Dangerous Hilarity

by Sioux Dallas

  Tim wrote, “Not far out of Anchorage we stopped to see a real gold mine. We were allowed to pan for gold and keep any we found. Anna found a nice-sized nugget and mom found several small nuggets. Tom and I each found a handful of small nuggets. What a thrill! We saw beautiful countryside and more snow and ice than I ever want to see again. As much as I’ve learned to love Alaska and the people, I guess you have to be born here to truly want to stay forever. The Portage Glacier was magnificent. It isn’t hard to imagine how much of the earth was covered by glaciers thousands of years ago. No wonder the early people followed the animals as they moved farther south into what we now know as the United States.”

  There was so much to see and do that Tim had a hard decision to make. He couldn’t possibly write about everything, and, while he was writing so industriously, he was afraid he might miss something exciting. He would have to choose what might be more interesting as he would read it five and ten years in the future.

  He continued to write. “What great fun to go through Denali National Park. We saw lots of Dall sheep, Moose, caribou and all kinds of wild animals in natural habitat roaming free. The babies of the moose and caribou were so cute, and I now understand the saying ‘a face only a mother could love’. The biggest thrill was seeing a family of grizzlies. There were two mothers, one with two cubs and one with one cub. The mothers were teaching their little ones how to find food and how to be alert for danger.

  “Oh, yes, I forgot to mention that Mt. McKinley is the tallest mountain in North America. It is six thousand feet higher than Mt. Whitney in California. I lost count of the number of bears we saw. The Alaska brown bear is the biggest of the bears. It can weigh as much as sixteen hundred pounds. Thank goodness they live over on Kodiak Island. We didn’t see any polar bear today.”

  The next morning the McKinley Explorer took them into Fairbanks, Alaska’s second largest city. It began as a mining camp in 1902 and is still a gold-mining center.

  “Hey! I bet that’s an Indian boy. We haven’t seen many Indians on the west coast where we are,” Tom exclaimed. He rushed toward the boy, not meaning to be rude; he was just curious. “Hi! My name is Tom Jackson. I really live in the state of Virginia, but my dad is in Nome working for the Department of the Interior. Do you live here?”

  “Tom! Don’t be rude,” Irene was embarrassed.

  “I don’t mean to be rude. I’m just glad to see him.”

  “That’s okay. I understand. My name is Daniel Little Bear Weskin. Yes, I live here. At least, I go to school here. I live just outside of town.”

  “Please tell me about your Indian heritage. I love knowing about different people,” Tom persisted.

  “Glad to. I’m an Athapascan Indian.”

  The twins and Daniel walked around together and exchanged stories about themselves. They hated to leave Daniel, but the trip was planned and they had to follow the plans Herb had outlined for them.

  The Jacksons ate dinner and went to their rooms. The next morning they were so excited that it was difficult for the boys to breathe. They boarded a boat to travel down the Yukon River. Even though they dressed warmly, they found that, on the river, they needed a jacket with a hood. On land the temperature averaged in the low fifties, but on the water the moisture made the air seem colder and they felt as if it went straight to their bones.

  “Hey, pinhead, why are you writing so furiously when you could be talking in your recorder?” Tom teased Tim.

  Tim’s face grew pink because he knew Tom would tease him and not let him forget. “I forgot to bring tapes.”

  Tom hooted and tried to get Tim upset, but it didn’t work. When Tim made a mistake, he was mature enough to accept the teasing and go on.

  “Look!” As usual Tom could not speak quietly when he was excited. “Look at all the seals lounging on that iceberg. I’ve read that the bears consider them delicious.”

  Tim’s camera was ready for a great shot. He got pictures of many animals and of fish and fowl. With great glee he took a picture of Anna catching the biggest fish off the boat so far. The fish, that the people caught, were cooked for their dinner at the next hotel where they stopped.

  When the boat stopped at Nulato, the Jackson family got off. Others stayed on to ride down the rapids.

  Irene saw Paul Grigsby first and told her children he was there to pick them up. They were so glad to see Paul, even though they had enjoyed the trip. Home to Nome, and they were sure ready to go home. They could hardly wait to see Herb and tell him of their adventure.

