The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-02-08
due north, think, and if we keep it up

piled up in drifts with astonishing ra-
pidity. Their pathway was blocked, and
to proceed seemed impossible.
Bronco finally stumbled, breaking his
leg in the fall. The poor animal whin-
MED and neighed, but there was no help
for him. Mr.. White dismounted, and
examined the beast, but Bronco's day of
usefulness was over.
1--WE must leave him, Allie" he said
with slight culver in his voice. "You
get on my horse, and l will walk for
distance"
There was no other alternative; 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
rock, and made 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 off 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
it was much warmer than outside. The
storm was shut out from their view,
and even the bowling of the wind grad
ually passed away. The snow barrier
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,
| b,+ ho1 Loft thnir 6o
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. "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 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.
GLOW near are we to the ground?"
Mr.. White asked suddenly. ''We must
have some sticks and leaves, even if we
kill Echo. We can not cat him raw"
so, don't talk that way, father" cried
| tho boy. LII die rather than touch
Echo"
lie 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. "If
we do not get out of here, or find some
thing to eat shortly, we must kill Echo,
or die"
1t was a 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-
denly said, rising from his seat, and be-
ginning to throw the snow about him
with his hands.
"We will do the best we can" replied
his father.
The two then worked with a will.
They began to dig in straight limo,
due south, and away from the rock.
Even Echo helped in the work, throw
ing the snow back of him with his front
paws. For half an hour the three worked
without speaking. Then Echo gave a
low growl.
What is it, Echo?" asked Allie, look
ing at the dog.
Echo in his work had dug down to the
earth. and his sharp nose was snufling
around as if he was on the scent of some
game. He then began to dig into the
dirt, throwing it up on every side. His
efforts were almost frantic, and he kept
up a low growl while he worked.
81 believe Echo has discovered some-
thing, father. See him dig"
Suspending their work, the two
watched the dog for minute or two.
The dog dug hole several feet into tho
ground, and then clawed against big
stone that was in his way. He barked
and looked up at Allie to ask him to
help him in his work.
Here, I'll remove it for you" said the
boy, and taking hold of the big stone he
lifted it up with difficulty.
A sight met his gaze that greatly sur
prised him. Under the stone was a