Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-05-14

HNVNt mNCnluS TINS assumption Nt
cheertulneSS was again to the fore as
they ate a very Sparing meal, half OF
what had been left But there could
be no crossing the ice that day. The
snow had fallen heavily in great flakes
during the night and instead Of treez
ing over threatened rather to melt a.
the sun waNcd strong AlCC'S spirits
tell II was not now the Compauy's
goods he was anxious about, It was
Loo though how Loo could be in the
remotest way connected with that In
dian village across the lake passed his
own powers Of superstition, lie only
telt lmpellel to 80 forward; il seemed
to him at times Ms though she must he
there, although he laughed at the utter
ahSurditN Of such fancy.
This day was hut a repetition OF yes
terday hunting game, but finding
none. Pierre had shared a rabbit. but
II had got away somehow and at night
they lay down hungry and disCour-
aged, not knowing where they were to
get food for the morrow
The morrow come, still SOFT and
thawinl
Gould We not 80 back the way we
came" suggested Mr. Marin.
An Mon Dicu, gaspcd rtcrrc.
Seven days tramp; lee all broke up
everywhere! No food Ven big lake
break, little lake break. too We want
canoe. We hat no canoe"
Tie felt Pierre was right 1t would
be simply impossible to retraNcrsc the
way they had come, now that II was
one long waste Of snow slush. with
probability OF the ice being broken up
on the lakes There was nothing now
but to wait and in the meantime try
and trap some wild animal, In order to
keep the life in them
but it was no easy task trapping In
the soddru slush, in which the tracks
Of the cartridges sank and We're soon
ohlit,ratcd.
For two days they had been without
food sucking a little snow now and
again to appcasc the hunger which had
begun to gnaw distrcssingly, but on
the third day they heard a shout
Pierre had caught small rabbit II
was n tiny creature of It's kind. but he
had slit it's throat and drank the warm
blood grecdily, before being able to ut,
tev that shout MIR. Marin and Alec
had inst returned to eamp exhausted
and discouraged, when he appeared
carving that now lrosc. ot life H., his
hand Int they had sense enough to he
cautious and restrain their nnpctites
Who could tell when they mipht find
another animal? They cooked halr
and divided II among them. rcscrving
the other half for another day-for
alas, the weather was evidently imbucd
with the breath of spring Alec him
self and Pierre began 10 doubt the nos
sibility Of the lake freezing up again
this season.
Meanwhile the situation must be
faced. Had the ground been frozen
or dry they might have succeeded in
trapping or catching some animal: as
II was the fact stared them In the face
that here they were hcmmed in. with
nothing but starvation before them.
unless the lake rro2e over again, which
ms vet there was no sign of. once. in
deed. Alec had for moment or two
given way TO despair. For two days
previously they had had nothing but
an unpalatablc dcCoction made from
dried leaves, gathered here and there
under the shorter hrushwood
Poor Pierre had broken completely
down, as indeed, the hall-brcods al
ways do first, not having the stamina
of purcr race. He had risen mp that
morning only TO stagger and fall for
ward on his race and there was moth
ing they could do for him but lay him
back upon his bed of spruce.
Mr. Marin, though exhausted and
weak, had splendid constitution and
Whatever MS ,houeh's were ne sun
SPOKE cheer'nlIy' but mere was an
"''''','oilal seh,'''''Ss III MS 'ohr '""'
'our''" AIc', ne i'''e''e" 'ha' " was
~ because OF ms la,'l''ai Anxiety he
iiai peeh pronEh' mo ms 'ronpi''
coming ~ 'ho way on, mere 10 NUM-
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