Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1921-05-28
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Survival
Of the Unfit
By vINGIE E. ROE
(Copyright.)

From out the blue east, streaked
suddenly with red, the sun sailed swift
ly up, a hot, yellow disk, and it was
day again.
Another day, wide, solemn, waiting
for night. Far to the east, under the
| yellow disk, the forest. stretched its
| black band, encircling the ragged lands.
| The atmosphere was so clear and
| thin that the whole lonesome perspec-
! tive stood out with the large distinct
! ness Of things seen in the heart of a
crystal. From the point of vantage, an
abandoned willow hut, built by some
runner of the Crees, who stopped for
some purpose of his own in the pot
hole country, could be seen.
Desolation spread out on all sides,
almost to the red hills in the west, just
visible across the waste.
Here and there, like pockets cling
ing to the sun-baked crust-that shook
for an acre at footstep-hung the
pot holes, black, bottomless, waiting.
The whole country seemed possessed
of the spirit of waiting.
Before long, as the day glowed into
its fullness of heat and light, the curl
ing, sun-drawn vapors would begin
their dance above each deep-hung pool.
Nothing of life moved here. All liv-
ing things Stunned the solitude, save,
in the early morning, crane dropping
down to the water hole to watch for
the white worms of the mire, or per-
haps a silver fox creeping from the
| edge of the great woods.
| This was desolation unbroken and
haunting.
| In the willow hut. stretched on the
ground, already growing warm beneath
him, lay man, white rag of mortal
| ity possessing naught of life save a
feeble breath. Beside him crouched a
watcher.
For three interminable days this
man had sat beside the motionless
form. Two packs lay in the end of
the hut. In one of them lay tiny
case open and filled with two rows OF
small bottles. Beside it lay stack
of wild leaves, hard, dry, stiff. the
fronds OF the rank water plant, cured
! by the sun.
The watcher had crept, in the cool
of the night, out into the darkness,
reaching along the edges of the pools
to gather them. Often his hand slid
| into the Shiny water and he drew back
repealed, shuddering. They We're in
valuable in the heat of the day. With
out their incessant stirring above the
rigid face the short, scarcely percep-
tis1A brsasnD
ago.
Truly they were invaluable. There
was no other thing in the wilderness
so priceless. The garments of the men
were rags. The colorless shirt of him
who tended hung in strips from his
lean shoulders and ended on his arms
above his elbows. One scrap of faded
felt, which had been at one time a
hat, was spread on the outside of the
shelter over hole where the sun burn
ed down like fire.
From time to time the man put down
the leaf apd reached for the can. 1t
was half full of water-clear sweet
water-and moistened the pallid lips.
| Lie ppult u Il Dll ol Il rag loIH lIOill HIS
scanty covering and laid the rag across
the forehead.
Then he picked up the fan and
went on with the incessant motion.
The sun raced upward. seeming to gain
intensity by speed. The dancing smoke
above the pot holes cleared away and
the silence grew heavier
Once he went outside and stood with
hand to brow scanning, with eager
eyes. every point of the compass.
Around and around again, over every
lift and fall of the sky line. every
opening in the forest, he looked hope
lessly. His eyes were sunken and
bright as had been the others few
days ago. Famine sat in the holes in
his cheeks. He went back again and
took up his task.
Hour after hour went by. Again
he laid down the leaf and reached
for the can. This time he took care
fully the little case of medicine. He
shook, as he poured out half dose
it was so alarmingly low. BY his nerv-
BUSINESS he spilled two-thirds of it. He
luoheu up anu UTbutlu Tile nut WIN an
expression of fright. With infinite
care he placed one of the smooth leaves
under his hands and poured out anoth-
er dose. He rolled il into the hollow
of his hand and dropped in few drops
of water. Then he lifted the others
head and poured it between the open
lips. He drew his hand across his
eyes and locked at the bottle as he put
ii back.
He fell TO his endless task again.
At noon of the unbearable day he
opened the pack and disclosed the bar
rier between them and starvation. a
pitiable defense enough-a few dried
beans jealousy wrapped in rag, and
a double handful of meal. He poured
out most of the water in the can and
added a scant spoonful of the meal.