Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-01-18

behind us for pursuing Cossacks, but
not u spcc< rose ont Of the great white
plain The remains of the ctapc were lost
to sight There was no sign of habtation
or living creature between us and the dark
line of far distant forest which bounded
the horizon.
"Its odd" said Gordon in II tone of per-
plexity, after looking about ON the snow
around us, tits odd that there are no
marks of feet | saw by the ticket on the
wall last night that there We're 600 and odd
III 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 20.
Ii was a mystery to me also. but thought
It an advantage, for the majority of the
convicts we had passed on the road were
horrible looking villains, the number of
unshackled prisoners eXilcd for po-
litical offenses-being very small indeed
Besides this it seemed TO me thHtthe fewer
footprints there were in the snow the less
likelihood there was of pursuit being made
in our direction, as there would certainly
be a better chance Of making captives in the
other. When it grew lighter, wculso 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 eat? p
But we said nothing on the subject 10,
sone time. fearing to betray our own ms
givings. At length Gordon, after looking
round him in silence, said:
lawfully quiet in here ism / ii -
| nodded, looking around me also. In
deed the stiffness was, in the true sense of
the word, awful.
81 can't see It living thing anywhere" ne
continued, land yet there must be, you
know"
"Taras told me there were wolves in the
forests. Are they good to eat:'
"Wcll. I've nevertrcd EN-, he answered
evasively. conceaing whatever disagreeable
reflections this question may have suggest
ed, but one thing i, certain. they wouldn't
exist if there were nothing for them to eat.
If we could knock over Il rabbit now. or
even an old crow, we could soon make
fire to cook him and then we should be as
right as rain
He had mechanically filled his pipe and
was now about to light it. He stopped and
] saw him ruefully counting the small
number of vestas that remained in his box.
When they were gone, there would be no
more smoking.
IL say, do Won think you could smoke
cigarette?' he asked hopefully. Baccy's
wonderful comfort AT all times. but when
you're "A bit pnchcd, You know -
He pulled out lis tobacco pouch tempt
iuglv. | told him would rather not try
it yet awhile.
II think shall enjoy it more presently"
said he, putting his pipe in hls pocket.
Then / noticed hy the limpnoss of his
pouch as 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 >uowdrift that edged
the wood being our guide.
Gordon had provided himself with II
stout stick, but we saw no sign of living
creature The whole day, aud the only thing
we found to cat was some frozen moss and
leathery kind of lichen. On and on
we went, skirting the edge of the plain,
through the interminablc forest. until the
light began to fade then we went out and
looked beyond the drift. The boundle,s
plain with the edgng Of black pines, was
all we saw-nothing else.
we must think now Of making our
selves comfortable Tor the night" said
Gordon as We rc-cutcrcd the forest I'VE
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 a great heap. and having built the
foundation of our fire Gordon with inf
mite care, struck one of his precious matches
and 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 if they gave out before we
could get Il fresh supply we must freeze to
death.
As soon as the fire was well alight we
scraped Il narrow trench, about six feet
long in the thcl, bed of fir needles facing
the fire, and framing II kind of roof over il
with pine branches piled mass of twigs
and rubbish of all kinds on top so rs to eX.
! clude the cold air We both worked will
Il will. leaving oil row and then to plt fresh
fuel ON the fire, and VIXEN it was finished
felt very well satisfied with our perform
+ ance
Now" said Gordon when we had put
. the NnShlnS tOuCn 10 tlc ROOF, creep III
SIDE mademoisellc, and see ii you can yet q
few hours sleep
"Butwe have got TO make another shelter
for You, said !.
NO; one will serve us hoth--turn anu
turn about. 1t won't do to let the fire 70
down, you know"-it was in this way h,
disguised his fear of attack by wolves
land promise you 10 take my full share o
rest as soon as you have had yours"
| crept into the trench, and STRETCHING
myself out at full length found that til,
springy fir needles made better bed than
the hard planks Of the kameras. 1t wa,
pleasantly warm, too, with the heat throw
out by the fire.
Gordon seated himself at the opening
with his heavy stick beside him, and witt
a deep sigh of satisfaction lit the first pip,
of the day II was good to see the happ,
content in his face rs he slowly smoked
letting the clouds issue slowly from hi.
lips, and the lcaping flames of the fire be
yond him. Indeed, but for the craving o
hunger, had no reason TO complain, but
good deal to be thankful for