Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-09-29

ing out OF sight as suddenly as they
appeared They became conscious OF
a sudden fall in the temperature and
they knew that the cold of interstellar
space dwell IN that ghoStly breath
which smote them Before they were
well aware OF the ominous signifi-
canoe OF these signs the storm was
upon them. sweeping through the
chute wherein they stood with rapidly
increasing violence. The terrible un-
seen hand OF the frozen north had I'M
leashed its brood of furies. and the
air rang with their hideous cries
There was no question Of facing the
wind. for IL was more cruel than the
fierce breath of an open furnace scar
ing the flesh like dame
All the morning the air had hung
In perfect poise, but some change of
temperature away out over one OF the
rival oceans had upset the aerostatic
balance, and the wind tore through
this gap like the torrent below a bro
ken reservoir
Bait came close To Emerson aud hel-
/ lowed into his ear:
What shall we do? Roll up in the
bedding or run for it,"
How far is ii To timberE"
1 Twelve or fifteen miles"
Lets run for it, We're out Of
Z grub anyhow. and this may last for
days"
There was no use of trying 10 secure
I additional clothing from the supply In
/ the sled. so they abandoned their out,
| tt and allowed themselves 10 be driven
ahead of the storm. trusting 10 the
natives sense Of direction and keeping
close together. The dogs were already
well drifted over and refused to stir.
Once they had gone stones throw
from the sled there was no turning
back. and, although the wind was be-
hind them, progress was difficult, for
they came upon chasms which they
had to avoid; they crossed slippery
slopes where the storm had barred the
hard crust and which their feet re-
fused 10 grip. In such places they
had to creep on hands and knees, cali
ing to one another for guidance They
rage of the blizzard; their faces grew
stiff and their lungs froze. At times
they fell and were skidded along
ahead of the blasts. This forced them
to crawl back again, for they dared
not lose tlsr course.
Much has been written concerning
the red mans physical powers Of en-
durance, but rs rule no Indian is
the equal of his white brother. due as
much perhaps to lack of mental force
as 70 generations OF insufficient cloth
ing and hamilton, so ii was not sur
prising that as the long afternoon
dragged to a close the Aleut guide be-
gan 10 weaken
Darkness found them staggering on.
supporting him wherever possible. AT
length he became unable to guide them
farther and Bait. who had once made
the trip. took his place. while the 9TH
ers dragged the poor creature along at
the cost OF their precious strength
They had long since lost all track OF
time and place trusting blindly to a
downward course. The hurricane
still harried them with unabated fury,
when all at once they came to another
bluff where the ground fell away
abruptly. Without waiting to investi-
gate whether the slope terminated in
drift or precipace. they flung them
selves over Down they foundered,
the two half sensible men tangled to-
gether as If in race for total oblivion,
only to plunge through a thicket Of
willow tops that whipped and stung |
them. On they went. now vastly heart
ened. over another ridge, down an
other declivity. and then into grove
of spruce timber, where the air sud- |
denly stilled. and only the treetops told
of the rushing wind above.
1t was well nigh an hour before Bait
and Emerson succeeded In starting a
tire, for II was desperate work cropping
for dry branches. and they themselves
were on the verge of collapse before
the timid blaze finally showed the
two more unfortunate ones huddled to-
gether.
Cherry had given Emerson a flask
Of liquor before starting. and this he
now divided between Fraser and the
guide. having wisely refused It to
them until shelter was secured. Then
he melted snow In Balt's tin cup and
poured pints of hot water into the pair
until the adventurer began to rally,
but the Aleut was too far gone. and
an hour before the laggard dawn came
he died.
The day was well spent when they
struggled into Katmai and plodded up
to half rotted log store A globular
quarter breed Russian trader took them
IN and administered to their most cry
ing needs.
AS soon as 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 q weex. eh?"
"She won't stop coming back"
"whatw Emerson felt himself sick
ening.
mo: she won't call here till next
a