Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-16

|
ING stiffness of his own seasoned limbs He
began to wonder if he could last to the fin
ish, and his mind was SO tired that he failed
to think of the doctor for time; then he
was recalled by low moan borne to him
from behind He whirled and looked back
ward. The little doctor was staggering
drunkenly on his feet, with his hands to his
face. Charley threw the light on him.
"Doc," he shouted, "your face is frosted!
Rub snow on it, quick
| AS the doctors movements did not suit
| him, Charley pulled off his own mittens
| there in the lev cold, dug his fingers into the
snow, and briskly rubbed it over the physi
clans face until the latter struck at him in
anger.
aWant to skin me?" he demanded saw
agely.
The big trapper smiled to himself, lodged
out of the path of fury, and began pulling
on his mittens. Anger was the best remedy
| in the world for threatened freezing. He
recovered the lantern from a snow bank, and
all the time the doctor used language that
was scarcely professional.
Once more they struck briskly out; but
the worst part of the journey, in so far as
the cold was concerned, lay ahead of them,
and Canada Charley dared not think of
what might happen on that wide, wind
forest the fine snow, mere ice particles, would
cut as remorselessly as a torturcrs knife.
| They came to it at last, and he halted and
faced his companion.
"Doc," he shouted. "do you think I'd
better stop here and try to make little
windbreak and a fire? Can you make it?
Pretty tough goin."
go ahead!' snarled DR.. Thorne.
He turned and plunged out into the full
IL fury of the blizzard, his woodman' S sense
of direction his only guide, and felt the storm
leap and tear at him as if it had gathered
itself for this final charge. He turned side
wise to it and linked his arm through the
doctors, desperately concluding that if the
exhausted little man was to fall he would at
least fall with him and know where he was.
Once separated in that fury, he would never
again be able to find him. The first five
miles were fought foot by foot the second
five by inches; and the third found him half
carving the doctor, who reeled at his side,
and counting the steps. Now he began des
perately to shrek oaths, prayers, and words
of encouragement.
"You little quitter" he would rasp out.
"Where's your nerve?' Or again, "Doc!
almost there. For Gods sake, Man, keep
on tryin'! Old Ben needs us. Doc! We've
got to keep a goin'!'
Once or twice his own steps Jagged, and
that terrible whisper of soft, alluring Death
penetrated his consciousness, asking him to
rest for just a moment. Just moment
no more! He might have yielded at that,
and considered the struggle for self preserva-
ton a useless effort, had not the double
responsibility for life hammered itself duly
through his brain. There was not only
Ben, but the doctor, to be thought of now.
If it wasn't for them
The doctor fell and did not rise In his
fall he pulled Canada Charley over with
him, and for an instant they sprawled on the
frozen snow, which whoOped and rushed for
ward instantly to weave its shroud; but up
from the black spots on its surface painfully
rose one man, who struck, kicked, and
dragged desperately at the one who lay in
ert. Again they made their way by inches,
and again the doctor, valiant to the last,
toppled over, and as Charley bent above
him mumbled sleepily, go on! Leave me
| be! Take the chest and-I'm all in'
To DR.. Thorne this unbreakable man
above him had become tormentor, a devil
of ingenuity, an enemy; for he beat him,
cursed him through frosted lips, and jerked
him to his feet once more to attempt that
ap51acc march that led tO nowbere save on