Page:The white czar; a story of a polar bear (IA whiteczarstoryof00hawk).pdf/56

 sliding down the mountain far from the reach of the hunters. So without waiting to see if they were to share in the kill near at hand, they all started slipping and sliding after the dead musk ox which were now a score of rods out on the plain.

With a groan Eiseeyou noted their intent. These three Omingmongs were the very largest of the herd. Their beautiful robes would be torn to shreds. The best of the meat would be eaten before they could arrive on the scene. He should have guarded against it.

Then a wild thought came into the mind of the intrepid hunter.

This side of the mountain was not as steep as the one they had climbed. It was a hair-raising slide. There might be obstacles in the way that he could not see, but these robes at the bottom of the mountain must be saved.

So he cried to his companions, "The dogs! They spoil robes and meat. I will go to stop them."

With these words he tightened his belt and took the cartridges from his rifle.