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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:43:09 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:43:09 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/13880-0.txt b/13880-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a4e2c31 --- /dev/null +++ b/13880-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5067 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13880 *** + +_Mystery Stories for Boys_ + +Triple Spies + +By ROY J. SNELL + + +The Reilly & Lee Co. +Chicago +1920 + + +[Illustration: Roy J. Snell, and his sledge-team of Alaskan Huskies.] + + +CONTENTS + + I THE DEN OF DISGUISES + II THE MYSTERIOUS RUSSIAN + III TREACHERY OUT OF THE NIGHT + IV A NARROW ESCAPE + V "FRIEND? ENEMY?" + VI "NOW I SHALL KILL YOU" + VII SAVED FROM THE MOB + VIII WHEN AN ESKIMO BECOMES A JAP + IX JOHNNY'S FREE-FOR-ALL + X THE JAP GIRL IN PERIL + XI A FACE IN THE NIGHT + XII "GET THAT MAN" + XIII BACK TO OLD CHICAGO + XIV THE MYSTERY OF THE CHICAGO RIVER + XV THE CAT CRY OF THE UNDERWORLD + XVI CIO-CIO-SAN BETRAYED + XVII A THREE-CORNERED BATTLE +XVIII HANADA'S SECRET + XIX "I SEEN IT--A SUBMARINE!" + XX AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER + XXI THE OWNER OF THE DIAMONDS + + + + +TRIPLE SPIES + + +CHAPTER I + +THE DEN OF DISGUISES + + +As Johnny Thompson stood in the dark doorway of the gray stone +court-yard he shivered. He was not cold, though this was +Siberia--Vladivostok--and a late winter night. But he was excited. + +Before him, slipping, sliding, rolling over and over on the hard packed +snow of the narrow street, two men were gripped in a life and death +struggle. They had been struggling thus for five minutes, each striving +for the upper hand. The clock in the Greek Catholic church across the +way told Johnny how long they had fought. + +He had been an accidental and entirely disinterested witness. He knew +neither of the men; he had merely happened along just when the row +began, and had lingered in the shadows to see it through. Twelve, yes, +even six months before, he would have mixed in at once; that had always +been his way in the States. Not that he was a quarrelsome fellow; on the +contrary he was fond of peace, was Johnny, in spite of the fact that he +carried on his person various medals for rather more-than-good +feather-weight fighting. He loved peace so much that he was willing to +lick almost anyone in order to make them stop fighting. That was why he +had joined the American army, and allowed himself to be made part of the +Expeditionary force that went to the Pacific coast side of Siberia. + +But twelve months in Siberia had taught him many things. He had learned +that he could not get these Russians to stop quarreling by merely +whipping them. Therefore, since these men were both Russians, he had let +them fight. + +The tall, slender man had started it. He had rushed at the short, square +shouldered one from the dark. The square shouldered one had flashed a +knife. This had been instantly knocked from his grasp. By some chance, +the knife had dropped only an arm's length from the doorway into which +Johnny had dodged. Johnny now held the knife discreetly behind his +back. + +Yes, Johnny trembled. There was a reason for that. The tall, slender man +had gained the upper hand. He was stretched across the prone form of his +antagonist, his slim, horny hands even now gliding toward the other's +throat. And, right there, Johnny had decided to draw the line. He was +not going to allow himself to witness the strangling of a man. That +wasn't his idea of fighting. He would end the fight, even at the expense +of being mussed up a bit himself, or having certain of his cherished +plans interfered with by being dragged before a "Provo" as witness or +participant. + +He was counting in a half-audible whisper, "Forty-one, forty-two, +forty-three." It was a way he had when something big was about to +happen. The hand of the slender man was at the second button on the +other's rough coat when Johnny reached fifty. At sixty it had come to +the top button. At sixty-five his long finger-tips were doubling in for +the fatal, vice-like grip. Noiselessly, Johnny laid the knife on a cross +bar of the door. Knives were too deadly. Johnny's "wallop" was quite +enough; more than enough, as the slender one might learn to his sorrow. + +But before Johnny could move a convulsion shot through the prostrate +fighter. He was again struggling wildly. At the same instant, Johnny +heard shuffling footsteps approaching around the corner. He was sure he +did not mistake the tread of Japanese military police who were guarding +that section of the city. For a moment he studied the probabilities of +the short one's power of endurance, then, deciding it sufficient to last +until the police arrived, he gripped the knife behind his back and +darted toward an opposite corner where was an alley offering safety. +There were very definite reasons why Johnny did not wish to figure even +as a witness in any case in Vladivostok that night. + +In a doorway off the alley, he paused, listening for sounds of increased +tumult. They came quickly enough. There was a renewed struggle, a grunt, +a groan; then the scuffling ceased. + +Suddenly, a figure darted down the alley. Johnny caught a clear view of +the man's face. The fugitive was the shorter man with broad shoulders +and sharp chin; the man who the moment before had been the under dog. +He was followed closely by another runner, but not his antagonist in the +street fight. This man was a Japanese; and Johnny saw to his surprise +that the Jap did not wear the uniform of the military police; in fact, +not any uniform at all. + +"Evidently, that stubby Russian with the queer chin is wanted for +something," Johnny muttered. "I wonder what. Anyway, I've got his +knife." + +At that he tucked the weapon beneath his squirrel-lined coat and, +dropping out of his corner, went cautiously on his way. + +So eager was he to attend to other matters that the episode of the +street fight was soon forgotten. Dodging around this corner, then that, +giving a wide berth to a group of American non-coms, dashing off a hasty +salute to three Japanese officers, he at last turned up a narrow alley, +and, with a sigh of relief, gave three sharp raps, then a muffled one, +at a door half hidden in the gloom. + +The door opened a crack, and a pair of squint eyes studied him +cautiously. + +"Ow!" said the yellow man, opening the door wider, and then closing it +almost before Johnny could crowd himself inside. + +To one coming from the outer air, the reeking atmosphere within this low +ceilinged, narrow room was stifling. There was a blend of vile odors; +opium smoke, not too ancient in origin, mixed with smells of cooking, +while an ill-defined but all-pervading odor permeated the place; such an +odor as one finds in a tailor's repair shop, or in the place of a dealer +in second-hand clothing. + +Second-hand clothing, that was Wo Cheng's line. But it was a rather +unusual shop he kept. Being a Chinaman, he could adapt himself to +circumstances, at least within his own realm, which was clothes. His +establishment had grown up out of the grim necessity and dire pressure +of war. Not that the pressure was on his own person; far from that. +Somewhere back in China this crafty fellow was accumulating a fortune. +He was making it in this dim, taper-lighted, secret shop, opening off an +alley in Vladivostok. + +In these times of shifting scenes, when the rich of to-day were the poor +of to-morrow, or at least were under the necessity of feigning poverty, +there were many people who wished to change their station in life, and +that very quickly. It was Wo Cheng's business to help them make this +change. Many a Russian noble had sought this noisome shop to exchange +his "purple and fine linen" for very humble garb, and just what he took +from the pockets of one and put in the pockets of the other suit, Wo +Cheng had a way of guessing, though he appeared not to see at all. + +Johnny had known Wo Cheng for some time. He had discovered his shop by +accident when out scouting for billets for American soldiers. He had +later assisted in protecting the place from a raid by Japanese military +police. + +"You wanchee somsling?" The Oriental grinned, as Johnny seated himself +cross-legged on a grass mat. + +"Yep," Johnny grinned in return, "wanchee change." He gripped the lapel +of his blouse, as if he would remove it and exchange for another. + +"You wanchee clange?" The Chinaman squinted at him with an air of +incredulity. + +Then a light of understanding seemed to over-spread his face. "Ow!" he +exclaimed, "no can do, Mellican officer, not any. No can do." + +"Wo Cheng, you no savvy," answered Johnny, glancing about at the tiers +of costumes which hung on either side of the wall. + +"Savvy! Savvy!" exclaimed Wo Cheng, bounding away to return with the +uniform of an American private. "Officer, all same," he exclaimed. "No +can do." + +"No good," said Johnny, starting up. "You no savvy. Mebby you no wanchee +savvy. No wanchee uniform. Wanchee clothes, fur, fur, plenty warm, you +savvy? Go north, north, cold, savvy?" + +"Ow!" exclaimed the Chinaman, scratching his head. + +"Wo Cheng!" said Johnny solemnly, "long time my see you. Allatime, my +see you. Not speak American Major; not speak Japanese police." + +Wo Cheng shivered. + +"Now," said Johnny, "my come buy." + +"Ow!" grunted Wo Cheng, ducking from sight and reappearing quickly with +a great coat of real seal, trimmed with sea otter, a trifle which had +cost some noble of other days a king's ransom. + +"No wanchee," Johnny shook his head. + +"Ow!" Wo Cheng shook his head incredulously. This was his rarest +offering. "You no got cumshaw, money?" he grinned. "All wite, my say." + +"No wanchee my," Johnny repeated. + +The Chinaman took the garment away, and returned with a similar one, +less pretentious. This, too, was waved aside. + +By this time Johnny had become impatient. Time was passing. A special +train was to go north at four o'clock. It was going for reindeer meat, +rations for the regiment that was Johnny's, or, at least, had been +Johnny's. He could catch a ride on that train. A five hundred mile lift +on a three thousand mile jaunt was not to be missed just because this +Chink was something of a blockhead. + +Pushing the proprietor gently to one side, Johnny made his way toward +the back of the room. Scrutinizing the hangers as he went, and giving +them an occasional fling here and there, as some garment caught his eye, +he came presently upon a solid square yard of fur. With a grunt of +satisfaction, he dragged one of the garments from its place and held it +before the flickering yellow taper. + +The thing was shaped like a middy-blouse, only a little longer and it +had a hood attached. It was made of the gray squirrel skins of Siberia, +and was trimmed with wolf's skin. As Johnny held it against his body, it +reached to his knees. It was, in fact, a parka, such as is worn by the +Eskimos of Alaska and the Chukches, aborigines of North Siberia. + +One by one, Johnny dragged similar garments from their hangers. Coming +at last upon one made of the brown summer skins of reindeer, and trimmed +with wolverine, he seemed satisfied, for, tossing the others into a +pile, he had drawn off his blouse and was about to throw the parka over +his head, when something fell with a jangling rattle to the floor. + +"O-o-ee!" grunted the Chinaman, as he stared at the thing. It was the +knife which had belonged to the Russian of the broad shoulders and sharp +chin. As Johnny's eyes fell upon it now, he realized that it was an +altogether unusual weapon. The blade was of blue steel, and from its +ring it appeared to be exceptionally well tempered. The handle was of +strangely carved ivory. + +Quickly thrusting the knife beneath his belt, Johnny again took up the +parka. This time, as he drew the garment down over his head, he appeared +to experience considerable difficulty in getting his left arm into the +sleeve. This task accomplished, he stretched himself this way and that. +He smoothed down the fur thoughtfully, pulled the hood about his ears, +and back again, twisted himself about to test the fit, then, with a sigh +of content, turned to examine a pile of fur trousers. + +At that instant there came a low rap at the door--three raps, to be +accurate--then a muffled thud. + +Johnny started. Someone wanted to enter. He was not exactly in a +condition to be seen, especially if the person should prove to be an +American officer. His fur parka, topping those khaki trousers and +puttees of his, would seem at least to tell a tale, and might complicate +matters considerably. Quickly seizing his blouse, he crowded his way +far back into the depths of a furry mass of long coats. + +"Wo Cheng!" he whispered, "my wanchee you keep mouth shut. Allatime +shut!" + +"O-o-ee," grunted the Chinaman. + +The next moment he had opened the door a crack. + +The squint eyes of the Chinaman surveyed the person without for a long +time, so long, in fact, that Johnny began to wonder what sort of person +the newcomer could be. Wo Cheng was keen of wit. To many he refused +entrance. But he was also a keen trader. All manner of men and women +came to him; some for a permanent change of costume, some for a night's +exchange only. Peasants, grown suddenly and strangely rich, bearing +passports and tickets for other lands, came to buy the cast-off finery +of the one time nobility. Russian, Japanese, American soldiers and +officers came to Wo Cheng for a change, most of them for a single twelve +hours, that they might revel in places forbidden to men in uniform. But +some came for a permanent change. Wo Cheng never inquired why. He asked +only "Cumshaw, money," and got it. + +Was this newcomer Russian, Japanese, Chinaman or American? + +The door at last opened half way, then closed quickly. The person who +stood blinking in the light was not a man, but a woman, a short and slim +young woman, with the dark round face of a Japanese. + +"You come buy?" solicited Wo Cheng. + +For answer, the woman drew off her outer garment of some strange wool +texture and trimmed with ermine. Then, as if it were an everyday +occurrence, she stepped out of her rich silk gown, and stood there in a +suit of deep purple pajamas. + +She then stared about the place until her eyes reached the fur garments +which Johnny had recently examined. With a laugh and a spring, lithe as +a panther, she seized upon one of these, then discarding it with a +fling, delved deeper until she came upon some smaller garments, which +might better fit her slight form. Comparing for a moment one of squirrel +skin with one of fawn skin, she finally laid aside the latter. Then she +attacked the pile of fur trousers. At the bottom she came upon some +short bloomers, made also of fawn skin. With another little gurgle of +laughter, she stepped into these. Next she drew the spotted fawn skin +parka over her head, and stood there at last, the picture of a winsome +Eskimo maid. + +This done, woman-like, she plumed herself for a time before a murky +mirror. Then, turning briskly, she slipped out of the garments and back +into her own. + +"You wanchee cumshaw?" she asked, handing the furs to the Chinaman to be +wrapped. + +The Chinaman grinned. + +From somewhere on her person she extracted bills, American bills. Johnny +was not surprised at that, for in these uncertain times, American money +had come to be an undisputed medium of exchange. It was always worth as +much to-day as yesterday--very often more. The thing that did surprise +Johnny was the size of the bills she left with the dealer. She was +buying those garments, there could be no question about that. But why? +No one in this region would think of wearing them. They were seldom seen +five hundred miles north. And this woman was a Japanese. There were no +Japanese men at Khabarask, five hundred miles north, let alone Japanese +women; Johnny knew that. + +But the door had closed. The American looked at his watch. It was one +o'clock. The train went at four. He must hurry. + +He was about to move out from among the furs, when again there came a +rap, this time loud and insistent, as if coming from one who was +accustomed to be obeyed. + +"American officer!" Johnny stifled a groan, as he slid back into hiding. + +"Wo Cheng!" he cautioned again in a whisper, "my wanchee you keep mouth +shut; you savvy?" + +"O-o-ee," mumbled Wo Cheng, his hand on the latch. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE MYSTERIOUS RUSSIAN + + +Johnny's jaw dropped, and he barely checked a gasp, as through his +screen of furs he saw the man who now entered Wo Cheng's den of +disguises. He was none other than the man of the street fight, the short +one of the broad shoulders and sharp chin. Johnny was surprised in more +ways than one; surprised that the man was here at all; that it could +have been he who had given that authoritative signal at the door, and +most of all, surprised that Wo Cheng should have admitted him so +readily, and should be treating him with such deference. + +"Evidently," Johnny thought to himself, "this fellow has been here +before." + +Although unquestionably a Russian, the newcomer appeared quite equal to +the task of making his wants known in Chinese, for after a moment's +conversation the two men made their way toward the back of the room. + +Johnny had his second shock when he saw the garments the Russian began +to examine. They were no other than those which had twice before in the +last hour been examined by customers, the clothing for the Far North. +This was too much. Again, he barely checked a gasp. Was the entire +population of the city about to move to the polar regions? He would ask +Wo Cheng. In the meantime, Johnny prayed that the Russian might make his +choice speedily, since the time of departure of his train was +approaching. + +The Russian made his selections, apparently more from a sense of taste +than with an eye to warmth and service. This final choice was a suit of +squirrel skin and boots of deer skin. + +"Cumshaw?" + +Into Wo Cheng's beady, squinting eyes, as he addressed this word to the +Russian, there came a look of malignant cunning which Johnny had not +seen there before. It sent chills racing up and down his spine. It +almost seemed to him that the Chinaman's hand was feeling for his belt, +where his knife was hidden. + +For a moment the Russian turned his back to Wo Cheng, and so faced +Johnny. Behind his screen, the "Yank" could observe his actions without +himself being seen. + +From an inner pocket the Russian extracted a long, thick envelope. +Unwrapping the cord at the top of this, he shook from it three shining +particles. + +"Diamonds!" Johnny's eyes were dazzled with the lustre of the jewels. + +The Russian, selecting one, dropped the others back into the envelope. + +"Bet he's got a hundred more," was Johnny's mental comment. Then he +noticed a peculiarity of the envelope. There was a red circle in the +lower, left hand corner, as if a seal had been stamped there. He would +remember that envelope should he ever see it again. + +But at this instant his attention was drawn to the men again. The +Russian had turned and handed the gem to Wo Cheng. Wo Cheng stepped to +the light and examined it. + +"No need cumshaw my," he murmured. + +The Russian bowed gravely, and turned toward the door. + +It was then that the face of the Chinaman underwent a rapid change. The +look of craftiness, treachery, and greed swept over it again. This time +the yellow man's hand unmistakably reached for the knife. + +Then he appeared to remember Johnny, for his hand dropped, and he half +turned with an air of guilt. + +The door closed with a little swish. The Russian was gone. With him went +the stifling air of treachery, murder and intrigue, yet it left Johnny +wondering. Why was every man's hand lifted against the sharp-chinned +Russian? Had Wo Cheng been actuated by hate, or by greed? Johnny could +not but wonder if some of Russia's former noblemen did not rest in +shallow graves beneath Wo Cheng's cellar floor. But there was little +time for speculation. In two hours the special train that Johnny wanted +to take would be on its way north. + +Springing nimbly from his place of hiding, Johnny recovered his blouse, +and having secured from it certain papers, which were of the utmost +importance to him, he pinned them in a pocket of his shirt. He next +selected a pair of wolf skin trousers, a pair of corduroy trousers, one +pair of deer skin boots and two of seal skin. + +"Cumshaw?" he grinned, facing Wo Cheng, as he completed his selection. + +The yellow man shrugged his shoulders, as if to say it made little +difference to him in this case. + +Johnny peeled a bill from his roll of United States currency and handed +it to him. + +"Wo Cheng," he said slowly, "go north, Jap woman? Go north, that +Russian? Why?" + +The Chinaman's face took on a mask-like appearance. + +"No can do," he muttered. "Allatime keep mouth shut my." + +"Tell me," commanded Johnny, advancing in a threatening manner, with his +hand near the Russian's knife. + +"No can do," protested the Chinaman cringing away. "Allatime keep mouth +shut my. No ask my. No tell my. Allatime buy, sell my. No savvy my." + +It was evident that nothing was to be learned here of the intentions of +the two strangers; so, grasping his bundle, Johnny lifted the latch and +found himself out in the silent, deserted alley. + +The air was kind to his heated brow. As he took the first few steps his +costume troubled him. He was wearing the parka and the corduroy +trousers. He felt no longer the slight tug of puttees about his ankles. +His trousers flapped against his legs at every step. The hood heated the +back of his neck. The fur trousers and the skin boots were in the bundle +under his arm. His soldier's uniform he had left with the keeper of the +hidden clothes shop. He hardly thought that anyone, save a very personal +acquaintance, would recognize him in his new garb, and there was little +chance of such a meeting at this hour of the night. However, he gave +three American officers, apparently returning from a late party of some +sort, a wide berth, and dodging down a narrow street, made his way +toward the railway yards where he would find the drowsy comforts of the +caboose of the "Reindeer Special." + + * * * * * + +"American, ain't y'?" A sergeant of the United States army addressed +this question to Johnny. + +The latter was curled up half asleep in a corner of the caboose of the +"Reindeer Special" which had been bumping over the rails for some time. + +"Ya-a," he yawned. + +"Going north to trade, I s'pose?" + +Johnny was tempted not to answer. Still, he was not yet out of the +woods. + +"Yep," he replied cheerfully. "Red fox, white fox, mink, squirrel, +ermine, muskrat. Mighty good price." + +"Where's your pack?" The sergeant half grinned. + +Johnny sat up and stared. No, it was not that he had had a pack and lost +it. It was that he had never had a pack. And traders carried packs. Why +to be sure; things to trade for furs. + +"Pack?" he said confusedly. "Ah-er, yes. Why, yes, my pack, of course, +why I left it; no--hang it! Come to think of it, I'm getting that at the +end of this line, Khabarask, you know." + +Johnny studied the old sergeant through narrowing eyelids. He had given +him a ten spot before the train rattled from the yards. Was that enough? +Would any sum be enough? Johnny shivered a little. The man was an old +regular, a veteran of many battles not given in histories. Was he one +of those who took this motto: "Anything's all right that you can get +away with?" Johnny wondered. It might be, just might be, that Johnny +would go back on this same train to Vladivostok; and that, Johnny had no +desire to do. + +The sergeant's eyes closed for a wink of sleep. Johnny looked furtively +about the car. The three other occupants were asleep. He drew a fat roll +of American bills from his pocket. From the very center he extracted a +well worn one dollar bill. Having replaced the roll, he smoothed out the +"one spot" and examined it closely. Across the face of it was a purple +stamp. In the circle of this stamp were the words, "Wales, Alaska." A +smile spread over Johnny's shrewd, young face. + +"Yes sir, there you are, li'l ol' one-case note," he whispered. "You +come all the way from God's country, from Alaska to Vladivostok, all by +yourself. I don't know how many times you changed hands before you got +here, but here you are, and it took you only four months to come. Stay +with me, little old bit of Uncle Sam's treasure, and I'll take you +home; straight back to God's country." + +He folded the bill carefully and stowed it in an inner pocket, next to +his heart. + +If the missionary postmistress at Cape Prince of Wales, on Behring +Strait, had realized what homesick feelings she was going to stir up in +Johnny's heart by impressing her post office stamp on that bill before +she paid it to some Eskimo, perhaps she would not have stamped it, and +then again, perhaps she would. + +A sudden jolt as they rumbled on to a sidetrack awoke the sergeant, who +seemed disposed to resume the conversation where he had left off. + +"S'pose it's mighty dangerous tradin' on this side?" + +"Uh-huh," Johnny grunted. + +"S'pose it's a long way back to God's country this way?" + +"Uh-huh." + +"Lot of the boys mighty sick of soldiering over here. Lot of 'em 'ud try +it back to God's country 'f 'twasn't so far." + +"Would, huh?" Johnny yawned. + +"Ye-ah, and then the officers are mighty hard on the ones they +ketch--ketch desertin', I mean--officers are; when they ketch 'em, an' +they mostly do." + +"Do what?" Johnny tried to yawn again. + +"Ketch 'em! They're fierce at that." + +There was a knowing grin on the sergeant's face, but no wink followed. +Johnny waited anxiously for the wink. + +"But it's tough, now ain't it?" observed the sergeant. "We can't go home +and can't fight. What we here for, anyway?" + +"Ye-ah," Johnny smiled hopefully. + +"Expected to go home long ago, but no transportation, not before spring; +not even for them that's got discharges and papers to go home. It's +tough! You'd think a lot of 'em 'ud try goin' north to Alaska, wouldn't +you? Three days in God's country's worth three years in Leavenworth; +you'd think they'd try it. And they would, if 't'wasn't so far. Gad! +Three thousand miles! I'd admire the pluck of the fellow that dared." + +This time the wink which Johnny had been so anxiously awaiting came; a +full, free and frank wink it was. He winked back, then settled down in +his corner to sleep. + +A train rattled by. The "Reindeer Special" bumped back on the main track +and went crashing on its way. It screeched through little villages, half +buried in snow. It glided along between plains of whiteness. It rattled +between narrow hills, but Johnny was unconscious of it all. He was fast +asleep, storing up strength for the morrow, and the many wild to-morrows +which were to follow. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +TREACHERY OUT OF THE NIGHT + + +Johnny moved restlessly beneath his furs. He had been dreaming, and in +his dream he had traveled far over scorching deserts, his steed a camel, +his companions Arabs. In his dream he slept by night on the burning +sand, with only a silken canopy above him. In his dream he had awakened +with a sense of impending danger. A prowling tiger had wandered over the +desert, an Arab had proved treacherous--who knows what? The feeling, +after all, had been only of a vague dread. + +The dream had wakened him, and now he lay staring into utter darkness +and marveling that the dream was so much like the reality. He was +traveling over barren wastes with a caravan; had been for three days. +But the waste they crossed was a waste of snow. His companions were +natives--who like the Arabs, lived a nomadic life. Their steeds the +swift footed reindeer, their tents the igloos of walrus and reindeer +skins, they roamed over a territory hundreds of miles in extent. To one +of these "fleets of the frozen desert," Johnny had attached himself +after leaving the train. + +It had been a wonderful three days that he had spent in his journeying +northward. These Chukches of Siberia, so like the Eskimos of Alaska that +one could distinguish them only by the language they spoke, lived a +romantic life. Johnny had entered into this life with all the zest of +youth. True, he had found himself very awkward in many things and had +been set aside with a growled, "Dezra" (that is enough), many times but +he had persevered and had learned far more about the ways of these +nomads of the great, white north than they themselves suspected. + +During those three days Johnny's eyes had been always on the job. He had +not traveled a dozen miles before he had made a thorough study of the +reindeer equipment. This, indeed, was simple enough, but the simpler +one's equipment, the more thorough must be one's knowledge of its +handling. The harness of the deer was made of split walrus skin and +wood. Simple wooden hames, cut to fit the shoulders of the deer and tied +together with a leather thong, took the place of both collar and hames +of other harnesses. From the bottom of these hames ran a broad strap of +leather. This, passing between both the fore and hind legs of the deer, +was fastened to the sled. A second broad strap was passed around the +deer's body directly behind the fore legs. This held the pulling strap +above the ground to prevent the reindeer from stepping over his trace. +In travel, in spite of this precaution, the deer did often step over the +trace. In such cases, the driver had but to seize the draw strap and +give it a quick pull, sending the sled close to the deer's heels. This +gave the draw straps slack and the deer stepped over the trace again to +his proper place. + +The sleds were made of a good quality of hard wood procured from the +river forests or from the Russians, and fitted with shoes of steel or of +walrus ivory cut in thin strips. The sleds were built short, broad and +low. This prevented many a spill, for as Johnny soon learned, the +reindeer is a cross between a burro and an ox in his disposition, and, +once he has scented a rich bed of mosses and lichens, on which he feeds, +he takes on the strength and speed of an ox stampeding for a water hole +in the desert, and the stubbornness of a burro drawn away from his +favorite thistle. + +The deer were driven by a single leather strap; the old, old jerk strap +of the days of ox teams. Johnny had demanded at once the privilege of +driving but he had made a sorry mess of it. He had jerked the strap to +make the deer go more slowly. This really being the signal for greater +speed, the deer had bolted across the tundra, at last spilling Johnny +and his load of Chukche plunder over a cutbank. This procedure did not +please the Chukches, and Johnny was not given a second opportunity to +drive. He was compelled to trot along beside the sleds or, back to back +with one of his fellow travelers, to ride over the gleaming whiteness +that lay everywhere. + +It was at such times as these that Johnny had ample opportunity to study +the country through which they passed. Lighted as it was by a glorious +moon, it presented a grand and fascinating panorama. To the right lay +the frozen ocean, its white expanse cut here and there by a pool of salt +water pitchy black by contrast with the ice. To the left lay the +mountains extending as far as the eye could see, with their dark purple +shadows and triangles of light and seeming but another sea, that +tempest-tossed and terrible had been congealed by the bitter northern +blasts. + +When twelve hours of travel had been accomplished, and it had been +proposed that they camp for the night, Johnny had been quite free to +offer his assistance in setting up the tents. In this he had been even +less successful than in his performance with the reindeer. He had set +the igloo poles wrong end up and, when these had been righted, had +spread the long haired deerskin robes, which were to serve as the inner +lining of the shelters, hair side out, which was also wrong. He had once +more been relegated to the background. This time he had not cared, for +it gave him an opportunity to study his fellow travelers. They were for +the most part a dark and sullen bunch. Not understanding Johnny's +language, they did not attempt to talk with him, but certain gloomy +glances seemed to tell him that, though his money had been accepted by +them, there was still some secret reason why he might have been +traveling in safer company. + +This, however, was more a feeling than an idea based on any overt act of +the natives, and Johnny tried to shake it off. That he might do this +more quickly, he gave himself over to the study of these strange nomads. +Their dress was a one-piece suit made of short haired deer skins. Men, +women and children dressed alike, with the exception that very small +children were sewed into their garments, hands, feet and all and were +strapped on the sleds like bundles. + +The food was strange to the American. One needed a good appetite to +enjoy it. Great twenty-five pound white fish were produced from skin +bags and sliced off to be eaten raw. Reindeer meat was stewed in copper +kettles. Hard tack was soaked in water and mixed with reindeer suet. Tea +from the ever present Russian tea kettle and seal oil from a sewed up +seal skin took the place of drink and relish. The tea was good, the +seal oil unspeakable, a liquid not even to be smelled of by a white man, +let alone tasted. + +By the second day Johnny had found himself confining his associations to +one person, who, to all appearances, was a fellow passenger, and not a +member of the tribe. He had learned to pitch his own igloo and hers. Not +five hours before he had hewn away a hard bank of snow and built there a +shelf for his bed. When his igloo was completed he had erected a second +not many feet away. This was for his fellow passenger. In case anything +should happen he felt that he would like to be near her, and she had +shown by many little signs that she shared his feelings in this. + +"In case something happened," Johnny reflected drowsily. He had a +feeling that, sooner or later, something was going to happen. There was +something altogether mysterious about the actions of these Chukches, +especially one great sullen fellow, who had come skulking about Johnny's +igloo just before he had turned in. + +These natives were supposed to be trustworthy, but Johnny had his +misgivings and was on his guard. They had come in contact with +Russians, perhaps also with Orientals, and had learned treachery. + +"And yet," thought Johnny, "what could they want from me? I paid them +well for my transportation. They sold their reindeer to the American +army for a fat price. They would be more than greedy if they wanted +more." + +Nevertheless, the air of mystery hung about him like a dark cloud. He +could not sleep. And not being able to sleep, he meditated. + +He had already begun the eternal round of thoughts that will revolve +through a fellow's brain at night, when he heard a sound--the soft crush +of a skin boot in the snow it seemed. He listened and thought he heard +it again, this time more distinctly, as if the person were approaching +his igloo. A chill crept up and down his spine. His right hand +involuntarily freed itself from the furs and sought the cold hilt of the +Russian knife. He had his army automatic, but where there are many ears +to hear a shot, a knife is better. + +"What an ideal trap for treachery, this igloo! A villain need but creep +through tent-flaps, pause for a breath, then stealthily lift the deer +skin curtain. A stab or a shot, and all would be ended." These thoughts +sped through Johnny's mind. + +Scarcely breathing, he waited for other signs of life abroad at that +hour of night--a night sixteen hours long. He heard nothing. + +Finally, his mind took up again the endless chain of thought. He had +arrived safely at Khabarask, the terminus of the Russian line. Here he +had remained for three days, half in hiding, until the "Reindeer +Special" had completed its loading and had started on its southern +journey to the waiting doughboys. During those three days he had made +two startling discoveries; the short Russian of the broad shoulders and +sharp chin, he of the envelope of diamonds, was in Khabarask. Johnny had +seen him in an eating place, and had had an opportunity to study him +without being observed. The man, he concluded, although a total stranger +in these parts, was a person of consequence, a leader of some sort, +accustomed to being obeyed. There seemed a brutal certainty about the +way he ordered the servants of the place to do his bidding. There was a +constant wrinkle of a frown between his eyes. A man, perhaps without a +sense of humor, he would force every issue to the utmost. Once given an +idea, he would override all obstacles to carry it through, not stopping +at death, or at many deaths. This had been Johnny's mental analysis of +the character of the man, and at once he began to half hate and half +admire him. He had lost sight of him immediately, and had not discovered +him again. Whether the Russian had left town before the native band did, +Johnny could not tell. But, if he had moved on, where did he go? + +The other shock was similar in character. The woman who had bought furs +for the North had also been in Khabarask. Whether she was a Japanese +Johnny was not prepared to say, and that in spite of the fact that he +had studied her carefully for five days. She might be a Chukche who, +through some strange impulse, had been led south to seek culture and +education. He doubted that. She might be an Eskimo from Alaska making +her way north to cross Behring Strait in the spring. He doubted that +also. Finally she might be a Japanese woman, but in that case, what +could be the explanation of her presence here, some two hundred miles +north of the last vestige of civilization? + +Now, not ten feet from the spot where Johnny lay in an igloo assigned +for her private use by the natives, that identical girl slept at this +moment. Only four hours before, Johnny had bade her good night, after an +enjoyable repast of tea, reindeer meat and hard bread prepared by her +own hand over a small wood fire. It was she who was his fellow +passenger, whose igloo he had erected, close to his own. Yes, there was +mystery enough about the whole situation to keep any fellow awake; yet +Johnny hated himself for not sleeping. He felt that the time was coming +when he would need stored strength. + +He had half dosed off when a sound very close at hand, within the walls +of canvas he thought, started him again into wakefulness. His arm ready +and free for action, he lay still. His breathing well regulated and +even, as in sleep, he watched through narrow slit eyes the deer skin +curtain rise, and a head appear. The ugly shaved head of a Chukche it +was; and in the intruder's hand was a knife. + +The knife startled Johnny. He could not believe his eyes. He thought he +was seeing double; yet he did not move. + +Slowly, silently the arm of the native rose until it hung over Johnny's +heart. In a second it would-- + +In that second something happened. There came a deadly thwack. The +native, without a cry, fell backward beyond the curtain. His knife shot +outward too, and stuck hilt downward in the snow. + +Johnny drew himself slowly from beneath the furs. Lifting the deer skin +curtain cautiously, he looked out. Then he chuckled a cold, dry chuckle. +His knuckles were bloody, for the only weapon he had used was that truly +American weapon, a clenched fist. Johnny, as I have suggested before, +was somewhat handy with his "dukes." His left was a bit out of repair +just now, but his right was quite all right, as the crumpled heap of a +man testified. + +Johnny bent over the man and twisted his head about. No, his neck was +not broken. Johnny was thankful for that. He hated to see dead people +even when they richly deserved to die. + +Then he turned to the knife. He started again, as he extricated the +hilt from the snow. But there was no time for examining it. His ear +caught a stifled cry, a woman's cry. It came, without a doubt, from the +igloo of his fellow traveler, the woman. Hastily thrusting his knife in +his belt, he threw back the tentflap and crossed the intervening +snowpatch in three strides. + +He threw back the canvas just in time to seize a second native by the +hood of his deer skin parka. He whirled the man completely about, tossed +him high in the air, then struck him as he was coming down; struck him +in the same place he had hit the other, only harder, very much harder. +He did not examine him later for a broken neck, either. + +Turning, Johnny saw the woman staring at him. Evidently she had slept in +her furs. As she stood there now, she seemed quite equal to the task of +caring for herself. There was a muscular sturdiness about her which +Johnny had failed to notice before. In her hand gleamed a wicked looking +dagger with a twisted blade. + +But that she had been caught unawares, there could be no question, and +from the kindly flash in her eyes Johnny read the fact that she was +grateful for her deliverance. + +He threw one glance at the other igloos. Standing there casting dark, +purple shadows, they were strangely silent. Apparently these two +murderers had been appointed to accomplish the task alone. The others +were asleep. For this Johnny was thankful. + +Turning to the woman he said sharply: + +"Gotta git outa here. You, me, savvy?" + +"Savvy," she replied placidly. + +Seizing her fur bag of small belongings, Johnny hastened before her to +where the sled deer were tethered. Two sleds were still loaded, one with +an unused igloo and deerskins, the other with food. To each of these +Johnny hastily harnessed a reindeer. Then whipping out his knife, he cut +the tether of all the other deer. They would follow; it was the way of +reindeer. + +Johnny smiled. These extra deer would spell the others and quicken +travel. In case of need, they could be killed for food. Besides, if they +had no deer, the treacherous natives could not follow. They would be +obliged to return to the Russian town they had left and make a new +start, and by that time--Johnny patted his chest where reposed the bill +with the Alaskan stamp on it, and murmured: + +"Stay with me li'l' ol' one-spot, and I'll take you home." + +He cast one more glance toward the igloos. Not a soul had stirred. + +"We're off," he exclaimed, leaping on his sled and slapping his reindeer +on the thigh with the jerkstrap. + +"Yes," the Jap girl smiled as she followed his example. + +Johnny thought