The Grit-advocate., 1903-02-06

IellOWS Oght an last who tried 10
help do up Paul. Well, the feller's
cocoa since that nights been little
rancid. | was set to guard him last
night, and his mental train for a min
ute or two seemed on the track. Then
remembered seein' him in Frisco.
His name is Belcher and he's one OF
the men that the feller from Fresno
called Lakeland hired the room in
Frisco to talk with"
AT the sound of Lackland's name
Ethel was on her feet, gasping:
''Lackland! Lackland! Clarence,
he is Pauls rival and enemy! l am
determined to see this prisoner called
Belcher."
when do you intend to call on
him?"
Tomorrow"
81 will go with you" said Clarence.
Ethel Berry. with her husband, en-
tered the prison and gaZed at the pale
yet fierce face of the prisoner, and
cried:
Il know him, Clarence; know
him! l saw him in Fresno in con-
sultation with Theodore Lakeland.
They have planned the murder of
poor Paul.
With a fierce oath the prisoner
leaped at his fair accuser. but the
strong young husband seized him by
the throat and hurled him to the op-
Dosite side of the room.
Two men, worn, tired and haggard,
surrounded by mountains Of ice and
great sleeping glaciers, had halted in
a valley where few stunted pines
reared their heads above the eternal
snow.
LET us rest. Cracklash," said the
older of the two travellers. 81 give
in, shipmate. Your winds better'n
mine, for you see my old hulk is git
tin waterlogged O. late years, an
can't make as good headway as it
used to, you know"
The travellers were Paul Miller and
his quondam sailor companion, Glum
Ralston.
Paul Miller gathered some dry
pines and made fire on the messy
banks of a stream which ran close
under the cliff. The dry wood spark
led and snapped, and the blaze threw
out ruddy light. The pot boiled and
he put on beans to cook with little
meat, and soon had an excellent sup
per.
"Ah, mate, that is good" said the
ex-sailor, as he tasted the coffee.
We're running rather short of feed,
though, and if we don't come upon a
moose or reindeer soon I'm afraid
we'll suffer-"
Never fear, Glum. some kind of
game will come our way"
Wrapped in his blanket, he sat at
the root of a tree still talking to Paul,
who was half asleep, when they were
startled by snort. In an instant
both laid their hands on their rifles.
pair of fiery eyes cleaned at them
and Paul, whose vision was keener
than his older companion, saw
small animal about four and a half
feet in height, which in the dim, un-
certain light appeared to be con
Meeting link between the OK and
sheep
Glum Ralston lifted his gun to his
face and fired. There instantly fol
lowed a believing roar and a rush
of feet The fire was scattered in
every direction and the old sailor,
who was rising to his feet, was struck
blow which sent him sprawling on
the ground.
Paul dropped his gun, and snatch
ing pistol, fired shot into the
thick hide of the furious beast, just
behind the shoulder blade. 1t made
one spasmodic leap forward and fell
dead, the bullet having penetrated its
heart.
The old sailor was staggering to
his feet, shaking himself to see if he
had any broken bones.
Are you hurt? Are you hurt?'
cried Paul, anXiously.
"N-no, | think not 1t was a fall
broadside though, and how the horns
missed ripping me from stem to stern
is mystery"
Paul threw on some fresh sticks of
pine and the fire blazed up, revealing
the beast he had slain lying but few
PAGES away. Its long brown and
black hair gave 1t the appearance of
of a bear. The old sailor walked up to
it and said, philosophically
Its flesh is good for food and will
keep us alive good long time"
Two dayC after they had killed the
musk-oX they came again upon dim
trail, and again began to take heart
The trail led them through an un-
known pass toward the seashore.
"Crack-lash, they're goin' seaward,"
said the eX-sailor. 81 can smell salt
water already, and l feel better for
it."
Three days later, as they were
climbing over hilltop, they saw two