Page:The white czar; a story of a polar bear (IA whiteczarstoryof00hawk).pdf/73

 snow under the bear began wriggling about strangely.

The Eskimo is rather superstitious and for a moment Tunkine nearly yielded to the impulse to flee. Perhaps this mountain was bewitched. But before he could flee, a hand was thrust through the snow. In it was a large hunting knife which Tunkine had no difficulty in recognizing.

With a glad cry he fell upon his knees and began digging frantically to free his friend. After a very few minutes' work Eiseeyou staggered to his feet, stiff, pale, and weak. His right arm hung limp by his side, but that would mend in time and he was still the intrepid hunter with many a good fight against the wind and the cold left in him.

Briefly he told the story of his meeting with the White Czar.

The Eskimos decided that they could not take anything but the bear's great white coat with them. So Tunkine at once set to work divesting him of it. Eiseeyou helped what he could with his left hand.

In an incredibly short time, the white robe