they were "off," but it took only an instant to tell that +they were not. His deer cut a circle and sent him gliding away over the +snows. Fortunately he held to his jerkstrap and at last succeeded in +stopping the animal's mad rush. + +The Jap girl smiled again as she took the jerkstrap from his hand and +tied it down short to her own sled. Then she leaped upon her sled again +and, with some cooing words spoke to her reindeer. The deer tossed his +antlers and trotted quietly away, leaving Johnny to spring upon his own +sled and ride in increasing wonderment over the long glistening miles. + +When they had traveled for eight hours without a pause and without a +balk, the Jap girl allowed her deer to stop. She loosened the draw strap +and, turning the animal about, tied him by a long line to the sled, that +he might paw moss from beneath the snow in a wide circle. + +"How--how'd you know how to drive?" Johnny stammered. + +"Never before so," she smiled. + +"You mean you never drove a reindeer?" + +"Before now, no. Hungry you?" The Jap girl smiled, as if to say, "Enough +about that, let's eat." + +It was a royal meal they ate together, those two there beneath the +Arctic moon. This Jap girl was a wonder, Johnny felt that, and he was to +learn it more certainly as the days passed. + +Three days later he sat upon a robe of deer skin. The corners of the +robe were drawn up over his shoulders. A shelter of deer skins and +walrus skins, hastily improvised by him during the beginning of a +terrible blizzard which came howling down from the north, was ample to +keep the wind from driving the biting snow into their faces, but it +could hardly keep out the cold. In spite of that, the Jap girl, buried +in deer skins, with her back against his, was sleeping soundly. Johnny +was sleeping bolt upright with one ear awake. His reindeer were picketed +close to the improvised igloo. Other nights, they had taken turns +watching to protect them from prowling wolves, but this night no one +could long withstand the numbing cold of the blizzard. So he watched and +half slept. Now he caught the rising howl of the wind, and now felt its +lull as the deer skins sagged. But what was this? Was there a different +note, a howl that was not of the wind? + +Shaking himself into entire wakefulness, Johnny sat bolt upright and +listened intently. Yes, there it was again. A wolf beyond doubt, as yet +some distance away, but coming toward them with the wind. + +A wolf, a single one, was not all menace. If he could be shot before his +fangs tore at the flesh of a reindeer, there would be gain. He would be +food, and at the present moment there was no food. The Jap girl did not +know it, but Johnny did. Not a fish, not a hunk of venison, not a pilot +biscuit was on their sled. They would soon be reduced to the necessity +of killing and eating one of their deer, unless, unless--the howl came +more plainly and strangely enough with it came the crack crack of hoofs. + +Johnny sprang to his feet. What could that crack cracking of hoofs mean? +Had one of his deer already broken his tether? + +With automatic in hand, he was out in the storm in an instant. Even as +he became accustomed to the dim light, he saw a skulking form drifting +down with the wind. Dropping upon his stomach, he took deliberate aim +and fired. There was a howl of agony but still the creature came on. +Another shot and it turned over tearing at the whirling snow. + +Johnny jumped to his feet. "Eats," he murmured. + +But then there came that other sound again, the crack crack of hoofs. He +peered through the swirling snow, counting his reindeer. They were all +there. Here was a mystery. It was not long in solving. He had but to +glance to the south of his reindeer to detect some dark object bulking +large in the night. + +"A deer!" he muttered. "A wild reindeer! What luck!" + +It was true. The wolf had doubtless been stalking him. Creeping +stealthily forward, foot by foot, Johnny was at last within easy range +of the creature. His automatic cracked twice in quick succession and a +moment later he was exulting over two hundred pounds of fresh meat, food +for many days. + +Twenty hours later, Johnny found himself sitting sleepily on the edge of +one of the deer sleds. The reindeer, unhitched and tethered, were +digging beneath the snow for moss. The storm had subsided and once more +they had journeyed far. The Jap girl was buried deep beneath the furs on +the other sled. + +Johnny was puzzling his brain at this time over one thing. They had +followed a half covered, ancient trail due north for two days. Then a +fresh track had joined the old one. It was the track of a man with dog +team and sled. This they had followed due north again, and two hours +ago, while the deer were resting and feeding, Johnny had detected the +Jap girl in the act of measuring the footprints of the man who drove the +dog team. + +She had appeared troubled and embarrassed when she knew that he had seen +what she was doing. Notwithstanding the fact that there had been no sign +of guilt or treachery in her frank brown eyes, Johnny had been +perplexed. What secret was she hiding from him? What did she know, or +seek to know, about this man whose trail had joined theirs at an angle? +Could it be? No, Johnny dismissed the thought which came to his mind. + +He had dismissed all his perplexities, and was about to abandon himself +to three winks of sleep, when something on the horizon attracted his +attention. A mere dot at first, it grew rapidly larger. + +"Dog team or reindeer on our trail," he thought. "I wonder." + +From beneath his parka he drew his long blue automatic. After examining +its clip, he laid it down on the sled with two other clips beside it. +Then he drew the two knives also from his belt; the one he had secured +at the time of the street fight in Vladivostok, the other had belonged +to the Chukche who had attacked him. For the twentieth time he noted +that they were exactly alike, blade forging, hilt carving, and all. And +again, this realization set him to speculating. How had this brace of +knives got so widely separated? How had this one found its way to the +heart of a Chukche tribe? Why had the Chukches attempted to murder the +Japanese girl and himself? Had it been with the hope of securing wealth +from their simple luggage, or had they been bribed to do it? Once more +his brain was in a whirl. + +But there was business at hand. The black spot had developed into a +reindeer, driven by a man. How many were following this man Johnny could +not tell. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A NARROW ESCAPE + + +As Johnny stood awaiting the arrival of the stranger, many wild +misgivings raced through his mind. What if this man was but the +forerunner of the whole Chukche tribe? Then indeed, for himself and the +Japanese girl things were at an end. + +The newcomer was armed with a rifle. Johnny would stand little show with +him in a duel, good as his automatic was. + +But the man came on with a jaunty swing that somehow was reassuring. Who +could he be? As he came close, he dropped his rifle on his sled and +approached with empty hands. + +"I am Iyok-ok," he said in good English, at the same time thrusting out +his hand. "I was an American soldier, an Eskimo. Now I am going back to +my home at Cape Prince of Wales." + +"You got your discharge easily," smiled Johnny. + +"Not so easy, but I got it." + +"Well, anyway, stranger," said Johnny gripping the other's hand, "I can +give you welcome, comrade. We are traveling the same way." + +The Eskimo looked at Johnny's regulation army shoes as he said the word +comrade, but made no comment. + +"Know anything about travel in such a country?" asked Johnny. + +"Most things you need to know." + +"Then you sure are welcome," Johnny declared. Then, as he looked at the +Eskimo closely there came to him a feeling that they had met before but +where and when he could not recall. He did not mention the fact, but +merely motioned the stranger to a seat on the sled while he dug into his +pack for a morsel of good cheer. + +Many days later, Johnny lay sprawled upon a double thickness of long +haired deer skins. He was reading a book. Two seal oil lamps sputtered +in the igloo, but these were for heat, not for light. Johnny got his +light in the form of a raggedly round patch of sunlight which fell +straight down from the top where the poles of the igloo met. + +Johnny was very comfortable physically, but not entirely at ease +mentally. He had been puzzled by something that had happened five +minutes before. Moreover, he was half angry at his enforced idleness +here. + +Yet he was very comfortable. The igloo was a permanent one. Erected at +the base of a cliff, covered over with walrus skin, lined with deer +skin, and floored with planks hewn from driftwood logs, it was perfect +for a dwelling of its kind. It stood in a hunting village on the +Siberian shore of Behring Sea. The Jap girl, Johnny and Iyok-ok had +traveled thus far in safety. + +Yes, they had come a long distance, many hundreds of miles. As Johnny +thought of it now, he put his book aside (a dry, old novel, left here by +some American seaman) and dreamed those days all through again. + +Wonderful days had followed the addition of Iyok-ok to their party. From +that hour they had wanted nothing of food or shelter. Reared as he +apparently had been in such wilds as these, the native skillfully had +sought out the best of game, the driest, most sheltered of camping +spots, in fact, had done everything that tended to make life easy in +such a land. + +Johnny's reveries were cut short and he started suddenly to his feet. A +pebble had dropped squarely upon the deer skin spread out before him. It +had come through the hole in the peak of the igloo. He glanced quickly +up, but saw nothing. + +Then he grinned. "Just a case of nerves, I guess. Some kids playing on +the cliff. Anyway, I'll investigate," he said to himself. + +Throwing back the deerskin flap, he stepped outside. Did he see a boot +disappear around the point of the cliff above the igloo? He could not +tell. At any rate, there was no use wasting more time on the question. +To see farther around the cliff, one must climb up its rough face, and +by that time any mischief maker might have disappeared. + +Yet Johnny stood there worried and puzzled. Twice in the last hour +pebbles had rattled down upon the igloo, and now one had dropped inside. +An old grievance stirred him: Why were not he and his strange +companions on their way? With only four hundred miles to travel to East +Cape, with a splendid trail, with reindeer well fed and rested, it +seemed folly to linger in this native village. The reindeer Chukches, +whose sled deer they had borrowed, might be upon them at any moment, and +that, Johnny felt sure, would result in an unpleasant mixup. Yet he had +been utterly unable to get the little Oriental girl and Iyok-ok to go +on. Why? He could only guess. There were a great many other things he +could only guess at. The little Oriental girl's reason for going so far +into the wilderness was as much a secret as ever. He could only guess +that it had to do with the following of that mysterious driver of a dog +team. With unerring precision this man had pushed straight on northward +toward East Cape and Behring Strait. And they had followed, not, so far +as Johnny was concerned, because they were interested in him, but +because he had traveled their way. + +At times they had come upon his camp. Located at the edge of some bank +or beside some willow clump, where there was shelter from the wind, +these camps told little or nothing of the man who had made them. +Everything which might tell tales had been carried on or burned. Once +only Johnny had found a scrap of paper. Nothing had been written on it. +From it Johnny had learned one thing only: it had originally come from +some Russian town, for it had the texture of Russian bond. But this was +little news. + +Who was this stranger who traveled so far? Johnny had a feeling that he +was at the moment hiding in this native village, and that this was the +reason his two companions did not wish to proceed. There had grown up +between these two, the Eskimo boy and the Japanese girl, a strange +friendship. At times Johnny had suspicions that this friendship had +existed before they had met on the tundra. However that might have been, +they seemed now to be working in unison. Only the day before he had +happened to overhear them conversing in low tones, and the language, he +would have sworn, was neither Eskimo, English, nor Pidgen. Yet he did +not question the boy's statement that he was an American Eskimo. Indeed +there were times when the flash of his honest smile made Johnny believe +that they had met somewhere in America. On his trip to Nome and +Fairbanks before the war, Johnny had met many Eskimos, and had boxed and +wrestled with some of the best of them. + +"Oh, well," he sighed, and stretched himself, "'tain't that I've got a +string on 'em, nor them on me. I'll have to wait or go on alone, that's +all." + +He entered the igloo, and tried again to become interested in his book, +but his mind kept returning to the strange friendship which had grown up +between the three of them, Iyok-ok, the Jap girl and himself. The Jap +girl had proved a good sport indeed. She might have ridden all the time, +but she walked as far in a day as they did. She cooked their meals +cheerfully, and laughed over every mishap. + +So they had traveled northward. Three happy children in a great white +wilderness, they pitched their igloos at night, a small one for the +girl, a larger one for the two men, and, burying themselves beneath the +deer skins, had slept the dreamless sleep of children, wearied from +play. + +The Jap girl had appeared to be quite content to be going into an +unknown wilderness. Only once she had seemed concerned. That was when a +long detour had taken them from the track of the unknown traveler, but +her cheerfulness had returned once they had come upon his track again. +This had set Johnny speculating once more. Who was this stranger? Was he +related to the girl in some way? Was he her friend or her foe? Was he +really in this village at this time? If so, why did she not seek him +out? If a friend, why did she not join him; and, if an enemy, why not +have him killed? Surely, here they were quite beyond the law. + +Oh, yes, Johnny might get a dog team and go on up the coast alone, but +Johnny liked his two traveling companions too well for that, and +besides, Johnny dearly loved mysteries, and here was a whole nest of +them. No, Johnny would wait. + +The seal oil lamps imparted a drowsy warmth to the igloo. The deer skins +were soft and comfortable. Johnny grew sleepy. Throwing the ragged old +book in the corner, he stretched out full length on the skins, which lay +in the irregular circle of light, and was soon fast asleep. + +Just how long he slept he could not tell. When he awoke it was with a +feeling of great peril tugging at his heart. His first conscious thought +was that the aperture above him had, in some way, been darkened. +Instantly his eyes sought that opening. What he saw there caused his +heart to pause and his eyes to bulge. + +Directly above him, seemingly poised for a drop, was a vicious looking +hook. With a keen point and a barb fully three inches across, with a +shaft of half-inch steel which was driven into a pole three inches in +diameter and of indefinite length, it could drive right through Johnny's +stomach, and pin him to the planks beneath. And, as his startled eyes +stared fixedly at it, the thing shot downward. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +"FRIEND? ENEMY?" + + +Johnny Thompson, before he joined the army, had been considered one of +the speediest men of the boxing ring. His brain worked like lightning, +and every 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 car-wheel, he rolled over twice before the hook buried itself +to the end of its barb in the pungent plank on which he had reclined an +instant before. + +Nor did Johnny stop rolling then. He continued until he bumped against +the skin wall of his abode. This was fortunate also, for he had not half +regained his senses when two almost instantaneous explosions shook the +igloo, tore the plank floor into shreds, shooting splinters about, and +even through the double skin wall, and filling Johnny's eyes with powder +smoke and dust. + +Johnny sat up with one hand on his automatic. He was fully awake. + +"Is that all?" he drawled. "Thanks! It's enough, I should say. Johnny +Thompson exit." A wry grin was on his face. "Johnny Thompson killed by a +falling whale harpoon; shot to death by a whale gun; blown to atoms by a +whale bomb. Exit Johnny. They do it in the movies, I say!" + +But that was not quite all. The blazing seal oil lamps had overturned. +Splinters from the floor were catching fire. Johnny busied himself at +beating these out. As soon as this had been accomplished, he stepped +outside. + +From an awe-struck ring of native women and children, who had been +attracted by the explosion, the little Jap girl darted. + +"Oh, Meester Thompsie!" she exclaimed, wringing her hands, "so terrible, +awful a catastrophe! Are you not killed? So terrible!" + +Johnny grinned. + +"Nope," he said, putting out a hand to console her. "I'm not killed, nor +even blown to pieces. What I'd like to know is, who dropped that +harpoon." + +He looked from face to face of the silent circle. Not one showed a sign +of any knowledge of the affair. They had heard the explosion and had run +from their homes to see what had happened. + +Turning toward the cliff, from which the harpoon had been dropped, +Johnny studied it carefully. No trace of living creature was to be +discovered there. Then he looked again at the circle of brown faces, +seeking any recent arrival. There was none. + +"Come!" he said to the Jap girl. + +Taking her hand, he led her from house to house of the village. Beyond +two to three old women, too badly crippled to walk, the houses were +found to contain no one. + +"Well, one thing is sure," Johnny observed, "the Chukche reindeer +herders have not come. It was not they who did it." + +"No," answered the Jap girl. + +"Say!" exclaimed Johnny, in a tone more severe than he had ever used +with his companion, "why in thunder can't we get out of this hole? What +are we sticking here for?" + +"Can't tell." The girl wrung her hands again. "Can't tell. Can't go, +that's all. You go; all right, mebby. Can't go my. That's all. Mebby go +to-morrow; mebby next day. Can't tell." + +Johnny was half inclined to believe that she was in league with the +treachery which hung over the place, and had shown itself in the form of +loaded harpoons, but when he realized that she did not urge him to stay, +he found it impossible to suspect her. + +"Well, anyway, darn it!" + +"What?" she smiled. + +"Oh, nothing," he growled, and turned away. + +Two hours later Johnny was lying on the flat ledge of the rocky cliff +from which the harpoon had been dropped. He was, however, a hundred 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. Iyok-ok had gone seal +hunting. When he returned over the ice, Johnny meant to have a final +confab with him in regard to starting north. + +As to the vigil he kept on the igloo, that was the result of certain +suspicions regarding the occupants of that particular shelter. There was +a dog team which hung about the place. These 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 made several journeys of a mile or two up and down +the beach trail, and, as far as he could tell, the man of mystery whose +trail they had followed to this village had not left the place. + +"Of course," he had told himself, "he might have been one of the +villagers returning to his home. But that doesn't seem probable." + +From all this, Johnny had arrived at the conclusion that the watching of +this house would yield interesting results. + +It did. He had not been lying on the cliff half an hour, when the figure +of a man came backing out of the igloo's entrance. Johnny whistled. 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 smoothness about +the tan and something about the cut of it that marked it at once as +coming from a Russian shop, such as Wo Cheng kept. + +"And squirrel skin!" Johnny breathed. + +He was not kept long in doubt as to the identity of the wearer. As the +man turned to look behind him, Johnny saw the sharp chin of the Russian, +the man of the street fight and the many diamonds. He had acquired +something of a beard, but there was no mistaking those frowning brows, +square shoulders and that chin. + +"So," Johnny thought, "he is the fellow we have been trailing. The Jap +girl wanted to follow him and so, perhaps, did Iyok-ok. I wonder why? +And say, old dear," he whispered, "I wonder if it could have been you +who dropped that harpoon. It's plain enough from the looks of you that +you'd do it, once you fancied you'd half a reason. I've a good mind--" +His hand reached for his automatic. + +"No," he decided, "I won't do it. I don't really know that you deserve +it; besides I hate corpses, and things like that. But I say!" + +A new and wonderful thought had come to him. He felt that, at any rate, +he owed this person something, and he should have it. Beside Johnny on +the ledge, where some native had left it, out of reach of the dog's, was +a sewed up seal skin full of seal oil. 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 tell that by the smooth, balloon-like rotundity of the thing. In +fact, he guessed it was about due to burst. Once Johnny had taken a cup +of this liquid for tea. He had it close enough to his face to catch a +whiff of it. He could still recall the smell of it. + +Now his right hand smoothed the bloated skin tenderly. He twisted it +about, and balanced it in his hand. Yes, he could do it! The Russian was +not looking up. There was a convenient ledge, some three feet above his +head. There the sack would strike and burst. The boy smiled, in +contemplation of that bursting. + +"This for what you may have done," Johnny whispered, and balancing the +sack in his hand, as if it had been a football, he gave it a little +toss. Over the cliff it went to a sheer fall of fifteen feet. There +followed a muffled explosion. It had burst! Johnny saw the Russian +completely deluged with the vile smelling liquid. Then he ducked. + +As he lay flat on the ledge, he caught a silvery laugh. Looking quickly +about, he found himself staring into the eyes of the little Jap girl. +She had been watching him. + +"You--you--know him?" he stammered. + +The girl shrugged her shoulders. + +"Your friend?" + +She shook her head vigorously. + +"Enemy? Kill?" Johnny's hand sought his automatic. + +"No! No! No!" she fairly screamed. "Not kill!" Her hand was on his arm +with a frantic grip. + +"Why?" + +"No can tell. Only, not kill; not kill now. No! No! No! Mebby never!" + +"Well, I'll be--" Johnny took his hand from his gun and peered over the +ledge. The man was gone. It was a dirty trick 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 had been close enough to have stopped him, had she +thought it right. She had not done so. His conscience was clear. + +They crept away in the gathering darkness, these two; and Johnny +suddenly felt for this little Jap girl a comradeship that he had not +known before. It was such a feeling as he had experienced in school +days, when he was prowling about with boy pals. + +Shortly after darkness had fallen, Johnny was seated cross-legged on a +deer skin, staring gloomily at the ragged hole left by the whale harpoon +bomb. He had not yet seen Iyok-ok. He was trying now to unravel some of +the mysteries which the happenings of the day had served only to tangle +more terribly. He had not meant to kill the Russian, even though the Jap +girl 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 proposed to kill him. What could a fellow make of +all this? Who was this Jap girl anyway, and why had she followed this +Russian so far? Somehow, Johnny could not help but feel that the Russian +was a deep dyed plotter of some sort. He was inclined to believe that he +had had much to do with that harpoon episode as well as the murder +attempted by the reindeer Chukches. + +"By Jove!" the American boy suddenly slapped his knee. "The knife, the +two knives exactly alike. One he tried to use in the street fight at +Vladivostok; the other he must have given to the reindeer Chukche to use +on anyone who might follow him." + +For a time he sat in deep thought. As he weighed the probabilities for +and against this theory, he found himself doubting. There might be many +knives of 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, having no idea to what deadly purposes it would be put. +And, again, if he were that type of plotter, would not the Jap girl know +of it, and desire him killed? + +The Japanese girl puzzled Johnny more and more. Her friendship for +Iyok-ok, her eagerness to protect the Russian--what was to be made of +all this? Were the three of them, after all, leagued together in deeds +of darkness? And was he, Johnny, a pawn to be sacrificed at the proper +moment? + +And the Russian, why was he traveling so far north? What possible +interests could he have here? Was he, too, planning to cross the Strait +to America? Or was he in search of wealth hidden away in this frozen +land? + +"The furs! I'll bet that's it!" Johnny slapped his knee. "This Russian +has come north to demand tribute for his government from the hunting +Chukches. They're rich in furs--mink, ermine, red, white, silver gray +and black fox. A man could carry a fortune in them on one sled. Yes, +sir! That's his business up here." + +But then, the diamonds? Again Johnny seemed to have reached the end of a +blind alley in his thinking. Who could be so rash as to carry thousands +of dollars' worth of jewels on such a trip? And yet, he was not certain +the man had them now. He had seen them but once, and that in the +disguise shop. + +Further thoughts were cut short by a head thrust in at the flap of the +igloo. It was Iyok-ok. + +"Go soon," he smiled. "Mebby two hours." + +"North?" + +"Eh-eh" (yes), he answered, lapsing into Eskimo. + +"All right." + +The head disappeared. + +"Well, anyway, my seal oil bath did some good," Johnny remarked to +himself. "It jarred the old fox out of his lair and started him on his +way." + +He wondered a little about the Jap girl. Would she still travel with +them? These musings were cut short when he carried his bundle to the +deer sled. She was there to greet him with a broad smile. And so once +more they sped away over the tundra in the moonlight. + +They had not gone five miles before Johnny had assured himself that once +more the Russian and his dog team had preceded them. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +"NOW I SHALL KILL YOU" + + +Johnny Thompson was at peace with the world. He was engaged in the most +delightful of all occupations, gathering gold. He had often dreamed of +gathering gold. He had dreamed, too, of finding money strewn upon the +street. But now, here he was, with one of these choice Russian knives, +picking away at clumps of frozen earth and picking up, as they fell out, +particles of gold. Some were tiny; many were large as a pea, and one had +been the size of a hickory nut. Now and again he straightened up to +swing a pick into the frozen gravel which lay within the circle of light +made by his pocket flashlight. After a few strokes he would throw down +the pick and begin breaking up the lumps. Every now and again, he would +lift the small sack into which the lumps were dropped. It grew heavier +every moment. + +It was quite dark all about him; indeed, Johnny was nearly a hundred +feet straight into the heart of a cut bank, and, to start on this +straight ahead drift, he had been obliged to lower himself into a shaft +as into a well, a drop of fifteen feet or more. That the mine had other +drifts he knew, but this one suited him. That it had another occupant he +also knew, but this did not trouble him. He was too much interested in +the yellow glitter of real gold to think of danger. And he was half +dazed by the realization that there could be a gold mine like this in +Siberia. Alaska had gold, plenty of it, of course, and he was now less +than two hundred miles from Alaska, but he had never dreamed that the +dreary slopes of the Kamchatkan Peninsula could harbor such wealth. +Someone had been mining it, too, but that must have been months, perhaps +years, ago. The pick handles were rough with decay, the pans red with +rust. + +Curiosity had led Johnny to this spot, a half mile from the native +village at the mouth of the Anadir River. He had been marooned again in +that village. They had covered three hundred miles on their last +journey, then had come another pause. This time, though he did not even +see his dogs about the village, Johnny felt sure that the Russian had +once more taken to hiding. + +Having nothing else to do, Johnny had followed a narrow track up the +river. The track had come to an end at the entrance to the mine. +Thinking it merely a sort of crude cold storage plant for keeping meat +fresh, he had let himself down to explore it. Increasing curiosity had +led him on until he had discovered the gold. Now he had quite forgotten +the person whose tracks led him to the spot. + +He was shocked into instant and vivid realization of peril by a cold +pressure on his temple and a voice which said in the preciseness of a +foreigner: + +"Now I have you, sir. Now I shall kill you, sir." + +In that instant Johnny prepared himself for his final earthly sensation. +He had recognized the voice of the Russian. + +There came a click, then a snap. The next instant the revolver which had +rested against his forehead struck the frozen roof of the mine. The +weapon had missed fire and, between turns of the cylinder, Johnny's good +right hand had struck out and up. + +The light snapped out, and in the midnight darkness of that icy cavern +the two grappled and fell. + +Had Johnny been in possession of the full power of his left arm, the +battle would have been over soon. As it was they rolled over and over, +their bodies crushing frozen bits of pay-dirt, like twin rollers. They +struggled for mastery. Each man realized that, unless some unforeseen +power intervened, defeat meant death. The Russian fought with the +stubbornness of his race; fought unfairly too, biting and kicking when +opportunity permitted. Three times Johnny barely missed a blow on the +head which meant unconsciousness, then death. + +At last, panting, perspiring, bleeding and bruised, Johnny clamped his +right arm about his antagonist's neck and, flopping his body across his +chest, lay there until the Russian's muscles relaxed. + +Sliding to a sitting position, the American began feeling about in the +dark. At last, gripping a flashlight, he snapped it on. The face of the +Russian revealed the fact that he was not unconscious. Johnny slid to a +position which brought each knee down upon one of the Russian's arms. He +would take no chances with that man. + +Slowly Johnny flashed the light about, then, with a little exclamation, +he reached out and gripped the handle of the Russian's revolver. + +"Now," he mocked, "now I have you, sir. Now I shall kill you, sir." + +He had hardly spoken the words when a body hurled itself upon him, +knocking the revolver from his hand and extinguishing the light. + +"So. There are others! Let them come," roared Johnny, striking out with +his right in the dark. + +"Azeezruk nucky." To his astonishment he recognized the voice of +Iyok-ok. What he had said, in Eskimo, was, "It would be a bad thing to +kill him," meaning doubtless the Russian. + +"Azeezruk adocema" (he is a bad one), replied Johnny, throwing the light +on the sullen face of the Eskimo. + +"Eh-eh" (yes), the other agreed. + +"Then what in thunder!" Johnny exclaimed, falling back on English. "He +tried to kill me. Kill me! Do you understand? Why shouldn't I kill him?" + +"No kill," said the Eskimo stubbornly. + +Johnny sat and thought for a full three minutes. In that time, his blood +had cooled. He was able to reason about the matter. In the army he had +learned one rule: "If someone knows more about a matter than you do, +follow his guidance, though, at the time, it seems dead wrong." +Evidently Iyok-ok knew more about this Russian than Johnny did. Then the +thing to do was to let the man go. + +Before releasing him, he searched him carefully. Beyond a few +uninteresting papers, a pencil, a cigaret case and a purse he found +nothing. Evidently the revolver had been his only weapon. + +As he searched the man, one peculiar question flashed through Johnny's +mind; if the Russian had the envelope full of diamonds on his person, +what should he do, take them or leave them? He was saved the necessity +of a decision; they were not there. + +"Now," said Johnny, seating himself on a rusty pan, as the Russian went +shuffling out of the mine, "tell me why you didn't let me kill him." + +"Can't tell," was Iyok-ok's laconic reply. + +"Why?" + +"Not now. Sometime, maybe. Not now." + +"Look here," said Johnny savagely, "that man has tried to kill me or +have me killed, three times, is it not so?" + +Iyok-ok did not answer. + +"First," Johnny went on, "he induces the reindeer Chukches to try to +kill me and furnishes them the knife to do it with. Eh?" + +"Maybe." + +"Second, he drops a harpoon into my igloo and tries to harpoon me and +blow me up." + +"Maybe." + +"And now he puts a revolver to my head and pulls the trigger. Still you +say 'No kill.' What shall I make of that?" + +"Canak-ti-ma-na" (I don't know), said the Eskimo. "No kill, that's all." + +Johnny was too much astonished and perplexed to say anything further. +The two sat there for some time in silence. At last the Eskimo rose and +made his way toward the entrance. + +Johnny flashed his light about the place. He was looking for his sack of +gold. Suddenly he uttered an exclamation and put out his hand. What it +grasped was the envelope he had seen in the Russian's pocket at Wo +Cheng's shop, the envelope of diamonds. And the diamonds were still +there; he could tell that by the feel of the envelope. + +Hastily searching out his now insignificant treasure of gold, Johnny +placed it with the envelope of diamonds in his inner pocket and hurried +from the mine. + +Darkness again found him musing over a seal oil lamp. He was not in a +very happy mood. He was weary of orientalism and mystery. He longed for +the quiet of his little old town, Chicago. Wouldn't it be great to put +his feet under his old job and say, "Well, Boss, what's the dope +to-day?" Wouldn't it, though? And to go home at night to doll up in his +glad rags and call on Mazie. Oh, boy! It fairly made him sick to think +of it. + +But, at last, his mind wandered back to the many mysteries which had +been straightened out not one bit by these events of the day. Here he +was traveling with two companions, a Jap girl and an Eskimo. Eskimo? +Right there he began to wonder if Iyok-ok, as he called himself, was +really an Eskimo after all. What if he should turn out to be a Jap +playing the part of an Eskimo? Only that day Johnny had once more come +upon him suddenly to find him in earnest conversation with the Jap girl. +And the language they had been using had sounded distinctly oriental. +And yet, if he was a Jap, how did it come about that he spoke the Eskimo +language so well? + +Dismissing this question, his mind dwelt upon the events of the past few +days. Twice he had been begged not to kill the Russian. This last time +he most decidedly would have been justified in putting a bullet into the +rascal's brain. He had been prevented from doing so by Iyok-ok. Why? + +"Anyway," he said to himself, yawning, "I'm glad I didn't do it. It's +nasty business, this killing people. I couldn't very well tell such a +thing to Mazie; you can't tell such things to a woman, and I want to +tell her all about things over here. It's been a hard old life, but so +far I haven't done a single thing that I wouldn't be proud to tell her +about. No, sir, not one! I can say: 'Mazie, I did this and I did that,' +and Mazie'll say, 'Oh, Johnny! Wasn't that gr-ran-nd?'" + +Johnny grinned as the thought of it and felt decidedly better. After +all, what was the use of living if one was to live on and on and on and +never have any adventures worth the telling? + +For some time he lay sprawled out before the lamp in silent reflection, +then he sat up suddenly and pounded his knee. + +"By Jove! I'll bet that's it!" he exclaimed. + +He had happened upon a new theory regarding the Russian. It seemed +probable to him that this man, knowing of this gold mine, perhaps being +owner of it, had come north to determine its value and the advisability +of opening it for operation in the spring. In these days, when the money +market of the world was gold hungry, that glittering, yellow metal was +of vast importance, especially to the warring factions of Russia. +Surely, this seemed a plausible explanation. And if it was true then he +could hurry on up the coast, with or without his companions and make his +way home. + +"But then," he said, perplexed again. He reached his hand into his +pocket to draw out the envelope he had found in the mine. "But then, +there's the diamonds. Would a man coming on such a journey bring such +treasure with him? He couldn't trade them to the natives. They know +money well enough, but not diamonds." + +Johnny opened the envelope and shook it gently. Three stones fell into +his hand. They were of purest blue white, perfect stones and perfectly +cut. A glance at the envelope showed him that it was divided into four +narrow compartments and that each compartment was filled with diamonds +wrapped in tissue paper. Only these three were unwrapped. + +Running his fingers down the outside of the compartments, he counted the +jewels. + +"One hundred and four," he breathed. "A king's ransom. Forty or fifty +thousand dollars worth, anyway. Whew!" + +Then he stared and his hand shook. His eye had fallen upon the stamp of +the seal in the corner of the envelope. He knew that secret mark all too +well; had learned it from Wo Cheng. It was the stamp of the biggest and +worst society of Radicals in all the world. + +"So!" Johnny whispered to himself. "So, Mr. Russian, you are a Radical, +a red, a Nihilist, a communist, an anything-but-society-as-it-is guy. +You want the world to cough up its dough and own nothing, and yet here +you are carrying round the price of a farm in your vest pocket." He +chuckled. "Some reformer, I'd say!" + +But his next thought sobered him. What was he to do with all that +wealth? One of those stones would make Mazie happy for a lifetime. But +it wasn't his. He had no right to it. He could not do a thing he'd be +ashamed to tell Mazie and his old boss about. + +But, if they didn't belong to him, perhaps the diamonds didn't belong to +the Russian either. At any rate, the latter's disloyalty to his nation +had forfeited his right to own property. + +Even should this Russian be the rightful owner, Johnny could not very +well hunt him up and say: "Here, mister. You tried to kill me +yesterday. Here are your diamonds. I found them in the mine. Please +count them and see if they are all there." + +Johnny grinned as he thought of that. There seemed to be nothing to do +but keep the stones, for the time being at least. + +"Anyway," he said to himself as he rolled up in his deer skins. "I'll +bet I have discovered something. I'll bet he's one of the big ones, +perhaps the biggest of them all. And he's trying to make his way across +to America to stir things up over there." