Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-04-21
cnAprER bod

Dan Failing was really not badly
hurt. The quick, flashing blows had
not Gone more thnn severely bruise
tho flesh Of hls face; and the nlsts "
unconscionsneas that had been failing
over him were moro nearly The result
Of his own tremendous physical cx-
ertion. Now these mists were rising
"Go--go away" the girl was com
manding. Il think you've killed him
Dan opened his eyes 10 end her
kneeling close beside him. but stu
covering Cranston with her pistol, Tier
hand was resting on his bruised cheek.
lie couldn't hive believed That hu.
man face could be an white. while life
stiiI remained. rs hers was then. All
the lovely tlnta that had been such
delight to him. The play Of soft reds
and browns. had fnded az an after
glow fades on the snow.
Dams glance moved with herr 70
crnnston. lie was standing easily az
o distance OF dozen feet; and except
for the faintest trembie all over his
body, muscular reaction from the
violence OF his passion, he had entire.
ly regained his seif-composure. THIS
was quite Characteristic OF the noun
tain men. They share with the beasts
passion Of living that Ia wholly I'M
known on tho plains; but yet they have
certain quality OF imperturbability
known nowhere else. Nor Ii II limited
10 the natiye-born rnountainecrs. No
man who intimately knows e member
ef that curious, keen-eyed little army
OF nnturalistH and big-game hunters
who 80 10 the north woods every fall,
as regularly and seemingly as mex
orably az the waterfowl 60 In spring,
can doubt this fact. They seem TO
have acquired from the silence and
the SHOWS an impregnation OF that
eternal calm and imperturbability that
is the wilderness itself. Cranst0n
wasn't In the least afraid. Fear IS
usually q matter OF uncertainty. and
he knew exactly where he stood.
Il is extremely doubtful II a plains
man would have possessed this knowl-
edge. But a plalnsman has not the
knowledge OF life itself that the noun
taineer has, simply because he doea
not see II 10 the raw. And he has not
half the Intimate knowledge Of death,
an absolute requisite Of seif-com-
posture. The nlountaineer knows life
in its simple phases with little tradi-
ttion or convention to blur the vision.
Death IL a very Intimate acquaintance
that may be met In any snowdrfft, on
any rocky trail; and these conditions
are very deadly to amy deIusions that
he has in regard to himself. He nc
Quires an ability to zee just where he
stands. and of course that means self
possession. This quality had something
to do with the remarkable record that
tho mountain men, such as that mag
nificent warrior from Tennessee, made
In the late war
Cranston knew exactly what Snow-
bird would do. Although OF a higher
order, gho was q mountain creature,
even as himself. She meant exactly
what she said. II he hadn't climbed
from Dams prone body. she would
have shot quickly and very straight. If
he tried to attack either Of them now,
her finger would press back before he
could blink an eye. and she wouldn't
weep any hysterIcai tears over his
dead body II he kept his distance,
| abe wouldn't shoot at an. he meant
to keep his distance. But be did know
that he could insult her without dnn-
: to himself. And BY now his lips
acquired their old curl Of scorn.
: ~ !" be snid. s1n