icicles had formed on the cliff above him, telling of the first thaw. An aged Chukche

ore and liked him. He was cheer

om he still called Iyok-ok when speaking to h

at him curiously

s or a reindeer, it doesn't all go in my storehouse. I pass it round. It goes to the tribe. So does every other form of wealth they have. Nothing belongs to anyone. Everything belongs to everybody. So, when m

e, Terogloona, the Chukche who lives three doors from here,

hy

ly shrugged

you should-" Johnny was about to say, "you s

warned Hanada a

days, Cape Prince of Wales on the American side of Behring Strait can be seen from East Cape in Siberia. This day was

a one dollar bill from his po

here and saw his sweetheart in a mirage on the other side. He was afraid to cross. But he only had a sweetheart to call him. We've got that and a lot more. We

f the Japanese secret service detailed to follow the Russian, or was he traveling of his own accord? Except by special arrangement

had narrowed to a ribbon. This meant an onshore wind. Soon they would be able to cross from the solid shore ice to the drifting flo

ight nor left, except to dodge ice piles, he forged straight ahead, as if guided by a compass. Soon it became apparent that he was starting on the trip across the Strait. Chukches did not attempt this journey. They had not sufficient incentive. Could it be the Russ

e was being left behind, left behind by his friend, his classmate, the man who

rying to form an answer to the problem; tr

been invited not to attend, and he had meant to go. Perhaps it was not too late if he hurried. He raced down the hill

said as John

nswered

the native, hi

rted Johnn

tant felt himself whirled about and shot spinning down the short steep slo

r of the igloo stood the old man who had been so peacefully smoking his pipe two hours before. He was now standing on a box which raised him some three feet from the

the jar of something hard. It struck

ohnny's back. Johnny went over like a bucking pony. Finally landing feet first upon the other's abdomen, he left him to groan for breath. A little fellow sprang at him. Johnny opened his hand and

aler and could speak English. He surveyed the room in

led it," he told J

p a bit," Johnny admitted, "but tell me what

looked puzzled

or? He was too old and feeble to do any

ng. Too old, that why. No work. All time eat. Better

m in astonishment,

oes the best he can for the gang. When he is too old to work, fish o

replied the boy.

y sho

e old age in this

Oh,

States is good enough for me. And, I guess it's not so old after all. It's about the newest thing there is. Th

one in particular. He now turned to

ive, see? No kill. You tell those guys that. Tell them I mebby come back o

automatic and play

f they mean to do what I say, I'l

men turned pale beneath their brown skins; so

mnly. "Say that one, if had known you so very

ny smiled as he b

ed it would be the last. But as he came out into the clear af

unism

inal, the only genuine No Man's Land in the world. He was under the protection of no flag. The only law in force here was

. "Wish I had time

t action. And, in the third place, much as he might enjoy being king of the Chukches, he was quite sure he would never be offered that job. There would be reactions from this day's business. The council of headmen would be cal

about her plans. It would not do to desert her. Hurrying down

ss-legged on the deer skins by the seal

t there in the glow of the yellow light. Much o

ussian might return. She told her American friend that she was afraid that her mission in the far north had met with failure. She would not tell what that mission was, but admitted this much: she had once been very rich, or her family had. Her father had been a merchant living in one of t

sed to accept it, but gave him a rare smile. She had money enough for her immediate need and a

ds and then had been robbed by the Radical revolutionist? He was on the point of showing the diamonds to her when discretion won the upper hand. He thought on

name and a certain address in Chicago written upon it a

possession? He had indeed twice searched the American's igloo in his absence and once had made an unsuccessful attack upon his person. He had gained nothing. The diamo

s in the United States. They could afford to wait. Johnny could be trusted to cross the Strait soon. There would be t

loes, which were even now shifting and slowly piling. He was on his way to America. Perhaps he was the first American to walk from t