The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-05
WHY THE HOT SULPHUR MAIL WAS LATE.

gled wrenched their muscles, with nc
hope Of getting out. but TO keep warm
The thirst fever that comes from pair
dried the carriers tongue. He longe6
for water. A mouthtul OF snow
| burned like hot cinders He spat il
out and pressed the rigid jaw with
stiff. bare hands TO warm the 9chine
| teeth. He looked about for water
Fifty feet up the mountain. in the lee
CT bowldcr, was u spring: but il
was frozen solid and banked
With snow. The breeze was gently keen
Sullivan'S clothes grew cold. he fell
nude and Shr3nk from them. his skin
became small and tighC Smartjng ~
il blistercd. y chill shooE him. Blunt
paiaS worked along the DOEeS and i1ei
III the joints. Each particuiar finger
and toe seemed about TO burst; mis-
scalp stiftened; his chin was numb
fhoulders. WS.s biting tor his heart
only the Wedged foot was warm,
strangely warm. Webs of spidery ice
tlostted in the cheerful sunlight and
vanished. Flashing wigglers swarmed
before the mans eyes and disappear
ed-oniy to come again. Sullivan was
freezing. Away into the sky doomed
Berthoud. hoary with icy ermine and
wrapped in fieecy clouds. 70 Sulli-
vans hopeless eyes the Wreathing
Veil seemed smoke and steam. Curl
ously warm. He Shuddered, locked
his rafting jaws and 2rimiy faced the
end.
Up on the summit the clouds were
OF gold; the very top was red. In OBJ
vious majesty rose the Pass; but over
and about the two heads sticking from
The snow single snowflake, flashing,
dazzling, glittering. was waited like
a dancing diamond 1t tickled Sulli-
vans face, then tumbled into the air
in a very ecstasy of whirls. The
mans head dropped. dropped. dipped,
jerked back. dropped again, and hung
pendulously Sullivan was asleep
warm and comfortable. With Il dull
yell Of pain he awoke. Black Jac6
had hit him in the ear with Il snow
bail.
Hang on. friend. Keep a-scrapin.
Don't give up, were the rough words
OF cheer.
The carrier knotted his muscles,
shook off the torpor as if it were the
tightening coils of cold snake. and
rubbed his burning ear.
whats the use? Wen both be
stiff in three hours. Might as well
have it over with" replied Sullivan
as if speaking of a card game.
Aroused. he freed his feet of the
webs and forced some feeling into the
prisoned one. From his pocket he
took his lunch. until now forgotten.
and silently tossed half to his fellow
prisoner. The camp robber darted on
10 Il piece of meat in the air. and flew
souawking to & limb. Black Jack
swore at the bird in nrofane amuse-
lnent. Sullivan redivided his piece of
pork and threw it over. The robber
porteeted raked IL in, and tossed IT
back. Sullivan ate his own share, but
this niece of meat he put back into
his pocket.
Black Jack looked at him. say:
nardner. you're man. The fires OF
life. rekindlea, famed w anew i'll the
dcsoerado.
u will get loose, he snarled with
ST teeth as he tore frightfully at the
snow hacked around his waist.
Try this: my hands are too stiff
10 use it," said sullivan, as he threw
his watch to Black Jack.
'Ai, regular snow plow,' grunted
the other as he sprung omen the ia
with his teeth and began to
scrape. ''Sa -ay."--the yell rang up
the Pass-''hero's my knife
Buried tight in the snow was the
knife-life itseIf-within easy reach
yer frozen fast. Sullivan did not an
swer, but waited. Just them Black
ia ck's hands dropped the watch. IL
vanished along his legs into the black
hole that held him. and then family
clinkcd on Il stone under the ioG-Jam.
With curse the lifelong crlnlna'
clawed viciously at the snow with
scarlet fingers. Ten minutes Of bloody
cleared the handle and nut
of the heavy bowie; and Black Jack
head and shoulders arose triumphant
MS CORY right hand flourishinG the
priceless steel. The light from that
blade flashed to the very tor or the
Bcrthoud. Sullivan Writhed to keep
warm.
The shadows were growing longer
now. Another two hours the sui
would be down, and their lives would
go out like candles. Black Jach
rippcd, jabbed, strained and from MS
burrow hurled ice, snow and splinter
ed wood Iron against water with
men for stakes. In thirty minutes he
was free all but his feet: Both ankles
were held between two logs; one thick
as his waist. the other mere pole.
Hack, slice. split. III five minutes
more Black Jack, sweating and
breathless crawled painfully from the
hole He tried to stand. but tottered
and fell as if on stills. He rubbed,
he pounded, he rolled and twisted his
pulnbed calves and feet; the thick.
black blood turned bright and
erect. danced sorely, and except for
his skinless fingers and scalp
wound, now stanched with q frozen
plaster Of bloody hair. he was rs we'll
as ever. The bruised shoulder was
unheeded. A lusterless snowflake
dropped weakly at the mans feet. He
stepped on it as ne picked up the
Knife and clambered over the snow
and logs to the carrier.
Back Jack looked at Sullivan. and
Sullivan looked ut Black Jack. Sui
IL ans liDS wei4 without motion. hut
In his ewes was tn look OF paw
fast grizzly. The desperate seated
himself OH a broken spruce branch
rot six feet 'aIl S'Iillvan. rested his
Jl.>nds on his Fnaes and Thought. lie
st*red al The carrier. Here was q
.nan whom two hours h"f'r: he had
tried to kill; who in turn stood ready
10 kill him. who had even started him
ar the nuZzie of his six-shooter on
that short. sure road to a living death
the penitentiary for life.
Leave him there--why not? No
CRIME; he had not put him there.
What it it were a crime? Who would
Know? And what if they did? In