r

YOYOUK’S RAVENS,

BT GEOHOK HiRLOW CLABK.

1

«n‘j of the twine to the rope and mad a fiutt the other to an arrow. Then, putting the feathered notch to the bow•tring. be meuured the distance with hi* eye and sent the abaft, with the white cord trailing behind It. hurtling

aloft.

"There goes the great chief of all the •lrd(. Koyouk." eeid 1. IndlcaUng an eagle that was mounting slowly into

the blue sky.

"He Is

birds of fish." he replied. "The wise raven. Too-loo-ah. it the true chief Koyouk's opinion merited consideration. AH that I knew and much more of the life and habits of Too-loo-ah was familiar to this 16-year-old of the lower Yukon. As a little he had often listened while his mother related XoThdore' anecdotes of Its ragaclty and other less commendable attributes. He did not know that his young kinsmen In far-off QF*?&lanJ. hilf-way around the globe.—wbose

Indeed, he did not sus-

pect.—wore also entertained

very existence. 1

luring ti slm-

ice.In;

cl.—wore a'lso

!• long, dark winter night with liar stories, nor that they. too. called the black bird Too-loo-ah. But he had

heard that among the south-roast Tlin-

klts an aristocratic clan proudly trace!

-their aaccstry to .fbe bird whose

quaintly modeled effigy adorns their

-totempoles: and this fact was of es-

pecial Interest to him because a

oarvrd. weather-beaten figure of-a ra•ren surmounted a painted pole planted

father’s wooden toipb acighborlng hilltop.

Among the hills behind the Tillage where Koyouk lived there is one of those peculiar geological formations, an Isolated finger or pillar of darkired rock, like a druid leal monolith

t and storms of untold

color on a

stood t

cf far greater size and altltudi

on the northwestern coast of Greenland. near Melville bay. and others exist elsewhere. From time Immemorial the top ct the pillar has harbored a pair of havens. There successive gent rations have reared their young:

cecuie 'rpm molestation, ■'’■t-. Koyouk h$5 acquired a hahll. of re-

sorting thither. Many were the pleasant hours he spent outstretched on the thick, soft moss of an adjacent

screened by the smoke of a

e that

alopc.

smudge mosquib birds flapping to and fro above him. Sometimes be espied one returning from a foray, laden with salmon filched from the village fish-racks where the split fish«were strung in long, red rows, curing in the sun. Koyouk's father, had ha chanced to discover the frivolous manner in which his son’s time was occupied, would no doubt have quickly found means of diverting his attention. But no such thought detracted from the enjoyment with which Koyouk marked the Joyful clamor of the young birds In their lofty aerie while a distribution of the spoil was taking place. The young naturalist was In his 16th year when he- first conceived the Idea of scaling the pillar. Formerly he had been content to view Its occupants from a distance, but a desire for more Intimate acquaintance now awoke in him. He had. moreover, a potent . reasop tor wishing to obuln one of the fledglings. Koyouk was one of those persons who are gifted with a wonderful comprehension of and Influence over animals. His father had given him one he had taught ir of feats that did great credit both to the teacher and the canine’s intelligence. Encouraged by this success, the boy longed for an opportunity to Applr asimilar course of Instruction to a raven. For, he reasoned. 1U superior endowment If carefully cultivated.

development of a feathered prodigy. Almost Invariably, as he had noticed, ‘the youiyc were hatched before the ice bad left the Yukon and the ground was bare of snow. He lurked persistently about the aerie In hope Jhat dur-, ins the period of their tuition tu the

vigilant parents, although so accustomed to his presence that they usually paid no heed to him. seemed to divine his new motive, and they guarded their progeny with extraordinary seal This evidence of subOs. discernment, to which bo ascribed' the birds’ Incessant watchfulness. Increased fall respect tor their wisdom. However, he had devised a feasible scheme for making an ascent the top of the monolith, and he at length proceeded to put It Into execu-

Uos.

He repaired to the big rock one June afternoon, carrying an imply flour sack, his bow and arrows, a ball of stout twine, such as the Yukon people use In netting fishdmps. and a coil of light but strong fibrous rope. • His mother had made the rope by braiding, with Infinite skill and p tienc*. strips of the Inner berk of tl willow, prepared and toughened by native process, and it was primarily designed to be stretched between a

i than a half-inch wMa. It was

passtag the rope over thta. aa agll* eMM. Mto •H* mm* to It with companolvt ease. Haring

Although accounted the most skilful young archer of bis village, bis first shot merely disturbed the domestic iquIHKy of the tenants of the aerie,

old blr

edged Ich a \

For a time he tanned them vigorously ] LBWIS T» 6TKVCN8.

with the sack, from which he had restored the fledgling to Its mates; but Urlnfi of that monotonous exer

belt, a box. made of mountain sheep's horn and containing tlader. Bint and cteel, and culling a bunch 1 &

me

and damp wood from the Interior of pile, be found refuge In smoke

i the

voracious Insects' persecu-

from tloo.

