The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-21


In itself Il was nothing 10 fear.
II was not a hurricane. not even
particularly violent storm. but only
brisk gale that struck him from
she sice and more or less impeded
his progress. Trees that were tot,
tvring asd ready TO fall went down
with reverberating reports. the
snowdnst whiried thru the forest.
changing the contour OF the drifts.
and filiing up the tracks Of the wild
creatures. But for Rii the wind
held real menace. IL was from
the southeast. and warm a. a giris
hand against his face.
No man OF the Northwest Prov.
incos Is unacauainted with this
wind. II ~ prayed for In the spring
because Its breath melts the drifts
the traveller caught far from HIS
cabin on snowshoe~. The wind was
the farfamed Chinook. the south.
east gale that ~oftens the snow as
a chllds breath melts the frost ON
a window pane.
n did not occur to Ban 10 tsru
back. Already he was nearly half
way 20 his destination. The food
supplies had 20 BE- secured. sooner
or later. and when the Chinook
comes no man knows when IL will
60 away. He mushed on thru the
softrning snow.
Within an hour the crust was no
ticcably softer. one hour thereafter
and tho snow was soft and yielding
as when It had first fallen In early
winter. Mushing was no longer a
pleasant pursuit Henceforth II
was simply toll. rigorous and ex
hsuxting The snowshoe sank deep.
the snow itself chung 10 the webs
and frame until IL was almost i'm.
possible 10 lift.
A musher IN soft. wet snow. can
only go at a certain pace. There l.
no way 10 hurry the operation and
ANY attempt 20 quicken the pace
results only in a fnil. The shoe
cannot be pushed ahead as when
the snow is weilpacked or crusted.
II has to be deliberately lifted. put.
ting the leg tendons TO an unnat-
urai strain.
II was too far TO turn back. As
many miles OF weary snow stretched
behind him as before hun. AT
Twenty u rec Mile cabin he could
pass q night as comfortably as AT
home: there were food and blankets
IA plenty. and the weti.built hut
contained a stove. Once there. be
could wait for hard freeze that
would be certain to harden the hais.
thawed snow and make IL fit for
travel. His only course was 10 push
on step by step.
The truth suddenly dawnee upon
him that he was face TO face with
one OF the most uncomfortable sit.
uafions OF ali his years In the for
est. He didn't believe he would be
able TO make the cabin before the
fall OF night. II Indeed he were able
TO complete the weary miles. II
cruel and exhAustinx labor. He
carried no blankets. and altho with
the aid % his camp AK ne could
keep sor,e sort Of a fire. a night
out In the snow and the cold was
not an experience TO think Of
lightly.
Blu knew very well Just what
capabilities for effort the human
body holds. IL. has certain definite
limits. After a few hours OF such
labor as this the body Is tired--tired
clear thru and aching in'its muscles
Despondsncy takes the place Of
hope. the step Is somewhat faiter.
ing. hunger assaiis and is forgotten.
even the soIace Of tobacco IN denied
because the hand Is too tired 70
grope for and fill the pipe There
after comes deeper stage OF
fatigue. one in which every separ.
ate step requires a distinct and
tragic effort os will. The percep-
tons are bIunted. the uncertainty OF
football Is more pronounced, the
stark reality OF the winter woods
partakes OF dreamllke quality.
Then comes utter and complete ex.
haustion.
In it, first stages there can still
b. a few dragging or STAGGERING
steps. a last effort OF a brave and
commanding will. Perhaps there IL
even a distance OF creeping. But
then the march Is done. There IL
no comeback. no rsIlying. The ab.
solute limit has been reached. But
fortunately. lying still In the snow,
the wanderer no longer cares. lie
wonders why he did not yield to
this tranquil comfort long since.
BIZ began to realize that he was
approachfng his own limit The
weary miles crept by, but with a
tragic languor that was like a night.
mare. But time flew; only a little
space OF daylight remained.
Bills leg muscles were aching
and burning now. and he had TO
force himself on by sheer power OF
his will. He would count twenty
five painful steps, then halt The
wind had taken a more westerly
course by now. and the enow was
no longer melting. The air was
more crisp; probably one night
would serve TO rccrust the snow.
But the fact became ever more evil
cent that darkness would overtake
him before he could reach the cabin.
But now curiously. he dreaded
the thougl Of pauslng and making
a fire. Partly he fesred--with the
age-oid fear that lay buried deep in
every cell--the long, bitter night
without shelter. fond or blankets;
but even the labor of fire-bullding
appalled, his spirit II would be q
mighty task, faugued as he was:
first TO clear away the snow, cut
down trees. hcw them Into lengths
and split them--all with a Hight
camp AK that only dealtfa sparrow
bIow-then TO kneel and stoop and
nurse the fire.
His woodsman's senses predicted
n bitter night, in epite Of the