The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-03-10

wide as the northern horizon, seam- less, dim, and noiseless, sweeping with the speed of shadow upon us. The day was yet brilliant, but the frost white edge of the cloud had already slid across the face of the sun, making the depth of the dark blue dome more ominous and stern. It would be dark in two hours.
 "Well, boys, the blizzard is coming sure, and there are just two things to do-push on as hard as we can for the claim, or turn back"
 "There's no turning to this crowd," Moore replied, as he touched the po- nies with whip. I submitted, though with some misivings, I am free to confess.
 The road was getting worse now as we were getting beyond the settlers shanties, and beyond the travel to and from the town. Houses grew more and more infrequent, the wind began to rise, and the snow to sift along the plain, softly, spasmodically, yet insid- iously, and almost before we knew it the road was full of drifts. Wherever tuft of weeds or a clump of un- burned grass stood, a drift had formed, stretching out it's solid bulk across our track like huge lazy polar bear, over which the ponies were forced to draw the sleigh.
 The sun was entirely hid soon after, and occasional flakes of snow struck the face like threats, while the wind, growing colder, bit most savagely. The prairie was burned bare here, and the sliding snow ran like tongues of flame here and there, or spread like silver white ocean foam upon the side of some smooth, blackened knoll. We passed many shanties, but they were empty, for the most part, the owners having moved back east for the win ter. The farther we went to the west, the wilder and more bare the prairie became; soon we would be outside the line of actual settlement. Bailey was intending to get off at a point about five miles before we reached Moore's claim. His claim lay four miles due south from a cer- tain corner stake which we were to pass very soon, but as we were ap- preaching the stake Moore and I de- termined to keep him with us, and not allow of his making his venture at night. Accordingly, Moore pulled up short, and we both looked immov- ably at our friend. Bailey was a brave man when there was anything depending on the venture, but as he rose to his feet and looked around him he hesitated.
 It was fearful scene. As far as the eye could penetrate, the stability of the prairie seemed changed to the fu- rious lashings of foam- white waste of waters. Great waves of snow met, shifted, spread, raced like wolves, joined again, rose, buffeted each other till puffs of fine snow sprang into the air, like spray, only to fall and melt in the sliding streams. All was unreal, ghastly. No sky, but formless, im- penetrable mass of flying snow :; no earth except when sweeping gust laid bare long streak of blackened sod that had the effect, the terrifying effect, of a hollow, fathomless trough between the hissing waves, and over all the night and tempest were speed ing like the flight of twin eagles.
 Our companion set his teeth, and made as if to spring out and set forth. "Sit down." we shouted. "Do you intend to commit suicide?" And, with laugh at his relieved express ion, we pushed the ponies on toward the west.
 "We must be merciless now. We are too far on to turn back, and if we are not delayed we can reach the shanty before deep night" shouted in the ear of the driver. There were now but two shanties where we knew of people living, and both of these were some miles from our destination. One of these we soon reached after passing the corner stake alluded to. It was small frame shanty banked to the roof with snow and sods; indeed the roof was also of sods, laid on for additional warmth. It was low and mean- looking at ordinary times, but now, as the door opened and the red light streamed out over the drifts glinting through the falling snow, il had singularly attractive look. The house was full to overf1owing, we were told, and there were no places for our horses at all they would have to stand out if we staid. "But we ain't goin' to stay," said Moore grimly, as he pulled out into the road now mere trail, to be followed witt the greatest dHculty. Just after turning into this faint track there came team of horses rushing to meet us. As they passed us at swift gal. lop we saw that attached to the har. ness of one was & boys hand-sled upon which long plank was bound and lastly young fellow lying atop on his side, in the way boys coast