The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-07-07

spire men to action even If the plight
OF Pete proved insufficient.
Big Ben looked at her and then at
the ice. Then he started out over the
frozen bay. 1t required great and
self-sacrificing courage TO do this
thing. AS his name implied, he was
big and strong, but he was delfber-
ately placing himself in situation
where his size and strength would
avail nothing-and to what purpose?
He could do nothing but hurry Pete
a little, If he reached him. No physi-
cal prowess, no mental resourceful-
ness, would enable him to escape the
danger. II the ice broke from the
east shore, he would be as helpless as
a child, and the death that awaited
him would be an agonizing one. with
its preface hopeless despair.
Its widening on the other side!"
came the cry from the shore, but he
did not even turn his head. With q
long, strong stride, that made his
progress rapid without seeming SO, he
pushed on, while a woman back Of the
crowd of men clasped her hands and
cried brokenly: God be good to Big
Bent" and the men ceased talking to
watch the silence. There were those
among them who would rush into q
burning building to rescue an inmate;
there were those who would brave q
storm to bring of people from a
wreck; for in these deeds there would
be the thrill of excitement that makes
men careless of danger, and also there
would be, even at the worst, fight
ing chance for life. But the thrill of
excitement was lacking in that long
walk over the ice; there was time for
reflection; there was little that the
man could do, and his chance for life
was a gambling, rather than fight
ing, chance. Wherefore, the men on
the shore-brave men, most Of them
remained behind and watched in ST.
lence, save for an occasional verbal
bulletin by the man with the field
glass.
Out on the ice Pete plodded YEARLY
along. He did not look behind, and
only occasionally looked ahead to see
that he was keeping the right direc-
ton. His gaze rested on his feet and
the slush and ice just before them.
and he was wondering in stolid sort
of way if he could keep those feet
going until he reached shore. Behind
him, at the end Of long rope, came
the homemade sled, on which were
tied the bundles and packages for
which he had ignorantly risked his
life. These contained supplies, given
him in payment for work done pre-
viously on the peninsula, and how
sadly they were needed at this time
only he and his wife knew.
Suddenly he became aware. that
some one was approaching, and he
wondered. That nine-mile walk over
the ice was not one to be undertaken
for pleasure, and even in mid-winter,
when the ice was good, few cared to
cross the bay in that way. However,
it did not concern him, so he dropped
his gaze to his feet again, and re-
sumed his speculation as to whether
those feet would carry him home
The next time he looked up it was
evident the man was coming directly
to him, but still he only wondered
idly. He was not particularly inter-
ested. If the man were going his way,
and would help him with the sled, 1t
would be different, but there was small
satisfaction in passing the time of day
with either friend or stranger out on
the ice of Grand Traverse bay. So,
he continued to let his interest center
in his feet, until 1t became necessary
to make sure of his course again.
Then the man was within hailing dis
lance and he recognized him.
Finding his attention momentarily
withdrawn from them, Pete's feet
stopped moving and Pete stood still.
Having come to halt, his next nat
ural impulse would be to look about
him and he would see his danger.
When such man as Pete is fright
ened his fear is wild and unreason-
ing; his stolidity is the stolidity of
ignorance, and when that is gone he
loses his head. Furthermore. the
man was almost on the point of phys
ical collapse. y
"Hullo, Pete!" cried Big Ben; and
'Pete's shifting gaze was again turned
in the right direction. Come along,
Pete. I'll help you!" was the CHEEKY
cry that followed.
Pete's weary feet began to move
again and a moment later Big Ben
was beside him and had hold Of the
sled rope.
Pretty hard trip, Pete?" he asked,
casually. &i.s
Pete nodded, but said nothing He
was not man of many words, any
way, and Just at this moment he was
wondering in an indefinite sort of way
why this man had come SO far out on
the bay only to turn back. But 1t
really was matter Of no Importance:
Pete was content to accept the help
that came to him without any deep
questioning.
knew you'd be tired" remarked