Santa and the Ice King

Synopsis: A Huge Polar Bear tried to break into the igloo where Santa, Oonik and Keotuk were resting while on their way to talk to the Ice King. When Oonik tried tot frighten the bear away with his spear, the bear grabbed the spear and pulled Oonik out of the igloo.

Chapter Ten

Bear Fight

Still holding the end of the spear in his tightly locked jaws, the great polar bear stared in astonishment at what he had fished out of the igloo while Oonik, still holding his end of the spear, stared fearfully back.

At Last Oonik gave a little yank to free the spear from the bear's jaw. The bear yanked back. For a time they played a tug of war.

Then the bear tired of it. He reared suddenly back and tore the spear from Oonik's hands. Growling fiercely he dropped the spear to the ice and stomped it into a hundred pieces.

Horrified, Oonik darted for the igloo. But just as he got his head into the tunnel the bear snatched hum up by the seat of his pants and lumbered away across the frozen land.

All this time Santa Claus had been struggling to get out of the igloo. When he saw Oonik yanked out of the tunnel, Santa started after him. Unfortunately, so did Keotuk and Keotuk was still tied to the sled.

For a moment, sled, dog and Santa Claus were Jammed helplessly in the tunnel. Twisting and turning, Santa at leas managed to untie the frantic dog from the sled. With a glad yelp Keotuk burst out of the tunnel and Santa, Puffing and red faced slithered after him just in time to see Oonik being carried away by the seat of his pants.

With Keotuk barking ferociously Santa took after Oonik. The polar bear moved faster. Keotuk nipped at his heels. The polar bear began to run. Then Keotuk leaped through the air and fastened his jaws around the bear's left rear leg.

Furious, the bear, carrying Oonik in his jaws and Keotuk on his left rear leg, tuned and glared at Santa Claus who at that very instant panted up to him.

The bear rose on his hind legs and prepared to bring his crushing font paws down on Santa but Santa Cried out, " Why don't we be friends?" and before the bewildered bear could come forward Santa threw his arms and legs around the great animal's middle.

The bear dropped to his feet and began to run in circles. Santa Clung under his middle, Keotuk gripped his heal, Oonik dropped form his jaws.

Round and round, faster and faster, ran the polar bear. But still Santa and Keotuk, clung to him. It never occurred to him to drop. Oonik, for he felt that it was best to have his teeth into something if only the seat of his enemy's pants.

In all his life he had never known or heard of such creatures as these. He was King of the Polar lands and before him his father had been king and before that his fathers' father and never had any polar bear seen an enemy he could not frighten by the merest look. Now the poor bear's pride was wounded and gradually he moved slower and slower until at least he came to a stop and gently dropped Oonik from his jaws.

Santa unloosed his arms and legs and crawled form under the bear, Keotuk unlocked his teeth and ran to lick his master.

Oonik said, "Hooray! Let us slay him and we will have food for days to come!"

But Santa said "No son for he is a king and I expect he too has been starving tin this year without summer. Let us be friends with him and he will help us subdue the Ice King."

"How so?" asked Oonik.

"Simple," replied Santa. "He will take us to the Ice King's domain."

Next: Ice King at work