The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-09

i NtAsF As@t HAttahH ANt EAAh1 I'ANt
stabbed him again. and II seemed TO
him that hts right leg only half -
spondcd TO the commapd OF his
nerves. In moment more they
would be flung again into the cas-.
cadex.
I'm afraid can't make H." he
said. too softly for Virginia to hear,
Tie wronched once more toward the
shore.
But tho river gods were mercitui.
after all. A Jack pine had fallen on
the shore, struck down by a dead
tree that had fallen beyond. and it's
green spirc. stin clothed with
needles. lay half. submerged. forty
feet out into the stream. nlli'- arm
encountered Il. then snaiched At Il In
final. spasmodic Impulse OF his
muscles. And his grip held fast
For an instant they were tossed
like straws in the water. but grad
uaily no strengthened his grip. He
caught branch with his free hand.
then slowly pulled up on r. Hang
on" he breathed. only a moment
more"
He drew himself and the gtri NJ on
the slender trunk. then cravicd
along II toward the shore. Now
they were half out OF the water
And In moment later they both
felt the river bottom against their
knees.
He drew her 10 the bank staggered
and fell. and for a moment both Of
, them lay lifeleps to the soft caresr
Of tho snow. hut BIN did not dare
lose consciousness. He was fully
aware that the fight was only half
won. And despair sweep, the girl
when her clear thought returned 10
ter her they had emerged upon the
opposi,s.ushore from the party. and
that thsF were dr.neh-d through
and lost In the night and the storm
endless. weary PAGES from warmth
and shelter.
Before the thought had rome fully
home .h. Jaw that nan was on his
feet. The twilight had all but yield.
ed 20 the darkness. yet she saw that
ne stin stood straight and strong. II
was not that he had already recov-
cred from the desperate battle In
the river. Strong as he was. for
himself he had only ono desir~-to
lie ssiil and rest and let the terrible
, cold take It's toll. Bu, he was tho
guide. the forester. and the girls
life was IN his care.
Get Oft your Clothes he com.
nand~d IAN OF them--th- dark
ners hides you--and III wiring 'em
out. IL I don't you can't live 10 g~,
TO the cabin. Your stockings first"
Tho thought OF disob~dienos DID
not even come to her. He was
fighting for her life; no other Issue
remained.
Rub your skin an over WIN ycur
hands he went on. and keep
moving. Above an things keep the
blood going In your v~sna Rub ~
hard s- you CAM can't make q
fire herewith no arm the snow"
Already she had tor-~a him her
dr~nched stockings. and he was
wrsnTsng them out in strong hands.
She rubbed her legs dry with her
palms. and put the stockings back
on. Then she threw off her coats
ana outing suit. and he wruns them
a. dry as he could. Then quickly
she dressed again.
'+Now-fast a. you can walk
toward the cabin"
He was not sure that he could
find Il in the darkness. lie hoped
tn encounter the moose trail whrr~
II left the ford. beyond that he had
( 10 rely on his woodsman's Instincts.
I lie was soaked through and sr.
hausted and he knew from tho
stronRe numbn~a- Of hia body that
n. was slowly being chilled to death.
( II was n tes. Of his own might and
endurance against the cruel elements
and a power beyond mere physical
strength came 10 his aid.
| They forced their way thru the
evergreen thickets Of the river bank.
walking up the stream toward the
ford. He broke through the bushy
barriers with the might Of his body:
he made a trail for her In the snow.
the darkness deepencd around them.
The snow fell even heavier. and the
winds soughed In the tree tops.
After the first haf.mile all con.
seriousness Of effort was gone from
the girl. She seemed TO move from
a will beyond her own. one step
after another over that terrible
I trail She lost all sense OF time. al
most OF Identity. strange figures.
only for such eyes as might see In
the darkness. they fought their way
on thru the drifts.
But they conquered at last. Part
/ ly BY the feel Of the snow under his
/ feet. partly by his woodsman's in.
I stincts. but mostly because tho for.
/ est gods were merciful. Bill kept to
| the moose trail that led from the
/ ford to the cabin. And the man
was swaying. drunkcnly. when he
reached the door.
His cold hands could scarcely
draw out the rusted file that acted
az a brace for the chain. Yet his
voice was quiet and steady when he
spoke.
plenty OF EN- he told her. TITS my
main supply cabin. Spread some Of
them out and take off your clothes
all Of 'em-2nd get between them.
III build - az fast as can"
She turned 10 obey. She heard
him take down an AK that had been
left hanging on the cabin walls and
heard his step In the snow as he
began 10 cut into kindling some OF
the pieces OF cordwood that were
heaped outside the door. She un.
dressed quickly. then lay shivering
between the warm. heavy blankets.
In a moment the man faltered In,
his arms heavy with wood She
heard him fumbllng back OF the III.
tie stove, then match cleaned In
the gloom. She had never seen
such face M this before her now,
u lines were deep and incredibly
dark. utter fatigue was inscribed
upon the drawn features and In the
dark. dull eyes. She was suddenly
shaken with horror at the thought
that perhaps she was looking upon