The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-04-29

Hammond fell in beside her. For |
. moment, there was little sound |
save the quick breathing OF dogs.
the slide OF toboggans and the clui1
of snowshoes, punctuated by quick
tapping noises as mushers hit their
webs on the rising step with light
clubs. to free them from chinook
sticky snow. The shouting and ex-
cited conversation long ago had
passed. This was gruelling effort.
Like the North" he asked.
Something like a tomboy's happi-
ness blaxed In her brown eyes.
ooh. do. It's SO Clean"
Jack went, wondering about the
remark. After long time, he be-
gan thinking OF some Of the city
rooming houses In which he had
spent out-of-luck days; grimy win
dows, carpets gritty with dirt, SCOT
on ones face. black. taste to
the air.
Better not wait too long to make
camp he shouted to one OF the old
timers. well get out early to-
morrow on the crust
But late that night, when the rest
of the camp was snoring, Ham,
mond saw that there was to be no
! crust on the mornings snow. The
chinook had continued, veering
slightly toward morning. Dawn was
gray. lowering. cherries. Then the
wind shifted. A bite came into the
air.
yah, well have snow" 1t was
Olson, the man with the hewed-out
face whom Hammond had met IN
Prince Rupert. He paused = mo-
ment as the long line began to
move. Yah, well have plenty OF
snow"
| Hammond nodded and went on
ward. He would have Job today.
1t was hard enough keeping this
line moving In the sunshine. Morn
ing became early afternoon. The
sky grew heavier, more ominous.
mo loafngl" he shouted, as the
trek started anew, following the
noontime halt. "And no hanging
back"
: A stoop-shouldered man turned
his head; skin raw from pelting ice
particles, eyes like balls Of blood
from snow burn.
How'll we ever keep In line anc
change wet moccasins7" he quer
led. Keep EN- on, suppose, ane
get frostbite7"
Wen make stops for that" The
first slash OF snow had begun t.
drive down out OF the high reache!
OF the mountains. Keep moving
and stay together"
The flakes had become thickel
now: like . sticky white shield. Al
in an instant, the mountains began
to fade.
"Stay togetherl" he shouted, a
he worked back along the line
"Stay togetherI"
They had come out OF valley +
a wide lake and were now well upol
1t. On his lunpy snowshoes, JAG
made the end OF the line, shoutin
his caution, and hearing 1t echoe
by the more experienced men G
this long serpentine of gold seekers
The sound of clubbing as stick
raped against snow-gummed web
was general now The world ha
become fog OF white. Once agai
Hammond started forward, hurr,
ing at the blurred sight Of iat
gard beside the trail. With som
surprise. he saw 1t was Jeanne Tov
ers.
whats wrong7" he querie
brusquely.
my lead dog broke his trace
, think I've got it fixed.'
: Hammond examined the harnes
Looks all right" he decide
'rWe're going to camp as soon |
we strike the end of this lake"
"And then how fart" asks
Jeanne. Hammond had heard tn
query q hundred times IN the la
few days.
"Oh, we're well over the worst
) 1t. Wen have 4 tough time
- awhile after we get out OF this lal
country--have to hit for the pl
teaus--the winds are pretty b
there. Then well drop down to Z
Liiken river--going should be fair
easy after that"
d How far?" the girl asked aga
r. Sixty miles. A man could ma
1t In two days with fresh team
u Hammond went on toward I
"a head of the line.
when do we get to the end
- this lake," shouted the lead mu.
m er. A note OF panic was In
: voice. Hammond turned swift
= glancing down the line.
.Olson!" he shouted. Take