New Britain herald., 1924-06-17

continued on down the ravine until she found an dd game trail that per mitted fairly easy egress. This had been part of the guides own teach | ing in their many excursions into the wild. The narrow, brown trailing | path up the hillside was quite steep. but at least it was way through the brush and offered them by the great
 est margin of safety. Slowly, labor
 iously, resting every few paces, they
 reached the crest.
 The fight was not only to sur
 mount the grade. She also had to
 guard against a lapse into uncon-
 sciousness on the part of the injured man, the results of which would hove been to throw all Of his dead weight against her and hurl them both down the steep grade in a peril ous fall. Pete gave his own strength
 of will to this attle: and he re-
 hreathlcss and fainting when he re-
 faxed on the crest of the gully.
 It's not so cold up here" the man
 told her, when he had rested
 There's no use of you breaking your
 heart open trying to half-carry me I think you can leave mo here and
 send the natives to bring me in."
 Dorothy glanced al the white sky and needed the threat of winter in the wind Wen go on," she said.
 They went on. and that first. long, nigh-insupcrable mile proved definite ly the quality of Dorothy's basic metal. She found that she not only had spirit to endure: but that her physical strength itself was greater than she had ever dared dream. An unconqucrahle spirit movfd in her today---its mystic origin she did not yet know or attempt to tface-and she would have got the injured man 10 shelter if she had had to carry him on her back. This was spared her. however, because after the first mile Pete slowly but steadily began to rally.
 Ever his heart beat with greater power; the vital energy flowed through the foodgates of his nerves in an ever greater stream. He car ried more of his own weight, depcnd- Ing less OH the strength Of his com panion. When vivid consciousness swept back to him and he saw the girls white, drawn face, he took her arm from his and tried to go un- aided but she would not hear Of this. She drew his arm through hers again with 2 strange. tender ur- gency. and she would not let 1t go
 But I'm all right now" he ,ob- iccted.
 She studied his pale face and som ber eyes. "Lct me help you a while longer. Pete" she told him.
 Down the steep grades. through tho brush thickcts, across streams and over hills she led him, sustaining him with the touch of her hand leading him, cheering him with hnr voice and her smile. At last she laid him on his cot.
 She. built up the fire. with Cast eager motions and heated pot of water. Then sitting beside him, shn hathcd his wounda. She did moi know why he nuiycrnd al the touch Of her warm. carcssingg fingers. or whence came the sea of tendcrnrss that flowed through her finger tips upon him. The moment. 10 Pete. seemed actually to redeem and brighten some Of inc dark hollops in the trail of his life.
 Dorothy helped him off with his wet boots, and still postponing thc dread monmcnt of self anaiysia. tucked his blankets about him. Then she built up the fire and prepared warm noHrishing soup which she fed him a spoonful aj a time. She did not remember that she was dead tired herself, that she was accustomed tn receiving. rather than giving service; and shc ict herself forget. for the mo- mcnt. that this man was of q plane and sphcr" far below hers. tnaWarc Of her own aching muscles she worked Chcerfully about the camp. tending to I'ete's every comfort, warming his great, cold hands be- tween hers. even cutting fuel to keep inc fire warm at the mouth Of the dngout: Ii was increasingly evident that he had received no mortal in- iurics, only seycfe shock and some painful bruises and cuts. yet shp found herself nursing him as if his lie were at stake. The hours winged by, and night seemed 10 fall before is time.
 II was only when she had gone fo her own bed, tired out. and the two packers were on watch. that she dared scrutinize tho events of the day Ii was not merely that she had her given heroic aid to Pete, lavish with her own strength and Wracking her body with fatigue. She might have done as much. under certain to any one in need. The thing that amazed her. that distressed and terrified her. was not that she lad helped him. But that in helping him she had found the greatest glory. fhe most exalted happiness that had blessed her since the first months 4 her marriage.
 Continued in our Next Issueg