The national leader., 1889-02-02

few otter had been captured by the
Norwegian the previous winter, but
they were exceedingly shy. and not
abundant.
For three or four weeks but little
snow fell. There was just enough to
make the ground excellent for tracking
game. and we were successful in secur-
ing quite a pack Of fur-two of the
coveted otter skins among others.
We had trapped several wolves, too,
which proved that there were numbers
of them about lie. Yet as Lars had
exhibited no fears concerning them, l
felt none. Several times, on our long
snow shoe tramps across the country,
we had caught sight of them running
with great swiftness, but we could
never come near enough for shot.
at length the snow began to come
down in earnest nearly every day. The
cold was intense. We had been down
to my uncle's camp once for supplies
and for the mail, which was brought
in occasionally by one of the men.
On Candlemas Day we a-7oke to find
that genuine blizzard had struck us.
We were entirely out Of meat, for
game had been scarce on the line Of
our traps for several days, and we had
decided to devote this day to supplying
our larder. Now there was nothing
for 1t but to stay in shelter till the
storm was over.
For three days and nights the gale
clustered and howled through the tree
tops above our hut. whirling the snow
in such thick clouds as nearly to
smother one out of doors. We dared
not venture two rods from the hut, for
fear of never finding our way back
through the binding drift.
The cold was almost unbearable.
With all our efforts, we could scarcely
keep from freezing. Fortunately, we
had prepared supply of wood only a
few yards from the door. and by turns
we went through the drifts, dug out an
armful, and guided by the others
voice, crawled back to the hut, with
hair and clothes and eyes pelted full Of
snow. Even with all the fire we could
keep, 1 was obliged to wrap myself IN
one Of the buffalo robes, and crouch in
a corner near the stove.
Lars, true son of the North, and
accustomed to fierce billiards., kept
busy mending our clothes. traps and
"skees," or snow skates, such as are
used in his snow bound native country,
and whistled merriy. while the wind
sent little eddes of snow whirling
through the chinks into his yellow
hair.
The fourth morning dawned bright
and clear. The weather had modera-
ted, but the snow lay four feet deep
over the whole country. Our little hut
was nearly buried. and 80 hard were
the drifts packed that I, who was
about forty pounds lighter In weight
than Lars, could run over them any
where. The Norwegian would now
and then slump through them.
But the cold weather had given us
tremendous appetites. and our diet had
been very tame. We knew that ami
mails conld not have moved about
much during the long storm. and that
they must have become famished. Ac-
cordingly, we thought that now game
of all sorts would be astir.
After an early breakfast we started
out on our skees, which were made Of
ash, Eve or six feet long, very narrow,
thin and smooth as glass. They were
bound to the foot by straps, and with
them one accustomed to their use can
skim over the snow with great swift
ness. Although was thoroughly at
home on ice skates, it was some time,
with Lars teaching, before I could
keep pace with him.
After getting little away back from
the lake, the country was open, with
the exception of strips of timber, bor-
dering the streams, Upon the banks
of two Of these, we decided to set some
OF the traps, which had been taking
nothing about the lake for several
days.
In the afternoon 1 started doe, in a
broad strip of timber, near creek. AS
it bounded off over the snow 1 fired,
but missed. Scarcely had the report
been heard when my companions fife
cracked, and at the same moment I
heard him cry out sharply. as If in dis
tress.
Much alarmed, FASTENED in the
direction OF the sounds, and found that
most distressing accident had hap
pened. The doe had run toward Lars,
who, while skimming along to get a
nearer and more effective shot, had
broken through the snow which had
drifted over the small shrubs. His
rifle was discharged as he fell forward,
and the bullet had entered his left
ankle, making terrible wound.
Lars Bjork was man of much cour.
age and as stoical as an Indian, but