The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-03-29


in Northern Labrador. they
looked forward confidently to a profta-
ble winter. Both had resigned only
recently from the Hudson Bay Com
pany's corps Of voyaguers. and this was
to be their first season as independent
trappers. Except for few rowing
Montagnas Indians, the district was
quite uninhabited, but Injured to soil
tude, the hardy young hunters were
not men to lament the dearth OF neigh
bors.
Their store of pelts accumulated
steadily. Early in the winter Pierre
brought in a silver fox skin, and later
Camille secured a black one. But skins
Of the marten predominated.
1t was. in fact, what trappers term
matten year. Like the migratory car
ibou and their faithful followers, the
wolf packs. these highly priced little
animals occasionally forsake their reg
ular habitat. Years, during which few
or none are to be found, may elapse
before they reappear in numbers.
f"Tis a rare run of luck. Pierre"
said Camille, one evening in January.
IF 1t holds. we shall have a fine freight
for Fort Chino when the ice goes out
Of the river"
In April a serious mishap befell. For
some time game had been growing
scarce. Day after day the young men
returned empty-handed 20 the cabin.
The furs already procured surpassed in
value their expectations, but their sup
ply Of provisions was nearly exhausted,
and they were dependent in large
measure for food on the result Of their
hunting. Except grouse and ptar-
migan. bird and beast alike had appar-
emily fed from that vicinity. Camille
set out one forenoon to make the
rounds of their longest line Of traps,
which extended northwest in the same
direction as the river He expected to
be gone two days. The route which it
was Pierre's turn to follow, and which
lay in the opposite direction. was or
dinarily covered in half that time.
Snow was falling when Pierre ar
rived at the end Of his line. Perceiv-
ing that a severe storm was at hand,
he hurried homeward at his best pace
Presently a blizzard was roaring
through the woods, and the driving
snow-spray soon obscured the trail
compelling the trapper to seek shelter
in rocky den amid thick clumps OF
spruce. There he remained a prisoner
for fOrty-eight hours. suffering intense
ly with hunger, thirst and cold, before
an intermission in the gale permitted
him to proceed to the cabin Camille
was not there,
Filled with anxiety, Pierre was pre-
pairing to search for his comrade, when
he was again stOrm-bound.
1t was not until five days had elapsed
since Camilles departure that Pierre
was enabled to start on his errand Of
relief. But his quest proved futile
No trace of his missing partner could
he find.
Stormy weather prevailed almost con-
tinually throughout April, keeping
Pierre indoors much Of the time. Never
before in his twenty years had in
activity proved so hard to bear. The
sorting and packing OF furs furnished
some occupation. but this DONE the
hours dragged heavily. But except
for an occasional pain in his forehead
no premouitory symptoms heralded the
singular anliction that impended.
One evening, shortly before the ice
IN the river broke up. Pierre was cut
ting spruce for fuel near the door Of
his cabin. Tho sun had just dropped
behind the bald hills to southwestward
when as he stood with AK uplifted
something seemed TO pass swiftly be-
fore his eyes blottiug out the waning
daylight.
Bewildcred, be Jet his NIX fall, and
drew his hand across his face then
bllnked and pereed about Darkness
encompased him. He was blind, ut
terly blind.
In fear and trembling Pierre groped
his way into the cabin and threw him
self despalrlngly upon the bales Of furs
piled beside his bunk.
Then, gradually taking heart, he tried
10 comfort himself with the hope that
his misfortune would prove to be only
temporary.
ut is the night-blindnessw he cried.
at viii pass away with the dawn"
lie recalled cases, one Of which he
had himself witnessed. where others
had been afflicted with that peculiar
loss Of sight which the yoyageurs Of
the north term might blindness"
BY day, the vision Of those who suffer
with the malady is seemingly unim-
paired, but when deprived OF sunlight
they Immediately become absolutely
powerless 20 see. Some maintain that
the same conditions which produce that
dread scourge Of high attitudes, scuryy,
are also responsible for this curious
visual trouble; but whether 1t is scor-
butte or not, it's origin has yet to be
satisfactorily explained.
TO poor Pierre, awaiting in deepest
anxiety the dawn which was 10 reveal
whether or not his sight was perma-
nently lost, that night seemed infinitely
feng. Supperless. he crept into his
Dunk, where he tossed hour after hour,
starting up neryousy at every sound.
Once he fancied he heard Camllle's
voice. but when he strained his ears
TO llsteu, there was only the whisper
ing OF the wind.
A pair OF smoke-colored Labrador
Jays, chattering hungriIy AS they fiut-
tered about the cabin, reused him.
Opening bis eyes, he sprang from his
bunk with loud cry Of JOY. His sight
-.