Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-12-06

the forlorn droop OF her lips stayed
him. Without thought of conse,
quences and prompted largely by his
leaping spirits, he stopped and, before
she could divine his purpose. kissed
her.
"Goodby." he laughed. with dancing
eyes. That's my answer!" And the
next second he was ut the sled. The
dogs leaped at his shout, and the caval-
cade was in motion
But the girl stood without sound or
gesture. bareheaded under the wintry
sky. a startled. wondering light In her
eyes which did not fade until the men
were lost to view far up the river trail.
Then she breathed deeply and turned
into the house. oblivious to Constan-
tine and the young squaw. who held
the sick baby up for her inspection.
The hazards Of winter travel In the
north are manifold at best. hut the
country which Emerson and his COM
panions had to traverse was particu'
larly perilous owing to the fact that
their course led them over the back-
bone Of the great Alaskan range. that
desolate. skyscraping 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 q native from Russian village
with an unpronounceable name. who.
at the price of an extortionate bribe,
had agreed to pilot them through. For
three days they lay idle, the taut walls
of their tent drumming to an inces-
SAINT fusillade of ice particles that
whlrled down ahead Of the blast, while
Emerson fumed 70 be gone.
The fourth morning broke still and
quiet. but after careful scrutiny OF
the peaks the Indian shook his head
and spoke to Bait, who nodded In
agreement.
whats the matter?" growled EN-
erson. "Why don't we get under wayT'
But the other replied:
Not today. Them tips are smok-
ing. seew He indicated certain Sauzy
streamers that hoated like vapor from
the highest pinnacles. That's snow
dry snow. and 1t shows that the wind
is blowing up there We dassent tackle
It."
DO you mean we must lie here walt
ing for an absolutely calm day"
Exactly"
"Why. it may be a week"
ut may be two of them; then. again
it may be all right tomorrow"
NONSENSE. That breeze won't hurt
anybody"
"Breeze~ Bait laughed. 'It's more
like a tornado up yonder. No: we've
Just got to take it easy till 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 limned like clean cut ivory
against the steel blue sky, and as they
crept up through the defiles the ali
was so motionless that the smoke OF
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 theiI
load and relay it to the top. then free
the dogs and haul the sled up with
rope hand over hand.
1t was early In the afternoon when
the Indian stopped and began test
ing the air.
Feels like wind" said Bait. with
shake of his head. The native began
to chatter excitedly, and as they
stood there chill draft famed theil
cheeks. Little wisps Of snow vapol
began to dance upon the ridges, whisk
Ing out Of sight as suddenly as they
appeared. They became conscious OF
sudden fall in the temperature ant
they knew that the cold of interstellal
space dwelt In that ghostly breath
which smote them. Before they were
well aware of the ominous signih
canoe of these signs the storm wal
upon them, sweeping through th'
chute wherein they stood with rapid!
increasing violence. The terrible un
seen hand of the frozen north had un
leashed its brood Of furies. and tn
air rang with their hideous cries.
! There was no question Of facing tn