The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-07-19

/ WHllt IL anu lif' Nt'i -N''t''
We have escaped from our enemies,
thank God. " said Allie, looking behind
him. They cannot see TO follow Us
now"
Yes. but we have another danger, >
replied hi, father. These billiards are
| terrible things. We are now travelling
due north, think. and if we keep it up
/ 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
rapidity. Their pathway was blocked,
/ and To proceed seemed impossible.
Bronco finally stumbled, breaking his
/ leg in the fall. The poor animal whin-
MED and neghcd. but there was no help
for him. Mr.. White dismounted and
/ examined the beast. but Bronco's day of
usefulness was over.
We must leave him. Allie" he said
with Il slight CULVER in his voice. - You
/ get on my horse, and l will walk for
! distance"
/ There was no other alternatives; but
Allie dropped two or three tears over the
! body of bis 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 90 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 Il
rock, and made a 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 driftcd
off the top of the rock. and made huge
snow bank on one side, while on the
other Size the rocky wall protected
them.
1t was a cold rctrcat-very cold; hut
it was much warmer than outside. The
storm was shut out from their view. and
even the bowling of the wind gradually
passed away. The snow barrier increased
in thickness
1t was IA long. long time that Allie and
his father remained quiet i'll their snow
house. 1t seemed like days and weeks
to them. They took turns in sleeping.
wrapping themselves up in their
blankets before living down. Echo took
hi> turn. too. but most of the time he
kept his watchfui 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 Z" Allie
asked pitifully.
do! must-we must kill Echo, y
replied Mr.. White slowly.
No. no, he's the only pet l have
left" cried Allie. Kill 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 10 keep them
alive for few days! They both looked
at the dog. who whined ptifully, AS if he
understood the meaning of their chances.
How near are we to the ground:
Mr.. White asked suddenly. eve must
have some sticks and leaves. Even il
we Kill Echo we cannot eat him raw"
g "Oh. don't talk that way. father,
, cried the boy. I'm die rather thar
touch Echo"
, He Rugged the poor dog in his arms
e and pressed the shaggy body to his lips
: Echo, seeming to understand that they
4 Were talking about him. and that his life
was in danger. licked his master hands
a and barked approvingly.
t But we cannot starvc, Allie" said thu
e boys father. after short pause. If W,
do not get out of here, or find somcthin.
a to eat shortly. we must kill Echo. or die.
| 1t was Il terrible position to he in. anf
= Allie shed tears of sorrow as he though
of the next day or two.
> Let us try to dig our way out; W,
p have only half worked, father" he sud
e denly said, rising from his seat, and be
/ ginning to throw the snow about will
e his hands.
t eve will do the best we can, replied
his father.
5 The two then worked with a will
c They began to dig in Il straight line, du,
, south, and away from the rock. Ever
e Echo helped in the work, throwing tn
# snow back of him with his front paws