The Green Forest tribune., 1918-02-08

hOH, WHO ndNt. luuCn SfuD. IL were well that we look to the law. Today, Kah-Chucte and Gowhee, whom I con- handed to break trail, forgot they were men, and like frightened children ran away. True, they forgot; so let us for get. But hereafter let them remember If it should happen they do not."- He touched his rifle carelessly, grimly. Tomorrow they shall carry the flour and see that the white man Joe lies not down by the trail. The cupfulS of flour are counted; should so much as an ounce be wanting at nightfall- Do ye understand? Today there were others that forgot. Moose-Head and Three-Salmon left the white man Joe to lie in the snOw Let them forget no more. With the light of day shall they go forth and break trail. Ye have heard the law. Look well, lest ye break it."
 Sitka Charley found it beyond him to keep the line close up. From Moose Head and hree-Salmon, who broke trail in advance, to Kah-Chucte, Cow bee. and Joe, it struggled out over a mile. Each staggered, fell, or rested as he saw fit. The line of march was progression through chain of irregu- lar haltS. Each drew upon the last remnant of his strength and stumbled onward till it was expended, but in some miraculous way there was al- ways another last remnant. Each time man fell, 1t was with the firm belief that he would rise no more yet he did rise, and again, and again. The flesh yielded, the will conquered; but each trj .mph was a tragedy. The h. dian with the frozen foot, no longer erect, crawled forward on hand and knee. He rarely rested, for he knew the penalty eXacted by the frost. Even Mrs. EppingwelPs lips were at last set in a stony smile, and her eyes, seeing saw not Often, she stopped, pressing
 a mittened hand to her heart, gaspins and dizzy.
 Joe, the white man, had passed be yond the stage of suffering. He nc longer begged to be let alone, prayed to die; but was soothed and conten under the anodyne of delirium. Kah Chucte and Gowchee dragged him or roughly, venting upon him many a say age glance or blow. To them it was the acme of injustice. Their hearts were bitter with hate, heavy with fear. Why should they cumber their strength with his weakness? To do so, meant death; not to do so-and they remembered the law of Sitka Charley, and the rifle.
 Joe fell with greater frequency as the daylight weaned, and so hard was he to raise that they dropped farther and farther behind. Sometimes all three pitched into the snow, so weak had the Indians become Yet on their backs was life, and strength, and warmth. Within the flour sacks were all the potentialities of existence. They could not but think of this, and it was not strange, that which came to pass. They had fallen by the side of great timber jam where a thousand cords of frewood waited the match. Near by was an air hole through the ice. Kah Chucte looked on the wood and the Wa ter, as did Gowhee; then they looked on each other. Never word was spoken Gowhee struck a fire; Kah- Chute filled a tin cup with water and heated it; Joe babbled of things in an other land, in a tongue they did not understand. They mixed flour with the warm water till it was a thin paste, and of this they drank many cupfuls. They did not offer any to Joe; but he did not mind. He did not mind any thing, not even his moecasins, which seorched and smoked among the coals.
 A crystal mist of snow fell about them, softly, caressingly, wrapping them in clinging robes of white. And their feet would have yet trod many trails had not destiny brushed the clouds aside and cleared the air. Nay, ten minutes delay would have been salvation. Sitka Charley, looking back, saw the pillared smoke of their fire, and guessed. And he looked ahead at those who were faithful, and at Mrs. Eppingwell.
 "So my good comrades, ye have again forgotten that you were men? Good Very good. There will be fewer bellies to feed.'
 Sitka Charley retied the flour as he spoke, strapping the pack to the one on his own back. He kicked Joe till the pain broke through the poor devils