Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-12-16

They had partly uncovered themselves
but by trace and harness they We're
frozen 10 hardened masses. so much
So that few could rise and stretch,
which Is a severe torment 70 dogs AT
er a storm. We freed their traces.
beat the cemented SHOWS from their
furs with sticks, and their curling tails
and pOinSed noses told u common grat-
itude
As we skirmished about for a little
stretch ourselves the sun rose over the
northern blue. flashing the newly driv-
en- SHOWS in warm tones. The temper
ature during the storm rose 10 70 be
low. but now the thermometer sank
rapidly below 20 The west was still
smoky. and the weather did not seem
quite settled II was too early 10 start,
so we disrObed again. slipped into the
bags and sought quiet slumber.
A few hours later we were rudely
awakened by loud explosive noises
Looking about. nothing unusual was
detected about the islOo, and a peep
through tie eye port gave no cause
for the disturbance. II was concluded
that the ice was cracking from the
sudden change Of temperature IN quite
the usual harmless manner. and we
turned over 10 prolcng the bag com
forts.
Then there came 4 series Of thun-
derinS noises. with which the ice Quiv-
cred. Ahwelah arose and said that
the house was breaking. turned 10
rise and sank into 4 newly formed
crevasse, which up 10 that moment was
bridged by snow. 4 man In bag is
helpless creature. and with water be-
low and tumbling blocks Of snow from
above pressing one deeper and deeper
the case was far from humorous at a
temperature of IS below.
Still. the boys laughed heartily. Their
hands. however. were quickly occu-
pied. Ahwelah grabbed my bag and
rolled me over on snow Of doubtful
security. They then slipped into furs
with electric quickness and tossed the
things out on safe ice.
In the extreme cold the water froZe
in sheets about the bag, and when the
ice was beaten of the reindeer skin
was, TO my pleasure, found quite dry.
A few moments more Of sleep and We
might all have found n resting place
in the chilling deep. That experience
kept US ever watchful for the dangers
Of the spreading ice In all calms after
storms.
The ice about was much disturbed
and numerous black lines Of water
| opened on every side, from which
OOZed Jets Of frosty steam. The great
I difference between the temperature OF
| the sea and that Of the air made q
contrast Of &c degrees. and the open
spots Of Ice water appeared TO be boil
ing.
Anxious TO move along away from
/ the troubled angle Of ice. the usual
| breakfast was simplified. Melting some
| snow, we poured down the Icy liquid
rs an eye opener and then began ai
| the half pound bOwlder Of pemmican
but with cod fingers. blue lips and nc
/ possible shelter the stuff was unusual
ly hard.
To warm up the sleds were prepared
and under the lash the dogs jumped
into harness with q bound. The penn.
mican. somewhat reduced with the AZ
was ground under the molars as We
went along. The teeth were thus
kept from chattering. and the stomach
was fired with durable fuel.
AS we advanced the ice improved T,
some extent. and with a little searct
4 safe crossing was found over all Of
the new crevices, though a strong west
eriy wind carried q piercing cold
Good progress was made. but we wer,
not allowed TO forget at any time thai
we were invading the forbidden do
mains Of polar environment.
The Bitter Cold.
In starting before the end OF tbg
winter night and camping on the oper
Ice fields in the long northward marcf
we had first accustomed our eyes to :
frigid darkness and then TO a perpetu
al glitter with shivers. This proved I,
be the coolest season OF the year. ",
should have been hardened TO all kind,
OF arctic torment, but man only gain,
that advantage when the pulse cease:
to beat.
Far from land, far from other life
there was nothing TO arouse warm
ing spirit. Along the land there had
been calms and gales md an INSPIRING
contrast. even in the dark days AMI
nights, but here the frigid world wa.
felt at its worst The wind. whicF
came persistently from the west-pov
strong, now feeble. but always sharn-
inflicted a pain 10 which We never be
came accustomed.
The kind Of torture most felt in thi,
wind and humid air Of an arctic nacl
was q picturesque mask OF ice about
the face. Every bit Of exhaled mois
ture condensed and fr0ze either "a IN,