The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-04-25

sank upon large stone at 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 we're well supplied with
provisions suitable for crossing the
mountains, and he and his escort
were provided with dried meat and
compressed bread and hardtack.
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 we're 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 soIemnity and
awfulness of the scene. A camp fire
in the great northern woods, with its
rocks and cliffs, its moss-coyered
trees, has something grand in it.
Gathered about a camp fire built
at the base of the mountain range
we're 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 Paul's
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 vitten in a fit of deliriumi"
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 few inches of where
Paul sat and between two Of the In
dians, 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
dians started up with exclamations
Of fear.
From whence came that stone?"
cried al Indian.
Paul's first suspicion that some CON
vulsion of the earth had shaken the
stone loose from the mountain side
and sent 1t 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 semed a great dark ball,
from which there issued human cry.
It rolled to Pauls feet and stopped.
He seized one of the burning brands
and held 1t so the flame threw the
light upon the face of the stunned
md half-insensible man, who sat
stupidity gazing about him. The sud
len and unexpected advent of this
stranger was enough to startle the
campers and disturb their wits. The
indians, starting to their feet, stared
It him in amazement Paul was
irst to recover his speech.
He cried:
Throw the wood on the fret"
They obeyed, and the light flashed
lp, throwing out broad red glare on
he scene which illumined the dirt.
,e-grimmed face of the man who
lad tumbled down the cliff. Paul,
tarting back, saio:
1T is the escaped prisoner, the alb
uctor-the robber-and perhaps
murderer" He seized one of the In
ian's muskets and raised it to brain {
he scoundrel, but two stout Metla- s
ahtlas seized him and said: I
Nay, brother, Thou shalt not i
I'LL" I
The man who had so suddenly fall t
n into their midst was rapidly re-
aiming his faculties and by this G
me able to speak. He growled an
ath and rubbed the side Of his head. c
Where did you Come from?" ask /
d Paul l.
From alott on the cliff" he an. t
wered. I
What were you doing up thereY t
"Tryin' to cross. Was any harm in ?
lat?" +
"I recognize you as one Of the men G
no robbed me-" a
Mate, yer off yer course when We b
ccuse me O. doin' that" Ii
"YOu ara ono of tho t,,,. -. -