failures, I know. Of its +tongues you have taught me, even those of the Roman and the Greek, long +since passed away; but how little do I know of the ways of men--and of +women! I shall be very careful, my father." + +Quite beyond any power of his to control, an antagonism was growing +within him for that man whom he had not seen; antagonism that was not +all due to the magnitude of the prize which the man might be winning, or +might be dying for. Indeed, had he been able to analyze it, that was the +least part of it. + +When they broke camp for their start they found that the perverse wind, +which had rested while they slept, had risen when they would journey, +and hissed bitterly across the bleak steppes of snow. Polaris made a +place on the sledge for the girl, and urged the pack into the teeth of +the gale. All day long they battled ahead in it, bearing left to the +west, where was more level pathway, than among the snow dunes. + +In an ever increasing blast they came in sight of open water. They +halted on a far-stretching field, much broken by huge masses, so +snow-covered that it was not possible to know whether they were of rock +or ice. Not a quarter of a mile beyond them, the edge of the field was +fretted by wind-lashed waves, which extended away to the horizon rim, +dotted with tossing icebergs of great height. + +Polaris pitched camp in the shelter of a towering cliff, and they made +themselves what comfort they could in the stinging cold. + +They had slept several hours when the slumbers of Polaris were pierced +by a woman's screams, the frenzied howling of the dogs, and the +thundering reverberations of grinding and crashing ice cliffs. A dash of +spray splashed across his face. + +He sprang to his feet in the midst of the leaping pack; as he did so he +felt the field beneath him sway and pitch like a hammock. For the first +time since he started for the north the Antarctic sun was shining +brightly--shining cold and clear on a great disaster! + +For they had pitched their camp on an ice floe. Whipped on by the gale, +the sea had risen under it, heaved it up and broken it. On a section of +the floe several acres in extent their little camp lay, at the very +brink of a gash in the ice-field which had cut them off from the land +over which they had come. + +The water was raging like a millrace through the widening rift between +them and the shore. Caught in a swift current and urged by the furious +wind, the broken-up floe was drifting, faster and faster--_back to the +south_! + + + + +5. BATTLE ON THE FLOE + + +Helpless, Polaris stood at the brink of the rift, swirling water and +tossing ice throwing the spray about him in clouds. Here was opposition +against which his naked strength was useless. As if they realized that +they were being parted from the firm land, the dogs grouped at the edge +of the floe and sent their dismal howls across the raging swirl, only to +be drowned by the din of the crashing icebergs. + +Turning, Polaris saw Rose Emer. She stood at the doorway of the tent of +skins, staring across the wind-swept channel with a blank despair +looking from her eyes. + +"Ah, all is lost, now!" she gasped. + +Then the great spirit of the man rose into spoken words. "No, lady," he +called, his voice rising clearly above the shrieking and thundering +pandemonium. "We yet have our lives." + +As he spoke there was a rending sound at his feet. The dogs sprang back +in terror and huddled against the face of the ice cliff. Torn away by +the impact of some weightier body beneath, nearly half of the ledge +where they stood was split from the main body of the floe, and plunged, +heaving and crackling into the current. + +Polaris saved himself by a mighty spring. Right in the path of the gash +lay the sledge, and it hung balanced at the edge of the ice floe. Down +it swung, and would have slipped over, but Polaris saw it going. + +He clutched at the ends of the leathern dog-harness as they glided from +him across the ice, and, with a tug, into which he put all the power of +his splendid muscles, he retrieved the sledge. Hardly had he dragged it +to safety when, with another roar of sundered ice, their foothold gaped +again and left them but a scanty shelf at the foot of the beetling berg. + +"Here we may not stay, lady," said Polaris. He swept the tent and its +robes into his arms and piled them on the sledge. Without waiting to +harness the dogs, he grasped the leather bands and alone pulled the load +along the ledge and around a shoulder of the cliff. + +At the other side of the cliff a ridge extended between the berg which +they skirted and another towering mountain of ice of similar formation. +Beyond the twin bergs lay the level plane of the floe, its edges +continually frayed by the attack of the waves and the onset of floating +ice. + +Along the incline of the ridge were several hollows partially filled +with drift snow. Knowing that on the ice cape, in such a tempest, they +must soon perish miserably, Polaris made camp in one of these +depressions where the deep snow tempered the chill of its foundation. + +In the clutch of the churning waters the floe turned slowly like an +immense wheel as it drifted in the current. Its course was away from the +shore to the southwest, and it gathered speed and momentum with every +passing second. The cove from whence it had been torn was already a mere +notch in the faraway shore line. + +Around them was a scene of wild and compelling beauty. Leagues and +leagues of on-rushing water hurled its white-crested squadrons against +the precipitous sides of the flotilla of icebergs, tore at the edges of +the drifting floes, and threw itself in huge waves across the more level +planes, inundating them repeatedly. Clouds of lacelike spray hung in the +air after each attack, and cascading torrents returned to the waves. + +Above it all the Antarctic sun shone gloriously, splintering its golden +spears on the myriad pinnacles, minarets, battlements, and crags of +towering masses of crystal that reflected back into the quivering air +all the colors of the spectrum. Thinner crests blazed flame-red in the +rays. Other points glittered coldly blue. From a thousand lesser +scintillating spires the shifting play of the colors, from vermilion to +purple, from green to gold, in the lavish magnificence of nature's +magic, was torture to the eye that beheld. + +On the spine of the ridge stood Polaris, leaning on his long