Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-15
!. The :.
Stampede
By REX BEACH
copyright BY otis L. WOOD

3 Noon 1OunO them nmplne among the
bald hills Of the rivers source. Here
timber was sparse, and the SHOWS had
likewise thinned, SO to avoid the con-
volutions Of the stream they cut across
points, houndering among ''nigger
heads quaint wobbly hummocks Of
grass-being thrown repeatedly by
their packs, which had developed
malicious deviltry. This footing was
infinitely worse than the reeking Ice,
but It saved time, 90 they took It.
Now, under their stiff mackinaws
they perspired freely as the sun mount
ed until their heavy garments chafed
them beneath arms and legs. More
over, mosquitoes which in this latitude
breed within arms length Of snow
drifts, continually whined in q vicious
cloud before their features.
Human nerves will weather great
strains, but wearing, maddening, un-
ending trivialities will break them
down, and so, although their journey
in miles had been inconsiderable, the
dragging packs, the driving panic, the
lack Of food and firm footing had
trebled It
Scaling the moss capped saddle, they
labored painfully, hundred yards ut
time. Back of them the valley I'M
rolled, its stream winding away like
cleaning ribbon, stretching through
dark banks Of FIR down to the Yukon.
After Incredible effort they reached the
crest and gazed duly out to the south
ward over hmitless jangle Of peaks
on, on, to blue yelled valley leagues
and leagues across. Many square
miles lay under them in the black Of
unbroken forests. It was their first
glimpse Of the Tanana. Far beyond
from groveling group of foothills q
solitary giant peak scared grandly,
standing aloof,. serene, terrible In Its
proportions. Even in their fatigue they
exclaimed aloud:
I. 'Tts Mount NcKinley!'
yep! Tallest wart on the face Of
the continent There's the creek we
60 down, seer Crowley indicated
water course which meandered away
Through canyons and broad reaches.
1--WE foller it to yonder Gloss valley;
then east to there" To Bucks mind
his gesture included q tinted realm as
far1eaching as state.
Stretched upon the bare schist COM
manding the back stretch, they MUNICH
led slices Of raw bacon.
Directly out toward the mountains
foot two figures crawled.
~
led, stumblinG. Gliding. into the strange
valley.
As this was the south ana early side
Of the range they found tho hills more
barren Of snow. Water seeped into
the gulches TIL the creek ice was worn
and rotted.
''This'n be fierce" the Irishman 10
marked. III she breaks On d well
be hung up in the hills and starve BE-
fore the creeks lower enough to got
home"
Small streams freeze solidly to the
bottom, and the spring waters wear
downward from tho surface. Thus
they found the creek awash, and, fol-
lowing farther, it became necessary to
WdOc ~ AA40Ay PAoSCOs AACy SdAA0 W
a box canyon where the winter snow
had packed, forming dam, and, as
there was no way Of avoiding It with
out retreating a mile and climbing the
ragged blur, they f1oundered through.
their packs aloft, the slushy water arm
pit deep.
WED ought a. took the RIDGES"
hn eli s,
Theoretically with fatigue.
''No! Feller's apt to get lost. Drop
into the wrong creek-come out fifty
miles away"
II bet the others do anyhow" Buck
held stubbornly. Its lots easier 60
ing"
"Wish Sully would, but he's too WISE
No such luck for me-" A long pause.
II reckon I'll have to kill him before
he gets back" Again they relapsed
into miles Of silence.
Crowley's fancy fed on vengeance,
hatred livening his work worn facul-
ties. He nursed carefully the mem.
DRY of their quarrel, for it helped him
travel and took his mind from the ag-
ony, Of movement and this aching sleep
hunger.
The feet of both men felt like fear
full, shapeless masses. Their packs
leaned backward sullenly, chatting raw
shoulder sores, and always the raven
GUS mosquitoes stung and stung and
: whined and whined
At an exclamation the leader turned.
Miles back, silhouetted far above on
the comb of the ridge, they deserted
two tiny figures.
THAT'S what we'd ought "a done.
They'll beat us In"
"No, they won't. They'll have to
camp tonight or get lost, while we can
keep goin'. We can't go wrong down
here, can't do no more than drown"
Buck groaned at the thought Of the
night hours. He couldn't stand it:
that was all. Enough is enough Of
anything, and he had gone the limit.
Just one more mile and he would
quit. Yet he did not.
All through that endless phantom
night they foundered, jncased in freez-
ing garments. numb and heavy with
sleep, but morning found them at the
banks of the main stream.
"You look like h-lv' said Buck.
laughing weakly. His mirth relaxed
his nerves suddenly till he giggled and
hiccoughed Historically. Nor could he
stop for many minutes, the while
Crowley stared at him alphabetically
from lined and shrunken counte