The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-10
rnnunucd From Page 81

~ might Of the wilderness about
hem futile things that were the
sxrn 81 even the beasts.
~of course well never find the
bodies Lounssary suggested at
~.
ne chance. that can see The
winters come 90 stay. We won't be
shls 10 set any men from bradley.
burg 20 help Ms look for 'em. They
~s~ldnt got through the snow"
you think Lounsbury's voice
wavercd. you think--we can get
hack all rlght ourselves
~Sare. That i. II We start first
thing tomorrow. There's clear
trail through the snow most OF the
wsN--our own trail. comm out. hut
II will be hard goln' and not safe to
wait"
Then I suppose-the horses will
~ sent down below. because OF the
snow. That's another reason why
they can't even search for the
eodles-
Yes OF course they may float
DOWN 60 tho Yuga and - seen some
where by the Indians. But not much
chance"
They lighted their pipes. and the
horror OF the tragedy began slowly TO
pass from them. The binding snow
and the cold and their own discomfort
,xncupIed all their thoughts. There
vas ouly one ray OF ilsht-that in
IRE morning they could turn hack
cut o. the terrible wilderness. down
toward the cities OF men.
They didn't try 10 sleep. The
snow and the cold and the shrieking
wind made rest an tmposxihl,lty.
They did dox-. however. between
times that they rose 90 cut mor~
fuel for the fire. The hours seemed
erdieSe
Darkness sfili lay over the river
when they went again 10 their toll.
ioun<hury himself offered TO cook
Breakfast and tried 20 convince him
self the act entitled him 20 praise.
in reality. he was only impatient 10
hasten their departure. Noaper
packed tho hungry horses. siyiy de-
posting portions OF their supplies
ard equipment In the evergreen
thicksts 10 tighten hts own work. lie
further uEhfsncd the packs BY put.
ting a load on Muisaney. And they
| eHuhsd down 10 the waters edge
10 glance one more at the turbulent
L stream
mo use Of waiting any mora
lcunSbury said at last.
-Of course not Get on your
hsrxe-- Then they rode away. these
svo worthy men. back toward the
statements Some of the pack
berses--pa rtlruiAriy the yellow
Hnldy and his kfnd---moyed eagerly
vhen they saw that their masters
= changed directions But Nosper
had to urge Muivsney on with oaihs
aad htowx
IN vfrxinhr first moment Of
v~heuinx shs could not distinguish
realities from dreanrs. All the en-
Y4rsenc.s Of the night before seemed
fer The moment only the advanturcs
II . nightmare. But dl.iilussonfnsnt
eurne quickly. She opened her eyes
10 view the cabin walls. and the fun
lr~adfufne-. OF her situation swept
her In an instant
Her tears came first She couldn't
restrain them, and they we're simply
the natural expression OF her fear
and her Loneliness and her distress
For long moments she sobbed bit.
terry. yet softly as she could. But
Virginia ~as OF good metal. and in
the past fe~ days she had acquired
a certain measure % self -dlsciplins-
she began 10 struggle with her tears.
They would waken BiIi. she thought
and she had not forgotten hts brsv-
cry and his toll Of the night before.
she conquered them at last, and.
miserable and sick Of heart. tried To
20 hack TO sleep.
Her muscles panied her. her throat
was raw from the water. and when
abe tried 10 make herself comfort
able her linnbs were stiff and aching
- she knew she had 10 look her
position in the face. she turned.
pains shooting through her frame.
and gazsd about her.
The cabin. she could Sc. was
rather larger than any Of those IN
which they had camped on their
Journey. Il was well-clinked and
sturdy. and even had the luxury ~
window. For the moment she
didn't see Bill at all She wondered
II he had gone out. Then. moving
nearer 10 the edge Of her cot, she
looked over intending TO locate the
clothes she had taken off the night
before. Then she saw him. stretched
on the floor in the farthest corner
Of the room.
He gave the impression of having
dropped with exhaustion and fallen
70 sleep where he lay. She could
see that he still wore the taftered
overcoat he had found hanging on
the wall, and the two blankets were
stili wrapped about him. He was
paying for his magnificent efforts Of
the night before. Morning WIS vivid
and fun at the window. bui he sun
lay In heavy slumber.
She resolved not 10 call him: and
In spite Of her own misery, her lips
CURED In a half-srnile. She was
vaguely touched: someway the sight
-, this strong forester. lying no
helpless and exhausted In sleep.
went straight 10 some buried In
stinct within her and found ten
derness. a sweet Rraciousness that
had not IN her past life manifested
Itself too often.
But the tenderness was supplant-
ed by wave Of icy terror. She
was a woman. and the thought sud
denly came TO her that she was
wholly In this mans power. naked
except for the blankets around her.
unarmed and helpless and lost In
the forest depths what did she
know OF him. He had been the soul
Of respect heretofore. hut now---with
her uncle on the other side OF the
river: but she checked herself
with q revulsion OF feeling. The
strength that had saved her life
would save him against himself.