The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-10-06

nut, Dullt ciumsily and ignorantIy of snow
Its low doorway faced the north, and
amid the gloom of Its interior there were
diseernble number of heaps, apparently
formed of old and tattered fur clothing.
These were dead men; the women OF
Sergius Pavloskis party had not lived to
see the Arctic Ocean.
The man who stood gave a short heart
rending laugh as he looked out over the
| frozen sea.
| es, he said, I'VE have tried It."
There was a pause, and then the Grip
ple-Sergius Pavloski-spoke again:
OF COURSE" he said, almost unintel-
Lightly, I'VE have failed; but still our
failure may teach others, and we have
kept it secret. Those who want to know
will never know. They will always be
IN uncertainty as to whether we have
escaped and are living hidden in America,
in Europe, perhaps in Russia. We shall
be more terrible, doctor, dead than alive"
81 hope So"
Il, at all events, shall be, for you say
that l could not live week in a warm
climate. This leg of mine is less painful
to-day; perhaps it is healing"
No, Pavloski; have told you a dog
en- times it is not healed, it is only frozen
| 1t can never heal. The moment it thaws
you will die"
A sickly smile passed across his I'M
| slightly features, and there was silence
for time-the deathly expectant silence
OF the, far North. At length Pavloski
raised his mittened hand and extended i:
outward like the needle of a compass.
Il wonder" he mumbled, If Tyars Is
out there"
Il wonder" said the doctor, why you
Entrusted this to an Englishman."
IF l had the whole world to choose
from, should not have selected another
man." said Pavloski; "but there was no
choice in the matter"
Il suppose" said the doctor. with an
ill-concealed sneer, that he has turned
be ok"
X will swear by st. Paul that he has
not done that |"
Then where Is hep"
"Dead!' was the answer. IF Claud
Tyars had been alive, he would have
come. He is not here, therefore he is
dead Oughv'
He stopped and fell back fainting with
paint In his excitement he had moved.
and allowed some of his weight to rest
upon the raw stump of his leg. In a sec
ond the doctor was kneeling on the snow
beside him, raising his head, touching his
lips with snow. 1t was a poor restora
tive, but there was nothing else at hand.
one cannot offer to dying man even the
tenderest piece of an old sealskin mitten.
Without waiting for consciousness to
return, he attempted to lift the cripple.
intending to carry him within the little
snow nut, but the movement brought back
favloskrs failing senses, and he shook
his head in token that he wished to he
left where he lay.
NO." he said, after gasping twice for
breath; II would rather die out here"
The doctors bare hand crept within the
tattered sleeve toward the pulse He said
nothing. There was nothing to saw.
Il do not want" continued Payloski
brokenly, to see their faces. drought
them here. 1t Is my fault. suppose
the good Goodwill know how to revenge
all this. If they-the Romanoffs-the
Czar-had twenty lives, and we could
take-them ALIVE might pay-the debt
but they have-only one life-to take
that would be too short-a punishment.
God will know how to do twill He not.
doctor?"
"Yes," said the sweet, deep voice Of
the doctor, GOD will know how to do
it,"
Pray" said the dying man, pray to
Him to do it-well "
Then his head fell back and he
breathed regularly and softly. But this
was not the end. Presently the blackene,l
lips began to move, and he spoke in quite
a different voice-so different as to startle
his listener. 1t was soft and even, as If
dream not long dispeled.
1T is not yet year ago." he said
There were seven of us-four Russians
two Englishmen, and an American. Four
Russians, two Englishmen and an Ameri-
strong combination! The
Russians to go into action on land, the
Englishmen on the sea, and the sharp
witted American to watch and plot and
scheme. | remember the last time we met
was at Easton's house. Two of us are
dead, and l am nearly-dead. Tyars and
Grace-where can they be? They are
out there, doctor, in front of us-to the |
north. IL shall go and--meet them"
The lips closed with a sudden snap, and
the doctor leaned eagerly forward. Ser |
gus Pavloski was dead The survivor
rose to his feet. 1t had begun to snow
gently and in large fakes-a snow that
would cover the ground to the depth Of |
twelve inches in half that number of |
hours. AS it fell 1t gradually covered the
lead man, even to his face and eyes,
which were already cold.
Presently the doctor moved little, and.
urning slowly round. scanned the near |
horizon. He could not see the pack ice |
low, for the snow was blowing in from
he north, wreathing and curling as it
anne.
Then this lone man moved toward the
now hut, and entered it on his hands
md knees. He took no notice of the
iead-one soon gets accustomed to them
but fumbled about among the baggage
,iled up In one corner.
In dull, stupid way he realized the
responsibilities of his position. He drag
ed two Of the sledges out of the hut, and
With Ratchet broke them up. Then he
ook the two strongest pieces of each
he -bars-and bound them securely