The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-06-16
775e
Survival
Of the Unfit
By vrNeIE :. ROE
(copyright.)
BY vINerE :. ROE

Another day. wide. solemn, waiting
for night. Far to the east, under the
yellow disk. the forest stretched its
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 fer
some purpose OF his own in the pot
hole country. could be seen.
Desolatlon 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 fulness OF heat and light. the curl
ing, sun-drawn vapors would begin
their dance above each deep-hung pool.
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 mlre, or per
haps 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 a man. white rag Of mortal
ity possessing naught of life save a
feeble breath. Beside him crouched n
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 filed with two rows of
small bottles. Beside II lay stuck
OF wild leaves, hard, dry. stifr, 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
repelled, shuddering. They were in
valuable In the heat OF the day. With
out their incessant stirring above the
rigid face the short, scarcely percep
tible breath would have stopped lonl
ago.
Truly, they were Invaluable. There
was no other thing In the wilderness,
SO priceless The garments Of the mer
were rags. The colorless shirt of hin
who tended hung In strips from hi,
lean shoulders and ended on his arm,
above his elbows. One scrap OF fadet
felt. which had been at one time {
hat. was spread on the outside OF thu
shelter over hole where the sun burn
ed down like fire.
From time to time the man put dowr
the leaf and reached for the can.
was half full OF water--clear. swee
water--and moistened the palld lips
He poured bit on a rag torn from hi
scanty covering and laid the rag acros
the forehead.
Then he picked up the fan an,
The sun raced upward. seeming to gall
Intensity by speed. The dancing smok
above the pot holes cleared away an,
the silence grew heavier.
Once he went outside and stood witt
hand to brow scanning. with cage
eyes. every point of the compass
Around and around again. over ever
lift and fall of the sky line. ever
opening In the forest he looked hope
lessly. His eyes were sunken an
bright as had been the others fe,
days ago. Famine sat In the holes I
his cheeks. He went back again an
took up his task.
Hour after hour went by. Agal
! he laid down the leaf and reache
, for the can. This time he took car,
fully the little case OF medicine. II
shook, as he poured out half dose
/ II was so alarmlngly low. BY his ner'
BUSINESS he spilled twO-thirds OF II. ii
looked up and around the hut with a
expression OF fright. With ininlt
care he placed one of the smooth leave
under his hands and poured out anOti
er dose. He rolled 1t into the hollo'
Of his hand and dropped In few droT
Of water. Then he lifted the other
. head and poured 1t between the ope
lips. He drew his hand across hi
eyes and looked at the bottle as he pr
It back.
He fell to his endless task agaii
At noon of the unbearable day h
> opened the pack and disclosed the ba
rler between them and starvation.
pitiable defense enough--a few drle
beans jealously wrapped In rag, an
a double handful OF meal. He poure
out most Of the water in the can an
. added a scant spoonful OF the mea
This he poured down his friend
I throat, while his eyes followed ever
drop as a wolf starving through Il
white winter looks after low-hyr
crane. ravenous and desperate. The
v he took the can aud went out in Il
a hifndIn0 haot A lIttla dietauca frf.