El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-08-17

I~kHE trail TO kaiVlE lcd0S 0OWD
from the northward mountains
over the tundra which TANKS
~ the tide fats. then creeps out
upon the salt fee of the river and
across to the village.
A Greek church. Russian school
with q cassocked priest presiding and
about hundred houses beside the can
merry buildings make up the village.
Early one December afternoon there
entered upon this trail from the tim
berless hills far away to the northward
a weary team of six dogs. driven by
two men.
The travellers had been plodding sui
lenly hour after hour. dispirited by the
weight of the storm.
"Fingerless" Fraser broke trail, and
Boyd Emerson drove.
Another day like this and we'd both
be snow blind" observed Emerson
grimly as be bent to his task. But
1t can't be far to the river Dow."
An hour later they dropped from
the plain down through a gutterlike
gully 10 the river. where they found
trail. glass hard beneath its downy
covering. A cold breath sucked up
from the sea. Ahead they saw the
ragged ice upended by the tide. One
branch led to the village. which they
knew lay somewhere on the farther
side. hidden by mile or more or sift-
ing snow.
The going here was so rough that
beth men leaped from their seats and
ran beside the sled. They mounted
swelling ridge and rushed down to the
level river ice beyond. but as they did
so they heard a shivering creak on
every side and saw wafer rising about
the sled runners. Emerson shouted.
the dogs leaPed. but with a crash the
ice gave way. and for moment the
water closed over him. "Fingerless"
Fraser broke through in turn. gasping
as the icy water rose to his armpits.
Each man aimed 70 secure an indie
pendent footing. but the efforts of all
only enlarged the pool Emerson shout
ed:
Cut the team loose. quickr' Bot
the other spat out a mouthful Of salt
water and spluttered:
IL can't SWIM
Whereupon the first speaker half
swan himself through the slusb TO
the forward end of the sled and. seek
ing out the sheath knife from beneath
his parka. cut the harness of the two
animals. Once free they scrambled 10
safety and rolled In the dry snow.
Emerson next attempted to lift the
nose of the sled up on the ice. shout
ing at the remainder of the team to
pull. but they only wagged their tails
and whined. Each time be tried to
lift the sled he crashed through fresh
ice. finally bearing the next pair of
mails in the lead. All OF them became
hopelessly entangled-
Suddenly rang out sharp command
uttered In a new voice. Out of the
snow fog f-om the direction In which
they were headed broke a team. run
ming run anu Tree. EMERSON marvel.
ed at the outfit. having never seen the
like In all bis travels through the
north. for each animal of the twelve
stood hip high TO a tall man. and
they were like wolves OF one pack.
gray and gaunt and wicked. A tall
Indian runner left the team and head
ed swiftly for the scene Of the acct
dent. The man ran forward till he
neared the edge of the opening where
the tide had caused the foes TO sep
arate; then. fattening his body on the
ice, be crawled out cautiously and
seized Ihr .;,d dog Carefully ht
wormed his way backward to security
1t bad been ticklish operation. re
quiring nice skill and dexterity. but
now thar his footing was sure the
runner exerted his whole strength, and
as the dogs scratched and tore for IL
firm foOthold the sled came crnnching
closer and closer through the half inch
skin of ice. Then be reached down
and dragged Emerson out. dripping