  “If Greatheart jumps and twists anymore, she’ll turn herself wrong side out,” Anna giggled. The dog was so thrilled to have her family together.

  Tim could hardly wait to have his pictures developed and put his journal in order. When he would be an old man with a family and children of his own, he would have the pictures and journal to share with them.

  Mr. Eskise began to teach the twins how to throw a spear for hunting and one for fishing. He taught them how to cast a net for fishing. Weeks later he taught them how to guide a dog sled and started them on Greatheart’s training for pulling a sled.

  Eight months old Greatheart was happy but puzzled. Now her beloved boys would say, “sit” and she would sit as trained. But, instead of playing, they would say, “stay” and walk away from her. She was confused when they scolded her for bounding after them. Why didn’t they wrestle and play like they always had done? She was highly intelligent and soon learned that she received praise and lots of hugs if she obeyed their commands. On rare occasions she was even given a tasty treat to eat. She trusted her boys. After all, the boys never went off and forgot about her.

  Irene and Herb decided not to celebrate their nineteenth wedding anniversary except with a special family dinner. Irene suggested that they wait to celebrate on their twentieth and then every five years thereafter.

  “I’m not surprised Greatheart has learned so quickly. Her mother was highly intelligent and wolves are smart, also.” Irene spoke as she watched Greatheart go through her training. Her family got so excited and hugged and praised her when she did the correct things. She loved the attention.

  Finally the hardest part was teaching Greatheart to obey hand signals. The twins found it harder than the dog did. This took several weeks, but no one was surprised at the dog’s amazing ability to learn. By now, Greatheart thought the lessons were a great game to enjoy.

  One morning Mr. Eskise came to the Jackson’s home. “I’ve made a soft, cloth halter for Greatheart. Just let her wear it and become accustomed to it for a couple of days. Then we’ll start her training in having something behind her.”

  “Oh, boy!” Tom yelled, turning cartwheels. “At last we’ll have our own sled dog.”

  “That won’t be for several months yet,” Tim explained importantly. “She can’t pull even light weight until she’s at least a year old. I’ve been talking to other sled dog owners.”

  “That’s right,” Mr. Eskise said. “Any training for animal, or human, is more lasting, stronger and safer if it is done safely and thoroughly.”

  Two long ropes were placed on Greatheart’s halter so that she could learn to be driven. The twins took turns standing behind her, holding the ropes and giving her commands. At first one twin would walk beside her to give her confidence. She learned that mush meant to go forward; hiyee meant to run; gee meant to turn right and haw meant to turn left. Ho brought her to a full stop. After a month Greatheart was moving on command like a pro.

  “Hey, Tom, Tim,” Ben yelled as he ran into the house one morning. “Get your engines going and move on out. Dad is outside and wants to talk to you.” they went out quickly to find what Mr. Eskise wanted with them.

  “Here’s a wagon with rubber wheels. It’s time that Greatheart learned to move with an object behind her. These rubber wheels will be easier to pull and won’t make noises to frighten her. Too, it will be easier on her back. Remember she’s very young yet and we don’t want to hurt her.”

  The
light-weight wagon was attached to the lines running from her halter. At first she dropped in the snow and rolled on her back with her legs in the air. Mr. Eskise taught the twins to be firm, but kind. It was hard, sometimes, for them to be firm, but it was a good lesson for them in self-discipline. It took several days before Greatheart would walk forward without turning around to see what was behind her.

  Greatheart was even more puzzled. Why couldn’t she play with her boys as she had always done? Why didn’t they want to romp and roll? However, she loved them and trusted them, so it didn’t take long for her to learn there was a time to work and a time to play.

  Police Chief Causuc Houmay constantly warned them and talked to anyone who was around. “You’ll never be able to trust that animal. She’s half wolf and the wolf breed will always tell. She’s dangerous. You’ll be sorry. Just remember I tried to help you.” He talked non-stop about stories he heard of people who tried to train wolves and the wolf would turn on them as it matured.

