Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-10-02
CHAPTER v.
THE WALRUS HIDE,


THE WALRUS HIDE.
Paul Miller ran two or three hun.
bred PAGES into the cavern until il
grew so dark he had to grope his way
and he came to a halt.
From around a projecting stone he
which was lighted by the lamp.
He saw the hermit come at run
toward the inner chamber, three men
pursuing him. They were so close
on him that he halted by the side of
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
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
rock, broken from the side of the
cavern.
Completely concealed from the act
ors in this singular drama, Paul was
enabled to observe all that went on.
There seemed to be only violence
he - Of he MT 30,
effect the capture of the hermit.
When this was effected they began
pleading with him to do something, or
make some revelation. After q 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 scarce dared to breathe
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. II 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 II with them, and Paul
was soon in total darkness. In his
fit of desperation he rose and fol-
lowed them. At the entrance of the
cavern he halted and gazed off after
the captors and prisoner. A thousand
tumultuous emotions swayed his
heart, and again in despair be beat
his breast with his hands.
"Oh, cruel, cruel fate! Why did !
not know he was my friend and de-
fend him."
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 it, 1t seemed an age before
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 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.
glyphics, and determined to take 1t
with him. He was unable to make
out anything from the hide, and roll.
ing II up thrust IL in one OF his capa-
cious pockets. and taking some of the
provisions left in the cavern, went out
and buckled on his snow shoes to
leave the place forever He tramped
until night and then spreading a
blanket on the snow slept soundly. A
snow fell during the night. and when
he awoke he shook off 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 deer
which he shot, but not seeing a hui
man being. Paul had no compass to
steer his course, and was often lost
among the mountains,
One day he came upon fresh trail
in the snow as IL party with Indian
porters. dogs and sledges had made
their way over the snow toward Forty
Mile Camp.