The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-01-13

"'0 'N we ulI''ilIH bl Etnh ana through
region Of frozen silence Davidson was unable to walk
H. was a big and his weight proved a burden to
VI" dogs For two days they went on slowly On the
evening OF tn" second day they made their small fire
ana snrtcd TO brew tea The bottom fell cut "
the pot and could be fixed Was the only vessel
Of any Kind that they had with them In It they had
heated their pemmican and stepped their That acct
dent apparently trinuE In itself those two men felt
might mean their death From that time on they ate
frozen food and had no warming beverage
On on they went auG AT last there came n realizing
sense mat they were lost There food loft which
could be spared 10 keep up the strength OF the dogs
Vincent led two of the away and killed them
that they might food for the two remaining ant
mails Both men were weak to the point Of exhaustion
Vincent kept up his good cheer and rallied his patient
by his hopouInoss Then he went into the harness
ing the place OF the animals that he had slain used
HIS remaining strength to help drag the sledPc onward
The tN'n remaining dogs gave out There would have
been the blacknoss of despair had II been for
thing In the spirit of those two that them
Hight
Doctor" said Davidson "you can't drag me further
There is no reason WY both Of should die linen.
numbered, perhaps YOU make your way the old
camp. Try it."
Vnccnts the fitting of the harness over
his shoulders once and the rudgng onward, drag
ging the sledge with It's weakened burden behind him
Doctor, said Davidson you'd better 60"
Vincent turned with sort of half smile. Davidson"
he said ITS barely possible matter between
men, might find it in my heart to desert you and leave
you here to die. You must remember, however that
doctor and you're my patient, and it would be
ethical to the last degree for 10 and leave
you, I'm afraid youll have to put up with me-
The physician dragged his patient through the
horror OF the awful stiffness Finally the end at
hand Vincent toterlng and Davidson, weakened
the result of the operation he had undergone coupled
with the exposure and lack of food practically In
fainng condition. Tho sledgc had been brought to
rnnt from which swept away for mile gentle
dcclyity smooth with and ice. Vincent sat down
on the edge Of the sedgc
old fellow" he said I'm sorry but I'm afraid it's
almost up with me- Then he turned away his head but
In a moment his feet Far down to the right of
the sloping plain he grim-lookng rock which held
his gaze Then he turned Davidson again 81 don't
want to raise any false hopes" he said but that rock
looks like that stood far from the place where
the natives are 1t is like thousand others and prob
ably am wrong. but God knows It's our last hope,
can't drag you further but I'll not leave you. Wen go
together We slide down this declivity with our
sedge We may 20 into crevasse, as you know, and
that means death, but It's death anyway unless when
we pass that rock see huts beyond and to the
right"
Then those two men kissed each other but spoke not
n word
Vincent used his last remaining strength to start the
the barely perceptbIc incline Occasionally the accel
Grated speed would be checked by smooth bow Of Ice
over which they rode smoothly They approaching
the rock which Vincent had looked familiar. They
we're almost up it, On what the first look around the
rock should reveal the physician knew meant life
death He turned and looked at his comrade David
sons eyes closed tight in the agony between the