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SAVED FROM THE MOB + + +"What do you know about that gold mine?" Johnny asked, turning an +inquiring eye on Iyok-ok, whom Johnny now strongly suspected of being a +Japanese and a member of the Mikado's secret service as well. + +"Which mine?" Iyok-ok smiled good-naturedly as he blinked in the +sunlight. It was the morning after Johnny's battle with the Russian. + +"Are there others?" + +"Seven mines." + +"Seven! And all of them rich as the one we were in yesterday?" + +The boy shrugged his shoulders. + +"Some much richer," he declared. + +"How long has the world known of this wealth?" + +"Never has known. A few men know, that's all. The old Czar, he knew, +but would let no one work the mines. Just at the last he said 'Yes.' +Then they hurried much machinery over here, but it was too late. The +Czar--well, you know he is dead now, but they have their machinery here +still." + +"Who are 'they'?" asked Johnny with curiosity fully aroused. + +"American. I know. Can't tell. Worked for them once. Promise never +tell." + +Johnny wrinkled his brow but did not press the matter. + +"But this Russia, the Kamchatkan Peninsula?" Iyok-ok continued. "Whom +does it belong to now? Can you tell me that?" + +Johnny shook his head. + +"Neither can They tell. If They knew, and if They knew it was safe to +come back and mine here, when the world has so great need of gold, you +better believe They would come and mine, But They do not know; They do +not know." The boy pronounced the last words with an undertone of +mystery. "Sometime I will know. Then I--I will tell you, perhaps." + +"Where's the machinery?" asked Johnny. + +"Up the river. Wanta see it?" + +"Sure." + +They hurried away up the frozen river and in fifteen minutes came upon a +row of low sheds. The doors were locked, but to his great surprise +Johnny discovered that his companion had the keys. + +They were soon walking through dark aisles, on each side of which were +piled parts of mining machines of every description, crushers, rollers, +smelters and various accessories connected with quartz mining. Mingled +with these were picks, pans, steam thawers, windlasses, and great piles +of sluice timber. All these last named were for mining placer gold. + +"Quartz too?" asked Johnny. + +"Plenty of quartz," grinned Iyok-ok. "Come out here, I will show you." + +They stepped outside. The boy locked the door, then led his companion up +a steep slope until they were on a low point commanding a view of the +village below and a rocky cliff above. + +"See that cliff?" asked Iyok-ok. "Plenty of gold there. Pick it out with +your pen knife. Rich! Too rich." + +"Then this Peninsula is as rich as Alaska?" + +"Alaska?" Iyok-ok grinned. "Alaska? What shall I say? Alaska, it is a +joke. Think of the great Lena River! Great as the Yukon. Who knows what +gold is deposited in the beds and banks of that mighty stream? Who knows +anything about this wonderful peninsula? The Czar, he has kept it +locked. But now the Czar is dead. The key is lost. Who will find it? +Sometime we will see." + +The boy was interrupted by wild shouts coming from the village. As their +eyes turned in that direction, Johnny and Iyok-ok beheld a strange +sight. The entire village had apparently turned out to give chase to one +man. And, down to the last child, they were armed. But such strange +implements of warfare as they carried! All were relics of by-gone days; +lances, walrus harpoons, bows and arrows, axes, hammers and many more. + +As Johnny watched them, he remembered having been told by an old native +that during and after the great war these people had been unable to +procure a sufficient supply of ammunition and had been obliged to resort +to ancient methods of hunting. These were the bow and arrow, the lance +and the harpoon. Powerful bows, of some native wood, shot arrows tipped +with cunningly tempered bits of steel. The drawn and tempered barrel of +a discarded rifle formed a point for the long-shafted lance. The +harpoon, most terrible of all weapons, both for man and beast, was a +long wooden shaft with a loose point attached to a long skin rope. Once +five or six of these had been thrown into the body of a great white bear +or some offending human he was doomed to die a death of agonizing +torture; his body being literally torn to pieces by the drag upon the +strong skin ropes, fastened to the steel points imbedded in his flesh. + +Now it seemed evident that for some misdeed one member of the tribe had +been condemned to die. As Johnny stood there staring, the whole affair +seemed so much like things he had seen done on the screen, that he found +it difficult to realize that this was an actual tragedy, being enacted +before his very eyes. + +"They do it in the movies," he said. + +"Yes," his companion agreed, "but here they will kill him. We must hurry +to help him." + +"Who is he?" + +"Don't you see? The Russian." + +"Oh!" sighed Johnny. "Let 'em have him. He deserves as much from me, +probably deserves more from them." + +"No! No! No!" Iyok-ok protested, now very much excited. "That will never +do. We must save him. They think he's from the Russian Government. Think +he will demand their furs and carry them away. They mistake. They will +kill him. Your automatic! We must hurry. Come." + +Johnny found himself being dragged down the hill. As he looked below, he +realized that his companion was right. The man was doomed unless they +interfered. Already skillful archers were pausing to shoot and their +arrows fell dangerously near the fugitive. + +"Now, from here," panted Iyok-ok. "Your automatic. Shoot over their +heads. They will stop. I will tell them. They will not kill him." + +Johnny's hand went to his automatic, but there it rested. These natives? +What did he have against them that he should interrupt them in the +chase? And this Russian, what claim did he have on him that he should +save his life? None, the answer was plain. And yet, here was this boy, +to whom he had grown strangely attached, begging him to help save the +Russian. A strange state of affairs, for sure. + +Toward them, as he ran, the Russian turned a white, appealing face. To +them came ever louder and more appalling the cry of the excited natives. +Now an arrow fell three feet short of its mark. And now, a stronger arm +sent one three yards beyond the man, but a foot to one side. The whole +scene, set as it was in the purple shadows and yellow lights of the +north-land, was fascinating. + +But the time had come to act. + +"Well, then," Johnny grunted, whipping out his automatic, "for your sake +I'll do it." + +Three times the automatic barked its vicious challenge. The mob paused +and waited silently. + +Out of this silence there came a voice. It was the voice of Iyok-ok by +Johnny's side. Through cupped hands, he was speaking calmly to the +natives. His words were a jumble of Eskimo, Chukche and pidgen-English, +but Johnny knew they understood, for, as the speech went on, he saw +them drop their weapons, then one by one pick them up again to go +shuffling away. + +Johnny looked about for the Russian. He had disappeared. + +"Now what did you do that for?" he asked his companion. + +"Can't tell now," Iyok-ok answered slowly. "Sometime, mebbe. Not now. +Azeezruk nucky, that's all." + +He paused and looked away at the hills; then turning, extended his hand. +"Anyway, I thank you very, very much I thank you." + +With that they made their way toward the village and the sea, which, +packed and glistening with ice, reflected all the glories of the +gorgeous Arctic sunset. + +Three hours later Iyok-ok put his head in at Johnny's igloo and said: + +"One hour go." + +"North?" asked Johnny. + +"North." + +"You go?" + +"Eh-eh." + +"Jap girl go?" + +"Eh-eh." + +"East Cape? Behring Strait?" + +"Mebbe." With a smile, the boy was gone. + +"Evidently the Russian is on the move again," Johnny observed to +himself. "Wonder what he intends to do about his diamonds? Well, anyway, +that proves that the gold mines are not his goal." + +As Johnny dug into his pack for a dry pair of deer skin stocks, he +discovered that his belongings had been tampered with. + +"The Russian," he decided, "evidently hasn't forgotten his diamonds." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +WHEN AN ESKIMO BECOMES A JAP + + +Johnny Thompson smiled as he drew on a pair of rabbit skin trousers, +then a parka made of striped ground squirrel skin, finished with a hood +of wolf skin. It was not his own suit; it had been borrowed from his +host, a husky young hunter of East Cape. But that was not his reason for +smiling. He was amused at the thought of the preposterous +misunderstanding which his traveling companions had concerning him. + +Only the day before he had exclaimed: + +"Iyok-ok, I believe I have guessed why the Russian wants to kill me." + +"Why?" + +"He thinks I am a member of the United States Secret Service." + +"Well? Canak-ti-ma-na" (I don't know). + +The boy had looked him squarely in the eye as much as to say, "Who could +doubt that?" + +At first Johnny had been inclined to assure Iyok-ok that there was no +truth in the assumption, but the more he thought of it, the better he +was satisfied with things as they were. His companions carried with them +a great air of mystery; why should he not share this a little with them? +He had let the matter drop. + +But now, since he was considered to be a member of a secret service +organization, he prepared to act the part for one night at least. With +the wolf skin parka hood drawn well around his face, he would hardly be +recognized, garbed as he was in borrowed clothes. + +The mysterious Russian had adopted a plan of sending his dogs to some +outpost to be cared for by natives. This made the locating of the igloo +he occupied extremely difficult. It had been by the merest chance that +Johnny had caught a glimpse of him as he disappeared through the flaps +of a dwelling near the center of the village. The American had resolved +to watch that place and discover, if possible, some additional clues to +the purpose of the Russian. + +Skulking from igloo to igloo, Johnny came at last to the one he sought. +Making his way to the back of it, he studied it carefully. There were +no windows and but one entrance. There was an opening at the top but to +climb up there was to be detected. He crept round to the other corner. +There a glad sigh escaped his lips. A spot of light shone through the +semi-transparent outer covering of walrus skin. That meant that there +was a hole in the inner lining of deer skin. He had only to cut a hole +through the walrus skin to get a clear view of the interior. This he did +quickly and silently. + +He swung his arm in disgust as he peered inside. Only an old Chukche +woman sat in the corner, chewing and sewing at a skin boot sole. + +Johnny hesitated. Had he mistaken the igloo? Had the Russian purposely +misled him? He was beginning to think so, when his eye caught the end of +a sleeping bag protruding from a pile of deer skins. This he instantly +recognized as belonging to the Russian. + +"Evidently our friend is out. Then I'll wait," he whispered to himself. + +He had been there but a few moments, when the native woman, putting away +her work, went out. She had scarcely disappeared through the flap than +a dark brown streak shot into the room. As Johnny watched it, he +realized that it was a small woman, and, though her clothing was +unfamiliar, he knew by certain quick and peculiar movements that this +was the Jap girl. + +Ah ha! Now, perhaps, he should learn some things. Perhaps after all +these three were in league; perhaps they were all Radicals with a common +purpose, the destruction of all organized society; Japanese Radicals are +not at all uncommon. + +But what was this the Jap girl was doing? She had overturned the pile of +deer skins and was attempting to reach to the bottom of the Russian's +sleeping bag. Failing in this, she gave it a number of punches. With a +keen glance toward the entrance she at last darted head foremost into +the bag, much as a mouse would have gone into a boot. + +She came out almost at once. Her hands were empty. Evidently the thing +she sought was not there. Next she attacked a bundle, which Johnny +recognized as part of the Russian's equipment. She had examined this and +was about to put it in shape again when there came the faint shuffle of +feet at the entrance. With one wild look about her, she darted to the +pile of deer skins and disappeared beneath it. + +She was not a moment too soon, for instantly the sharp chin and the +sullen brow of the Russian appeared at the entrance. + +When he saw the bundle in disorder, he sprang to the center of the room. +His hand on his belt, he stared about the place for a second, then much +as a cat springs at a tuft of grass where a mole is concealed, he sprang +at the pile of deer skins. + +Johnny's lips parted, but he uttered not a sound. His hand gripped the +blue automatic. If the Russian found her, there would be no more +Russian, that was all. + +But to his intense surprise, he saw that as the man tore angrily at the +pile, he uncovered nothing but skins. + +Johnny smothered a sigh of relief which was mixed with a gasp of +admiration. The girl was clever, he was obliged to admit that. In a +period only of seconds, she had cut away the rope which bound the skin +wall to the floor and had crept under the wall to freedom. + +As Johnny settled back to watch, his brain was puzzled by one question; +what was it that the Jap girl sought? Was it certain papers which the +Russian carried, or was it--was it something which Johnny himself +carried in his pocket at this very moment--the diamonds? + +This last thought caused him a twinge of discomfort. If she was +searching for the diamonds, could it be that they rightfully belonged to +her or to her family, and had they been taken by the Russian? Or had the +girl merely learned that the Russian had the jewels and had she followed +him all this way with the purpose of robbing him? If the first +supposition was correct, ought Johnny not to go to her and tell her that +he had the diamonds? If, on the other hand, she was seeking possession +of that which did not rightfully belong to her, would she not take them +from him anyway and leave him to face dire results? For, though no law +existed which would hold him responsible for the jewels, obtained as +they had been under such unusual conditions, still Johnny knew all too +well that the world organization of Radicals to which this Russian +belonged had a system of laws and modes of punishment all its own, and, +if the Russian succeeded in making his way to America and if he, Johnny, +did not give proper account of these diamonds, sooner or later, +punishment would be meted out to him, and that not the least written in +the code of the Radical world. + +He dismissed the subject from his mind for the time and gave his whole +attention to the Russian. But that gentleman, after evincing his +exceeding displeasure by kicking his sleeping bag about the room for a +time, at last removed his outer garments, crept into the bag and went to +sleep. + +One other visit Johnny made that night. As the result of it he did not +sleep for three hours after he had let down the deer skin curtain to his +sleeping compartment. + +"Hanada! Hanada?" he kept repeating to himself. "Of all the Japs in all +the world! To meet him here! And not to have known him. It's +preposterous." + +Johnny had gone to the igloo now occupied by Iyok-ok. He had gone, not +to spy on his friend, but to talk to him about recent developments and +to ascertain, if possible, when they would cross the Strait. He had got +as far as the tent flaps, had peered within for a few moments and had +come away again walking as a man in his dream. + +What he had seen was apparently not so startling either. It was no more +than the boy with his parka off. But that was quite enough. Iyok-ok was +dressed in a suit of purple pajamas and was turned half about in such a +manner that Johnny had seen his right shoulder. On it was a +three-cornered, jagged scar. + +This scar had told the story. The boy was not an Eskimo but a Jap +masquerading as an Eskimo. Furthermore, and this is the part which gave +Johnny the start, this Jap was none other than Hanada, his schoolmate of +other days; a boy to whom he owed much, perhaps his very life. + +"Hanada!" he repeated again, as he turned beneath the furs. How well he +remembered that fight. Even then--it was his first year in a military +preparatory school--he had shown his tendencies to develop as a +featherweight champion. And this tendency had come near to ending his +career. The military school was one of those in which the higher +classmen treated the beginners rough. Johnny had resented this treatment +and had been set upon by four husky lads in the darkness. He had settled +two of them, knocked them cold. But the other two had got him down, and +were beating the life out of him when this little Jap, Hanada, had +appeared on the scene. Being also a first year student, he had come in +with his ju'jut'su and between them they had won the battle, but not +until the Jap had been hung over a picket fence with a jagged wound in +his shoulder. It was the scar of that wound Johnny had seen and it was +that scar which had told him that this must be Hanada. + +He smiled now, as he thought how he had taken Hanada to his room after +that boy's battle and had attempted to sew up the cut with an ordinary +needle. He smiled grimly as he thought of the fight and how he had +resolved to win or die. Hanada had helped him win. + +And here he had been traveling with the Japanese days on end and had not +recognized him. And yet it was not so strange. He had not seen him for +six years. Had Hanada recognized him? If he had, and Johnny found it +hard to doubt it, then he had his own reasons for keeping silent. Johnny +decided that he would not be the first to break the silence. But after +all there was a strange new comfort in the realization that here was one +among all these strangers whom he could trust implicitly. And Hanada +would make a capital companion with whom he might cross the thirty-five +miles of drifting, piling ice which still lay between him and America. +It was the contemplation of these realities which at last led him to the +land of dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +JOHNNY'S FREE-FOR-ALL + + +Johnny smiled as he sat before his igloo. Two signs of spring pleased +him. Some tiny icicles had formed on the cliff above him, telling of the +first thaw. An aged Chukche, toothless, and blind, had unwrapped his +long-stemmed pipe to smoke in the sunshine. + +Johnny had seen the old man before and liked him. He was cheerful and +interesting to talk to. + +"See that old man there?" he asked Hanada, whom he still called Iyok-ok +when speaking to him. "Communism isn't so bad for him after all." + +Hanada squinted at him curiously without speaking. + +"Of course, you know," said Johnny, "what these people have here is the +communal form of government, or the tribal form. Everything belongs to +the tribe. They own it in common. If I kill a white bear, a walrus 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 my old +friend gets too old to hunt, fish or mend nets, he basks in the sun and +needn't worry about anything at all. Pretty soft. Perhaps our friend the +Russian is not so far wrong after all if he's a communist." + +"Uh-hu," the Jap grunted; then he exclaimed, "That reminds me, +Terogloona, the Chukche who lives three doors from here, asked me to +tell you to stay out of his igloo this afternoon." + +"Why?" + +The Jap merely shrugged his shoulders. + +"I have a way of doing what I am told not to, you should--" Johnny was +about to say, "you should know that," but checked himself in time. + +"Better not go," warned Hanada as he turned away. + +After an early noon lunch Johnny strolled up the hill top. He wanted to +get a view of the Strait. On particularly clear days, Cape Prince of +Wales on the American side of Behring Strait can be seen from East Cape +in Siberia. This day was clear, and, as Johnny climbed, he saw more and +more of the peak as it lay across the Strait, above the white ice floes. + +With trembling fingers he drew a one dollar bill from his pocket and +spread it on his knee. + +"There it is," he whispered. "There's the place where you came from, +little old one-spot. And I am going to take you back there. The +Wandering Jew once stood 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've got a country calling us, the +brightest, the best country on the map. And we dare try to go back. Once +that dark line of water disappears we'll be going." + +Then questions began to crowd his brain. Would Hanada attempt the Strait +at this time? What was his game anyway? Was he a member of the Japanese +secret service detailed to follow the Russian, or was he traveling of +his own accord? Except by special arrangement Japanese might not come to +America. Was Hanada sneaking back this way? It did not seem like him. +Perhaps he would not cross at all. + +Johnny's eyes once more swept the broad expanse of drifting ice. Then +his gaze became riveted on one spot. The band of black water 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 floe. Surely +there could be no better time to cross the Strait. With the air clear +and wind light, the crossing might be made in safety. + +Even as he looked, Johnny saw a man leap the gap. Curiosity caused him +to watch this man, whom he had taken for a Chukche hunter. Now he +appeared, now disappeared, only to reappear again round an ice pile. But +he behaved strangely for a hunter. Turning neither to right 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 Russian? Johnny decided he must +hurry down and tell Hanada. But, even as he rose, he saw a second person +leap across the gap in the ice. This one at once started to trail the +first man. There could be no mistaking that youthful springing step. It +was Hanada in pursuit. + +With cold perspiration springing out on his forehead, Johnny sat weakly +down. He was being left behind, left behind by his friend, his +classmate, the man who above all men he had thought could be depended +upon. How could he interpret this? + +For a time Johnny sat in gloomy silence, trying to form an answer to the +problem; trying also to map out a program of his own. + +Suddenly he sprang to his feet. He had remembered that there was some +sort of party down in the village, which he had 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 and straight to the igloo he had been +warned against entering. A strapping young buck was standing guard at +the flaps. + +"No go," he said as Johnny approached. + +"Go," answered Johnny. + +"No go," said the native, his voice rising. + +"Go," retorted Johnny quietly. + +He moved to pass the native. The latter put his hand out, and the next +instant felt himself whirled about and shot spinning down the short +steep slope which led from the igloo entrance. Johnny's good right arm +had done that. + +As the American lad pushed back the flaps of the igloo and entered he +stared for one brief second. Then he let out a howl and lunged forward. +Before him, in the center 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 floor. About his neck was +a skin rope. The rope, a strong one, was fastened securely to the cross +poles of the igloo. A younger man had been about to kick the box away. + +This same younger man suddenly felt the jar of something hard. It struck +his chin. After that he felt nothing. + +The fight was on. There were a dozen natives in the room. A brawny buck +with a livid scar on his right cheek lunged at Johnny. He speedily +joined his friend in oblivion. A third man leaped upon Johnny'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 slapped him nearly through the +skin wall. They came; they went; until at last, very much surprised and +quite satisfied, they allowed Johnny to cut the skin rope and help his +old blind friend down. + +A boy poked his head in at the flap. He had been a whaler and could +speak English. He surveyed the room in silence for a moment, taking in +each prostrate native. + +"Now you have spoiled it," he told Johnny with a smile. + +"I should say myself that I'd messed things up a bit," Johnny admitted, +"but tell me what it's all about. What did the poor old cuss do?" + +"Do?" the boy looked puzzled. "That one do?" + +"Sure. What did they want to hang him for? He was too old and feeble to +do anything very terrible; besides he's blind." + +"Oh," said the boy smiling again. "He done not anything. Too old, that +why. No work. All time eat. Better dead. That way think all my people. +All time that way." + +Johnny looked at him in astonishment, then he said slowly: + +"I guess I get you. In this commune, this tribe of yours, everyone does +the best he can for the gang. When he is too old to work, fish or hunt, +the best thing he can do is die, so you hang him. Am I right?" + +"Sure a thing," replied the boy. "That's just it." + +Johnny shot back: + +"No enjoying a ripe old age in this commune business?" + +"No. Oh, no." + +"Then I'm off this commune stuff forever," exclaimed Johnny. "The old +order of things like we got back in the States is good enough for me. +And, I guess it's not so old after all. It's about the newest thing +there is. This commune business belongs back in the stone age when +primitive tribes were all the organizations there were." + +He had addressed this speech to no one in particular. He now turned to +the boy, a black frown on his brow. + +"See here," he said sharply, "this man, no die, See? Live. See? All time +live, see? No kill. You tell those guys that. Tell them I mebby come +back one winter, one summer. Come back. Old man dead. I kill three of +them. See?" + +Johnny took out his automatic and played with it longingly. + +"Tell them if they don't act as if they mean to do what I say, I'll +shoot them now, three of them." + +The boy interpreted this speech. Some of the men turned pale beneath +their brown skins; some shifted uneasily. They all answered quickly. + +"They say, all right," the boy explained solemnly. "Say that one, if had +known you so very much like old man, no want-a hang that one." + +"All right." Johnny smiled as he bowed himself out. + +It was the first near-hanging he had ever attended and he hoped it would +be the last. But as he came out into the clear afternoon air he drank +in three full breaths, then said, slowly: + +"Communism! Bah!" + +Hardly had he said this than he began to realize that he had a move +coming and a speedy one. He was in the real, the original, 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 the law of the tribe. He had +violated that law, defied it. He actually, for the moment, had set +himself up as a dictator. + +"Gee!" he muttered. "Wish I had time to be their king!" + +But he didn't have time, for in the first place, all the pangs of past +homesick days were returning to urge him across the Strait. In the +second place the mystery of the Russian and Hanada's relation to him was +calling for that 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 called. Johnny would be discussed. He had committed +an act of diplomatic indiscretion. He might be asked to leave these +shores; and then again an executioner might be appointed for him, and a +walrus lance thrust through his back. + +Yes, he would move. But first he must see the Jap girl and ask about her +plans. It would not do to desert her. Hurrying down the snow path, he +came upon her at the entrance to her igloo. + +Together they entered, and, sitting cross-legged on the deer skins by +the seal oil lamp, they discussed their futures. + +The girl made a rather pitiful figure as she sat there in the glow of +the yellow light. Much of her splendid "pep" seemed to have oozed away. + +As Johnny questioned her, she answered quite frankly. No, she would not +attempt to cross the Strait on the ice. It would be quite dangerous, +and, beside, she had promised to stay. She did not say the promise had +been made to Hanada but Johnny guessed that. Evidently they had thought +the Russian 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 the inland cities of Russia. The war had come and then +the revolution. The revolutionists had taken all that her father owned. +He had died from worry and exposure, and she had been left alone. Her +occupation at present was, well, just what he saw. She shrugged her +shoulders and said no more. + +Johnny with his natural generosity tried to press his roll of American +money upon her. She refused to accept it, but gave him a rare smile. She +had money enough for her immediate need and a diamond or two. Perhaps +when the Strait opened up she would come by gasoline schooner to +America. + +Her mention of diamonds made Johnny jump. He instantly thought of the +diamonds in his pocket. Could it be that her father had converted his +wealth into diamonds 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 once more of the cruel +revenges meted out by these Radicals. Should he give the diamonds to one +to whom they did not belong, the penalty would be swift and sure. + +Johnny did, however, press into her hand a card with his name and a +certain address in Chicago written upon it and he did urge her to come +there should she visit America. + +He had hardly left the igloo when a startling question came to his mind. +Why had the Russian gone away without further attempt to recover the +treasure now in Johnny's 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 diamonds were still safe in +Johnny's pocket. What could cause the man to abandon them? Here, indeed, +must be one of the big men of the cult, perhaps the master of them all. + +With this thought came another, which left Johnny cold. The cult had +spies and avengers everywhere. They were numerous in the United States. +They could afford to wait. Johnny could be trusted to cross the Strait +soon. There would be time enough then. His every move would be watched, +and when the time was ripe there would be a battle for the treasure. + +That night, by the light of the glorious Arctic moon Johnny found his +way across the solid shore ice and climbed upon the drifting floes, +which were even now shifting and slowly piling. He was on his way to +America. Perhaps he was the first American to walk from the old world to +his native land. Certainly, he had never attempted thirty-five miles of +travel which was fraught with so many perils. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE JAP GIRL IN PERIL + + +Hardly had Johnny made his way across the shore ice and begun his +dangerous journey when things of a startling nature began to happen to +the Jap girl. + +She was seated in her igloo sewing a garment of eider duck skins, when +three rough-looking Chukches entered and, without ceremony, told her by +signs that she must accompany them. + +She was conducted to the largest igloo in the village. This she found +crowded with natives, mostly men. She was led to the center of the +floor, which was vacant, the natives being ranged round the sides of the +place. + +Instantly her eyes searched the frowning faces about her for a clue to +this move. She soon found it. In the throng, she recognized five of the +reindeer Chukches, members of that band which had attempted to murder +Johnny Thompson and herself. + +Their presence startled her. That they would make their way this far +north, when their reindeer had been sent back by paid messengers some +days before, had certainly seemed very improbable both to Johnny and to +the girl. + +Evidently the Chukches were very revengeful in spirit or very faithful +in the performance of murders they had covenanted to commit. At any +rate, here they were. And the girl did not deceive herself, this was a +council chamber. She did not doubt for a moment that her sentence would +be death. Her only question was, could there be a way of escape? The +wall was lined with dusky forms this time. The entrance was closely +guarded. Only one possibility offered; above her head, some five feet, a +strong rawhide rope crossed from pole to pole of the igloo. Directly +above this was the smoke hole. She had once entered one of these when an +igloo was drifted over with snow. + +The solemn parley of the council soon began. Like a lawyer presenting +his case, the headman of the reindeer tribe stood before them all and +with many gestures told his story. At intervals in his speech two men +stepped forward for examination. The jaw of one of them was very stiff +and three of his teeth were gone. As to the other, his face was still +tied up in bandages of tanned deer skin. His jaw was said to be broken. +The Jap girl, in spite of her peril, smiled. Johnny had done his work +well. + +There followed long harangues by other members of the reindeer tribe. +The last speech was made by the headman of East Cape. It was the longest +of all. + +At length a native boy turned to the Jap girl and spoke to her in +English. + +"They say, that one; they say all; you die. What you say?" + +"I say want--a--die," she replied smiling. + +This answer, when interpreted, brought forth many a grunt of surprise. + +"They say, that one! they say all," the boy went on, "how you want--a +die? Shoot? Stab?" + +"Shoot." She smiled again, then, "But first I do two thing. I sing. I +dance. My people alletime so." + +"Ki-ke" (go ahead) came in a chorus when her words had been +interpreted. + +No people are fonder of rhythmic motion and dreamy chanting than are the +natives of the far north. The keen-witted Japanese girl had learned this +by watching their native dancing. She had once visited an island in the +Pacific and had learned while there a weird song and a wild, whirling +dance. + +Now, as she stood up she kicked from her feet the clumsy deer skin boots +and, from beneath her parka extracted grass slippers light as silk. +Then, standing on tip toe with arms outspread, like a bird about to fly, +she bent her supple body forward, backward and to one side. Waving her +arms up and down she chanted in a low, monotonous and dreamy tone. + +All eyes were upon her. All ears were alert to every note of the chant. +Great was the Chukche who learned some new chant, introduced some +unfamiliar dance. Great would he be who remembered this song and dance +when this woman was dead. + +The tones of the singer became more distinct, her voice rose and fell. +Her feet began to move, slowly at first, then rapidly and yet more +rapidly. Now she became an animated voice of stirring chant, a whirling +personification of rhythm. + +And now, again, the song died away; the motion grew slower and slower, +until at last she stood before them motionless and panting. + +"Ke-ke! Ke-ke!" (More! More!) they shouted, in their excitement, +forgetting that this was a dance of death. + +Tearing the deer skin parka from her shoulders and standing before them +in her purple pajamas, she began again the motion and the song. Slow, +dreamy, fantastic was the dance and with it a chant as weird as the song +of the north wind. "Woo-woo-woo." It grew in volume. The motion +quickened. Her feet touched the floor as lightly as feathers. Her +swaying arms made a circle of purple about her. Then, as she spun round +and round, her whole body seemed a purple pillar of fire. + +At that instant a strange thing happened. As the natives, their minds +completely absorbed by the spell of the dance, watched and listened, +they saw the purple pillar rise suddenly toward the ceiling. Nor did it +pause, but mounting straight up, with a vaulting whirl disappeared from +sight. + +Overcome by the hypnotic spell of the dance, the natives sat motionless +for a moment. Then the bark of a dog outside broke the spell. With a mad +shout: "Pee-le-uk-tuk Pee-le-uk-tuk!" (Gone! Gone!) they rushed to the +entrance, trampling upon and hindering one another in their haste. + + * * * * * + +When Johnny reached the piling ice, on his way across the Strait, he at +first gave his entire attention to picking a pathway. Indeed this was +quite necessary, for here a great pan of ice, thirty yards square and +eight feet thick, glided upon another of the same tremendous proportions +to rear into the air and crumble down, a ponderous avalanche of ice +cakes and snow. He must leap nimbly from cake to cake. He must take +advantage of every rise and fall of the heaving swells which disturbed +the great blanket winter had cast upon the bosom of the deep. + +All this Johnny knew well. Guided only by the direction taken by the +moving cakes, he made his way across this danger zone, and out upon the +great floe, which though still drifting slowly northward, did not pile +and seemed as motionless as the shore ice itself. + +While at the village at East Cape Johnny had made good use of his time. +He had located accurately the position of the Diomede Islands, half way +station in the Strait. He had studied the rate of the ice's drift +northward. He now was in a position to know, approximately, how far he +might go due east and how much he must veer to the south to counteract +the drift of the ice. He soon reckoned that he would make three miles an +hour over the uneven surface of the floe. He also reckoned that the floe +was making one mile per hour due north. He must then, for every mile he +traveled going east, do one mile to the south. He did this by going a +full hour's travel east, then one-third of an hour south. + +So sure was he of his directions that he did not look up until the rocky +cliffs of Big Diomede Island loomed almost directly above him. + +There was a native village on this island where he hoped to find food +and rest and, perhaps, some news of the Russian and Hanada. He located +the village at last on a southern slope. This village, as he knew, +consisted of igloos of rock. Only poles protruding from the rocks told +him of its location. + +As he climbed the path to the slope he was surprised to be greeted only +by women and children. They seemed particularly unkempt and dirty. At +last, at the crest of the hill, he came upon a strange picture. A young +native woman tastily dressed was standing before her house, puffing a +turkish cigaret. She was a half-breed of the Spanish type, and Johnny +could imagine that some Spanish buccaneer, pausing at this desolate +island to hide his gold, had become her father. + +She asked him into an igloo and made tea for him, talking all the while +in broken English. She had learned the language, she told him, from the +whalers. She spoke cheerfully and answered his questions frankly. Yes, +his two friends had been here. They had gone, perhaps; she did not know. +Yes, he might cross to Cape Prince of Wales in safety she thought. But +Johnny had the feeling that her mind was filled with the dread of some +impending catastrophe which perhaps he might help avert. + +And at last the revelation came. Lighting a fresh cigaret, she leaned +back among the deer skins and spoke. "The men of the village," she said, +"you have not asked me about them." + +"Thought they were hunting," replied Johnny. + +"Hunting, no!" she exclaimed. "Boiling hooch." + +Johnny knew in a moment what she meant. "Hooch" was whisky, moonshine. +Many times he had heard of this vicious liquor which the Eskimos and +Chukches concocted by boiling sourdough, made of molasses, flour and +yeast. + +The girl told him frankly of the many carouses that had taken place +during the winter, of the deaths that had resulted from it, of the +shooting of her only brother by a drink-crazed native. + +Johnny listened in silence. That she told it all without apparent +emotion did not deceive him. Hooch was being brewed now. She wished it +destroyed. This was the last brew, for no more molasses and flour +remained in the village. This last drunken madness would be the most +terrible of all. She told him finally of the igloo where all the men had +gathered. + +Johnny pondered a while in silence. He was forever taking over the +troubles of others. How could he help this girl, and save himself from +harm? What could he do anyway? One could not steal four gallons of +liquor before thirty or forty pairs of eyes. + +Suddenly, an idea came to him. Begging a cigaret from the native beauty, +he lighted it and gave it three puffs. No, Johnny did not smoke. He was +merely experimenting. He wanted to see if it would make him sick. Three +puffs didn't, so having begged another "pill" and two matches he left +the room saying: + +"I'll take a look." + + * * * * * + +When the Jap girl leaped through the smoke hole of the igloo at East +Cape she rolled like a purple ball off the roof. Jumping to her feet she +darted down the row of igloos. Pausing for a dash into an igloo, she +emerged a moment later bearing under one arm a pile of fur garments and +under the other some native hunting implements. Then she made a dash for +the shore ice. + +It was at this juncture that the first Chukche emerged from the large +igloo. At his heels roared the whole gang. Like a pack of bloodthirsty +hounds, they strove each one to keep first place in the race. Their +grimy hands itched for a touch of that flying girlish figure. + +Though she was a good quarter mile in the lead she was hampered by the +articles she carried. Certain young Chukches, too, were noted for their +speed. Could she make it? There was a full mile of level, sandy beach +and quite as level shore ice to be crossed before she could reach the +protection of the up-turned and tumbled ice farther out to sea. + +On they came. Now their cries sounded more distinctly; they were +gaining. Now she heard the hoarse gasps of the foremost runner; now +imagining that she felt his hot breath on her cheek she redoubled her +energy. A grass slipper flew into the air. She ran on barefooted over +the stinging ice. + +Now an ice pile loomed very near. With a final dash she gained its +shelter. With a whirl she darted from it to the next, then to the right, +straight ahead, again to the right, then to the left. But even then she +did not pause. She must lose herself completely in this labyrinth of +up-ended ice cakes. + +Five minutes more of dodging found her far from the shouting mob, that +by this time was as hopelessly lost as dogs in a bramble patch. + +The Jap girl smiled and shook her fist at the shore. She was safe. +Compared to this tangled wilderness of ice, the Catacombs of Rome were +an open street. + +Throwing a fur garment on a cake of ice, she sat down upon it, at the +same time hastily drawing a parka over her perspiring shoulders. She +then proceeded to examine her collection of clothing. The examination +revealed one fawn skin parka, one under suit of eider duck skin, one +pair of seal skin trousers, two pairs of seal skin boots, with deer skin +socks to match, and one pair of deer skin mittens. Besides these there +was an undressed deer skin, a harpoon and a seal lance. + +Not such a bad selection, this, for a moment's choosing. The principal +difficulty was that the whole outfit had formerly belonged to a boy of +fourteen. The Jap girl shrugged her shoulders at this and donned the +clothing without compunctions. + +When that task was complete she surveyed herself in an up-ended cake of +blue ice and laughed. In this rig, with her hair closely plaited to her +head, her own mother would have taken her for a young Chukche boy out +for a hunt. + +Other problems now claimed her attention. She was alone in the world +without food or shelter. She dared not return to the village. Where +should she go? + +Again she shrugged her shoulders. She was warmly clad, but she was tired +and sleepy. Seeking out a cubby hole made by tumbled cakes of ice, she +plastered up the cracks between the cakes with snow until only one +opening remained. Then, dragging her deer skin after her, she crept +inside. She half closed the opening with a cake of snow, spread the deer +skin on the ice and curled up to sleep as peacefully as if she were in +her own home. + +One little thing she had not reckoned with; she was now on the drifting +ice of the ocean, and was moving steadily northward at the rate of one +mile an hour. