The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1905-01-03

and from there they travelled on foot,
sleeping on the snow securely wrap
ped in their blankets.
On the morning of the third day
they came upon the trail OF these men
and followed it until nightfall Next
morning they were early on their trail
again. and after four hours hard
travel Glum Ralston said
There they are, Crack Lash!
He pointed down a narrow valley
which diyerged from the main valley,
and three spects could be seen upon
slight elevation.
Glum Ralston was an experienced
scout, and began at once to put in
play his woodcraft. They crept for
ward to some trees and advanced rap
idly, keeping themselves screened
from the observation of the men they
were trying to overhaul
Night fell again without coming up
with them, but glimmer far up the
mountain-side told them they had
camped there. The pursuers slept
and rested a few hours and then again
started on the trail.
At last they came in sight of the
three men not over two hundred
PAGES away. Raising their rifles, they
shouted to them to halt. The fugitives
cast quick glances behind, and then,
with defiant yells, fed.
nj 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.
Eye winged yer man, Crack Last"
cried Glum. Follow him and III 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 dash 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
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 chung.
He knew he was falling, and thai
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
horrid crash on his ears, and he knew
no more.
When Paul regained consciousness
he was lying ON pile OF skins anc
furs in cavern.
A man clothed wholly In bear anC
seal skins stood over him, gazing al
him with a pair of strange gray eyes
His hair was long, falling to his shout
ders, and his beard, which was almost
white, came to his waist. He had
half-savage and half-civilized appear
ance.
Paul gazed into the strange, wile
face and asked:
who are your
The stranger, without taking hi:
eyes off him, asked;
who are your"
II am a miner from the Klondikt
who was robbed. | was in pursuit o
the robbers when the accident befel
me. You found me?"
Eyes"
Paul at first supposed that some o
his limbs were broken or dislocated
and dared not move, but after few
moments he discovered that he hat
suffered no greater injury than Sc
we're shock. He had fallen into dec
snowdrift, which had broken the fal
and no doubt saved his life.
Wont you tell me who you are?
asked Paul after few minutes gazinl
into the face of the mysteriou
stranger. The man turned away for
moment as IL he wished to avoid tn
answer and then slowly turning Dac
, answered:
81 am hermit; will that suffice?"
, "Do you live here?" Paul asked.
Eyes"
"How long have you lived In thi
mountain"
, Then cane longer silence tina