The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-27


seen men suffer can understand what
they are capable Of l have seen men
on long ride across the desert, when
they never opened their mouths &c
make a complaint, though their eyes
were Bunken, their lips drawn into q
CHASTITY expression, aud their faces OF
the color of the allali Around on the
plain. That is because men can get
used to It It's different with horses,
cattle and dogs. You must be brutal
with them to make them understand
that they must go on But when you
are in desperate straits you will follow
the man who leads, without groan
or murmur, because you know there
is nothing else 10 do.
"But what I started ont to do was to
give You one case in point. We were
out in Colorado IN those days raising
cattle. Winter came down upon Us
that year with rush Our cattle be-
gan to die and we could dosnothing for
them. We lost our broHchos, but it
made little difference, for they were OF
no use to U.s. 4 man could not ride ten
feet from camp When it did not snow
driving sleet few on gale and cut a
mans face in ribbons. The dogs could
not sleep at night, il was so cold, and
often when the freezing air Weakened
me saw some poor fellow in the room
crouched down in his blankets, holding
his teeth together to keep from shout
ing out a terrible oath.
SIT got along toward spring and we
were as helpless as ever, for the snow
began to soften in the day, hardening
with the chill of night and anyone
who ventured into it was inviting a
sure death in what was worse than
q quiclzsand. Provisions had run low
and we had all been hungry for long
time. The mems bones began to stick
out Of their faces, and through their
skins, and at times there was strange
light in their eyes. But I never saw a
drawer set of, men-and they were a
rough lot. too.
"'We've just got to stand it till it's
over was what every one said, when
1t did seem as il a bullet in the brain
would be better than fighting it out
to the end.
Zone day, when at last we began to
see light ahead, something came stag
gering into our cabin and fell across
the floor near the stove. We picked il
up and turned it over to look at it. It
was a man with beardlesS face, thin
lips and delicate nostrile. The man
couldn't have weighed a hundred
pounds, he was so wasted. We chafed
him, tried to get something warm into
him and then rolled him up in warm
blankets. 1 was sitting by the stove
looking at his white face at midnight.
The room was warm that night, and
the stove door was open SO that the
light fell on the starved sleeper, but
would not shut off the light, for
wanted to look at his face. It was q
face such as had never before seen on
the plains. It must have been oval and
handsome before suffering and cold
had drawn it out to thinness. His dark
lashes were long, and they lay far
down on his cheek, darker than the
terrible circle under his eyes He was
more like woman than a man, and 1
was gazing at him in pity when his
eyes opened slowly, with dark light
in them, and looked at me.
"'What time is it?' he asked, with a
faint smile.
Its after midnight 1 answered,
soothingIy. Go to sleep again
"'Have you any whisky that you can
give me?' he asked
"'No; haven't had drop in days
said.
I'm sorry he answered, Il think it
would do me good Then he sat up
among his blankets, giving start as
he looked around him.
"'When did l get here" he asked,
eagerly.
To-day I said You arc well
come
"NGoodP he said, In answer to my
first sentence. 4 was afraid had been
sick on your hands-that 1 had lost
time
"'No, you have only been here about
twelve hours, replied. Better go to
sleep You look as If you needed it.
You have had a worse time than we
have
Ono, I am not going to sleep again,
ne said, in q tone Of decision
YOU'D better said, we viii have
a sick man on our hands You need
sleep before you can eat-what we can
give you
1--we got to get away from hero to
morrow he said smiling confidently.
"'You can't do it I said 1t is no
use to try. You'll De dead man if
! YOU do, before tomorrow night
"Oh, l am going he answered,
quietly.
TRY TO ge. little more sleep
then l urged coaxinyly, pretending to
hulnor him
81 can't he answered, frettuny.
4 begged him to try, and he turned
over in his blankets. he tossed for
awhile Then he attempted 70 be still,
feigning sleep. At last he drew him
self Up with jerk.
81 can't do it he said, feverlshlT.
Why dou't you sleep Yourself he
asked, trying 70 be cheerful Have |
. got your blaakets?'
Yes said, but I don't want
them. can sleep in the daytime It's
about all I have % do
well he said p-opping himself
up and looking al me with his dark
eyes, I'm glad ! stumbled iato your
camp. l was about gone 4 FAINT
smile passed across his lips
1--WE viii pull you around n good
shape said, encouragingIy. bit did
not believe what l said There was
something strangely unreal about rs
brightness and cies-ress Of mind
II an all right now. be sad. cheer
fully This warmth is good after what