The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-16


see n men suffer can understand what
they are capable of. have seen men
on long ride across the desert, when
they never opened their mouths To
make, a complaint, though their eyes
were sunken, their lips drawn into
ghastiy expression; and their faces of
the colo off 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 desperat tie straits you will follow
the man who leads, without a groan
or a m,rmur, because you know there
is nothing else TO do.
"But what / started out 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 a rush. Our cattle be-
gan to.die and we could do'nothing for
| them. We Aost our bronchos, but il
made lfttle difference, for they were of
| no use to us. A man could not ride ten
feet from camp. When il did not snow
| driving sleet few on a gale and cut
mans face in ribbons The dogs could
not sleep at nights il was so cold, and
often when the freezing air wakened
| me / saw some poor fellow in the room
crouched. down in his blankets, holding
his teeth together to keep from shout
iA,g out a terrible oath.
at got along toward spring and we
wene as helpless as ever, for the snow
began to soften in'the day, hardening
with the chill of night, and anyone
who ventaned into it was inviting a
sure death in what was worse than
uricksand- Provisions had run low
and we had all been hungry for long
time. The M ems bones began to stick
out of their faces, and through their
skins, and at,times there was strange
light in their eyes. But 1 never saw
braver seat OF men-and they were
rough Aot. too.
"'Wesve just got TO stand it till it's
over was what every one said. when
il did setNn1 as il bullet in the brain
would be- better than fighting it out
to the end
.One day, when at last we began to
see light ar cad, something came stag
Qering into our cabin and fell across
| the floor ne,lr the stove. We picked it
up and turned IL over TO look at it, II
was a man with beardless face, thin
| lips and delicate nostrils. The man
| couldn't have weighed a hundred
pounds, he Was so wasted. We chafed
him, tried 10 Get something warm into
him and then rolled him up in warm
blankets. I 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. IL was a
face such as had never before seen on
the plains. 1t, 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 a woman than a man, and
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 q
faint smile.
"lt's after midnight answered,
soothingly. Go to sleep again
"'Have you any whisky that you can
give me-? he asked.
"'No; havent,had a dropin days
said.
I'm sorry he answered, Il think il
would do me good Then he sat up
among his blankets, giving a start as
he looked around him.
"'When did l get here? he asked,
eagerly.
To-day said. you are wei.
come.
| "'Goodr he said, in answer to my
first sentence. Il 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 IL you needed it,
You have had worse time than we
have
"'No, | am not going TO sleep again.
he said, in tone of decision.
"You'd BETTER l said, we will have
sick man on our hands You need
sleep before you can eat--what we can
give you
| We got lo get away from more TO-
morrow he said, smiling confidently.
"'You can't do it, / said. 1T is no
use TO try You'll be dead man IL
you do, before tomorrow night
"'oh, / am going he answered,
quietly.
"'Try TO get little more sleep,
then ] urged coaxingly, pretending 10
humor him.
81 can't he answered, fretfully.
81 begged him 10 try, and he turned
over in his blankets. lie tossed for
awhile. Then he attempted 10 be still,
feigning sleep At last he drew him
self up with jerk.
"'I can't do it, he said. feverishly.
Why don't you sleep YOURSELF he
asked, trying 20 be cheerful Have I
| got your blankets?'