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A FACE IN THE NIGHT + + +When Johnny left the igloo of the native girl he made his way directly +up the hill for a distance of a hundred yards. Then, turning, he took +three steps to the right and found himself facing the entrance to a +second stone igloo. That it was an old one and somewhat out of repair +was testified to by the fact that light came streaming through many a +crevice between the stones. + +Keeping well away from the entrance, Johnny took his place near one of +these crevices. What he saw as he peered within would have made John +Barleycorn turn green with envy. A moonshine still was in full +operation. Beneath a great sheet iron vat a slow fire of driftwood +burned. Extending from the vat was the barrel of a discarded rifle. This +rifle barrel passed through a keg of ice. Beneath the outer end of the +rifle barrel was a large copper-hooped keg which was nearly full of some +transparent liquid. The liquid was still slowly dripping from the end of +the rifle barrel. + +That the liquid was at least seventy-five per cent alcohol Johnny knew +right well. That it would soon cease to drip, he also knew; the fire was +burning low and no more driftwood was to be seen. + +Johnny sized up the situation carefully. Aside from some crude benches +running round its walls and a cruder table which held the moonshine +still, the room was devoid of furnishings. Ranged round the wall, with +the benches for seats, were some thirty men and perhaps half as many +hard-faced native women. On every face was an expression of gloating +expectancy. + +Now and again, a hand holding a small wooden cup would steal out toward +the keg to be instantly knocked aside by a husky young fellow whose duty +it appeared to be to guard the hooch. + +Johnny tried to imagine what the result would be were he suddenly to +enter the place. He would not risk that. He would wait. He counted the +moments as the sound of the dripping liquid grew fainter and fainter. At +last there came a loud: + +"Dez-ra" (enough), from an old man in the corner. + +Instantly the tank was lifted to one side, the fire beaten out, the keg +of ice flung outside and the keg of hooch set on the table in the center +of the room. + +Everybody now bent eagerly forward as if for a spring. Every hand held a +cup. But at this instant there came the shuffle of footsteps outside. +Instantly every cup disappeared. The kettle was lifted to a dark corner. +The room was silent when Johnny stepped inside. + +"Hello," he shouted. + +"Hello! Hello!" came from every corner. + +"Where you come from?" asked the former tender of the still. + +"East Cape." + +"Where you go?" + +"Cape Prince of Wales." + +"Puck-mum-ie?" (Now?) The man betrayed his anxiety. + +"Canak-ti-ma-na" (I don't know), said Johnny seating himself on the +table and allowing his glance to sweep the place from corner to corner. +"I don't know," he repeated, slowly. "How are you all anyway?" + +"Ti-ma-na" (Not so bad), answered the spokesman. + +Johnny was enjoying himself. He was exactly in the position of some good +motherly soul who held a pumpkin pie before the eyes of several hungry +boys. The only difference was that the pie Johnny was thinking of was +raw, so exceeding raw that it would turn these natives into wild men. So +Johnny decided that, like as not, he wouldn't let them have it at all. + +Johnny enjoyed the situation nevertheless. He was mighty unpopular at +that moment, he knew, but his unpopularity now was nothing to what it +would be in a very short time. Thinking of this, he measured the +distance to the door very carefully with his eye. + +At last, when it became evident that if he didn't move someone else +would, he turned to the still manager and said: + +"Well, guess I'll be going. Got a match?" + +He produced the borrowed cigaret. A sigh of hope escaped from the group +of natives and a match was thrust upon him. + +"Thanks." + +The match was of the sulphur kind, the sort that never blow out. + +Nonchalantly Johnny lighted the cigaret, then, all too carelessly, he +flipped the match. Though it seemed a careless act, it was deftly done. + +There came a sudden cry of alarm. But too late; the match dropped +squarely into the keg of alcohol. The next instant the place was all +alight with the blaze of the liquor, which flamed up like oil. + +"This way out," exclaimed Johnny leading the procession for the door. +Lightly he bounded down the hill. He caught one glimpse of the young +woman as he passed, but this was no time for lingering farewells. The +owner of the still was on his trail. + +Dodging this way and that, sliding over a wide expanse of ice, Johnny at +last eluded his pursuers in the wildly tumbled ice piles of the sea. As +he paused to catch his breath he heard the soft pat-pat of a footstep +and glancing up, caught a face peering at him round an ice pile. + +"The Russian," he exclaimed. + +* * * * * + +When the Jap girl awoke after several hours of delicious sleep in her +ice palace bedroom, she looked upon a world unknown. The sun was shining +brightly. The air was clear. In a general way she knew the outline of +East Cape and the Diomede Islands. She knew, too, where they should be +located. It took her some time to discover them and when she did it was +with a gasp of astonishment. They were behind her. + +Realizing at once what had happened, she stood up and held her face to +the air. The wind was off shore. There was not the least bit of use in +trying to make the land. A stretch of black waters yawned between shore +and ice floe by now. + +Shrugging her shoulders, she climbed a pile of ice for a better view, +then hurrying down again, she picked up the harpoon and began puzzling +over it. She coiled and uncoiled the skin rope attached to it. She +worked the rope up and down through the many buttons which held it to +the shaft. She examined the sharp steel point of the shaft which was +fastened to the skin rope. + +After that she sat down to think. Over to the left of her she had seen +something that lay near a pool of water. She had never hunted anything, +did not fancy she'd like it, but she was hungry. + +There was a level pan of ice by the pool. The creature lay on the ice +pan. Suddenly she sprang up and made her way across the ice piles to the +edge of that broad pan. The brown creature, a seal, still some distance +away, did not move. + +Searching the ice piles she at last found a regularly formed cake some +eight inches thick and two feet square. With some difficulty she pried +this out and stood it on edge. The edge was uneven, the cake tippy. +Rolling it on its side she chipped it smooth with the point of the +harpoon. + +The second trial found the cake standing erect and solid. Gripping her +harpoon, she threw herself flat on her stomach and pushing the cake +before her, began to wriggle her way toward the sleeping seal. + +Once she paused long enough to bore a peep hole through the cake with +her dagger. From time to time the seal wakened, and raised his head to +look about. Then he sank down again. Now she was but three rods away, +now two, now one. Now she was within ten feet of the still motionless +quarry. + +Stretching every muscle for a spring like a cat, she suddenly darted +forward. At the next instant she hurled the harpoon deep into the seal's +side. She had him! Through her body pulsated thrills of wild triumph +which harkened back to the days of her primitive ancestry. Then for a +second she wavered. She was a woman. But she was hungry. Tomorrow she +might be starving. + +Her knife flashed. A stream of red began dyeing the ice. A moment later, +the creature's muscles relaxed. + +The Japanese girl, Cio-Cio-San, sat up and began to think. Here was +food, but how was it to be prepared? To think of eating raw seal meat +was revolting, yet here on the floe there was neither stove nor fuel. + +Slowly and carefully she stripped the skin from the carcass. Beneath +this she found a two-inch layer of blubber, which must be more than +ninety per cent oil. Under this was a compact mass of dark meat. This +would be good if it was cooked. She sat down to think again. The fat +seemed to offer a solution. It would burn if she had matches. She felt +over the parka for pockets, and, with a little cry of joy, she found in +one several matches wrapped in a bit of oiled seal skin. Every native +carried them. + +Hastily she stripped off a bit of fat and having lighted it, watched it +flare up and burn rapidly. She laughed and clapped her hands. + +But before she could cut off a bit of meat to roast over its flames, the +soft ice began melting beneath it and the flames flickered out with a +snapping flutter. + +This would not do. There must be some other way found. Rising, she drove +her harpoon into the snow at the crest of an ice pile. To this she +fastened her deer skin, that it might act as a beacon to guide her back +to her food supply. Then she turned about the ice pile and began +wandering in search of she hardly knew what. + +She at last came upon some old ice, with cakes ground round and +discolored with age and then with a little cry of joy she started +forward. The thing she saw had been discarded as worthless long ago; +some gasoline schooner's crew had thrown it overboard. It was an empty +five-gallon can which had once held gasoline. It was red with rust, but +she pounced upon it and hurried away. + +Once safely back at her lodge she used the harpoon to cut out a door in +the upper end of the can. After cutting several holes in one side, she +placed it on the ice with the perforated side up and put a strip of +blubber within. This she lighted. It gave forth a smoky fire, with +little heat, but much oil collected in the can. Seeing this, she began +fraying out the silk ribbon of her pajamas. When she had secured a +sufficient amount of fine fuzz she dropped it along the edge of the oil +which saturated it at once. She lighted this, which had formed itself +into a sort of wick, and at once she had a clear and steady flame. + +She had solved the problem. In her seal oil oven, meat toasted +beautifully. In half an hour she was enjoying a bountiful repast. After +the feast, she sat down to think. She was fed for the moment and +apparently safe enough, but where was she and whither was she being +carried by this drifting ice floe? + + * * * * * + +For a second, after seeing the face of the Russian on the ice, Johnny +Thompson stood motionless. Then he turned and ran, ran madly out among +the ice piles. Heedless of direction he ran until he was out of breath +and exhausted, until he had lost himself and the Russian completely. + +No, Johnny was not running from the Russian. He was running from +himself. When he saw the Russian's face, lit up as it was by the flare +of the flames that had burst forth from that abandoned igloo, there had +been something so crafty, so cruel, so remorselessly terrible about it +that he had been seized with a mad desire to kill the man where he +stood. + +But Johnny felt, rather than knew, that there were very special reasons +why the Russian must not be killed, at least not at that particular +moment. Perhaps some dark secret was locked in his crafty brain, a +secret which the world should know and which would die if he died. +Johnny could only guess this, but whatever might be the reason he must +not at this moment kill the man whom he suspected of twice attempting +his life. So he fled. + +By the last flickering flames of the grand spree that had burned, Johnny +figured out his approximate location and began once more his three miles +east, one mile south journey to Cape Prince of Wales. Some hours later, +having landed safely at the Cape, and having displayed the postmarked +one dollar bill to the post mistress and given it to her in exchange for +a sumptuous meal of reindeer meat, hot biscuits and doughnuts, he +started sleeping the clock round in a room that had been arranged for +the benefit of weary travelers. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +"GET THAT MAN" + + +The trip from Cape Prince of Wales to Nome was fraught with many +dangers. Already the spring thaw had begun. Had not the Eskimo whom +Johnny employed to take him to the Arctic metropolis with his dog team +been a marvel at skirting rotten ice and water holes in Port Clarence +Bay, at swimming the floods on Tissure River, and at canoeing across the +flooded Sinrock, Johnny might never have reached his journey's end. + +As it was, two weeks from the time he left East Cape in Siberia, he +stood on the sand spit at Nome, Alaska. By his side stood Hanada, who +was still acting the part of an Eskimo and who had come down a few days +ahead of him. + +They were viewing a rare sight, the passing out to sea of the two miles +of shore ice. The spring thaw had been followed by an off-shore wind +which was carrying the loosened ice away. Johnny's interest was evenly +divided between this rare spectacle and the recollection of the events +that had recently transpired. + +"Look!" said Hanada. "I believe the ice will carry the farther end of +the cable tramway out to sea." + +Johnny looked. It did seem that what the boy said was true. Already the +cable appeared to be as tight as a fiddle string. + +The tramway was a cable which stretched from a wooden tower set upon a +stone pillar jutting from the sea to a similar tower built upon the +land. This tramway, during the busy summer months of open sea, is used +in lieu of a harbor and docks to bring freight and passengers ashore. +This is done by drawing a swinging platform over the cable from tower to +tower and back again. The platform at the present moment swung idly at +the shore end of the cable. The beach had been fast locked in ice for +eight months and more. + +"Looks like it might go," said Johnny absentmindedly. + +Neither he nor the Jap had seen or heard anything of the Russian. Two +things would seem to indicate that that mysterious fugitive was in town; +three times Johnny had found himself being closely watched by certain +rough-looking Russian laborers, and once he had narrowly averted being +attacked in a dark street at night by a gang of the same general +character. + +Hanada had not yet chosen to reveal his identity, and Johnny had not +questioned him. + +Only the day before a placard in the post office had given him a start. +It was an advertisement offering a thousand dollars reward for knowledge +which would lead to the arrest of a certain Russian Radical of much +importance. This man was reported to have made his way through the +Allied front near Vladivostok, and to have started north, apparently +with the intention of crossing to America. To capture him, the placard +declared, would be an act of practical patriotism. + +Johnny had stared in wonder at the photograph attached. It was the +likeness of a man much younger than the Russian they had followed so +far, but there could be no mistaking that sharp chin and frowning brow. +They had doubtless followed that very man for hundreds of miles only to +lose him at this critical moment. + +What had surprised him most of all had been the Jap's remark, as he read +the notice: + +"The blunderer! Wooden-headed blunderer!" Hanada had muttered as he read +the printed words. + +"Would you take him if you saw him?" Johnny had asked. + +The Jap had turned a strangely inquiring glance at him, then answered: + +"No!" + +But they had not found him. And now the ice was going out. Soon ships +would be coming and going. Little gasoline schooners would dash away to +catch the cream of the coast-wise trading; great steamers would bring in +coal, food, and men. In all this busy traffic, how easy it would be for +the Russian to depart unseen. + +Johnny sighed. He had grown exceedingly fond of dogging the track of +that man. And besides, that thousand dollars would come in handy. He +would dearly love to see the man behind prison bars. There would be no +holding him for crimes he had attempted in Siberia, but probably the +United States Government had something on him. + +"Look!" exclaimed the Jap. "The tower has tipped a full five feet!" It +was true. The ice crowding from the shore had blocked behind the tower, +which stood several hundred feet from land. A dark line of water had +opened between the two towers. Evidently the harbor committee would have +some work on its hands. + +"They're running down there," said Johnny, pointing to three men racing +as if for their lives toward the shore tower. "Wonder what they think +they can do?" + +"Looks like the two behind were chasing the fellow in the lead," said +Hanada. + +"They are!" exclaimed Johnny. "Poor place for safety, I'd say, but he's +got quite a lead." + +At that instant the man in front disappeared behind the shore tower. As +they watched, they saw a strange thing: the swinging platform began to +move slowly along the rusty cable, and, just as it got under way, a man +leaped out upon it. + +"He's started the electric motor and is giving himself a ride," +explained Johnny, "but if it's as bad as that, it must be pretty bad. +He's desperate, that's all. The outer tower's likely to go over at any +moment and dash him to death. Even if he makes it, where'll he be? Going +out to sea on the floe, that's all." + +Slowly the platform crept across the space over the black waters, then +over the tumbling ice. The outer tower could be seen to dip in toward +the shore. The cable sagged. The two other runners were nearing the +inner tower. + +"C'mon!" exclaimed Johnny, "The Golden West. A telescope!" + +Closely followed by Hanada, he leaped away toward the hotel where, in a +room especially prepared for it, was a huge brass telescope mounted on a +tripod. Johnny, glancing out to sea, knew that the tower would be over +in another thirty seconds. The platform was not twenty feet from its +goal. His eye was now at the telescope. One second and he swung the +instrument about. Then a gasp escaped his lips: + +"The Russian!" + +"The Russian?" Hanada snatched the telescope from him. + +As Johnny watched he saw the man leap just as the platform lurched +backward. The two men at the other tower had reversed the motor, but +they were too late. + +The next moment the outer tower toppled into the sea; the cable cut the +water with a resounding swish. Johnny saw the Russian leap from ice cake +to ice cake until at last he disappeared behind a giant pile, safe on a +broad field of solid ice. + +Hanada sat down. His face was white. + +"Gone!" he muttered hoarsely. + +"A boat?" suggested Johnny. + +"No good. The ice floe's two miles wide, forty miles long and all piled +up. Couldn't find him. He'd never give himself up. But he'll come back." + +"How?" + +"I don't know, but he'll come. You'll see. He's a devil, that one. But +we'll get him yet." + +"And the thousand," suggested Johnny. + +Hanada looked at him in disgust. "A thousand dollars! What is that?" + +"Is it as bad as that?" Johnny smiled in spite of himself. + +"Yes, and worse, many times worse. I tell you, we must get that man! +When the time comes, we must get him, or it will be worse for your +country and mine." + +"Ours is the same country," suggested Johnny. + +"Huh!" Hanada shrugged his shoulders. "I am Hanada, your old schoolmate, +now a member of the Japanese Secret Police, and you are Johnny Thompson. +Whatever else you are, I don't know. The Russian has left us for a time. +Let's talk about those old school days, and forget." + +And they did. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +BACK TO OLD CHICAGO + + +In the spring all the ice from upper Behring Sea passes through Behring +Strait. One by one, like squadrons of great ships, floes from the shores +of Cape York, Cape Nome and the Yukon flats drift majestically through +that narrow channel to the broad Arctic Ocean. + +So it happened that in due time the ice floe on which the Russian had +sought refuge drifted past the Diomede Islands and farther out, well +into the Arctic Ocean, met the floe on which the Jap girl had been lost +as it circled to the east. + +All ignorant of the passenger it carried, the girl welcomed this +addition to her broad domain of ice. She had lived on the floe for days, +killing seal for her food and melting snow to quench her thirst. But of +late the cakes had begun to drift apart. There was danger that the great +pan on which she had established herself would drift away from the +others, and, in that case, if no seals came, she would starve. This new +floe crowded upon hers and made the one on which she camped a solid mass +again. + +Spying some strange, dark spots on the newly arrived floe, she hurried +over to the place and was surprised to find that it was a great heap of +rubbish carted from some city. Though she did not know it, she guessed +that city was Nome. + +With the keen pleasure of a child she explored the heaps, selecting here +a broken knife, there a discarded kettle, and again some other utensil +which would help her in setting up a convenient kitchen. + +But it was as she made her way back to her camp that she received the +greatest shock. Suddenly, as she rounded a cake of ice, she came upon a +man sprawled upon the ice, as if dead. The girl took no chances. In the +land whence she came, it was not considered possible that this man +should die. She sprang between two up-ended cakes, and from this shelter +studied him cautiously. Yes, there was no mistaking him; it was the +Russian. A slight movement of one arm told her he was not dead. Whether +he was unconscious or was sleeping she could not tell. + +Presently, after tying her dagger to her waist by a rawhide cord, she +crept silently forward. An ear inclined toward his face told her that he +was breathing regularly; he was sleeping the torpid sleep of one worn by +exhaustion, exposure and starvation. + +Ever so gently she touched him. He did not move. Then, with one hand on +her dagger, she felt his clothing, as if searching for some object +hidden in his fur garments. Her touch was light as a feather, yet she +appeared to have a wonderful sense of location in the tips of those +small, slender fingers. + +Once the man moved and groaned. Light as a leaf she sprang away, the +dagger gleaming in her hand. There were reasons why she did not wish to +kill that man; other reasons than the fact that she was a woman and +shrank from slaying, and yet she was in a perilous position. Should it +come to a choice between killing him or suffering herself, she would +kill him. + +Again the man's body relaxed in slumber. Again she glided to his side +and continued her search. When at last she straightened up, it was with +a look of despair. The thing she sought was not there. + +When the Russian awoke some time later it was with the feeling that he +had been prodded in the side. The first sensation to greet him after +that was the savory smell of cooked meat. Unable to believe his senses, +he opened his eyes and sat up. Before him was a tin pan partly filled +with strips of reddish-brown meat and squares of fried fat. The dish was +still hot. + +Like a dog that fears to have his food snatched from him, he glared +about him and a sort of snarl escaped his lips. Then he fell upon the +food and ate it ravenously. With the last morsel in his hand, he looked +about him for signs of the human being who had befriended him. But in +his eye was no sign of gratitude, rather the reverse--a burning fire of +suspicion and hate lurked in their sullen depths. His gaze finally +rested for a moment on the meat in his hand. Then his face blanched. The +meat had been neatly cut by an instrument keen as a razor. + + * * * * * + +The steam-whaler, Karluke, a whole year overdue, pushing her way south +through the ice-infested Strait, her crew half mutinous, and her food +supply low, was subjected to two vexatious delays. Once she halted to +pick up a man who signaled her from the top of a shattered tower of wood +which topped an ice pile. The man was a Russian. Again, the boat paused +to take on board a youth, whom they supposed to be a Chukche hunter who +had been carried by the floes from his native shores. + +The Russian paid them well for his passage to Seattle. The supposed +Chukche was sent to the galley to become cook's helper. + +This Chukche boy was no other than the Jap girl. She realized at once +the position she was in; a perilous enough one, once her identity was +disclosed, and she did all in her power to play the part of a Chukche +boy. She drew maps on the deck to show the seamen that she was a member +of the reindeer Chukche tribes, who spoke a different language from the +hunting tribes, thus explaining why she could not converse freely with +the veteran Arctic sailors who had learned Chukche on their many +voyages. She was fortunate in immediately securing a cook's linen cap. +This she wore tightly drawn down to her ears, covering her hair +completely. + +One thing she discovered the first night on board: The Russian had in +his stateroom a bundle. This had been hidden when she searched him on +the ice. To have a look into that bundle became her absorbing purpose. +Three times she attempted to enter his stateroom. On the third attempt +she did actually enter the room, but so narrowly escaped having her +linen mask torn from her head and her identity revealed by the irate +Russian, that she at last gave it up. + +Upon docking at Seattle both the Russian and the girl mingled with the +crowd on the dock and quickly disappeared. + +The clerks in Roman & Lanford's department store were more than mildly +curious regarding an Eskimo boy, who, entering their store that day and +displaying a large roll of bills, demanded the best in women's wearing +apparel. They had in stock a complete outfit, just the size that would +fit the strange customer, who was no other than the Jap girl. + + * * * * * + +Johnny Thompson and Hanada, after two weeks of fruitless watching and +waiting in Nome, took a steamer for Seattle. Johnny had not been in +that city a day when, while walking toward the Washington Hotel, he felt +a light touch on his arm, and turned to look into the beaming face of +the Jap girl. + +"You--you here?" he gasped in amazement. + +"Yes." + +"Why! You look grand," he assured her. "Regular American girl." + +She blushed through her brown skin. Then her face took on a serious +look: + +"The Russian--" she began. + +"Yes, the Russian!" exclaimed Johnny eagerly. + +"He is here--no, not here. This morning he takes train for Chicago. +To-night we will follow. We will get that man, you and I, and--Iyok-ok." +Her lips tripped over the last word. + +"Hanada," Johnny corrected. + +"He has told you?" + +"Yes, he is an old friend." + +"And mine too. Good! To-night we will go. We will get that man. Three of +us. That bad one!" + +"All right," said Johnny. "See you at the depot to-night." + +"Wait," said the girl. Her hand still on his arm, she stood on her +tiptoe and whispered in his ear: + +"My name Cio-Cio-San; your friend, Hanada friend. Good-by." Then she was +gone. + +Johnny walked to his hotel as in a dream. He had hoped to return to his +den, his job and to Mazie in Chicago, and in a quiet way, all mysteries +dissolved, to live his old happy life. But here were all the mysteries +carrying him right to his own city and promising to end--in what? +Perhaps in some tremendous sensation. Who could tell? And the diamonds; +what of them? He put his hand to his inner pocket; they were still +there. Was he watched? Would he be followed? Even as he asked himself +the question, he fancied that a dark form moved stealthily across the +street. + +"Well, anyway," he said to himself, "I can't desert my Jap friends. +Besides, I don't want to." + + * * * * * + +"Chicago," said Hanada some time later, as Johnny related his +conversation with Cio-Cio-San. "That means the end is near." + +The end was not so near as he thought. When it came it was not, alas! to +be for him the kind of end he fancied. + +"All right," he said. "To-night we go to Chicago." + +On the trip eastward from Seattle, Johnny slept much and talked little. +The Jap girl and Hanada occupied compartments in different cars and +appeared to wish to avoid being seen together or with Johnny. This, he +concluded, was because there might be Russian Radicals on this very +train. Johnny slept with the diamonds pressed against his chest and it +was with a distinct sense of relief that he at last heard the hollow +roar of the train as it passed over the street subways, for he knew this +meant he was back in dear old Chicago, where he might have bitter +enemies, but where also were many warm friends. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE MYSTERY OF THE CHICAGO RIVER + + +Johnny Thompson dodged around a corner on West Ohio street, then walked +hurriedly down Wells street. At a corner of the building which shadowed +the river from the north he paused and listened; then with a quick +wrench, he tore a door open, closed it hastily and silently, and was up +the dusty stairs like a flash. At the top he waited and listened, then +turning, made his way up two other flights, walked down a dark corridor, +turned a key in a lock, threw the door open, closed it after him, +scratched a match, lighted a gas lamp, then uttered a low "Whew!" at the +dust that had accumulated everywhere. + +Brushing off a chair, he sat down. For a few moments he sat there in +silent reflection. Then rising, he extinguished the light, threw up the +sash, unhooked some outer iron shutters, sent them jangling against the +brick wall, and drawing his chair to the window, stared reflectively +down into the sullen, murky waters of the river. At last he was back in +Chicago! + +The time had been when the fact that Johnny Thompson occupied this room +was no secret to anyone who really wanted to know. Johnny had roomed +here when he first came to Chicago as a boy, working for six dollars a +week. When, in the years that followed, it had been discovered that +Johnny was quick as a bobcat and packed a wallop; when Johnny began +making easy money, and plenty of it, he had stuck to the old room that +overlooked the river. When he had heard his country's call to go to war, +he had paid three years' rent on the room and had locked the door. If he +never came back, all good and well. If he did return, the old room would +be waiting for him, the room and the river. Now here he was once more. + +The river! The stream had always held a great fascination for him. +Johnny had seen other rivers but to him none of them quite came up to +the old Chicago. In its silent, sullen depths lay power and mystery. +The Charles River of Boston Johnny had seen, and called it a place of +play for college boys. The Seine of Paris was a thing of beauty, not of +power. The Spokane was a noisy blusterer. But the old Chicago was a grim +and silent toiler. It bore on its waters great scows, lake boats, +snorting, smoking tugs, screaming fire boats and police boats. Then, +too, it was a river of mysteries. Down into its murky depths no eye +could peer to discover the hidden and mysterious burdens which it +carried away toward the Father of Waters. + +Yes, give Johnny the room by the old Chicago! It was dusty and grim; but +tomorrow he would clean it thoroughly. Just now he wished merely to sit +here and think for an hour. + +The time had been when Johnny had not cared who saw him enter this +haven; but to-day things were different. Since he had got into this +affair with the Russian and his band he had had a feeling that he was +being constantly watched. + +There was little wonder at this, for did he not carry on his person +forty thousand dollars' worth of rare gems? And did they not belong to +someone else? + +"To whom?" Johnny said the words aloud as he thought of it. + +His mind turned to his Japanese comrades, the girl and the man. He had +told neither of them about the diamonds. Perhaps he should have done so, +and yet he felt a strange reticence in the matter. + +He was to meet Hanada at eight o'clock. Hanada had never told him why +they were pursuing the Russian; why he could not be killed in Siberia; +why he must not be killed or arrested if seen now, until he, Hanada, +said the word. He had not told why he thought that the Secret Service +men had committed a blunder in offering a reward for the Russian's +capture. + +As Johnny thought of it he wondered if he were a fool for sticking to +this affair into which he had been so blindly led. He had not shown +himself to his old boss or to Mazie. To them he was dead. He had looked +up the official record that very morning and had seen that he was +reported "Missing in Vladivostok; probably dead." + +Should he stick to the Russian's trail, a course which might lead to +his death, or should he take the diamonds to a customs office and turn +them in as smuggled goods, then tell Hanada he was off the hunt, was +going back to his old job and Mazie? That would be a very easy thing to +do; and to stick was fearfully hard. Yet the words of his long time +friend, "Get that man, or it will be worse for your country and mine," +still rang in his ears. Was it his patriotic duty to stick? + +And if he decided to go on with it, should he go to Hanada and ask for a +showdown, all cards on the table; or should he trust him to reveal the +facts in the case little by little or all at once, as seemed wise to +him? Well, he should see. + +Then, for a half hour, Johnny gave himself over to the wild, boyish +reveries which the city air and the lights flickering on the water +awakened. At the end of that half hour he put on his hat and went out. +He was to meet Hanada on the Wells street bridge. Where the Japanese was +staying he did not know, but that it was with some fellow countrymen he +did not doubt. Cio-Cio-San was staying with friends, students at the +University. It had been arranged that the three of them should meet at +odd times and various places to discuss matters relating to their +dangerous mission. In this way they hoped to throw members of the band +of Radicals off their tracks. + +Their conversation that night came to little. Hanada had found no trace +of the Russian, nor had he come into contact with any other important +Radicals since reaching Chicago. Johnny's report was quite as brief. +Hanada showed no inclination to reveal more regarding the matter, and +Johnny did not question him. He had fully determined to see the thing +through, cost what it might. + +It was after a roundabout walk through the deserted streets of the +business section of the city that they came to South Water street. This +street, the noisiest and most crowded of all Chicago at certain hours, +was now as silent and deserted as a village green at midnight. Here a +late pedestrian hurried down its narrow walk: there some boatman +loitered toward his craft in the river. But for these the street was +deserted. + +And it was here, of all places, that they experienced the first thrill +of the night. A heavy step sounded on the pavement around the corner. +The next instant a man appeared walking toward them. His face was +obscured by shadows, but there was no mistaking that stride. + +"That's our man," whispered Johnny. + +"The Russian?" questioned Hanada in equally guarded tones. + +There was not time for another word, for the man, having quickened his +pace was abreast of them, past them and gone. + +"I don't know. Couldn't see his face," whispered the Jap. + +"Quick!" urged Johnny; "there's a short cut, an alley. We can meet him +again under the arc light." + +Down a dark alley they dashed. Crashing into a broken chicken crate, +then sprinting through an open court, they came out on another alley, +and then onto a street. + +They had raced madly, but now as they came up short, panting, they saw +no one. The man had disappeared. + +Suddenly they heard steps on the cross street. + +"Turned the corner," panted Johnny. "C'mon!" + +Again they dashed ahead, slowing only as they reached the other street. + +Sure enough, halfway down the block they saw their man. He was walking +rapidly toward the bridge. Quickening their pace they followed. + +Distinctly they saw the man go upon the bridge. Very plainly they heard +every footstep on the echoing planks. Then, just as they were about to +step upon the bridge, the footsteps ceased. + +"Sh!" whispered Johnny, bringing his friend to a halt. "He's stopped; +maybe laying for us." + +For a minute they stood there. The lapping of the water was the only +sound till, somewhere in the distance an elevated train rattled its way +north. + +"C'mon," said Johnny. "We've met that bird in worse places than this; we +can meet him again." + +But they did not meet him, although they walked the full length of the +bridge. There was not a place on the whole structure where a man could +hide, but they searched it thoroughly. Then Johnny searched the sides, +the abutments. He sent the gleam of his powerful flashlight into the +dark depths beneath, but all to no purpose. The man was gone. + +"Humph!" said Johnny. + +"Hisch!" breathed Hanada. + +"Well, all I have to say," observed Johnny presently, "is that if the +old Chicago River has that fellow, he'll be cast ashore. The good old +Chicago doesn't associate with any such." + +They stood there leaning on the wooden railing debating their next move, +when a shot rang out. Instantly they dropped to the floor of the bridge. +A bullet whizzed over their heads, then another and another. After that +silence. + +"Get you?" whispered Johnny. + +"No. You?" + +"Nope." + +Then a long finger of light came feeling its way along the murky waters +to rest on the bridge. + +With a sigh of relief, Johnny saw that it came from a police-boat down +stream. The light felt its way back and forth, back and forth across the +river, then up to the bridge and across that. It came to rest as it +glared into their eyes. It blinked one, two, three times, then went out. + +"I'm glad they didn't hold it on us," breathed Johnny. "In that light +anybody that wanted to could get a bead on us." + +Hearing heavy, hurrying footsteps approaching, they stood up well back +against the iron braces. + +"Police!" whispered Johnny. + +"You fellows shoot?" demanded one of the policemen as they came up and +halted before the two boys. + +"Nope," Johnny answered. + +"No stallin' now." + +"Search us," Johnny suggested. "The shots were fired at us, though where +from, blessed if I know. Came right out of space. We'd just searched the +bridge from end to end. Not a soul on it." + +"What'd y' search it fer?" + +"A man." + +"W'at man?" + +"That's it," Johnny evaded. "We wanted to know who he was." + +The policemen conversed with one another in low tones for a moment. + +"One of the bullets struck a cross-arm; I heard it," suggested Johnny. +"You can look at that if it'll be any comfort to you." + +The policeman grunted, then following Johnny's flashlight, examined the +spot where the bullet had flaked the paint from the bridge iron. + +"Hurum!" he grumbled. "That's queer. Bullet slid straight up the iron +when it struck. Ordinarily that'd mean she was shot square against it +from below and straight ahead, but that can't be, fer that brings her +comin' direct out of the river, which ain't human, nor possible. There +wasn't a boat nor a barge nor even a plank on the river when the +searchlight flashed from the gray prowler; was there, Mike?" + +"Not even a cork," said Mike. + +"Well, anyway, that clears youse guys," grunted the leader. "Now you +better beat it." + +Bidding Hanada good night, Johnny walked across the bridge, around four +blocks, then made a dash for his room. There was dust on his blankets, +but he could shake it off. Anyway, he probably would not sleep much that +night. Probably he would spend most of the night sitting by the window, +listening to the lap of the waters of the old river and trying to solve +the strange problem of the bullets fired apparently from the depths of +the stream. