The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-02-24

stood. But still the fight must go on. The deadly hatred must find some expression. Fortunate fit should end with this dead ly duel just before us.
 Clouds began to drive over the moon At midnight and stream away over to- wards Idaho to the east. The stars went out, as if the fierce wind had blown out the myriad lights of heaven. Then the snow began to fall again, thick and fast, massive, as we silent Oregonians sat about our feeble fire and talked Of the coming duel. Our group grew white as huddled focks of sheep. Now and then man would get up and shake himself and the snow would slide of his shoul- ders in great avalanches. Our fire began to perish under this incessant unceasing dropping of snow. The snow simply possessed the world. The fire died out. l, was dark, with wild, deadly dark ness. We could not see each others faces. When man spoke it was as if some one called from deep down in a well. We groped about, feeling for each other The Californians slept tranquilly and selhshly on in their cavern.
 Snow above and snow below. The wolves bowling from the hill. Snow that buried you. that lay on your shoulders like burthen, that loaded you down, that fastened upon you as if 1t had life and sense, and like ghost would never go away.
 With the coming morning there came sense of change. IL was warm, warm CT, sulty. The Chinook wind. But it was not light. There was only dim, ghastly something in the air. The ghost of a dead day and snow, snow, snow. Nothing but silence and snow.
 stop here as l write and wonder if anyone east of the Rocky Mountains knows what the Chinook" wind is :: One writes at a disadvantage here. But the world is learning. Ten years ago it would not have known what = blizzard or cyclone" meant. IL knows now.
 Well. the Chinook wind Is hot cy- clone that leaps up from the Gulf of Gal ifornia. oaroms from mountain top to mountain top. till il finally, suddenly and savagely takes possession of the coldest and blcakest spot on the continent. IL comes when he cold reaches d climax This hot Chinook wind ,s born of the freezing blizzard. II Is the one and only one thing that makes this vast northwes, habitable. S,iek d pin here and remem Der. This Chinook wind k the most re- markable and phcnominal thing ln na- turc.
 The oregonians threw back our blankets, stood erect and brea,hed free for the first time in all these deadly days. Paddles of water began to form at our feet. Little risulets began to seek the frozen river Tn the canon. The SHOW be- gan to slip and slump in avalanches down the deep sides of the canon. The Indian boys frightened their moccasins and with the first sign of breaking day hurried away over the hill. pistols in hand, 10 look after their horses. The old pioneer calmly waited for sunrise. He and stood stood by the dead hre-brands He did not speak one word, but saw that he glanced now and then at the rap idly swelling river, and then down toward the mouth of the cavern, where the Cali fornians still tranquilly slept
 FOR YOUR LIVES,
 Suddenly there was great. dull shock. Thud. An avalanche The whole mountain side of snow had slid into the canon and carried with ii the overhang. ing masses above the cavern.
 The swelling river, thus suddenly brought ,o s,andstill. began to plunge and tret and foam at our very feet. The Indian boys had returned and had begun to move our effects out of the canon. They dropped their loads al sound of the avalanche and looked at each other in the gray dawn. They were glad wild with delight. They chucklcd at first. And then yell such yell of pure sat is.ac,ion never heard before
 Their father lifted his head. looked at them hard and then plucking me after him. hurried down 10 the cavern.
 The Calltornians were on their feet. falling over each other. dazed. confused. bowling. The mouth of the cave was so closed by the snow that one had To stoop to enter.
 They threw some pitch on the ernbers and as 1t blazed up they stared at the ap- partition of the old man. who stood there in their midst, in their power. and almost alone. A little white rabbit came hud- ding in at his feet. What in-have you come in here for:" cred the leader clutch pistol.
 "To save you
 What" and the pistol was raised to level
 The old man did no, heed or answer. He stopped and picked up the terrified and helpless little white rabbi, ard held il kindly, as you would hold little kit ten. The men looked al each other and then out al the booming flood, foamins al the door of ;he cavern and dashing in the new dawn.
 turned and ran away up toward our camp. for there was ciy of terror on every lip. The old man led them al l run, their guns Tn their hands, their blankets on their shoulders.
 We reached the safe eminence where the Indians boys had made our new camp and then old Colonel Joe Meek. turning sc the Californian leader and pointing 10 the plateau beyond, said
 "Capen, it's sunrise
 Colonel Joe Meek, begs your par ding. I'm licked." cried the Californian manfully at last, as he reached his hand