As the pungent vapor streamed slowly upward. Koyouk hoped that some one In the village would observe It and investigate 1U origin. With this end in view, he laid on more fuel, taking care not to set fire to the nest

Itself.

Apparently Incited to action by the smoke, the parent ravens hovered over their domicile; but even the piteous

lamentation o an occasions!

failed to entice them within Koyouk's

reach. He longed wlstfu might fetch, a salmon am

! the clamorers. so that he could confiscate It for.hla own use. It was already evening, and he too. waa hungry. For the present, at least he stood In no great actual fear of starvation. At a last resort the fledgling's tender flesh would-austaln life for several

t once took wing, and

wheeling above their home, expressed

gnatlon by discordant croak-

ing. to which their offspring responded

with shrill squawks of alarm.

A second trial was successful. Describing a graceful curve past the top of the rock, the missile whistled earth-

ard. bfct as It fell the cord lodi fairly on the spur, from whlcl double Une^ remained suspended.

When he "had recovered the |rrow. It was a simple matter, by pulling In the cord to replace It with the rope. Then Koyouk grasped the slender,

aying strands, tugged at them with his strength until they were as

Uul metml roJ. and.. Id. .tt.lt, | “"l I 1 ””” 1 " * — Ibcn threw hi, .Mire .ant j rtoo. BtoWrai. hhd belttre thldtiWht he there httd .wtihi hi. hoar to hhd Ire. *««“ erminxlr -We hhdenohe »

body to

This

j they odfer-

ing h

a human pendulum. This test convinced him that the rope would hold. He stowed the flour-sock Li the hood of his parkie. or jumper, and then swarmed nimbly up the precipitous face of the column. The spur was gained without mishap, and securing foothold on 1L he scrambled up on the oping platform a yard or so shore. Close at hand, in the center of a space ot irregular outline, but nowhere more than six feet scrota, the excited chicks, five little creatures, almost fully fledged, huddled In a huge .nest, bulky with the accumulated debris of many seasons. The prtae was nearly

won.

But the old birds’ greeting of Ko-

yonk on their very hearth almost brought about a disastrous termina-

tion of the enterprise. Hilberto had restricted themselves to vocll protestation, but when they saw intruder crouch within arm’s

length ot their defenseless brood, resentment toward the one. mingled with aoUcttnJe for the others. Impelled them to close with him. Screaming with rage, they swooped down In a furious charge, striking with beak and talons, and beating him about the

bead with their stout wings. So swift and unexpected waa the

aaaault that Koyouk had barely time

crouch beside the nest to avoid

a frightful fall Fortunmtely. he retained presence of mind and managed to ward off most of their blows, but In the defense his unprotected hands ere soon severely scratched and cuL Prudnce counseled Immediate retreat. but Koyouk disdained to go -mpty-handed. It bad been his or I glial intention to pick out the choicest one of the brood, bat be had counted on leisure with which to ermine and select and this violent reception disconcerted him. So, taking advantage of an opportune lull In the conflict he plucked the sack from his hood, seized the first bird that came to hand, and In

its puny resistance popped It

Into the bag and tied up the mouth

Ith a rawhide thong.

This act was the signal for a cessation of the truce. Again the Infurlatpair swept down to battle, this time to rescue or avenge the captive. One. the smaller, darted fearlessly at Koyouk’s face, but a well-aimed thrust

with

isller. da ce. but a

1 his clenched fist repelled IL 1116

i beginning the Ight that caused

cate Its mate

pcent, he beheld a sight

Im to utter a cry of consternation. Koyouk turned Jnat in time tff' see the other bird fly from the spur behis feet with the light reve ed In lu powerful Miens. Another moment and It waa lytug on ie ground. 60 feet below. Escape

as now Impossible.

Koyouk was not easily frightened, but the blrdV uncanny InstlncL together with the peril of his sltnatloi

filled him with dismay,

regretted that fear

proral had inducedkhlm to'keep project secret, for otherwise he might • have contemplated early relief Instead of the prospect of days elapsing before a searching party could rescue him. He shuddered when he reflected that In case his whereabouts ’ -jot discovered his tats would

ever a mystery.

drenching for the sake of rain.

Perpetual daylight reigns In that season and latitude, and night differed from day In temperature only. To sleep was Impossible; Indeed, he dared not try to do so; the risk of a fatal fall was too great But hunger, thirst and anxiety united to sharpen Koyonk’s wits. It occurred to him that in the sack and nest he had material with which ha. might accom-

plish his release unaided.

When twine Is scarce among the Yukon natives It is a common practice for the women to separate the warp and wpof of canvas provision sacks discarded by prospectors or traders, the numerous short strings thus obtained being well adapted for netting and other purposes. In 'his manner Koyouk proposed to provide himself with a long cord. It was a tedious task for boyish fingers, but be applied himself diligently and hope-

fully to unraveling the sack.

