very muscle in his body responded instantly to its call. Johnny had not lost any of his speed. It was well that he had not, for, like a spinning ca

for he had not half regained his senses when two almost instantaneous explosions shook the igloo, tore the plank floor into

e hand on his automat

grin was on his face. "Johnny Thompson killed by a falling whale harpoon; shot to death by

plinters from the floor were catching fire. Johnny busied himself at bea

and children, who had been attracted by

nging her hands, "so terrible, awful a cat

y gri

r. "I'm not killed, nor even blown to pieces. Wha

ed a sign of any knowledge of the affair. They had heard the e

it carefully. No trace of living creature was to be discovered there. Then he look

said to t

village. Beyond two to three old women, too badly cri

ved, "the Chukche reindeer herders have

wered the

had ever used with his companion, "why in thunder can't

an't go, that's all. You go; all right, mebby. Can't go my.

hung over the place, and had shown itself in the form of loaded harpoons, but when h

nyway, d

" she

he growled, a

undred feet or more down toward the bay. He was watching a certain igloo, and at the same time keeping an eye on the shore ice. Iyo

e dogs were larger and sleeker than the other animals of the village. Their fights with other dogs were more frequent and severe. That would naturally mark them as strangers. Johnny had

have been one of the villagers returning t

he conclusion that the watching of thi

tled. He was sure he had seen that pair of shoulders before. And the parka the man wore; it was not of the very far north. There was a

l skin!" Joh

hnny saw the sharp chin of the Russian, the man of the street fight and the many diamonds. He had acquir

wonder why? And say, old dear," he whispered, "I wonder if it could have been you who dropped that harpoon. It's plain enough fro

ally know that you deserve it; besides I hat

To the native of the north seal oil is what Limburger cheese is to a Dutchman. He puts it away in skin sacks to bask in the sun for a year or more and ripen. This particular sackful was "ripe"; it was over ripe and had been for some time. Johnny could tel

. Yes, he could do it! The Russian was not looking up. There was a convenient ledge, some three feet ab

ball, he gave it a little toss. Over the cliff it went to a sheer fall of fifteen feet. There followed a muffled

Looking quickly about, he found himself staring into the

ow him?" he

hrugged he

r fr

her head v

ohnny's hand sou

med. "Not kill!" Her hand was

hy

kill; not kill now. No

he had played. He half wished he had not done it. And yet, the Jap girl had laughed. She knew what the man was. She

this little Jap girl a comradeship that he had not known before. It was such a feel

had told him to; Johnny did not kill people, unless it was in defense of his country or his life. He had been merely trying the Jap girl out. He was obliged to admit now that he had got nowhere. She had laughed when he had played that abominable trick on the Russian; had denied that the stranger was her friend, yet had at once become greatly excited when Johnny pr

exactly alike. One he tried to use in the street fight at Vladivostok; the other

this pattern. The knife might have been stolen from him by the Chukche, or the Russian might have given it to the native as a reward for service, havin

otect the Russian-what was to be made of all this? Were the three of them, after all, leagued t

rests could he have here? Was he, too, planning to cross the Strait to

for his government from the hunting Chukches. They're rich in furs-mink, ermine, red, white, silver gray

ng. Who could be so rash as to carry thousands of dollars' worth of jewels on such a trip? And yet

by a head thrust in at the fla

smiled. "Meb

or

e answered, laps

rig

d disap

Johnny remarked to himself. "It jarred the old

s were cut short when he carried his bundle to the deer sled. She was there to greet hi

y had assured himself that once more the