Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-02-08
81 I midnight "Big Jeff" poked his

S0 midnight big Jeff" pOked his
~ head out from under the tarpau-
lin and peered through the murk.
For half minute, perhaps, he listen
ed tentatively; then he brushed away
the snowfakes that had accumulated
on his tousled hair, and Struggled back
into the comfortable warmth of the
blankets. He thrust a big fist, none
too gently, against the ribs of his part
ner.
What's the matter with yuh?"
Srowled the Freak" sleepily. Il amt
no punchin bag"
We're goin' t. get them steers t.
the post t'-morrow-I don't Think"
Big Jeff murmured. 1.-THE angels is
pickin' geese for their Christmas din
ner. From the way the feathers is
Eyin' there'll be about two feet Of 'em
IN the mornin'."
The Freak protruded his head, only
to withdraw it hastily.
Holy smoker!' he muttered, "she's
sure comm thick. Wonder If them
cattle's all right
Eyes; heard 'em a-woofin' an
tramplin' round in the corral a min
ute ago." jeff assured him. you bet
ter go t. sleep, M son; no use layin'
awake worryin'."
This seemed to the Freak the proper
course to pursue. He wrigged into a
com 'Ortable posture, and 500 i the mi
nor key Of his snore mingled with the
deep bass Big Jeff emitted.
In the old roundup corral, beside
which their bed was made, a bunch
Of steers stood huddled together with
tails to the storm, great masses Of
snow piling on their broad backs; out
side, tied securely to post, two po-
MES alternately paved the ground and
Shivered under the oiled slickers that
were spread across their loins. Save
for the canvas bed-cover that sheltered
the two men, there was little comfort
for beast or human that night; moth
ing but biting wind, that whistled
keenly through the rails Of the corral,
and everywhere the silent, virgin
snow, dropping swiftly earthward in
huge eddying flakes.
1t was gray dawn when Big jeff
awOke again. He raised corner Of
the tarpaulin, and mass of snow fell
on his face. The spluttering of him
aroused the Freak. Profanely la
menting the necessity that drove them
forth Oh such trip, they groped about
for their boots, drew them on, and
emerged, in ugly temper, for there
were two feet of snow on top Of the
bed.
TO the top rail of the corral the
Freak climbed and glanced quickly
over the cattle to the illimitable reach
es beyond. Inside the corral, the cat
tie still stood hump-backed; outside,
the horses still shivered under the pro-
tecting slickers; but the wind had died
to faint breath, and the sun glared
unwinkingly at them as it balanced
on the lower edge of a cloud-free sky.
It was q perfect morning, save for the
diamond frost that glinted in the rare
fed air. and the ugly menace Of the
silent, white pail Of snow that lay,
bely-deep to long-horn, on every foot
OF the land.
"See the horses?" queried jeff,
looking up from his task Of kicking
away the snow that covered their cof-
fee pot and frying pan.
"Naw! the Freak snorted, disgust
edly. There's nothin' t. be seen but
this everlastin' snow. The chances are
them nags is hittin' the high places
for the Circle Four about this time.
Hobbies wouldn't stop 'em after they
got started, an a storr. like this would
start most anything that wasn't tied
hard an fast"
This here's sure hard luck,' Jeff
mourned, as he famed an incipient
blaze with his hat. "We're out of
grub if we don't hit the post tonight
an we won't git there before the
next chinook if we don't have them
horses t break trail. An we promised
t. eat Christmas dinner with Bob Stew.
art an the girls, yuh know, Freak"
II know it," he answered, shortly
They brooded silently over their cot
fee and fried bacon, sitting uneasily
on their boot-heels. Fifteen miles OF
unbroken snow lay between them and
the agency; days drive when the go
ing was good-now, five miles Of wal
lowing through the drifts would leave
their cattle exhausted. A sudder
freshening OF the wind meant a biz
zard-and the White Death plays {
winning game on the open prairie
when there is neither food, nor fire, no.
shelter.