CHAPTER XII 



THE ESTUARY OE THE KUSKOKWIM 



The story shall be changed ; 



Apollo flies, and Daphne holds the chase 



Midsummer Night's Dream 

 Thus with imagin'd wing our swift scene flies 



King Henry V 



Do you know what it is to waken to a sense of im- 

 pending disaster, to open your eyes to a cold world 

 you confidently feel is just about to frown its 

 blackest ? 



The murky little cabin looked its worst, the ubiquit- 

 ous cockroaches have I told you of the portly 

 cockroaches who resided in their dozens in the planks 

 of the schooner? appeared more objectionable than 

 usual in mine eyes, as Tom, for the nonce a messenger 

 of evil omen, brought in my chota hazari, and the 

 news which almost outed itself ere the necessary words 

 could be formed and spoken. 



" Kitchener is dead, m'm." 



I sat up. The blow had fallen. I had felt it would. 

 How can one hope to rear a bear cub on a sealing 

 schooner with a crew constantly offering the animal 

 rations, ranging from inadequately cooked beans to 

 drinks of hot, greasy cocoa? 



The pretty little cub ! I would he were still a 



'77 N 



