The Grit-advocate., 1903-01-23

shouted to them to halt The fugitives
cast 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 man at whom he
had fired. The fugitive threw away
his gun and fed for life, and for an
hour Paul was in doubt whether he
was gaining or him or not. At the end
of that time. to his great chagrin, he
saw him cash into 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
off his snowshoes 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 and
Laura. He reached the fork and be-
gan to climb the great dead limb of a
tree which touched the coveted ledge.
At that moment he heard cracking
at the root of the tree and became
conscious of descending motion in
the limbs to which he cIung.
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 knew
no more.
When Paul regained consciousness
he was lying on pile of skins and
furs in a cavern.
A man clothed wholly in bear and
seal skins stood over him, gazing at
him with pair of strange gray eyes.
His hair was long, falling to his shoul-
ders, and his beard which was almost
white, came to his waist. He had a
half-savage and half-civilized appear
ance.
Paul gazed into the strange, wild
face and asked:
Who are you?"
The stranger, without taking HIS
eyes off him, asked:
who are you?"
Il am 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 dislocated.
and dared not move, but after a few
moments he discovered that he had
suffered no greater injury than Sc,
we're shock. He had fallen into deep
snowdrift, which had broken the fall
and no doubt saved his life.
'Fon't you tell me who you are?'
asked Paul after few minutes gazing
into 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
answered:
Il am hermit; will that suffice?"
DO you live here?" Paul asked
Yes"
How long have you lived in this
mountain?"
Then came longer silence than
usual, when the hermit of the cave
answered.:
What difference can that make to
you? l found you in perishing con-
dition and brought you here and
saved your life. Is that not enough
without telling all the secrets of my
life?' He turned slowly about and
went to small fire that smoldered on
the stones some distance away, and
began to toast some slices of moose
steak. Paul closed his eyes and tried
to reason that he could be in no imme-
diate danger. If the man had intend
ed TO kill him, he would no doubt have
done SO while he was unconscious He
also reasoned he might have some
design in saving his life.
(TO be continued)