  Tom stepped forward, chin lifted and pointed, ready to argue with Chief Houmay. Tim put his fist on his hips and scowled, but said nothing. Mr. Eskise put a hand on each twin’s shoulder. “Yes, I’ve heard of wolf blood turning on people who raised them. But that was because the animals were kept in cages and treated like wild animals. I have also worked with people who found pure-blood wolf cubs and raised them to be great family pets.

  Those people were smart enough to teach them to hunt for their own food and turned them loose when they were older. One family told me the wolves would come back to visit them, especially to bring their little ones to meet the people. Kindness and sincere love goes a long way.”

  He started to walk away and turned back. “One of my best friends had a half wolf, like Greatheart. He didn’t try to train the animal and love it as the Jackson family is doing with this dog. The animal is still good with them. They moved from here and took him with them. If there had been any trouble with him I would have heard.” Herb had joined the group by now.

  Mrs. Eskise explained. “Yes, their wolf dog was a male, very independent, and I guess you could say he was a loner. Greatheart is a female and will protect and care for these boys as she would her own children.” Chief Houmay just shuffled his feet and looked angry. She smiled at him. “Don’t worry until there is something to worry about.”

  “Sure,” Herb laughed. My grandfather used to say, “Don’t trouble trouble until trouble troubles you. He meant that sometimes we can cause trouble by being insecure and encouraging it to happen.”

  The twins, feeling more at ease, determined to love Greatheart and treat her gently so that she would be a safe, loving pet. Galena had been larger than the average Shepherd. Her daughter, being half wolf, was going to be even larger than her mother. She was also stronger.

  “We loved your mother so much and, until you, she was the greatest dog ever.” Tom told Greatheart. “We don’t know who the wolf is that’s your daddy, but I’m sure he’s big and handsome because you’re such a strong, beautiful girl. Even if we don’t know who your daddy is, we love you because you’re our own sweet, precious girl.”

  Greatheart was so happy. She didn’t really know what her boy was saying, but she knew it was good by the tone of his voice. She grinned at him and wriggled all over.

  It was now in the sixties and dirty slush covered the roads. The snow and ice had melted in town as the weather gradually warmed.

  On July third, the Jackson family went to Anchorage to be there for the fourth of July rodeo and a big celebration. The twins were excited because the sun would be up for about twenty hours and, even then it wouldn’t be completely dark. The longest day would be on July fifth.

  For the first time in her life Greatheart had been left behind for several days without a member of her beloved family, and her heart was broken. Benjamin Yoakno Eskise and Alan Brave Bear Tormas, living the closest to her, were left in charge under the direction of Mr Eskise.

  Ben and Alan decided to take Greatheart out for a practice run on a road with a lot of holes and bumps. They used an old rusty wagon that they had found on a trash heap at the edge of the city. This wagon made lots of noise as it rattled and bumped behind her.

  Greatheart was upset because it wasn’t her boys handling her and the wagon frightened her. It was so scary. She gave a loud howl and ran as fast as she could trying to get away from that horrible, frightening thing. The wagon flipped on its side and really rattled then. She ran too fast for Ben and Alan to catch.

  Ben Gregory, driving home from work, looked in the side mirror of his truck, and saw a dog running frantically behind him with a rusty, red object on its side behind her. Ben turned his truck quickly to cut her off. As he stopped his truck, he jumped out and caught her. For the first time in her life, she growled and snapped at a human.

  Unfortunately Chief Houmay had been drawn to the frantic flight and saw what happened. “Stand back!” he yelled, drawing his pistol. “I’ve been expecting something like this. You can’t have wolf blood and expect her to be safe to be around humans.” Aiming his pistol at Greatheart, he yelled again. “Stand back and I’ll take care of her.”

  “No!” Screamed the breathless Ben as he caught up with them. “You’ll have to shoot me first,” he cried as he fell on his knees and hugged the dog.

  “Me, too,” sobbed Alan as he fell on the other side of her. The two boys threw themselves between the Chief and the dog.

