Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-03-02

could not prevent the stop. ana he
could feet the down slip beginning
I'm going" he callcd up
$50 am j." was the reply. gri.ted
through Car0ns teeth
"Iheu east loose
Smoke fell the rome tauten In a IA
tile effort. then tho pace quicsened. and
as he went past his previous Judgment
and over the bulge the last glimpse he
caught of Carson he was turned over.
with madly moving hands and feet
striving TO overcome the downward
draw.
To Smokes surprise, as be went over
the bulge, there was no sheer fall. The
rope restrained him as he slid down
sleeper pitch. which quickly eased un-
I'll he came 10 halt In another niche
OH the verge OF another bulge. Carson
was now out OF sight, ensconced in the
place previously occupied by Smoke.
"Geev' he could hear Carson shiyer.
"Geer'
An interval OF quiet followed. and
then Smoke could feel the rope agi-
tated.
what are you doingT' he called up.
Making more hand and foot holds"
came the trembling answer. "You Just
wait I'll have you up here In 1ihy.
Don't mind the way | talk. I'm just
excited"
you're holding me by main
strength" Smoke argued. "Soon OF
late, with the ice melting. you'n slip
down after me The thing for you to
do is to cut loose. Hear me! There 8
no use both OF US going. Get thatf
You're the biggest little man in crea-
ton. but you've done your best You
cut loose!
-You shut up I'm going 10 make
holes this time deep enough TO haul up
span OF horses"
Several silent minutes passed. Smoke
could hear the metallic strike and hack
Of the knife. and occasionally driblets
Of ice slid over the bulge and came
down 70 him Thirsty. clinging on
hand and foot. he caught the frag
ments In his mouth and melted them
to water. which he swallowed.
He heard gasp that slid into a
groan Of despair and felt a slackeRing
of the rope that made him claw I'm
mediately the rope frightened again
Straining his eyes In IN upward look
along the steep slope. be stared mo
ment, then saw the knife. point first
slide over the verge Of the bulge and
down upon him. He tucked his cheek
TO Il. shrank from the pang of cut
flesh, tucked more tightly and felt the
knife come TO rest
I'm slobl" came the wall down
the crevasse.
Cheer up. I've got itr Smoke an
swered
stay! Wait! I've got a lot OF
string in my pocket. I'll drop IT down
to you, and you send the knife up"
Smoke made no reply He was bat
Ting with a sudden rush OF thought.
Hey. you. Here comes the string
Tell me when you've got II"
A small pocketknife weighted on
the string slid down the ice. Smoke
got 1t, opened the larger blade by a
quick effort OF his teeth and one hand
and made sure that the blade was
sharp. Then he tied the sheath knife
to the end Of the string.
Haul awayw he called.
With strained eyes he saw the up
ward progress OF the knife. But he
saw more-a little man. afraid and In
domitable. who shivered and chartered,
M
who mastered his qualms and distress
es and played a hero's part. Here was
a proper meat eater, eager with friend
illness. generous to destruction, with a
grit that shaking fear could not shake
Then. too he considered the situa
ton cold bloodedly. There was no
chance for two. Steadily they were
sliding into the heart Of the glacier.
and It was his greater weight that
was dragging the little man down
The little man could stick like a fly
Alone, he could save himself
"BUlly for u.s." came the voice from
above, down and across the bridge Of
ice Now Wen get out OF here in two
shakes"
uc awful cdurSit lOi Eb'u Nuttl
and hope in Carsons voice decided
Smoke.
Listen 10 me-" he said steadily.
vainly striving TO shake the vision OF
Joy Gastells face from his brain. 81
sent that knife up for you TO get out
with. Get that? I'm going to chop
loose with the jackknlfe. It's one or
both of us. Get thatT"
wait! For Gods sake, waltw Car
son screamed down. you can't do
that Give me a chance 10 get you
out. BE calm, old horse. Well make
the turn. You'll see, I'm going to dig
holes that1l lift house and barn"
Smoke made no reply. Slowly and
gently. fascinated by the sight, he