Gilpin observer., 1913-04-24


little later Ct.sAney and Jim Hall,
garbed 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 cheerless
expanse.
Cockney turned his eyes to the heav-
ems where the aurora flickered and
glowed in the silence. Now that he
contemplated it, standing amid the
desolate, cold waste, he had never no.
ticed 1t 30 beautiful-so cold. The
vast ice fields spread out in their un-
ending miles and the hummook-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
emergey 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
|
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. No, I'm not
cold. I'm jes' gettin' comf'table; jes'
gettin conf table. Jes few more min
utes and I'll be with you"
AS the slow. telltale words issued
from the bag, Cockney grabbed sled
rope-end. The fear in him increased.
Jim was beginning to numb. He 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 g.
Jim, come on out O. there, boy.
What's matter with you, anyway?
You amt goin' to let that thing get
you, are you? Get up and shake your
self Come and get your blood
started. You amt goin back on your
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
cold-lethargy. He squirmed out of the
bag and made his feet.
Keep movin' now, boy cried
Cockney; roll up that bag and put it
on the sled. Here, chew on this hunk
O. meat as we go along. Hang on to
the gee pole and we'll be off on the
run"
Cockney thrust strip of caribou
meat into the hand of the big man.
and the dogs started at the crack of
his whip.
Over the uneven surface Of the ice
the travelling taxed the energy of both
men and dogs.
Cockney kept up as even a pace as
the difficult ice would allow and
trudged on, apparently unconscious OF
the weariness which weighed down his
muscles. But the wavering gait of the
big man showed that the frost had en-
tered his legs and that the grueling
travel was telling. He clung to the
gee pole and when his head sagged
toward his breast he would catch
himself with quick upward jerks. But
the head sank lower each time, and
with the slow coming of the drowsy
weariness, thirst began to clutch at
his throat and the big man began to
think of satisfying it.
Cockney glanced back at the mo-
ment Hall reached for his second hand
full of snow. Hall looked him in the
eye shamefacedly, but continued to
suck in the balance in his mitten
Cockney fell back even with him
and lashed him with the dog-whip
stop 1t. Jim!" he shouted stop
1t, you fool! If you want to reach
the ship. don't touch another pinch OF
snow. The frost will get you sure II
you take it. Brace up, man! Don't
commence that kind of thing, now
when we're gettin' so close"
Jim gazed fixedly at the small man,
and In the wilding eyes Cockney read
what he dreaded to see. Jim was
getting numb again and was on the
verge Of allowing his mind to wan
der. The incessant strain on his over.
taxed muscles was telling Cockney
continued to lash him with the dog.
whip and the big fellow stumbled aim.
lessly on. clinging with one desperate
hand to the gee pole.
Cockney kept the dogs straining in
the traces and divided his attention
between them and his companion. At
every sag OF Halls head he piled the
whip across the gaunt shoulders and
| around the wayering legs. Once Tim