The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-31
TIE EVENING ST0R r
Above the Ford.
lRv Nora Rranf \

he had left the Survey camp, imme-
diately on receiving Gretchen's letter,
Z telling OF her arrival at the De La Rio
ranch, and had thought to cover the
hundred miles between camp and
ranch easily. But Indian river had
risen lnexpiicably and KyWak refused
10 swim the ford. So, now, within FIVE
mics OF the ranch, it looked as If he
would miss seeing Gretchen, after all,
IoE she did not expect him and her
VISIT but was a three days affair.
therefore, Ludlow sat behind huge
rock which sheltered him somewhat
from the raw wind, and while getting
/ MS breath, alternately patted the head
OF me painting dog, and sh ook his fist
at the distant figure of a horse, calmly
grazing on buffalo grass.
Hang it!' repeated Ludlow. Hang
II! 1 thought KyWak had gotten over
her foolishness about fording. Was I
asleep or crazy, that let her jerk the
pride from my hand when led her
down to drink"
The dog looked up sympathetically.
me ntnety-five miles of racing after
kyWak had been nothing to his long
boar hound legs. but this wild herd
ing OF a SINGLE clever Indian pony, for
three hours, had been a little strenuous.
He had done his best for his master,
but when he was not allowed to catch
flank or throat in powerful jaws, how
was he to hold a horse2 I3ismark was
a boar hound, not a collie.
Ludlow glOWered, at the cherries
neaps OF rocks that guarded either
bank of the river.
1t is cold enough" he said "for the
river to be frozen. Just my luck to
have it twice as deep as usual! Well,
Bismark, old boy, see nothing for it
but for you and me to leave Kywak to
her cussedness and swim the river.
And I'll be fine sight to Gretchen after
two years! Oh, well, who knows Wheth-
er she'll care or not?"
Ludlow rose and began to tramp up
he ,sf--r
away from the ford" he thought, but
I'll go up a way and see If the river
isn't narrower. It's too deep now to
strike quicksand.''
He picked his way carefully over the
rocks. Indian river was always cold
and always swift, but douhly SO today,
after the early winter rains. The day
was bleak, with a half promise of snow
IN the air. The plains on the far side
of river were as dim and hopeless
as the sky. AS he paused at a point
where there seemed promise of q sheiv-
ing bank on either side. Ludlow SILVER
ed and half turned back toward the
imDish Kywak-
whats the use?v he murmufed.
Gretchen half refused me once. She
viii probably wholly refuse me this
time
He stood in silence with one hand on
Bismark's head: then he Strengthened
himself with jerk
mo, old chap he exclaimed. wen
see her again or drown in the attempt.
Now then, I've no way to get my
clothes across except to swim in them.
I'm not up to the Swiss Family Robin
son stunt of carrying them across on
my head. I'll leave my overcoat with
Kywak. Come on, old faithful"
He removed his shoes and tied them
about his neck by the laces, and walked
down the bank into the rushing water,
then stood still, with the water swirling
about his knees. The current was much
CWiffPr than he had ina uriVnd If would
be. However, the river was narrow at
this point 50 he took a resolptes step
forward and plunged in above BIS
depth,
After the first shock the cold was not
so bad. But the current! The down
ward swirling movement of the water
was almost as powerful as QuiclIsand.
The pointed rock Ludlow had chosen
for a swimming mark was a dozen rods
up stream before he had swan as many
strokes. Bismark was swimming beside
him, putting and blowing like an infant
threshing machine. For a moment
Ludlow thought of catching the dogs
collar, but decided that they both might
go down, though Bismark could have
pulled him across easily in quiet water
The bitter cold of the water began
to strike in, but Ludlow swan on with
quick, strong strokes. Gradually, AZ
seemed to him that he was fighting
losing game. The swimming mark was
hidden behind a curve in the river,
from him and was now only snort
distance from the shore
Finally, after what seemed hours of
swimming. he found himself a rod from
the shore, where Bisnark parked at
him excitedly. But, to his chagrin,
though, he dropped his feet several
times, he could not touch bottom even
al three feet from the bank. And the
bank! Up and down the river, as far
as he could see, it rose sheer and blank
as a tiny canyon, with not BLADE OF
grass nor a crevice for hand or foot
hold. How Bismark had made the leap
he could not fathom.
He turned on his back, hoping that
the current would hold Kim against the
wall while he felt for hand hold. But
his fingers only slipped over the rough
sandstone, while the river carried him
rapidly down stream. and Bisnark fol-
lowed. barking and whining The weight
of his clothes and the cold were BY thas
time rendering him almost helpless.
Ludlow turned on his face, and again
let his feet drop To his joy, they found
a resting place, and he stood with ms
shoulders out Sof water. He rested,
painting and fighting off the numbing
cold. then again passed his hands up
and down the face of the rock lor d
grip. The surface was hopelessiy
smooth The top of . bank was too
far above the highest reach of his
hands even with jumping, to grasp. He
tried cautiously to walk along the bank.
but found that his foOthOid was a mere
outcrop of rock not more than foot
in diameter.
He dropped his bruised bleeding
hands in despair Bismark pushed his
great head over the edge and whiued
piteously, with an eager light in his
brown eyes that seemed to say: can
YOU understand? Can't you2"
Ludlow gave a great spring and
caught the dogs collar with his right
hand. Instantly Bismark braced his
mighty shoulders and pulled back~l
- Ia zx~nr
the water. until he grasped the top Of
the bank As he let the dogs collar
go, Bismark, frantic with excitement, /
caught the shoulder of Ludiow's coat
in his teeth, and with little growls and
vvbiuperings as Ludlow scrambled !
and pushed. pulled him fairly onto the
bank.
There Ludlow lay. painting, too weak