Delaware City press. (Delaware City, Del.) 1913-19??, 1913-04-25

than We"
A little later Cockney and Jim Hall,
CARRIED in the winter furs of the Es-
kimos, went over the side of the Nor
whal into the darkness of the Arctic |
night before the eyes of the entire
crew. Each man aboard uttered a
"goodby and good luck" as the two |
figures, the five dogs and the empty |
sled disappeared in the gloom toward
the far mainland over the cherries
expanse.
Cockney turned his eyes to the heav-
ems where the aurora flickered and
glowed in the silence. Now that he
contemplated 1t, standing amid the
desolate, cold waste, he had never no.
ticed it SO beautiful-so cold. The
vast ice fields spread out in their I'M
ending miles and the hummock-peaks
showed specter-like in the pale flashes.
The penetrating, chill breath of the
expanse crept around him and stung
the upturned face. Cockney had just
ENERGY from his sleeping bag. He
turned and his glance fell on the sled
loaded with the carcasses Of eight car
ibou. This sent the thrill of encourage
ment through him and awakened him
to action again. He kicked the sleep
ing-bag which contained the great
body of Jim Hall.
Come on, jim he shouted. Come
on out O. there and let's be on. We
can't afford to sleep now-now that
we've got the meat and they're needin'
it SO bad. They're waitin' for us
We've been gone IA days today, and
they're about all in. Twenty miles
more an we're there"
From the bag came a sound like
groan, but no movement. Cockney re-
peated the kicking, increasing the
force. A sense of fear swept through
his brain.
Cold? Cold?" muttered the big
man, almost inaudibly. mo, I'm not
cold. I'm jes' gettin' conf table; jes'
gettin' comf'table. Jes few more min
utes and Ill be with you"
AS the slow, telltale words Issued
from the bag, Cockney grabbed sled
I rope-end. The fear in him increased
beginning numb. ale had
slept the few hours OF his sleep cold,
and the chill had begun to reach his
veins. Cockney beat the bag heavily
/ with the rope-end.
r Jim come on out o. there, boy.
( What's matter with you, anyway?
! You amt goin' to let that thing get
j you, are you? Get up and shake your
self Come and get your blood
h started, You amt goin' back on your
8 pal?"
; Jim moved drowsily as the rope
/. beat up and down his body. He heard
) and the cold-fear took possession OF
him for a moment; the fear of the
e cold-lethargy. He squirmed out of the
l. bag and made his feet.
O Keep movin' now, boy" cried
n Cockney; roll up that bag and put Il
). on the sled. Here, chew on this hunl
e O. meat as We go along Hang on tt
n the gee pole and wen be off on tn,
d run"
T. Cockney thrust a strip OF caribo,
q meat into the hand of the big man
Is and the dogs started at the crack o
ID his whip
II NHIA AAAt uneven GhlAlNt Vi Tic ~
1T the travelling taxed the energy of bot
,e men and dogs.
IS Cockney kept up as even a pace q
n the difficult ice would allow an
st trudged on, apparently unconscious {
the WEAKNESS which weighed down hi
st. muscles But the wavering gait of til
On big man showed that the frost had Ell
ut tered his legs and that the gruelin
travel was telling. He chung to I'll
Tx gee pole and when his head sagge
IN, toward his breast he would cate
nd himself with quick upward jerks 81
ks the head sank lower each time. ar
ad with the slow coming Of the drowi
nut WEAKNESS, thirst began to clutch
or his throat and the big man began
up think of satisfying it.
ur- Cockney glanced back at the IN
ed ment Hall reached for his second han
to full of snow. Hall looked him in Il
eye shamefacedly, but continued
ly, suck in the balance in his mite
Cockney fell back even with hi
ey- and dashed him with the dog.wh
ard stop it, Jim!" he shouted. st
est it. you fool If you want to rea
ere the ship, don't touch another pinch
the snow. The frost will get you sure
his you take it, Brace up man. Do
lad commence that kind of thing II,
when we're gettin so close"
the Jim gazed fixedly at the small m,
the and in the wilding eyes Cockney re
and what he dreaded to see. Jim "
5 a getting numb again and was on I
and verge of allowing his mind to WI
les der. The incessant strain on his oy
and taxed muscles was telling, Cockr
ing continued to lash him with the d
whip and the big fellow stumbled al
and lessly on, clinging with one desperi
IAN hand to the gee pole,
lew Cockney kept the dogs straining
the traces and divided his attent
ire between them and his companion
If every sag of Halls head he Piled
Who whip across the gaunt shoulders a
is around the wavering legs Once j
ash stopped again, muttering, to take