The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1905-01-31

native watchfulness.
Paul had ample proof, in time, OF
the danger of over-conhdence. 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 hur-
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 groan,
sank upon large stone ct the side Of
| the road and bowed his head in his
hands. One more hope, and, in fact
ABOUT the last hope he had, was gone.
Paul remained two weeks longer
with the Metlakahtlas, and then 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 well supplied with
provisions suitable for crossing tho
tptx ho
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 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, its moss-covered
trees, has something grand in it.
Gathered about 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 /
wrote to them" he thought. They
have no doubt given me up for dead
How sad to cause them grief, and all
through mischievous yet truthful
message w-itten in fit of delirium!"
He was suddenly reused from his
painful reverie by the falling and roll
ing of great stone down upon
and across the camp fire, scat
tering the burning brands in every
direction. The great, round bowlder
passed within few inches of where
Paul sat and between two of the In
1ians, but fortunately did not touch
any one. The stone was heavy
enough to crush out life or break
bones had 1t struck one.
Paul leaped to his feet and the In
lians started up with EXPLANATIONS
If fear
From whence came that stone?"
,ried an Indian.
Paul's first suspicion that some con-
vllsion of the earth had shaken the
tone loose from the mountain side
md sent it laundering down the cliff
lpon them, but there had been no
'erceptible quaking.
While he was still trying to dis.
over the cause, there came another
bject rolling down the steep descent
Mingled with dirt, fine stones and
now. 1t seemed great dark ball,
rom which there issued human cry.
rolled to Paul's feet and stopped.
Ie seized one of the burning brands ,
nd held 1t SO the flame threw the ,
ght upon the face of the stunned :
nd half-insensible man, who sat ,
tupidly gazing about him. The sud-
en- and unexpected advent Of this l
tranger was enough to startle the :
ampers and disturb their wits. The ;
adams, starting to their feet, stared