Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-11-15

Willow tops that whipped and stun
them. On they went. now vastly hear
ened. over anchor ridge" down al
OTHER d"clirity. ard lien into II grny
or spruce timber. where lie air 81;
denly stilled and only the treetops tol
Of the rushing wind above
1t was well nigh an hour before Bal
and Emerson succeeded in starting
fire. for it WAS desperate work Sropin
for dry branches. and they thcmsrlve
We're on the verge of collapse bcfor
the timid blaze finally showed tn
two more unfortunate ones hutldlcu t.
gether.
Cherry had given Emerson a nns!
Of liquor before starting. and this b,
now divided between Fraser and tn,
! guide. having wisely refused it I,
them until shelter vas secured Thul
he melted snow in I;;lIt's tin cup ant
poured pints Of hot water into the pai1
until the adventurer began to rally
but the Aleut was too far gone, anC
an hour before the laEgard dawn came
he died.
The day was well spent when they
struggled into Katmai and ploddcd ur
to a half rotted log store. y globual
quarter breed Russian trader took them
in and administered to their most cry
ing needs.
AS soon rs Emerson was able to
talk he inquired concerning the mail
boat
she called here three days ago.
bound west" said the trader
That's all right. She'll be back in
about Il week. eh?"
"She won't stop coming back"
what" Emerson felt himself sick
ening.
mo; she won't call here till next
month. and then if it's storming she'll
go on to the westward and land on her
way back"
How long will that be-"
Maybe seven or eight weeks"
In his weakened condition the young
man CROPPED for the counter to support
himself. So the storms delay at the
foot Of the pass had undone him!
Fate. in the guise of winter, had ur-
furled those floating snow banners
from the mountain peaks to thwart
him once more!
Out Of consideration for his compan-
ions Emerson did not acquaint them
with the evil tidings until the next
morning; moreover, he was swallowed
up in black despair and had no heart
left in him for any further exertion.
He had allowed the Russian to show
him to bed. upon which he flung him
self. half dressed. while the others fol-
lowed suit.
Emerson fell into deep sleep. and
1t was late in the day when he awoke.
every muscle aching. every joint stiff.
every step attended with pain. He
found his companions up and already
Big George none the worse
for his ordeal. while Fraser. bandaged
and smarting. was his old shrewd self.
Have you heard about the mail
boat?" asked Emerson.
mo"
''We've missed her,
what d'you mean?" demanded Big
George blankly.
II mean that that storm delayed us
Just long enough to ruin u.s."
"Why-er-lets wait till the next
rip" offered the fisherman.
Emerson shook his head. "She may
lot be back here for eight weeks. No.
We're done for"
Bait was like big boy in distress
His face wrinkle us If he were about
o burst into loud lamentations Then
| thought seized him.
le cried.
"Out to the westward somewhere"
"Well. she's a mail boat. amt she?
Then why don't she stop here coming
'ack? Answer me-"
The rotund man shrugged his fat
houldcrs. shes got to call at Uyak
ay going east"
Emerson looked up quickly. "Where
) Uyak bay?"
over ON kadiak island"
w ueI Is tlle UOaL uue DIT Oyik!
Emerson asked.
Most any time inside of week."
How far is that from here?"
ut amt Sc far-only about fifty
liles." Then. catching the light that
AIMED into the miners eyes. Petellin
astencd to observe: But you can't
ct there. It's across the straits-Shel-
iOf straits"
What Of that! We can hire sail
oat and
Il amt got any sailboat. lost my
loop last year hunting sea otter"
I'VE can hire Il small boat Of some
ort. can't we. and get the natives to
ut us across? There must be plenty
boats here"
Nothing but skin boats. kayaks and
darkas. you know. Anyhow. you
,uldn't cross al this time of year
S too stormy. These straits Is the
orst piece of water on the coast.
O; you'll have to wait"
Emerson stared hopelessly Mt the
re.
The disheartened man started at this
Incture as If sudden thought i'm
,lled him and followed Bait out into
e cold He turned down the bank to
lie creek. however. and made care