The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-09-13


'They was crossing the bay aud got
carried out 10y the ofIsbore gale" ex-
planned Jones Windy was follering
EN- when tie irc ahead parted and
begun moving out lie tried TO yell
10 EN-. but they was too Tar away TO
hear IN the storm He managed 10 get
back TO the land and follered the shore
Ice around He's over at Hunters
cabin now. most dead, face and hands
froze pretty bad"
A torrent OF questions followed and
many suggestions as 10 the fate OF the
men.
They'll freeze before they can get
ashore" said one
1.-THE Ice pack'li break up in this
wind" added another. 'and II they
don't drown they'll freeze before the
foe comes In close enough for them
10 land"
From the FIRST announcement OF his
friends peril Captain had been think.
ing rapidly. His body. sore from his
long trip and aching from the hug Of
his recent encounter. cried woefully
! for rest. but his voice rose calm and
clear. We've got TO get them on" he
said. who will so with met Three
is enough"
The clamoring voices ceased. and
the men wheeled at the sound, gazing
incredulously at the speaker. WHAT
In this Storm You're crazyr' many
voices said
He gazed appealingly at the faces
before him. Brave and adventurous
men he knew them TO be, testing with
death and tempered TO perils In this
land where hardship rises with the
dawn, but they shook their ragged
heads hopelessly.
I'VE must save themp resumed Cap
tain hotly. Barton and ! played as
children together, and II there's not a
man among you who's got the nerve 10
follow me III go alone, by heavens"
In the silence OF the room he pulled
the cap about his ears and, tying II
snugly under his chin. drew on his
huge fur mittens. Then. with scorn.
full laugh, he turned toward the door
He paused as his eye caught the
swollen face Of Big George. Blood
had stiffened In the heavy creases Of
his face like rusted stringers In a
ledge, while his mashed and discolored
| lips protruded thickly. His hair gleam-
cd red, and the sweat had dried upon
his naked shoulders. streaked with dirt
and fecked with spots OF blood, yet
the battered features shone with the
unconquered. fearless light OF a rough
strong man.
Captain strobe 10 him with out.
stretched hand. you're man." he
said You've got the nerve, George.
and you'll so with me, won't your
''Whati MeT" questioned the sailor
vaguely. His wondering glance left
Captain and drifted round the circle
OF shamed and silent faces Then he
Strengthened stinly and cried: "will
go with your Certainly I'll so 10 -
with you"
Ready hands harnessed the dogs,
dragged from protected hooks where
they sought cover from the storm
which moaned and whstled round the
low houses Endless ragged folds Of
sleet whirled out Of the north, then
writhed and twisted past. vanishing
into the gray veil which shrouded the
landscape in twilight gloom.
The fierce wind sank the cold into
the aching flesh like a knife and stln.
ened the face TO whitening mask,
while fuslllade OF frozen ice particles
beat against the eyeballs With blind
ing fury.
As Captain emerged from his cabin.
furred and hooded. be found long
train OF crouching, whining animals
+. harnessed and waiting. while mufiled
figures stocked the sled with robes and
food and stimulants.
Big George approached through the
whirling white, a great squat figure,
with futtering squirrel tails blowing
from his parka, and at his heels there
trailed a figure skin clad and dainty.
ats my wife," he explained briefly
to Captain "She won't LET me go
alone"
They gravely bade farewell TO all.
and the little crowd cheered Justify
against the whine OF the blizzard az.
with cracking whip and hoarse shouts,
they were wrapped In the cloudy wind
ing sheet Of snow.
Arctic storms have an even same
ness-the intense cold, the heartless
wind, which augments tenfold the chill
OF the temperature; the air thick and
dark. with singing fakes rushing by
in an endless cloud. a drifting. freez-
ing, shifting eternity OF snow. driven
by n ravenlng gale. which sweeps the
desolate, bald wastes of the northland
The little party toiled through the
smother till they reached the igloos
under the breast OF the tall coast bluffs.
where coughing Eskimos drilled pa
tiently at ivory tusks and gambled the
furs from their backs AT stud horse
poker.
TO Georges inquiries they answered
that their largest canoe was the three