River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-01-14


his neck
Come on. you chunk of the hard"
Kit retorted kick in on your bear
meat fodder and your one suit of IN
derclothes"
But Joha Beie1 shook his head
I'm afraid I'm getting old Christie
pher."
"Avnncular. ! want to tell you some
thing important. | was raised a Lord
Fauntlproy. but can outpa,k you. out
walk you. put you on ynur back Or lick
you with my fists right now.
John Bellew thrust out his hand
''Christopher my boy. believe You
can do it, | believe you can do it with
that pack on your back nj The same
time You've made good boy! though
its too unthinkable tn believe.
Kit made the round trip Of the last
pack four times a day. which is TO say
that be daily covered twenty four
miles Of mountain climbing. twelve
miles OF ii under $50 pounds He was
proud. hard and tired. but in splendid
physical condition,
One problem bothered him He had
learned that he could fail with bun
dredweight on his back and survive.
but be was confident that If he fell
with that additional fifty pounds across
the back OF his neck it would break
1t clean Each trail through the
swamp was quickly churned bottom
less ny the thonsa nds Of packers, who
were compelled continually to make
new trails Ii was while pioneering
such d new trail that ne solved the
problem Of the extra fifty.
The soft slush surface gave way un
der him He fioundered and pitched
forward on his face. The fifty pounds
crushed bis face into the mud and
went clear without swapping mis- neck.
With .ne remaining hundred pounds
OH mis- back he arose on hands and
knees. But he got no farther One
ar1D sank to the shoulder pillowtng
his cheek In the slush. As be drew
this arm clear the other sunk to the
shoulder. In this position 1t was I'M
possible to slip the straps. and the hun,
dredweight on his back would not let
him rise.
On hands and knees. sinking first
one arm and then the other. be made
an effort to crawl to where the small
sack of flour had fallen. But he ex-
hausted himself without advancing.
and SO churned and broke the grass
surface that a tiny pool OF water began
to form III perilous proximity to his
mouth and nose.
He tried to throw himself on his back
with the pack underneath. but this re-
suited in sinking both arms to the
shoulders and gave him foretaste of
drowning. Then he began to call for
help After time he heard the sound
Of feet sucking through the mud as
some one advanced from behind.
Lend hand. friend be said.
Throw out life line or something.
1t was woman'E voice that answer
ed. and be recognized it,
IF youth unbuckle the straps | can
get up"
The hundred pounds rolled into the
mud with d soggy noise. and he slowly
gained his feet
"A pretty predicament." Miss Gastell
laughed at sight of his mud covered
face.
Not at all" be replied airily. My
favorite physical exercise stunt
lie wiped his face, hinging the Slush
from his hand with snappy jerk.
'Oh," she cried in recognition, Its
Il thank you gravely for your timely
rescue and for that NAME" he answer.
ed, Il have been dOubly baptized.
Henceforth shall insist always ON be.
ing called Smoke Bellew."
The arctic came down apace. Snow
that had come to stay lay six inches on
the ground. and the ice was forming in
quiet ponds despite the fierce gales
that blew. 1t was in the late after
noon during Il lull in such gale that
Kit and John Rellew helped the
cousins load the boat and watched it
disappear down the lake in snow
SQuall.
And now q nights sleep and an ear
" start in the morning" said John
Rellpw. IF we aren't storm bound at
the summit Well make Dyea tomorrow
night. and Ii We have luck in catching
Il steamer we'll be In San Francisco In
a week"
Their camp for that last night at
Iinderman was melancholy remnant
Everything OF use. including the tent.
had been taken by the cousins
Only once during supper did Kit
speak. "Avuncular." be said. after
this wish you'd call me Smoke I've
made some smoke ON this trail. have /
not?''
few minutes later ne wandered
away in the direction of the village of
tents that sheltered the gold rushers
who were still packing or building
their boats. He was gone severai
hours. and when he returned and slip
ped into his blankets john Beliew was
asleep.