The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-11-21

warm IN Their veins they would ksep
their feet and AgAG
Cafroll's horse stumbled and rolled.
catching the numbed trooper under
his weight. The jerk on the larlat
nuns Wade ont Of the saddle, dangling
head downward. with stiflened nm
gers. scarcely comprehending what
they were about, the Sergeant and
WATSON came 70 the rescue. helped
frightened horse struggle 70 his
feet. and. totally blinded BY the fury
OF the storm which nov beat fairly In
their eyes. grasped the dangling
body. swaying back and forth a. the
startled animal plunged In terror. Il
was 2 corpse they gripped. already
stin with cold. the eyes wideopen ana
staring. Carroll. bruised and llnping.
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 It safely
with he turn Of . rope. Then, breath
less from exhaustion. crouchine be-
hind the animals. punched helplessly
together. the howl Of the wind like
Inc scream OF lost souls, the three
men looked into each others faces.
I reckon Jim died without ever
KNOWN It." said the scout, breaking
again the aim Of lee over his eyes, and
thrashing his arms. 81 alters heard
tell 1t was an. easy way O. goin'. Looks
TO- me be was better on than We are
just now Hurt much. Carroll?"
"Crunched my leg mighty bad:
cant bear no weight on It. Twas
darn near frose stiff before: thet's
why couldn't get out o. tho way
quick"
Sure: well, yen have ter ride, then.
Wen take the blanket OF Jim: he
won't need It no more. Brick an I
kin hoof It yet awhile-hey. 'Brick'?'
Hamlin lifted his head from the
shelter OF his horses name.
I reckon ! can make my feet
move." he asserted doubtfully, but
they don't feel as though there wal
any life left In them" He stamped
on the snow. How long do these bliz.
yards generally last, Sam?"
BLOW themselves out In about three
days."
Three days? God! We can
live 1t put here"
His eyes ranged over the dim out
line Of Wade stretched across the
saddle, powdered with snow, rested an
instant upon Carroll, who had sunk
back upon the ground, nursing his In
5ured limb. and then sought the face
OF WATSON.
What the hell can We dot"
Go on: thet's all Of It; 60 on till
we drop, lad. Come, Brick my boy"
and the scout gripped the Sergeant's
shoulder, you're not the kind to lie
down. We've been IN worse boxes
than this and. pulled out. It's up to
you and me to make good. Let's
crunch some bareback and 90 on,
afore the whole three OF US freeze
stiR."
The Sergeant thrust out his hand.
THAT isn't what's taken the nerve
out Of me. SAM" he said. soberly. tits
thinking Of the girl out in all this
with those devils"
Likely % not she aint," returned
the other. tramping the snow under
his feet. 'I've been thinkin' bout thet
too. Thet outfit must hev had six
hours the start O. US. didn't they?"
Hamlin nodded.
We'll, then, they couldn't q ben far
from the Cimarron when the storm
come. They'd be safe enough under
the bluffs: have wood fer q fre. and
lay thar mighty comfortable. that's
whar them bucks are, all right. why.
damn It. man. we've got to get
through. 'Tain't Just our fool lives
that's at stake. Brace up!"
"How far have we GOMEZ"
"A good ten miles, en- the compass
has KEEP 10 straight"
They drew In closer together. and
munched q hard cracker apiece. occa-
sionally exchanging q muttered word
or two, thrashing their limbs about
TO keep up circulation, and dampening
their lips with snow. They were but
dim, spectral shapes In the darkness.
the air filled With crystal pellets,
swept about By . merciless Wind. the
horses standing tails to the storm and
heads dropping. In spite OF the lieht
r~efraction Of the snow the eyes could
scarcely VI two yards away through
the smother. Above. about, the cease
less wind howled. it, Icy breath chill
ing 70 the homo. Carroll clambered
stihly Into his saddle, crying and
swearing from weakness ana pafn.
The others. stumbling about IN the
deep snow, which had drifted around
them during the brtef halt, stripped
the blanket from Wade's dead body.
and tucked It IN about Carroll q hest
they could.
Nov keep Kicking and thrashins
about, George" ordered the Sergsent
starnly. FOR Gods sake, don't 9o
"a sleep. or youll b whore Jim 9.
Wen haul you out OF this. old man.
Sam. you take the rear, ana Iii CT.
roll : whack every few minutes: m
break trail. Forward now"
tTo BD C0eeT1NUUD.)
ooolcaey on the Bench.
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