New-York tribune., 1895-12-22

general testimony addeo tndt death a
mained at his wfe's home until her 30 these
few months since and was newcomer 20 sv 40
Lake Superior woods. where ne We w.nrins views
we'll liked Subsequent widely diHerlns Rim,
W his oyence and Browns rancor against n.l.
interested me mildly as stt dy IN nuil" u drowsy
but my long sleigh ride had mace ne ,he aeId
and sumber drove philosophy from ,ns had
Outside the brief paroxysm OF srowst3rn dne un
passed. and the atmosphere was again ,, o,o'N"
and heavy. as 1t had been curing anl,ed enT 70 my
Barometer falling" Watkins repEeu -
question as to the probability OF nDe wealnLd wea,d
Means a blizzard | guess; but the gang WON. -.
be idle Tomorrow, anyhow. ana IL couo" ~
better timed for our plans. ..,v
Rejecting somewhat ploomlly on this propneeys
I entered our sleeping cabin. where founu D ~
had retired to his cot, and speedily ioho"eu ~"
example A.. ,,,,
verse had gone to pieces. Then. through tne cn" -.
OF noise that surrounded me as strusseu :"
clear my senses. a familiar voice seemed as piesS-
edy steadying plank 70 a drowning man
The worst has skipped us, nope bIo"n a
cried close to my ear or | snould not nav
heard him The edge Of a cyclone has MI Us
bounded to my feet, scrambiing into the near
est garments. u
shouted rushing the door, but he grpped my
shoulder.
Listen to those pines faing-do you think you
could stand out thereY
A moment later the srrieking wind essened,
the splitting Of timber ceased Another moment
and as is the Of these swift terrors OF the
West. the cyclone was gone as suddenly as u
had come Half stunned we stood staring vacant.
ly. scarcely daring to realize tnat the power o'
the air had left us scathless beside the oestruc-
ton whose extent our present duty To DIS
Brown opened the door.
The night was cold and still death-a deatn
which had followed violence Vague outlines OK
denser shadows In the darkness showed that
other buildings yet remained standing, but there
was neither voice nor movement OF our cohipa"-
ions. ~,
'Hullo boysr' Brown cried striding forth with
a newly lighted lantern. Speak some Of you!
The storm is Over!
AS though released from a spell the place be-
came alive with other lanterns. and figures In
every stage Of undress the strOng-nerved from
tiersmen babbling their relief from the paralysis
of deadly fear as though they were hysterlcai
women.
II was an instant which discovers a leader 70
his fellows, and Brown proved himself to be
worthy.
He rebuked he soothed. he worked. Every
cabin every man. every horse was examined
with prompt thoroughness; and even me croak,
were presently convinced that the camp had
been more scared than hurt Only the cabin next
TO ours had fallen. and its occupants had mar
vellOusly escaped inJurj.
Close upon our sight the cyclone had cut its
wonted swath OF ruin. far could judge,
along the track the seGges travelled to Lake.
town. Across this track trees had been hurled.
piled at some pla ces into formidable barbados,
at others leaving only the wrecks or single shat-
tered trucks.
Brown briefly ended further investigation.
ITS an III wind that blows nobody any good:'
he said grimy We have got months work
done for us inside Of ten minutes. and that you
may be ready TO profit by It, you snail nave
drink, all hands, and go back to bed until day.
| break"
The gang filed toward the cabin TO re-
ceive their grog from Watkins, but heard NUT
terings which recalled sharply to my MIND the
scene OF the early evening, which recent excite
ment had blurred In my memory.
Victor Fouche had started 10 follow the sledge
road to Laketown. and whether he had camped
in the shelter Of a large tree or whether he had
resolved to tramp through the night. the cyclone
must have found him In It's pain
! the boss feels like a murderer, sOrne-
| body growed with a glance over his shoulder.
Brown stood motionless staring into the desc
! late darkness Of the pine woods with stern eyes
! which demanded the heart Of its mystery.
do you fear another Storm" l asked.
Nothing worse than snow, he said. I'll turn
| in directly"
When tardy sleep at length stlled my strained
! nerves ne had not appeared. Nor was he in the
/ cabin when awoke, hours later.
As began my toilet Watkins entered with that
! look OF solemn Importance certain type assumes
! to announce a calamity.
The boss is missing" he exclaimed. I'VE think
he must have gone of at daylight TO plan WORK for
| the gang, and has gone astray.
| 1T was not to plan work he went | SAID,
positively as conviction smote the scales from my
vision. and saw into the agony of an unforgving
! conscience He went to find Victor FoUche."
! Watkins shook his head.
Brown amt that kind" he began His hard
| face softened Yet them two was chuns once.
We going out in search parties. VIII You
! join?"
| | assented and we set forth Immediately In
various directions.
The snow which Brown had anticipated had
flung white mantle across the masses or fallen
timber. but the sun shOne brilliantly now from
the wondrous blue of a Northwestern winter SKY
! Once astray in these vast woods, no tabled laby-
| rinth could be more bewildering. even apart from
this new confusion wrought by the cyclone. We
pursued search with little hope that
! when We behed stumbling toward us. the bowed
| figure OF man, bearing another on his shoulders,
awe mingled with our relief. II was as though We
saw a spectre. not mere heroic flesh and blood.
Victor Fouche unconscious. wound In his
| head had been hurriedly bound, broken arm
roughly slung to his side by mis- rescuer who was
so dazed with exhaustion that we needed force
| 10 take Victor from him Thus made empty hand
ed. he staggered on few PAGES and dropped
senseless
We carried them both to Browns cabin. There
Watkins proved proficient in such practical sur
gerry as frontiersmen acquire from experience.
! He Nictors arm and dressed his various cuts;
/ but for the stupor which possessed Brown he at
tempted little.
"He aint hurt anywhere he said HE is worn
out. He will come. to himself naturally after
bit. And then we shall hear how he found
Fouche."
But that is a story nobody heard
Watkins went away finally to join the gang at
their noon meal, and was left in charge.
AS 7 stood near the foot OF NictOrs couch his
dark eyes opened slowly He gazed up at me with
a bewilderment through which presently pierced
question.
"Dens?" ne gasped. Denis"
His voice. which intensity Of effort had made
loud. stirred Browns sluggish senses.
He struggled to his elbow and stared at the man
/ who had played so many parts in his history
! chum, rival. victim.
The cots were not three teet apart. and as the
two haggard faces confronted each other Brown
cried as II In terror
You dying"
mo. no.. Victor fatered Il shall live and you
| will fOrgive?'
Forgive" Brown interrupted DULY.
Yes; forgive me. and Lois-poor Lois-who
died without your forgiveness"
/ Nictor's whisper sank into silence.
Outside the gang had remembered that this
! Christmas Day. and some tuneful soul had burst
forth into the ancient message OF reconciliation.
Peace on earth. good will toward men,"
Victor smiled
! Whether he moved first or Brown. do not
I know didn't quite clearly. But across the
narrow space that divided the cots two rough
hands met. and left them thus.