BACK TO CIVILIZATION

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 156, 3 July 1937, Page 8 (Supplement)

BACK TO CIVILIZATION

by L. Williams^

CH AE'TF.R VII. i.»a id Heridrickson in reply to ?!'n!y. "The breed got through all r:g'.'l arnu'd in a week later. The old 'Mill kept, me going; but was he tough? One piece I cooked all day ju-t to see it 1 could make it tender. It «as just tin l same, like a slice of truck tyre. Well, that's the yarn,'' he finished, "and now remember I'm not so young now. I like my bed'." In ten minutes we were all asleep. Isaac said good-bye next morning. With a broken trail and empty toboggan he would be home that night. He refused to charge for the help he had given, but gladly accepted a present of my lead dog, Burly. He had several times admired the dog and I felt sure that he would truat him well.

The day gave promise of bein? warm, so the boys hurried with their loading and hit out whilst the snow was still hard from the overnight •old.

Hendrickson and I' took things easily, making up well-balanced packs and greasing the stiffened cinches so that horses soft from their winter's fflleness would not be galled by harsh gear.

The horses were fat and very fresh, a pleasure to ride. As the sun mo-unted higher the hard crust softened, slowing the pace of the dog team ahead. Soon we caught them and travelled along together, Hendrickson giving one or other of the mushers a spell on his horse oceagionallv.

"We're in for a warm spell," said Bill. '"Look at the snow lice."

Droppings frorh the snow-laden bought had softened the snow round the bases of giant spruce and jackpine. Here, as though scattered by the wind, were millions of tiny black organisms known to trappers as snow lice. I have never met anyone who could tell me another name or any plausible reason for their appearance. My own theory is that they are always present in the snow, some form of simple cell life too minute to be seen by naked eye. When conditions of light and temperature are exactly right they grow to the

THE SEQUEL TO "PERIL IN THE ROCKIES."

extent of becoming easily visible, seeming, in fact, tiny particles of soot. A sudden change of temperature and the v die-appear. In anv case, after two or three days they are absorbed again into the snow that bred them. i com now on the general appearance of the country through which we passed changed rapidiy. The spurs were not so steep; the heavy spruce timber was left behind, and we entered the open, park-like poplar country of the foothills. In the early afternoon we reached the Berlund KTver. We followed downstream for a few inilets and were in the Berlund cabin at mile 3S and eating supper before dark.

A trapper who had a shack _ couple of hundred yarrts acr TO » the tiat came over to find the meaning of our, cavalcade. On hearing how long I had been yetting through, he jumped up and said, '"Don't hurry with your cupper, I've got something for you." In a while he was back with a tin of green beans and one of sweet corn. And did they look good to me, who had been "siwashing" for weeks!

Again we got m touch with! Entrance. Rufe Neighbours had i managed to break a trail as far a« j Moberlv Cabin on the Moberly River

at Mile 20, but could not get the sleigh any further. With him were ' Ranger Waikkie and Constable Ennis, i provincial same guardian. Corporal; Crane, of the Mounties, was waiting ; at Entrance to take me on to Jasper. For some reason we could 1 not make the Moberlv telephone ■ ring»«so, calling Entrance again, we had them promise to put* us in touch i if Ennis called headquarters. Sure i enough, about 9 p.m. our telephone, rang and Ennis was on the line. It i was arranged that they should ride j their horses out to meet us and break j the trail. If both parties left at j 9 a.m. we should meet somewhere i about Mile 29.

By the time specified I was hoisted on my pony and started on the trail. The snow was getting shallower now us we got down out of the mountains proper.

i Sure enough, a Tew yards past 29 we could see Kufe's four big sorrels showing lip red against the snow. I did not recognise Eufe for the moment, a«» he was wearing enow glasses. But there was no mistaking who it was when he rode up and started chaffing me for not staying on that rock slide in Sheep Creek and so ridding the world of another rolling storie. His laugh, however, belied his words. Ennis and Waikkle, I too, were there to congratulate me I on getting out.

Rufe's extra horse wag given to one of the boys, who were both limping painfully.

By the time we reached Moberly Cabin I was about all in. For several nights past I had not slept at all. I was unutterably weary of travelling', and this last day, IS miles without a break or change of gait, was the proverbial last straw. Ennis helped me in and immediately set about starting a fire. Ia a, few moments he brought me a glass of steaming ruin. The boys came in from feeding the horses and we had another. Before long' I was dozing, and had to be weakened for supper. It was agreed that we start on - the last 20 miles at midnight. This would land us at Entrance by daylight. Railway official* had promised to stop any train for me. Day was breaking when I awoke. ; We were dropping slowly down the ; long hill above Entrance. Entrance, i the gateway to the Yellowhead Pass, j A splash of colour on the enow, I beside lines of steel stretching east I and west. Plumes of grey «>moke j rising from red roofs, a dog barking, the clear ring of an axe. My first ! glimpse of civilisation in the vear j 1!)-V>. I The through Limited was stopped. | Inside of an hour 1 at Jacper. I The platform was crowded, foremost ! there being Dr. O'Hagen ready with | a sleigh to take me to hospital. I j lost the toe all right, and bits of ! foot besides. But altogether I was ' very fortunate and very grateful. ! Always I bear with me memories of the care and kindness of strangers, | strangers who were a® friends. ! ' v j THE END.