Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-04-04

the white snow, and IL bleW IN clouds
about us till the air was filled with 1t.
and we seemed blindly grouping about
In a white bowl OF milk. To open
ones mouth was to choke with the
frozen air. which seemed to pierce the
lungs like red hot needles.
A half hours blind staggering along
convinced me that we were not trav-
cling in a straight line. but were con
tinually turning to the left. | told
Rilliet Of this at our next stop. but we
could not remedy things as 1t was i'm
possible to hold to a straight course.
The trouble OF getting the men on
their feet and keeping them there was
every minute growing more serious.
DR., De Bruler and aroused DIR. Seitz
and got him mp.
"Whazzer mazzer7"
Doc, come on. You can't stop here.
We must keep moving"
ALE zane srashlng machine. Do
You know where we're going2'
We're going all right; come on
Jus lemme lone, can't your
tell you there's something wrong"
Il don't know where the ship Is, an
'>Son don't know; so none of us know.
And what's the use tirelng ourselves
out walking 'round?"
So they would actually argue about
the wisdom of setting down ON tho ice
and freezing
II must have been about 7:3O In the
evening that we stumbled onto a high
pillar of rock that we knew as a land
mark. having called 1t Cathedral
Spire We gathered on the lee side.
men in an indiscriminate heap. glad
OF the slight shelter from the cutting
wind which its rugged side presented
II was a relief to be certain of our To-
cation. though danger was still immi-
nent Nearly all the men were so
overcome with fatigue that they would
not and could not longer exert them
selves and were no sooner resting
than they were asleep Mr.. Rilllet had
been helping me waken them more
than anyone else. but even he was
getting groggy. | was entirely alert
and knew | was up against the hard
est proposition had so far encount-
cred, and was wondering II | could
walk, walk. walk until the following
noon, when the light of day would
show me my way. For us to all
sleep in a bunch would perhaps not
have been fatal, though 1t undoubted-
ly would have been disastrous.
Though the penalty might not have
been life itself, 1t probably would
have been lost fingers. ears, toes or
limbs with Disagreement for life.
We were three miles from the ship,
a mere nothing in good weather. but
out in the dark in the driving snow
and intense cold. on the trackless
waste. without mark to guide us.
distance might as well have been n
hundred
20, say Hello. there! Say, fellows.
don't 20 way"
One of the men woke up from a
troubled dream and thought We had
left him one the ice.
Another was singing softly to him
self and ! stopped 10 hear the words:
Then stand by your glasses. steady"
For this world is world OF lies.
Here's a health to the dead. already.
And here's to the next one that
dies"
We had got started again. though
leaving cathedral spire seemed like
suicide. and already some were drop
ping by the way. when fancied /
heard shout. | almost held my
breath to listen.
Family borne on the wind across
the white snow, certainly heard the
SOUND again.
'Rilllet," | called, they're search
ing for us. Listen, men. you can hear
them"
Again It came, and then-Glorious!
our dogs commenced to bark, and
struck on into the darkness. We fol-
lowed and soon saw a light. We
shouted but the sound did not travel
far against the wind. They saw our
dogs come filing into the light and
turned In the direction whence they
came. Soon We were together and ex.
changing Joyful greetings.
Mr.. Baldwin was talking with Ril-
liet when Porter came to me with a
happy. Hello. Brother" and hearty
slap on the back that nearly took me
on my feet
The rescue party consisted OF Mr..
Baldwin. Steersmen Menander and
Bergendahl. Lieutenant Lieuth, with
half of the ships crew. three OF the
Russians and some half dozen. Ameri.
cans. For attracting our attention
they had rockets. guns. explosives and
bright lights, and for our assistance
the pony sledges and an abundance Of
fuTs.
(ThIs letter will be continued in
Mondays paper)
ANTLRUsslAN DEMONSTRATION