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE CAT CRY OF THE UNDERWORLD + + +Dodging in front of a street car, Johnny turned abruptly to the right +and trailed a taxi for half a block; then he shot across the sidewalk to +the end of a dark alley. Then he flattened himself against the wall and +listened. Yes, it came at last, the faint thud of cautious footsteps. He +had not thrown the man off the scent. + +"Well then, I will," he muttered, gritting his teeth. Johnny was a +trifle out of sorts to-night. The chase annoyed him. + +He dodged down the alley, then up a narrow court. Prying open the window +of an empty building, he crept in and silently slid the sash back in its +place. Tiptoeing across the hall with the lightness of a cat, he crept +up the dusty stairs. One, two, three flights he ascended, then feeling +for the rounds of a short ladder, he climbed still higher, to lift a +trapdoor at last and creep out upon the roof. + +Once there he skulked from chimney to chimney until he had crossed the +flat roofs of three buildings. The third had a trapdoor close to a +chimney. This he lifted, then dropped behind him. He was now in his own +building. Panting a little from the exertion, he tiptoed down the hall, +turned the key and entered his room. + +Having made sure that the iron blinds were closed, he snapped on a +light. His eyes, roving around the room, fell presently upon something +white on the floor. Johnny could see his own name scrawled upon it. +There were but a few people in all the world who knew that Johnny +Thompson had ever lived here. Probably all of those who did know thought +him dead and buried in Russia. Who had written this note? Friend or foe? + +He tore open the envelope and glanced at the note. It came to the point +with brutal frankness. + +"Johnny Thompson: You are known to have in your possession rare gems +which do not belong to you. You will please leave them on the doorstep +of 316 North Bird place, and rap three times before you leave. + +"If not--" + +That was all, save that in place of a signature there was a splotch of +red sealing wax. The wax had been stamped with an iron seal. The mark of +the seal was that of the Radical Clan--the same as that on the envelope +which contained the diamonds. + +"And that, I suppose," whispered Johnny to himself, "means that if I do +not leave the diamonds where I am told to I shall be flattened out like +that drop of wax." + +Switching out the light, he opened the blinds and took his old seat by +the window. He was at once absorbed in thought. So all his dodging and +twisting had not served to throw them off his track. They had discovered +his den. And he must give up the diamonds and-- + +"If not--" + +Those two words stood out as plainly before him as if they were flashed +forth from an electric sign on the roof across the river. + +He was half minded to give the diamonds up, but not to those rascals. +No, he would allow one of their spies to trail him to the Custom House, +and there, before the man's very eyes, Johnny would take out the +envelope with the seal plainly showing, and hand the diamonds in as +smuggled goods. + +There was but one objection to this plan; he still had a strange fancy +that someway Cio-Cio-San had a rightful interest in those gems. At +least, he was not sure she did not have. Until he had determined the +truth in this matter, he was loath to part with them. + +But in keeping them he was taking a risk. He might be attacked and +killed by that ruthless gang at any time. + +For a long time he sat, staring down at the river. He was not in a happy +mood. He was tired of all this trouble, fighting and mystery. On crowded +State street that afternoon, he had seen Mazie. That made it worse. He +had never seen her look so well. She had changed; grown older, and he +thought a little sadder. Was the sadness caused by the fact that she +believed him dead? He dared to hope so. All this filled him with a mad +desire to touch her hand once more, to speak to her, to assure her in a +score of ways that he was not dead. + +Then Hanada had disappointed him. He had hoped they would meet again and +have another conference that night; had hoped that the wise little Jap +would have some solution of the mystery of the shots from the river, and +the strange disappearance of the man they had taken to be the Russian. +But Hanada had said "No." He had given no reason; had merely left things +that way. Hanada had been like that always; he never explained. Perhaps +he did have some other important engagement; then why could he not tell +Johnny of it? Why all this constant enshrouding of affairs in mystery? +What did he, Johnny, know about the whole business anyway? Not a thing. +He was only assured by the Jap that it was his duty to stick on the +trail of the Russian until it led somewhere in particular. He was not, +in any circumstances, to have him arrested or killed without first +consulting Hanada. + +"What rot!" + +Johnny got up and paced the floor. Then, suddenly realizing that there +was no longer cause for secrecy as to his whereabouts, he threw on the +light and swung a punching bag down from the wall. + +This ancient bit of leather, which had hung unused for many months, gave +forth a volley of dust at first. But soon it was sending resounding +thwacks echoing down the hall from Johnny's right and left punch. + +Johnny even smiled as he sat down after a fifteen minutes round with +this old friend. He was greatly pleased at one thing; his left arm was +now quite as good as his right. + +As he sat there, still smiling, his eyes fell on that note which had +been thrust under his door. A strange, wild impulse seized him. + +"So they know where I stay," he muttered. "I'll see how near I can come +to finding out where they are hiding." + +Taking the envelope containing the diamonds from his pocket, he crowded +it down into the depths of his clothing; then, snapping off the light, +he went out. + +Hastening down the street and across the bridge, he was soon threading +deserted streets and dark alleys. In time he came out upon Bird place, +a half street, ending in a wall. The passage was narrow, hardly more +than an alley. + +The night was exceptionally dark and the place cheerless--just the +setting for a crime. Lights behind drawn shutters were few. Only the +very wretched or very wicked haunted such habitations. + +Hugging the wall, Johnny sidled along toward 316. He knew the spot +exactly, for though Johnny had never been of the underworld, he had +spent many a restless night prowling about in all parts of the city. +Suddenly he flattened out in a doorway and stood motionless, breathing +quietly. + +Had he heard the faint pat-pat of footsteps? Had he caught the dark blue +of a shadow on yonder wall? For a full three minutes he stood there; +then hearing, seeing nothing more, he glided out and resumed his +snake-like journey toward the door of 316. + +This time he did not go far, for suddenly looming from dark doorways +four huge forms sprang at him. Johnny understood it all in a moment. The +note was but a trick. They had not intended to trust him to leave the +diamonds. They did not live at 316 at all. They merely had meant to +draw him to this dark alley, then to "get" him. Well, they would find +him a tough nut to crack! + +His right shot out, and a heavy bulk crashed to the pavement. His left +swung and missed. A wild creature sprang at his throat. Johnny's mind +worked like lightning. Four were too many. They would get him. He must +have help. The cat cry of the underworld! He had known that cry two +years before. He had many friends who would answer it. They had +introduced themselves at his boxing bouts. They had liked him because he +played a fair game and "packed a winning wallop." If any of them were +near they would come to his aid. + +Drawing a long breath, he let forth a piercing scream that rose and fell +like the wail of a fire siren. At the same time he jabbed fiercely with +his right. The man collapsed, but at that instant a third man struck +Johnny on the head and, all but unconscious, he reeled and fell to the +ground. + +Faintly as in a dream, he heard guttural murmurs. He felt the buttons +give as his coat was torn open. Then there came the ringing report of a +shot from the distance. + +"Da bolice!" came in a guttural mutter. + + * * * * * + +The reason Hanada would not meet Johnny on this particular night was +that he had a pressing engagement with other persons. Just at seven +o'clock he might have been seen emerging from an obscure street. He +hailed a taxi-cab and getting in, drove due north across the river and +straight on until, with a sharp turn to the right, he drove two blocks +toward the lake, only to turn again to the right and cross the river +again. He had gone south several blocks when suddenly signaling the +driver to stop, he handed him a five-dollar bill and darted into the +welcoming portals of a vast hotel. + +The next moment he was crossing marble floors to enter a heavily +carpeted parlor. This, too, he crossed. Then the walls of the room +seemed to swallow him up. + +In a small, dimly lighted anteroom his coat and hat were taken by a +servant. He then stepped into a room where a round table was spread with +spotless linen and rare silver. There were five chairs ranged around +the table. Hanada frowned as he counted them. + +"It seems," he murmured, "that the man who attends to the serving does +not know that Hanada dines with the Big Five to-night. Ah well! There is +time enough and room enough. We shall dine together; never fear." + +He stepped back in the shadow of the heavy curtains and waited +expectantly. + +"The Big Five," he murmured. "Some of America's richest, surely +Chicago's greatest millionaires. And Hanada dines with them. They will +listen to him, too. They will hang on his word. The Big Five will +listen. And if they say 'Yes,' if they do--" He drew in his breath +sharply. "If they do we will set the world afire with a great, new +thing. They have the money, which is power, and I have the knowledge, +which is greater power." + +There was a sound outside the door. A servant entered and, bowing +deferentially, moved toward the table. He deftly rearranged the chairs +and the silver. When he left, there were six places set. Hanada smiled. + +Had one been permitted to look in upon the diners in this simply +appointed room of one of America's great hotels that night, he might +have wondered at the manner in which five of Chicago's great men hung +upon the words of one little Japanese, who, now and then as he spoke, as +if to indicate the vastness and grandeur of his theme, spread his hands +forth in a broad gesture. + +The meal ended, his speech concluded, all questions answered, he at last +rose, and with a low bow said: + +"And now, gentlemen, I leave the proposition with you. Please do not +forget that it is a great and glorious venture; a new and glorious +empire! An honor to your country and mine." + +He was gone. + +For some time the five men sat in silence. Then one of them spoke: + +"Is he mad?" + +"Are we all mad?" questioned a second. His voice was husky. + +"Well," said a third, "it sounds like a dream, a dream of great +possibilities. We must sleep over it." + +Without another word they moved out of the room. The meeting, one of +the most momentous in the history of the century, perhaps, was ended. + + * * * * * + +When Johnny Thompson heard the shot and the guttural mutter, "Da +bolice!" he made a final effort to rally his senses and to put up a +fight. + +He did succeed in struggling to his knees, but to fight was unnecessary. +Just as another shot sent echoes down the alley and a bullet sang over +their heads, his assailants took to their heels. + +A slight, slouching figure came gliding toward Johnny. + +"Jerry the Rat!" he murmured; then to the man himself: + +"So, it's you, Jerry. Haven't seen you for two years." + +Through blear-eyes the little fellow surveyed Johnny for a second. + +"Johnny Thompson, de clean guy wot packs a wallop!" he exclaimed. "Dere +dey go! We can get 'em!" He pointed down the alley. + +"Got a gun?" asked Johnny, standing a bit unsteadily. + +"Two of 'em. C'mon. We ken git de yeggs yit." + +Johnny grasped the gun held out to him and the next instant was +following the strangely swift rat of the waterfront. + +"Dere dey go!" exclaimed the little fellow. + +Down an alley they rushed, then out on a broad, but dimly lighted +street. They were gaining on the gang. They would overhaul them. There +would be a battle. Johnny figured this out as he ran, and tried to +discover the mechanism of his weapon. + +But at that juncture the pursued ones dashed through an open window of a +deserted building which flanked the river. + +"Dere dey go! De cheap sluggers!" exclaimed Jerry. + +Leaping across the street, he reached the window only a moment after the +last of the four had slammed it down. + +But the men had paused long enough to throw the catch. It took Jerry a +full minute to break its grip. + +When, at last, they vaulted cautiously over the sill and flashed their +light about the interior, they found the place empty. + +"Dey's flew de coop!" whispered Jerry. "Now wot's de chanst of dem +makin' a clean git away?" + +They made a hurried examination of all possible exits. All the window +ledges and doorsills were so encrusted with dust that one passing +through them would be sure to leave his mark. That is, all but one were. +One windowsill had apparently been swept clean. But that window faced +the river. As they threw it up, and looked down from its ledge, they saw +only the murky waters of the river swirling beneath them. + +Johnny studied the situation carefully, and the more he studied, the +more baffled he became. If a boat had been tied to the windowsill there +would have been marks on the casing. There were no such marks; yet, the +fugitives had gone that way. He thought of the shots fired from the +river the previous night and tried to connect the two. He could not make +it out. + +"Dey's gone!" said Jerry the Rat. "Did dey fleece y'?" + +Johnny smiled. "They were trying to croak me, Jerry, and they nearly +did it. Got a bump on my head big as a turkey buzzard's egg." + +"Who wuz dey?" + +"That's what I don't know altogether. Say, Jerry, are there some tough +characters hanging around the river these days that ain't regular +crooks?" + +"Is dey? Dere's a mess of 'em!" + +"Where do they stay?" asked Johnny eagerly. + +"Dat's it." The little fellow scratched his head. "I bin skulkin' 'round +'em to find out. Sometimes I follers 'em, like now. Dey always drop out +like this. Dey's queer. Dey ain't regular crooks, nor regular guys +either. Dey's cookin' soup for sump'n big." + +"That's what I think," said Johnny. "What are they like? + +"Dey's five Roosians, three Heinies, one Wop, an' one Jap, I seen." + +"Say, Jerry," said Johnny suddenly, "do you want to earn some honest +money?" + +"Not work?" + +"No, spyin'." + +"Not on me pals? Not on regular crooks?" + +"No, on these queer ones." + +"I'm on. Wot's de lay?" + +"Find where they stay. Hunt them day and night till you do. Here's a +twenty. There's more where that came from. There's a century note if you +get them. Get me?" + +The Rat ducked his head in assent. + +"Then good night." + +"Night," he mumbled. + +They were out of the building now and Johnny made his way cautiously +back to his room. He had had quite enough for one night. Once he paused +to thrust his hand beneath his vest. Yes, the diamonds were still there. +His assailants had not had time to find them. He was not sure whether he +was glad or sorry. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +CIO-CIO-SAN BETRAYED + + +Very alert, Johnny Thompson at the stroke of eight the next night crept +from a narrow runway between two buildings and walked briskly down the +street. He had reached the runway by a route known only to himself. He +was sure that for a time, at least, he would not be followed. At last he +reached the bridge which was coming to harbor many mysteries for him. +Halfway across the span he paused, and sinking into the shadow of an +iron girder, began watching the surface of the water. + +He was, in fact, attempting to understand those murky depths. From his +room he had detected a strange light. Either reflected on the water or +shining up through it, this light appeared a pale yellow glow, such as +he had often seen given off by the jelly fish in the Pacific. That there +was no such jelly fish to be found in fresh water he knew quite well. +And he had never in his life noticed that glow in the river. + +Now, as he surveyed the surroundings, he realized that the light could +not have been reflected from any illumination in street or building. The +glow from the water had appeared close to the wall of the empty building +through which his four assailants of the night before had made good +their escape. + +As he stood there, slouching in the shadows, Johnny gave a great start; +the light had appeared again. Beyond question it was beneath the water, +not shining upon it. From this vantage point the light seemed stronger. +It appeared for a few seconds, then disappeared again. Johnny scratched +his head. What could it mean? For some time he stood in a brown study, +then he laughed silently to himself. + +"Probably phosphorescent substances being sent out from the drainpipe of +a factory or chemical laboratory," he decided. + +At that instant he was all alert. His hand closed on his automatic. A +stealthy footfall had sounded on the bridge. + +"Oh! It's you," he whispered a moment later. + +Hanada grinned as he gripped Johnny's hand. "Thought I might miss you," +he whispered. + +The two were soon engaged in animated conversation. Their talk had to do +with Johnny's adventure of the night before and the information +regarding the Radicals furnished by Jerry the Rat. Hanada appeared +unduly excited at the news. + +"It seems," said Johnny, "that there must be a national conference of +Radicals meeting somewhere near this river. Perhaps our old friend, the +Russian of Vladivostok, is a delegate." + +Hanada shot him a swift glance, as if to say: "How much do you know +about this matter anyway?" + +But for some time the Japanese did not speak; then it was concerning an +entirely different affair. Cio-Cio-San had been visited by a fellow +countryman who, although wholly unknown to her, had appeared to know a +great deal about her private business. He had informed her that she had, +within the last year, been robbed of some very valuable property and +professed to have a knowledge of its whereabouts. If she would accompany +him he would see that it was restored to her. The actions of the man had +aroused her suspicions and she had refused to go. However, she had asked +him to give her a day to think it over. He was to return at nine this +night. + +"Some nifty little mind reader, that Jap," smiled Johnny. "Tell him to +come round and locate my long lost uncle's buried treasure." + +However, though he passed the matter off as a jest, he was doing some +very serious thinking about this rather strange affair. He had never +told Hanada about the diamonds. Neither had he told of the note which +had been thrust under the door. Now he remembered that Jerry the Rat had +spoken of a Jap as a member of the Radicals, and he wondered if +Cio-Cio-San's visitor was the same man. If that were so, then what was +his game? Was he planning to lead Cio-Cio-San into a trap? Certainly if +the treasure the strange Jap had spoken of as having been stolen from +the Japanese girl was the envelope of diamonds, and they had hoped to +recover them from Johnny that night, they would have no intention of +restoring them to Cio-Cio-San. + +"I'd advise her, if I were you," said Johnny slowly, "to find out as +much as she can, and not take too many chances. The man may be one of +the Radicals, and he may be using the supposed treasure as a decoy. At +the same time, if she handles the affair discreetly enough, she may be +able to assist you in locating the Russian and his band, which, I take +it, is your chief end and aim in life just now." + +Hanada sent him another penetrating glance. "You have guessed that +much," he admitted. "Well, soon I may be able to tell you all. In the +meantime, if you need more money to pay this Jerry--Jerry, what was it +you called him?" + +"Jerry the Rat." + +"Yes, yes, Jerry the Rat. If you need more money for him, I can get you +more, plenty more. But," the lines of his face grew tense, "we must find +them and soon, or it may be too late. We must act quickly." + +Hanada had not said one word of his affairs of the night before, nor +did he now as they were about to part. + +Dull and heavy, there came the tread of feet on the bridge. + +"The police!" whispered Johnny. + +Hanada seemed distinctly nervous. + +As the two patrolmen came abreast of them one of them flashed his light. + +Hanada cringed into the shadows. + +"Well," said a deep voice, "here's luck! Youse guys come with us. Youse +guys is wanted at the station." + +"What for?" Johnny demanded. + +"Youse guys know well enough. Treason, they call it." + +"Treason?" Johnny gave a happy laugh. "Treason? They'll have hard work +to prove that." + + * * * * * + +Had one been privileged to see Cio-Cio-San at the moment Johnny Thompson +and his friend were arrested, he might easily have imagined that she was +back in Japan. The room in which she paced anxiously back and forth was +Japanese to the final detail. The floor was covered thickly with +mattings and the walls, done in a pale blue, were hung everywhere with +long scrolls of ancient Japanese origin. Here a silver stork stood in a +pool of limpid blue; there a cherry orchard blossomed out with all the +extravagant beauty of spring, and in the corner a pagoda, with sloping, +red-tile roof and wide doors, proclaimed the fact that the Japanese were +a people of art, even down to house building. Silk tapestries of varying +tints hung about the room, while in the shadows a small heathen god +smiled a perpetual smile. + +But it was none of these things that the girl saw at that moment. This +room, fitted up as it had been by rich Japanese students, most certainly +had brought back fond memories of her own country. But at this instant, +her eyes turned often to a screen behind which was a stand, and on that +stand was a desk telephone. + +Hanada had promised to consult Johnny Thompson regarding the strange +proposition of the unknown Japanese. He had promised to call her at +once; by eight-thirty at the latest. The stranger was to return for his +answer at nine. It now lacked but ten minutes of that hour, and no call +had come from Hanada. She could not, of course, know that the men on +whom she depended for counsel were prisoners of the police. So she paced +the floor and waited. + +Five minutes to nine and yet no call. Wrinkles came to her forehead, her +step grew more impatient. + +"If he does not call, what shall I do?" she asked herself. + +Then there came the sharp ring of the telephone. She sprang to the +instrument, but the call was for another member of the club. + +Three minutes in which to decide. She walked thoughtfully across the +floor. Should she go? Her money was now almost gone. It was true that a +treasure, which to many would seem a vast fortune, had disappeared from +her father's house over night. It had been taken by force. And she knew +the man who had taken it; had followed him thousands of miles. Now there +had come to her a man of her own race, who assured her that the treasure +was not in the possession of the man who had stolen it, but in the +possession of an honest man who would willingly surrender it to her, +providing only he could be made certain that it was to go directly into +her hands. That this might be, he demanded that she meet him at a +certain place known to the strange Japanese. There she might prove her +property. The story did seem plausible--and her need was great. Soon she +would be cast out upon the world without a penny. So long as she had +money she was welcome at this club; not longer. + +There came the purring of a muffled bell in the hall. He had come. + +Should she go? A mood of reckless desperation seized her. + +"I will," she declared. + +The next instant she was tucking a short, gleaming blade beneath her +silk middy and then drawing on a long silk coat. + +The man waited in the hallway. He was doubtless prepared for another +extended argument, but none came. Instead, the girl walked down the +steps with him and into a waiting taxi. + +It was a rather long ride they took. First speeding along between rows +of apartment houses they at last dashed into the business section of +the city. The stranger sat in one corner of the cab, not saying a word. +Passing through the business section, they approached the river. It was +then that Cio-Cio-San's heart began to be filled with dread. She had +heard of many dark deeds done down by the river. But after all, what +could they want of her, a poor Japanese girl, almost without funds? + +The cab came to a stop with a jolt. A tall building loomed above them. +The strange Japanese held the door open that she might alight. She +stepped to the sidewalk, and, at that instant, strong arms seized her, +pinning her arms to her sides, while a coarse cloth was drawn tightly +over her mouth. She then felt herself being pushed through space, and +the next moment heard the muffled echoes of the footsteps of her +captors. They were in the basement of some great deserted building, the +sound told her that. + +"Betrayed! Betrayed!" her mind kept repeating. "Betrayed by one of my +own people!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A THREE-CORNERED BATTLE + + +While Johnny and Hanada were being led away to the patrol box a young +man came running up. He was a reporter, out scouting for news. + +"Who's that?" he asked, as he caught a glimpse of Johnny's face. + +"Johnny Thompson, you nut!" growled the policeman. "Didn't you never +view that map of his before?" + +"Yes, but Johnny Thompson's dead." + +"All right, have it your own way." + +"What's the charge?" + +"Conspiracy. Now beat it." + +The youth started on a run for the nearest telephone. He had hit upon a +first page story. A half-hour later every newsboy in the downtown +district was shouting himself hoarse, and the words he shouted were +these: + +"All about Johnny Thompson. Johnny Thompson, featherweight champion. +Alive! Arrested for conspiracy! Extry!" + +The theatre crowds were thronging the streets, and the newsies reaped a +rich harvest. Among those in the throng was Mazie Mortimer, Johnny +Thompson's one-time pal. She had gone to the theatre alone. When Johnny +was in Chicago, she had gone with him, but now no one seemed to quite +take his place. + +As she hastened to the elevated station the shouts of the newsboys +struck her ears. At first she heard only those two electrifying words, +"Johnny Thompson." Then she listened and heard it all. + +Had she not been held up and hurried along by the throng, she would have +fallen in a faint. As it was her senses seemed to reel. "Johnny +Thompson! Alive! Arrested! Conspiracy!" It could not be true. + +Breaking away from the crowd, she snatched a paper from a boy, flung him +a half-dollar, then hurried to the corner, where, beneath an arclight +she read the astounding news. Again it seemed that her senses would +desert her. With an effort she made her way to a restaurant where a cup +of black coffee revived her. + +For a time she sat in a daze, utterly oblivious of the figure she cut--a +well dressed, handsome young woman in opera cloak and silk gown, seated +at the counter of a cheap restaurant. + +Johnny Thompson alive, here in Chicago, arrested for conspiracy? What +did it mean? Could it mean that Johnny had been a deserter, that he had +become involved in the radical movement which, coming from Russia, +seemed about to sweep the country off its feet? She could not quite +believe that, but-- + +Suddenly a new thought sent her hurrying into the street. Hailing a +taxi, she ordered the chauffeur to drive around the block until she gave +him further orders. Her thoughts now were all shaped toward a definite +end: Johnny Thompson, her good pal, was not dead. He was in Chicago and +in trouble. If it were within her power, she must find him and help him. + +Studying the newspaper, she noted the point at which he had been +arrested. "Wells street bridge," she read. "That means the Madison +Street police station." + +Her lips were at the speaking tube in an instant. "Madison Street +police station, and hurry!" she ordered. "An extra five for speed." The +taxi whirled around a corner on two wheels; it shot by a policeman; +dodged up an alley, and out on the other side, then stopped with a jolt +that came near sending Mazie through the glass. + +"Here you are." She thrust a bill in the driver's hand, then raced up +the steps and into the forbidding police station. + +A sergeant looked up from the desk as she entered. + +"Johnny Thompson," she said excitedly. "I want to see Johnny Thompson!" + +"I'd like to myself, miss," he said smiling. "There never was a +featherweight like him. But he's dead." + +"Dead?" Mazie caught at her throat. + +"Sure. Didn't you read about it? Long time ago. Died in Russia." + +"Oh!" Mazie sank limply into a chair. "Then you haven't heard? He isn't +arrested? He isn't here?" + +"Arrested?" The sergeant's face took on an amused and puzzled look; +then he smiled again. "Oh, yes, there was something on the records +tonight saying he and a Jap was wanted for conspiracy. But take it from +me, lady, that's all pure bunk; some crook posing as Johnny Thompson, +more than likely. I tell you, there never was a more loyal chap than +this same Johnny; one of the first to enlist." + +"I--I know," faltered Mazie. Now, for the first time, she noticed a man +who had entered after her. He stepped to the desk and asked a question +regarding a person she knew nothing of. Then he went silently out again. +Mazie sat quite still, then rising, she smiled faintly at the sergeant. + +"I--I guess you must be right--but--but the papers are full of it." + +"Oh, the papers!" The officer spread his hands out in a gesture of +contempt. "They'd print anything!" + +As Mazie stepped out into the street she was approached by a man, and +with a little start, she noticed that it was the one who had entered the +police station a few minutes before. Halting, she waited for him to +speak. + +"You were looking for Johnny Thompson?" He said the words almost in a +whisper. + +"Yes." + +"Well, he is alive. He is not dead. He was arrested, but has been +discharged. I can take you to him. Shall I?" + +"Oh, will you?" Mazie's voice echoed her gratitude. + +"Sure. There's a taxi now," the man replied in a foreign accent. + + * * * * * + +Johnny had not been released; far from it. And yet it was true, he was +at that very moment free. His freedom was only from moment to moment, +however; the kind of freedom one gets who runs away from the police. + +It was not Johnny's fault that he ran away either. They had been +following the orders of the police to the letter, he and Hanada. They +had gone across the bridge with them, had meekly submitted to being +handcuffed, had been waiting for the patrol-wagon, when things happened. + +Four men dashed suddenly from the darkness, and before the patrolmen +could draw guns or clubs, before Johnny could realize what was +happening, the officers were flat on the pavement, with hands and feet +tied. + +Johnny's brain worked rapidly. He understood all right. These men were +Radicals. He was the prize they were after--he and the diamonds. Once +let him be taken to the police station, there to be searched, the +diamonds would be lost to them forever. + +But handcuffed as he was, Johnny was not the boy to submit to being +kidnapped without a fight. As one of the Radicals leaped at him, he put +his hands up, as in a sign of surrender, then brought them, iron +bracelets and all, crashing down on the fellow's head. The man went down +without a cry. + +Hanada, too, had not been idle. He slipped the handcuffs from his +slender wrists and seizing the club of one of the fallen policemen, +aimed a blow at the second man who leaped at Johnny. A moment later, +Johnny heard his shrill whisper: + +"C'mon!" + +They were away like a flash. Down a dark alley, over a fence, with +Johnny's handcuffs jangling, they sped. Then, after crossing a street +and leaping into a yard filled with junk and scrap iron, they paused. + +"Let's see," said Hanada. + +He took Johnny's wrist, and after twisting the iron bracelets and +working for a moment with a bit of rusty wire, he unlocked the handcuffs +and threw them in the scrap heap. + +"Clumsy things! Belong there," he grunted. + +"But," said Johnny slowly, "what's the big idea? They'll get us again, +and running away will only get us in bad. They'll think those Radicals +were in cahoots with us." + +"I think not," said Hanada. "We left them one or two of the Radicals for +samples. But that doesn't much matter now. They will get me, yes. And +they will not let me go either, not even under bond. But you, you have +done nothing. They will let you go. My testimony will set you free. Then +you must carry on the hunt and the fight, which they will keep me from +continuing because they do not know what they are doing. That's why I +must have a little time to talk to you before they take me; time to +explain everything, and to tell you how very important it is that you +get that Russian, and all those that are with him." + +"My room," whispered Johnny, now breathless with interest. "My room; the +police do not know about it. We might be able to hide there for hours. +We can reach it by the next bridge and by alleys and roofs. C'mon!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +HANADA'S SECRET + + +Johnny smiled grimly. He was in his old place by the window overlooking +the river. Hanada was seated beside him. + +They could hear the many noises that rose from the street below. Now a +patrol wagon came jangling by. Now a squad of policemen emerged from one +alley to plunge down another. A riot call had been sent in and the +streets were alive with patrolmen and detectives all on the trail of +Johnny and his Japanese companion. By this time, too, they must be on +the trail of the Radicals. So far as Johnny knew, the Radicals had not +actually interfered with the enforcement of the law. Now driven to +desperation at the thought of the loss of that treasure which was still +in Johnny's possession, they had stepped over the line. From now on the +police would be after them. Johnny was awakened from these reflections +by the voice of Hanada. + +"That man," the Japanese youth was saying, "that Russian, the one we +have followed so far, he is the big one, the head of the Radical +movement, and he is at this moment in conference with all his chosen +leaders. To-morrow, next day, next week, he may strike. And what will +the result be? Who can tell? In the whole world he has millions of +followers who will rise at his call. We must get him, get that man +before it is too late. I am a member of the Japanese Secret Police. And +you?" + +"A plain American citizen," answered Johnny, "which, by the laws of our +land, makes me a policeman, a marshal, a member of the secret +service--anything and everything, when the safety of my people, the +stability of my government, is at stake." Johnny's chest swelled +proudly. + +"Oh! I understand," breathed Hanada. + +"But," said Johnny quickly, "you say we must get that man. I have had +opportunities to kill him, to let him be killed and always you have +hindered me. Why?" + +"Don't you see even now?" Hanada asked. "Don't you see that now is the +time to strike? Now he is meeting with his leaders. We must take him not +alone, but the whole band. We must scatter them to the ends of the +earth, put them in prison, banish them. Then the whole affair will be +ended forever." + +Hanada leaned forward. His eyes glowed; his words were sharp with +excitement. Johnny listened, breathless. + +"We must get them all," he continued. "That is why our secret service +people allowed him to break through the lines at Vladivostok, and make +his way north to cross the Strait. That is why I followed him, as an +Eskimo, to dog his tracks and yet to protect him. That is why he could +not be killed. He was to be a decoy; a decoy for the whole band. Your +Secret Service, of which I thought you were a member, would not have +allowed him to cross to America. That is why I deserted you at East +Cape. I thought you were of the Secret Service, and would have the +Russian arrested as soon as his foot touched American soil. That is why +I said the offer of a reward for his arrest was a blunder. Don't you +see? We were to get them all." + +"But the girl, Cio-Cio-San?" Johnny questioned. + +"She is not of the secret police. She helps me as a friend, that's all, +and I will help her if I can." + +Johnny wished to question him regarding the treasure, but something held +him back. + +"So you see how it is." Hanada spoke wearily. "We have gone so far, so +very far. Mebbe to-morrow, mebbe next day, we would have uncovered their +lair; but to-night the police are on my trail, for 'treason' they call +it. Bah! It was a dream, a great and wonderful dream; a dream that would +mean much for your country and mine." His words were full of mystery. +"But now they will arrest me, and you must carry on the hunt for the +Russian and his band. This other thing, it can wait. It will come, +sometime, but not now." + +"What other?" asked Johnny. + +Hanada did not answer. + +There came the stealthy shuffle of feet in the corridor. + +"They are coming," whispered Hanada. "Remember my testimony will free +you, but you must not stop; you must hunt as never before, you must get +that man!" + +There came, not the expected tattoo of police billies on the door, but a +shrill whisper through the key-hole: + +"Johnny," the voice said, "are you there? Let me in. I seen it! I seen +it! I get the century note you promised me! Let me in!" + + * * * * * + +When Mazie entered the taxi with the man who was an entire stranger to +her she did it on the impulse of the moment. The swift sequence of +events had carried her off her feet. First, she had been startled into +the hope that Johnny still lived; then she had been assured by the +police sergeant that he could not possibly be living, only to be told a +moment later by this stranger that he was still alive. + +Once she had settled back against the cushions and felt the jolt of the +taxi over the car tracks, she began to have misgivings. Was this a trap? +Had she better call to the driver and demand to be allowed to alight? A +glance at her fellow traveler tended to reassure her. He was +undoubtedly a foreigner, but was an honest-looking fellow and neatly +dressed. + +As the cab lurched into a side street toward the river, she again +experienced misgivings; but this time it was the faint hope still +lingering in her breast of seeing her good pal once more that kept her +in her seat. + +The taxi paused before an old building which was enshrouded in darkness. +She was ushered out of the taxi and the next instant, before she had +time to cry out, she was bound and gagged. Her feet were tied as well as +her hands, and she was hastily carried into the building. Through rooms +and halls all dark as night she was half carried, half dragged, until +she found herself out over the swirling waters of the river. + +Wild questions rushed through her brain. Was this murder? Bound and +gagged as she was, would she be thrown into the river to drown? Why? Who +were these men? She had not believed until that moment that she had an +enemy in the world. She knew no secrets that could inspire anyone to +kill her. + +While all these thoughts were driving through her brain, she was being +slowly lowered toward the water. Down, down she sank until it seemed to +her she could feel the wash of the water on her skirts. At that instant, +when all seemed lost, strong arms seized her and she was carried down a +clanking iron stairway. + +She caught her breath. She must now be far below the level of the water. +What place was this she was being taken into? And why? + +She was finally flung down upon a leather covered lounge. The next +moment the whole place seemed to be sinking with her as if she were in +some slowly descending elevator. + +Opening her eyes she looked about her. The place, a long and narrow +compartment, was dimly lighted by small incandescent bulbs. The +trapdoor, or whatever it had been, through which she had been carried, +was closed. + +Eight or ten men were grouped about the room, while in one of the +darkest corners cowered a little Japanese girl. One of the men came +close to Mazie and untied her bonds, also removing the gag. She was now +free to move and talk. She realized the utter uselessness of either. The +walls of the room appeared to be of steel. There was a strange +stuffiness about the air of the place; they must be either underground +or under water. She did not know what was to be the next move, or why +she was here. She realized only that she could do nothing. + +Instinctively she moved toward the girl in the corner. Before she had +gone half the distance, a man uttered a low growl of disapproval, and +motioned her to a chair. She sat down unsteadily and, as she did so, she +realized that the place had a slightly rolling motion, like a ship on +the sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +"I SEEN IT--A SUBMARINE!" + + +When Johnny realized that it was Jerry the Rat who was whispering at the +keyhole he admitted him at once. + +"I seen it! I seen it; a submarine! A German submarine in the river!" +the Rat whispered excitedly. "I seen dose blokes wid me own eyes. Dey +wuz packin' a skirt thru de hatch. Den dey dropped in too. Den dey let +down the hatch, an' swush-swuey, down she went, an' all dey left was a +splash in de ol' Chicago!" + +"A submarine!" Johnny exclaimed. "That doesn't sound possible; not a +German submarine surely!" + +"The same," insisted Jerry. "Some old tub. Saw her over by the Municipal +Pier, er one like her. Some old fish!" + +Johnny sat in silent thought. Hanada was gazing out of the window. +Suddenly the Jap exclaimed in surprise: + +"Did you see that? There it goes again! Lights flashing beneath the +water. It's the 'sub' for sure. Couldn't be anything else." + +"I have seen such lights before," said Johnny, striving hard to maintain +a sane judgment in this time of great crisis, "but I attributed it to +phosphorus on the water." + +"Couldn't be!" declared Hanada. "Couldn't make a flicker and flash like +that. I tell you, it's a submarine, and the home of the Radicals. That's +why we couldn't find them. That's where our Russian disappeared to that +night on the bridge. That's where the shots came from. Remember right +from the center of the river? That's where your four assailants went to +when they vanished from that deserted building. It's the Radicals. +C'mon! We may not be too late yet. We'll get them before the police get +us." + +Together the three rushed from the room. + +"Did you say they were carrying a woman?" Johnny asked Jerry, as they +hastened down the stairs. + +"Yes, a skirt; a swell-looking skirt. Mouth gagged, hands tied, but +dressed to kill, opry coat and everything!" + +"Some more of their dirty work," Johnny grumbled, "but we'll get them +this time. If we can convince the police that they're there they'll drag +the river and haul 'em out like a dead rat." + + * * * * * + +At the moment when the three men were hurrying down the stairs which led +from Johnny's room to the street, Mazie sat silently searching the faces +of the men about her. Wild questions raced through her brain. Who were +these men? Why had they kidnapped her? What did they want? What would +they do to her? She shivered a little at the last question. + +That they were criminals she had not the least doubt. Only criminals +could do such a thing. But what type of criminal were they? In her +research courses at the University she had visited court rooms, jails +and reformatories. Criminals were not new to her. But these men lacked +utterly the markings of the average city criminal. Their eyes lacked the +keen alertness, their fingers the slim tapering points of the +professional crook. Suddenly, as she pondered, there came to her mind a +paragraph from one of her text-books on crime: + +"There are two types of law-breakers. The one believes that the hand of +organized society is lifted against him; the other that he is bound to +lift his hand against organized society. The first class are the common +crooks of the street, and are ofttimes more to be pitied than blamed, +for after all, environment has been a great factor in their undoing. The +second group are those men who are opposed to all forms of organized +society. They are commonly known as Radicals. There is little to be said +in their favor. Reared, more often than not, in the lap of a society +organized for the welfare of all, they turn ungratefully against the +mother who nurtured and protected them." + +As she recalled this, Mazie realized that this group must be a band of +Radicals. Radicals? And one of them had promised to take her to her +friend, Johnny Thompson. Could it be that in Russia, that hotbed of +radicalism, Johnny had had his head turned and was at that moment a +member of this band? It did not seem possible. She would not for a +moment believe it. + +She was soon to see, for a man of distinctly Russian type, a short man +with broad shoulders, sharp chin and frowning brow, approached her, and +in a suave manner began to speak to her. + +"You have nothing to fear from us, Miss," he began. "We are gentlemen of +the finest type. No harm will come to you during your brief stay with +us; and I trust it may be very brief." + +Mazie heaved a sigh of relief. Perhaps there was going to be nothing so +very terrible about the affair after all. + +"We only ask a little service of you," the Russian continued as he let +down a swinging table from the wall, and drawing a chair to it, motioned +her to be seated. He next placed pen, ink and paper on the table. + +"You cannot know," he said with a smile, "that your friend, Johnny +Thompson, has been causing me a very great deal of trouble of late." + +Mazie felt a great desire to shout on hearing this, for it told her +plainly that Johnny was no friend of this crowd. + +"No, of course you could not know," the man went on, "since you have not +seen him. I may say frankly that your friend is clever, and has a way, +quite a way, of using his hands." + +Mazie did not need to be told that. + +"But it is not that of which I wish to speak." The Russian took a step +nearer. Mazie, feeling his hot breath on her cheek, shrank back. "Your +friend, as I say, has been troubling us a great deal, and in this he has +been misled, sadly misled. He does not understand our high and lofty +purpose; our desire to free all mankind from the bonds of organized +society. If he knew he would act far differently. Of course, you cannot +explain all this to him, but you can write him a note, just a little +note. You will write it now, in just another moment. First, I will tell +you what to say. Say to him that you are in great trouble and danger. +Say that you may be killed, or worse things may happen to you, unless he +does precisely as you tell him to do. Say that he is to leave a certain +package, about which he knows well enough, at the Pendergast Hotel, to +be given to M. Kriskie. Say that he is, after that, to leave Chicago at +once and is not to return for sixty days. + +"See?" He attempted another smile. "It is little that we ask of you; +little that we ask of him--virtually nothing." + +Mazie's heart was beating wildly. So that was the game? She was to be a +decoy. She knew nothing of Johnny's actions, but knew they were for the +good of his country. How could she ask him to abandon them for her sake? + +As her eyes roamed about the room they fell upon the little Jap girl. In +her face Mazie read black rage for the Russian, and a deep compassion +for herself. + +"Come," said the Russian; "we are wasting time. Is it not so? You must +write. You should begin now. So, it will be better for all." + +For answer, Mazie took the paper in her white, delicate fingers and tore +it across twice. Then she threw it on the floor. + +Quickly the man's attitude changed to wild rage. + +"So!" he roared. "You will not write? You will not? We shall see!" + +He seized her arm and gripped it until the blood rushed from her face, +and she was obliged to bite her lips to suppress a scream. + +"So!" he raged. "We shall see what happens to young women like you. +First, we will kill your young friend, Johnny Thompson; then what good +will your refusal have done? After that, we shall see what will happen +to you. We Radicals will win by fair means or foul. What does it matter +what means we take, so long as the point has been won?" + +Roughly he pulled her from the chair and flung her from him. + +Then the little Japanese girl was dragged to the chair. A Japanese man, +whom Mazie had not before noticed, came forward. From his words and +gestures Mazie concluded that he was going through, in the Japanese +language, the same program which the Russian had just finished. + +The results were apparently the same, for at the close the girl threw +the paper cm the floor and stamped upon it. At that the Russian's rage +knew no bounds. With an imprecation, he sprang at the Japanese girl. As +Mazie looked on in speechless horror, she fancied she caught the gleam +of a knife in the girl's hand. + +But at that instant the attention of all was drawn to a man, who, after +peering through some form of a periscope for a moment, had uttered a +surprised exclamation. Instantly the Japanese man sprang to a strangely +built rifle which lay against the wall. This he fitted into a frame +beside the periscope and thrust its long barrel apparently through the +ceiling of the compartment and into the water above. Adjusting a lever +here, and another there, he appeared to sight through a hollow tube that +ran along the barrel. + +"Now," said the Russian, a cruel gleam in his eye, "we shall kill your +two friends whom you so blindly refused to protect. Providence has +thrown them within our power. They are on the bridge at this moment. The +rifle, you see, protrudes quite through the water. Our friend's aim is +true." + +The Japanese girl, seeming to grasp the import of this, sprang at her +fellow countryman. But she was too late. There came the report of two +explosions in quick succession. Through the periscope, Mazie caught a +glimpse of two bodies falling on the bridge. Then she closed her eyes. +Her senses reeled. + +This lasted but a moment. Then her eyes were on the little Jap girl. +She had dropped to the floor, as if crushed; but there was a dark gleam +of unutterable hate in her eyes. She was looking at the Japanese man, +who, after firing the rifle, had turned and was going through a door +into a rear compartment. + +Like a flash, the Jap girl sprang after him. With a cry that died on her +lips, Mazie followed, and as she entered the compartment slamming the +heavy metal door, she threw down the iron clamps which held it. + +They were now two to one, but that one was a man. However, there was no +call for effort on her part. Like a tigress the Japanese girl, +Cio-Cio-San, sprang at the man of her own country. + +"You traitor!" she gasped. "You have betrayed me, your +fellow-countryman, and murdered my friend!" and she drove her dagger +into his breast to the hilt. + +Mazie closed her eyes and sat down dizzily. When she dared look up, she +saw the man sprawled on the floor, and the girl crouching beside him, +like a wild beast beside her kill. + +Seeming to feel Mazie's eyes upon her, Cio-Cio-San turned and smiled +strangely, as she said: + +"He is dead!