Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-20
THE SNOW EXPRESS.
ICONCIUDFD


unseen hand guided us to safety. How we
reached the shore none Of US ever knew; but
at length, still battling against the snow, She
gashie's snow shoe struck against tree. Close
beside 1t was thicket Of dwarf frs, and we
shrank into its sheter-sayed for the time
For hours the snow continued to fall, as if
ine1hsustible; at length, however, it ceased
and the setting sun shOne out in the western
sky red and sngrily. The Indians said that
another snow storm was at hand so we set
about making the best preparations we could
for the night. Our friendly thieket was no bad
shelter; Chingoos and i set TO work with our
tomahauks to cut away the branches until the
place resembed bower; then shaking the cut
branches free from snow, we laid them up in
soft piles to sleep upon. In the meantime She
gashie busted himself in making a fire and col
lecung fuel. We were short of food for during
the last day or two game had been unusually
scarce But we had sufficient for the night,
and hoped to obtain more on the morrow, She
gashls having set several snares around our
camp for the small Arctic hares which abound
in those forests.
Soon after dark the snow recommended and
although we were unusually well sheltered, |
never tslt cold 80 intensely as did that night
i have rarely felt more rejoiced than did when
saw the early day steal over the landscape,
and was able TO rise from my freezing couch
and awaken my companions who rose looking
comfOrtlcss as yseif-especially Chingoos, who
trembled rs if he had an ague. But 1ittlo hot
coffee revived him.
Shegashie went 10 inspect his snares, and to
his great disappointment he found they had not
been disturbed, so that there was nothing for Us
but to start afresh without breakfast. Just rs
we mad tied on our shoes a few fakes Of snow
like tiny birds, came floating between us and
the clear blue sky. They were true harbin-
gers, and In a few minutes the clouds began to
gatner and the snow 10 darken the atmosphere
Warned by the past days experience we re-
NAMED In our camp. Hour after hour the
snow poured down in driving masses; but we
were sheltered from its fury. We had fire and
the snow settling on the roof and sides of our
bower made 1t warm so we felt that we had
more cause to be thankful than to complain
though we were compelled to fast
Before long, Chingoos' indisposition of the
morning returned, and as the day wore on he
continued to get worse; until by evening il
was quite evident that he was in the first stage
OF fever. We did the best we could for him.
oy giving him hot coffee and such other trifing
comforts as our slender stock afforded
The next morning broke bright and beauti-
ful; but 1t was at once evident that poor Chin
goos could not travel that day. The fever in
creased, and the ague so shook him that it was
with the greatest difficulty he could take the
coffee from our hands. The snares we're still
food
On the third morning Chingoos was still
worse No game had been shared or shot, and
hunger pangs were becoming very fierce We
were so weak that We could scarcely creep
About midday a hare came leaping through
the snow. shot it, and we dressed t imme-
dlately. To this day / think it was the sweet
est meal I ever tasted We made mart of the
hare into soup for our poor patient but he
was unable TO take ito our surprise for it
seemed to u, delicious beyond expression.
From that day we never wanted food, and
were able to give ali our thoughts and anxietes
to Chingoos, whose last hour was evidently
drawing near. He held out his hand to his
brother, and Shegashie, forgetting the stoical
demeanor OF his race, which be had tried hard
20 maintain, burst into tears as he folded il i'm
MS bosom. When he released it, it fell cold
and stiffened upon the snow
Shegash!c did not speak for hours, but went
lneessantiy Ihe earth was frozen too hard to
adnit oil our digging grave. We were there
tore compelled TO lay the lifeless Indian deep
Ia tne snow IN shady place, until his brother
could return ia the spring to bury him.
On the following morning we resumed our
journey, but it had now become a melancholy
Pngumase The day seemed long ana dreary
without the joyous youth, whose lively ie,is
and ringing laughter had echoed among the old
trees Towards evening, for the first time in
all our travels, We came on the signs of a hu
man being. Tho broad trail of a pair of snow
shoes preceded Us along the course we had to
follow.
Ny guide, Judging by the tracks, announced
tne ~enTer to be an Indian, and not one of the
white hunters who are sometimes TO he met in
tne4e forests He was ght. The wearer of
the gally trimmed hunting skirt whom We over
took about two hours after with bis dirty blank
et, rine, tomahawk and knife, his arms covered
with bracelets, and bUnches Of ear rings weigh
ins down the lobes OF his ears, fully attesteI
the accuracy Of Shegashie's fore knowledge
The Indians greeted each other with grave
courtesy, and the same polite reception was
extended TO mo, but, in spite Of all their gray
i'y, fancled perceived CLEAN of 10y in the
Wild eyes OF tho stranger. No wonder poor
fellow | thought. Perhaps he has past the
whole winter without looking on one human
face. He belonged to party of Indians liyirg
far to the north cf Green Snake river, and his
dialect was great trial to my Indian erudi-
ton.
rs his path for the next day or two would he
the same as ours, the Stranger proposed 10 ioin
Us InouSh l must confess the sight Of his
blanket caked with filth, made me feel a re-
pugnsnce TO his company, yet / was too pru
dent TO object, and afterwards when We stOpped
FOR the night, and found that, leaving the fire
making to Shegashie, he was content to hustle
about 10 collect fuel, and to assist me in form
Ing our night shelter, / felt more charity TO-
Wards MIN, and was more resigned to his raising
his pile OF branches near my own
As We sat, that evening round our camp
nre, mad better opportunity of observing
our new acquaintance. lie was a tail, finely
formed Indian, and more masculine than had
ever seen any Of his race. Moreover, there
was an unusual ferceness in his demeanor,
ana strange FIRE cleaned in hi, eye. He took
.ne tooacco we gave him with great pleasure,
but he was disappointed that our fre.water
was All expended. However, he did not let
that damp bis spirits. but talked on with more
than Indian volubility. Shegashie's stock Of
news, for which he asked. was soon exhausted,
Poor fellow. ne had bu, little heart TO talk Of
anything except III, beloved brother, to whose
story the stranger listened with contracted
brow, but with few Indications of symnatbv
In his turn he treated Shegsshie to a number
OF amazing and horrible stories which were
current in the woods. los, the gist of many
OF these through not being able to comprehend
his language. But there was one | understood
somewhat better than the others; il was con-
-. IL: - L.