The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-09-04
The Honor of the F.
By Jamm@s Oliver GUITW@0@
(Continued.0

After that he drank more tea, crawled back into the balsam shelter and lay ncwn beside Jan It was broad day Ehen he awoke. and he called hoarse 1y to his companion when he saw that Rbe snow had ceased falling. Jan did not stir. For a moment Dixon leaned over to listen to his breathing and then dragged himself mlowIy and painfully out into the day. Uhe fire was out. A leaden blackness MtilI filled the sky; deep, silent gloom hung in the wake of the storm
 Suddenly there came to Dlxon's ears a sound Just beyond the hanging nagIs a moosebird hopped out upon Rhe snow Slowly Dixon forced his light foot through the snow to. the rear of his left and as cautiously Brought his left behind his right, %rorking himself backward step by step until he reached the shelter. Just Inside was his rifle. He drew 1t out and sank upon his knees in the snow 2o aim At the report of the rife Jan Wtirred, but did not open his eyes. He made no movement when Dixon called put in shriH joy that he had killed keneat. He heard, he strove to arouse Himself. but something more powerful tkhan his own will seemed pulling him
  hnternity before he was conscious of fFoice again. He felt himself lifted And opened his eyes with his head nesting against the Englishman's shoul- sEer.
 Drink this, Thoreau," he heard i, He drank and knew that it was not Nea that ran down his throat
 whisky jack soup," he heard again. $How is it?'
 t, He became wide awake. Dixon was DHering him a dozen small bits of kmeat on a tin plate, and he ate with Dut questioning. Suddenly, when there pwere only two or three of the smallest s1craps left, he stopped. ''It was whisky Jackl' he cried. q 4have eaten it alIF'
 The young Englishman's white face agrinned at him. "es
 i've got the four inside of me, Thoreau- You've got the moose bird Esn't that fatrT'
 The plate dropped between them. Over 1t their hands met in a great, elutchfng grip, and up from Jan's heart there welled words which almost burst from his lips in voice, words which rang in his brain and which fwere an unspoken prayer-"Melisse, I khank the great God that 1t is this man Whom you 10ve?' But it was in silence that he staggered to his feet and went out into the gloom.
 This may be only a Hull in the Sstorm," he said we must lose no keime- How long did you travel before RHou made this camp?'
 About ten hours,'' said Dixon. 'I made due west by compass until aknew that had passed Lac Bain and Ehen struck north
 ! "Ah, you have the compass!' cried eJan. his eyes lighting up. ''M'seur Dixon, we are very near to the post if kyou camped so soon! Tell me which is knorth-''
 That is north"
 Then we go south-south and east. f1f you travelled ten hours, first west sand then north, we are northwest of Lac Bain."
 s Jan spoke no more, but got his rife From the shelter and put only the tea land two pails in his pack, leaving the Temaining blanket upon the snow. The kEnglishman followed close behind him, Bending weakly under the weight of This gum. Tediously they struggled to the top qbf the ridge. and as Jan stopbed to Book through the gray day about him Dixon sank down into the snow. When Hhe other turned toward him he grinned hup feebly into his face.
 "sBushed,'' he gasped. Don't be- 1ieve can make it through this snow, EThoreau.'
 There was no fear in his eyes, there aras even a cheerful ring in his voice.
 A sudden glow leaped into Jan's face.
 q know this ridge,' he exclaimed. P~Tt runs within a mile of Lac Bain. nou'd better leave your rife behind.''
 Dixon made an effort to rise, and Dan helped him. They went on slow By, resting every few hundred yards, nnd each time that he rose from these periods of rest Dixon's face was twist hed with pain.
 -emidships,'' he smiled grimly. Cramps Sueh! I wish you'd go on alone.' he nrged- You could send heIp"-
 'T promised Melisse that I would bring you back if I found you,' re- plied Jan, his face turned away. "If srhe storm broke again you would be host-"
 Tell me--tell me- he heard Dixon pant eagerly, "did she send you to hunt for me, Thoreau?'' --.-e -r=-,--.--
 Something in the Englishman's voice &rew his eyes to him. There was ar excited flush in his starved cheeks his eyes shone,
 Did she send youP'
 Jan struggled hard to speak calmly.
 'Not in words, M'seur Dixon. But know that if I get you safely back 4o Lac Bain she will be very happy"
 Something came in Dixon's sobbine breath which Jan did not hear. A little later he stopped and built a fire Ever which he melted more snow and boiled tea. The drink stimulated then and they went on. A little later stil and Jan hung his rife in the crotct of q sapling.