Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-09-15

Il thin drizzle Of rain tllled the air. The
novice fastened to throw his raincoat
over his shoulders, but McFarlane rode
steadily on. clad only in his shirt sleeves.
unmindful Of the wet. Berrie, however,
approved Wayland's caution. THAT'S
right; keep dry" she called back. Don't
pay attention to father, he'd rather ger
soaked any day than unroll his slicker.
You mustn't take him for model yet
awhile"
He no longer resented her sweet So
icitude, although he considered him
self unentitled to 1t, and he rejoiced
under the shelter of his fine new coat
He began to perceive that one could be
defended against a storm.
After passing two depressing marsh
es, they came to a hillside 50 steep. 30
slippery. 50 dark. so forbidding, that
one Of the pack horses baked shook
his head and reared furiously. as II to
say, II can't do 1t. and I won't try"
And Wayland sympathized with him.
The forest was gloomy and cold and
apparently endless. IL
After coaxing him for a time with ad
mirable gentleness, the supervisor, at
Berries suggestion. shifted Fart Of the
load to her own saddle horse. and they
went on.
Wayland. though incapable ofs COM
ment, so great was the demand upon
his lungs. was not too tired to admire
the power and resolution Of the girl.
who seemed not to suffer any special
Inconvenience from the rareded air:
The dryness Of his open mouth. the
throbbing of bis troubled pulse. the
roaring Of his breath. brought to him
with increasing dismay the fact that
he had overlooked another phase Of
the rangers job. Il couldn't chop a
hole through one Of these windfalls In
a week." he admitted. as McFarlane's
blade again liberated them-from fall
en- tree.
He was beginning to be hungry also
he had eaten a very early breakfast
and be fell to wondering just where
and when they. were to camp. but he
endured in silence. $50 long as Berrte
makes no complaint my mouth Is
shut" he told himself. Surely I can
stand it If she can" And so strug-
gled on.
Up and up the pathway Topped.
crossing minute little DOGGY meadows
on whose bottomless ooze the grass
shook like a blanket. descending ra-
vines and climbing back to dark and
muddy slopes. The forest was drip
ping. green and silent nova mystic
rious menac1ng Jungle.
I'm glad I'm not riding this pass
alone" Wayland said as they paused
again for breath.
$50 am l." she answered. but her
thought was not his. She was happy
at the prospect Of teaching him how
to camp. 49,.
At last they reached the ragged edge
Of timber line. and there. rolling away
under the mist, lay the bare. grassy.
upward climbing naked neck Of the
great peak. The wind had grown
keener moment by moment, and when
they left the storm twisted pines be-
low its breath had wintry nip. The
rain had ceased to fall, but the clouds
still hung densely to the loftiest sum-
mits. 1t was sinister yet beautiful
world-a world as silent as dream.
and through the short. thick grass the
slender trail ran like timid serpent.
"Now we're on the divide called
Berea, and as she spoke they seemed
to enter upon a boundless Alpine plain
of velvet russell grass. This Is the
Bear Tooth plateau Low monuments
Of loose rock stood on small lodges, as
though to mark the course, and in the
hollows dark ponds Of Icy water lay.
half surrounded by masses Of compact
snow.
This Is a stormy place in winter"
McFarlane explained. These piles Of
stone are mighty valuable in biz
zard. I've crossed this divide in Au.
gust in snow SO thick could not see
a rod"
Half an hour later they began to de-
dwarf pines were first to show. then
the frs, then the blue green spruces.
and then the sheltering deeps of the
undespoiled forest opened. and the roar
of splendid stream was heard. But
still the supervisor kept his resolute
way. making no promises as to dinDer.
though his daughter called: WED bet
ter go into camp at Beaver lake. l
hope you're not starved" she called to
Wayland.
But I am" he replied so frankly
that she never knew how faint he real
ly was. His knees were trembling with
weakness. and he stumbled dangerous
~ as he trod the loose rocks in the
path.
They were all afoot now descending
swiftly. and the horses romped down
the trail with expectant haste. so that
in less than an hour from timber line
they were back into the sunshine of
the lower valley. and at O'Clock or
thereabouts they came out upon the
bank Of an exquisite lake, and with
CHEEKY shout McFarlane called out.
Here we are. out Of the wilderness!!'
Then to Wayland. WELL boy. how did
you stand it?'
Just middling." replied Wayland.
reticent from WEAKNESS aad with JOY