The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1910-09-15
lcoatIa.ed Erohl yesterday.l

sky, startled WOtjttcEtllS nEyilI N EsF
eyes which did not fade until the men
were lost to view far tiil the river trait
Then she breattfh deeply and turned
into the house. oblIvtotis to Constlp-
tine and the young sguaw. who held
the sick baby up for her inspection.
The hazards Of winter travel In the
north are manifold MT besr. but the
country which Emerson ana his COM
panions had TO traverse was parucu-
larry periIoua owing to the fact that
their course led them over the back
bone of the great Alaskan range. that
desolate. skyscrnpIng rampant which
interposes itself between the hate OF
the arctic seas and the tossing wilder
ness of the north Pacific.
a week of hard travel found the
party camped in the last fringe OF
cottonwood that fronted the glacial
slopes, their number augmented now
by a native from n Russian village
with an unpronounceHble name, who.
at the price of an extOrtIonate bride.
had agreed to pilot them through. For
three days they lay idle, the Caut walls
of their tent drumming to an inces-
SAINT fusiIlade of ice particles that
whirIed down ahead OF the blast, while
Emerson fumed to be gone.
The fourth morning broke still ana
quiet, but after n careful scrutiny of
the peaks the Indian shook his head
and spoke to Bait, who nodded in
agreement
whats the matter7' growled EN-
erson. ''Why don't we get under waY9'
But the other replied:
.'Not today. Them tips are smok-
ing, seeT He indicated certain gauzy
streamers that Aoated like vapor from
the highest pInnacles- THAT'S snow,
dry snow. and it shows that the wind
IS blowing up there. We dassent tackle
It."
"Do you mean we must lie here wait
ing for an absolutely calm day?"
Exactly"
r. .'Why, it may be weekF'
"It may be two OF them; then, again,
1t may be al right tomorrow"
Nonsense! That breeze won't hurt
anybody"
.'Breezer" Bait laughed. 'Its more
like tornado up yonder. No; we've
Just got to tnke it easy TIL the right
moment comes and then make dash
It's thirty miles to the nearest stick
OF timber, and once you get into the
pass you can't stop till you're through.
The next dawn showed the mountain
peaks Iimned like clean cut ivory
against the steel blue sky, and as they
crept up through the defles the ar
was SO motionless that the smoke or
their pipes hung about their heads,
while the creak OF their soles upon
the dry surface Of the snow reused
echoes from the walls on either side
AT first their progress was rapid. but
In time the drifts grew deeper and
they came to bluffs where they were
forced to notch footholds. unpack their
load and relay it to the top. then free
the dogs and haul the sled up with
rope hand over hand.
Ii was carly in the afternoon when
tho Indian stopped and began test
ing the air.
..FeeIs like wind" Bnid Bait, with
shake Of his head. The native began
to chatter excitedly, and as they
stood there a chill draft famed their
cheeks. Little wisps Of snow vapor
began to dance upon the ridges, whisk-
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 dwelt in that Ghostly breath
Which smote them. Before they were
well aware OF the ominous signth-
canoe Of these signs the storm was
upon them, sweeping through the
chute wherein they stood with rapidly
increasing violence. The terrible I'M
seen hand of the frozen north had I'M
leashed its brood OF furies. and the
air rang with their hidcous 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 tlesh like fame,
All the morning the air had hung
IN perfect poise, but some change OF
temperature away out over one of the
rival oceans hnd upset the aerostnttc
balance, and the wind tore through
this CUP like the torrent below bro
ken reservoir.
Bait came close to Emerson and bel
lowed into his ear:
what shall we do? IIoN up In the
bedding or run for itT'
How far is It TO timberT'
"TwelVe or fifteen miles"
Let's run for It! We're out OF
grub. anyhow, and this may last for
days"
There was no use OF trying to secure
additional clothing from the supply in
the sled, so they abandoned their out.
at 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
bach, and, although the wind was be-
LJrf thaT,, yoPo1raqS was difficult for