Wichita eagle., 1888-05-11
and starting to retreat wnen one OF the

and starting TO retreat when one OF the
men shouted loud curse !r n,
Twas the first to come BACK 10 life, as
it we're, and that was twenty -four hours
after being first taken. The pains were
gone as opened my eyes, but was weak
and WRECKED, like one just over terrible
fever. The boy Charley was standing
before me az I opened my eyes, and ne
bent down and whispered:
f.You have all been terribly sick, and
think one man is dead. Can you eat
something's
l did feel bit hungry, and I had no
sooner signiied it than he came to me
with bowl Of broth. AS 1 afterward
learned, the storm had driven couple OF
hares to seek shelter at the door, and he
had secured both of them. He did not
know the cause of our sickness, but sus-
pected some calamity, and was prepared
TO feed US as soon as we could eat. lt
seemed that when Big Ben drove him out
he stumbled into the ravine quarter OF
a mile away, and found shelter under a
ledge. How he kept from freezing to
death that night heaven only knows. In
deed, heaven preserved him. 1t froze our
water pail solid when standing within
in the cold in a threadbare suit. When
morning came he returned to the cabin to
make one more appeal He found us
suffering and out of our minds, and the
fire about gone out bad it not been for
him we should have frozen stiff as pokers,
for on that day it was 81 dogs. below zero
all day long, and it went down almost to
40 degs. when night came on.
how ont q
his rabbits for soup, and all day and all
night long he kept forcing strong coffee
down our Threats. That doubtless helped
US to pull through, or at least four of US.
The other man, whose name was Hale,
had his teeth firmly clenched, and from
the way his Gestures were distorted and
his limbs drawn up it was evident that he
died in great agony. In acouple OF hours
/ was able to be up and assist Charley in
caring for the others, but it was far into
night before the last man could use his
tongue in sensible manner. 1t was Big
Ben, and when consciousness returned
and he saw the white faced boy bending
over him the greet tyrant whispered:
f'Ayei The corpse Of the Lad has risen
up TO confront and accuse me- 1t was a
cruel thing | did u drive him out, and the
Lord VIII never forgive me for itP'
While out Of danger, we were yet weak
and almost helpless, and none of US could
attend the fire or do bit of cooking for
nearly week. The whole work devolved
upon the boy, and no one could have done
better. He was cook, nurse, doctor and
protector all in one. He got three more
hares and a couple of birds, and 1 don't
believe spoonful of the broth went down
his own throat.
Well, l, for one, had been watching Big
Ben to see what he would do The first
moment be was able to sit up he called
Charley and pulled the frail little fellow
down on his breast, saying:
eff you'll only forgive me I'll pray to
the Lord to do the same. I'm rough and
wicked, but to turn lad like you out O.
doors on such night as that wasn't me
at all. Old Satan must have had posses
sion of me-"
That great big fellow cried like child,
and Charley cried with him, and [ might
as welt own up that we all cried. What
made it more solemn was the fact that we
had a corpse at the door. When it was
known that Hale was dead none of the
other four of us could lift hand. How
the boy got the body out of doors [ never
could understand, but get it out he did,
and it was three long months before we
could give it Christian burial
On the morning when we al got out OF
bed feeling prests strong again, Charley
went 10 bed with fever, and before noon
was raying crazy. tell you it was awful
TO hear him cry out every few p.inutes in
his delirium:
ooh, Ben, don't drive me out. III
work. I'll work as hard as l CAN'T
Every cry went through the big fellow
like bullet. He nursed and soothed the
poor boy with all the tenderness he could
command, and two or three times carried
him about IN bis arms as father would
his ailing babe. There was doctor at the
Forks, and after dinner Big Ben braved
the blizzard and made the trip down and
back The doctor could not be induced
to return with him, owing to the cold, but
he sent some medicine. Poor Charley was
beyond human aid, however. He raved
through the afternoon and night, and next
morning was struck with death. His
mind came back to him at the last, and as
we stood over him he calmly said:
az know Pm going to die, but I'm not
afraid I'll see father and mother in
heaven, and perhaps Brother James is
there too"
While we all felt bad enough, Big Ben
was completely broken down. He got
down or his knees and begged Charley to
forgive him, and 1 never saw man feel
the bitterness of an act as he did.
Eyes, II forgive you" replied the boy,
"and if you pray to God, he'll forgive too.
Has it come night so soon again."
mo, my child" answered one Of the
men.
''But / can't see any of you any more.
Good-by. Let me take your hand,
for''-
And with that he breathed his last,
and there were two to rest in the snow
until spring came. Did you ever hear Of
Charley Gulch?' Yes, of course you
have, and if you have passed that way you
have seen the boys grave. The head
board contains only the name-cHt deep
by Big Ben's knife-but the story Of the
boys heroism has been told in every min
ing camp in Nevada, and it has never
been told without bringing moisture to the
sveg Of al listeners. -Yew XerS SIM.
Rare and Costly Seeds.
Some seeds ara enormously expensive. The
writer bought last summer microscopic