Nogales international., 1929-06-25

| was glad of that because it gave me
an opportunity to sort Of find my ski
legs. By the time | could take three
steps without tripping or splitting, I
considered that | was no longer in the
amateur class.
My egotism melted away when we
came to the first rise. It was gentle
slope, but found it very difficult to
climb I had to tack or else | found
myself slipping backwards.
I tried dismounting from the skis,
but found that the snow was up nearly
to my waist and well-nigh impossible
to founder through.
I made it somehow, but Hemming
way on snowshoes beat me to the crest
by several minutes. He waited there
until I got nearly to the top and then
he started down the other side.
I gained the summit. It was not
very high. but afforded an excellent
view OF the country. Under the snow
it was beautiful. A group of fir trees
over at the right with branches borne
down with tremendous load of white
| Was SIdCCIuI plC!uIc.
Come on" yelled Hemingway.
half way down the hill. "We have to
catch that train |"
l wrenched myself away from my
contemplation of the beauties of nature
and considered the matter of pro-
crossing further. l started to walk
after him. Soon / was relieved of the
necessity of effort. The gentle grade
was enough to cause me to slide over
the surface of the snow.
1t was an exhilarating sensation and
very restful. l was suddenly glad that
| had skis instead of snowshoes. had
been envying Hemingway the super
ior travelling qualities of his equip
ment, but now I could see that the ad-
vantage was going to be all my way.
While he walked down the hills I
would be sliding gracefully and resting
myself for the climb up the next one,
Wrapped in pleasant introspection
I had scarcely noticed that my speed
was increasing little. Now a slight
difficulty in balancing called my atten-
tion to it. /
I leaned forward a trife to restore
my equilibrium. AS l did so heard
sharp swishing sound as the runners
glided swiftly over the snow.
The speed increased. I looked about
for some way of slowing up. There
seemed to be no brake. 1t appeal ed
inadvisab1e to turn sideways as one
does on skates in order to stop. Even
as | thought, my pace accelerated to
such degree that l abandoned all idea
of doing anything but pray.
Directly in my path, proceeding
slowly down the hillside, was John
Hemingway. Headed as I was I
could not fail to strike him. | tried to
steer in some other direction. 1t was
no use. l few toward him as filing
to a magnet.
He was blithely unconscious that
was overtaking him. He is large
man and so am l. The result of an
impact was terrible to contemplate.
I tried to cry out to him, but my
voice left my dry throat as only a
harsh caclzle. The only word could
think of was "Forep
Intuition made him turn around. He
must have read in my eyes that had
lost control because he started to
scramble hastily out of my way.
Horror of horrors, my runners,
which had hitherto glided straight, as
if on rails, now swerved sharply to one
side in the direction which he was
going
He saw it and redoubled his efforts
to get out of range. With hendish
perversity the skis turned also. | was
almost upon himi He made supreme
effort-and stumbled. shut my eyes,
lN M.A XXIL