The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-04-12
due north, / think, and If we keep Il IN

due north, I think, and If we keep II NJ
we will come out to the camp"
The storm increased in fury. The
wind chilled the riders through, and
made their teeth chatter. The snow
| piled up in drifts with astonishing "a
pidity. Their pathway was blocked, and
to proceed seemed impossible.
| Bronco finally stumbled, breaking hi.
leg in the fall. The poor animal whin
MED and neighed, but there was no hell
for him. Mr.. White dismounted, and
examined the beast. but Bronco's day Of
usefulness was over.
sWe must leave him, Allie, he said
with slight culver in his voice. .sYou
get on my horse, and will walk for I
distance"
There was no other alternatives; but
Allie dropped two or three tears over
the body of his suffering pet before he
could leave him.
The journey was now doubly difficult.
The two took turns in walking and
riding. Echo scrambled along by the
side of his master, nearly blinded by
the snow.
1t seemed like an age to Allie as they
struggled through the binding, drifting
snow. Then came another catastrophe.
The horse, tired and exhausted, refused
to go any further. No amount of coax
ing and whipping would make him move.
He was finally abandoned, and Allie, his
father, and Echo were left to continue
the march.
They did not proceed very far, how
ever. The drifts became impossible.
They finally got under the shelter of a
rock, and made q place in the snow to
rest. They huddled up together, wound
their blankets around them, and allowed
the snow to cover them up As the
snow piled up they packed it in solid
walls, making a sort of snow house. 1t
drifted of the top of the rock, and
made huge snow bank ON one side,
while on the other side the rocky wall
protected them.
1t was cold retreat-very cold; but
1t was much warmer than outside. The
storm was shut out from their view,
and even the bowling of the wind grad
increased in thickness.
1t was long, long time that Allie and
his father remained quiet in their snow
house. 1t seemed like days and weeks
to them. They took turns in sleeping,
wrapping themselves up in their blank
cts before lying down. Echo took his
turn, too, but most Of the time he kept
his watchful eyes wide open.
All Of that day, and the next night,
and part Of the following forenoon
passed without any change. Then they
became SO hungry that they grew faint.
They had brought the money with them,
but had left their provisions ON the
back OF the abandoned horse
The question of hunger soon became
more important than that of the cold.
"What can we do, father?" Allie
asked, pitifully.
do? We must-we must kill Echo, "
replied Mr.. White, slowly.
mo, no, he's the only pet have left"
cried Allie. XIII Echo? Eat Echo?
No, no, that is impossible.
They tried to dig their way out Of the
snow house, but it seemed an endless
job. Their hunger increased. Was there
no way of obtaining food to keep them
alive for few days? They both looked
At the dog, who whined pitifully, as if he
understood the meaning of their chances.
"How near are we to the ground?"
Mr.. White asked suddenly. 1--WE must
have some sticks and leaves, even If we
kill Echo. We can not eat him raw"
20, don't talk that way, father" cried
the boy. "I'll die rather than touch
Echo"
He Rugged the poor dog in his arms,
and pressed the shaggy body to his lips.
Echo, seeming to understand that they
were talking about him, and that his
life was in danger, licked his masters
hands, and barked approvingly.
but we can not starve, Allie" said
the boys father, after short pause. ssIf
we do not get out of here, or find some
thing to eat shortly, we must kill Echo,
or de-"
1t was terrible position to be in, and
Allie shed tears of sorrow as he thought
Of the next day or two.
LET US try to dig our way out; we
have only half worked, father" he sud- |
ienly said, rising from his seat, and be- |
ginning to throw the show about him
With his hands.
Eve will do the best we can," replied |
his father.
The two then worked with q will. |
They began to dig in straight line,
iue south, and away from the rocl< |