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER + + +The Russian had told the truth when he said the friends of Mazie and +Cio-Cio-San were on the bridge. Johnny and Hanada had rushed from the +room and had been standing there straining their eyes for a trace of +that strange light beneath the water, when the first shot rang out. But +the Russian had not counted on the extraordinary speed with which Johnny +could drop to earth. + +Before the second shot could be fired, Johnny was flat on the surface of +the bridge, quite out of range. Hanada had not fared so well. The first +shot had been aimed at him and had found its mark. He lay all crumpled +up, groaning in mortal agony. + +"Get you?" Johnny whispered. + +"Yes," the boy groaned, "but you--you get that man." + +There came the tramp of feet on the bridge. The police had heard the +shots. The long finger of light from the police boat again felt its way +back and forth through the darkness. + +"D' you shoot?" demanded the first policeman to arrive. + +"No! No! They didn't do it," a second man interrupted before Johnny +could reply. "It came from the river. I saw the flash. Devils of the +river's deep! What kind of a fight is this, anyway?" + +"I seen it! I seen it!" It was Jerry the Rat who now broke into the +gathering throng. "I seen it; a German sub." + +"A submarine!" echoed a half dozen policemen at once. + +"I think he is right," said Johnny. "You better drag the river." + +"Hello!" exclaimed one of the officers. "If this ain't the same two guys +we've been looking for? Johnny Thompson and the Jap." + +"You are right," said Johnny disgustedly, "but for once use a little +reason. There are world crooks down there in the river and they have +some helpless woman there as hostage. Perhaps by this time they may be +killing her. I'll keep. I can't get away; not for good. I'm known the +country over, beside your charge against me is false, idiotic." + +"Yes, yes," it was Hanada's hoarse whisper. "Take me to a hospital. I'll +tell all and you will know he was not in it at all. Let him help you. +And--and, for God's sake, get that man." + +He sank back unconscious. + +"Here, Mulligan," ordered a sergeant, "you and Murphy take this Jap to +the Emergency quick. You, Kelly and Flannigan, get over to the box and +call the police boats with drags. Tell 'em to drag the river from +Madison street in one direction and from the lake in the other. It +sounds like a dream, but this thing has got to be cleared up. Them shots +come from the river sure's my name's Harrigan. We got to find how it's +done." + +A half hour later, two innocent looking police boats moved silently up +the river from Madison street bridge. They traveled abreast, keeping +half the river's width between them. From their bows there protruded to +right and left, heavy iron shafts. From these iron shafts, at regular +intervals, there hung slender but strong steel chains. These chains +reaching nearly to the bottom of the river were fitted up at the lower +end with heavy pronged steel hooks. At that same moment, two similarly +equipped boats started up the river from the lake. They were combing the +river with a fine tooth comb. + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile the men beneath the surface of the river were not idle. They +did not realize the danger which their last act had drawn them into and +therefore did not attempt to escape by running their craft out into the +lake. But they did have other matters to attend to. One of their number +was locked in the rear compartment. His fate was unknown to them. This +much they did know, he had not unfastened the door nor answered when +they called to him. + +After vainly pounding and kicking the door, they lifted a heavy steel +shaft and using this as a battering ram, proceeded to smash the door +from its fastenings. At first this did not avail. But at last each +succeeding blow left a slightly larger gap between the door and its +steel jamb. Then suddenly, after a violent ram, which sent echoes +through the compartment, the lower catch gave way. With a hoarse shout +the Russian urged his men to redoubled effort. Three more times they +backed away to come plunging forward. The third blow struck the door at +the very spot where the fastening still hung. And then, with a creaking +groan the door gave way. + +Just inside the door, Mazie stood tense, motionless, her arms +outstretched in terror. Fingers rigid, lips half-parted in a scream, she +stared at the door. In the doorway stood the Russian, a knife gleaming +in his hand. For a second his eyes searched the room. Then they fell on +the body of the Jap huddled on the floor. Rage darkened his face as the +Russian took a step forward. + +At that instant there had come a dull sound of metal grating on metal. +The Russian toppled over on his side and the two girls were thrown to +the floor. + +The chamber had given a sudden lurch. The next instant it rolled quite +over, piling the two women and the corpse in a heap and sending the door +shut with a bang. The Russian had fallen outside. The craft rolled over, +once, twice, three times and then hung there, with the floor for its +ceiling. + +Overcome with fright and misery, Mazie did not stir for a full minute, +then she dragged herself from the gruesome spot where she lay. + +She gave one quick glance at the door. It appeared to have been wedged +solidly shut. Then she turned to Cio-Cio-San, who also had arisen. + +"What can have happened?" Mazie asked in a voice she could scarcely +believe was her own. + +What had happened was this: one of the hooks on the police boat had +caught in an outer railing of the submarine. The giant iron fish was +hooked. + +To throw other drags, fastened on longer chains, into the sub; to send +tugs and police boats snorting backward; to tighten the chains and draw +the sub to the surface, to whirl it about until the hatchway was once +more at the upper side, this was merely a matter of time. + +When the Radicals saw what had been done, they doubtless realized that +if they refused to come out the lid would be blown off and they would +be likely to perish in the explosion. They had apparently planned to +charge the police and attempt an escape, for the Russian came first with +a rush, a pistol in each hand. But Johnny Thompson's good right arm +spoiled all this. He had leaped to the surface of the sub and when the +Russian appeared he gave him a blow under the chin that lifted him off +his feet and sent him plunging into the river. + +Seeing this the other members of the gang surrendered. + +Johnny was the first man below. Seeing the closed door to the right, he +hammered on it, shouting: + +"C'mon out, we're the police." + +Slowly the door opened. There before him stood Mazie. + +"Mazie!" Johnny's eyes bulged with astonishment. + +"Johnny!" There was a sob in her voice. Then catching herself, she +glanced down at her wrinkled and blood-bespattered dress. + +"Johnny," she implored, "for goodness' sake get me out of this horrid +place so I can change these clothes." + +"There's decent enough dresses at the police station," suggested a +smiling officer. + +"Call the wagon," said Johnny. + +Soon they were rattling away toward the station, Mazie, Cio-Cio-San, and +Johnny. + +"Johnny," Mazie whispered, "you didn't desert, did you?" + +"Did you think that?" Johnny groaned in mock agony. + +"No, honest I didn't, but what--what did you do?" + +"Just got tired of waiting for Uncle Sam to bring me home from Russia, +so I walked, that's all. Here's my discharge papers, all right. And +here's my transportation." + +With a smile Johnny handed her the two crumpled papers. + +"You see," he exclaimed, "a Russian brigand got me in the left arm when +I was guarding the Trans-Siberian Railroad. They sent me to the +hospital, then gave me my discharge. Said I'd be no more good as a +soldier. And after waiting for a boat that never seemed to come I hit +out for the north. Nothing crooked about that at all, but I had to be a +bit sly about it anyway, for Uncle Sam don't like to have you take +chances even if you are discharged." + +"Oh! Johnny, that's grand!" murmured Mazie. + +The rest of the journey was accomplished in silence. Now and again Mazie +gave Johnny's arm a little squeeze, as if to make sure he was still +there. + +"Gee, kid," Johnny exclaimed as Mazie reappeared, after a half hour in +the matron's room. "You sure do look swell." + +She was dressed in the plain cotton dress furnished by the city to +destitute prisoners. But the dress was as spotlessly clean as was +Mazie's faultless complexion. + +"Gee, Mazie!" Johnny went on, "I've seen you in a lot of glad rags but +this tops them all. Looks like you'd just come from your own +kitchenette." + +Mazie bit her lip to hide her confusion. Then blushing, she said: + +"Johnny, I'm hungry. When do we eat?" + +"I know a nice place right round the corner. C'mon. Where's +Cio-Cio-San?" + +"Gone to the Emergency hospital." + +"Hanada," Johnny exclaimed. "I must find out about him." + +"Just came from there myself," said the police sergeant, a kindly light +in his eyes. "I'm sorry to tell you, but your friend's checked in." + +"Dead?" + +"Dead," answered the officer, "but he lived long enough to know that the +band of world outlaws was captured. He died happy knowing that he had +served his country well, and I guess that's about all any Jap asks." + +"Oh, yes, one more thing," he went on; "he cleared up that little matter +of conspiracy before he died. Something that concerned him alone. You +weren't in it. His part, well, you might call it treason, then again you +mightn't. Considering what he's done for this country and his, we don't +call it treason. It's been sponged off the slate." + +"I'm glad to hear that," sighed Johnny, as he turned to rejoin Mazie. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE OWNER OF THE DIAMONDS + + +Johnny did not return to his room that night. After reporting to the +police station and letting them know where he might be found if needed, +he secured a room in one of Chicago's finest hotels, and pulling down +the blinds turned in to sleep until noon. + +When he awoke he remembered at once that he had several little matters +to attend to. Hanada's funeral would be cared for by his own people. But +he must see Cio-Cio-San; he must get the hundred dollars promised to +Jerry the Rat and he must put in a claim for the thousand dollars reward +offered for the arrest of the Russian. He need bother his head no longer +about the captured Radicals. There was plenty of evidence aboard the +craft to condemn them to prison or deportation. + +When he came down to the hotel desk he found a letter waiting for him. +He opened this in some surprise and read it in great astonishment. It +was from one of Chicago's richest men; a man he had never met and indeed +had never dreamed of meeting. Yet here was the man's note requesting him +to meet him in his private office at five o'clock. + +"All right, I'll do that little thing," Johnny whispered to himself, +"but meantime I'll go out to the University and see Cio-Cio-San." + +An hour later he found himself sitting beside the Japanese girl on the +thick mats of that Japanese room at her club. + +"Cio-Cio-San," he said thoughtfully, "I remember hearing you tell of +having been robbed of a treasure. Did you find it last night in the +submarine?" + +"No," she said softly. "Last night was a bad night for me. I lost my +best friend. He is dead. I lost my treasure. I do not hope to ever find +it now." + +"Cio-Cio-San," Johnny said the name slowly. "Since you do not hope ever +to see your treasure again, perhaps you will tell me what it was." + +"Yes, I will tell you. You are my good friend. It was diamonds, one +hundred and ten diamonds and ten rubies, all in a leather lined envelope +with three long compartments. The rubies were at the bottom of the +envelope." + +"Then," said Johnny, "you are not so far from your treasure after all. A +few of the stones are gone, but most of them are safe." + +He drew from his pocket the envelope which he had carried so far and at +such great peril. + +Had he needed any reward, other than the consciousness of having done an +honest deed, he would have received it then and there in the glad cry +that escaped from the Japanese girl's lips. + +When she had wept for joy, she opened the envelope and shaking out the +three loose stones dropped them into Johnny's hand. + +"What's that?" he asked. + +"A little reward. A present." + +Taking the smallest of the three between finger and thumb he gave her +back the others. + +"One is enough," he told her. "I'll give it to Mazie." + +"Ah, yes, to Mazie, your so beautiful, so wonderful friend," she +murmured. Then, after a moment, "As for me, I go back to my own people. +I shall spend my life and my fortune helping those very much to be +pitied ones who have lost all in that so terrible Russia." + +As Johnny left that room, he thought he was going to have that diamond +set in a ring and present it to Mazie the very next day. But he was not. +That interview with one of Chicago's leading bankers at five o'clock was +destined to change the course of his whole life; for though the Big Five +had never decided to act in unison with Hanada in his wild dream of a +Kamchatkan Republic--the plan which had brought his arrest as a +conspirator--they did propose to work those Kamchatkan gold mines on an +old concession, given them by the former Czar, and they did propose that +Johnny take charge of the expedition. + + +THE END + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Triple Spies, by Roy J. Snell + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13880 *** diff --git a/13880-h/13880-h.htm b/13880-h/13880-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e9666cb --- /dev/null +++ b/13880-h/13880-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5119 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=UTF-8"> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Triple Spies, by Roy J. Snell. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + ins.correction {border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: red; border-bottom-width:1px;} + .caption {font-size: smaller; margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 25%; } + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 1em; font-size: smaller; float: right; clear: right;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + .poem .caesura {vertical-align: -200%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13880 ***</div> + +<h3><i>Mystery Stories for Boys</i></h3> + +<h1>Triple Spies</h1> + +<h3><i>By</i></h3> + +<h2>ROY J. SNELL</h2> + +<br /> + +<h4>The Reilly & Lee Co.</h4> +<h4>Chicago</h4> +<h4>1920</h4> +<br /> +<center> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="750" height="471" alt="Roy J. Snell, and his sledge-team of Alaskan Huskies." title="Roy J. Snell, and his sledge-team of Alaskan Huskies."> +</center> +<div class="caption"><center><b>Roy J. Snell, and his sledge-team of Alaskan Huskies.</b></center></div> +<br /> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<br /> +<h4>Table of Contents</h4> + +<center>I <a href="#CHAPTER_I">THE DEN OF DISGUISES</a></center> +<center>II <a href="#CHAPTER_II">THE MYSTERIOUS RUSSIAN</a></center> +<center>III <a href="#CHAPTER_III">TREACHERY OUT OF THE NIGHT</a></center> +<center>IV <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">A NARROW ESCAPE</a></center> +<center>V <a href="#CHAPTER_V">"FRIEND? ENEMY?"</a></center> +<center>VI <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">"NOW I SHALL KILL YOU"</a></center> +<center>VII <a href="#CHAPTER_VII">SAVED FROM THE MOB</a></center> +<center>VIII <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">WHEN AN ESKIMO BECOMES A JAP</a></center> +<center>IX <a href="#CHAPTER_IX">JOHNNY'S FREE-FOR-ALL</a></center> +<center>X <a href="#CHAPTER_X">THE JAP GIRL IN PERIL</a></center> +<center>XI <a href="#CHAPTER_XI">A FACE IN THE NIGHT</a></center> +<center>XII <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">"GET THAT MAN"</a></center> +<center>XIII <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">BACK TO OLD CHICAGO</a></center> +<center>XIV <a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">THE MYSTERY OF THE CHICAGO RIVER</a></center> +<center>XV <a href="#CHAPTER_XV">THE CAT CRY OF THE UNDERWORLD</a></center> +<center>XVI <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CIO-CIO-SAN BETRAYED</a></center> +<center>XVII <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">A THREE-CORNERED BATTLE</a></center> +<center>XVIII <a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">HANADA'S SECRET</a></center> +<center>XIX <a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">"I SEEN IT—A SUBMARINE!"</a></center> +<center>XX <a href="#CHAPTER_XX">AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER</a></center> +<center>XXI <a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">THE OWNER OF THE DIAMONDS</a></center> + +<br /> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<br /> +<a name="TRIPLE_SPIES"></a><h2>TRIPLE SPIES</h2> +<br /> + +<a name="CHAPTER_I"></a><h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>THE DEN OF DISGUISES</h3> +<br /> + +<p>As Johnny Thompson stood in the dark doorway of the gray stone +court-yard he shivered. He was not cold, though this was +Siberia—Vladivostok—and a late winter night. But he was excited.</p> + +<p>Before him, slipping, sliding, rolling over and over on the hard packed +snow of the narrow street, two men were gripped in a life and death +struggle. They had been struggling thus for five minutes, each striving +for the upper hand. The clock in the Greek Catholic church across the +way told Johnny how long they had fought.</p> + +<p>He had been an accidental and entirely disinterested witness. He knew +neither of the men; he had merely happened along just when the row +began, and had lingered in the shadows to see it through. Twelve, yes, +even six months before, he would have mixed in at once; that had always +been his way in the States. Not that he was a quarrelsome fellow; on the +contrary he was fond of peace, was Johnny, in spite of the fact that he +carried on his person various medals for rather more-than-good +feather-weight fighting. He loved peace so much that he was willing to +lick almost anyone in order to make them stop fighting. That was why he +had joined the American army, and allowed himself to be made part of the +Expeditionary force that went to the Pacific coast side of Siberia.</p> + +<p>But twelve months in Siberia had taught him many things. He had learned +that he could not get these Russians to stop quarreling by merely +whipping them. Therefore, since these men were both Russians, he had let +them fight.</p> + +<p>The tall, slender man had started it. He had rushed at the short, square +shouldered one from the dark. The square shouldered one had flashed a +knife. This had been instantly knocked from his grasp. By some chance, +the knife had dropped only an arm's length from the doorway into which +Johnny had dodged. Johnny now held the knife discreetly behind his +back.</p> + +<p>Yes, Johnny trembled. There was a reason for that. The tall, slender man +had gained the upper hand. He was stretched across the prone form of his +antagonist, his slim, horny hands even now gliding toward the other's +throat. And, right there, Johnny had decided to draw the line. He was +not going to allow himself to witness the strangling of a man. That +wasn't his idea of fighting. He would end the fight, even at the expense +of being mussed up a bit himself, or having certain of his cherished +plans interfered with by being dragged before a "Provo" as witness or +participant.</p> + +<p>He was counting in a half-audible whisper, "Forty-one, forty-two, +forty-three." It was a way he had when something big was about to +happen. The hand of the slender man was at the second button on the +other's rough coat when Johnny reached fifty. At sixty it had come to +the top button. At sixty-five his long finger-tips were doubling in for +the fatal, vice-like grip. Noiselessly, Johnny laid the knife on a cross +bar of the door. Knives were too deadly. Johnny's "wallop" was quite +enough; more than enough, as the slender one might learn to his sorrow.</p> + +<p>But before Johnny could move a convulsion shot through the prostrate +fighter. He was again struggling wildly. At the same instant, Johnny +heard shuffling footsteps approaching around the corner. He was sure he +did not mistake the tread of Japanese military police who were guarding +that section of the city. For a moment he studied the probabilities of +the short one's power of endurance, then, deciding it sufficient to last +until the police arrived, he gripped the knife behind his back and +darted toward an opposite corner where was an alley offering safety. +There were very definite reasons why Johnny did not wish to figure even +as a witness in any case in Vladivostok that night.</p> + +<p>In a doorway off the alley, he paused, listening for sounds of increased +tumult. They came quickly enough. There was a renewed struggle, a grunt, +a groan; then the scuffling ceased.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, a figure darted down the alley. Johnny caught a clear view of +the man's face. The fugitive was the shorter man with broad shoulders +and sharp chin; the man who the moment before had been the under dog. +He was followed closely by another runner, but not his antagonist in the +street fight. This man was a Japanese; and Johnny saw to his surprise +that the Jap did not wear the uniform of the military police; in fact, +not any uniform at all.</p> + +<p>"Evidently, that stubby Russian with the queer chin is wanted for +something," Johnny muttered. "I wonder what. Anyway, I've got his +knife."</p> + +<p>At that he tucked the weapon beneath his squirrel-lined coat and, +dropping out of his corner, went cautiously on his way.</p> + +<p>So eager was he to attend to other matters that the episode of the +street fight was soon forgotten. Dodging around this corner, then that, +giving a wide berth to a group of American non-coms, dashing off a hasty +salute to three Japanese officers, he at last turned up a narrow alley, +and, with a sigh of relief, gave three sharp raps, then a muffled one, +at a door half hidden in the gloom.</p> + +<p>The door opened a crack, and a pair of squint eyes studied him +cautiously.</p> + +<p>"Ow!" said the yellow man, opening the door wider, and then closing it +almost before Johnny could crowd himself inside.</p> + +<p>To one coming from the outer air, the reeking atmosphere within this low +ceilinged, narrow room was stifling. There was a blend of vile odors; +opium smoke, not too ancient in origin, mixed with smells of cooking, +while an ill-defined but all-pervading odor permeated the place; such an +odor as one finds in a tailor's repair shop, or in the place of a dealer +in second-hand clothing.</p> + +<p>Second-hand clothing, that was Wo Cheng's line. But it was a rather +unusual shop he kept. Being a Chinaman, he could adapt himself to +circumstances, at least within his own realm, which was clothes. His +establishment had grown up out of the grim necessity and dire pressure +of war. Not that the pressure was on his own person; far from that. +Somewhere back in China this crafty fellow was accumulating a fortune. +He was making it in this dim, taper-lighted, secret shop, opening off an +alley in Vladivostok.</p> + +<p>In these times of shifting scenes, when the rich of to-day were the poor +of to-morrow, or at least were under the necessity of feigning poverty, +there were many people who wished to change their station in life, and +that very quickly. It was Wo Cheng's business to help them make this +change. Many a Russian noble had sought this noisome shop to exchange +his "purple and fine linen" for very humble garb, and just what he took +from the pockets of one and put in the pockets of the other suit, Wo +Cheng had a way of guessing, though he appeared not to see at all.</p> + +<p>Johnny had known Wo Cheng for some time. He had discovered his shop by +accident when out scouting for billets for American soldiers. He had +later assisted in protecting the place from a raid by Japanese military +police.</p> + +<p>"You wanchee somsling?" The Oriental grinned, as Johnny seated himself +cross-legged on a grass mat.</p> + +<p>"Yep," Johnny grinned in return, "wanchee change." He gripped the lapel +of his blouse, as if he would remove it and exchange for another.</p> + +<p>"You wanchee clange?" The Chinaman squinted at him with an air of +incredulity.</p> + +<p>Then a light of understanding seemed to over-spread his face. "Ow!" he +exclaimed, "no can do, Mellican officer, not any. No can do."</p> + +<p>"Wo Cheng, you no savvy," answered Johnny, glancing about at the tiers +of costumes which hung on either side of the wall.</p> + +<p>"Savvy! Savvy!" exclaimed Wo Cheng, bounding away to return with the +uniform of an American private. "Officer, all same," he exclaimed. "No +can do."</p> + +<p>"No good," said Johnny, starting up. "You no savvy. Mebby you no wanchee +savvy. No wanchee uniform. Wanchee clothes, fur, fur, plenty warm, you +savvy? Go north, north, cold, savvy?"</p> + +<p>"Ow!" exclaimed the Chinaman, scratching his head.</p> + +<p>"Wo Cheng!" said Johnny solemnly, "long time my see you. Allatime, my +see you. Not speak American Major; not speak Japanese police."</p> + +<p>Wo Cheng shivered.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Johnny, "my come buy."</p> + +<p>"Ow!" grunted Wo Cheng, ducking from sight and reappearing quickly with +a great coat of real seal, trimmed with sea otter, a trifle which had +cost some noble of other days a king's ransom.</p> + +<p>"No wanchee," Johnny shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Ow!" Wo Cheng shook his head incredulously. This was his rarest +offering. "You no got cumshaw, money?" he grinned. "All wite, my say."</p> + +<p>"No wanchee my," Johnny repeated.</p> + +<p>The Chinaman took the garment away, and returned with a similar one, +less pretentious. This, too, was waved aside.</p> + +<p>By this time Johnny had become impatient. Time was passing. A special +train was to go north at four o'clock. It was going for reindeer meat, +rations for the regiment that was Johnny's, or, at least, had been +Johnny's. He could catch a ride on that train. A five hundred mile lift +on a three thousand mile jaunt was not to be missed just because this +Chink was something of a blockhead.</p> + +<p>Pushing the proprietor gently to one side, Johnny made his way toward +the back of the room. Scrutinizing the hangers as he went, and giving +them an occasional fling here and there, as some garment caught his eye, +he came presently upon a solid square yard of fur. With a grunt of +satisfaction, he dragged one of the garments from its place and held it +before the flickering yellow taper.</p> + +<p>The thing was shaped like a middy-blouse, only a little longer and it +had a hood attached. It was made of the gray squirrel skins of Siberia, +and was trimmed with wolf's skin. As Johnny held it against his body, it +reached to his knees. It was, in fact, a parka, such as is worn by the +Eskimos of Alaska and the Chukches, aborigines of North Siberia.</p> + +<p>One by one, Johnny dragged similar garments from their hangers. Coming +at last upon one made of the brown summer skins of reindeer, and trimmed +with wolverine, he seemed satisfied, for, tossing the others into a +pile, he had drawn off his blouse and was about to throw the parka over +his head, when something fell with a jangling rattle to the floor.</p> + +<p>"O-o-ee!" grunted the <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: The original text reads 'Chinman'">Chinaman</ins>, as he stared at the +thing. It was the knife which had belonged to the Russian of the broad +shoulders and sharp chin. As Johnny's eyes fell upon it now, he realized +that it was an altogether unusual weapon. The blade was of blue steel, +and from its ring it appeared to be exceptionally well tempered. The +handle was of strangely carved ivory.</p> + +<p>Quickly thrusting the knife beneath his belt, Johnny again took up the +parka. This time, as he drew the garment down over his head, he appeared +to experience considerable difficulty in getting his left arm into the +sleeve. This task accomplished, he stretched himself this way and that. +He smoothed down the fur thoughtfully, pulled the hood about his ears, +and back again, twisted himself about to test the fit, then, with a sigh +of content, turned to examine a pile of fur trousers.</p> + +<p>At that instant there came a low rap at the door—three raps, to be +accurate—then a muffled thud.</p> + +<p>Johnny started. Someone wanted to enter. He was not exactly in a +condition to be seen, especially if the person should prove to be an +American officer. His fur parka, topping those khaki trousers and +puttees of his, would seem at least to tell a tale, and might complicate +matters considerably. Quickly seizing his blouse, he crowded his way +far back into the depths of a furry mass of long coats.</p> + +<p>"Wo Cheng!" he whispered, "my wanchee you keep mouth shut. Allatime +shut!"</p> + +<p>"O-o-ee," grunted the Chinaman.</p> + +<p>The next moment he had opened the door a crack.</p> + +<p>The squint eyes of the Chinaman surveyed the person without for a long +time, so long, in fact, that Johnny began to wonder what sort of person +the newcomer could be. Wo Cheng was keen of wit. To many he refused +entrance. But he was also a keen trader. All manner of men and women +came to him; some for a permanent change of costume, some for a night's +exchange only. Peasants, grown suddenly and strangely rich, bearing +passports and tickets for other lands, came to buy the cast-off finery +of the one time nobility. Russian, Japanese, American soldiers and +officers came to Wo Cheng for a change, most of them for a single twelve +hours, that they might revel in places forbidden to men in uniform. But +some came for a permanent change. Wo Cheng never inquired why. He asked +only "Cumshaw, money," and got it.</p> + +<p>Was this newcomer Russian, Japanese, Chinaman or American?</p> + +<p>The door at last opened half way, then closed quickly. The person who +stood blinking in the light was not a man, but a woman, a short and slim +young woman, with the dark round face of a Japanese.</p> + +<p>"You come buy?" solicited Wo Cheng.</p> + +<p>For answer, the woman drew off her outer garment of some strange wool +texture and trimmed with ermine. Then, as if it were an everyday +occurrence, she stepped out of her rich silk gown, and stood there in a +suit of deep purple pajamas.</p> + +<p>She then stared about the place until her eyes reached the fur garments +which Johnny had recently examined. With a laugh and a spring, lithe as +a panther, she seized upon one of these, then discarding it with a +fling, delved deeper until she came upon some smaller garments, which +might better fit her slight form. Comparing for a moment one of squirrel +skin with one of fawn skin, she finally laid aside the latter. Then she +attacked the pile of fur trousers. At the bottom she came upon some +short bloomers, made also of fawn skin. With another little gurgle of +laughter, she stepped into these. Next she drew the spotted fawn skin +parka over her head, and stood there at last, the picture of a winsome +Eskimo maid.</p> + +<p>This done, woman-like, she plumed herself for a time before a murky +mirror. Then, turning briskly, she slipped out of the garments and back +into her own.</p> + +<p>"You wanchee cumshaw?" she asked, handing the furs to the Chinaman to be +wrapped.</p> + +<p>The Chinaman grinned.</p> + +<p>From somewhere on her person she extracted bills, American bills. Johnny +was not surprised at that, for in these uncertain times, American money +had come to be an undisputed medium of exchange. It was always worth as +much to-day as yesterday—very often more. The thing that did surprise +Johnny was the size of the bills she left with the dealer. She was +buying those garments, there could be no question about that. But why? +No one in this region would think of wearing them. They were seldom seen +five hundred miles north. And this woman was a Japanese. There were no +Japanese men at Khabarask, five hundred miles north, let alone Japanese +women; Johnny knew that.</p> + +<p>But the door had closed. The American looked at his watch. It was one +o'clock. The train went at four. He must hurry.</p> + +<p>He was about to move out from among the furs, when again there came a +rap, this time loud and insistent, as if coming from one who was +accustomed to be obeyed.</p> + +<p>"American officer!" Johnny stifled a groan, as he slid back into hiding.</p> + +<p>"Wo Cheng!" he cautioned again in a whisper, "my wanchee you keep mouth +shut; you savvy?"</p> + +<p>"O-o-ee," mumbled Wo Cheng, his hand on the latch.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_II"></a><h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE MYSTERIOUS RUSSIAN</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny's jaw dropped, and he barely checked a gasp, as through his +screen of furs he saw the man who now entered Wo Cheng's den of +disguises. He was none other than the man of the street fight, the short +one of the broad shoulders and sharp chin. Johnny was surprised in more +ways than one; surprised that the man was here at all; that it could +have been he who had given that authoritative signal at the door, and +most of all, surprised that Wo Cheng should have admitted him so +readily, and should be treating him with such deference.</p> + +<p>"Evidently," Johnny thought to himself, "this fellow has been here +before."</p> + +<p>Although unquestionably a Russian, the newcomer appeared quite equal to +the task of making his wants known in Chinese, for after a moment's +conversation the two men made their way toward the back of the room.</p> + +<p>Johnny had his second shock when he saw the garments the Russian began +to examine. They were no other than those which had twice before in the +last hour been examined by customers, the clothing for the Far North. +This was too much. Again, he barely checked a gasp. Was the entire +population of the city about to move to the polar regions? He would ask +Wo Cheng. In the meantime, Johnny prayed that the Russian might make his +choice speedily, since the time of departure of his train was +approaching.</p> + +<p>The Russian made his selections, apparently more from a sense of taste +than with an eye to warmth and service. This final choice was a suit of +squirrel skin and boots of deer skin.</p> + +<p>"Cumshaw?"</p> + +<p>Into Wo Cheng's beady, squinting eyes, as he addressed this word to the +Russian, there came a look of malignant cunning which Johnny had not +seen there before. It sent chills racing up and down his spine. It +almost seemed to him that the Chinaman's hand was feeling for his belt, +where his knife was hidden.</p> + +<p>For a moment the Russian turned his back to Wo Cheng, and so faced +Johnny. Behind his screen, the "Yank" could observe his actions without +himself being seen.</p> + +<p>From an inner pocket the Russian extracted a long, thick envelope. +Unwrapping the cord at the top of this, he shook from it three shining +particles.</p> + +<p>"Diamonds!" Johnny's eyes were dazzled with the lustre of the jewels.</p> + +<p>The Russian, selecting one, dropped the others back into the envelope.</p> + +<p>"Bet he's got a hundred more," was Johnny's mental comment. Then he +noticed a peculiarity of the envelope. There was a red circle in the +lower, left hand corner, as if a seal had been stamped there. He would +remember that envelope should he ever see it again.</p> + +<p>But at this instant his attention was drawn to the men again. The +Russian had turned and handed the gem to Wo Cheng. Wo Cheng stepped to +the light and examined it.</p> + +<p>"No need cumshaw my," he murmured.</p> + +<p>The Russian bowed gravely, and turned toward the door.</p> + +<p>It was then that the face of the Chinaman underwent a rapid change. The +look of craftiness, treachery, and greed swept over it again. This time +the yellow man's hand unmistakably reached for the knife.</p> + +<p>Then he appeared to remember Johnny, for his hand dropped, and he half +turned with an air of guilt.</p> + +<p>The door closed with a little swish. The Russian was gone. With him went +the stifling air of treachery, murder and intrigue, yet it left Johnny +wondering. Why was every man's hand lifted against the sharp-chinned +Russian? Had Wo Cheng been actuated by hate, or by greed? Johnny could +not but wonder if some of Russia's former noblemen did not rest in +shallow graves beneath Wo Cheng's cellar floor. But there was little +time for speculation. In two hours the special train that Johnny wanted +to take would be on its way north.</p> + +<p>Springing nimbly from his place of hiding, Johnny recovered his blouse, +and having secured from it certain papers, which were of the utmost +importance to him, he pinned them in a pocket of his shirt. He next +selected a pair of wolf skin trousers, a pair of corduroy trousers, one +pair of deer skin boots and two of seal skin.</p> + +<p>"Cumshaw?" he grinned, facing Wo Cheng, as he completed his selection.</p> + +<p>The yellow man shrugged his shoulders, as if to say it made little +difference to him in this case.</p> + +<p>Johnny peeled a bill from his roll of United States currency and handed +it to him.</p> + +<p>"Wo Cheng," he said slowly, "go north, Jap woman? Go north, that +Russian? Why?"</p> + +<p>The Chinaman's face took on a mask-like appearance.</p> + +<p>"No can do," he muttered. "Allatime keep mouth shut my."</p> + +<p>"Tell me," commanded Johnny, advancing in a threatening manner, with his +hand near the Russian's knife.</p> + +<p>"No can do," protested the Chinaman cringing away. "Allatime keep mouth +shut my. No ask my. No tell my. Allatime buy, sell my. No savvy my."