Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-07-17
ASTRAY In A STORM.

ern part of Maine was, to its older and
more thickly settled southern portions,
what the whole state still is to Massa-
chusetts and New York. The entire
county of Aroostook, and large sections
of those adjoining. were always al
luded TO by those dwelling nearer the
seaboard rs ''Down East " or else in
the quaint Yankeedom, as The Roo
stick. -
The deer the bear, and the cata-
mount were not infrequent visitors in
these newly cleared localities, and
most of the hardy settlers were expert
hunters Close time was almost un-
heard of, for the government officials
never molested anyone; and during the
winter season especially the sport ran
high and the tree-clad hills resounded
far and near with the merry crack of
the woodsman's rifle.
One day in the latter part of Decem-
Der, shortly after became a citizen oil
'Roostick," / shouldered my gun and
set out for days shooting. There
were about six inches of light snow on
the ground, but not enough so
thought it worth while to take my
snowshoes; and started out unincum-
bered save for my rifle and heavy
oyercoat.
/ had been gone some three hours
and was some six or eight miles from
home as well as the nearest road, be-
fore l came across any game larger
than red squirrels and three cartridges
had succeeded In bagging. / was
getting quite tired and discouraged
and strongly thinking of returning
home, when suddenly noble moose
sprang from cover right under my very
nose and went crashing away through
the thick swamp growth of cedar,
spruce and tamarack.
was good deal chagrined at miss
ing splendid chance of bagging such
noble game, but the trail through the
swamp was still plain before me
though the animal that made it had
disappeared. i rushed along through
the swamps and over hill-tops for sew
eral hours, utterly oblivious of time
and weather. l only realized that
was hot upon the qnarry's traces,
though still unable to catch a glimpse
of him.
Suddenly bowling gale swept down
upon the bending tree-tops, bearing a
binding whirl of snowflakes with it
as it rushed onward; and / became
sensible Of the fact that l was miles
deep in the trackless forest and had
better be getting home again as soon
as possible. So ] abandoned the fruit
less chase, took my bearings as well
as l could, and hastily set out upon my
return.
The storm momentarily increased
in fury, and soon was almost blinded
by the driving snow. At last the
blizzard became so terrific that il was
utterly impossible to see any distance
ahead, and the singing cold grew
more and moro intense with every
instant.
How long / struggled onward do
not know; it seemed an age. 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 l had the strength left to
struggle, and so still staggered on.
At last it seemed as II / could go no
farther. My heart was beating like a
trip-hammer in my bosom. and my
lungs burned as If the air / breathed
were liquid fire. Tho sweat rolled
down my limbs in hot floods, while
my extremities were freezing. I felt
that must do something different or
die then and there, in spite of all my
efforts.
knew that a longer delay would
probably be fatal, and yet l was worn
out and exhausted. Suddenly a
thought flashed on my mind like an IN
spiration; CLEAN of hope from heaven
my matchbox. Could | manage to
kindle q fire?
Hastily trampled down the snow in
the lea OF the protecting rock, and tore
some branches from dead spruce that
stood close at hand: l made a little
pile of them, and lowered over it as
drew the tiny box from my pocket and
opened it with eager, trembling fing-
ers. In it were six matches and that
was all.
/ crouched low over my precious
pile of brushwood and scratched one OF
them upon the side of the rock. My
hasty fingers were numb and almost
useless, and the lighted end broke of
and was extinguished in the snow al
most at the instant it took fire.
With the eagerness of one whose life
depends upon the success of his efforts
7 tried the next one, but with far
greater care. My God! 1t refused TO
light.
Again and AGAIN ] tried, but all in
vain; they had become damp, and
would not ignite. At last only two re-
NAMED.
/ struck the fifth and oh joy! A
slender tongue of flame shot upward
through the storm, and my chilled
fingers felt its grateful warmth as j
applied it to the heap of twigs before