The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-10-24


Paul gave utterance to groan,
sank upon a large stone at the side OF
the road and bowed his head In his
hands. One more hope, and, In fact'
aoout the last hope he had, was gone
Paul remained two weeks longer
with the Metlakahtlas, and then de-
cided to leave his dusky friends anu
start for the KlOndyke.
Father Duncan selected four stout
young Indians to accompany hlm'
The Indians were well supplied with
provisions suitable for crossing the
mountains, and he and his escort
were provided with dried meat and
compressed bread and hardtack.
The four Indians selected for Pauls
party were stout young fellows, IN
ured to hardship and danger. They
we're strong, brave and faithful. me
instructions given them by the ola
missionary were carefully listened TO
and they promised to carry them out
to the letter.
There is always something en-
chanting in great, deep forest, Win
it's tall trees clothed in moss and
solemn depths which seem to speak
of divinity. At night in the forest
adds to the gloom, the solemnity and
awfulness of the scene. A camp nre
in the great northern woods, with lts
rocks and cliffs, its moss-covered
trees, has something grand in it.
Gathered about a camp fire built
at the base of the mountain range
were five persons-Paul Miller anu
his four Christian Indians.
1t had been a long, hard days
travel, and the poor fellows were
almost exhausted. 1t was only Paurs
indomitable will driving him on to
more than super-human energies that
kept him on his feet. He had aban-
doned all hope of finding the men
who had robbed him, and now he
longed to get back to the Klondyke,
take another fortune from the frozen
earth, and return to Laura and MS
mother.
The faces which ever seemed TO
smile at him from the smoke and
darkness gave him courage and hope.
at has been a long time since
wrote to them" he thought. They
have no doubt given me up for dead
How sad to cause them grief, and all
through mischievous yet truthful
message y-itten in fit of delirium!
He was suddenly reused from his
painful reverie by the falling and roll
ing of great stone down upon
and across the camp fire, scat
tering the burning brands in every
direction. The great, round bowlder
passed within few inches of where
Paul sat and between two Of the In
dams, but fortunately did not touch
any one. The stone was heavy
enough to crush out life or break
bones had 1t struck one.
Paul leaped to his feet and the In
dians started up with EXPLANATIONS
of fear.
From whence came that stone?'
cried an Indian.
Paul's first suspicion that some con
yulsion of the earth had shaken the
stone loose from the mountain side
and sent it laundering down the cliff
upon them, but there had been nc
perceptible quaking.
While he was still trying to dis
cover the cause, there came another
object rolling down the steep descent
mingled with dirt, fine stones anc
snow. 1t seemed great dark ball
from which there issued human cry
II rolled to Paul's feet and stopped
| He seized one of the burning brands
and held it so the flame threw the
! light upon the face of the stunned
| and half-insensible man, who sal
stupidity gazing about him. The sud
den and unexpected advent of this
stranger was enough to startle the
campers and disturb their wits. The
Indians, starting to their feet, stared
at him in amazement. Paul wa:
first to recover his speech.
| He cried:
Throw the wood on the fire!"
They obeyed, and the light flashed
up, throwing out broad red glare OF
the scene which illumined the dirt
be-grimmed face of the man wht
had tumbled down the cliff. Paul
starting back, said;
1T is the escaped prisoner, the alb
ductor-the robber-and perhap:
murderer" He seized one of the In
dams muskets and raised it to braiI
the scoundrel, but two stout Meta
kahtlas seized him and said:
NAY, brother, Thou shalt mo-
kill"
The man who had so suddenly fall
en- into their midst was rapidly re
gaining his faculties and by thii
time able to speak. He growled al
oath and rubbed the side of his head
"Where did you come from?" ask
ed Paul.
From aloft on the cliff" he an
swered.
What were you doing up there?'
"Tryin' to cross. Was any harm II
that?"
'I recognize Won as one of the mel