Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1904-12-09


do with them?
Almost maddened by despair Paul
fell upon his knees and furiously
beat his breast With his hands v bile
| 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
fit 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
tumultuous emotions swayed his
heart, and again in despair he beat
his breast with his hands
"Oh, cruel, cruel fate! Why did l
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 1t. 1t 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 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 It
with him. He was unable to make
out anything from the hide, and roll.
ing 1t up thrust it in one Of his capa,
cious pockets, and taking some OF the
provisions left in the cavern, went OUT
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 !
ne awoke he shook on 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 ne 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 If a party with Indian
pOrters. dogs and sledges had made
their way over the snow toward Forty
Mile Camp.
He sat down at the side of the path
10 rest and think. A slight crunching
Of snow but a short distance from him
caused him to look up, and he saw q
nan coming on snow shoes, rife on
his. shoulder. A single glance at
HOSE familiar features. and he cried:
"Glum-Glum Rclston!"
The solitary traveller paused, started
back In surprise. clutching his gun for
IL instant as if he would use 1t; then
iropping 1t on the snow, gave vent to
/ whoop that would have done credit
o a wild Indian, and bounding for
yard had Paul about the neck. cry
ng:
"Crack-lash alive. by tn trident O.
Neptune"
Where have you been!" asked
'aul.
"Cruisin' about lookin' for you," he
answered. Where you been?"
Paul told the story Of his adven-
ures. concluding with his escape
rom the cave.
Il have found the mystery about
10 thickening all the time, and this
'alrus hide covered with strange pic
nres and hieroglyphics IL the chief
all mysteries"
Glum Ralston took the walrus hide,
nrolled it, and gazing at 1t with
idly dilating eyes which indicated
is strange interest. demanded:
where did you get it?"
From the hermit"
9TH hermit-the hermit-the man
lat owns this hide-the man who
sved you. II my old captain!" cried
ie excited prospector with . shout.
Where IL he? where Is he! It's my ;
ID captain-I'll go home to Kate yet. h
here is he! where Is he? where IL :
-" he shouted almost nercely. while
aul was too much dumbfounded to
tier word
BE calm. Glum. and explain what
~ meant" cried Paul.
Holding up the piece Of walrus
de. Glum said:
"Tve seen this before"
.sWhere?"
ron board the 'Eleanor.'s
who had It there?"
~The red-slin AZ had the stran' o
I'D nuggets about his neck"
PRul's interest in the walrus hide
creased. The old man continued In
gleeful tone: