Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-01-20

They slipped down the bank to the
creek bed No recent feet had disturb
ed the snow that lay upon its ice. and
they knew they were above the Dis
covery claim and the last stakes OF the
Sea Lion stampeders.
Look out for springsr' JOY warned
as Smoke led the way down the creek.
AT 70 below you'n lose your feet If
YOU break through"
These springs, common 10 most klon-
dixie streams. never cease at the lowest
temperatures a man stepping on dry
snow might break through half an inch
Of ice skin and find himself up TO the
knees In water. In five minutes, IN
less able to remove the wet gear. the
loss OF ones feet was the penalty.
They watched for blazed tree on
either bank. which would show the
center stake OF the last claim located.
Joy. impulsively eager. was the first to
find It She darted ahead OF Smoke.
crying:
Somebody's been there! See the
snowi Look for the blazei There II
Is. Sec that spruce" She sank sud
denly to her waist In tho snow. Now
I've done it" she said woefuHy. Then
she cried: Don't come near me. I'll
wade out"
Step by step. each time breaking
through the thin skin Of Ice concealed
ha Arxy oh
way to solid footing. Smoke did not
wait. but sprang to the bank. where
dry and seasoned twigs and sticks,
lodged among the brush by spring
freshets, waited the match By the
time she reached his side the first
flames and fickers OF an assured Dire
--ere rising.
''Sit down. he commanded.
She obediently sat down In the snow.
he slipped his pack from his back and
spread blanket for her feet
From above came the voices or the
stampeders who followed them.
LET Shorty stake!" she urged
Go on. Shorty" Smoke said as he
attacked her moccasins. already stiff
with ice. pace off a thousand feet
and place the two center stakes. We
can fix the corner stakes afterward"
With his knife Smoke cut away the
lacings and leather OF the moccasins
So stiff were they with Ice that they
snapped and cracked under the hack
ing and saving. The siwash socks and
heavy wooden stockings were sheaths
of ice 1t was as II her feet and calves
were incased in corrugated iron.
How are your feet?" be asked as he
worked.
Pretty numb. can't move or feet
my toes. But II will be all right. The
fire is burning beautifully Watch out
you don't freeze your hands. They
must be numb now from the way
you're fumbling"
He slipped his mittens on and for
nearly a minute smashed the open
hands savagely against his sides When
he felt the blood prickle he pulled of
sawed and hacked at the frozen gar.
ments- The white skin OF one foot ap.
peared, then that Of the other. to be
exposed to the bite or 20 below zero
Then came the rubbing with snow.
carried on with an intensity OF cruel
herceness, TIL she squirmed and shrank
and moved her toes and joyously com
planned of the hurt He half dragged
her and she half lifted herself nearer
to the fire. He placed her feet on the
blanket close TO the flesh saving flames
you'll have to take care of them for
awhile" he said
She could now safely remove her
mittens and work and manipulate her
own feet. with the wisdom of the mi.
tiated being watchfu that the heat OF
the fire was absorbed slowly While
she did this he attacked his hands The
snow did not melt or moisten Its
light crystals were like so much sand
Slowly the stings and pangs OF circu-
lation came back into the chilled flesh
Then he tended the FIRE. unstrapped
the light pack from her back and got
out complete change Of footgear.
Shorty returned along the creek bed
and climbed the bank 10 them. II sure
staked a full thousan feet" he pro
claimed. mo. % an No. %. though
I'd only got the upper stake OF %
when ! met the first geezer OF the
bunch behind lie just straight declar.
ed J wasn't goin' to stake % An ]
told him
"Yes. yes" Joy cried what did you
tell himr
well. ! told him straight that II he
didn't back up plumb 500 feet I'd sure
punch his froze nose into ice cream an
chocolate cellars He backed up. an
I've got In the center stakes Of two
full an honest 900 foot creek claims
He staked next. an | guess by now
the bunch has Squaw creek located TO
headwaters an down the other side
Ourn Is safe. It's too dark 10 see now.
but we can put out the csrser stakes
in the mornin'."