The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-03-15
CHAPTER x.
The Rescue.

rope stopped running, grew slack. and
Green's voice came up in shout.
Thus silence reigned again save for
the rain and wind.
Moments passed; to the girl stand
ing back motionless the moments
seemed like hours, Her eyes did not
move from the edge where the rope
ran over. Green called again. and
they began to pull the rope.
Dolores eyes wdened as she
watched them; her lips were apart a
flush on her cheeks The mist grew
more thick and dense. stealing up and
up until 1t reached the edge of the
chasm. It stole about the men at
work at the rope and enveloped them
silently; through its gray folds they
looked like specters at work Tor all
eternity, with set saces. pulling the
rope in and ill.,
The rope came mp steadily and slow
and sure. then Green spoke from just
below the surface.
stop; some of you give me hand
here. Careful. He is inacnsible.'
They obeyed him without word. A
terror was on Dolores face; she did
not move: her fingers were twisted
tightly together; her lips were com
pressed in straight red line,
The men were slow and careful; it
was no light thing to lean over the
edge of the chasm: the treacherous
edge hidden in sedge might give way
at any moment, but the hands of the
men were slow and steady; they
obeyed Green's commands as though
they were poweress of selfthought
They had Johnson mp on firm ground
and Green after him, they laid the
insensibe + an on the nund with
coats for pillows; they forced some
cider between his teeth and chafed
his brawny hands tenderly as a wo-
man would Two of them cut down
couple Of sar,ings and Topped off the
branches making the body smooth
these they bound together with two
cross pieces; they crossed the rope
in network back apd forth, No
words were. uttered; they worked in
silence with a grimness that was al
The rain was falling steadily now.
and dripped through the branches,
falling on Johnson $. face. His hands
moved gropingly moment; he
opened his eyes and looked vacantly
about him; they We're hollow eyes and
hungry; lie recognz I'd no one. Dolo
res came up shyly. offering no word
of sympathy, and with a moan John.
son closed his eyes again.
I'VE must get him home as soon as
possible Green said gravely, his
eyes on the face of the girl standing
silently beside her father. He has
been without food since the day be-
fore yesterday. He lost his way, and
fell in the night when he was trying
to find his way back after hunting the
COW. He has been lying there on that
ledge ever since too weak 20 make
any effort to save himself thereby
doubtless saving his life, for the ledge
would stand little notion
He did not add that Johnson had
broken both of his legs in the fall,
and doubtless received internal in
iuries that must prove serious if not
fatal. Dolores eyes were on his. and
he could not tell the whole of what
might come
When they had placed Johnson on
the litter as comfortably as possible,
Lode offered his coat to Dolores in
a short word or two and no change of
face. but the girl shook her head,
without speaking, though she gave
him one of her rare smiles, and
walked steadily down the path tangled
III the treacherous bushes. half hidden
in mist and rain, with Green at her
side buried in thought, though his
hand was ready to reach out for her
assistance whenever it was needed
and his face was almost sweet with a
new touch upon it.
Dolores stood listlessIy at one of
the kitchen windows; she was looking
ont at the storm, but she did not see
it; her ears were strained to catch the
sound of voices in her fathers room.
Earnest voices they were and full of
meaning she could not catch.
The road was deserted; the men
had struggled up TO Johnson's house
when Arst he was brought home but
as soon as the messengers sent by
Green brought the doctors from the
town they ordered perfect quiet, and
the men were sent away without be-
ing allowed to enter They turned
away in silence and went down the
road to the tavern with it's welcome
fire. its cider. and comrades.
The women were forced to remain
at home; they gossiped with their
daughters or their kinsfolk around the
great hearth fires. Their needles were
busy. their spinning wheels hummed;
their lives were narrow, but there
for gossip. Only Dolores was idle.
She stood at window staring with I'M
seeing eyes at the storm outside,
straining her ears in vain to catch the
hum of voices in her fathers room.
Young Green was there, and two doc
tors, and woman they said was a
nurse. What need was there of a
nurse she asked herself. She could
nurse her father.
And what were the doctors doing
there? II her fat,.>r was only ex-
hausted from exposure and lack of
food why should he need two doctors? ?
Men had been lost on the mountain
before; they never needed nurses
when they We're brought home; their
own women cared for them; she could