The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-12-02


gam the warmth Of their bodies. Here
they were well protected from the
cruel lash OF the wind and the shower
OF snow which blew over them and |
drifted higher and higher In the open
space beyond. Working feverishly,
the blood again circulating freely |
through his veins, the Sergeant hasti |
ly dragged blankets from the pack
ana spread them on the ground, de
posting Carroll upon them. Then he
set about vigorously rubbing the sol |
diers exposed flesh with snow. The
smart Of 1t, together with the rough
ness OF handling. aroused the latte,
from lethargy. but Hamlin, ignorins
MIS- resentment, gripped the fellow
with hands of iron, never ceasing his
violent ministrations until his swear
Ing ended in silence. Then he wrap
ped him tightly in the blankets, and
stood himself erect, glowing from the
exercise. Carroll glared up at hin
ansrily out Of red-rimmed eyes.
'T'll get you for that, you big boob!'
he shouted. striving to release his
arms from the clinsins blankets. "You
walt! I'll get you!"
Hush up. George. and 70 tc
Sleep" the other retorted, poking the
shapeless body with his foot, his
thoughts already elsewhere. Don't
be fool. I'll get fire II can. and
something hot into you. Within an
hour you'll be man again. Now see
here-stop that! Do you hear? You
lie still right where you are, Carroll
until I come back. or I'll kick your
ribs I'M" He bent down menacingly
scowling into the upturned face. "Win
you mind. or shall have to hand you
one"
Carroll shrank back like a whipped
child, his lips muttering something
indistinguishable. The sergeant, sat
isfied, turned and foundered through
the drifts to the bank of the stream
He was alert and fearful, yet deter
mined. No matter what danger OF
discovery might threaten, he must
build fire to save Carroll's life. The
raging storm was not over with;
there was no apparent cessation OF
violence in the blasts Of the icy wind
and the snow swept about him In
binding sheets. 1t would continue
all day. all another night. perhaps,
and they could never live through
without food and warmth. He real
lied the risk fully, his gloved hand
gripping the butt of his revolver, as
he stared UP and down the snow.
draped bluffs. He wished he had
picked up Wasson's rife. Who was
1t that had shot them up, anyhow.
The very mystery added to the dread.
Could 1t have been Dupont? There
was no other conception possible, yet
1t seemed like a miracle that they
could have kept 30 close on the fel.
lows trail all night long through the
storm. Yet who else would open fire
at sight? Who else, indeed, would be
in this God-forsaken country? And
whoever 1t was, where had he gone
How had he disappeared so suddenly
and completely? He could not be far
away, that was certainty No plains.
man would attempt to ford that icy
stream, nor desert the shelter of these
bluffs In face Of the storm. 1t would
be suicidal. And IL Dupont and his
Indians were close at hand, Miss Nc
Donald would be with them. He had
had no time In which to reason this
out before, but now the swift realiza
ton of the close proximity of the girl
CAME to him like an electric shock
| hot he tv,,, tatn I.
must thaw out Carroll, and thus be
free himself.
He could look back to where the
weary horses huddled beneath the
bank. grouped about the man SO help
lessly swaddled In blankets on the
ground. They were dim, pitiable OBJ
jects, barely discernible through the
flying scud, yet Hamlln was quick t.
perceive the advantage OF their posi-
tion--the overhanging bluff was com
plete protection from any attack ex
cept along the open bank of the river
Two armed men could defend the spo
against odds. And below, hundred
yards away. perhaps-it was hard t
, Judge through that smother-the bar,
limbs Of several stunted cottonwood
waved dismally against the gray sky
Hesitating, his eyes searching tn
, barrenness above to where the strean
bent northward and disappeared, h,
turned at last and tramped down
: ward along the edge of the stream
, Across stretched the level. white prai
RE, beaten and obscured by the storm
= while to his left rose the steep. bare
. bluff, swept clear by the wind. reveal
, ing it's ugliness through the haze o
. snow. Not in all the expanse wal
A there visible moving object no
!, track OF any kind. He was alone. II
!, the midst of indescribable desolatiol
r "a cold, dead, dreary landscape.
q He came to the little patch OF FOL
est growth. a dozen gaunt, naked tree
at the rivers edge, stunted, two O
= them already topping over the bani
= apparently undermined by the watel
:. threatening to fall before each bias
y that smote them. Hoping to discoye
.o,,,o anIintara for a fire, Hamli