  Mrs. Eskise and Alan’s daddy came running. Alan’s daddy was yelling as he ran. “Causuc, put that gun away. That dog is no more dangerous than I am. At least no more than I’m going to be if you don’t put that gun away ---right now!. You’re more dangerous waving that gun around than the dog is.” He spoke firmly while trying to catch his breath.

  Mrs. Eskise calmed everyone and told them why the dog was upset. Alan’s daddy, Robert Tormas, turned to Ben Gregory. “Did she bite you?”

  “No. She truly wasn’t trying to bite. She was just asking me not to hold her. I think she’s more frightened and confused than she is angry. Please don’t think of hurting her,” he said to Chief Houmay. “She’s upset enough and further more, she doesn’t know me. I’m a stranger trying to lay hands on her when she’s already frightened.”

  “Well---” the Chief said slowly. He sure didn’t want to look like the bad guy, but still he hated dogs and especially this half dog. Too, he didn’t want the people to catch on that he was afraid of her. “Okay, but I’d better put her in a cage for observation.”

  “No! She’s never been in a close place like a cage. Dad! Do something,” Alan begged.

  “Mother!” Ben turned to his mother at the same moment that Alan spoke to his dad. “We’re supposed to be taking care of her.”

  Mrs. Eskise looked sternly at her son. “Supposed to be and doing it are two different things. You and Alan can still take care of her, but from now on don’t ask her to do something she’s just learning. Take care of her and leave the rest until Tom and Tim are back to work with her.”

  Robert and Ben asked the Chief to overlook what had happened and let the two young boys take the dog. “Please,” Robert spoke. “I would appreciate it because it really wasn’t the dog’s fault. She’s very young and just starting her training. The boys asked her to do something that she’s only done with her family. Too, the wagon is different from the one she’s been training with.” By now a small crowd had gathered pleading Greatheart’s case.

  Chief Houmay, wanting to win public favor, reluctantly agreed to allow the boys to take the dog with them. Glaring at them he said, “The Jacksons will have some explaining to do when they return. It wasn’t smart at all to leave a dangerous animal with two young boys.” He left muttering to himself as he strode off.

  “Pay no attention to him. Let’s hurry and take Greatheart home before something awful happens. I’ll be so glad when Sam and Charlie get home and the Jacksons get back.” Alan spoke softly.

  Samuel Motado Cramus was visiting with his
grandparents in Montana for a month and Charles Running Bear Bering was on a family trip for several weeks in British Columbia.

  The two boys hurried to take the ropes and the wagon off Greatheart and took her to Ben Eskise’s house. Greatheart could not understand why that big, scary human had yelled at her and sounded so angry. She wasn’t angry at him. Strange things were happening to her without her family. All good things happened when her humans were with her.

  The next evening, when the Jacksons returned, they were upset to hear what had happened. Herb and Irene gently, firmly, but lovingly, spoke to Ben and Alan about the boys offering to take Greatheart and assume responsibility for her.

  The twins were not angry with Ben and Alan, but they wanted to go immediately and tell Chief Joumay what they thought of him. Anna reminded them that the fault was not the Chief’s. The twins were adamant about telling him off.

  “Oh, no,” Irene exploded. “You will not. Instead, you are both going to Chief Houmay and apologize for your dog causing problems and sweetly thank him for being so understanding.”

  “Mom!” both Tom and Tim spoke at once.

  “You can’t mean that,” Tom was shocked. “Why would we be hypocrites to apologize to that moron and thank him for being the jerk that he is?”

  Herb looked shocked at Tom. “And I can’t believe a son of mine is having thoughts like that about another human being. You only mature and truly become a man when you rise above the less than desirable actions of others. Face facts. It was your dog and the incident did happen. We have to live here for several months yet and work with these people, including the Chief. He can sure cause a lot of unpleasant situations through my work if you continue to make him angry. I don’t mean to bow down before anyone and play up to them just to keep them from not liking us. But I do believe in being a bigger person than the one who is voicing thoughts I don’t agree with.”

  “In other words,” Tim spoke disgustedly, “suck up to them.”

  “Tim!” Herb and Irene spoke at once. “I never thought you would be the one we had to reason with over this,” Irene said sadly.