Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-03-04
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while he was fastening them on. AND
all that afternoon he skinned over the
fields abou his mountain home in al
ecstasy Of joy. The skis Of straight
grained white ash took a polish quick
ly and grew faster with each descent
They were perfectly balanced anc
curved high at the front and he could
take the drifted stone walls with
long skimming leap that almost made
the heart stop for the fear and JOY
Of it.
He was a 12-year-old athlete, trained
In the incessant activities Of the farm
and forest. Sweeping down at the
house with the speed Of the fastest
train he would stop within a few
yards, or swerve with an exultant cry
close by his doubtful, watching
mother, and go on cutting long curves
and leaping the half-buried fences to
the lower edge Of the clearing.
About 4 o'clock Martin saw his
father with Jim, the hired man. driv-
ing home from the mill. Martin plan
ned to take the 0 a with a flying
leap JuSl uuuGI lucIl LoSSS, do tACS
turned in toward the barn.
The effect was greater h he an
ticipated; he had left the horses out
of his calculations. One was a colt
Just being broken, and the other was
not low-spirited. When that strange,
long-footed. flying figure passed with a
shrek before them, the colt leaped
across the back Of it's mate and to-
gather they swerved and crashed
through the fence and I'VE the wall
into the barnyard below.
Brs. Baird was quickly there, and
heard her husbands repeated cry for
help from under the ~entangling wreck.
AS they dragged him out a red trail
followed Upon the snow. He was
tightly clutching his left arm at the
elbow, but the blood was dripping fast
from his finger tips.
"The axe caught me somehow" said
he. Il had it on my knees. Slit up
the sleeve with your knife,-quick
Martin, and let us see! l bled fright
fully in there before l could get hold
Of it. / feel weak-I feel weak
AS they barred his arm a stream Of
bright blood spurted Ugh, and falling,
left it's spotted stain upon the snow.
Martin and Jim jumped back. amazed
and speechless. The mother reeled in
a half-faint, out braced at her hus-
bands sharp words.
Martin! Jim! Help me here
can't you? Quick-grab the arm
above! Not so tight! There's the YES
sci. So-hold steady!"
By their many hands the bleeding
was again controlled. but the father
lay outstretched with white lips. Re
covering slowly, he told them how to
knot handkerchiefs and tie the upper
arm, but the artery spurted again, and
only the hands seemed to control it.
Get on the colt, Martin, and go for
the DOCTOR" said Mrs. Baird.
THE doctor passed us going up the
valley to Grays over an hour ago."
said Jim. He'll be coming down about
now. If we could head him Off we
could head him off! If we don't it'll
be hours before we get him here"
Run down the mountain Martini"
said the father, by the old log road
and Clancey's clearing. Start slow;
it's the finish we want-the finish. II
you miss him, take Clancey's horse
and ride. Where are yon now, boy?"
he cried sharply.
Turning, he saw Martin strapping
on the skees. Take those things off"
he commanded. Haven't they done
enough for one day."
For answer Martin glided from the
yard and ropped like an arrow down
the long barn meadow, and took the
drifted wall without a touch of the
pole. He swayed badly in mid-air,
and the watchers held their breath;
but he righted and was on like the
wind into the slopes and curves of the
lower clearing.
Here vas work for the best skee
rider-stumps, vines to avoid and
t~reacherous drifts to pass, but Martin
kept on swiftly toward the forest. He
was using the pole now lodging and
balancing and sometimes braking al
most to a stop. but steadily going
down. twenty times faster than his un.
aided legs could have carried him. At
last the watchers saw him. with a
startling sweep of speed go straight to-
ward the forest edge and disappear
therein as II swallowed.
Hes got the road" said MI. Baird,
his eyes growing moist. God help
him! Go to the window in the barn
loft Myra. Jim has got his all right
now. From there you can just see
the top of the ridge in Clancey's clear
ing. Maybe he will pass there"
She sprang into the loft. What
thoughts were hers as she waited al
that Windows! A husband there, with
a finger holding him from death, and
an only child rushing to possible de
struction on the mountain slopes be
low! Suddenly along that white ridge
q mile and a half away, and clearly
seen in the fading sunset light, a black
speck OF a figure showed. moved swift
~ downward and passed in a moment
out Of her sight.
She came back quickly, with the
tears flowing freely.
HE passed." she said.
Then. still holding the artery and by
~ aid Of the boys big sled. the,
moved the bleeding man into the