Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-09-06


the sound OF footsteps that would an
nounce his fathers return, found the
air filed with fine, sand-like particles
OF snow, which, shifting his facc, stung
and cut Il like bits OF broken glass.
Chilled and sick nc heart, he crept
back into Che dug-out, piled the fuel
higher In the little sheetiron stove
and endeavored TO prepare his simple
meal. His worst fears were realized.
The blizzard had come. What II his
father, intoxicated d and helpless, should
be caught in itp
lie tried to persuade himself that his
father had remained at the camp. lie
was an old mountaineer, and, Bat ar
gucd, would net be likely to start for
home with the signs Of n blizzard so
plainly dIscernible. But drunken man
lacks judgment and caution, n fact Bat
well knew; and then he might have
set out early in the afternoon, and,
overcome by liquor, fallen by tho side
OF the trail.
Again and again Bat opened the door
and strained his eyes through the
pitchy darkness. Each time the snow
whirlcd in In binding drifts and
the icy blast extinguished the lamp
that he had placed in front Of the pane
OF glass which served for window, in
the hope that it might guide his father
home should he be wandering any
where on the mountain side.
When the supper was prepared, in
stead OF eating it he set IL away. lie
had been ravenously hungry or quit
ting work, but somehow the coffee had
lost its appetizihg odor. the steaming
iap-jaclSs seemed Fat and heavy and
the crisp bits Of bacon reminded him
of chips
Suddenly there came light tap on
the door, followed by low whine.
Had he not been listening so intently
the bowling winds would have borne
the sounds away unhcard. He sprang
to the door and threw it open. Shep.
who had followed his master that
morning, came in with the whirling
snow, his shaggy coat as white as the
drifts outside.
Bat held the door open, Needless Of
the shifting winds, and, shading his
eyes, endeavored to pierce the thick
darkness.
He called again and again, but the
thunder OF the storm drowned his calls.
Then he remembered the old musket
that was always kept loaded in the
dug-out and left the door to get it. The
door swung wildly, then banged TO and
the sputtering lamp went out, plung-
ing the room in darkness. except where
the fire from the sheet-iron stove sent
a ruddy glow across tho earthen floor.
Paying no heed TO this Bat dragged
the gun from its corner and again
pulled the door open. A moment later
he pressed the trigger. The gloom
was pierced for an instant by the flame
that leaped from the muzzle of the
musket. But tho mufIled boom OF
the explosion was swallowed up in the
roaring Of the winds. Bat listened
anxiously for several minutes, then
closed the door, showed the bolt into
place and again lighted the lamp.
The room was intensely cold and ne
crammed more wood into the stove.
The dog, shaking in every limb, crept |
closer to him as if for companionship.
"Where'd you leave i'm. Shep, ole |
fellerP" Bat asked. patting his head.
The dog whined and crept still closer,
looking straight into the fire.
"Oh, If he cu'd on'y talk! Pap mus
be some'eres clost. Mebbe layin' in
the snow not more'n ten feet from the
door"
Then. as a thought struck him:
"D'you reckon you c'u'd take me TO
himP That's a good dog! Where is
hep"
Shep looked into his young masters
face, then at the door, and whined
anxiously.
81 do b'loeve the dog c'u'd find him!
It's jest awful 10 think't, mebbe he's
a-freezin' ter death right by the door!'
Then his face lighted with stern de-
termination.
I'm try II, any how. don't b'leeve
I'd git lost, with the dog, an kin
come back ter the dug-out Of / don't
find any thing"
He searched about until he came upon
a stout cord. This he tied about the /
dogs neck. Then he put on his heavy |
coat and mittens. and fastened the
loose end Of the cord to his wrist so /
that the wind might not wrench 1t |
away.
"Come, Shepr' he said, pointing to |
the door. Hunt i'm up"
The dog seemed to understand what |
was intended and ran covering into /
the corner.
Bat dragged him out and had Just
placed his hand on the latch when a
dull, rumbling sound caught his ear
and arrested him.
An instant later the mountain seemed
TO tremble 10 its base.
ats the slidel" he cried, covering
to the floor in terror. as, with a mighty
roar, the avalanche passed over the
dug-out.
The room at once began 10 fiji with
smoke. The chimney had been swept
away and the snow, packing in a great
drift above, drove the smoke back into
the dug-out.
Bat realized the danger and quickly
the fire. To effect this
he poured a bucket Of water upon the
i've Goals, and for a little while was al
most sufiocated by the steam and
ashes.
The light still burned steadily, and
IN the spur Of the moment he also put
hat out, thinking its flame might
,itiate the air confined in the dug-out.
He was so terrified by the first shock
II the snow-slide that he scarcely knew