The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-10-04

u
shrek, while the temperature was per-
ceptibly lower, so that Ellen shivered
more from cold than fear. We pressed
on. Mr.. Merton, as I have said, had
been unwilling to tako my counsel, in
opposition to the SCOTS and remon-
strances of his friends, but now he said,
in an altered tone:
begin to think, Richards, that you
and the Tartar were right. God bless
you for your unselfish kindness, my
boy, whatever comes of this"
Before l could reply, a terrified out
cry from Ellen's lips made me turn my
head, just as the first quick snowfakes
came whirling down, and there, behind
us, throwing before it, as 1t came, q
ghastly gleam of light, came from the
north shapeless whiteness, rolling pitt
less on.
"The snowl the snowl" we ex.
claimed, as with Ohio voice, urging on
our affrighted horses to their fullest
speed, whilo behind us, like the tide
rising fast over the sands of the seashore,
swept on the white wave, and burying
beneath it, as it advanced, bush, and
mound, and water course, and blotting
rout every feature of the landscape to the
northward.
Then began race indeed, the alarmed
horses straining every sinew to outstrip
the pursuing fate; but with all our
speed the drift gained upon us, and
presently we found ourselves plungipg
and fioundering, up to the saddle griths
IN snow. The moons radiance was now
totally obscured, but afar off, to west
ward, my eye had caught tho ruddy
glance of a fire such as charcoal burners
kindle among the hills, and never did
storm-tossed mariner watch the welcome
beacon of some harbor more eagerly
than did this saving light.
The fire, rs had conf njectured, was burn
ing high up on ono of the wooded spurs
OF the mountain range near the sources
OF the Amour, but to reach it was no
trlfling task. Our exhausted steeds,
worn out by the toilsome passage
through the snow, could scarcely be
urged to fresh exertions, while the rush
OF the deepening flood, and the blind
ing showers that dashed into our faces,
threatened ut each instant to overwhelm
us. We reached the Amour at last,
down the swollen current of which were
whirling masses of snow, and here
Ellcn's horse fell, and could not be
raised, while that of Mr.. Merton, gasp
ing and spent, no longer answered to the
spur.
"Save yourself, Frank leave us !!
why should all perish9" groaned the
merchant.
There was some strength and spirit
yet left in the gallant Turcoman that l
bestrode, and, snatching up Ellcn's
light form in my arms, 1 spurred into
tho river, and, struggling through, de-
posted my precious burden on the turf
beyond, under the shelter of O rocky
bowlder. I then recros ed the ford,
and, bidding Mr.. Merton to cling tight
~ to my horses name, for the third time
breasted the current, and, half swim
ming, half wading, VIC got through,
though on the further bank my noble
horse reeled and fell, with a faint, low
neigh, and so died. The carcasses of
the others were already buried beneath
tEo driving snow.
Tho rest OF our story-how, after
some fatigue, we scaled the rocky ra.
vino where stood tho hut of the charcoal
burners, aud how these rough but
kindly beings warmed and fed us, and
finally enabled us to reach Kiachta in
safety-is tale Of mere commonplace
hardship. l have been for years the
happy husband of Ellen, and Junior
partner Ill the thriving house of Mer-
ton & Paulovitch, although our sphere
OF business has been removed to u less
romautic region than that of eastern
Siberia. Of the fate of Count Annenkoff
and the caravan under his charge no
survivor ever returned to headuuarters
to tell the tale.