River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-03-18
Tie large caIiber bullet had left little

Tie large caliber bullet had left little
else than a mess of mangled feathers.
Still the ptarmigan did not fly, and
he decided that. it was heads or moth
ing. He fred only at heads. He re-
loaded and reloaded the magazine. He
missed; he hit, and the stupid ptarmi-
gan. that were loath to fly, fell upon
him in a rain of food-lives disrupted
that his life might feed and live.
The first he ate raw. Then he rested
and slept. while his life assimilated the
life of it. In the darkness he awoke,
hungry, with strength to build a fire.
And until early dawn he cooked and
ate, crunching the bones to powder be-
tween his long idle teeth He slept,
awoke in the darkness of another
night and slept again to another sun.
He noted with surprise that the fire
cracked with fresh fuel and that a
bIackened coffeepot steamed on the
edge of the Goals Beside the fire,
within arms length, sat Shorty, smok-
ing a brown paper cigarette and intent
ly watching him. Smokes lips moved,
but a throat paralysis seemed to come
upon him, while his chest was suf-
fused with the menace of tears. He
reached out his hand for the cigarette
and drew the smoke deep into his
lungs again and again.
81 have not smoked for a long time
he said at last in a low, calm voice.
For a very long time"
'Nor eaten, from your looks" Shorty
added gruf11y.
Smoke nodded and waved his hand
at the ptarmigan feathers that lay all
about mot until recently" he return
ed. do you know, I'd like cup of
coffee; also fapjacks and strip of
bacon"
While the one cooked and the other
ate they told briefly what had hap.
pened to them in the days since their
separation.
THE Klondike was breakin' up"
Shorty concluded his recital, IAN we
just had to wait for open water. Two
polin' boats, six other men-you know
'em all. an crackerjacks-an' all kinds
of outfit. An we've sure been aeon
in'-polin', linin' up, an portagin. But
the falls II stick 'em a solid week.
That's where l left 'em, a-cuttin'
trail over the tops Of the bluffs for
che boats. | just had a sure natural
bunch to keep a-comin'. So lills a
pack with grub an starts. l knew
I'd find you a-driftin' an all in"
Smoke nodded. well, let's get start
ed" be said
But you're feeble as il Rid baby.
You can't hike What's the rush.
Shorty, | am going after the biggest
thing in the Klondike, and l can't wait,
that's all. Start packing. It's the big
gest thing in the world. It's bigger
than lakes of gold and mountains OF
gold. bigger than adventure and meat
eating and bear Killing"
Shorty sat with Dulging eyes. I'm
the name of the Lord. what is it," he
que.ied huski:y. "Or are you just SIM
ply loco?'
mo, Pm all right. Perhaps fellow
has to stop eating in order to see
things. At any rae, have seen things
L u6N0E III OdlIISu WGIG III lIIS W u w.
know what woman is-now."
Shorty's mouth opened. and about
The tips and in the light Of the eyes
was the whimsical advertisement OF
she sheer forthcoming
Don't. please" Smoke said gently.
You don't know. l do"
Shorty gulped and changed bis
thought Huh! l don't need no
hunch to guess her name. The rest of
'em has gone up to the drainin' Of Sur
prise lake, but Joy Gastell allowed she
wouldn't go. She's stickin' around
Dawson waitin' to see if l come back
with you. An she sure swears If !
don't she'll sell her hoIdin's an hire
army of gun fighters an go into the
caribou country an knock the ever
lastin' stuffin outa old Snass an his
whole gang. An if you'll hold your
horses a couple of shakes | reckon I'll
get packed up an ready to hike along
with you"
THE END.