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Show AND A RIDE IN A SNOW- STORM. 67 against the skin with such force as to sting like the prick of needles. It seemed a long, long six miles to the post, and more than once the fear was expressed that during the night the wind had turned our ambulance around, and that we were going from the Fort instead of toward it. The falling snow was so thick that no landmarks could be seen, and our minds were not at rest concerning the direction we were pursuing, until we reached one of the branches of Black's Fork, near the post. It was wide, knee- deep, and running rapidly, but that was no time for hesitation, and we waded it immedi ately. Before we had walked ten rods further our pants were as stiff as boards from the ice on them. Two other streams were crossed in like manner, and we reached the Fort. We then commenced thawing out ; first the ice and snow on my beard, so that I could open my mouth, and then I drank a cup of strong, hot ginger- tea to thaw out my stom ach, if in the condition " Uncle Jack" was afraid his would become if he drank water. I then changed all my clothes, giving the body a good rubbing, and after drinking a cup of hot coffee, and eating a hot beefsteak, I was surprised to find myself so comfortable. Until several minutes after I com menced undergoing the process of thawing out, I had not doubted the safe arrival of the ladies in the garrison the night before, and was expecting as soon as I could open my mouth, so as to speak intelligibly, to call upon them and talk over the adventures of the night. The reader can imagine of my surprise and horror, when the husband of one of them rushed into the room where I was, to inquire about his wife, for their ambulance had not arrived. I could rea sonably account for their absence in no other way but that they had lost the road and might have wandered far away. A number of soldiers were immediately mounted and sent in all directions ( the storm still prevailing) in search of the missing party. An anxious hour to a father, a husband and a brother, as well as to myself, in whose charge the ladies were placed, followed, but they were found and brought safely in. They had come within a mile of the post the |