Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-05-04

| saw him glance 70 the sloe ana Gown
into the crevasse itself and then begin
a slight swaying.
Keep your eyes up!" Smoke COM
manded sharply. Nov. go onr'
The little man obeyed nor faltered
on the rest Of the journey. The sun
eroded slope Of the farther edge Of the
crevasse was slippery, but not steep,
and he worked his way up to a mar.
row ledge, faced about and sat down.
"Your turn" he called across. But
Just keep a-coming. and don't look
down. That's what got my goat Just
keep a-comins. that's all And get
move on. It's almighty rotten"
Balancing his own stick horizontal
ly, Smoke essayed the passage. That
the bridge was on its last legs was
patent He felt a jar under foot a
slight movement Of the mass and a
heavier jar. This was followed by a
single sharp crackle. Behind him he
knew something was happening. II
for no other reason he knew 1t by the
strained, tense face Of Carson. From
beneath, thin and faint, came the muir.
muir Of running water, and Smokes
eyes involuntarily wavered to q
glimpse Of the shimmering depths. He
jerked them back to the way before
him.
Two-thirds over be came to the de-
preston. The sharp edges OF the
crack, but slightly touched by the sun.
showed how recent It was His foot
was lifted to make the step across
when the crack began slowly widen
ing, at the same time emitting numer.
ous sharp snaps. he made the step
quickly, increasing the stride Of 1t, but
the worn nails of his shoe STATED on
the farther slope Of the depression.
he fell on bis face and without pause
slipped down and into the crack, bis
legs hanging clear, his chest supported
BY the stick, which he had managed
to twist crosswise as he fen.
His first sensation was the nausea
caused by the sickening upleap Of his
pulse; his first idea was Of surprise
that he had fallen no farther. Behind
him were cracking and Jar and move
ment, to which the stick vibrated.
From beneath, in the heart Of the gla-
cias, came the soft and hollow thunder
Of the dislodged masses striking bot
tom, And still the bridge, broken
from It's farthest support and ruptured
In tho middle. held, though the portion
be had crossed tilted downward at a
pitch Of twenty degrees.
he could see Carson. perched on his
ledge, bis feet braced against the melt
ing surface, swiftly recoiling the rope
from his shoulders to his hand
"Waitw he cried. Don't move, or
tho whole shooting match will come
DOWN.
He calculated the distance with
quick glance, took the bandanna from
bis neck and tied It to the rope and
increased the length by second ban.
danna from bis pocket The rope,
manufactured from sled lashings and
short lengths of plated rawhide knot
ted together. was both light and
strong. The first cast was lucky as
well as deft, and Smokes fingers
clutched It. he evidenced a hand
over hand intention Of crawling out Of
the crack. But Carson, who had re-
fastened the rope around his own
waist, stopped him
"Make it fast around yourself as
WELL" he ordered.
IF l 90 I'll take you with me-"
Smoke objected.
The little man became very peremp-
tory.
"You shut upr' he ordered.
III ever start going Smoke b.
gan.
'shut upl You amt going to ever
start going. Now do what l say.
That's right - under the shoulders.
Make It fast. Now start. Get move
on, but easy as you 60. I'll take in
the slack You Just keep a-coming.
That's it. Easy, easy"
Smoke was still dozen feet away
when the final collapse Of the bridge
began. Without noise, but In 5erky
way, It crumbled an increasing tilt
"Quickw Carson called, coiling In
hand over hand on the slack Of the
rope which Smokes rush gave him.
When the crash came Smokes I'm
gers were clawing into the hard face
of the wall Of the crevasse, while his
body dragged back with the falling
bridge. Carson, sitting up, feet wide
apart and braced. was heaving on the
rope. This effort swung Smoke In to
the side Of the wall, but 1t jerked Car
son ont Of bis niche. Like a cat he
faced about, clawing wildly for a hold
on the ice and slipping down. Be-
meath him. with forty feet of taut rope
between them, Smoke was clawing
1ust as wildly. and ere the thunder
from below announced the arrival OF
the bridge both men had come to rest
Carson had achieved this first, and the
several pounds of pull he was able to
but on the rope had helped to bring
Smoke to stop.
Each lay in a shallow niche. but
Smokes was 80 shallow that. tense
with the strain Of the fattening and
sticking. nevertheless he would have
slid on had It not been for the slight
assistance he took from the rope. he
was on the verge Of bulge and could
not Gee beneath him.
CHAPTER XIV.
The Knife and the Rope
- EVERAL minutes passed, IN
- which they took stock Of the
~ situation and made rapid
strides in learning the art Of
sticking to wet and slippery ice. The
little man was the first to speak.
"Geel" he said and minute later:
.If you can dig in for moment and
slack on the rope can turn over.
Try It"
Smoke made the effort, then rested
on the rope again. II can do It," he
said, "Tell me when you're ready.
and be quick"
about three feet down is holding
for my heels" Carson said 1T won't
take a moment Are you ready?
'Go onT'