Courier Democrat., 1904-05-19

~ q k4O R0SS Aug Gz4k0Qs
There, with incredible deftness, he
packed together about twelve pounds
Of the jerked venison and pair of
blankets. thrust Thorpe's waterproof
match safe in his pocket and turned
eagerly to the young man.
"You come" he repeated.
Thorpe hastily unearthed his ''de.
scriptions'' and wrapped them up. The
Indian in silence rearranged the mis-
placed articles in such a manner as to
relieve the camp Of its abandoned air.
It was nearly sundown. Without q
word the two men struck of into the
forest. the Indian in the lead. Their
course was southeast, but Thorpe ask
ed no questions. He followed blindly.
Soon he found that If he did even that
adequately he would have little atten-
ton left for anything else. The In
dian walked with long. swift strides.
his knees always slightly bent, even
at the finish Of the step, his back hol-
lowed, his shoulders and head thrust
forward. His gait had a queer sag in
It, up and down in long curve from
one rise to the other. After time
Thorpe became fascinated in watching
before him this easy, untiring lope.
hour after hour, without the variation
Of seconds fraction in speed or an
inch in length.
At first Thorpe followed him with
comparative ease, but at the end of
three hours he was compelled to put
forth decided efforts to keep pace. His
walking was no longer mechanical. but
conscious. When it becomes SO man
soon tires. Thorpe resented the in
equalities, the stones, the roots. the
patches Of soft ground which lay in
his way. He felt duly that they were
not fair. He could negotiate the dis
tance, but anything else was a gratui-
tous insult.
Then suddenly he gained his second
wind. He felt better and stronger and
moved freer.
At midnight 1njun Charley called a
halt. He spread his blanket, leaned
on one elbow long enough to eat a strip
Of dried meat and fell asleep. Thorpe
initiated his example. Three hours
later the Indian reused his companion.
and the two set out again.
From 8 o'clock until 8 they walked
continually without a pause. without
an instant's breathing spell. Then
they rested half an hour. ate little
venison and smoked pipe.
An hour after noon they repeated the
rest Thorpe rose with certain phys
ical reluctance. The Indian seemed as
fresh as when he started. At sunset
they took an hour, then forward again
by the dim intermittent light Of the
moon and stars through the. ghostly
haunts of forest until Thorpe thought
he would drop with weariness and
was mentally incapable Of contemplat-
ing more than a hundred steps in ad-
vance.
"When get to that square patch Of
light I'll quit" he would say to him
self and struggle painfully the requir-
ed twenty yards.
'.No. won't quit here" he would
continue. "I'n make 1t that birch.
Then I'll lie down and die"
And 30 on. To the actual physical
exhaustion Of Thorpe's muscles was
added that immense mental weariness
which uncertainty Of time and distance
inhicts on a man. The journey might
last a week for all he knew. In the
presence Of an emergency. these men
Of action had actually not exchanged
Z dozen words. The Indian led; Thorpe
followed.
When the halt was called Thorpe
fell into his blanket too weary even to
eat. Next morning sharp. shooting
pains, like the stabs Of swords, ran
through his groin.
.You come" repeated the Indian.
Gtplid as ever.
Then the sun was m hour high. The
travellers suddenly ran into Q trail.
which % suddenly dived into q spruce
lhacket. On the other side of II Thorpe
unexDectedly found himself in an *