The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-07-03

the t-ackicss forest. and had batter be
getting home again as soon a. possible.
80 J abandoned III. fruitcss chase.
took my bearings rs well as could and
hastily set out upon my return.
The storm momentarily increased in
fury, AM soon was almost blinded by
the driving snow. Never before had
bcheld anything like IL. and ere long II
was only with the greatest difficulty
tl.at could force my way through the
deepening drifts.
AT last the blizzard became so ter
rifle that IL was utterly impossible 10
zee any distance ahead. and the sting
ing cold grew more and more intense
with every instant. A horrible convic-
ton gradually forced itself upon me till
at length nothing could Disguise the
awful fact that was hopelcssly astray
lost in the mighty woods Of Maine in
that terrible storm.
How long l struggled onward do
not know: il seemed an age. The hot
sweat tricklcd down my back in
streams. while my hands. face and feet
were freezing in the bitter blast. IL
was awful.
kept up that terrible, aimless strife
until was completely exhausted and
still could not feel certain that was
not going farther and farther from life
and hope with every step. Yet could
not sit down and passively meet my
| fate as long as | had the strength left
to struggle. and so still staggered on.
| At last il seemed as il could go no
| farther. My heart was beating ike q
triphainmer in my bosom. and my lungs
burned as il the air j brcathed were
liquid fire. The sweat still rolled down
my limbs in hot floods. while my ex-
| tresnitics were freezing felt that
must do something different or die then
and there, in spite Of all my efforts.
| staggered up against huge rock
where the bitter wind beat less furi-
ously. and stopped to rest and consider
The biting frost struck deeper yet with
the cessation Of my violent exercise.
knew that longer delay would proba-
bly, be fatal, and yet l was worn out
and exhausted Suddenly a thought
flashed on my mind like an inspirations
a CLEAN OF hope from heavenly
matchbox. Could ] manage TO kindle
| fire?
! hastily trampled down the snow in
the lea Of the protecting rock. and tore
some branches from dead spruce thai
stood close az hand. made little
pile OF them. and lowered over il as
drew the tiny box from my pocket and
opened it with eager. trembling fingers
In it were six matches and that was
all.
Only six. Just six little matches be
tween me and an inevitable death
Could kindic fire with them in thu
face Of that terrible blast?
crouchcd low over my precious pill
Of brushwood and scratched one Of then
upon the side Of the rock. My hast,
fingers were numb and almost useless
and the lighted end broke off and wa
extinguished in the snow almost At the
instant IL took fire.
With the eagerness OF one whose lif'
depends upon the success Of his effort
Ii tried the next one. but with "a
greater care. My God! II refused =
light
Again and again tried. but all Il
vair: they had become damp, an
would not ignite. At last only two re
NAMED. Only two little matches. bu
on them hung my death or my saliva
ton.
| struck the fifth and oh joy! !
slender tongue Of flamo shot upwar'
through the storm. and my chille'
fingers felt its grateful warmth as ! ap
piled IL to the heap Of twigs before me
sheltered the tiny blaze with hand
and body so the blast should not ex
tinruish il, but the dead limbs woul'
not take fire. and rs l saw the mattel
burn out and die groaned in agony.
/ Scraping away the snow. obtaine'
a handful Of dead leaves ere ! essaye'
my forlorn and only hope. Then
scratched the last remaining match an
touched them with its blazing end
Never can describe the thrill Of will,
Joy that shot through me as the,
caught lire and blaxed merrily upward
was saved.
sumed md once more the flame die
out. for still the damp limbs did no
take fire. hcaped the smallest Q
them upon the embers with franti
haste. but all in vain. blew the ashe
with my stiff and cold contracted lips
but the last spark had died out. wa
doomed.
But had gained breath and strengt
during my brief rest. and dashing tn
scaldng tears Of despair from my eye
| | rushed OF through the drifts In m
other desperate effort for life. Or
on, on went. felt that II was
hopeless attempt, yet would not di
without another struggle.
on. on, on for miles. IL seemed 10 M
, | wallowed and plunged through ths
,, interminablc. snow-hcapcd forest, bu
| il was only to come around again to II
scene Of my fruitless attempts 1t built
ing fire at last was lost, indeed'
Again stopped TO gather my littl
, remaining strength and then staggere
Of once more through the wind-sweT
, woods. II was my last effort and
, could but know Il, yet somehow di
not seem 10 fear death as had done.
was bcnumbed, sleepy. stupcficd.
Though not frozen already knew
...o,,la ~. s.,o, and even realized III: