The Elbert County tribune., 1910-01-13

races In the direction of Etah through
region of frozen silence. Davidson was unable to walk
He was big man and his weight proved burden to
the dogs For two days they on slowly. On the
evening of the second day they made their small fire
and started to brew bottom fell out of
the pot and 1t could was the only vessel
of kind that they had with them In II thew had
heated their pemmican stepped tea That acci
dent, apparently trihing in itself. those felt
might mean their death. From that time they ate
frozen food and had warming beverage
On, on they went and at last there a realizing
sense that they lost There which
could be spared to keep the strength the dogs
Vincent led two of the creatures and killed them
that they might food for the remaining
mails Both men were weak to the point Of exhaustion
Vincent kept his good cheer and rallied his patient
by his hopefulness Then he went into the harness.
ing the place Of the animals that he had sain
his remaining strength to help drag the sedge
The two remaining dogs gave out There would have
been the blackness of despair had 1t been some
thing in the spirit of those that
light.
Doctor" said Davidson you can't drag me further
There is why both of us should die. unen-
cumbered perhaps make your way to the cid
camp. Try it."
vincent's the fitting harness over
his shoulders and the trudgng onward, drag
gng the sledge with its weakened burden behind him
Doctor" said Davidson more you'd better CO."
Vincent turned with sort of half smile Davidson"
he said "its barely possible matter between
men, might find it in heart to desert you
you to die You must remember however, that
doctor and you're my patient and 1t would be
ethical the last degree for to away and leave
you SO afraid you'll have to put up with me-"
The physician dragged his patient through the
horror of the awful stiffness Finally the at
hand Vincent tottering and Davidson. weakened
the the operation he had undergone. coupled
with the exposure lack of food practically
fanting condition. The sedge had been brought to
point from which swept away for mile gentle
declivty. smooth with and ice Vincent down
on the edge of the sedge.
"old fellow" he said. I'm sorry. but I'm afraid it's
almost up me- Then he turned his head. but
in moment his feet. Far down to the right of
the sloping plain he grm-ooking rock which held
his gaze Then turned to Davidson again. II don't
want to raise any false hopes he said but that
looks like one that stood far from the place where
the natives 1t is like thousand others and prob
abIv am wrong God knows it's last hope /
can't drag further, I'll not leave Well
together We can slide down this declivity with
sledge We may go into you know, and
that means death, but it's death anyway unless when
we mass that rock huts beyond the
right"
Then those two kissed each other but spoke
a word
Vincent last remaining strength to start the
sledge It went slowly with its momentum down
the barely perceptible incline Occasionally the
Grated speed would checked by smooth billow ice
over which they smoothly They approaching
the rock which Vincent had looked familiar They
were almost up On what the first look the
rock should reveal the physician knew meant life
death He turned and looked at his comrade. David
.on,s eyes were closed tight in the between the