Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Vol. 26, No. 4. Whole No. 143, October 1955

And curiosity was so strong on the men that the whole council, Klosh-Kwan to the fore, rose up and went to the igloo of Keesh. He was eating, but he received them with respect and seated them according to their rank. Ikeega was proud and embarrassed by turns, but Keesh was quite composed.

Klosh-Kwan recited the information brought by Bim and Bawn, and at its close said in a stern voice: “So explanation is wanted, O Keesh, of thy manner of hunting. Is there witchcraft in it?”

Keesh looked up and smiled. “Nay, O Klosh-Kwan. It is not for a boy to know aught of witches, and of witches I know nothing. I have but devised a means whereby I may kill the ice-bear with ease, that is all. It be headcraft, not witchcraft.”

“And may any man?”

“Any man.”

There was a long silence. The men looked in one another’s faces, and Keesh went on eating.

“And... and... and wilt thou tell us, O Keesh?” Klosh-Kwan finally asked in a tremulous voice.

“Yeah, I will tell thee.” Keesh finished sucking a marrow-bone and rose to his feet. “It is quite simple. Behold!”

Editors’ Query: How did Keesh cut his ice-bears down to size? What was the secret of his hunting method? The clues are all in Jack London’s story, either given or implicit in the background.

Keesh picked up a thin strip of whalebone and showed it to them. The ends were sharp as needle points. The strip he coiled carefully, till it disappeared in his hand. Then, suddenly releasing it, it sprang straight again. He picked up a piece of blubber.

“So,” he said, “one takes a small chunk of blubber, thus, and thus makes it hollow. Then into the hollow goes the whalebone, so, tightly coiled, and another piece of blubber is fitted over the whalebone. After that it is put outside where it freezes into a little round ball. The bear swallows the little round ball, the blubber melts, the whalebone with its sharp ends stands out straight, the bear gets sick, and when the bear is very sick, why, you kill him with a spear. It is quite simple.”

And Ugh-Gluk said “Oh!” and Klosh-Kwan said “Ah!” And each said something after his own manner, and all understood.

And this is the story of Keesh, who lived long ago on the rim of the polar sea. Because he exercised headcraft and not witchcraft, he rose from the meanest igloo to be headman of his village, and through all the years that he lived, it is related, his tribe was prosperous, and. neither widow nor weak one cried aloud in the night because there was no meat.

Merlini and the Vanished Diamonds by Clayton Rawson

Here is the second in our new series of reader-participation Prize Contests. Again we bring you an unfinished mystery by Clayton Raw son, featuring his magician-detective, the Great Merlini. For the benefit of those who may not have seen or read the first of this series, let us recapitulate the rules: at the big moment in Mr. Rawson’s story — when the Great Merlini has indicated he knows the answer and is toying with his adversary — we halt the tale and give you the opportunity to figure out the solution for yourself. But this need not be mere academic ratiocination: if you wish — and we cordially invite you to do so — you may write out your answer, on typewriter or in longhand, and submit it for a cash prize... For the best solution — in, say, 50-to-100 words — we offer a First Prize of $100, and for the 30 next best solutions, prizes of $5 each; in case of ties, duplicate prizes will of course be awarded.