The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-06-01

want Of breath, we were obliged to come
down to a walks the pursuing vapor
overhauled us hand over hand.
Look, Ted!" Frank exclaimed; lit
will be upon us in minute! We must
get our bearings while we can. Our
sapp is some way off to the left,
think, but we had better turn our backs
square to the cloud and go straight up
hill with it, turning to the left after
we get into the woods. Don't you think
SOP"
"Yes," l assented, that will be the
best way. 1t doesn't so much matter
about being lost in the woods, because
we can make fire there; but here"
Before l had finished speaking the
mist enveloped US. All the features of
the landscape were blotted out in mo-
ment; we could not see two steps in any
direction.
Our expectation that the motion of
the cloud would help to direct our
course proved to be baseless; the bill
lowy mass seemed to have no motion
at ALL Our only resource, therefore.
was to keep on going uphill as nearly
in straight line as possible. Uphill we
went accordingly, and soon we had the
satisfaction of finding that we had left
the snow bed and were walking on the
bare rocks. Over these we blindly
stumbled for a long distance, sone-
times inclining uphill and sometimes
down, until, presently, we made dis
covery which took the heart out of us
entirely. We came upon an extensive
field of old snow; thing we had not ex-
pected to find on the camp side OF the
mountain. The momentous question at
once arose: Was this one of the fields
we had already traversed, or were we
still going in the right direction? Up
to this time we had felt some confidence
that the course we we're pursuing would
eventually bring us to the woods. but
now all confidence seemed to slip away
from us, and the feeling that we were
lost took it's place.
There are few things more distressing
to the novice, at least-than that sud-
den sense of being lost 1t is a terrify-
ing sensation. Like so many others in
similar case, I was seized With an in
sane desire to run from the spot, no
matter in which direction, and had |
been alone | should perhaps have given
way to it--and that, | expect, auld
have been the end of my story. My
stout-hearted companion, however,
brought me to my senses again by lay
ing his hand upon my arm and saying,
in his ordinary sober tones:
Brace up, old man. We mustn't lose
our heads if we can help it. Let us sit
down and think"
To sit on a cold stone in that chill at
mosphere and try to think connectedly
between the shivers was not cheerful
proceeding, but it had the desired ef-
feet of steadying our nerves, even
though our discussion of the situation
did bring us to the deliberate conclu-
sion that neither of us had the least
idea as to which was our proper direc-
ton.
If. as the presence of the snow bed be-
fore us led us to fear, we had turned
round in our wanderings and were
facing the wrong way, we were lost.
Should we be compelled to pass the
night up there without fire, we should
stand very fair chance of freezing to
death; for, even down at the camp, 1000
feet lower, there had been a rim Of ice
along the edge of the creek that morn
ing. Besides this, it might snow, and,
moreover, it might keep on showing
for two or three days, for all we could
tell, in which case the prospect of our
ever getting home again would be poor,
indeed.
We had hardly reached this conclu
sion when the last straw was added to
our burden; that which we had espe-
cially feared came about; it began TO
snow, steadily and thickly.
This new misfortune seemed to de-
prive us of any little hope that re-
mained and for some time we sat still,
saying nothing and hardly daring to
look at each other. Presently, how
ever, glanced at my companion, when,
instantly, hope sprang up afresh.
1--WE are right, Frank; we are right,
after ALL" / almost shouted. Your
back is covered with snow, and there is
none on the front of your coat. Unless
the wind has changed since we started
our proper course is straight forward"
Ted, you're a genius!" cried Frank,
springing to his feet. Come on. Well
try it, anyhow"
1t was no easy matter to steer by
the wind, for it's motion was SO very
slight that our own forward movement
made it appear to be blowing in our
faces, and in consequence we had to
stop every now and then to make sure
we had not turned round. Then, too,
as soon as we had crossed the snow bed
and had come among the loose rocks
again it was necessary to move with
great caution, for, the rocks being now
covered with a coating of fresh snow,
there was danger of twisting ones
ankle by setting his foot in some con-
cealed crevice.
We kept steadily, if slowly, on, how
ever, first one leading and then the 9th
er, until presently we came upon an
object, the sight of which filled us with