St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-08-06
. child, ard the death that awaited
him would b. an. agonizing one. with

ITS widening on the other side!
came the cry from the shore, but b
did not even turn his head. With I
. long, strong stride, that made hi
, | progress rapid without seeming SO, b.
pushed on, while q woman back OF tn
crowd OF men clasped her hands ant
cried brokenly: God be good to BIZ
Benz" and the men ceased talking t.
watch the silence. There were thos,
among them who would rush into ,
burning building to rescue an inmate;
there were those who would brave ,
storm to bring of People from 9
wreck; for In these deeds there would
be the thrill of excitement that makel
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 q fight
ing, chance. Wherefore, the men on
the shore-brave men, most of them
remained behind and watched in 81
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 a stolidS sort
Of way If he could keep those feet
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. II 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.
i, Finding his attention momentarily.
withdrawn from them, Pete's feet
stopped moving and Pete stood still.
Having come to a 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.
"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 I
Pete's weary feet began to move
again and q moment later. Big Ben
was beside him and had hold OF the
;led rope. .=......-.
pretty hard trip, Pete?" he asked,
Pete nodded, but said nothing. He
vas not a 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
he bay only to turn back. But It
'eally was a matter Of no importance;
Pete was content to accept the help
hat came to him without any deep
questioning.
Knew you'd be tired" remarked
Big Ben, cheerily, as if in answer to
'ete's thoughts, so thought I'd come
tut and give you hand"
People were not in the habit of Civ
ng themselves, much concern over "a
'ete's WEAKNESS, and Pete had q
ague notion that there was something
unusual in this, but he did not pur-
ue the subject further +.
Good man, Big Ben" he said with E.
nipple brevity. +.
The big man had gradually quick
ned the pace until Pete's weary feet 4,
7ere kept so busy that they hardly !.
ad time to ache. There was no word
danger and no suggestion that time
'as Of any Importance. but the mo- !.
tent Big Ben got hold of the sled rope :
e took all that burden from Pete and !,
ave him added help besides The
cary man also had hold of the rope, +.
nd It steadied and helped him, while q
made him increase and quicken his
tride. The strength, the kindness, :
he cheerful conversation of his COM '
anton raised his spirits, too. There
something infectious about strength
nd cheerfulness; combined, they seem
, give strength where 1t was lacking
efore. At any rate, If Pete had
opped to think( which he did not),
. would have found himself travelling Z
q speed actually impossible preYi- .