The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-01-14


region OF frozen silence Davidson unable to
He was big and his weight proved burden to
the dogs. For two days they on slowly. On the
evening of the second day they made their small fire
ana started to brew some tea. The bottom fell
the pot and it could not be the only vessel
of any kind that they had with them In it they had
heated their pemmcan and stepped their tea That acct
dent apparently tring in ITSELF those two felt
might mean their death. From that time on they ate
frozen food and had no warming beverage.
On on they went and at last there came realizing
that they There was no food left which
could be spared to keep the strength of the
Vincent led two of the creatures away and killed them
that they might food for the remaining ami
mails Both men were weak to the point of exhaustion
Vincent kept his good cheer rallied his patient
by his hopefulness Then he into the harness. TAX
ing the place of the animals that he had sain and used
his remaining strength to help drag the sedge onward
The two remaining dogs gave out There would have
been the backness of despair had it not been for
thing in the spirit of those that them
light.
Doctor" said Davidson you can't drag me further
There is no reason why both of should die. Unen
numbered, perhaps you make your way to the old
camp. Try it."
vincents answer was fitting of the harness over
shoulders once more and the trudging onward drag
ging the sedge with its weakened burden behind him.
Doctor" said Davidson more, you'd better CO."
Vincent turned with a of half smile Davidson"
he said, 'ts barely possible, matter between
men, might find in my heart desert you leave
you here to die. You must remember, however. that
doctor and you're my patient, and it would be
ethical to the last degree for away and leave
you, I'm afraid you'll have to put up with me-"
The physician dragged his patient through the
horror of the awful stiffness Finally the end at
hand Vincent tottering and Davidson weakened
result of the operation he had undergone coupled
with the and lack Of food practically in
fainting condition The sedge had been brought to
point from which swept away for over mile gentle
declivty. smooth with and ice Vincent sat down
the edge of the sledge.
"Od fellow he said. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid it's
almost up with me-" Then he turned his head but
in moment his feet. Far down to the right of
the sopng plain he saw grm-ooking rock which held
his gaze. Then he turned to Davidson again. 81 don't
raise any false hopes" he said, but that rock
like that stood not far from the place where
the natives 1t is like thousand others and prob
ably wrong, but God knows it's last hope
can't drag you further I'll not leave you Well
together. We slide down this decivity with
sedge We may go into crevasse, you know, and
that DEATH but it's death anyway unless when
we pass that rock huts beyond and to the
right"
Then those two kissed each other. but spoke
word
Vincent used his last remaining strength to the
sledge 1t went slowly with its momentum down
the barely perceptibe incline Occasionally the accel-
Grated speed would be checked by smooth biow of ice
over which they rode smoothly. They approaching
the rock which Vincent had looked familiar They
were up 1t. On what the first look around the
rock should reveal the physician knew meant life
sons eyes closed tight in the agony between the