Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1904-12-30

yet Trey nave by no means lost their
native watchfulness.
Paul had ample proof. in time, OF
the danger of over-confidence. The
third night after his visit to the Jail
| he was awakened by loud noise in
the direction of the little wharf.
| There came the report of gun,
something rarely heard at Metlakah-
tia, and he leaped from his bed bur
riedly dressed and ran out upon the
street At last he met Father Dun
can, whom he found as calm and firm
| as usual.
What has happened, Father Dun
| CAM he asked.
Alas! my son. you were all too
good prophet. The prisoner has
escaped. The wicked are ever cum
ming and watchful, and Satan sleeps
| not
Paul gave utterance to sroan,
sank upon large stone at the side of
the road and bowed his head in his
| hands One more hope, and, in fact,
aoout the last hope he had. was gone.
Paul remained two weeks longer
| with the Metlakahtlas. and taen de-
cided TO leave his dusky friends and
start for the Klondyke.
Father Duncan selected four stout
young Indians to accompany him.
The Indians were we'll supplied with
provisions suitable for crossing the
mountains, and he and his escort
were provided with dried meat and
compressed bread and bareback.
The four Indians selected for Paul's
party were stout young fellows, In
ured to hardship and danger. They
were strong, brave and faithful. The
instructions given them by the old
missionary were carefully listened to
and they promised to carry them out
to the letter.
There is always something en-
chanting in a great. deep forest, with
its tall trees clothed in moss and
solemn depths which seem to speak
of divinity. At night in the forest
adds to the gloom, the solemnity and
awfulness OF the scene. A camp fire
in the great northern woods, with its
rocks and cliffs, it's moss-covered
trees, has something grand in it.
Gathered about a camp fire built
at the base of the mountain range
were five persons-Paul Miller and
his four Christian Indians.
1t had been a long, hard days
travel and the poor fellows were
almost exhausted. 1t was only Pauls
indomitable will driving him on to
more than super-human energies that |
kept him on his feet. He had aban- |
doned all hope of finding the men |
who had robbed him, and now he
longed to get back to the Klondyke,
take another fortune from the frozen
earth. and return to Laura and his |
mother
The faces which ever seemed to |
smile at him from the smoke and |
darkness gave him courage and hope |
1T has been a long time since l
wrote to them" he thought They |
have no doubt given me up for dead
How sad to cause them grief, and all
through a mischievous yet truthful
message itten in fit of delirium!"
He was suddenly reused from his
painful reverie by the falling and roll
ing of a great stone down upon
and across the camp fire, scat
tering the burning brands in every
direction The great, round bowlder
passed within a few inches of where
Paul sat and between two Of the In
dams, but fortunately did not touch
any one. The stone was heavy
enough to crush out life or break
bones had it struck one.
Paul leaped to his feet and the In
dams started up with EXPLANATIONS
of fear.
From whence came that stone?"
cried an Indian.
PauIs first suspicion that some con-
vulsion of the earth had shaken the
stone loose from the mountain side
and sent it laundering down the cliff
upon them, but there had been NO
quaking.
While he was still trying to dis
cover the cause, there came another
object rolling down the steep descent
mingled with dirt, fine stones and
snow. 1t seemed a great dark ball,
from which there issued human cry.
It rolled to Paul's feet and stopped.
He seized one of the burning brands
and held it so the fame threw the
light upon the face of the stunned ,
and half-insensible man. who sat
stupidity gazing about him. The sud- ,
len and unexpected advent of this !
stranger was enough to startle the I
,ampers and disturb their wits. The I
indians, starting to their feet, stared
It him In amazement Paul was i