Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-03-04


ing time that might be one hour or
ten.
When Martin shot so boldly into the
forest he had seen the old wood road
stretching straight and conceived be-
fore him; but there were many trou-
bles which he had to face before he
could get through.
Twice he had to fall at quick turns
to avoid dashing into the trees and at
several points fallen stems across the
path came near to ending his down
ward career.
But each time he let the breath be
knocked out of him and fell in a way
to save the skee f%astenings; and each
time, as he arose he saw more clearly
the vision Of that blood-spurt across
the snow and the strange blue-white
face Of his father, and each time he
sped on faster n ooh greater
chances.
He was trying many new tricks. but
new skill seemed to come to him with
every moment of the descent. He
crouched low through the woods, but
the boughs whipped his face cruelty,
and he was tasting his own blood
When he emerged at last at the ex-
IRENE upper III of Clancey's clear
ing.
All the course now lay open before
him Tho conlitiore o., .Ia. -,:.-
were perfect-deep snow, a pebbly
crust slightly yielding, n over this
an inch of light steering snow, fallen
the night before.
Martin Strengthened up and breath
ed; the skees felt the new freedom and
taking the narrow ridge between two
ravines, he swept down with terrific
speed toward the upper pastures of the
lance farm. In was here tina his
mother, from the loft, had seen him
J pass.
Another half-miie and the valley
would be in full view. In magma
ton he saw the doctor speeding down
by Clancey's house, and himself wav-
ing and shouting from the hillside
too late, too late. He must go faster.
faster. Raising his pole high, he took
a steep slope freely, not seeing and
hardly caring what was at the bot
tom. and a bad fall resulted.
His head struck something hard un-
der the snow, the breath was beaten
from him and for a he lost
consciousness. AS he revived and Law
there looking up forgetfully at the
p~ink-edged clouds, the tinkle of bells
came up family to his ears.
He sprang up and started downward
again. A few seconds brought him
out upon the ~promontory. and the val
ley lay Xix a map below. The sound
Of bells rang up clearly on the still
evening air, and there was the doctor
passing swiftly down the valley and
but a little way above Clancey's house.
Doctor Briggs drove better horses
and drove them faster than any other
man In the county. Lying far back
In his hooded sleigh, he slept or half
slept as he drove, and every one turn
ed far out when they heard him com
ing.
Martin had a half-mile to pass and
the doctor a few rods. All this pass
ed In n thought through the boys
mind as he dropped like a swooping
hawk from the bluff and came out
upon the long, steep fields above the
house. 1t was clear, straight going
now, and crouching low, he swept like
some great low-fying bird down that
last white stretch to the road. His
eyes were on the doctors team, thai
appeared to be moving with ever
quickening pace. The cold wind froze
his face and cut through all his cloth.
ing, but the skees for the first time
seemed to be holding. He prayed for
more speed, and bending farther for
ward, tried to urge them on.
A quarter-mile above the house Mar
tin saw with dismay that he shopld
just miss the doctor there. No cry Of
his could a him, deep mufled in
that hood. No horse of Clancey's
would catch him, short of the village.
miles away. The picture of the bleed
ing father appeared again before him
and a weakening fear came, and al
most caused a fall. But he remem.
bered then his fathers words, sIts the
finish we want-the finish!" and he
stifened again for action.
Looking to the left, he saw that the
bordering the creek ran out to a
point beyond Clancey's and then cury.
ed sharply back to the edge of the
fields. With a touch Of the pole he
sWerved and went straight for that
high band at the nearest point +,
was o for him. bu. he
knew that the 0 was under the
bank and the doctor was on that road
and coming fast.
Nearing h edge he saw he tons
Of tall trees sticking up from below
} n heard the bells chime out loudly
- ths doctor swung round the point