El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-06-18
IN THE BLIZZARD
By Paul viIIiers.

I Ut WAS in November. 1912. that was
sent off with dispatches from the
colonel Of my regiment, then sta
/ toned at SulmOna. 10 the general in
l command Of the fortress Of Sangro. /
dld not like the trip, it was bitterly
cold and blizzard might break out
] at any moment. Besides this the great
plain / had to cross was fun of wolves.
made desperate by hunger and, what
I was perhaps the worst of all the cOun-
Z try was infested by bandits belonging
10 the notorious GuiacOma- Danferf's
sang But the dispatches were impor-
tant and was courier, so I had to 90.
IN the evening 1 had halted TO give
my tired horse a much needed rest
About six miles ahead of me was the
village OF Rocca Rosa, where I hoped
TO find shelter for the night. looked
around, and quite close TO me discov-
cred horseman. whom I had not no
tced before, but who was coming
Ss{iralsht towards me It was a very
olSagreeaole surprise. / would much
rather nave been alone, though the man
was Wen dressed and looked like a
traveller.
"Comrade." he said to me. in a frank
ana open tone, Il have once been Q sol
der myself If you permit / should
IKE 10 travel In your company TO the
fortress of SangrO."
How do YOU know that I am going
10 Sangro?' 1 grOwled.
I only said that I was going there. %
ne replied with smile. i saw YOU
riding up the hill, missed company.
ana, though / am probably as distrust-
iuI as you are. yourself, ! decided 10
suggest that We travel together Is
this explanation satisfactory or do YOU
want me to go alOne?'
think 1 may trust you" I said,
ana we rode on very soon chatting like
ola acquaintance Still I did not feel
quite at ease To tell the truth I was
Just a little afraid of the stranger in
spite OF his frank and easy manners
ana pleasant face Suddenly, without
any warning, violent gust Of wind
nearly DleW US out OF the saddle
Mefc1ful LOrdI' the stranger exc
zard''
And indeed. a few moments later we
were IN the midst Of the fierceSt snow
storm 1 have ever seen. The wind was
moving, shrieking, roaring, the air was
dark and heavy and the snow came
down IN masses, soon wiping out the
road entirely, and gathered in enor-
nous drifts IN every hollow place.
IT grew pitch dark and we had to
dismount and lead our horses. not
knowing whether we were progressing
towards the village or walking in a
circle.
Listen, the wolves are near. we shall
never escape alive" my companion
cried suddenly.
And above the roar Of the storm I
could hear the terrible long drawn
howl Of the wolves which almost
froze the blood in my veins. The howls
came from everywhere; evidently the
beasts had quite surrounded US.
Closer, ever closer, they came and
soon we could make out their glow
ing eyes through the darkness and 1
whispered TO my companion: Don't
you think that our only salvation lies
in sacrificing our hOrses?"
I do he replied, but value my
horse so highly that I will try If a
shot may not scare them away Tor a
while"
Of the pack, which hOwled and fled. In
a moment. however, they came back
closer than ever.
There was no other way; We must
sacrifice our horses TO save our own
lives. We shook hands and sWOre TO
stick together TO the last. Then we