The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-09-27

one travels on rattons delay Is danger
Gus. Each morning. dragging them
selves out into the maelstrom. they
took sticks and poked into the drifts
for dogs. Each animal as found was
exhumed. given a fish and became
straightway reburied In the whirling
white that seethed down from the
mountains.
On the dfth. without warning. the
storm died and the air stilled TO a
perfect silence.
These dog bad froze." said Pierre.
swearing earnestly as he harnessed.
81 don like Get much. They going
play bout. I'm 'fraid." lie knelt aud
chewed from between their toes the
fee pellets that had accumulated. A
malamoot is hard pressed 10 let his
feet mass. and this added to the mems
uneasiness.
AS they mounted the great divide
mountains rolled away on every hand.
barren. desolate. marble white. always
the Wilderness. always the listening
silence that oppressed like "A weight
Myriads OF creek valleys radiated be
low in a bewildering mare OF twist
ing seams.
Those are the ASS Ears, | sup
pose" said Willard. gazing at two
great fangs that bit deep into the sky
line. ''ls IL true that no man has ever
reached themY"
Yes: the Hinjun say that's were
al a.. .e.-.. 80, frapn htCaouaa
wen the win blow troo the ass ear,
look out. Somebody goiug ketch ell"
Dogs feet wear quickly after freeZ-
Ing. for trusted snow cuts like a knife.
Spots OF blood showed In their tracks,
growing more plentiful TIL every print
was a crimson stain. They llmped
pltlfully on their raw pads. and oc-
~casionally one whined. AT every stop
they sank In track. licking their lacer-
ated paws. rising only at the cost
OF much whipping.
On the second night faint and
starved. they reached the hut. Dig
ging away the drifts. they crawled in
side 10 lind IL half full OF snow-snow
which had sifted through the creyices.
Pierre CROPPED among the shadows and
swore exeltedly.
What's upT" said Willard.
Vocal effort n the simplest Is ex-
haustiug when spent with hunger. and
these were the first words he had
spoken for hours.
by gar. she's gone! Somebody
stole my grubP'
Willard felt a terrible sinking. and
his stomach cried for food.
How far is 1t 10 the Crooked River
R~oadhouseY'
zone long day drive-forty mile"
I'VE must make II tomorrow or 90
hungry, eh? Well. this isn't the first
doghsh / ever ate Both men
gnawed a moldy dried salmon from
their precious store.
AS willard removed his footgear he
groaned.
watts the m~attaireT'
~ froze my foot two days ago
snowshoe strap too tight" He ex-
hibited a heel. from which, in remov-
ing his inner sock. the flesh and skin
had come away.
That's all right" grinned Pierre.
"You got the beeg will lef' yet. II
take the heducate man for STAN the
col, you know"
Willard gritted his teeth.
They awoke to the whine OF a gray
windstorm hat swept the cutting snow
In swirling clouds and made travel q
madness. The next day was worse.
Two days OF hunger weigh heavy
when the cold weakens, and they grew
gaunt and fell away In their features.
Pm glad we've got another feed for
the dogs" remarked Willard 1--WE
can't let them u hungry. even II We
do"
II t'ink she's be hall right tomor','
ventured Pierre. ''Thees amt snow
JUS win; bimeby all blow bout. Sacre
I'll can eat nun fore ole harmy."
For days both men had been cold
and the sensation OF complete warmth
had come TO seem strange and unreal
while their faces cracked where tn,
spots had been.
Willard felt himself on the verge Of
collapse. He recalled his words about
strong men, gazing the while at Pierre
The Canadian evinced suffering only
in the haggard droop OF eye and
mouth; otherwise he looked strong anc
logged.
willard felt his own features haC
shrunk TO a mask OF loose jawed SUI
fering, and he set his mental sinews
muttering 10 himself.
He was dizzy and faint as he stretch
ed himself In the still morning at
upon waking and hobbled painfully
but as his companion emerged from
the darkened shelter into the crystal
line brightness he forgot his own mis-
cry at sight Of him. The big man reel
ed as though struck when the dazzl,
from the hills reached him. and h,
moaned. shielding his sight SNOW
blindness had found him in a night.
Slowly they plodded out OF the val
ley. for hunger gnawed acutely. anc
they left a tran OF blood tracks frou