The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-08-02
CHAPTER W-Continued

Our party was well qualified to pass
the test of the trail The ProdigaI
was full of irrepressible enthusiasm.
and always loaded to the muzzIe with
ideas. Salvation Jim was a mine Of
foresight and resource, while the Jam
wagon proved himself an Unsuitable
glurtoD for work Altogether we Jared
better than the average party.
We were camped on the narrow
neck Of water between Lindeman and
Bennett, and as hay was two hundred
and fifty dollars a ton, the first thing
we did was TO butcher the OK The
next was 10 see about building a boat
We thought of whipsawing our own
boards, but the timber near US was
poor or thinned out. so that in the
end we bought lumber. paying for it
twenty cents foot We were all very
uneXpert carpenters; however. ny
watching others. we managed to make
a decent looking boat.
The ice was going fast Strangers
were still coming in over the trail
with awful tales of its horrors Ben
nett was all excitement and seethine
life. Thousands of ungainly boats
RATS and scows were waiting 70 be
launched. Already craft were begin
ming 10 come through from Lindeman
rushing down the fierce torrent be
tween the TWO lakes.
The ice was loose and broken We
were all ready TO start in a few DAYS
The mighty camp was in a fermeni
of excitement Every one seemed
elated beyond words. On. once more
TO EldOradol A great eXultatinn
welled up in me, the voice of youth
and ambition. the lust to conquer. }
would succeed. would wrest from
the vast, lonely. mysterious Norts
some of its treasure. ! would be a
cOnqueror-
Silent and distracted, looked into
the broOding disk of sheeny sky. nv
eyes dream-trOubIed
Then ! felt a ghOstly hand touct.
my arm, and with a great start OF
surprise, turned
"Berna :"
The girl was wearing a thin black
the icy wind blowing from the lake
she trembled like wand. Her face
wis pale, waXen, almost spiritual in
its expression, and she looked at M
with Just the most Ditiably sweet
smile in the world.
TN sorry I startled you; but !
wanted To thank you for your letter
and for your sympathy You see. I'm
all alone now" The voice faIteged.
but went aa braveIy. I've got no
one that cares about me any more.
and Eve been sick so sick I wonder
] lived. knew you'd forgotten NE.
and I DON'T blame you. But I've new.
er forgotten you. and wanted to see
you just once more"
She was speaking quite calmly ana
Internationally.
"Bernaw ! cried; don't say that
Your reproacb hurts me so. Indeeti
4 did try TO find you. but it's such q
vast camp. There are so uIany thou
sands of people here Time ano
again I inquired. but 90 one seemed
to know No. Berna. | didn't forger
Manv's and many's q nighf I've lain
awake thinking of you. wondering.
longing 10 see you again What a
little white whisp you areI YoU look
as Is breeze would pillow you away.
You shouldn't he OUT this night girl.
Put my coat around you. come now "
wrapped her in it ana saw with
gladness her shivering cease In the
opal light of the luminous sky her
great gray eyes were iusrrous
~Berna." ! said again. why did you
come in here. wig? You should have
gone back"
-6one hack" she repeated; Indeed
would have, oh, 50 gladly. But YOU
don't undersiand-Ihey wouldn't let
me After they had got all his money
and they did ger it. though they
swear be had nothing-they made me
come on with them They said
owed them for his burial. and for the
care and attention they gave me when
] was sick. They said must come
on with them and work for them.