American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-05-06
CHAPTER u.


Two miles across the ridges, Dan
and Snowbird saw a faint mist blow
Ing between the trees. They didn't
recognize 1t Mt arst. 1t might be hne
snow. blown by the wind, or even n
of those mysterious fogs that ONE
times sweep over the snow.
"But 1t looks like smoke" Snowblrd
said.
'But It couldn't be. The trees ARE
too wet to burn"
But then d sound that at first was
just the faintest whisper In which
neither OF them would let themselves
believe, became distinct past all deny
ing. II was that menacing crackle of
a great fire, that in the whole world of
sounds is perhaps the most terrible.
TITS our house." Snowbird told him.
"And father can'a get out"
She spoke very quietly. Perhaps
the most terrible truths OF life are al
ways spoken In that same quiet voice.
Then both OF them started across the
snow as fast as their unwieldy snow
shoes would permit.
"He can crawl n %litfla" Ia" ""i,.1
they mounted to the top OF I'M
ridge; and the long sweep of the Tor
est was revealed to them. The nous
was A singular tall pillar OF hame, a.
! ready glowing that dreadful req tro'
which fremen, despniring, turn awh'
, Then the girl seized his hands an
! danced about him In a mad circle.
Hes alivel" she cried. you Gu
y see him-just "A dot on the o /
q crawled out TO safety"
. She turned and sped at n breakne'
r nnce down the ridge. Dan had to rh
q 70 keep up with her. But 1t wasn't 9
"A tirely wise TO try TO mush so fast'
dead log lay beneath the snow win
a broken limb stretched almost to
NJ surface, and It caught her snowsh.
The wood cracked sharply, n d
forward in the snow. But she was
y. hurt. and the snowshoe itself, In ~
az n small crack in the wood, was s
Nv serviceable. +,
~ "uaste makes waste" he told
a. "Keep your feet on the ground sh'
- bird the house il gone already
vonr father is safe. Remember W
of lies before u.s.
The thought sobered and halted
She glanced once at the dark face
her companion. Dan couldn't uh'
10 gland the strange light that sudd'
LEANED 10 her eyes. Perhaps she
self couldn't have explained the v
of tenderness that swept over ~
with no cause except the look IN y
ms earnest gray eyes and the INES
49, cut SO deep. Since the world was
~. n has been the boast of the bodies
men that they looked their FAYE IN
"a face. And this liz nc mean looking.
A. fate is a sword from the darknei
,aha power that reaches out OF the mys
- and cannot be clasged with sigh
human origin. II burns out ule
L, 60 OF all but the strongest men. Yet
,,m was looking at his fate now, AM
rawl eyes held straight.
They walked together down 4
- ruined house, and the three OF
- SAT silent while the fire burned
III. Then Lennon turned 10 them "
half-smile.
49, you're wasting time, you two
to- said. Remember, all our food IL
80 n You stnri row., and walk hard,
.h,s be you can make II out"
"T7ere are several things
first" Dan answered simply.
~ don't know what they are.
going TO be any picnic, Dan. =
: can travel only 30 far without 4
pa,n keep up his strength. particular,
such ridges as you have to cro'
"a - viii be easy To give up q die
n test. nan It's the test"
,asIa "And what about your his
q rod ter asked.
. "oh, I'll be all right Beside
!. ,,,s he only thing that can be ool
nunas can't walk, and you can't carry
~ your backs. What else remains
T.. 10 gtay here-snd I'll serape 20
a. enough wood Il keep a fire. ms
,bnt4 can bring help"
.rna,.d He kept his eyes ayerSeo ~t
~ tsIked.. He was afraid for Dan
49, Diem, knowing that he could re