The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1910-10-20

fire. for 1t was desperate work Cropping
for dry branches. and they themselves
were on the verge Of collapse before
the tinid 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 aud the
guide. having wisely refused 1t to
them until shelter was secured. Then
he melted snow In Balts 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 4 week. ehY'
"She won't stop coming back"
"Whatv Emerson felt himself sick
ening.
mo: she won't call here till next
month. and then ii it's storming she'll
60 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 CROPPED 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.
furled those floating snow banners
from the mountain peaks to thwart
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
left in him for any further exerti0n.
He had allowed the Russian to show
him to bed, upon which be flung him
self. half dressed. while the others fol-
lowed suit.
Emerson fell into a deep sleep. and
It was late in the day when he awoke.
every muscle aching. every joint stiff.
every step attended with pain. He
found his companions up and already
breakfasted. Big George none the worse
for his ordeal. while Fraser. bandaged
and smarting. was his old shrewd self.
"Have you heard about the mail
boat?" asked Emerson.
mo"
"We've missed her."
"What d'you mean?" demanded Big
George blankly.
II mean that that storm delayed US
just long enough to ruin u.s."
"Why-er-let's wait till the next
trip" offered the fisherman.
Emerson shook his head. "She may
not be back here for eight weeks. No!
We're done for"
Bait was like big boy in distress.
to burst into loud lamentations. Then
thought seized him.
"Where in blazes Is this stea mer p
he cried.
"Out to the westward somewhere"
"Well. she's a mail boat. amt she
Then why don't she stop here coming
back? Answer me-"
The rotund man shrugged his fat
shoulders. ''She's got to call at Uyak
bay going east"
Emerson looked up quickly. "Wherc
is Uyak bay?"
"Over on Kadiak island"
when Is the boat due at Uyak p
Emerson asked.
Most any time inside of a week."
How far is that from here?"
ut amt SO far-only about fifty
miles," Then. catching the light that
famed into the miners eyes, Petellin
fastened to observe: But you can't
get there. It's across the straits-Shel-
! ikof straits"
what of that! We can hire soil
boat and"-
Il amt got any sailboat. lost my
sloop last year hunting sea OTTER"
I'VE can hire a small boat of some
sort. can't we. and get the natives to
put us across? There must be plenty
of boats here"
Nothing but skin boats. kayaks and
bidarkas. you know. Anyhow. you
couldn't cross at this time of year
it's too stormy. These straits is the
worst piece of water on the coast.
No; you'll have to wait"
Emerson stared hopelessly at the
fire.
The disheartened man started at this
juncture as If a sudden thought i'm
PEELED him and followed Bait out into
The cold. He turned down the bank to
she creek. however. and made a care.
full examination of all the canoes that
| vpopt with tho vi11auo ECiFtoon v,,iv,