spear and +gazing with heightened color and gleaming eyes on those fairy symbols of +old mother nature. To the girl who watched him he seemed to complete the +picture. In his superb trappings of furs, and surrounded by his shaggy +servants, he was at one with his weird and terrible surroundings. She +admired--and shuddered. + +Presently, when he came down from the ridge, she asked him, with a brave +smile, "What, sir, will be the next move?" + +"That is in the hands of the great God, if such a one there be," he +said. "Whatever it may be, it shall find us ready. Somewhere we must +come to shore. When we do--on to the north and the ship, be it half a +world away." + +"But for food and warmth? We must have those, if we are to go in the +flesh." + +"Already they are provided for," he replied quickly. He was peering +sharply over her shoulder toward the mass of the other berg. With his +words the clustered pack set up an angry snarling and baying. She +followed his glance and paled. + +Lumbering forth from a narrow pass at the extremity of the ridge was a +gigantic polar bear. His little eyes glittered wickedly, hungrily, and +his long, red tongue crept out and licked his slavering chops. As he +came on, with ungainly, padding gait, his head swung ponderously to and +fro. + +Scarcely had he cleared the pass of his immense bulk when another +twitching white muzzle was protruded, and a second beast, in size nearly +equal to the first, set foot on the ridge and ambled on to the attack. + +Reckless at least of this peril, the dogs would have leaped forward to +close with the invaders but their master intervened. The stinging, +cracking lash in his hand drove them from the foe. Their overlord, man, +elected to make the battle alone. + +In two springs he reached the sledge, tore the rifle from its coverings, +and was at the side of the girl. He thrust the weapon into her hands. + +"Back, lady; back to the sledge!" he cried. "Unless I call, shoot not. +If you do shoot, aim for the throat when they rear, and leave the rest +to me and the dogs. Many times have I met these enemies, and I know well +how to deal with them." + +With another crack of the whip over the heads of the snarling pack, he +left her and bounded forward, spear in hand and long knife bared. + +Awkward of pace and unhurried, the snow kings came on to their feast. In +a thought the man chose his ground. Between him and the bears the ridge +narrowed so that for a few feet there was footway for but one of the +monsters at once. + +Polaris ran to where that narrow path began and threw himself on his +face on the ice. + +At that ruse the foremost bear hesitated. He reared and brushed his +muzzle with his formidable crescent-clawed paw. Polaris might have shot +then and ended at once the hardest part of his battle. But the man held +to a stubborn pride in his own weapons. Both of the beasts he would +slay, if he might, as he always had slain. His guns were reserved for +dire extremity. + +The bear settled to all fours again, and reached out a cautious paw and +felt along the path, its claws gouging seams in the ice. Assured that +the footing would hold, it crept out on the narrow way, nearer and +nearer to the motionless man. Scarce a yard from him it squatted. The +steam of its breath beat toward him. + +It raised one armed paw to strike. The girl cried out in terror and +raised the rifle. The man moved, and she hesitated. + +Down came the terrible paw, its curved claws projected and compressed +for the blow. It struck only the adamantine ice of the pathway, +splintering it. With the down stroke timed to the second, the man had +leaped up and forward. + +As though set on a steel spring, he vaulted into the air, above the +clashing talons and gnashing jaws, and landed light and sure on the back +of his ponderous adversary. To pass an arm under the bear's throat, to +clip its back with the grip of his legs was the work of a heart-beat's +time for Polaris. + +With a stifled howl of rage the bear rose to its haunches, and the man +rose with it. He gave it no time to turn or settle. Exerting his muscles +of steel, he tugged the huge head back. He swung clear from the body of +his foe. His feet touched the path and held it. He shot one knee into +the back of the bear. + +The spear he had dropped when he sprang, but his long knife gleamed in +his hand, and he stabbed, once, twice, sending the blade home under the +brute's shoulder. He released his grip; spurned the yielding body with +his foot, and the huge hulk rolled from the path down the slope, +crimsoning the snow with its blood. + +Polaris bounded across the narrow ledge and regained his spear. He +smiled as there arose from the foot of the slope a hideous clamor that +told him that the pack had charged in, as usual, not to be restrained at +sight of the kill. He waved his hand to the girl, who stood, statuelike, +beside the sledge. + +Doubly enraged at its inability to participate in the battle which had +been the death of its mate, the smaller bear waited no longer when the +path was clear, but rushed madly with lowered head. Strong as he was, +the man knew that he could not hope to stay or turn that avalanche of +flesh and sinew. As it reached him he sprang aside where the path +broadened, lashing out with his keen-edged spear. + +His aim was true. Just over one of the small eyes the point of the spear +bit deep, and blood followed it. With tigerish agility the man leaped +over the beast, striking down as he did so. + +The bear reared on its hindquarters and whimpered, brushing at its eyes +with its forepaws. Its head gashed so that the flowing blood blinded it, +it was beaten. Before it stood its master. Bending back until his body +arched like a drawn bow, Polaris poised his spear and thrust home at the +broad chest. + +A death howl that was echoed back from the crashing cliffs was answer to +his stroke. The bear settled forward and sprawled in the snow. + +Polaris set his foot on the body of the fallen monster and gazed down at +the girl with smiling face. + +"Here, lady, are food and warmth for many days," he called. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Polaris of the Snows, by Charles B. Stilson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLARIS OF THE SNOWS *** + +***** This file should be named 35426.txt or 35426.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/4/2/35426/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |
