Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-05-16

49, ~ rusty uauS as cNcf
eFowed, but Orion had come 10 the
sick bed and sent her squaws away.
Baptism and such things he said he'd
DO The little fellow died that night.
Az daylight. when | went to seek him,
Orion had fed down the river with the
fastest dogs, and TO this day I've never
seen his face. though Ills often I've
felt his hate.
He's grown into the strongest mis-.
sionary on the coast. and he never lets
a chance 80 by to harry me or the
girl.
HE knows we've come. as the blood
token OF the guide showed. He wants
my life. and there's great trouble
comm up. I'm hopin' yen soon get
your sight, for by now there's runner
20 miles into the hills with the news
that we're blind In the church at To-
giak. He'll kill the fastest team In
Nushagak In the comm. and God help
us II we're here"
For three days the wind tore from
on the sea, into the open blight at
whose head lay Togiak. On the third
day. with Arctic vagary. the wind
gasped reluctantly and scurried over
the range.
On the bright surface OF the hill.
side a sled bearing mufiied figure ap.
peared silhouetted against the glisten
OF the crust. Its team. maddened by
the village scent. poured down the In
cline toward the river bank and the
guide swung onto the runners behind.
In a whirl OF soft snow they drove
down to the treachery OF the ice.
The ice slackened. sagged and dis.
appeared in a surge OF congealing wa
tiers.
Orion, for II was the priest, leaped
from the sinking sled, but hindered
by his fur swaddling crashed through
and lunged heavily In his struggles TO
mount the edge of the film. He pitched
oddly about. and for the first time the
watchers from the mission saw his
eyes were bound tightly with band
ages. which he strove to loosen.
MY God. He's snow blind" cried
George, and in a moment he appeared
among the frantic mob fringing the
shore.
Orion shouted affrightedly In his
blindness. but the hooking voice Of
Big George answered him and he cow
cred at the malevolence in the words
Here am, Orlon. It's help ye
want, is II? I'll shoot the man that
tries to reach We. Ha, ha! You're
freezin' Ell? George will talk to keep
We awake. A dirty trick Of the river
to cheat me so. I've fattened for
years on the hope Of stampin' your life
out and now it's robbed me. But I'll
stick till we're safe in hell"
The man cried piteously, turning
his bleared eyes toward the sound.
Shoot. why don't you, and end it?
Can't you see we're freezing?" He
stood up in his stiffened clothes, shiv.
ering palsiedly.
THE truest thing We ever said"
cried George, and he swung his colts
into view. It'll favor you and I'll
keep my VOW" He raised the gun.
The splashing of the distant dogs
broke the silence.
George! George~ Captain had
stumbled down among them and
plucked at his arm. peering dimly into
his distorted face. Great God. are
you a murderer? They'll be dead be-
fore we can save them"
Save 'em?" said George, while rea-
son fought with his mania Whose
goin' to save 'em? He needs KILN.
I'm hungry for his fife."
Hes a man, George. They're both
human, and they're dying in sight of
us. Give him a chance. Fight like a
man."
AS he spoke the fury fell away from
the whaler and he became the alert,
strong man of the frontier, knowing
the quick danger and meeting 1t.
He beloved at the natives and they
fed backward before his voice, storm
ing the chache where lay the big skin
canoes. They slid one down and seiz-
ing paddles crushed the ice around it
till it floated, then supported by the
PROV, George stamped the ice into
fragments ahead. and they forced their
way slowly along the channel he made
Soaked to the arm pits he smashed
trail through which they reached the
hummock where the others lay, too
listless for action.
At the shore they bore the priest to
their shelter. They hacked of his
brittle clothes and supported him to
the bed. AS he walked his feet clat-
tered on the board floor like the sound
Of wooden shoes They were white and
solid, as were his hands
Hes badly frozen whispered Cap
tain, "can we save him." They rub
bed and thawed for hours, but the
sluggish blood refused to flow into the
extremities.
Through all the Russian was silent,
gazing strangely at George. Then he
spoke:
George Brace. I've harmed you bit
terly these many years, and you're a
good man to help me so. It's no use.
We have both fought the Cold Death