The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-07-15

..G--.:'~ -: e. a. . ~ - +.
sky. On my return to the agency
found runner had just got in from Bel
~ River, in British America, with i'm
portant news for me. It was necessary
That should 60 up at once. I started
the next morning. My eyes hurt dread
fully.
II always 60 to the Belly River, when
the snow is on the ground, by the way of
the Sweet Grass hills, and there camp
one night. One side of the hills is always
bare Of snow, and there is a spring of
good water on the northern side Of the
centre hill. A strong south wind was
blowing when started, but by noon
saw the clouds to the north suddenly rise
up. I knew that the marshalling OF the
north winds was completed and they were
eager for the assault on the soft south
wind. On came the black cloud. The
south wind still blew fiercely, but it
could not stem the assault from the Arc
tic region. Birds flew south before the
storm; antelope and deer were running
for shelter, I had reached my camping
ground, and stood looking tar off to the
north, seeing the landmarks disappear
one by one as the head of the blizzard
reached them and shrouded them in its
icy breath. A calm. Then, with a
mighty rush and loud noise, the head
of the blizzard swept past me. The air
was illed with PARTICLES of ice that cut
through almost horizontally, and seemed
as if they would never fall. Colder, ever
grew the wind, and dcnsor the air as the
ice PARTICLES thickened. l sought shell
ter in the rocks. Buckllng the clothing
on the mare I turned her loose, knowing
that she would not leave me. Then I lay
down on my blankets, and wrapping my
beaver cloak around me. I tried to sleep.
1 began thinking, and could not sleep
The buffalo did not come south that
winter, and the wolves we're gaunt and
hungry. AS they follow horseman
over the plains in the summer, so they do
in the winter, only more of them, and
those great, gaunt famine-brceders, the
gray and black ones, go in largely IN
creased numbers. had had pack OF
them at my heels all day, and now they
cropped up in my thoughts.
"Finally l slept. When i awoke it
was dark. Holding up my naked hand
l telt the icy sweat Of the 'blizzard' strike
sharply against it. The roar OF the wind
still continued. I waited, it seemed to
rae. for hours, when I suddenly felt my
mare paw my breast. I speke kindly to
her, saying she had made a mistake
Soon she paved me again, and I rose to
find that all was dark, that I could not
see the white mare. Alarmed, I struck
a match under my cloak and looked
down to see the blaze. I saw nothing
but the match burned my fingers. With
desolating dependency I realized the
fact that the glaze of;thc snow encount.
cred for the past few days had made me
snow-blind: that was fifty miles from
the nearest house, and unable to see; tina,
furious storm was raging.
"Stupid, almost wild with horror,
thought could hear the shifting of tie
wolves, and the soft patter of their teet
below the wild shrek of the Arctic
winds. Twas simply benumbed with ter
r0r. The marc recalled me to myself by
rubbing her cold muzzle to my face. She
saw that something was wrong with me
but what she could not comprehend. l
resolved to saddle her, to feed her, and
after she ate, to mount her and let her take
er own course. So fed her the remaining
measure of barley, and waited for her te
cat. Then saddled up, ana, without
bridling. mounted, and, wrapping my
cloak around INC, sat steadily in the sad
die, awaiting tine risky action of tho
hlgh.strung animal. She stood trembling
till l told her to go. Then felt her turn
until the ice drops struck obl1quely on
my right side and back, and she rapidly
walked off. Not motion or movcmen,
did she; make to discomposc my seat
Wrapped in my cloak: with hood drawn
over my face, warm and encouraged witt,
hope, l paticntey sat on my horse.
could now hear the snarling Of tue wolves
and my only fear was that they, rendered
desperate by hungry, might attack the
mare. dismissed the thought-wou|d
not think of it. If they did attack us
we were lost; if they not, though,
we were safe. All day the 'blizzard' ragged
and tore lcily aronnd us. The mare
walked rapidly or cantcred slowly on
It seemed to me that we had been travel
ing for days, tor weeks, even, when the
mare stopped and neighed loudly. Reach
ing forward felt the rough stockadc
dismountins, felt the hinges of the
gate. Loudly called. Then l took my
rifle from the saddle, and rapidly ! han
died cartridges into it. At last sleepy
voice from the inside called who is there?
| answered Burr, and I am dead snow
blind. Come to me- They came and
was saved saved for the second time by
the white mare. Do you wonder that 1,
not having the Sioux maiden, love her
mare?
I sat by the bright fire, with my feet on
a stool, ard did not answer-simply sat
and smoked, and thought of the girl, of
the man, Of the marc. Leaving me think
ing, Burr went to sleep in his chair with
softened face.-Fronk ]Vjlkeson Argo-
nGuf.