The position and Increasing warmth of the sun proclaimed forenoon when the work of preparation had been completed. To ode end of a knotted cord he bad attached a couple of stout sti^esjsshed together crosswise and weighted .with his fire-box and its contents, to serve as a sort of

grapple.

Perched on the lltcben covered spur, he lowered the implement to the ground, imparting to ft meanwhile a swinging motion. He was angling for the twine which, before climbing to

the nest, ho had not untied from end of the rope, and which

lying In plain sight directly beneath

him.

“It was sad. after so much time and pains, not to get ft again without help." Koyouk said afterward, when recounting his experience to me. But ft so

fair prospect of success when he heard voices, and on looking down the valliy he caught sight of two yoqjhs from his village running prisldy toward him. Speedy deliverance waa assured. When they had attached the rope

over the spur. Koyouk stripped off his parkie. knotted the sleeves together and tied up the neck. Into this improvised sack he stowed three ot the fledglings, whose superior qualities were attested by the greater vigor of their cries, and then bade farewell to

the aerie.

711* rescuers, who ware hunting caribou. told him that, so far as they knew, his absence from home had not yet oo-

Chance alone

had led them to the monolith. Regarding the subsequent history of

is young ravens, one. drooped and died

1 Koyouk’s trained dog Jealous of

n the i still

lamay. Bitterly he r of pare^lal dlsapd.him to keep his

uu wer 1 Se fo

tors should find a way further punishment upon him. For some time the one that- had cast off the rope continued to circle over him. but ft did not renew the attack, and at length Joincl Its'consort preening Us rumpled plumage' In a spruce-top near by. They kept np a subdued croaking, a debate of which Koyouk fancied himself to be the subject. Perhaps two miles south of his observatory be descried a reach of Yi water, a crooked, gleaming gash In the

M. A. SCULL.

DON’T UN i DISK; BE INSURED

IN ONE OF THE BEST

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, AGENTS FOB’

The PHILADELPHIA UNDERWRITERS’ FIRE INSURANCE POLICY WHICH IS UNDERWRITTEN BY The Insurance Company of North America and The Fire Association of Philadelphia The Philadelphia Underwhitebs mdkes a Specialty of Insurance upon Dwellings and Household Furniture, Stores, and Stocks of Merchandise, Churches, School House*, Public Buildings and Contents. -Also, insures Loss of Rents caused by Fire. Total Assets of the Two Companies, $15,890,542.29

Tmltjsioual Caras.

J-^R. WALTER S. LEAKING, DENTIST, Office Hours:—' 9 to 11 a. m. 2 to 5 p. m. Cor. Ocean and Hughes Street, (2d floor.) Cat* Mat, N. J.

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THE HISTORY Cape May County The Aboriginal Times. LEWIS TOWNSCNB STEVENS.

CONTENTS:

Chapter. CONTE: i.—The Indiana sod tt a—Pioneers and Wha

the Dutch Explorers. а. —Pioneers and Whaling.

3.—The Settler* and Their New t 4-—life Early in the Eighteenth 5.—Development of Religions D

б. —Maritime Tendencies and Cattle Own-

7.—AnSent Loans sad Taxes. A—The Religions Coareoversles. 9.—West Jersey Society Rights, la—Jacob Spicer and Ilia Seyingi

XL—

ta-

li.—Pi 4-2

•b Spicer and U on Learning am a Hatton, th* 1

u, ko,o.« . treinre or ' the new rivals In Its master’s affec- jA—The Ending and In iependeno

tlon. despatched another. But the . ‘I -g** 1800 third survived, and the result ofltaedu-1 ]£_*£**£ After the war.

cation even aurpasaed Its Instructor’s I jo,—Noted Men of a Generation

expectation. During many months ft j — j™! ?* t * d r e waa our companion in camp and travel \ N^J^efcav^-.' and Its remarkable traits seemed to si-—The Enlistments of 1867.

Justify the boy’s assertion that the S"‘ElZfitL** raven is the legitimate king of the ^-Rf^n Y^of PrS^ri»

birds.—Youth's Companion.

*7.—Fifteen Years of Prosperity, as.—Distinguished Visitors.

Cape Island.

rs=sr»SK l s?

I of the Legislature.

Freeholders

Under tbs Irob-.tU*.

"It Is beautiful weather.” said the;

'lot's go for a walk."

"Yes.” said he. "ft’s a lovely nlghL

We’ll go for a prowl We’d better B-OiNaMseFQAfcn. "Yos, that’s right." said she. Well clear type, on good paper, contains ate c take umbrella*—two of them." fro pages, and is bound ta They went out Into the rain and e * t ”' .re*U». njj*! red trerep* to rere, | r . b.ocka. It was beautiful weather—to 1 non waawi—row wr. vay« ™» T -

them. Finally they came back "You had better put the umbrellas la that stand to drip." said she. He put her umbrella in the

vrasstr

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