The Red Cloud chief., 1902-08-22

shouted TO them TO halt. The fugitives
a s quick glances behind, and then,
with defiant yells, fed.
Two darted around one side Of q
huge. projecting cliff that formed the
extreme spur Of the mountain, and one
went the other way. Two rifle shots
rang out on the mountain, and two
bullets whizzed through the air.
"Ye winged yer man, Crack LASH"
cried Glum. Follow him and I'll give
chase to the others" !
Paul needed no second command,
but darted after the I'm at whom he
had fired. The fugitive threw away
his gun and fed for life, and for an
hour Paul was in doubt whethe1 he
vas gaining or him or not. At the end
of that time, to his great chagrin, he
saw him cash into a thick forest of
pines and frs. .
When next he saw him he was
creeping along a ledge five hundred
feet above him. With no other thought
than the capture of the fugitive and
recovery of his treasure, Paul threw
on his s~nowshoes and clambered up
the steep precipice with great labor
and no little danger. Up he went,
needless of everything but the solu-
ton of the mystery which threatened
his life and happiness Of himself aud
Laura. He reached the fork and be-
gan to climb the great dead limb of a
frnD which tn,tphnA tho rnvnfoH 1a1un
At that moment he heard a cracking
at the root of the tree and became
conscious of a descending motion in
the limbs to which he chung.
He knew he was falling, and that
with the vast mass he must descend
into the valley beneath. He left him
self rushing downward through the
air; he closed his eyes; there came a
horrid crash on his ears, and he kneY
no more.
When Paul regained consciousness
he was lying on a pile of skins and
furs In a cavern.
A man clothed wholly in bear and
seal skins stood over him, gazing at
him with a pair of strange gray eyes.
His hair was long, falling to his shout
ders. and his beard. which was almost
white, came to his waist. He had a
h~alf.savage and half.civilized appear
ance.
Paul gazed into the strange, wild
face and asked: L
Who are you?"
The stranger. without taking his
eyes off him, asked:
WHO are you?"
Il am a miner from the Klondike
who was robbed. ! was In pursuit of
the robbers when the accident befell
me. You found me?"
Yes
Paul at first supposed that some OF
his limbs were broken or d~islocated,
and dared not move, but after a few
he discovered that he had
no greater injury than a Sc
we're shock. He had fallen into a deep =
snowdrift. which had broken the fall =
and no doubt saved his life.
Wont you tell me who you are?"
asked Paul after a few minutes gazing
the face of the mysterious
stranger. The man turned away for a
moment as if he wished to avoid the
answer and then slowly turning back
Il am a hermit: will that suflce?"
ID you live here?" Paul asked.
Yes"
How long have you lived in this
mountain"
Then came a longer silence than =
usual, when the hermit of the cave '
What difference can that make to
you? l found you in a perishing con.
dition and brought you here and
saved your life. Is that not enough
without telling all the secrets OF nv
He turned slowly about and
went to a small fire that smoldered on
stones some distance ava and
began to toast some slices OF moose
Paul closed his eyes and tried
TO reason that he could be in no imme.
iiate danger. If the man had intend
to XIII him, he would no doubt have
lone SO while he was unconscious He
also reasoned he might have some
iesign In saving his life.
IN