The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-09-20
tools as she would need in the work


enough to aid her, yet it was all she
had. Next, she removed a blanket
from her cot and threw it over her
shoulder. There might be need of
this, too-further protection against
the cold
Heretofore she had moved slowly,
hardly aware Of her own acts; but
now she was beginning to master
herself again She mustn't linger
here. She must make her spirit
waken to life. her muscles spring to
action. Carrying her rope and her
blanket, she went out the door, closed
it behind her. and started up toward
the glacier.
AT last she stood at the very edge
OF the yawning seam, staring down
into the unutterabl eblackness below.
Not even light could exist in the
murky depths of the crevice. much
less fragile human life. The day was
not yet dead, twilight was still gray
about her; but the crevice itself
seemed full Of ink clear to its mouth.
And Ned's axe. lying just at the edge
of the chasm, showed where he had
fallen
She called his name into the chasm
depths, and some measure of self
control returned to her when she
heard the weird. rolling echo.
And that cry did not go unheard.
Ned had given up but a few mo-
ments before Bess had come. and her
full voice carried clearly into the
strange, misty realm of semi-con
seriousness into which he had drifted.
And this manhood that had lately
grown upon him would not let him
shut his ears to this sobbing appeal.
His own voice, sounding weird and
hollow as the voice of the dead in
that Unreasonable abyss, came back
in answer
Here I am. Bess,' he said. You'll
have to work quick"
It was bitter hard for Ned to fight
his way through deaths twilight. The
cold had hold of him. its triumph was
near. and it would not let him go
without a savage battle that seemed
to wrack the man in twain
He summoned every ounce Of cour-
age and determination that he had
and tried to shake the frost from his
brain You'll have to work quick"
he warned again. His voice was
stronger now, but softened with
tenderness beyond her most reckless
dreams. Don't be too hopeful
haven't much left in me. What can
you do?"
The girl who answered him was in
no way the lost and hopeless mortal
that had lain sobbing on the ice The
fighting side of her that Ned had
seen so often swept swiftly. into domi-
nance. At once she was cold blade.
true and sure; brain and body in per-
feet discipline.
How far are your" she asked. IT
can't see"
About ten feet-but I can't get up
without help"
Can you stand up?"
Yes" Forcing himself to the last
ounce of his nerve and courage, he
drew himself erect. Reaching up
ward, his hands were less than a yard
from the top of the crevice.
trying to reach down to him. She
conquered the impulse at once, realiz-
ing that any weight at all. unsup-
ported as she was, would draw her
into the ravine. Even the rope would
be Of no use until she had something
firm to which to attach it.
I've dug holes most of the way
up" he told her IT might try to
climb EN-, with little help"
Are you at the bottom of the
crevice?"
THE bottom is hundreds of feet
below ne. I'm on a ledge about three
feet wide
Then stand still until l can really
help you. I can't pull you now with
out being pulled in myself. and If
you'd fall back. you'd probably roll
off the ledge. The Ice is like glass.
Ned. are you good for ten minutes
more"
II don't know"
It's the only chance" Again her
tone was pleading. Keep the blood
moving for ten minutes more, Ned.
oh, tell me you'll try
Deep in the gloom she thought she
heard him laugh-only a few little
syllables, wan and strange in the ST.
lence-and it was all the answer she
needed. He would fight on for ten
minutes more. He would struggle
against the cold until she could res
cue him.
Here's a blanket" she told him
swiftly. Put it around you, if you
can, without danger of rolling Off"
She dropped him the great cover
ing she had brought; then in a single,
deerlike motion, she leaped the narrow
crevice. On the opposite side she
procured Ned's ak; then she turned,
and, half-running, half gliding on the
Ice, sped toward the nearest timber
a number Of stunted spruce two hun
dred yards distant at the far edge Of
the glacier.
Bess had need of her woodsman's
knowledge now. Never before had
her blows been so true, SO telling on
the tough wood. Almost at once she
had done her work and was started
back with a tough pole, eight feet
long and four inches in diameter,
balanced on her sturdy shoulder.
Ned was still strong enough to an
swer her call when she returned, and
the dim light still permitted him TO
see her lay the pole she had cut as q
bridge across the crevice cutting
notches in the ice to hold it firm.
Swiftly she tied one end of her rope
to the pole and dropped the, other to
him.
Can you climb up?" she asked