The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-09-29
CHAPTER XIV,

There are many people who 60 through
life without ever knowing what 1t In to
| Eight a gale Of wind.
There Is a breath Of heaven Of which
the sole message Is death. 1t Is wind
with no fnesounding name, for 1t be-
longs to the north, where men endure
things and have no thought Of naming
them. 1t blows for six months Of the
year. 1t veers from south-southwest to
northwest by north, and 1t Is born upon
the gray icefelds round the pole. For
many hundred miles 1t raves across the
frozen ocean, gathering deathly GOODNESS
at every league. On Its shoulders 1t car
ries tons of snow, and then striking land.
1t RACES and tears, howls. means and
screams across northern Europe into far
frozen Asia. In passing 1t clothes all
Russia in white, and still has plenty to
spare for bleak Siberia, northern China
and Japan.
| A few northern races manage to live
on In such numbers as to save extermina-
ton, and that Is all. More than a third
Of them are partially or wholly blind.
Their existence Is a constant and unequal
struggle against this same wind and its
pitiless auxiliaries-snow and frost. The
/
sparse vegetation, sufficient only to nour-
ish miserable reindeer and a few horses |;
a scattering Of pine trees, and that Is all.
Although no sanctifying spirit can be
said to walk upon the waters, the sea
alone sustans life, for men, dogs and
reindoor eat fish, not dried but frozen,
when they can get 1t.
| 1t was across this country, and In face
Of this wind, that a party Of men and
women made their way In the late sum.
mer several years ago. By late summer
one means the first fortnight In July In
these high ATTITUDES. These travellers
were twenty-one in number-sixteen men
and Eve women. One woman carried a
baby jail bird-born In prison-un-
baptized. 1t did not count, not even a.
half a person, to any one except Its
mother. Men and women were dressed
alike In good fur clothing, baggy trousers
tucked into felt boots, long blouse-like fur
coats, and caps with earhaps tied down
Boots, trousers, coats and even caps bore
signs of damage by water. When north
ern Siberia Is not frozen up 1t IL In q
state Of food, and travelling, except by
water, Is almost impossible. These peo-
pie had come many miles by this compar-
atively easy method at imminent risk
for they had travelled north on the bosom
Of the food. Since then they have liter.
ally burned their vessels In order to cut
of pursuit.
The men dragged light sledges, three
to sledge. and four resting. The WON
en- carried various more precious burdens
delicate instruments, such as com
passes and aneroids. Beneath the fui
caps throbbed some singular brains, from
under the draggled brims looked out somt
strange faces. There was a doctor among
. ers who had not been allowed time to be
!. come anything, for they were exiled while
students.
The whole party pressed forward In 81
lence with tight-locked lips and half-clos
ed eyes, for the rushing wind carried a
fine binding snow before 1t. Only one
person spoke at times. 1t was the woman
who carried the baby, and she interlard
ed her inconsequent remarks witt
snatches of song and bursts of peculiar
cackling laughter. Suddenly she sal
down on a boulder.
II will sit here" she said, "in tn,
warm sum-"
The whole party stopped, and one o.
the women answered:
"Come, Anna" she said, 1--WE canno
wait here" Still speaking, she took he
arm and urged her to rise.
But" protested she who had been ad
dressed as Anna, where Is the picnic Il
ber
1.-THE picnic. Anna Pavloski," said I
small, sQuarely built man, coming for
yard and speaking In a wonderfully deel
and harmonious tone Of voice, "is to b.
} held further on. You must come q
once"
II think" she said gently, shat I will
walt here for my husband. expect hin
home from the Office. He will bring tn
newspaper"
They were all grouped round the won
an now except one man, and he stoo,
apart with his back turned toward them
He had been dragging the foremost sledge
and the broad band Of the trace was still
across his shoulders. He had been lead
ing the way, and seemed In some subtl
} manner to be recognized as chief an,
! pioneer.
Again the woman who had first spokel
persuaded; again the broad-shouldere
, man spoke In his commanding gentlenesa
1t was, however. of no avail. Then afte
few moments Of painful hesitation,
left the group and went to whore tn
leader stood alone.
, "Pavloski," he said.
D Eyes, DOCTOR" He never turned hi
head, but stood rigid and stern, lookin
. straight before him, scowling with eye
from which the horror now would nevs
fade. into the gray, hopeless distance. N
marble statue could reproduce the strong
l cold despair that breathed In every linn
and feature.
Something" said the doctor, must b
y done. We are behind our time already.
, "I suppose It Is my duty to stay wit
|, your said Pavloski. 'I cannot leav
the partyf I cannot stay behindr
The little man made no answer. I'll
silence was more eloquent than an
words could have been. A dramati
, painter could scarcely have found q sac
der picture than these two friends VIII
dared not to meet each others eyes. An
yet, in a moment, It was rendered inf
D nitely sadder By the advent Of q thlr