The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-02-02
Copyright 1910.

( I'VE had a small hut built on the
! Mackinaw, fitted with two hunks. and
/ q small box stove for cooking When
we tied up to the shore Tor the night
/ and turned in 1 was often obliged to
choke back laughter at the comedy
/ that we played-a grim comedy. Each
/ or US would at once feign deep sIum-
/ Der, every now and then opening his
| eyes to see how the other slept. once
our eyes CHANGED to meet in the dim
candle light OF the room. for Latour
/ insisted upon the candle. We both
grinned and rolled over,
Our understanding seemed perfect:
and yet, owing to the devilish refine
ment of our mutual hate, neither real
~ feared any vulgar act Of violence
thing would not be done in that way.
we had made about 500 miles
down stream into the very heart OF
the wilderness when the ice began
running Within twenty-four hours
after that We were froze in. heavy
snow began falling and continued for
a week II lay three feet deep upon
the level, and was so light as to make
II impossible to take the trail.
'Latour and merrily set about to
chop wood, not knowing how long we
might be forced to live in the little
cabin Of the Mackinaw.
We had brought only about half
enough provisions for the trip, hav-
ing depended upon hunting for much
OF our food, as there was a great deal
OF game in those days The deep snow
made II impossible to get much game
so that In less than two weeks our
little supply of lyed corn was almost
exhausted.
"One morning L.atour said that he
was sick, and remained in his bunk.
AT FIRST l looked upon this with sus-
picion. thinking that he thus sought
~ Hwc-
wholly upon me. who had proven my
self so capable and willing. But the
next morning I knew II was no sham
for he had high fever, and was de-
Iirious at times You see, he had
been used to luxury and his feeble
constitution had not been equal to the
thorough soakings we got while chop
ping wood in the deep snow.
often in his delirium he linked my
name with bitter curses. At last ne
had betrayed his hate, and I smiled.
knowing that he would lose the game
at last, since he 40 longer had the
cunning to continue il.
Again il began to snow. IT was a
hard winter. Much as 1 might have
wished to seek game for my sick enc
my. 1 could not even seek it for myself.
Nature had taken hand in the game.
I began 70 feel her master touch in the
bitter scheme Of things. She seemed
determined TO starve US both. but
knew that 1 could last longer than La
tour, with his constitution weakened
by too much easy life.
80 I blessed the snow as Il deep
ened. Latour would die before my
eyes; and then afterward l. too. would
die, the winner of the game 1t would
be a most sublime revenge. il seemed
to me, for L think 1 was hardly sane
when l was near Jules Latour. It
3 would hardly be like Samson crushing
his enemies and himself together. No
one could blame me should our bodies
De found, 1 should have had my re-
venge and still none could blame me.
There was a small quantity OF lyed
corn left 1 ate sparingly OF this, care
fully saving Latour's share for him
when he should wish TO eat.
One morning he awoke from his de-
lirium; he asked for food.
4 have saved your share for YOU
said I. I might have eaten it, for /
think We shall starve to death in a
week or so. The snow is too deep and
soft for hunting. Still l have divided