Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-12-10


the horizon
.'It's odd,n said Gordon in tone OF per-
| plexity, after looking about on the snow
around US, "it's odd that there are no
marks Of feet. / saw by the ticket on the
wall last night that there were 600 and odd
| in the kameras, and one would think that
some OF that number surely would take the
path we have chosen. There were but two
ways to 60"
It was a mystery to me also, but thought
| II an advantage, for the majority Of the
convicts we had passed on the road were
horrible looking villains, the number OF
unshackled prisoncrs-men exiled for po-
litical oIenses-being very small indeed.
Besides this, 1t seemed to mo that the fewer
footprints there were in the snow the less
likelihood there was Of pursuit being made
In orr direction, as there would certainly
be better chance Of making captives in the
other, When It grew lighter, we also struck
into the forest and sat down under canopy
of frozen snow spread over the meeting
boughs Of the great pines.
We were not cold, for there was no wind,
and exercise had thoroughly warmed our
blood, but we were tired, and already
hunger was suggesting the question What
are we to eati'
But we said nothing on the subject for
some time, fearing to betray our own mis-
givings. At length Gordon. after looking
round him in silence, said:
"Awfully quiet in here, isn't it,"
! nodded, looking around me also. In
deed the stiffness was, in the true sense Of
the word, awful.
81 can't see q living thing anywhere" he
continued, land yet there must be, you
know"
"Iarns told me there were wolves in the
forests Are they good to eats"
well, I've never tried 'em," he answered
evasively, conccaling whatever disagreeable
reflections this question may have suggest
ed, but one thing IL certain, they wouldn't
exist II there were nothing for them to eat
II we could knock over rabbit now, or
even an old crow, we could soon make
fire TO cook him, aud then we should be as
right as rain"
lie had mechanically filled his pipe and
was now about to light 1t. Hestopped, and
i saw him ruefully counting the small
number Of vestas that remained in his box
When they were gone, there would be no
more smoking.
~ say, do you think you could smoke a
cigarette" he asked hopefully. "'Baccy's
a wonderful comfort at all times, but when
you're bit pinched, you lsnow''--
He pulled out his tobacco pouch tempt
ingly. Itold him would rather not try
1t yet awhile.
u think shall enjoy It more presently"
said he, putting his pipe in his pocket
Then | noticed by the limpness Of his
pouch us he put that away that his tobacco
was nearly all gone.
When we began to feel chilly, we walked
on again, keeping under the trees with the
hope Of finding some animal that might
serve us for food, the snowdrift that edged
the wood being our guide.
Gordon had provided himself with u
stout stick, but we saw no sign Of living
creature the whole day, and the only thing
we found to eat was some frozen moss mud
leAthery kind Of licheu. On and on
we went, skirting the edge Of the plain,
through the interminable forest, until the
light began to fade; then we went out and
looked beyond the drift The boundloss
plain, with the edgng of black pines, was
all we saw-nothing else
we must think now OF making our.
selves comfortable for the night" said
Gordon Ms we re-entered the forest. "Wo
Will have good fire at any rate"
Fuel was not wanting The edge of the
wood was strewn with broken woodlands
torn from the trees by the gales that swept
across the plain, or broken down in former
winters by the weight OF ice and snow. We
collected great heap and having built the
foundation OF our fire Gordon, with inf.
mite care struck ono OF his precious matches
aud lit the pile OF dry leaves and FIR cones.
knew then why he had refrained from
smoking all day. Our lives depended on
those vestas, for II they gave out before we
could get fresh supply we must freeze to
death.
rs soon as the Ere was well alight we
scraped narrow trench, about six feet
long, in the thick bed OF fir needles facing
the IRE, md framing n kind OF roof over 1t
with pine branches piled n mnss of twir,,
and rubbish OF all kinds on TOP so us to ex.
cludc the cold air. We both worked with
will, leaving Off now and then TO nut fresh
iuel on the fire, and when 10 was finished
felt very we'll satisfied with our perform
Rnce.
Now" said Gordon when we had put
the finishing touch to the roof. "crcep i'm
slde, mRdemoisellc, and see II you can yet a
few hours sleep"
but we have got to make tbcreboltor
for you" slid l.
NO; one will serve us both-turn and
turn about. 1t won't do to let tho fro 90
down, you know"-it was in this way he
disguised his fear Of attack by wolves |
and promise you to take my fun share OF
resi- as soon us You have had yours"
oropt into the trench, and stretching |
myself ont at full length found that nc |
springy fir needles made better bed than
the hard plnnks of the kameras. 1t wns |
pleasantly warm, too, with the heat thrown |
out by the fire.
Gordon seated himself at the opeping
with his heavy stick beside him, and Will |
deep Sigh Of satisfaction lit the first nina
of the day. 1t was good to see the bappy
content in his face as he slowly smotti
letting the clouds issue slowly from M
lips, and theleaping flames OF the frs be'
yond him. Indeed, but for the craving N
hunger had no reason to complain. but a
good deal TO be thankful for
Il was not long before dropped of and
slept soundly as it seemed to me. for n
good long while. But when awoke Cor
don declared that it was not vet time Ia
think about changing the watch; So. mot
unw'lingly, but perhaps selfshIy.
dropped OF again.
awoSo second time to find him sin
pa1iehtly sitting on guard at my feet. bnt
ne gave nue. the same answer and would
NOT permit me totalse his place. And when