Evening journal., 1922-01-11
Continued From Last Issue.)
XVIII


Standing motionless in the dread
ful gloom Of blindness. insensible to |
the growing cold Bill made himself
look his situation in the face.
Finally his thought seized upon
an idea SO fantastic. seemingly i'm
possible OF achievement. that at first
ne could not give It credence.
His snowshoe tracks probably were
not yet obliterated under the wind
blown snow. Could he feel his way
along them back 10 the cabin?
The miles were many and long,
but he wouldn't have to creep on
hands and knees all the way lie
groped about at the side OF the
cabin for his snowshoes.
lie found them in a minute. then
walked straight as he could fifty
feet out from the door. once more
he went on hands and knees, CROP
ing in the icy snow. He started TO
make a great circle.
Fifteen feet farther he felt
break in the even surface. The snow
had been so soft and his shoes had
sunk so deep that the powdered
flakes the wind had strewn during
the night had only half filed his
tracks. He started to follow them
down
He would walk ahead fve PAGES,
then drop down and grope again for
the tracks. Sometimes he found
them at once. often ne had TO go on
his hands and knees and start to
circle. Then, finding the trail, ne
would mush on for five steps more
on. the way was cruell He could
not see to avoid the singing lash Of
the spruce needles. the cruel blows
Of the branches. Already the at
tempt began to partake OF a quality
Of nightmare.
He could not Judge distance or
time. Already IL seemed TO him that
he had been upon the journey end
less hours. He didn't know how far
he had come. The only thought he
had left was always to count his ter
rible five steps. and count hve more.
on and on. through the long
hours. But the fight was almost
done. Exhaustion and hunger but
cold most OF all. we're swiftly break
ing Inn down.
The time came at last when he
could no longer get upon his feet.
And now. like a Tithonus who could
not die. ne crawled along the snow
shoe trail on his hands and knees
Il can't go on" he told himself.
Yet always his muscles made one
movement more.
suddenly he missed the trail. His
hand groped in vain over the white
crust. and he started 70 creep FOR
ward again.
But slowly the conviction grew
upon him that he was crawling in
small circle-the very circle he had
lust made. Some way he had missed
the snowshoe trail.
Slowly he sank down in the snow.
When the southeast wind struck
the home cabin. Nirginia's hrst
thought was for Bill.
aarolds first thought was also OF
Bill. He knew what the wind could
do TO a snow crust. His eyes CLEANED
with high antlcipations, curiously in
tertwined with the remembrance Of
the dark cavern he had entered yes
terday. the gravel laden with gold.
L only wish hadn't let him co.
The girls tone was heavy and dull
But we had TO have supplies.
I'VE could have gone out on that
grizzly meat
The afternoon that followed was
endlessly long and lonely. Her heart
sank at every complaint Of the wind
and she dreaded the fail OF the
shadows. -,,.
An through the hours OF early
night she slept only at intervals
She wakened before dawn; and
+bo icv winter stars were peering
through the cabin window.
shivering. she slipped quickly INTO
her clothes. Then she lighted a
candle and put on her snowshoes.
sbe mushed across the little space OF
snow to the mems cabin.
she Knocked on Harold's door.
who's there?" a sleepy voice an
swered
drossed Did Bill come backf'
"Rniq No-and what on earth
are YOU up ais early for2 Forge
about Bin and go back TO bed"
IT isten. Harold" she pleaded
..Don,t tell me to go back to bed.
fool-I know something's happened
to him. And-and-I want you 10 g
out and look for him.
Harold nau no ut0tt' 4"
Bill. Besides. he was angry ano
bitterly jealous at her concern ioi
him.
You do. eh-you'd like to senc
me out on a bitter night like this or
a FOOLS errand such as that. Where
p is there a cabin along the way
you'd only kin me without helpini
him"
you won't go, them"
Don't be foolish. Virginia"
Angry words rose in her throat
but she suppressed them.
She went swiftly to her cabin, pu
on her warmest clothing. and, as Bill
had showed her, rolled a compac
pack for her back.
She took a little package OF fooS
-nourishing chocolate and drieS
meat-the whisky flask that ha,