Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-09-11
CHAPTER XIV.
In the Blizzard.


There was no cessation, no abate-
ment. Across thousand miles OF
plain the ice-laden wind swept down
upon them with the relentless fury of
a hurricane, driving the snow crystals
into their faces, buffeting them merci.
lessly. numbing their bodies, and blind
ing their eyes. In that awful grip they
looked upon Death, but struggled on.
as real men must until they fall
Breathing was agony; every step be-
came torture; fingers grasping the
horses bits grew stiff and deadened
by frost; they reeled like drunken
men, sightless In the mad swirl, deaf
ened by the pounding of the blast
against their ears. All consciousness
left them! only dumb instinct kept
them battling for life, staggering for.
ward, foot by foot, odd phantasies OF
Imagination beginning to beckon. In
their weakness. delirium gripped their
half-mad brains. yielding new strength
to fight the snow fend. Aching In
every point, trembling from fatigue,
they dare not rest an instant. The
wind. veering more to the east, dashed
their faces like a whip. They crouched
behind the horses to keep out of the
sting Of 1t, crunching the snow, now
in deep drifts. under their half-frozen
feet.
Wade, a young fellow not overly
strong, fell twice. They placed him
In the center, with Carroll bringing
up the rear. Again he went down,
face buried In the snow. crying like a
babe. Desperately the others dashed
him into his saddle, binding blanket
about him. and went grimiy stagger.
ing on. his limp figure rocking above
them. Hour succeeded hour In cease
less struggle; no one knew where they
were. only the leader staggered on,
his eyes upon the compass. WATSON
and Hamlin took their turns trampjng
a trail. the snow often to their knees.
They had stopped speaking, stopped
thinking even. All their movements
became automatic, instructive, the re-
suit of iron discipline. They realized
the only nope-attainment of the Cim-
arron BLUFFS. There was no shelter
there in the open, to either man or
horse; the sole choice left was to
struggle on, or lie down and die. The
last was likely to be the end of II,
but while drop OF blood ran red and
warm In their veins they would keep
their feet and fight.
Carroll's horse stumbled and rolled
catching the numbed trooper under
his weight. The jerk on the lariat
flung Wade out of the saddle, dangling
head downward. With stiffened fin
gers, scarcely comprehending what
they were about, the Sergeant and
WATSON came to the rescue, helped
the frightened horse struggle 10 his
feet. and. totally blinded by the fury.
Of the storm which now beat fairly in
their eyes, grasped the dangling
body. swaying back and forth as the
startled animal plunged In terror. II
was corpse they gripped. already
stiff with cold, the eyes wide-open and
staring. Carroll, bruised and limping.
came to their help, groaning with
pain. and the three men together man.
aged to lift the dead weight to the
horses back. and to bind II safely
with the turn Of rope. Then. breath.
less from exhaustion. crouching be-
hind the animals. punched helplessly
together. the howl Of the wind like
the scream Of lost souls. the three
men looked into each others faces.
II reckon Jim died without ever
KNOWN It," said the scout. breaking
again the film Of ice over his eyes. and
thrashing his arms. Il alters heard