Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-12-07
this cayenne, and YOU won't be troubled

night, and pointed to the threatening
clouds.
"Let 'em threaten" said George
"I've made my trip in many blizzard,
and don't think ! shall stop for an
October gale. It's chilly, though, and
III put on my storm clothes" He pulled
| out couple of newspapers. folded them
to half their width and buttoned them
inside his vest
When they again took their seats the
sun was entirely obscured by light clouds,
and peculiar whitish-gray cloud lay all
along the west.
George "braced himself up" as he
described his guzzllng, by a drink of
| whiskey, and passed the bottle to the
captain who, refused it. mo, thank
you," he said. Nothing is so danger
GUS rs whiskey in a cold day like this"
very WELL" the surly fellow replied.
"I've got man along that knows more
than you do, if he is an Injunw And
| the liquor was passed to the Indian,
who grasped it eagerly and drank until
the owner took it away.
1t was growing colder every minute
| now, and it was no longer possible to
! talk with comfort.
In a short time the outlines of the
Dakota hills, which had been visible for
the last two hours, disappeared behind
| the lowering cloud that came steadily
on.
sit is no use trying to escape it; we're
! in for blizzard" exclaimed the cap
tain.
"Gue IS there's no mistake ABOUT it thi
| time,' answered George, who was thor
oughly excited by the liquor, and was
standing up, shouting and beating the
| ponies.
How near are we to 4 house?" asked
Frank.
"Haint any this side of Agency. and
that's fifteen miles of"
I Then" said the captain, "the best
| plan is to turn around at once and make
for the house where we had our dinner;
! it can't be more than five miles off, and
we shall have the advantage of going
with the wind instead of against it."
II won't do It'll" said George, obstin-
ately.
Here the Indian, who had been lying
In the bottom OF the wagon, thrust his
head out of his blanket and took long
look at the Sky, after which, without a
| word to any one, he made bound over
tbs wagon-wheel, and went scurrying
back along the road like an animated
| rag-bag.
The yarnint is scairt," commented
the driver. 81 sha'n's be, while my
comforter lasts; Pm uncommon cold,
though" and he took another drink.
Then let that liquor alone or you'll
treeze!" shouted Capt. Edgar. "Let me
have the reins," he added.
II won't do it, tell you'll Town every
hair of them little beasts, and / won't
let anybody hold the reins over them"
1t was no use; he could not be coaxed
| or threatened, and presently the storm
struck them with all its fury. The ponies
staggered and stopped, but after bracing
themselves, and holding their heads
close down, they struggled on again
urged by the savage driver.
Frank, trembling with excitement and
cold, choked and blinded with the snow
called out, Father, don't you think it
would warm us up to have some of that
mans whiskev?"
Nor Numbered the captain, "don't
think OF touching that. Pllgive him an
other chance for Ife," and reaching for
ward, he took the bottle from the drivers
coat-pocket and flung it out into the
snow.
mo more nonsense, now" he said
asserting bis authority. Give me the
reins."
| He did not wait for George to obey
| but took them out of his hand pushed
him into the bottom of the wagon, where
the stupe6ed man lay threatening and
| growing. George tried to rise, but the
| cold and the liquor together had made
him helpless, and he pulled the buffalo
| robes over him and went to sleep.
The ponies we're urged and ENCOURAGED
IN
was 80 thick it was impossible to guide
| The wagon got into all sorts Of ruts and
| jostled them about numerically. Sud
! d2niy Frank cried out
Father, we must have lost our way!
the road was smooth enough, and, be-
sides, the wind is in our faces again.
1t was only too true; they were travel
| ling in a circle, as is too often the case
with travellers lost in blizzard.
The captain stopped the ponies, and
turning them back to the wind, tried tc
consider what had hest be done
Frank" he said, "shake up that driver
! it will never do to let him 20 to sleep
| he'll freeze to death"
! The words we're hardly out of his
mouth when gust of wind seized the
wagon-top, and sent it spinning with the
captain and Frank clinging to it. They
were so confused by the fall, and &C
| blinded, that they were unable to tell
which way to turn for the wagon.
Where are you. George?" the captain
shouted.
''Hillo, tharw came back the stupid
| answer, but when the captain tried to
| 90 towards the sound it receded farther
and farther, and he finally very nearly
lost Frank, whom he had directed tc
hold fir My on to the wagon-top, in fact,
to sit down on it as the only means OF
holding it stationary
After wandering a few feet, however,
he was guided BY his sons voice and
found him. .s
"Well, Frankie" he said, we are now
1 reduced to our last chance, but Indians
often outlive blizzard, and guess We
can. We must bring the wagon tor
round from the wind and camp inside u
It was not cheerful place to spend
the night, and after seating themselves
close together and drawing the buffalo.
robe, which had fortunately also blown
out about them, they did not exchange
word for many long hour, though
they shuddered at the bowling of the
wind and the piercing cold.
In short time the wagon-top was com.
pletely drifted over, and our traveller,
were as entirely shut in as foxes in thei1
holes. 1t was warmer then. much
warmer, and the sound of the wind wa.
deadened. Ppm really warmer" sale
!! Frank at last, cheerfuIly, "but tremend
ously hungry"
"This is an excellent opportunity tt
dispose of my nuts" said the captain il
reply, and he drew from his pocket {
| Quart of shelled walnuts. '"There is no
an article more nourishing. These anc
the red-pepper will prove as good as life
| preservers to us after ALL"
Towards morning small hole wa.
made in the drift to secure fresh air, ant
rs dawn appeared. the captain applied
/ his eye to the aperture and dis
! covered that the storm had ceased
and that the house where they hae
dined the previous day was only half s
| mile away. Both Capt Edgar and Franz
| we're stiff and chilled, but it did mo-
take them long to reach the shelter
| where they found that the only rea
II x