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was in no hurry； besides； he knew she could not help but think of him；
and a few days of such thought would only better his suit。
At last； one night； when he deemed the time to be ripe； he
abruptly left the chief's smoky dwelling and hastened to a neighboring
lodge。 As usual； she sat with squaws and maidens about her； all
engaged in sewing moccasins and beadwork。 They laughed at his
entrance； and badinage； which linked Zarinska to him； ran high。 But
one after the other they were unceremoniously bundled into the outer
snow； whence they hurried to spread the tale through all the camp。
His cause was well pleaded； in her tongue； for she did not know his；
and at the end of two hours he rose to go。
'So Zarinska will come to the White Man's lodge？ Good！ I go now to
have talk with thy father； for he may not be so minded。 And I will
give him many tokens； but he must not ask too much。 If he say no？
Good！ Zarinska shall yet come to the White Man's lodge。'
He had already lifted the skin flap to depart； when a low
exclamation brought him back to the girl's side。 She brought herself
to her knees on the bearskin mat； her face aglow with true
Eve…light； and shyly unbuckled his heavy belt。 He looked down；
perplexed； suspicious； his ears alert for the slightest sound without。
But her next move disarmed his doubt； and he smiled with pleasure。 She
took from her sewing bag a moosehide sheath； brave with bright
beadwork； fantastically designed。 She drew his great hunting…knife；
gazed reverently along the keen edge； half tempted to try it with
her thumb； and shot it into place in its new home。 Then she slipped
the sheath along the belt to its customary resting…place； just above
the hip。
For all the world； it was like a scene of olden time；… a lady and
her knight。 Mackenzie drew her up full height and swept her red lips
with his moustache；… the； to her； foreign caress of the Wolf。 It was a
meeting of the stone age and the steel； but she was none the less a
woman； as her crimson cheeks and the luminous softness of her eyes
attested。
There was a thrill of excitement in the air as 'Scruff' Mackenzie； a
bulky bundle under his arm； threw open the flap of Thling…Tinneh's
tent。 Children were running about in the open； dragging dry wood to
the scene of the potlach； a babble of women's voices was growing in
intensity； the young men were consulting in sullen groups； while
from the Shaman's lodge rose the eerie sounds of an incantation。
The chief was alone with his blear…eyed wife； but a glance
sufficed to tell Mackenzie that the news was already told。 So he
plunged at once into the business； shifting the beaded sheath
prominently to the fore as advertisement of the betrothal。
'O Thling…Tinneh； mighty chief of the Sticks And the land of the
Tanana； ruler of the salmon and the bear； the moose and the cariboo！
The White Man is before thee with a great purpose。 Many moons has
his lodge been empty； and he is lonely。 And his heart has eaten itself
in silence； and grown hungry for a woman to sit beside him in his
lodge； to meet him from the hunt with warm fire and good food。 He
has heard strange things； the patter of baby moccasins and the sound
of children's voices。 And one night a vision came upon him； and he
beheld the Raven； who is thy father； the great Raven； who is the
father of all the Sticks。 And the Raven spake to the lonely White Man；
saying： 〃Bind thou thy moccasins upon thee； and gird thy snow…shoes
on； and lash thy sled with food for many sleeps and fine tokens for
the Chief Thling…Tinneh。 For thou shalt turn thy face to where the
midspring sun is wont to sink below the land and journey to this great
chief's hunting…grounds。 There thou shalt make big presents； and
Thling…Tinneh； who is my son； shall become to thee as a father。 In his
lodge there is a maiden into whom I breathed the breath of life for
thee。 This maiden shalt thou take to wife。〃
'O Chief； thus spake the great Raven； thus do I lay many presents at
thy feet； thus am I come to take thy daughter！'
The old man drew his furs about him with crude consciousness of
royalty； but delayed reply while a youngster crept in； delivered a
quick message to appear before the council； and was gone。
'O White Man； whom we have named Moose…Killer； also known as the
Wolf； and the Son of the Wolf！ We know thou comest of a mighty race；
we are proud to have thee our potlach…guest； but the king…salmon
does not mate with the dog…salmon； nor the Raven with the Wolf。'
'Not so！' cried Mackenzie。 'The daughters of the Raven have I met in
the camps of the Wolf；… the squaw of Mortimer； the squaw of
Tregidgo； the squaw of Barnaby； who came two ice…runs back； and I have
heard of other squaws； though my eyes beheld them not。'
'Son； your words are true； but it were evil mating； like the water
with the sand； like the snow…flake with the sun。 But met you one Mason
and his squaw' No？ He came ten ice…runs ago；… the first of all the
Wolves。 And with him there was a mighty man； straight as a
willow…shoot； and tall； strong as the bald…faced grizzly； with a heart
like the full summer moon； his…'
'Oh！' interrupted Mackenzie； recognizing the well…known Northland
figure； 'Malemute Kid！'
'The same；… a mighty man。 But saw you aught of the squaw？ She was
full sister to Zarinska。'
'Nay； Chief； but I have heard。 Mason… far； far to the north； a
spruce…tree； heavy with years； crushed out his life beneath。 But his
love was great； and he had much gold。 With this； and her boy； she
journeyed countless sleeps toward the winter's noonday sun； and
there she yet lives；… no biting frost； no snow； no summer's midnight
sun； no winter's noonday night。'
A second messenger interrupted with imperative summons from the
council。 As Mackenzie threw him into the snow； he caught a glimpse
of the swaying forms before the council…fire； heard the deep basses of
the men in rhythmic chant； and knew the Shaman was fanning the anger
of his people。 Time pressed。 He turned upon the chief。
'Come！ I wish thy child。 And now； see！ Here are tobacco； tea； many
cups of sugar； warm blankets； handkerchiefs； both good and large；
and here； a true rifle； with many bullets and much powder。'
'Nay；' replied the old man； struggling against the great wealth
spread before him。 'Even now are my people come together。 They will
not have this marriage。'
'But thou art chief。'
'Yet do my young men rage because the Wolves have taken their
maidens so that they may not marry。'
'Listen； O Thling…Tinneh！ Ere the night has passed into the day； the
Wolf shall face his dogs to the Mountains of the East and fare forth
to the Country of the Yukon。 And Zarinska shall break trail for his
dogs。'
'And ere the night has gained its middle； my young men may fling
to the dogs the flesh of the Wolf； and his bones be scattered in the
snow till the springtime lay them bare。'
It was threat and counter…threat。 Mackenzie's bronzed face flushed
da