The San Francisco call., 1898-06-19


 cred with icicles, were like huge Christmas trees, and as the icicles clinked together the night before Christmas they made us all think of jolly old Santa Claus and the bells on his reindeers The cold wind piped merry tunes about our stout old cabin.
 Sure enough" said Tom Nelson, as he tipped his chair back against the wall, near the stove, and sighed in com fort. "this is Christmas eve. Two years ago I was alone at night skating on Lake Superior. Ahl That was the night l will never forget"
 "No, I should say not" piped in Ed Martin of Santa Barbara, that was the night the wolves chased you"
 Uncle Ben coaxed for the story, and Tom told of an exciting adventure in which he was an actor.
 "I went out skating in the morning, leaving the village where I had been stopping for a few days. The day was clear, I was fond of skating, the ice was in fine condition, and l had the promise of fine sport. l skated along easily. mile after mile, enjoying the scenery, and by noon was at an Indian village forty miles away. There l talked with the Indians and they asked me to eat with them. We had nice ven- ison and fish that they had caught through the ice and some roasted ground nuts. The chiefs squaw was a good cook and everything was right for my palate.
 After eating I could not very we'll run away at once, although I was anx- ious to start, for 1 thought I saw signs of a snow cloud coming down from the north. I remained until I had done all that politeness could require, and then said that I would go.
 "'Go. no, no.' said the chief and his io coming, and you will be lost and per haps fall through the holes in the ice cut by the fishermen and be drowned. Stay with us until the storm is over.
 But I was resolute about going. 1 had promised Ed Martin that I would be back at night so that we might start bear hunting the next day, and al- though I doubted whether the snow that was coming might not put an end to our hunting expedition for the pres ent, I wished to keep my promise. Be- sides, I was too vain to admit that l was afraid The ice was clear of snow. The wind was in the right direction to help me along, and I figured that the forty miles distance between me and my destination could be covered in two hours and half at the outside.
 "All the Indians said had no effect, and I was off, with their farewells lin- gering in my ears as my skate steels slid along the ice smooth ly. I knew as well as they did that a storm would come soon, but believed that it would not prove to be a serious matter. The wind cut like a knife and so I rolled my fur cap closely about my face to protect 1t from the frost, as 1 skated and kept well off from shore that I might get all the help possible from the wind. Very soon there was a gale blowing and I was making great headway and was laughing at the fears expressed by the Indians, when suddenly the snow began to fall.
 ",rhe snow was so thick that 1t half suffocated me, for the wind came at times in swirls and acted queerly, pitching the snowf1akes into my face and so showing that 1t was turning. was alarmed at this, for I knew per fectly well that If the wind should be against me, blowing at its present speed, might not reach home by dark Indeed. although it was far from night