</p> + +<p>It was evident that nothing was to be learned here of the intentions of +the two strangers; so, grasping his bundle, Johnny lifted the latch and +found himself out in the silent, deserted alley.</p> + +<p>The air was kind to his heated brow. As he took the first few steps his +costume troubled him. He was wearing the parka and the corduroy +trousers. He felt no longer the slight tug of puttees about his ankles. +His trousers flapped against his legs at every step. The hood heated the +back of his neck. The fur trousers and the skin boots were in the bundle +under his arm. His soldier's uniform he had left with the keeper of the +hidden clothes shop. He hardly thought that anyone, save a very personal +acquaintance, would recognize him in his new garb, and there was little +chance of such a meeting at this hour of the night. However, he gave +three American officers, apparently returning from a late party of some +sort, a wide berth, and dodging down a narrow street, made his way +toward the railway yards where he would find the drowsy comforts of the +caboose of the "Reindeer Special."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"American, ain't y'?" A sergeant of the United States army addressed +this question to Johnny.</p> + +<p>The latter was curled up half asleep in a corner of the caboose of the +"Reindeer Special" which had been bumping over the rails for some time.</p> + +<p>"Ya-a," he yawned.</p> + +<p>"Going north to trade, I s'pose?"</p> + +<p>Johnny was tempted not to answer. Still, he was not yet out of the +woods.</p> + +<p>"Yep," he replied cheerfully. "Red fox, white fox, mink, squirrel, +ermine, muskrat. Mighty good price."</p> + +<p>"Where's your pack?" The sergeant half grinned.</p> + +<p>Johnny sat up and stared. No, it was not that he had had a pack and lost +it. It was that he had never had a pack. And traders carried packs. Why +to be sure; things to trade for furs.</p> + +<p>"Pack?" he said confusedly. "Ah-er, yes. Why, yes, my pack, of course, +why I left it; no—hang it! Come to think of it, I'm getting that at the +end of this line, Khabarask, you know."</p> + +<p>Johnny studied the old sergeant through narrowing eyelids. He had given +him a ten spot before the train rattled from the yards. Was that enough? +Would any sum be enough? Johnny shivered a little. The man was an old +regular, a veteran of many battles not given in histories. Was he one +of those who took this motto: "Anything's all right that you can get +away with?" Johnny wondered. It might be, just might be, that Johnny +would go back on this same train to Vladivostok; and that, Johnny had no +desire to do.</p> + +<p>The sergeant's eyes closed for a wink of sleep. Johnny looked furtively +about the car. The three other occupants were asleep. He drew a fat roll +of American bills from his pocket. From the very center he extracted a +well worn one dollar bill. Having replaced the roll, he smoothed out the +"one spot" and examined it closely. Across the face of it was a purple +stamp. In the circle of this stamp were the words, "Wales, Alaska." A +smile spread over Johnny's shrewd, young face.</p> + +<p>"Yes sir, there you are, li'l ol' one-case note," he whispered. "You +come all the way from God's country, from Alaska to Vladivostok, all by +yourself. I don't know how many times you changed hands before you got +here, but here you are, and it took you only four months to come. Stay +with me, little old bit of Uncle Sam's treasure, and I'll take you +home; straight back to God's country."</p> + +<p>He folded the bill carefully and stowed it in an inner pocket, next to +his heart.</p> + +<p>If the missionary postmistress at Cape Prince of Wales, on Behring +Strait, had realized what homesick feelings she was going to stir up in +Johnny's heart by impressing her post office stamp on that bill before +she paid it to some Eskimo, perhaps she would not have stamped it, and +then again, perhaps she would.</p> + +<p>A sudden jolt as they rumbled on to a sidetrack awoke the sergeant, who +seemed disposed to resume the conversation where he had left off.</p> + +<p>"S'pose it's mighty dangerous tradin' on this side?"</p> + +<p>"Uh-huh," Johnny grunted.</p> + +<p>"S'pose it's a long way back to God's country this way?"</p> + +<p>"Uh-huh."</p> + +<p>"Lot of the boys mighty sick of soldiering over here. Lot of 'em 'ud try +it back to God's country 'f 'twasn't so far."</p> + +<p>"Would, huh?" Johnny yawned.</p> + +<p>"Ye-ah, and then the officers are mighty hard on the ones they +ketch—ketch desertin', I mean—officers are; when they ketch 'em, an' +they mostly do."</p> + +<p>"Do what?" Johnny tried to yawn again.</p> + +<p>"Ketch 'em! They're fierce at that."</p> + +<p>There was a knowing grin on the sergeant's face, but no wink followed. +Johnny waited anxiously for the wink.</p> + +<p>"But it's tough, now ain't it?" observed the sergeant. "We can't go home +and can't fight. What we here for, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Ye-ah," Johnny smiled hopefully.</p> + +<p>"Expected to go home long ago, but no transportation, not before spring; +not even for them that's got discharges and papers to go home. It's +tough! You'd think a lot of 'em 'ud try goin' north to Alaska, wouldn't +you? Three days in God's country's worth three years in Leavenworth; +you'd think they'd try it. And they would, if 't'wasn't so far. Gad! +Three thousand miles! I'd admire the pluck of the fellow that dared."</p> + +<p>This time the wink which Johnny had been so anxiously awaiting came; a +full, free and frank wink it was. He winked back, then settled down in +his corner to sleep.</p> + +<p>A train rattled by. The "Reindeer Special" bumped back on the main track +and went crashing on its way. It screeched through little villages, half +buried in snow. It glided along between plains of whiteness. It rattled +between narrow hills, but Johnny was unconscious of it all. He was fast +asleep, storing up strength for the morrow, and the many wild to-morrows +which were to follow.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_III"></a><h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>TREACHERY OUT OF THE NIGHT</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny moved restlessly beneath his furs. He had been dreaming, and in +his dream he had traveled far over scorching deserts, his steed a camel, +his companions Arabs. In his dream he slept by night on the burning +sand, with only a silken canopy above him. In his dream he had awakened +with a sense of impending danger. A prowling tiger had wandered over the +desert, an Arab had proved treacherous—who knows what? The feeling, +after all, had been only of a vague dread.</p> + +<p>The dream had wakened him, and now he lay staring into utter darkness +and marveling that the dream was so much like the reality. He was +traveling over barren wastes with a caravan; had been for three days. +But the waste they crossed was a waste of snow. His companions were +natives—who like the Arabs, lived a nomadic life. Their steeds the +swift footed reindeer, their tents the igloos of walrus and reindeer +skins, they roamed over a territory hundreds of miles in extent. To one +of these "fleets of the frozen desert," Johnny had attached himself +after leaving the train.</p> + +<p>It had been a wonderful three days that he had spent in his journeying +northward. These Chukches of Siberia, so like the Eskimos of Alaska that +one could distinguish them only by the language they spoke, lived a +romantic life. Johnny had entered into this life with all the zest of +youth. True, he had found himself very awkward in many things and had +been set aside with a growled, "Dezra" (that is enough), many times but +he had persevered and had learned far more about the ways of these +nomads of the great, white north than they themselves suspected.</p> + +<p>During those three days Johnny's eyes had been always on the job. He had +not traveled a dozen miles before he had made a thorough study of the +reindeer equipment. This, indeed, was simple enough, but the simpler +one's equipment, the more thorough must be one's knowledge of its +handling. The harness of the deer was made of split walrus skin and +wood. Simple wooden hames, cut to fit the shoulders of the deer and tied +together with a leather thong, took the place of both collar and hames +of other harnesses. From the bottom of these hames ran a broad strap of +leather. This, passing between both the fore and hind legs of the deer, +was fastened to the sled. A second broad strap was passed around the +deer's body directly behind the fore legs. This held the pulling strap +above the ground to prevent the reindeer from stepping over his trace. +In travel, in spite of this precaution, the deer did often step over the +trace. In such cases, the driver had but to seize the draw strap and +give it a quick pull, sending the sled close to the deer's heels. This +gave the draw straps slack and the deer stepped over the trace again to +his proper place.</p> + +<p>The sleds were made of a good quality of hard wood procured from the +river forests or from the Russians, and fitted with shoes of steel or of +walrus ivory cut in thin strips. The sleds were built short, broad and +low. This prevented many a spill, for as Johnny soon learned, the +reindeer is a cross between a burro and an ox in his disposition, and, +once he has scented a rich bed of mosses and lichens, on which he feeds, +he takes on the strength and speed of an ox stampeding for a water hole +in the desert, and the stubbornness of a burro drawn away from his +favorite thistle.</p> + +<p>The deer were driven by a single leather strap; the old, old jerk strap +of the days of ox teams. Johnny had demanded at once the privilege of +driving but he had made a sorry mess of it. He had jerked the strap to +make the deer go more slowly. This really being the signal for greater +speed, the deer had bolted across the tundra, at last spilling Johnny +and his load of Chukche plunder over a cutbank. This procedure did not +please the Chukches, and Johnny was not given a second opportunity to +drive. He was compelled to trot along beside the sleds or, back to back +with one of his fellow travelers, to ride over the gleaming whiteness +that lay everywhere.</p> + +<p>It was at such times as these that Johnny had ample opportunity to study +the country through which they passed. Lighted as it was by a glorious +moon, it presented a grand and fascinating panorama. To the right lay +the frozen ocean, its white expanse cut here and there by a pool of salt +water pitchy black by contrast with the ice. To the left lay the +mountains extending as far as the eye could see, with their dark purple +shadows and triangles of light and seeming but another sea, that +tempest-tossed and terrible had been congealed by the bitter northern +blasts.</p> + +<p>When twelve hours of travel had been accomplished, and it had been +proposed that they camp for the night, Johnny had been quite free to +offer his assistance in setting up the tents. In this he had been even +less successful than in his performance with the reindeer. He had set +the igloo poles wrong end up and, when these had been righted, had +spread the long haired deerskin robes, which were to serve as the inner +lining of the shelters, hair side out, which was also wrong. He had once +more been relegated to the background. This time he had not cared, for +it gave him an opportunity to study his fellow travelers. They were for +the most part a dark and sullen bunch. Not understanding Johnny's +language, they did not attempt to talk with him, but certain gloomy +glances seemed to tell him that, though his money had been accepted by +them, there was still some secret reason why he might have been +traveling in safer company.</p> + +<p>This, however, was more a feeling than an idea based on any overt act of +the natives, and Johnny tried to shake it off. That he might do this +more quickly, he gave himself over to the study of these strange nomads. +Their dress was a one-piece suit made of short haired deer skins. Men, +women and children dressed alike, with the exception that very small +children were sewed into their garments, hands, feet and all and were +strapped on the sleds like bundles.</p> + +<p>The food was strange to the American. One needed a good appetite to +enjoy it. Great twenty-five pound white fish were produced from skin +bags and sliced off to be eaten raw. Reindeer meat was stewed in copper +kettles. Hard tack was soaked in water and mixed with reindeer suet. Tea +from the ever present Russian tea kettle and seal oil from a sewed up +seal skin took the place of drink and relish. The tea was good, the +seal oil unspeakable, a liquid not even to be smelled of by a white man, +let alone tasted.</p> + +<p>By the second day Johnny had found himself confining his associations to +one person, who, to all appearances, was a fellow passenger, and not a +member of the tribe. He had learned to pitch his own igloo and hers. Not +five hours before he had hewn away a hard bank of snow and built there a +shelf for his bed. When his igloo was completed he had erected a second +not many feet away. This was for his fellow passenger. In case anything +should happen he felt that he would like to be near her, and she had +shown by many little signs that she shared his feelings in this.</p> + +<p>"In case something happened," Johnny reflected drowsily. He had a +feeling that, sooner or later, something was going to happen. There was +something altogether mysterious about the actions of these Chukches, +especially one great sullen fellow, who had come skulking about Johnny's +igloo just before he had turned in.</p> + +<p>These natives were supposed to be trustworthy, but Johnny had his +misgivings and was on his guard. They had come in contact with +Russians, perhaps also with Orientals, and had learned treachery.</p> + +<p>"And yet," thought Johnny, "what could they want from me? I paid them +well for my transportation. They sold their reindeer to the American +army for a fat price. They would be more than greedy if they wanted +more."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, the air of mystery hung about him like a dark cloud. He +could not sleep. And not being able to sleep, he meditated.</p> + +<p>He had already begun the eternal round of thoughts that will revolve +through a fellow's brain at night, when he heard a sound—the soft crush +of a skin boot in the snow it seemed. He listened and thought he heard +it again, this time more distinctly, as if the person were approaching +his igloo. A chill crept up and down his spine. His right hand +involuntarily freed itself from the furs and sought the cold hilt of the +Russian knife. He had his army automatic, but where there are many ears +to hear a shot, a knife is better.</p> + +<p>"What an ideal trap for treachery, this igloo! A villain need but creep +through tent-flaps, pause for a breath, then stealthily lift the deer +skin curtain. A stab or a shot, and all would be ended." These thoughts +sped through Johnny's mind.</p> + +<p>Scarcely breathing, he waited for other signs of life abroad at that +hour of night—a night sixteen hours long. He heard nothing.</p> + +<p>Finally, his mind took up again the endless chain of thought. He had +arrived safely at Khabarask, the terminus of the Russian line. Here he +had remained for three days, half in hiding, until the "Reindeer +Special" had completed its loading and had started on its southern +journey to the waiting doughboys. During those three days he had made +two startling discoveries; the short Russian of the broad shoulders and +sharp chin, he of the envelope of diamonds, was in Khabarask. Johnny had +seen him in an eating place, and had had an opportunity to study him +without being observed. The man, he concluded, although a total stranger +in these parts, was a person of consequence, a leader of some sort, +accustomed to being obeyed. There seemed a brutal certainty about the +way he ordered the servants of the place to do his bidding. There was a +constant wrinkle of a frown between his eyes. A man, perhaps without a +sense of humor, he would force every issue to the utmost. Once given an +idea, he would override all obstacles to carry it through, not stopping +at death, or at many deaths. This had been Johnny's mental analysis of +the character of the man, and at once he began to half hate and half +admire him. He had lost sight of him immediately, and had not discovered +him again. Whether the Russian had left town before the native band did, +Johnny could not tell. But, if he had moved on, where did he go?</p> + +<p>The other shock was similar in character. The woman who had bought furs +for the North had also been in Khabarask. Whether she was a Japanese +Johnny was not prepared to say, and that in spite of the fact that he +had studied her carefully for five days. She might be a Chukche who, +through some strange impulse, had been led south to seek culture and +education. He doubted that. She might be an Eskimo from Alaska making +her way north to cross Behring Strait in the spring. He doubted that +also. Finally she might be a Japanese woman, but in that case, what +could be the explanation of her presence here, some two hundred miles +north of the last vestige of civilization?</p> + +<p>Now, not ten feet from the spot where Johnny lay in an igloo assigned +for her private use by the natives, that identical girl slept at this +moment. Only four hours before, Johnny had bade her good night, after an +enjoyable repast of tea, reindeer meat and hard bread prepared by her +own hand over a small wood fire. It was she who was his fellow +passenger, whose igloo he had erected, close to his own. Yes, there was +mystery enough about the whole situation to keep any fellow awake; yet +Johnny hated himself for not sleeping. He felt that the time was coming +when he would need stored strength.</p> + +<p>He had half dosed off when a sound very close at hand, within the walls +of canvas he thought, started him again into wakefulness. His arm ready +and free for action, he lay still. His breathing well regulated and +even, as in sleep, he watched through narrow slit eyes the deer skin +curtain rise, and a head appear. The ugly shaved head of a Chukche it +was; and in the intruder's hand was a knife.</p> + +<p>The knife startled Johnny. He could not believe his eyes. He thought he +was seeing double; yet he did not move.</p> + +<p>Slowly, silently the arm of the native rose until it hung over Johnny's +heart. In a second it would—</p> + +<p>In that second something happened. There came a deadly thwack. The +native, without a cry, fell backward beyond the curtain. His knife shot +outward too, and stuck hilt downward in the snow.</p> + +<p>Johnny drew himself slowly from beneath the furs. Lifting the deer skin +curtain cautiously, he looked out. Then he chuckled a cold, dry chuckle. +His knuckles were bloody, for the only weapon he had used was that truly +American weapon, a clenched fist. Johnny, as I have suggested before, +was somewhat handy with his "dukes." His left was a bit out of repair +just now, but his right was quite all right, as the crumpled heap of a +man testified.</p> + +<p>Johnny bent over the man and twisted his head about. No, his neck was +not broken. Johnny was thankful for that. He hated to see dead people +even when they richly deserved to die.</p> + +<p>Then he turned to the knife. He started again, as he extricated the +hilt from the snow. But there was no time for examining it. His ear +caught a stifled cry, a woman's cry. It came, without a doubt, from the +igloo of his fellow traveler, the woman. Hastily thrusting his knife in +his belt, he threw back the tentflap and crossed the intervening +snowpatch in three strides.</p> + +<p>He threw back the canvas just in time to seize a second native by the +hood of his deer skin parka. He whirled the man completely about, tossed +him high in the air, then struck him as he was coming down; struck him +in the same place he had hit the other, only harder, very much harder. +He did not examine him later for a broken neck, either.</p> + +<p>Turning, Johnny saw the woman staring at him. Evidently she had slept in +her furs. As she stood there now, she seemed quite equal to the task of +caring for herself. There was a muscular sturdiness about her which +Johnny had failed to notice before. In her hand gleamed a wicked looking +dagger with a twisted blade.</p> + +<p>But that she had been caught unawares, there could be no question, and +from the kindly flash in her eyes Johnny read the fact that she was +grateful for her deliverance.</p> + +<p>He threw one glance at the other igloos. Standing there casting dark, +purple shadows, they were strangely silent. Apparently these two +murderers had been appointed to accomplish the task alone. The others +were asleep. For this Johnny was thankful.</p> + +<p>Turning to the woman he said sharply:</p> + +<p>"Gotta git outa here. You, me, savvy?"</p> + +<p>"Savvy," she replied placidly.</p> + +<p>Seizing her fur bag of small belongings, Johnny hastened before her to +where the sled deer were tethered. Two sleds were still loaded, one with +an unused igloo and deerskins, the other with food. To each of these +Johnny hastily harnessed a reindeer. Then whipping out his knife, he cut +the tether of all the other deer. They would follow; it was the way of +reindeer.</p> + +<p>Johnny smiled. These extra deer would spell the others and quicken +travel. In case of need, they could be killed for food. Besides, if they +had no deer, the treacherous natives could not follow. They would be +obliged to return to the Russian town they had left and make a new +start, and by that time—Johnny patted his chest where reposed the bill +with the Alaskan stamp on it, and murmured:</p> + +<p>"Stay with me li'l' ol' one-spot, and I'll take you home."</p> + +<p>He cast one more glance toward the igloos. Not a soul had stirred.</p> + +<p>"We're off," he exclaimed, leaping on his sled and slapping his reindeer +on the thigh with the jerkstrap.</p> + +<p>"Yes," the Jap girl smiled as she followed his example.</p> + +<p>Johnny thought they were "off," but it took only an instant to tell that +they were not. His deer cut a circle and sent him gliding away over the +snows. Fortunately he held to his jerkstrap and at last succeeded in +stopping the animal's mad rush.</p> + +<p>The Jap girl smiled again as she took the jerkstrap from his hand and +tied it down short to her own sled. Then she leaped upon her sled again +and, with some cooing words spoke to her reindeer. The deer tossed his +antlers and trotted quietly away, leaving Johnny to spring upon his own +sled and ride in increasing wonderment over the long glistening miles.</p> + +<p>When they had traveled for eight hours without a pause and without a +balk, the Jap girl allowed her deer to stop. She loosened the draw strap +and, turning the animal about, tied him by a long line to the sled, that +he might paw moss from beneath the snow in a wide circle.</p> + +<p>"How—how'd you know how to drive?" Johnny stammered.</p> + +<p>"Never before so," she smiled.</p> + +<p>"You mean you never drove a reindeer?"</p> + +<p>"Before now, no. Hungry you?" The Jap girl smiled, as if to say, "Enough +about that, let's eat."</p> + +<p>It was a royal meal they ate together, those two there beneath the +Arctic moon. This Jap girl was a wonder, Johnny felt that, and he was to +learn it more certainly as the days passed.</p> + +<p>Three days later he sat upon a robe of deer skin. The corners of the +robe were drawn up over his shoulders. A shelter of deer skins and +walrus skins, hastily improvised by him during the beginning of a +terrible blizzard which came howling down from the north, was ample to +keep the wind from driving the biting snow into their faces, but it +could hardly keep out the cold. In spite of that, the Jap girl, buried +in deer skins, with her back against his, was sleeping soundly. Johnny +was sleeping bolt upright with one ear awake. His reindeer were picketed +close to the improvised igloo. Other nights, they had taken turns +watching to protect them from prowling wolves, but this night no one +could long withstand the numbing cold of the blizzard. So he watched and +half slept. Now he caught the rising howl of the wind, and now felt its +lull as the deer skins sagged. But what was this? Was there a different +note, a howl that was not of the wind?</p> + +<p>Shaking himself into entire wakefulness, Johnny sat bolt upright and +listened intently. Yes, there it was again. A wolf beyond doubt, as yet +some distance away, but coming toward them with the wind.</p> + +<p>A wolf, a single one, was not all menace. If he could be shot before his +fangs tore at the flesh of a reindeer, there would be gain. He would be +food, and at the present moment there was no food. The Jap girl did not +know it, but Johnny did. Not a fish, not a hunk of venison, not a pilot +biscuit was on their sled. They would soon be reduced to the necessity +of killing and eating one of their deer, unless, unless—the howl came +more plainly and strangely enough with it came the crack crack of hoofs.</p> + +<p>Johnny sprang to his feet. What could that crack cracking of hoofs mean? +Had one of his deer already broken his tether?</p> + +<p>With automatic in hand, he was out in the storm in an instant. Even as +he became accustomed to the dim light, he saw a skulking form drifting +down with the wind. Dropping upon his stomach, he took deliberate aim +and fired. There was a howl of agony but still the creature came on. +Another shot and it turned over tearing at the whirling snow.</p> + +<p>Johnny jumped to his feet. "Eats," he murmured.</p> + +<p>But then there came that other sound again, the crack crack of hoofs. He +peered through the swirling snow, counting his reindeer. They were all +there. Here was a mystery. It was not long in solving. He had but to +glance to the south of his reindeer to detect some dark object bulking +large in the night.</p> + +<p>"A deer!" he muttered. "A wild reindeer! What luck!"</p> + +<p>It was true. The wolf had doubtless been stalking him. Creeping +stealthily forward, foot by foot, Johnny was at last within easy range +of the creature. His automatic cracked twice in quick succession and a +moment later he was exulting over two hundred pounds of fresh meat, food +for many days.</p> + +<p>Twenty hours later, Johnny found himself sitting sleepily on the edge of +one of the deer sleds. The reindeer, unhitched and tethered, were +digging beneath the snow for moss. The storm had subsided and once more +they had journeyed far. The Jap girl was buried deep beneath the furs on +the other sled.</p> + +<p>Johnny was puzzling his brain at this time over one thing. They had +followed a half covered, ancient trail due north for two days. Then a +fresh track had joined the old one. It was the track of a man with dog +team and sled. This they had followed due north again, and two hours +ago, while the deer were resting and feeding, Johnny had detected the +Jap girl in the act of measuring the footprints of the man who drove the +dog team.</p> + +<p>She had appeared troubled and embarrassed when she knew that he had seen +what she was doing. Notwithstanding the fact that there had been no sign +of guilt or treachery in her frank brown eyes, Johnny had been +perplexed. What secret was she hiding from him? What did she know, or +seek to know, about this man whose trail had joined theirs at an angle? +Could it be? No, Johnny dismissed the thought which came to his mind.</p> + +<p>He had dismissed all his perplexities, and was about to abandon himself +to three winks of sleep, when something on the horizon attracted his +attention. A mere dot at first, it grew rapidly larger.</p> + +<p>"Dog team or reindeer on our trail," he thought. "I wonder."</p> + +<p>From beneath his parka he drew his long blue automatic. After examining +its clip, he laid it down on the sled with two other clips beside it. +Then he drew the two knives also from his belt; the one he had secured +at the time of the street fight in Vladivostok, the other had belonged +to the Chukche who had attacked him. For the twentieth time he noted +that they were exactly alike, blade forging, hilt carving, and all. And +again, this realization set him to speculating. How had this brace of +knives got so widely separated? How had this one found its way to the +heart of a Chukche tribe? Why had the Chukches attempted to murder the +Japanese girl and himself? Had it been with the hope of securing wealth +from their simple luggage, or had they been bribed to do it? Once more +his brain was in a whirl.</p> + +<p>But there was business at hand. The black spot had developed into a +reindeer, driven by a man. How many were following this man Johnny could +not tell.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV"></a><h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>A NARROW ESCAPE</h3> +<br /> + +<p>As Johnny stood awaiting the arrival of the stranger, many wild +misgivings raced through his mind. What if this man was but the +forerunner of the whole Chukche tribe? Then indeed, for himself and the +Japanese girl things were at an end.</p> + +<p>The newcomer was armed with a rifle. Johnny would stand little show with +him in a duel, good as his automatic was.</p> + +<p>But the man came on with a jaunty swing that somehow was reassuring. Who +could he be? As he came close, he dropped his rifle on his sled and +approached with empty hands.</p> + +<p>"I am Iyok-ok," he said in good English, at the same time thrusting out +his hand. "I was an American soldier, an Eskimo. Now I am going back to +my home at Cape Prince of Wales."</p> + +<p>"You got your discharge easily," smiled Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Not so easy, but I got it."</p> + +<p>"Well, anyway, stranger," said Johnny gripping the other's hand, "I can +give you welcome, comrade. We are traveling the same way."</p> + +<p>The Eskimo looked at Johnny's regulation army shoes as he said the word +comrade, but made no comment.</p> + +<p>"Know anything about travel in such a country?" asked Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Most things you need to know."</p> + +<p>"Then you sure are welcome," Johnny declared. Then, as he looked at the +Eskimo closely there came to him a feeling that they had met before but +where and when he could not recall. He did not mention the fact, but +merely motioned the stranger to a seat on the sled while he dug into his +pack for a morsel of good cheer.</p> + +<p>Many days later, Johnny lay sprawled upon a double thickness of long +haired deer skins. He was reading a book. Two seal oil lamps sputtered +in the igloo, but these were for heat, not for light. Johnny got his +light in the form of a raggedly round patch of sunlight which fell +straight down from the top where the poles of the igloo met.</p> + +<p>Johnny was very comfortable physically, but not entirely at ease +mentally. He had been puzzled by something that had happened five +minutes before. Moreover, he was half angry at his enforced idleness +here.</p> + +<p>Yet he was very comfortable. The igloo was a permanent one. Erected at +the base of a cliff, covered over with walrus skin, lined with deer +skin, and floored with planks hewn from driftwood logs, it was perfect +for a dwelling of its kind. It stood in a hunting village on the +Siberian shore of Behring Sea. The Jap girl, Johnny and Iyok-ok had +traveled thus far in safety.</p> + +<p>Yes, they had come a long distance, many hundreds of miles. As Johnny +thought of it now, he put his book aside (a dry, old novel, left here by +some American seaman) and dreamed those days all through again.</p> + +<p>Wonderful days had followed the addition of Iyok-ok to their party. From +that hour they had wanted nothing of food or shelter. Reared as he +apparently had been in such wilds as these, the native skillfully had +sought out the best of game, the driest, most sheltered of camping +spots, in fact, had done everything that tended to make life easy in +such a land.</p> + +<p>Johnny's reveries were cut short and he started suddenly to his feet. A +pebble had dropped squarely upon the deer skin spread out before him. It +had come through the hole in the peak of the igloo. He glanced quickly +up, but saw nothing.</p> + +<p>Then he grinned. "Just a case of nerves, I guess. Some kids playing on +the cliff. Anyway, I'll investigate," he said to himself.</p> + +<p>Throwing back the deerskin flap, he stepped outside. Did he see a boot +disappear around the point of the cliff above the igloo? He could not +tell. At any rate, there was no use wasting more time on the question. +To see farther around the cliff, one must climb up its rough face, and +by that time any mischief maker might have disappeared.</p> + +<p>Yet Johnny stood there worried and puzzled. Twice in the last hour +pebbles had rattled down upon the igloo, and now one had dropped inside. +An old grievance stirred him: Why were not he and his strange +companions on their way? With only four hundred miles to travel to East +Cape, with a splendid trail, with reindeer well fed and rested, it +seemed folly to linger in this native village. The reindeer Chukches, +whose sled deer they had borrowed, might be upon them at any moment, and +that, Johnny felt sure, would result in an unpleasant mixup. Yet he had +been utterly unable to get the little Oriental girl and Iyok-ok to go +on. Why? He could only guess. There were a great many other things he +could only guess at. The little Oriental girl's reason for going so far +into the wilderness was as much a secret as ever. He could only guess +that it had to do with the following of that mysterious driver of a dog +team. With unerring precision this man had pushed straight on northward +toward East Cape and Behring Strait. And they had followed, not, so far +as Johnny was concerned, because they were interested in him, but +because he had traveled their way.</p> + +<p>At times they had come upon his camp. Located at the edge of some bank +or beside some willow clump, where there was shelter from the wind, +these camps told little or nothing of the man who had made them. +Everything which might tell tales had been carried on or burned. Once +only Johnny had found a scrap of paper. Nothing had been written on it. +From it Johnny had learned one thing only: it had originally come from +some Russian town, for it had the texture of Russian bond. But this was +little news.</p> + +<p>Who was this stranger who traveled so far? Johnny had a feeling that he +was at the moment hiding in this native village, and that this was the +reason his two companions did not wish to proceed. There had grown up +between these two, the Eskimo boy and the Japanese girl, a strange +friendship. At times Johnny had suspicions that this friendship had +existed before they had met on the tundra. However that might have been, +they seemed now to be working in unison. Only the day before he had +happened to overhear them conversing in low tones, and the language, he +would have sworn, was neither Eskimo, English, nor Pidgen. Yet he did +not question the boy's statement that he was an American Eskimo. Indeed +there were times when the flash of his honest smile made Johnny believe +that they had met somewhere in America. On his trip to Nome and +Fairbanks before the war, Johnny had met many Eskimos, and had boxed and +wrestled with some of the best of them.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," he sighed, and stretched himself, "'tain't that I've got a +string on 'em, nor them on me. I'll have to wait or go on alone, that's +all."</p> + +<p>He entered the igloo, and tried again to become interested in his book, +but his mind kept returning to the strange friendship which had grown up +between the three of them, Iyok-ok, the Jap girl and himself. The Jap +girl had proved a good sport indeed. She might have ridden all the time, +but she walked as far in a day as they did. She cooked their meals +cheerfully, and laughed over every mishap.</p> + +<p>So they had traveled northward. Three happy children in a great white +wilderness, they pitched their igloos at night, a small one for the +girl, a larger one for the two men, and, burying themselves beneath the +deer skins, had slept the dreamless sleep of children, wearied from +play.</p> + +<p>The Jap girl had appeared to be quite content to be going into an +unknown wilderness. Only once she had seemed concerned. That was when a +long detour had taken them from the track of the unknown traveler, but +her cheerfulness had returned once they had come upon his track again. +This had set Johnny speculating once more. Who was this stranger? Was he +related to the girl in some way? Was he her friend or her foe? Was he +really in this village at this time? If so, why did she not seek him +out? If a friend, why did she not join him; and, if an enemy, why not +have him killed? Surely, here they were quite beyond the law.</p> + +<p>Oh, yes, Johnny might get a dog team and go on up the coast alone, but +Johnny liked his two traveling companions too well for that, and +besides, Johnny dearly loved mysteries, and here was a whole nest of +them. No, Johnny would wait.</p> + +<p>The seal oil lamps imparted a drowsy warmth to the igloo. The deer skins +were soft and comfortable. Johnny grew sleepy. Throwing the ragged old +book in the corner, he stretched out full length on the skins, which lay +in the irregular circle of light, and was soon fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Just how long he slept he could not tell. When he awoke it was with a +feeling of great <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: The original text reads 'perie'">peril</ins> tugging at his heart. His first +conscious thought was that the aperture above him had, in some way, been +darkened. Instantly his eyes sought that opening. What he saw there +caused his heart to pause and his eyes to bulge.</p> + +<p>Directly above him, seemingly poised for a drop, was a vicious looking +hook. With a keen point and a barb fully three inches across, with a +shaft of half-inch steel which was driven into a pole three inches in +diameter and of indefinite length, it could drive right through Johnny's +stomach, and pin him to the planks beneath. And, as his startled eyes +stared fixedly at it, the thing shot downward.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_V"></a><h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>"FRIEND? ENEMY?"</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny Thompson, before he joined the army, had been considered one of +the speediest men of the boxing ring. His brain worked like lightning, +and every 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 car-wheel, he rolled over twice before the hook buried itself +to the end of its barb in the pungent plank on which he had reclined an +instant before.</p> + +<p>Nor did Johnny stop rolling then. He continued until he bumped against +the skin wall of his abode. This was fortunate also, for he had not half +regained his senses when two almost instantaneous explosions shook the +igloo, tore the plank floor into shreds, shooting splinters about, and +even through the double skin wall, and filling Johnny's eyes with powder +smoke and dust.</p> + +<p>Johnny sat up with one hand on his automatic. He was fully awake.</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" he drawled. "Thanks! It's enough, I should say. Johnny +Thompson exit." A wry grin was on his face. "Johnny Thompson killed by a +falling whale harpoon; shot to death by a whale gun; blown to atoms by a +whale bomb. Exit Johnny. They do it in the movies, I say!"</p> + +<p>But that was not quite all. The blazing seal oil lamps had overturned. +Splinters from the floor were catching fire. Johnny busied himself at +beating these out. As soon as this had been accomplished, he stepped +outside.</p> + +<p>From an awe-struck ring of native women and children, who had been +attracted by the explosion, the little Jap girl darted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Meester Thompsie!" she exclaimed, wringing her hands, "so terrible, +awful a catastrophe! Are you not killed? So terrible!"</p> + +<p>Johnny grinned.</p> + +<p>"Nope," he said, putting out a hand to console her. "I'm not killed, nor +even blown to pieces. What I'd like to know is, who dropped that +harpoon."</p> + +<p>He looked from face to face of the silent circle. Not one showed a sign +of any knowledge of the affair. They had heard the explosion and had run +from their homes to see what had happened.</p> + +<p>Turning toward the cliff, from which the harpoon had been dropped, +Johnny studied it carefully. No trace of living creature was to be +discovered there. Then he looked again at the circle of brown faces, +seeking any recent arrival. There was none.</p> + +<p>"Come!" he said to the Jap girl.</p> + +<p>Taking her hand, he led her from house to house of the village. Beyond +two to three old women, too badly crippled to walk, the houses were +found to contain no one.</p> + +<p>"Well, one thing is sure," Johnny observed, "the Chukche reindeer +herders have not come. It was not they who did it."</p> + +<p>"No," answered the Jap girl.</p> + +<p>"Say!" exclaimed Johnny, in a tone more severe than he had ever used +with his companion, "why in thunder can't we get out of this hole? What +are we sticking here for?"</p> + +<p>"Can't tell." The girl wrung her hands again. "Can't tell. Can't go, +that's all. You go; all right, mebby. Can't go my. That's all. Mebby go +to-morrow; mebby next day. Can't tell."</p> + +<p>Johnny was half inclined to believe that she was in league with the +treachery which hung over the place, and had shown itself in the form of +loaded harpoons, but when he realized that she did not urge him to stay, +he found it impossible to suspect her.</p> + +<p>"Well, anyway, darn it!"</p> + +<p>"What?" she smiled.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing," he growled, and turned away.</p> + +<p>Two hours later Johnny was lying on the flat ledge of the rocky cliff +from which the harpoon had been dropped. He was, however, a hundred 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. Iyok-ok had gone seal +hunting. When he returned over the ice, Johnny meant to have a final +confab with him in regard to starting north.</p> + +<p>As to the vigil he kept on the igloo, that was the result of certain +suspicions regarding the occupants of that particular shelter. There was +a dog team which hung about the place. These 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 made several journeys of a mile or two up and down +the beach trail, and, as far as he could tell, the man of mystery whose +trail they had followed to this village had not left the place.