The Purple Flame

n it was to Marian. Cold, blizzards, the wild beasts of timberlands-these she could face; but the possible dwelling place of the spirits of dead polar bea

she took her arm and led her gently f

ps twelve feet across, but it wa

o," whispered Marian, "if

olves," said Attat

of that. "You wait here," she w

ped her arm until it h

rocks that rolled away with a hollow sound like distant thunder

er it, and the comforting rest that would follow. Yet she realized that the utmost caution must be taken. Wolves, once driven from a cave, might stampede their reindeer and lose them forever in the moun

shot of the two, they again started into the cave. Strange to say, onc

lighted. So drafty was the entrance that no candle would stay lighted. Each step she hoped would bri

she said. "Must be an

did the same. The third lighted the candle. There was just time for a hasty glance about. Gloo

of surprise. Then, with such a definite and direct puff of w

s shaking so that Marian feared she would le

l. The ashes of a camp-fire, and I thought-though

the rifle did cla

scolded; "Attata

grasped a handful of ashes, then someth

gling with all her might

is time successfully. She gave it

(Do tak

Attatak w

shes of the mysterious camp-fi

strong, and finally when Marian again tried

rrow dark walls, that the ceiling was very high,

of their eyes had not been seen. If the spirits of the men who had built that long extinguishe

tatak was even willing to remain in the cave while Marian brought the reindeer in

hed. "Our reindeer must go hungry to-night, but once w

redouble its fury at every fresh blast. The darkness without vied with the bleakness of the cave until both were one. Such a storm as it was! Born and reared on the coast of Alaska, Marian had never before experienced

e been caught up by the wind like two bits

night. The whistle and howl of the wind was deafening. "Whew-whoo-whoo-whe-w-w-o-,"

ad), said Attatak as she t

out into it. To battle with it; to answer its roar with a wild scream of her own; to whirl away with it; to become a part of it; to revel in i

ck into the depths of the cave and helped Attatak

ed her eyes in sleep, "if the storm has not passed, a

tatak answe

g storm had no auditors. T