The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-08-24

seen hand of the frozen north had un- leashed its brood of furies. and the air rang with their hidems cries.
 There was no question of facing the wind, for it was more cruel than the fierce breath of an open furnace scar ing the flesh like a flame
 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 and bel lowed into his ear:
 What shall we do? Roll up in the bedding or run for itY'
 How far is it to tmberT
 'Twelve or fifteen miles,"
 Lets run for it! We're out of grub, anyhow, and this may last for days"
 There was DO use of trying to secure additional clothing from the supply in the sled, so they abandoned their out fit and allowed themselves to be driven ahead of the storm, trusting to the natives sense of direction and keeping close together. The dogs were already well drifted over and refused to stir.
 Once they had gone a 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 chasmsN which they had to avoid; they crossed slippery slopes where the storm had barred the hard crust and which their feet re fused to grip. In such places they had to creep CD hands and knees, call ing to one another for guidance. They were numbed. blinded, choked by the rage of the blizzard; their faces grew stiff and their lungs froze. At times they fell and were skfdded along ahead of the blasts. This forced them to crawl back again. for they dared not lose their course. ' Much has been written concerning the red mans physical powers of en- durance, but as a rule no Indian is the equal of bis white brother, due as much perhaps to lack of mental force as to generations of insufficient cloth ing and hamilton, so it was not sur. prising that as the long afternoon dragged to close the Aleut guide be gan to weaken. s
 Darkness found them staggering on supporting him wherever possible. Al length he became unable to guide them farther. and Bait. who had once made <I kv;p bi ic xoJo f1a r, CTS dragged the poor creature along st the cost of their precious strength.
 They had long since lost all track o1 time and place. trusting blindly to 8 downward course. The hurricane still harried them with unabated fury, when all at once they cane 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 aoundered. the two half sensible men tangled to- gether as if in race for total oblivion, only to plunge through 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.
 It was well nigh an hour before Bait and Emerson succeeded in starting a lire, for it was desperate work groping 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 plooded up to half rotted log store. A globular 4AoAeSA oACS0 AeaSSldu tuOk 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 week. eh?"e
 'She won't stop coming back" ''Whatw Emerson felt himself sick ening.
 No; she won't call here. till next month. and then if it's stornaing she'll go on to the westward and land, on her way back"
 How long will that be-" Maybe seven or eight weeks" In his weakened condition the young man groped for the counter to support himself. So the storms delay at the foot of the pass had undone him! Fate, in the guise of winter, had un- furied those floating snow banners from the mountain peaks to thw2rt him once more.
 Out of consideration for his compan- ions Emerson did not acquaint them with the evil tidings until the next morning; moreover. he was swallowed up in black despair and had no heart