Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-07-26
10 the one they would be burr i (.

fhNttt 'sha hs'n ~ ~ 80 ''N h"|
of starvation; for the seal and w$tra
hunt is combined with untold hard
ships and yields but a rare lind.
Two men clothed in heavy, thick
sealskins are turning IA sled hitcl,ed to
a couple of tan colorci dogs toward
the hat, which lies a litt.c way above
the narrow passage which they are
traversing. They are just returning
from an unsuccessful seal hunt. IL is
a long time since they have killed one
of these animals, which are now but
rarely seen. They have eaten the last
morsel of meat. and the death of starva-
ton is stealthily but surely approach
ing.
In the interior Of the hut a pallid
young woman is anxiously awaiting the
coming of the men. She knows but
too well the meaning Of their return
without the coveted prey. It's a ques-
ton of life and death, and her lips fall
ter rs the two appear in the entrance,
over which the skins of the seal are
hung.
"Nothing-nothing again" she cries
desperately.
With a convulsive sob the young
mother presses her wan, slurnbering in
FAINT to her breast and sinks upon her
knees. An older, hollow eyed child.
frightened by its mothers unusual
manner, cries aloud. While the
younger man endeayors to pacify his
little daughter the older of the two
approaches the wretched and
folds her tenderly to his breast. ''Es-
ther, my daughter, do not despair.
We are in the hands of God. He will
not forsake us" he whispers, and is
himself in need of consolation, for he
realizes fully their terrible position.
Tears come to the eyes of the disconso-
late woman; gradually she grows calm
under the encouraging words Of her
aged father and the tender pleading of
her beloved husband. She listens anx-
iously to the debating of the two men.
who are making various plans to escape
the dreadful death Of starvation.
Since time immemorial there has
been In existence a tradition of a coun-
try where il is not so cold. where the
fog is not so thick and where for hours
the snow fall ceases and seals and other
animals are plentiful. Yes, they mus.
endeavor to reach this blissful region,
30 the old mar proposes, after all the
other plans have been discussed and re-
jected. Hope Is again kindled in the
breasts of these wretched beings, who
have no idea that the same fate awaits
them everywhere-the fate of perishing
from cold and starvation-for the Eden
Of which they are dreaming has grown
inhospitable and uninhabitable, too.
The entire globe is wrapped in snow
and ice as IN an armor of steel; the
deep shadows Of the night prevail.
which change now and then into pale,
gray twilight.
A better landau, II can be found
only beyond this world, and not upon
Its snowfields, which were fixing in
death, and could neither produce new
life nor sustain that which dragged out
q weary existence.
But AZ the drowning man clutches a
straw, these unfortunate creatures
grasped the hope Of finding this land,
with which tradition had made them
familiar. Before they could carry out
this daring plan. however, born Of sheer
desperation, the winter storms broke in
upon them earlier than usual, forbid
ding them to remain outside the hut
for even a brief space of time, and max
ing their proposed emigration a thing
impossible.
Horror and despair filed their hearts
and finally gave way to a sullen resig-
nation. Their pallid children moaned
with hunger, and the cry of their loved
mes inspired them with renewed en-
ergy. All is not yet lost. Unexpected
succo may come from above. They
will fight the battle for existence to the
last; yes, they will hold out for the
sake Of their innocent children. II did
not occur to them that the life for
which they were saving them was n
Of utter privation, else their heroism
and courage would have failed.
But they feel the hunger and its
pangs more and more, and with a
heavy heart they resolve at last to kill
one Of the four faithful dogs, although
he can but lily be spared. In a few
days the second follows, then the third
and finally the last. The aged father
partakes scarcely of any nourishment,
refusing to deprive his loved ones of
the few morsels which might still the
pangs of his hunger. Hour by hour
he grows weaker, and at last he a
arise with difficulty only from his pallet
In n corner of the hut. His eyes have
sunk way back In his head. and in them
shines a supernatural light. He real.
lies that he will soon be transported TO
yonder fields, where there will be no
tears and no suffering. He tries to
support the hope Of the despairing
young couple, whom terrible anxiety is
almost driving mad, and to interrupt
their dismal, gloomy brooding he mar