The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-02-13
and joyfully discovered IL to be fence.

and jovfully discovered IL TO be fence.
As It afterward proved, it was an ex-
tension Of the cattle-yard, a corner Of
which was built down into the edge Of
the lake to afford water for the stock,
and had he missed it by even few feet
he would undoubtedly have perished.
The discovery of IL gave him new life
at once and aroused all his faculties. He
climbed over the fence so as to get inside
the yard, and then, by feeling, followed
il until he came to connection with the
cattle-shed
Once in the shelter Of these, he whipped
his numbed arms and stamped his chilled
feet until circulation partly restored,
then felt his way along TO the barn, aud
at length managed to reach the ranch
dwelling guided by the glimmer of light
which he could see through the storm.
He was welcomed and warmed and
fed, and promised that by every possible
effort that could be made the men should
help him to rescue his brother and SIS
ters when daylight came.
Dick found that he had escaped with
only II slight frosting of his face and fin
gers, but his anguish on account of the
little ones he had left buried in the hay
was intense. He did not sleep at all but
walked the floor Of the ranch kitchen,
where he was allowed to keep roaring
fire all night. Every few moments he
would go to the windows. scratch the
frost, and endeavor to peer out into the
storm.
He could gather no encouragement un-
ill daylight, wheh he discovered that the
snow was no longer falling, and that the
sky would soon be clear.
He reused the ranch hands at once. rs
two of them had agreed to 20 with him.
In n short time the men were up. Some
hot coffee was drunk, u jug of it was
filled from the pot, and u sharp-shod
team was harncsscd The horses were
blindfolded, their heads wrapped in blan-
ketS to protect them from the binding
drift which was still driving hard from
the northwest.
This team was hitched to double
sleigh filed with robes and wraps. Then,
muiiling themselves in the bottom of the
box, the party set out across the lake in
the very teeth of the wind.
The horses were old and steady, and,
after some snorting and tossing of the
heads, as n protest against the novelty of
complete "blinds, took steady hard
trot ever the corrugated ice.
On reaching the farther shore OF the
lake and ascending to the prairie, Dick,
with his head completely mutiled to the
eyes, took standing position and,
bracing himself, directed the move.
ments of the driver. The short distance
of II mile and the steady direction of the
wind enabled him to hit the hay-road at
a point so close to the overturned rack
that he caught sight of the top of it
as they were passing some rods distant.
A moment later they had halted and
tied the team, and Dick had pointed
out the spot where his companions were
to dig. Then, utterly overcome, he
threw himself upon the drift and buried
his face in his arms. HIS grief and sus-
pense at that moment were almost beyond
endurance. He had no idea that the
children could have survived such fear
lui hiBnt. Dut lNt minutes Oh Silent
digging occupied his companions, and at
the end of that time both of them gave u
triumphant shout.
They had uncovered the nest, and
cloud Of steam rose up from the blankets.
Dick was on his feet instantly. A
moment later the three young Jordans
were dragged forth, alive, but stupid
with cold and drowsin,ss which would
not have left them alive many hours
longer Yet they had escaped any serious
frostbite, and deXterous rubbing,
shaking and iouncing restored their cir
culation and their senses. They were
bundled into the sleigh amid robes and
comforters, and, despite the severity of
the weather and the drifting snow, were
taken Immediately toward home, where
their welcome must be imagined.
One OF Dicks horses perished in the
storm, but the other turned up alive and
well the next day at farmers stables
twelve miles south of Gull Lake.
Youths Companion.