Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-06-08

Che Flew at the cuIprit, Only to Be
Caught In Smokes Arms.
be caught In Smokes arms, where she
surrendered herself. sobbing with the
futility Of ber rage.
"Oh, lover, It is not the foodr she
painted. 1T Is you. your Life. The
dog! He Is eating you. he is eating
your
II was a morning stark still. clear
blue above. with white sun dazzle on
the snow. The way led up long wide
slope Of crust. They moved like weary
ghosts in dead world.
Something Is going to happen" Ia
biskwee whispered. Don't you fee
it-here, there. everywhere? Every
thing Is strange"
II feel a chill that Is not Of cold,
Smoke answered. Nor Is 1t Of hun
ger"
1T Is in your head, your heart" she
agreed excitedly. ''That Is the way
feel It"
A quarter of an hour later they
paused for breath
'"The air Is getting thick and heavy
said Labiskwee. 1T is hard to breathe.
There be three SUNS" McCan NUT
tered hoarsely. reeling as be clung h
his staff for support.
They saw mock sun on either SID
Of the real sun.
There are Ave." said Labiskwee
and as they looked new suns formed
and flashed before their eyes.
by heaven. the sky Is filed witt
suns beyant all countin'." McCan cried
In fear.
Which was true. for. look where they
would, half the circle of the sky das
xled and blazed with new suns form
ing.
McCan yelped sharply with surprise
and pain. I'm stungr' he cried out
then yelped again.
Then Labiskwee cried out and
Smoke felt pricking stab on his cheek
80 cold that It burned like acid.
And then a shot rang out. strangely
mufied. Down the slope were the
young men. standing Oh their skis
and one after another they opened
fire.
spread outp' Smoke commanded
"And climb for It! We're almost to
the top. They're quarter Of mile
below, and that means couple OF
miles the start of them on the down
going on the other side"
"Thank the Lord" Smoke painted to
Labiskwee. "all these suns spoil their
aim"
ut shows my fathers temper" she
said. "They have orders to kill"
"How strange you talkr' Smoke said
"Your voice sounds far away"
"Cover your mouth" Labiskwee
cried suddenly. "And don't talk.
know what 1t is. Cover your mouth
with your sleeve. thus and DO no'
talk"
From the crest, looking back, the!
saw the young men stumbling and fall
ing on the upward climb.
"They will never get here" Labisk
wee said. 1T Is the white death.
know It, though have never seen It
l have heard the old men Talk. sool
will come a mist unlike any mist OF
foe or frost smoke you ever saw. Few
have seen 1t and lived"
McCan gasped and strangled-
Keep your mouth covered" Smoke
commanded. McCan had sunk down
squattng. on his skis. bis mouth ant
eyes covered by bis arms.
"Come on. make start" Smoke or
dered
I can't move" McCan moaned.
"Iet him be-" Labiskwee mutteret
harshly.
But Smoke persisted, dragging tn
man to bis feet and facing him dowI
the long slope they must 60. Then h'
started him with a shove, and McCan
braking and steering with his stan
shot into the sheen Of diamond dus
and disappeared.
Smoke looked at Labiskwee, wht
smiled, though It was all she could d.
to keep from sinking down. BE nodded
for her to push OF. but she came neal
| 10 him. and. side by side, dozen fee
apart. they few down through th'
singing thickness Of cold fire.
Brake as he would, Smokes heavie
body carried him past her. and b
dashed on alone, a long way. at tre
mendous speed, that did not Stacker
Till he came out on level. crustet
plateau. Here be braked till Labisk
wee overlook him, and they went on
again side by side. with diminishing
speed, which finally ceased The leth
argy had grown more pronounced. Th'
widest effort Of will could move then
no more than at snail's pace. The!
passed McCan. again crouched dow
on bis skis, and Smoke reused him Wit
his sta6 In passing.
Nov we must STOP" Labiskwe
whispered painfully. ''or We will die
We must cover up-so the old mel
said"
She did Lot delay to untie knots, bu
began cutting her pack lashings
Smoke cut his. and. with a last lool
at the 6ery death mist and the mocl