The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-01-24
THE STORM IN 1,IfERANGES.
A THRILLING SKETCH.

THRILLING SKETCH.
All night long the wind --shrickcd and |
through the tents the men, tired |
out with their cxertinns, did not wake. |
But the women did, sand lay and trembled. !
David's wife awoke. David ~ she whis- |
pered, but he did not hear her. whats |
The matter, moSher?" murmured her daugh- !
ter. Nothing, child, nothing. It's only |
the wind. Hush We mustn't wake father. |
Go tn sleepl darling" The sun rosealat /
tho ncItmOrning, and a dim blood veil |
was in the sky, which made some of them |
think that it was night still. The miners |
found the snow round their huts to DO three
feet deep. They looked anxious at this.
1--WE can master the snow" they whis-
pered to one another, ''but the ow-drift
will master u.s." Even az they spoke, the
wind, which had lullcd, began to moan
again, and before they had been working
there an hour shoveling away the snow,
the wind-storm, bringing the snow with it
from the heights over which it rushed,
blinded them, and drove them into their
huts for shelter. They could not hold their
feet. Let us hope it'll not last long"
they said and they took advantage of
every lull to work grinst their enemy, not
like mon but like heroes. ''What makes
you SO duwncast Saul?' asked David he
in silence at David's wife and daughter /;
they were At tho far end Of the hut. ''You
are not frightened, Saul, surely?' said
David. "Not for myself, David" whis-
pered Saul. ''But tell mo. What kind of
love do you bear for your wife and child ?''
David's look was sufficient answer. al
have perfect lovo for woman also, Da-
vid. If she were here, as your wife is
with you, | could boar it, and so could
4 l. l.
danger. Listen to the wind. l am afraid
we may never get out of this" David 5
lips quivercd, but he shook away the fear.
eve mustn't lose heart, SAUL and we must
keep this danger before us, and we must
90 it-like men ~ '"rrIst me, David, {"
said Saul ''mY heart beats to the pulse of
a willing hand - and said no more. The
wind storm continued all the day with such
violence that it was impossible for the men
To work. AS the day advanced the blood
veil in the sky died away, and when the
night came the moons light shone clear
and cruel, bright and pitiless. Worn out
with hard toll and anxiety, Saul Fielding
lay down that night and tried TO sleep.
81 must have strength for tomorrow" he
thought The fierce wind had grown faint,
and it moaned now among tho hills like
weak child. Saul smiled gladly, and &C
ceptcd it as 4 good omen. He hugged his
risk another season of such danger. ''if
do no5 get an ounce more" he thought,
II will he content. What | have will be
sufficient for the horne and for Jane. Jane,
dear Janc ~ Her name always camc to
him like prayer, and with 'Janc" on his
lips, and Jane III his thoughts he fell
asleep and dreamed Of her. y
My God - nc heard David's wife cry,
and at that moment he awoke, and rising
81 IL, i.
his tent, and David's wife standing in her
night dress on his side of it. Her face as
white with terror. ''My God p she cried
again, 'twe are lost" The storm that had
arisen in his dream was no fancy. 'HO
into your ROOM" said Saul hurriedly. 81
will DO dressed in minute" In less than
that space of time he was mp and dressed,
and then David tore the green baize aside.
Saul" he said, ''this is terrible" And
stepping to Saul's side whispered, eff this
continues long our grave is here" Saul
went to the door of the tent and tried to
open it !; he could not. The wind had
brought with it thousands and thousands
of tons of snow from the heights, and they
were walled up. Saul felt all round the
sides of the tent. The snow was man
high. Only the fruil drill of which the tent
was made kept it from falling in and bury
ing them. In an instant Saul comprehend
ed their dread-peril. "The tree p lie
cried, as if an inspiration had fallen upon
him 1.-The tree Just outside the tent,
between ii and the tent next To it stood Il
great pine tree, the only tree among the
tcnts. Many 4 time had it been suggest ed
to cut down this tree for firewood, but Da-
vid had prevented it. Wait" he had
said, ''until We want it when fire1Ood
runa short, and VIC can't get it elsewhere,
it will he time enough" So the tree had
been saved from the axe, and stood there
like giant, defying the storm. Saul piled
up the rough seats and the table which:
Comprised the furniture of the tent, and,
climbing to the top of them, cut a great
hole in tho roof of the :ent. II was day
light above, and the sn0w was falling fast.
Saul saw the noble tree standing fast and
firm in the midst of tho storm. With =
desperate leap he caught branch, and
raised himself above tho tent. And when
he looked uponthe awful SCENE, upon the
cruel white snow in which the tents all
around him were imbcGdcd, and nearly
buried, his heart thrnbbCd dcspairingly.-
But this WAS no time for despair. 1t was
the time for action. When lie had Sc
cured his position in the tree, he stopped
over the tent. David ~ he cried. Da-
vid's vnicc answered him. This is our
only chance" he said louder; he spoke
slowly and distinctly, SO that those within
tho tent might hear him. ''Iierc VIC may
be able TO find safety until the storm abates
and tho snow subsidies. Listen to me, and
do exactly as | say. Get some provisioiis
together and some water, and the little
brandy that is left. Make them up in -
bundle. Tie rope and cord round it, and
let me have itquickly Before he finished
speaking, David's wife was busy attending
to his instructions. ''Answer mo, Saul, -
cried David. "Whzt do you see of our
mates?' Saul groancd. ''Do not ask ms, !,
David Let us thank God that this tn C
WAS left standing David climbed on to
the table in a few minutes, with the bundle
of provisions in his hands. lie was lifting
it for Saul t., take hold of when tho pile
upon which he was standing gave way, aEd
he fell heavily to the ground. At tins mo
ment p movement in the tent nearest to the
tree arrested Saul's attention. One "i the