The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1902-09-06
CHAPTER v.
THE WALRUS HIDE.

CHAPTER v.
THE WALRUS HIDE
Paul Miller ran two or three hun
dred PAGES into the cavern until it
grew so dark he had to gr0pe his way
and he came to a halt.
From around a projecting stone he
turned his gaze back TO the chamber
which was lighted BY the lamp.
He saw the hermit come at run
toward the inner chamber. three men
pursuing him. They we're 50 close
on him that he halted by the side a.
the couch and turned at bay A third
man at this moment appeared on the
scene and seized his arms from be-
hind and hurled him to the cavern
floor
Paul Miller had all along watched
the exciting contest He started
toward the chamber. where they were
tying the hermits's hands with strips
Of walrus skin. and was almost near
enough to call out when he suddenly
halted and gave them a stare.
They are the robbers themselves. :"
he gasped in a whisper. What in
heaven does this meant" He quickly
slunk away behind some masses Of
rock. broken from the side OF the
cavern.
Completely concealed from the act
ors IN this singular drama. Paul was
enabled 70 observe an that went on.
There seemed 10 be only violence
enough ou the DaTt Of the captors to
effect the capture Of the hermit
When this was effected they began
pleading with him 10 do something. or
make some revelation. After a few
words. the captive became silent and
sullen His captors piled him with
many questions and he refused to an
swer any Of them At last. leaving
him in charge OF one man the other
two began to search the cavern.
When they came near Paul he
crouched in the smallest possible
space and scarcc dared to breathe
One Of the two searchers was the
very man whom he had chased up the
mountain side
As they PASSED one Of them men
toned a name which caused him to
start so violently as to almost dis
cover himself to them. 1t was Lack
land.
Lakeland was the wealthy banker
and speculator Of his own town, who
had been a rival for the heart and
hand Of Laura Bush What did these
mysterious men OF the Klondyke
know about him. or what had he to
do with them?
Almost maddened by despair Paul
fell upon his knees and furiously
beat his breast with his hands while
the captors led the prisoner away.
They had taken up the oil lamp
and carried it with them. and Paul
was soon in total darkness. In his
Mt Of desperation he rose and fol-
lowed them. At the entrance OF the
cavern he halted and gazed on after
the captors and prisoner. A thousand
tumuItuous emotions swayed his
heart, and again in despair he beat
his breast with his hands.
"Oh. cruel. cruel fate, Why did
not know he was my friend and de-
fend himl"
He gazed helplessly at the little
party until they had disappeared from
his view and then threw himself upon
the floor Of the cavern in despair.
But his better judgment came to his
relief and starting up he seized the
lamp and started back toward the fire
to light 1t. Il seemed an age before
the faint glow from the dying embers
told him where the fire was. He at
last reached the spot. and with pine
stick raked the living Goals together.
Laying on two or three smaller sticks
he blew them into a blaze and lighted
the lamp.
After a short rest he was prepared
TO travel. but he remembered the wal
rus hide. with its mysterious hero
eiyp1ics. and determined 70 take it
with him. He was unable to make
out anything from the hide. and roll
ing it Up thrust it in one Of his capa-
cious pockets. and taking some OF the
provisions left IN the cavern, went ouz
and bucliled on his snow shoes to
leave the place forever He tramped
until night and then spreading
blanket on the snow slept soundiy. A
snow fell during the night. and when
he awoke he shook of the white gown
Of nature and ate some Of the roasted
moose meat he had brought with him.
For over a week he wandered about
in the wilderness. subsisting On fish
he caught IN The river and a deer
which he shot. but not seeing hu-
man being Paul had no compass to
steer his course. and was often loss
among the mountains.
One day be came upon a fresh trail
in the snow as Il a party with Indian
porters. dogs and sledges had made
their way over the s11w toward Forts
Nile Camp.