Valentine Democrat., 1906-06-14
DANGER BEND
"~~SSSS Sc~~~~

drifts full. I'll have to hustle, that
all. Go on. Trusty!"
The old horse knew what was ex
pected Of him and went forward in fn
style; but before they reached the en-
trance to the wood lot they were en-
veloped in dense cloud of fallin,
snow, and the wind had risen to wha
Laura considered a gale.
Don't you think we had better g
right back, joe" she suggested dubi
ously. you know what your father
said about the snow?"
Yes, 1 remember, but it won't BIZ
wasting time to get what 1 was sem
after And think see myself goine
back empty-handed after I've come al
the way to the woodpile! Not much p
"Then I'm going to help you load
No skating for me this day. There's
| too much snow on the ice, anyhow"
In the deep shelter Of the woods they
found the snow falling less rapidly and
the force Of the wind was effectually
broken. But as soon as they left the
woods with their load they realized
that the storm had increased to fury.
All space seemed filed with falling
snow, and already deep drifts had be-
gun to form in the road.
For time old Trusty made his way
bravely, but the drifts grew deeper as
he went along and the strength of the
faithful animal began to fail. Pres
emily Joe was forced to admit that the
difficulties of the way had become des-
perate. At the top of a steep hill he
stopped the sled and jumped off into
the snow.
I'm going to walk down here" he
said, trying to laugh. You may ride
around Danger Bend if you want to,
but l wouldn't advise you to. Not this
time"
Danger Bend! 1 had forgotten all
about it," Laura cried in dismay, and
she scrambled hastily down to safety
In the deep snow.
The perilOus descent was begun with
fear and trembling. At first progress
was slow and difficult, for they had to
founder through drifts as deep as any
they had encountered; but very soon
the descent became dangerously easy.
Joe was 4 good driver, and he did his
best to cheer and encourage poor Trusty,
but on that treacherous ice, and with
heavy load pushing him dewnhill, no
horse could keep a sure footing and at
the same time guide his load safely
around the perilous promontory.
Laura, toiling along behind the Sled
heard wild shout from Joe, then a
sound Of slipping and scrambling on
the ice and then the load OF wood sud-
denly disappeared from before her.
Next there was a great crash, followed
by loud cry from the young driver.
Trusty had fallen, the loaded sled had
shot forward toward the edge Of the
river slope and there it had struck
against the trunk of a great tree that
stood in it's way. Trusty, a helpless
victim Of the force behind him, had
barely missed the tree. The shock of
the collision had broken every strap
of the harness and he was liberated.
Laura realized what was happening
just in time to see the poor old horse
slide head foremost into the great drift
that had formed beside the tree. and
to see Joe slipping and sliding over the
ice to his assistance. But Joe was too
late. Laura, screaming in terror for
both boy and horse, made her way to
the wrecked sled. She was just in
time to see Trusty emerge on the other
side of the snow barrier and 90 plow-
ing downward toward the frozen river.
In breathless dismay they watched
his progress to what they were sure
was certain death. But the snow on
the steep slope was deep and soft, and
Trusty slid forward slowly until he
reached the bottom. There he strug-
gled to his feet, apparently unharmed,
shook himself and then started on a
brisk trot along the ice for home. His
two deserted passengers looked at each
other and laughed Historically.
'It's no laughing matter. 1 can tell
you" said ice soberly the next mo-
ment ''Three miles from home and
every foot of the road drifted so deep
tha q man ten feet tall couldn't wade
through! Trusty might have got US
out of the scrape. but how we are to
get ourselves out without wiugs can't
sea"