The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-01-29

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 a 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
OF 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 sled bearing muffled figure APP
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 10 the treachery OF the ice.
The ice slackened. sagged and dis.
appeared In surge OF congealing wa.
ters.
orion. for II was the priest. leaped
from the sinking sled. but hlndered
By his fur swaddling crashed through
and lunged heavily In his struggles 10
mount the edge OF the Aim. lie pitched
oddly about. and for the FIRST time the
watchers from the mission saw his
eyes we're bound tightly with band.
ages. which he stroye to loosen
My Cod He's snow blind" cried
George. and in a moment he appeared
among the frantic mob ringing tho
shore.
Orion shouted afrightedly In his
blindness. but the hooking voice Of
Big George answered him and he COW.
cred az the maleyolence In the words
Here ! am. Orion. It's help We
want. IL Il? I'll shoot the man that
tries to reach ye. liza. ha. You're
frcczin' Oh? George will talk 20 keep
yc awake A dirty trick Of the river
10 cheat the -. I've fattcncd for
years on the hope Of stampin' your life
out and now It's robbed me. Hut III
stick till ye're safe In hell
The man cried piteously. turning
his bleared eyes toward the sound.
Shoot. why don't you. and end a.!
Can't you see we're frcczing?" lie
stood mp In his stifiened clothes. shlv.
cring palsiedly.
The trucst thing yc ever said"
cried George and he swung his colts
into view. 'lt'll favor you and III
keep my vow" lie raised the gun.
The spiashlng Of the distan, dogs
broke the silence.
George George'" Captain had
stumbled down among them and
pluckcd AZ his arm. pcering dimly into
his distorted face. Great God. are
YOU a murderer They'll be dead be.
fore We can save them"
Save EN-" sald George. while rea.
son fought with his mania. Whose
goln' 20 save 'em7 lie needs KILN.
I'm hungry for his life"
Hes a man. George. They're both
human. and they're dying In sight OF
Us. Give him chance. Fight like q
man"
AZ 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 a.
lie beloved NJ the natives and they
hed backward before his voice. storm.
Ing the chachc where lay the big skin
canoes They aid one down and selE.
Ing paddles crushed the ice around II
tili II ioated. then supported BY the
prov. George stamped the ice into
fragments ahead. and they forced their
way slowly along the channel he made
Soaked n the arm pits he smashed
a trail through which they reached the
hummock whore the others lay. too
iistlcss for action.
~ the shore they bore the priest TO
their shelter They hacked on HIS
brittle clothes and supported him 20
the bed. A he walked his feet clat.
tered on the board floor like the sound
of wooden shoes. They were white and
solid. IA were his hands.
He's badly frozen" whispered Cap.
tain. can we save HIM" They rub.
bed and thawcd for hours. but tho
sluggish blood refused 10 Tow into tho
cxtremitlcs.
Through all the Russian was silent.
gazing strangely nj George. Then he
spoke:
George Brace. I've harmed you BIT.
terry these many years. and you're a
good man TO help me 10. It's no use.
We have both fought the Cold Death
and know when TO quit came here
TO kill you. but you will go out across
the mountains free while I'll be dead.
Goodbyi"
Good he'll, Were aendln' for n
doctor. Wen save q chunk Of ye yet.
old man"
Two hours later DR.. Forrest spoke
grayely. We have operated. lie will
recover"
ITS n sad day" molrned George
Hes q cripple now. eh7"
"Yeai Holplessi did not know
Father orion had many -er-frieuda
hs caboui." continued the doctor "lIe
vas thought TO be hated by the
whites. I'm Glad the report was
wrong"
Friends be damned said Captain.
strongly. what's friend1 You
can get them any place. but where can
you find another enomy liks that
manr'