Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-09-18

AO PShSu up uS BlONS, unulu tue
rcins from Wasson's stiffened fingers,
and urged the horses forward. Carroll
lurched d~runkenly In the saddle, yet
retained sufficient life to cling to the
pommel, and thus the outfit plunged
hlindly forward into the storm. leav.
issg the dead men where they lay.
There vas nothing else to do; Ham
Inns heart choked him as he plowed
lis was past, but he had no strength
- lift those heavy bodies. Every
ounce os power must be conserved for
Tie preservation of life. Little as he
there VAS but one means of passage,
that along the narrow rift between the
ridges. The snow lay deep here, but
they ~1sundered ahead, barely able to
surmosnt the drifts, until suddenly
they emerged upon an open space,
sheltered somewhat by the low hills
ard swapt clean by the wind. Direct
ly beneath, down a wide cleft in the
bank, dimly visible, appeared the vel
come waters of the Cimarron. The
stream was but partly frozen over, the
dalk current flowing in odd contrast
between the banks of ice and snow.
The Sergeant, halted, examining his
surroundings cautiously, expecting ev-
cry Instant to be fired upon by some
unseei, foe. The violence of the storm
prevented his seeing beyond a few
yards md the whirling snow crystals
blinii@1i him as he faced the fury of
the wind sweeping down the valley.
Nothing met his gaze; no sound reach
ed Rls ears; about him was desola-
ton, Inbroken Wilderness. Apparently
they were alone in all that intense
GREATNESS of snow. The solemn lone
illness Of 1.-THE dark, silently flowing
river, the dun sky, the wide. white ex
panse of plain, the mad violence of
the storm beating against him
brought to him a feeling of helpless.
ness. He was q mere atom, strug-
Cling alone against Natures wild
mood. Then the feeling clutched him
that he was no. alone; that from
somewhere amid those barren wastes
hostile eyes watched. skuIking muir.
derers sought his lie. Yet there was
no sign of any presence. He could
not stand there and die, nor permit
Carroll to freeze In his saddle.
Foot by foot, feeling his passage,
he advanced down The gully. fairly
dragging his own horse after him.
Behind, held by the straining lariat,
lurched the others. the soldier sway
ing on the back Of the last. swearing
and laughing in delifium, clutching at
snowfiakes with his hands. At the end
of the ravine, under shelter of the
bank, Hamlin trampisd back the snow,
herding the animals close, SO as to
gain the warmth OF their bodies. Here
they were well protected from the
cruel lash of the wtii and the shower
of snow which blew over them and
drifted higher and higher in the open
space beyond. Working feverishly,
the blood again circulating freely
through his veins. the Sergeant hasti.
ly dragged blankets from the pack,
and spread them OF the ground. de-
posting Carroll upon them. Then he
set about vigorously rubbing the sol,
dier's exposed flesh with snow. The
smart of It, together with the rough.
ness of handling, aroused the latter
from lethargy. but Hamlin, ignoring
his resentment, gr.bped the fellow
with hands of iron, never ceasing his
violent ministrations until his swear.
ing ended In silence Then he wrap
ped him tightly in che blankets, and
stood himself erect. glowing from the
exercise. Carroll glared up at him
angrily out of red-i immed eyes.
TN get you for that. you big boob!'
he shouted, striving to release his
arms from the clinging blankets. you
wait! I'll get you!"
Hush up. George, and go to
sleep" the other retorted, poking the
shapeless body with his foot. his
thoughts already elsewhere. Don't
be a fool. I'll get 3 fire If | can, and
something hot into you. Within an
hour you'll be a man again. Now see
here-stop that! Lo you hear? You
lie still right where you are, Carroll,
until I come back. or I'll kick your
ribs I'M" He bent down menacingly
scowling into the upturned face. "Will
you mind, or shall have to hand you
one?"
Carroll shrank back like a whipped