The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-01-23

Again. Last winter the snow was on the
ground in january, and for three days ha6
been hunting or running antelope. The sur
was very bright, and my eyes hurt me-
saw specks floating about Little chains witt
small links were constantly before me. NV
eyes burned smartly when | returned to the
agency. Daily while hunting had seen the
low black clouds in the north that indicate
the formation or marshalling of the winds OF
the frozen north Daily the south wind
swept them beyond the northern horizon, but
the next morning found them looming Dor.
| tentously in the northern sky. Onmy return
to the agency found a runner had lust got
In from Belly river, in British America, with
important news for me. 1t was necessary
that L should go up at once. | started the
next morning. My eyes hurt dreadfully.
81 always go 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 spring of good water on the
| northern side of the centre hill. A strong
| south wind was blowing when | started, but
| by noon L saw the clouds to the north sud-
| denly rise up. | knew that the marshalling
| OF the north winds was completed, and they
wia Ell ii,, eh ,u " Ss. az sne sou SCUM
wind still blew fiercely but it could not stem
the assault from the Arctic region. | had
| reached my camping ground, and stood look
ing far Off to the north, seeing the landmarks
disappear one by one as the head of the 'bliZ-
zard reached them and shrouded them in its
icy breath. A calm; then, with mighty
rush and a loud noise, the head of the biz
zard' swept past me. The air was filled with
particles Office that cut through almost hor-
izontally, and seemed as if they would never
fall. Colder, ever colder grew the wind and
denser the air as the ice particles thckened
sought shelter in the rocks. Buckling the
clothing on the mare, | turned her loose,
knowing that she would not leaveme. Then
lay down on my blankets, and, wrapping
my beaver cloak around me, tried to sleep
began thinking, and could not sleep. The
buffalo had not come south that winter, and
the wolves were gaunt and hungry. had
had pack of them at my heels all day, and
now they cropped up in my thoughts.
Finally | slept. When l awoke it was
dark Holding up my naked hand felt the
icy sweat of The blizzard strike sharply
against it. The roar of the wind still CON
tinued | could not go to sleep again, and
lay waiting for dawn. | waited, it seemed to
me, for hours, when | suddenly felt my mare
paw my breast. | spoke kindly to her, say
ing she had made mistake, Soon she paw
ed me again, and | arose to find that all was
dark; that could not see the white mare
Alarmed, struck match under my cloak
and looked down to see the blaze ! saw
nothing, but the match burned my fingers
With desolating dependency realized the
fact that the glare of the snow encountered
for the past few days had made me snow
blind that | was 5Omiles from the nearest
house and unable to see; that furious snow
storm was raging.
a., II Al.
could hear the snufiling of the wolves and
the soft patter of their feet below the wild
shrek of the Arctic Winds. | was simply be-
numbcd with terror. With my eyesight in
full power, | should have thought the situa-
ton dangerous. AS it was, considered it
hopeless. The mare recalled me to myself by
rubbing her cold muZzle against my face
She saw that something was wrong with me
but what she could not comprehend. | re-
solved to saddle her, to feed her and, after
she ate, to mount and let her take her own
course. So | fed her the remaining measure
of barley and waited for her TO cat Then |
saddled up, and without bridling mounted,
and wrapping my cloak around me- sat stead
lily in the saddle, awaiting the frisky action of
the high-strung animal, She stood trem-
bling until told her to go. Then felt her
turn until the ice drops struck obouely on
my right side and back and she rapidly
walked of, Not motion or movement did
she make to discompose my seat. Wrapped
in my cloak, with hood drawn over my face,
warm and encouraged with hope, patiently
sat the horse. Icould now hear the snarling
of the wolves, and my only fear was that they,
rendered desperate by hunger, might attack
the mare. | dismissed the thoughts would
not think of it. If they did attack us we
were lost; if they did not l thought we were
safe All day the blizzard ragged and tore
icily around and on us. The mare walked
rapidly or cantcred slowly on 1t seemed to
me that we had been travelling for days, for
weeks even, when the mare stopped and
neighed loudly Reaching forward felt the
rough stockade. Dismountng | felt the
hinges of the gate. Loudly called Then
took my rifle from the saddle and rapidly
handled cartridges into it. At last a sleepy
voice from the inside called out: "Who Is
there? | answered: Burr-and | 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 |, not
having the Sioux maiden, love her mare?'
sat by the bright fire with my feet high on
a stool, and did not answer-simply sat and
smoked, and thought of the girl, of the man,
of the mare. Leaving me thinking, Burr
went to sleep in his chair with softcncd
face.