Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-05-18

Whats the matter with him. any
how" Dan inquired. He was boil
ing over with enthusiasm all day, but
noW-why, he's asleep sitting up. lie
hasn't moved for twenty minutes"
Tom shook his head. %dislodging a
swarm of mosquitoes.
walk on your toes, my boy. Walk
on your toes. l smell something cook
ing, and it amt SUPPER
When food was served O'Neil made
a pretense Of eating, but rose suddenly
IN the mids:t of it with the words:
III stretch my legs Il bit" His
voice was strangely l~istless. In his
eyes was the same abstraction which
a troubled Appleton during the aft
ernoon. He left the camp and disap-
peared up the bank Of the stream.
Nice place to take a walk" the en-
glneer observed. Hell bog down in
half a mile OF get lost among the
sloughs."
Darkness had settled when O'Neil re-
appeared. He came plunging out of
the brush, d%renched, muddy, stained
- VAIL tI6 llllIhtlS, DuI HIS
former mood had disappeared, and in
It's place was a harsh, explosive en-
ergy.
Tom" he cried, you and Appleton
and will leave at daylight. The men
will wait here until we get back" His
voice was incisive. Its tone forbade
question.
mo N0JfhfDl n,ri,,>r r{,,ol - 49,.
in dismay, for only his anxiety had
trlumphed over his fatigue. and day
light was but four hours away. O'Neil
noted the expression and said more
gently:
You're tired, Appleton, | know, but
in working for me you'll be called
upon for extraordinary effort now and
then. | may not demand more than
an extra hour from you; then again
may demand a week straight without
sleep. I'll never ask it unless it's nee
essary and unless Pm ready to do my
! share"
Yes, sir"
The sacrifice is big, but the pay is
bigger. Loyalty is all 1 require"
I'm ready now, Sir"
"We can't see to travel before dawn.
Help Tom load the lightest boat with
ratlons for five days. If we run short
Wcll 'siwash' it." He kicked off his
rubber boots, upended them to drain
the water out, then flung himself upon
his bed of boughs and was asleep al
most before the two had recovered
from their surprise.
Five days or longer.." Slater said
gloomily as he and Dan began their
preparations. and me with indiges-
tom"
What does it mcan?" queried APP
pleton.
ut means III probably succumb."
NO, no. What's the meaning Of this
change of plan? l can't understand
it,"
"Iou don't need o." Happy Tom
Informed him CURLY. There was a look
of solicitude in his face as he added,
II wish I'd made him take off his wet
clothes before he went to sleep"
Lets wake him up"
But Slater shook his head. I'D soon
or wake Il rattlesnake," said he.
ONcil reused the members of his eX-
petition while the sky was reddening
family, for he had a mind which work
ed like an alarm clock. All except
Appleton had worked for him before,
and the men accepted his orders to
await his return with no appearance of
surprise.
With the first clear light he and his
two companions set out, rowing up the
estuary of the Salmon until the cur
rent became too swift to stem in that
manner. Then landing, they rugged a
bride" for the skiif, fitted their shout
ders to loops in a ninety foot tow rope
and began to crack" their craft up
against the stream. 1t was heart
breaking work. Frequently they were
waist deep in the cold water. Long
"sWeeperS" with tips awash in the
flood interfered with their efforts. The
many branches of the stream forced
them to make repeated crossings, for
the delta was no more than an endless
series Of islands through which the
ucl uuSh llOOh
them they We're wet, weary and weak
from hunger. With the dawn they
were up and at it again, but their task
became constantly more difficult be-
cause Of the floating glacier ice, which
increased with every mile. They were
obliged to exercise the EXTREMIST eau
ton. Hour after hour they strained
against the current until the ropes bit
into their aching flesh. bringing raw
places out on neck and palm. Hour
after hour the ice went charming past,
and through it all came the intermit,
tent echo Of the caving glaciers ahead
Of them.
Dan Appleton realized very soon
whittier the journey was leading. and
at thought Of actually facing those ter.
rOrS which doomed so large in cOniec-