Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1902-01-16

stumbling ovef the hummocks Of
sand ipf the Platte river bottoms.
among u the scrnggy willows that
markd the scanty watercourses in
its bel ~
The my faith in animal tatelli.
gence began to waver, and Atterly
concluded that neither the shs~p nor
the dog knew any more than did of
our whereabouts or destination. Be-
ing chilled through, by, the cutting
wind. wet from the icy needles that
penetrated my clothes and melted. I
was in discouraged stupor, and
wanted nothing 30 much as to lie
down and sleep.
The dog was exhibiting signs Of
alarm. He struggled round the flank
of the hating flock with whines Of
eagerness, and finally disappeared.
fancied thatsI once heard his bark
above the ronr Of the blizzard, but
did not attempt to learn what was
the matter. was too exhausted and
desperate to know OF care.
But the sheep, after struggling to
crowd forward, and slipping to right
and left, stopped and began to lie
down and seek to get under one an
other in the snow. Except for the
tumult of the storm and the shrill
patter of the ice on the low willows,
there was no further sound. AS I
staggered toward the sheep, thought
that, as / must lie down, I should
seek the shelter of their bodies. So I
crawled over the backs of dozen of
the wearied animals and then kicked
and pushed my way down between
the heavy, ill-smelling feeces. The
animals made way for me and then
crowded round me SO closely that
had to force my face out to keep from
smothering. The darkening night
was closing down, the blizzard swept
above, and the sleet sifted unceasing-
ly between the warm, wet sides Of
my protectors.
An overpowering desire to sleep was
upon me, but struggled against it,
feeling that danger lurked in all this
soothing comfort. But the heavy
warmth of the sheep and their quiet
ness so affected me that soon drift
ed into slumber. At troubled periods
I awoke to find darkness all about,
but the breathing of my feecy COM
panions again and again renewed my
drowsy sense of security and comfort
till oblivion came once more. It was
only when the cramped position of
my body made a change necessary
that I awoke enough to see that there
was dim light shining through the
snow above me.
I broke through the chilly covering
to find it broad daylight; the sun,
high in the cloudless sky, was glaring
intolerably on the wide, white coun-
try. The sheep were still quiet under
their snow blanket, and the surface
was unbroken, but beyond them saw
the black water Of the open river
smoking against its glittering banks.
The blind march had led US out on
narrow, sandy peninsula, where the
river curved around in its narrow bed,
and here, it seemed, the faithful dog
had OWNED danger and had slipped
around the flock in time to keep the
leaders from venturing on the treach-
erous ice.
Where the brave fellow was I did
not know until climbed the low bank
and discovered him watchfully upright
on the highest point, gazing across
the drifts to the town, which was, to
my amazement, hardly mile away.
He welcomed me with delight and saw
me plunge into the snow toward the
settlement with barks of pleasure and
encouragement, but did not offer to
follow the broken path. I felt so
happy at the termination of the adj
venture that I soon covered the dis
lance, hungry and weak though was.
Then found that the children and
my sister had stayed all night in the
schoolhouse, and had suffered but lit
tie discomfort. 45,
My runaway mule was discovered
in the shelter Of crib in the town;
his mate was frozen to death as he lay
by the wagon. ft aSf3 tlie
The rancher. who owned the sheep
was out early looking them up, and,
although nearly one-half Of them had
persisted on the march, or died before
they could be dug out, he was glad
enough to find any of them alive.
As for the gallant dog, I tried in
vain to buy him Of the owner; he
would not consider any price. But for
many years used to make frequent
trips to the ranch for the sole pur-
pose of a visit to the brave and saga
cious Blink. Youths Companion.
Vi Beating an Elopement. si55y
eyes, I have had my little romance"
sighed the drummer. as the talk
turned on loye. & If things had gone
ripht with me- ahO,11d have rnarr;od