The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-04-11

erect like their Malemute leader.
Butch, though Malemute, had
strong strain Of collie in him. 1t gave
him sense of responsibility. His bus
mess was to see that the team kept
strung out on the trail, and Butch was
postmaster in the matter of disci-
pine. His weight was 90 fighting
pounds, and he could thrash in short
order any dog in the team.
| The snow was wet and soft. It chung
to everything it touched. The dogs
carried pounds Of it in the tufts of
hair that rose from their backs. An
icy pyramid had to be knocked from
the sled every half-hour. The snow
shoes were heavy with white slush.
Densely laden spruce boughs brushed
the faces of the men and shOwered
them with unexpected little ava
lanches.
They took turns in going ahead Of
the team and breaking trail. It was
heavy, muscle-grinding work. Before
noon they We're both utterly fatigued.
They dragged forward through the
slush, lifting their laden feet sluggish
~. They must keep going, and they
did, but it seemed to them that every
step must he the last.
Shortly after noon the storm wore
itself out. The temperature had been
steadily falling and now it took rapid
drop. They We're passing through tim
Der, and on little slope they built
with good deal Of difficulty a fire.
BY careful nursing they soon had a
great bonfire going, in front of which
they put their wet socks, mukluks,
scarfs and parkas to dry. The toes of
the dogs had become packed with little
Ice balls. Gordon and Holt had to go
carefully over the feet of each animal
to dig these out.
The old-timer thawed out a slab of
dried salmon till the fat began to
frizzle and fed each husky pound OF
the fish and lump of tallow. He and
Gordon made a pot of tea and ate some
meat sandwiches they had brought
with them, to save cooking until night
When they took the trail again II
was in moccasins instead of mukluks
The weather was growing steadily
colder, and with each degree of fall In
the thermometer the trail was easier
"Mushing at fifty below zero is al
right when it is all right" explained
Holt in the words of the old prospec
tor. "But when 1t isn't all right it's
HI"
{ey nnf hn1 fey(
; "Nope. But she's on the way. Wher
your breath makes kinder cracklin:
noise she's fifty"
There soon was crust on the snow
that held up the dogs and the sled 81
that trail breaking was not necessary
The little party pounded steadily owe
the barren hills. There was no sigl
Of life except what they brought witt
them into the greater silence beyond
l Each of the men wrapped Ion,
!. scarf around his mouth and nose TO
l protection, and as the part in front o
r the muffler to another place.
3 Night fell in the middle of the aft
ernoon, but they kept travelling. No
r till they were well up toward the sum
J. NIT Of the divide did they decide +
0 camp. They drove into little dra,
a and embarrassed the weary dogs. ]
: was bitterly cold, but they were force
: to set up the tent and stove to kee
from freezing. Their numbed finger
!, made slow job of the camp prepare
e tons. At last the stove was goinl
b the dogs fed, and they themselve
e thawed out They fell asleep shortl
s to the sound of the mournful howiin
: of the dogs outside.
D Long before daybreak they wer
2 afoot again. Holt went out to che
\ some wood for. the stove while Gordo
made breakfast preparations. I'll
3 little miner brought in an armful {
q wood and went out to get secon
= supply. A few moments later Eli,
= heard cry.
. He stepped out of the tent and "a
z to the spot where Holt was lying undo
. mass of ice and snow. The your
9 man threw aside the broken blocl
. that had plunged down from leds
= above.
: BADLY hurt, Gid?" he asked.
: II done bust my laig, son." the o
Q man answered with twisted grin.
Z "You mean that it is broken?"
. "Tell you that in a minute"
= He felt his leg carefully and wi
. Elliot's help tried to get up. Groa
Z ing, he slid back to the snow.
. "Yep. She's busted" he announce
= Gordon carried him to the tent al
. laid him down carefully. The o
4 miner swore softly.
. "Ain't this devil of a note, bo
: You'll have to get me to Smiths eros
. ing and leave me there"
It was the only thing to be dor
9 Elliot broke camp and packed the sic
~ Upon the load he put his companio
g well wrapped UP In furs.
z Two miles up the road Gordon stopp
8 his team sharply. He had turned
2 bend in the trail and had come up
3 an empty stage buried in the snow.
2 The fear that had been uppermc