The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-10-13
CHAPTER ~.
Odd Companions.

After releasing the old man and the
child from their ENHANCEMENT they
were carried to the nearest fsherman's
cabin. The man, though lashed TO the
spar and pinioned to the earth by the
driftwood was held no closer than was
the babe. His arms held 1t like a
wise. They had been so long about it
that they had formed like clasps
around the body and, benumbed by
the cold, they were as difficult to pry
apart as are the cleepers which hold a
vine in its upward climb.
Young as 1t was, only few weeks
old, the infant possessed more vitality
than did lite aged protector. 1t
stretched forth its little hands and legs
with surprising strength and cried pitt
fully, though in q voice that showed
that its lungs were still strong and
healthy.
But the old nan scarcely bTeathed.
He opened his dull eyes for moment
and stared blankly into the faces Of
those directly in the line of his Wis
ion, and then closed them. He was
unconscious Of all that was going on
about him. His long gray hair hung
in strands about his face and neck.
His silken gray beard was matted with
the sand and trash Of the beach. But
for the slow pulsation of his heart he
would have been pronounced dead by
those around HIM.
The women were running about as
busy as only women can be when they
are doing some great act of charity,
and their devotion was increased by
the fact that some dead mothers chi d
had fallen into their hands, and each
felt double responsibility on this ac-
count.
Some were bringing dry clothing
from the wardrobe of their own chill.
dren, others we're warming cows milk
in a small basin on the stove, while a
more thoughtiu' mother was sharing
the breast Of her own babe with the
little waif. And those good women
smiled with tears in their eyes as the
little stranger tugged greedily at its
new found mother breast.
"0h, it will get along all right, "
said one.
"Yes, so long as 1t eats, the signs are
good, said another.
''Just 80 you don't give it too much, "
remarked an elderly woman who was
watching the proceedings.
"But fear it lie all over with the
old gent, I" whispered one of the women
who had just returned from the adjoin-
ing room where the men were working
with the child's elderly companion.
The men were rubbing his arms and
legs, and irons were being heated to
place at his feet. Some brandy had
been forced through his lips, but 1t
was slow in showing encouraging
effects.
His eyes were fixed in his head, his
features were as pale as death. His
firm lips were set as II in his last con-
scious moment he had fixed his determ-
ination upon some given object.
He was little more than five feet
as he lay upon the bed. Still he was
rather plump and well-kept for his age
But his skin was smooth and his mus
cles soft, which indicated that he haC
not been a man Of toll.
When the hair was pushed bacl
from his face broad intelligent fore
head was exposed, Had those fisher
men been able to read phrenologica
signs they would have discovered tina
the aged man before them was no or
binary being. His intellectual fore
head, small feet and hands, dress ant
general appearance indicated that h,
had followed one of the professions.
In the meantime the village physi
clan arrived and aided in resuscitatinl
the old man. The child gradual.
passed away to sleep after its want
were satisfied and slept as soundly a
! il its own mother still hovered over il
1t was a soft sweet sleep such only a
is seen in the repose Of the innocen
before the trials and tribulations Q
life have come to their knowledge.
1t knew not of its lost mother an
father, the fearful storm at sea, tn
hours in the water, the terrible nigh
among the driftwood on the beach. |
slept in a repose akin to perfect bliss,
"she's darling little GIRL" sal
the woman who had shared her ow
child's clothing with the little sleeper
what pretty blue eyes she has,
remarked she who had warmed tn
milk.