</p> + +<p>"Of course," he had told himself, "he might have been one of the +villagers returning to his home. But that doesn't seem probable."</p> + +<p>From all this, Johnny had arrived at the conclusion that the watching of +this house would yield interesting results.</p> + +<p>It did. He had not been lying on the cliff half an hour, when the figure +of a man came backing out of the igloo's entrance. Johnny whistled. 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 smoothness about +the tan and something about the cut of it that marked it at once as +coming from a Russian shop, such as Wo Cheng kept.</p> + +<p>"And squirrel skin!" Johnny breathed.</p> + +<p>He was not kept long in doubt as to the identity of the wearer. As the +man turned to look behind him, Johnny saw the sharp chin of the Russian, +the man of the street fight and the many diamonds. He had acquired +something of a beard, but there was no mistaking those frowning brows, +square shoulders and that chin.</p> + +<p>"So," Johnny thought, "he is the fellow we have been trailing. The Jap +girl wanted to follow him and so, perhaps, did Iyok-ok. I wonder why? +And say, old dear," he whispered, "I wonder if it could have been you +who dropped that harpoon. It's plain enough from the looks of you that +you'd do it, once you fancied you'd half a reason. I've a good mind—" +His hand reached for his automatic.</p> + +<p>"No," he decided, "I won't do it. I don't really know that you deserve +it; besides I hate corpses, and things like that. But I say!"</p> + +<p>A new and wonderful thought had come to him. He felt that, at any rate, +he owed this person something, and he should have it. Beside Johnny on +the ledge, where some native had left it, out of reach of the dog's, was +a sewed up seal skin full of seal oil. 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 tell that by the smooth, balloon-like rotundity of the thing. In +fact, he guessed it was about due to burst. Once Johnny had taken a cup +of this liquid for tea. He had it close enough to his face to catch a +whiff of it. He could still recall the smell of it.</p> + +<p>Now his right hand smoothed the bloated skin tenderly. He twisted it +about, and balanced it in his hand. Yes, he could do it! The Russian was +not looking up. There was a convenient ledge, some three feet above his +head. There the sack would strike and burst. The boy smiled, in +contemplation of that bursting.</p> + +<p>"This for what you may have done," Johnny whispered, and balancing the +sack in his hand, as if it had been a football, he gave it a little +toss. Over the cliff it went to a sheer fall of fifteen feet. There +followed a muffled explosion. It had burst! Johnny saw the Russian +completely deluged with the vile smelling liquid. Then he ducked.</p> + +<p>As he lay flat on the ledge, he caught a silvery laugh. Looking quickly +about, he found himself staring into the eyes of the little Jap girl. +She had been watching him.</p> + +<p>"You—you—know him?" he stammered.</p> + +<p>The girl shrugged her shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Your friend?"</p> + +<p>She shook her head vigorously.</p> + +<p>"Enemy? Kill?" Johnny's hand sought his automatic.</p> + +<p>"No! No! No!" she fairly screamed. "Not kill!" Her hand was on his arm +with a frantic grip.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"No can tell. Only, not kill; not kill now. No! No! No! Mebby never!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll be—" Johnny took his hand from his gun and peered over the +ledge. The man was gone. It was a dirty trick 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 had been close enough to have stopped him, had she +thought it right. She had not done so. His conscience was clear.</p> + +<p>They crept away in the gathering darkness, these two; and Johnny +suddenly felt for this little Jap girl a comradeship that he had not +known before. It was such a feeling as he had experienced in school +days, when he was prowling about with boy pals.</p> + +<p>Shortly after darkness had fallen, Johnny was seated cross-legged on a +deer skin, staring gloomily at the ragged hole left by the whale harpoon +bomb. He had not yet seen Iyok-ok. He was trying now to unravel some of +the mysteries which the happenings of the day had served only to tangle +more terribly. He had not meant to kill the Russian, even though the Jap +girl 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 proposed to kill him. What could a fellow make of +all this? Who was this Jap girl anyway, and why had she followed this +Russian so far? Somehow, Johnny could not help but feel that the Russian +was a deep dyed plotter of some sort. He was inclined to believe that he +had had much to do with that harpoon episode as well as the murder +attempted by the reindeer Chukches.</p> + +<p>"By Jove!" the American boy suddenly slapped his knee. "The knife, the +two knives exactly alike. One he tried to use in the street fight at +Vladivostok; the other he must have given to the reindeer Chukche to use +on anyone who might follow him."</p> + +<p>For a time he sat in deep thought. As he weighed the probabilities for +and against this theory, he found himself doubting. There might be many +knives of 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, having no idea to what deadly purposes it would be put. +And, again, if he were that type of plotter, would not the Jap girl know +of it, and desire him killed?</p> + +<p>The Japanese girl puzzled Johnny more and more. Her friendship for +Iyok-ok, her eagerness to protect the Russian—what was to be made of +all this? Were the three of them, after all, leagued together in deeds +of darkness? And was he, Johnny, a pawn to be sacrificed at the proper +moment?</p> + +<p>And the Russian, why was he traveling so far north? What possible +interests could he have here? Was he, too, planning to cross the Strait +to America? Or was he in search of wealth hidden away in this frozen +land?</p> + +<p>"The furs! I'll bet that's it!" Johnny slapped his knee. "This Russian +has come north to demand tribute for his government from the hunting +Chukches. They're rich in furs—mink, ermine, red, white, silver gray +and black fox. A man could carry a fortune in them on one sled. Yes, +sir! That's his business up here."</p> + +<p>But then, the diamonds? Again Johnny seemed to have reached the end of a +blind alley in his thinking. Who could be so rash as to carry thousands +of dollars' worth of jewels on such a trip? And yet, he was not certain +the man had them now. He had seen them but once, and that in the +disguise shop.</p> + +<p>Further thoughts were cut short by a head thrust in at the flap of the +igloo. It was Iyok-ok.</p> + +<p>"Go soon," he smiled. "Mebby two hours."</p> + +<p>"North?"</p> + +<p>"Eh-eh" (yes), he answered, lapsing into Eskimo.</p> + +<p>"All right."</p> + +<p>The head disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Well, anyway, my seal oil bath did some good," Johnny remarked to +himself. "It jarred the old fox out of his lair and started him on his +way."</p> + +<p>He wondered a little about the Jap girl. Would she still travel with +them? These musings were cut short when he carried his bundle to the +deer sled. She was there to greet him with a broad smile. And so once +more they sped away over the tundra in the moonlight.</p> + +<p>They had not gone five miles before Johnny had assured himself that once +more the Russian and his dog team had preceded them.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI"></a><h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>"NOW I SHALL KILL YOU"</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny Thompson was at peace with the world. He was engaged in the most +delightful of all occupations, gathering gold. He had often dreamed of +gathering gold. He had dreamed, too, of finding money strewn upon the +street. But now, here he was, with one of these choice Russian knives, +picking away at clumps of frozen earth and picking up, as they fell out, +particles of gold. Some were tiny; many were large as a pea, and one had +been the size of a hickory nut. Now and again he straightened up to +swing a pick into the frozen gravel which lay within the circle of light +made by his pocket flashlight. After a few strokes he would throw down +the pick and begin breaking up the lumps. Every now and again, he would +lift the small sack into which the lumps were dropped. It grew heavier +every moment.</p> + +<p>It was quite dark all about him; indeed, Johnny was nearly a hundred +feet straight into the heart of a cut bank, and, to start on this +straight ahead drift, he had been obliged to lower himself into a shaft +as into a well, a drop of fifteen feet or more. That the mine had other +drifts he knew, but this one suited him. That it had another occupant he +also knew, but this did not trouble him. He was too much interested in +the yellow glitter of real gold to think of danger. And he was half +dazed by the realization that there could be a gold mine like this in +Siberia. Alaska had gold, plenty of it, of course, and he was now less +than two hundred miles from Alaska, but he had never dreamed that the +dreary slopes of the Kamchatkan Peninsula could harbor such wealth. +Someone had been mining it, too, but that must have been months, perhaps +years, ago. The pick handles were rough with decay, the pans red with +rust.</p> + +<p>Curiosity had led Johnny to this spot, a half mile from the native +village at the mouth of the Anadir River. He had been marooned again in +that village. They had covered three hundred miles on their last +journey, then had come another pause. This time, though he did not even +see his dogs about the village, Johnny felt sure that the Russian had +once more taken to hiding.</p> + +<p>Having nothing else to do, Johnny had followed a narrow track up the +river. The track had come to an end at the entrance to the mine. +Thinking it merely a sort of crude cold storage plant for keeping meat +fresh, he had let himself down to explore it. Increasing curiosity had +led him on until he had discovered the gold. Now he had quite forgotten +the person whose tracks led him to the spot.</p> + +<p>He was shocked into instant and vivid realization of peril by a cold +pressure on his temple and a voice which said in the preciseness of a +foreigner:</p> + +<p>"Now I have you, sir. Now I shall kill you, sir."</p> + +<p>In that instant Johnny prepared himself for his final earthly sensation. +He had recognized the voice of the Russian.</p> + +<p>There came a click, then a snap. The next instant the revolver which had +rested against his forehead struck the frozen roof of the mine. The +weapon had missed fire and, between turns of the cylinder, Johnny's good +right hand had struck out and up.</p> + +<p>The light snapped out, and in the midnight darkness of that icy cavern +the two grappled and fell.</p> + +<p>Had Johnny been in possession of the full power of his left arm, the +battle would have been over soon. As it was they rolled over and over, +their bodies crushing frozen bits of pay-dirt, like twin rollers. They +struggled for mastery. Each man realized that, unless some unforeseen +power intervened, defeat meant death. The Russian fought with the +stubbornness of his race; fought unfairly too, biting and kicking when +opportunity permitted. Three times Johnny barely missed a blow on the +head which meant unconsciousness, then death.</p> + +<p>At last, panting, perspiring, bleeding and bruised, Johnny clamped his +right arm about his antagonist's neck and, flopping his body across his +chest, lay there until the Russian's muscles relaxed.</p> + +<p>Sliding to a sitting position, the American began feeling about in the +dark. At last, gripping a flashlight, he snapped it on. The face of the +Russian revealed the fact that he was not unconscious. Johnny slid to a +position which brought each knee down upon one of the Russian's arms. He +would take no chances with that man.</p> + +<p>Slowly Johnny flashed the light about, then, with a little exclamation, +he reached out and gripped the handle of the Russian's revolver.</p> + +<p>"Now," he mocked, "now I have you, sir. Now I shall kill you, sir."</p> + +<p>He had hardly spoken the words when a body hurled itself upon him, +knocking the revolver from his hand and extinguishing the light.</p> + +<p>"So. There are others! Let them come," roared Johnny, striking out with +his right in the dark.</p> + +<p>"Azeezruk nucky." To his astonishment he recognized the voice of +Iyok-ok. What he had said, in Eskimo, was, "It would be a bad thing to +kill him," meaning doubtless the Russian.</p> + +<p>"Azeezruk adocema" (he is a bad one), replied Johnny, throwing the light +on the sullen face of the Eskimo.</p> + +<p>"Eh-eh" (yes), the other agreed.</p> + +<p>"Then what in thunder!" Johnny exclaimed, falling back on English. "He +tried to kill me. Kill me! Do you understand? Why shouldn't I kill him?"</p> + +<p>"No kill," said the Eskimo stubbornly.</p> + +<p>Johnny sat and thought for a full three minutes. In that time, his blood +had cooled. He was able to reason about the matter. In the army he had +learned one rule: "If someone knows more about a matter than you do, +follow his guidance, though, at the time, it seems dead wrong." +Evidently Iyok-ok knew more about this Russian than Johnny did. Then the +thing to do was to let the man go.</p> + +<p>Before releasing him, he searched him carefully. Beyond a few +uninteresting papers, a pencil, a cigaret case and a purse he found +nothing. Evidently the revolver had been his only weapon.</p> + +<p>As he searched the man, one peculiar question flashed through Johnny's +mind; if the Russian had the envelope full of diamonds on his person, +what should he do, take them or leave them? He was saved the necessity +of a decision; they were not there.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Johnny, seating himself on a rusty pan, as the Russian went +shuffling out of the mine, "tell me why you didn't let me kill him."</p> + +<p>"Can't tell," was Iyok-ok's laconic reply.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Not now. Sometime, maybe. Not now."</p> + +<p>"Look here," said Johnny savagely, "that man has tried to kill me or +have me killed, three times, is it not so?"</p> + +<p>Iyok-ok did not answer.</p> + +<p>"First," Johnny went on, "he induces the reindeer Chukches to try to +kill me and furnishes them the knife to do it with. Eh?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe."</p> + +<p>"Second, he drops a harpoon into my igloo and tries to harpoon me and +blow me up."</p> + +<p>"Maybe."</p> + +<p>"And now he puts a revolver to my head and pulls the trigger. Still you +say 'No kill.' What shall I make of that?"</p> + +<p>"Canak-ti-ma-na" (I don't know), said the Eskimo. "No kill, that's all."</p> + +<p>Johnny was too much astonished and perplexed to say anything further. +The two sat there for some time in silence. At last the Eskimo rose and +made his way toward the entrance.</p> + +<p>Johnny flashed his light about the place. He was looking for his sack of +gold. Suddenly he uttered an exclamation and put out his hand. What it +grasped was the envelope he had seen in the Russian's pocket at Wo +Cheng's shop, the envelope of diamonds. And the diamonds were still +there; he could tell that by the feel of the envelope.</p> + +<p>Hastily searching out his now insignificant treasure of gold, Johnny +placed it with the envelope of diamonds in his inner pocket and hurried +from the mine.</p> + +<p>Darkness again found him musing over a seal oil lamp. He was not in a +very happy mood. He was weary of orientalism and mystery. He longed for +the quiet of his little old town, Chicago. Wouldn't it be great to put +his feet under his old job and say, "Well, Boss, what's the dope +to-day?" Wouldn't it, though? And to go home at night to doll up in his +glad rags and call on Mazie. Oh, boy! It fairly made him sick to think +of it.</p> + +<p>But, at last, his mind wandered back to the many mysteries which had +been straightened out not one bit by these events of the day. Here he +was traveling with two companions, a Jap girl and an Eskimo. Eskimo? +Right there he began to wonder if Iyok-ok, as he called himself, was +really an Eskimo after all. What if he should turn out to be a Jap +playing the part of an Eskimo? Only that day Johnny had once more come +upon him suddenly to find him in earnest conversation with the Jap girl. +And the language they had been using had sounded distinctly oriental. +And yet, if he was a Jap, how did it come about that he spoke the Eskimo +language so well?</p> + +<p>Dismissing this question, his mind dwelt upon the events of the past few +days. Twice he had been begged not to kill the Russian. This last time +he most decidedly would have been justified in putting a bullet into the +rascal's brain. He had been prevented from doing so by Iyok-ok. Why?</p> + +<p>"Anyway," he said to himself, yawning, "I'm glad I didn't do it. It's +nasty business, this killing people. I couldn't very well tell such a +thing to Mazie; you can't tell such things to a woman, and I want to +tell her all about things over here. It's been a hard old life, but so +far I haven't done a single thing that I wouldn't be proud to tell her +about. No, sir, not one! I can say: 'Mazie, I did this and I did that,' +and Mazie'll say, 'Oh, Johnny! Wasn't that gr-ran-nd?'"</p> + +<p>Johnny grinned as the thought of it and felt decidedly better. After +all, what was the use of living if one was to live on and on and on and +never have any adventures worth the telling?</p> + +<p>For some time he lay sprawled out before the lamp in silent reflection, +then he sat up suddenly and pounded his knee.</p> + +<p>"By Jove! I'll bet that's it!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>He had happened upon a new theory regarding the Russian. It seemed +probable to him that this man, knowing of this gold mine, perhaps being +owner of it, had come north to determine its value and the advisability +of opening it for operation in the spring. In these days, when the money +market of the world was gold hungry, that glittering, yellow metal was +of vast importance, especially to the warring factions of Russia. +Surely, this seemed a plausible explanation. And if it was true then he +could hurry on up the coast, with or without his companions and make his +way home.</p> + +<p>"But then," he said, perplexed again. He reached his hand into his +pocket to draw out the envelope he had found in the mine. "But then, +there's the diamonds. Would a man coming on such a journey bring such +treasure with him? He couldn't trade them to the natives. They know +money well enough, but not diamonds."</p> + +<p>Johnny opened the envelope and shook it gently. Three stones fell into +his hand. They were of purest blue white, perfect stones and perfectly +cut. A glance at the envelope showed him that it was divided into four +narrow compartments and that each compartment was filled with diamonds +wrapped in tissue paper. Only these three were unwrapped.</p> + +<p>Running his fingers down the outside of the compartments, he counted the +jewels.</p> + +<p>"One hundred and four," he breathed. "A king's ransom. Forty or fifty +thousand dollars worth, anyway. Whew!"</p> + +<p>Then he stared and his hand shook. His eye had fallen upon the stamp of +the seal in the corner of the envelope. He knew that secret mark all too +well; had learned it from Wo Cheng. It was the stamp of the biggest and +worst society of Radicals in all the world.</p> + +<p>"So!" Johnny whispered to himself. "So, Mr. Russian, you are a Radical, +a red, a Nihilist, a communist, an anything-but-society-as-it-is guy. +You want the world to cough up its dough and own nothing, and yet here +you are carrying round the price of a farm in your vest pocket." He +chuckled. "Some reformer, I'd say!"</p> + +<p>But his next thought sobered him. What was he to do with all that +wealth? One of those stones would make Mazie happy for a lifetime. But +it wasn't his. He had no right to it. He could not do a thing he'd be +ashamed to tell Mazie and his old boss about.</p> + +<p>But, if they didn't belong to him, perhaps the diamonds didn't belong to +the Russian either. At any rate, the latter's disloyalty to his nation +had forfeited his right to own property.</p> + +<p>Even should this Russian be the rightful owner, Johnny could not very +well hunt him up and say: "Here, mister. You tried to kill me +yesterday. Here are your diamonds. I found them in the mine. Please +count them and see if they are all there."</p> + +<p>Johnny grinned as he thought of that. There seemed to be nothing to do +but keep the stones, for the time being at least.</p> + +<p>"Anyway," he said to himself as he rolled up in his deer skins. "I'll +bet I have discovered something. I'll bet he's one of the big ones, +perhaps the biggest of them all. And he's trying to make his way across +to America to stir things up over there."</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_VII"></a><h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>SAVED FROM THE MOB</h3> +<br /> + +<p>"What do you know about that gold mine?" Johnny asked, turning an +inquiring eye on Iyok-ok, whom Johnny now strongly suspected of being a +Japanese and a member of the Mikado's secret service as well.</p> + +<p>"Which mine?" Iyok-ok smiled good-naturedly as he blinked in the +sunlight. It was the morning after Johnny's battle with the Russian.</p> + +<p>"Are there others?"</p> + +<p>"Seven mines."</p> + +<p>"Seven! And all of them rich as the one we were in yesterday?"</p> + +<p>The boy shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Some much richer," he declared.</p> + +<p>"How long has the world known of this wealth?"</p> + +<p>"Never has known. A few men know, that's all. The old Czar, he knew, +but would let no one work the mines. Just at the last he said 'Yes.' +Then they hurried much machinery over here, but it was too late. The +Czar—well, you know he is dead now, but they have their machinery here +still."</p> + +<p>"Who are 'they'?" asked Johnny with curiosity fully aroused.</p> + +<p>"American. I know. Can't tell. Worked for them once. Promise never +tell."</p> + +<p>Johnny wrinkled his brow but did not press the matter.</p> + +<p>"But this Russia, the Kamchatkan Peninsula?" Iyok-ok continued. "Whom +does it belong to now? Can you tell me that?"</p> + +<p>Johnny shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Neither can They tell. If They knew, and if They knew it was safe to +come back and mine here, when the world has so great need of gold, you +better believe They would come and mine, But They do not know; They do +not know." The boy pronounced the last words with an undertone of +mystery. "Sometime I will know. Then I—I will tell you, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"Where's the machinery?" asked Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Up the river. Wanta see it?"</p> + +<p>"Sure."</p> + +<p>They hurried away up the frozen river and in fifteen minutes came upon a +row of low sheds. The doors were locked, but to his great surprise +Johnny discovered that his companion had the keys.</p> + +<p>They were soon walking through dark aisles, on each side of which were +piled parts of mining machines of every description, crushers, rollers, +smelters and various accessories connected with quartz mining. Mingled +with these were picks, pans, steam thawers, windlasses, and great piles +of sluice timber. All these last named were for mining placer gold.</p> + +<p>"Quartz too?" asked Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Plenty of quartz," grinned Iyok-ok. "Come out here, I will show you."</p> + +<p>They stepped outside. The boy locked the door, then led his companion up +a steep slope until they were on a low point commanding a view of the +village below and a rocky cliff above.</p> + +<p>"See that cliff?" asked Iyok-ok. "Plenty of gold there. Pick it out with +your pen knife. Rich! Too rich."</p> + +<p>"Then this Peninsula is as rich as Alaska?"</p> + +<p>"Alaska?" Iyok-ok grinned. "Alaska? What shall I say? Alaska, it is a +joke. Think of the great Lena River! Great as the Yukon. Who knows what +gold is deposited in the beds and banks of that mighty stream? Who knows +anything about this wonderful peninsula? The Czar, he has kept it +locked. But now the Czar is dead. The key is lost. Who will find it? +Sometime we will see."</p> + +<p>The boy was interrupted by wild shouts coming from the village. As their +eyes turned in that direction, Johnny and Iyok-ok beheld a strange +sight. The entire village had apparently turned out to give chase to one +man. And, down to the last child, they were armed. But such strange +implements of warfare as they carried! All were relics of by-gone days; +lances, walrus harpoons, bows and arrows, axes, hammers and many more.</p> + +<p>As Johnny watched them, he remembered having been told by an old native +that during and after the great war these people had been unable to +procure a sufficient supply of ammunition and had been obliged to resort +to ancient methods of hunting. These were the bow and arrow, the lance +and the harpoon. Powerful bows, of some native wood, shot arrows tipped +with cunningly tempered bits of steel. The drawn and tempered barrel of +a discarded rifle formed a point for the long-shafted lance. The +harpoon, most terrible of all weapons, both for man and beast, was a +long wooden shaft with a loose point attached to a long skin rope. Once +five or six of these had been thrown into the body of a great white bear +or some offending human he was doomed to die a death of agonizing +torture; his body being literally torn to pieces by the drag upon the +strong skin ropes, fastened to the steel points imbedded in his flesh.</p> + +<p>Now it seemed evident that for some misdeed one member of the tribe had +been condemned to die. As Johnny stood there staring, the whole affair +seemed so much like things he had seen done on the screen, that he found +it difficult to realize that this was an actual tragedy, being enacted +before his very eyes.</p> + +<p>"They do it in the movies," he said.</p> + +<p>"Yes," his companion agreed, "but here they will kill him. We must hurry +to help him."</p> + +<p>"Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you see? The Russian."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" sighed Johnny. "Let 'em have him. He deserves as much from me, +probably deserves more from them."</p> + +<p>"No! No! No!" Iyok-ok protested, now very much excited. "That will never +do. We must save him. They think he's from the Russian Government. Think +he will demand their furs and carry them away. They mistake. They will +kill him. Your automatic! We must hurry. Come."</p> + +<p>Johnny found himself being dragged down the hill. As he looked below, he +realized that his companion was right. The man was doomed unless they +interfered. Already skillful archers were pausing to shoot and their +arrows fell dangerously near the fugitive.</p> + +<p>"Now, from here," panted Iyok-ok. "Your automatic. Shoot over their +heads. They will stop. I will tell them. They will not kill him."</p> + +<p>Johnny's hand went to his automatic, but there it rested. These natives? +What did he have against them that he should interrupt them in the +chase? And this Russian, what claim did he have on him that he should +save his life? None, the answer was plain. And yet, here was this boy, +to whom he had grown strangely attached, begging him to help save the +Russian. A strange state of affairs, for sure.</p> + +<p>Toward them, as he ran, the Russian turned a white, appealing face. To +them came ever louder and more appalling the cry of the excited natives. +Now an arrow fell three feet short of its mark. And now, a stronger arm +sent one three yards beyond the man, but a foot to one side. The whole +scene, set as it was in the purple shadows and yellow lights of the +north-land, was fascinating.</p> + +<p>But the time had come to act.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," Johnny grunted, whipping out his automatic, "for your sake +I'll do it."</p> + +<p>Three times the automatic barked its vicious challenge. The mob paused +and waited silently.</p> + +<p>Out of this silence there came a voice. It was the voice of Iyok-ok by +Johnny's side. Through cupped hands, he was speaking calmly to the +natives. His words were a jumble of Eskimo, Chukche and pidgen-English, +but Johnny knew they understood, for, as the speech went on, he saw +them drop their weapons, then one by one pick them up again to go +shuffling away.</p> + +<p>Johnny looked about for the Russian. He had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Now what did you do that for?" he asked his companion.</p> + +<p>"Can't tell now," Iyok-ok answered slowly. "Sometime, mebbe. Not now. +Azeezruk nucky, that's all."</p> + +<p>He paused and looked away at the hills; then turning, extended his hand. +"Anyway, I thank you very, very much I thank you."</p> + +<p>With that they made their way toward the village and the sea, which, +packed and glistening with ice, reflected all the glories of the +gorgeous Arctic sunset.</p> + +<p>Three hours later Iyok-ok put his head in at Johnny's igloo and said:</p> + +<p>"One hour go."</p> + +<p>"North?" asked Johnny.</p> + +<p>"North."</p> + +<p>"You go?"</p> + +<p>"Eh-eh."</p> + +<p>"Jap girl go?"</p> + +<p>"Eh-eh."</p> + +<p>"East Cape? Behring Strait?"</p> + +<p>"Mebbe." With a smile, the boy was gone.</p> + +<p>"Evidently the Russian is on the move again," Johnny observed to +himself. "Wonder what he intends to do about his diamonds? Well, anyway, +that proves that the gold mines are not his goal."</p> + +<p>As Johnny dug into his pack for a dry pair of deer skin stocks, he +discovered that his belongings had been tampered with.</p> + +<p>"The Russian," he decided, "evidently hasn't forgotten his diamonds."</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_VIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>WHEN AN ESKIMO BECOMES A JAP</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny Thompson smiled as he drew on a pair of rabbit skin trousers, +then a parka made of striped ground squirrel skin, finished with a hood +of wolf skin. It was not his own suit; it had been borrowed from his +host, a husky young hunter of East Cape. But that was not his reason for +smiling. He was amused at the thought of the preposterous +misunderstanding which his traveling companions had concerning him.</p> + +<p>Only the day before he had exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Iyok-ok, I believe I have guessed why the Russian wants to kill me."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"He thinks I am a member of the United States Secret Service."</p> + +<p>"Well? Canak-ti-ma-na" (I don't know).</p> + +<p>The boy had looked him squarely in the eye as much as to say, "Who could +doubt that?"</p> + +<p>At first Johnny had been inclined to assure Iyok-ok that there was no +truth in the assumption, but the more he thought of it, the better he +was satisfied with things as they were. His companions carried with them +a great air of mystery; why should he not share this a little with them? +He had let the matter drop.</p> + +<p>But now, since he was considered to be a member of a secret service +organization, he prepared to act the part for one night at least. With +the wolf skin parka hood drawn well around his face, he would hardly be +recognized, garbed as he was in borrowed clothes.</p> + +<p>The mysterious Russian had adopted a plan of sending his dogs to some +outpost to be cared for by natives. This made the locating of the igloo +he occupied extremely difficult. It had been by the merest chance that +Johnny had caught a glimpse of him as he disappeared through the flaps +of a dwelling near the center of the village. The American had resolved +to watch that place and discover, if possible, some additional clues to +the purpose of the Russian.</p> + +<p>Skulking from igloo to igloo, Johnny came at last to the one he sought. +Making his way to the back of it, he studied it carefully. There were +no windows and but one entrance. There was an opening at the top but to +climb up there was to be detected. He crept round to the other corner. +There a glad sigh escaped his lips. A spot of light shone through the +semi-transparent outer covering of walrus skin. That meant that there +was a hole in the inner lining of deer skin. He had only to cut a hole +through the walrus skin to get a clear view of the interior. This he did +quickly and silently.</p> + +<p>He swung his arm in disgust as he peered inside. Only an old Chukche +woman sat in the corner, chewing and sewing at a skin boot sole.</p> + +<p>Johnny hesitated. Had he mistaken the igloo? Had the Russian purposely +misled him? He was beginning to think so, when his eye caught the end of +a sleeping bag protruding from a pile of deer skins. This he instantly +recognized as belonging to the Russian.</p> + +<p>"Evidently our friend is out. Then I'll wait," he whispered to himself.</p> + +<p>He had been there but a few moments, when the native woman, putting away +her work, went out. She had scarcely disappeared through the flap than +a dark brown streak shot into the room. As Johnny watched it, he +realized that it was a small woman, and, though her clothing was +unfamiliar, he knew by certain quick and peculiar movements that this +was the Jap girl.</p> + +<p>Ah ha! Now, perhaps, he should learn some things. Perhaps after all +these three were in league; perhaps they were all Radicals with a common +purpose, the destruction of all organized society; Japanese Radicals are +not at all uncommon.</p> + +<p>But what was this the Jap girl was doing? She had overturned the pile of +deer skins and was attempting to reach to the bottom of the Russian's +sleeping bag. Failing in this, she gave it a number of punches. With a +keen glance toward the entrance she at last darted head foremost into +the bag, much as a mouse would have gone into a boot.</p> + +<p>She came out almost at once. Her hands were empty. Evidently the thing +she sought was not there. Next she attacked a bundle, which Johnny +recognized as part of the Russian's equipment. She had examined this and +was about to put it in shape again when there came the faint shuffle of +feet at the entrance. With one wild look about her, she darted to the +pile of deer skins and disappeared beneath it.</p> + +<p>She was not a moment too soon, for instantly the sharp chin and the +sullen brow of the Russian appeared at the entrance.</p> + +<p>When he saw the bundle in disorder, he sprang to the center of the room. +His hand on his belt, he stared about the place for a second, then much +as a cat springs at a tuft of grass where a mole is concealed, he sprang +at the pile of deer skins.</p> + +<p>Johnny's lips parted, but he uttered not a sound. <ins +class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: The original text reads 'He'">His</ins> hand gripped the blue automatic. If the Russian found +her, there would be no more Russian, that was all.</p> + +<p>But to his intense surprise, he saw that as the man tore angrily at the +pile, he uncovered nothing but skins.</p> + +<p>Johnny smothered a sigh of relief which was mixed with a gasp of +admiration. The girl was clever, he was obliged to admit that. In a +period only of seconds, she had cut away the rope which bound the skin +wall to the floor and had crept under the wall to freedom.</p> + +<p>As Johnny settled back to watch, his brain was puzzled by one question; +what was it that the Jap girl sought? Was it certain papers which the +Russian carried, or was it—was it something which Johnny himself +carried in his pocket at this very moment—the diamonds?</p> + +<p>This last thought caused him a twinge of discomfort. If she was +searching for the diamonds, could it be that they rightfully belonged to +her or to her family, and had they been taken by the Russian? Or had the +girl merely learned that the Russian had the jewels and had she followed +him all this way with the purpose of robbing him? If the first +supposition was correct, ought Johnny not to go to her and tell her that +he had the diamonds? If, on the other hand, she was seeking possession +of that which did not rightfully belong to her, would she not take them +from him anyway and leave him to face dire results? For, though no law +existed which would hold him responsible for the jewels, obtained as +they had been under such unusual conditions, still Johnny knew all too +well that the world organization of Radicals to which this Russian +belonged had a system of laws and modes of punishment all its own, and, +if the Russian succeeded in making his way to America and if he, Johnny, +did not give proper account of these diamonds, sooner or later, +punishment would be meted out to him, and that not the least written in +the code of the Radical world.</p> + +<p>He dismissed the subject from his mind for the time and gave his whole +attention to the Russian. But that gentleman, after evincing his +exceeding displeasure by kicking his sleeping bag about the room for a +time, at last removed his outer garments, crept into the bag and went to +sleep.</p> + +<p>One other visit Johnny made that night. As the result of it he did not +sleep for three hours after he had let down the deer skin curtain to his +sleeping compartment.</p> + +<p>"Hanada! Hanada?" he kept repeating to himself. "Of all the Japs in all +the world! To meet him here! And not to have known him. It's +preposterous."</p> + +<p>Johnny had gone to the igloo now occupied by Iyok-ok. He had gone, not +to spy on his friend, but to talk to him about recent developments and +to ascertain, if possible, when they would cross the Strait. He had got +as far as the tent flaps, had peered within for a few moments and had +come away again walking as a man in his dream.</p> + +<p>What he had seen was apparently not so startling either. It was no more +than the boy with his parka off. But that was quite enough. Iyok-ok was +dressed in a suit of purple pajamas and was turned half about in such a +manner that Johnny had seen his right shoulder. On it was a +three-cornered, jagged scar.</p> + +<p>This scar had told the story. The boy was not an Eskimo but a Jap +masquerading as an Eskimo. Furthermore, and this is the part which gave +Johnny the start, this Jap was none other than Hanada, his schoolmate of +other days; a boy to whom he owed much, perhaps his very life.</p> + +<p>"Hanada!" he repeated again, as he turned beneath the furs. How well he +remembered that fight. Even then—it was his first year in a military +preparatory school—he had shown his tendencies to develop as a +featherweight champion. And this tendency had come near to ending his +career. The military school was one of those in which the higher +classmen treated the beginners rough. Johnny had resented this treatment +and had been set upon by four husky lads in the darkness. He had settled +two of them, knocked them cold. But the other two had got him down, and +were beating the life out of him when this little Jap, Hanada, had +appeared on the scene. Being also a first year student, he had come in +with his ju'jut'su and between them they had won the battle, but not +until the Jap had been hung over a picket fence with a jagged wound in +his shoulder. It was the scar of that wound Johnny had seen and it was +that scar which had told him that this must be Hanada.</p> + +<p>He smiled now, as he thought how he had taken Hanada to his room after +that boy's battle and had attempted to sew up the cut with an ordinary +needle. He smiled grimly as he thought of the fight and how he had +resolved to win or die. Hanada had helped him win.</p> + +<p>And here he had been traveling with the Japanese days on end and had not +recognized him. And yet it was not so strange. He had not seen him for +six years. Had Hanada recognized him? If he had, and Johnny found it +hard to doubt it, then he had his own reasons for keeping silent. Johnny +decided that he would not be the first to break the silence. But after +all there was a strange new comfort in the realization that here was one +among all these strangers whom he could trust implicitly. And Hanada +would make a capital companion with whom he might cross the thirty-five +miles of drifting, piling ice which still lay between him and America. +It was the contemplation of these realities which at last led him to the +land of dreams.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_IX"></a><h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>JOHNNY'S FREE-FOR-ALL</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny smiled as he sat before his igloo. Two signs of spring pleased +him. Some tiny icicles had formed on the cliff above him, telling of the +first thaw. An aged Chukche, toothless, and blind, had unwrapped his +long-stemmed pipe to smoke in the sunshine.</p> + +<p>Johnny had seen the old man before and liked him. He was cheerful and +interesting to talk to.</p> + +<p>"See that old man there?" he asked Hanada, whom he still called Iyok-ok +when speaking to him. "Communism isn't so bad for him after all."</p> + +<p>Hanada squinted at him curiously without speaking.</p> + +<p>"Of course, you know," said Johnny, "what these people have here is the +communal form of government, or the tribal form. Everything belongs to +the tribe. They own it in common. If I kill a white bear, a walrus 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 my old +friend gets too old to hunt, fish or mend nets, he basks in the sun and +needn't worry about anything at all. Pretty soft. Perhaps our friend the +Russian is not so far wrong after all if he's a communist."</p> + +<p>"Uh-hu," the Jap grunted; then he exclaimed, "That reminds me, +Terogloona, the Chukche who lives three doors from here, asked me to +tell you to stay out of his igloo this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>The Jap merely shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I have a way of doing what I am told not to, you should—" Johnny was +about to say, "you should know that," but checked himself in time.</p> + +<p>"Better not go," warned Hanada as he turned away.</p> + +<p>After an early noon lunch Johnny strolled up the hill top. He wanted to +get a view of the Strait. On particularly clear days, Cape Prince of +Wales on the American side of Behring Strait can be seen from East Cape +in Siberia. This day was clear, and, as Johnny climbed, he saw more and +more of the peak as it lay across the Strait, above the white ice floes.</p> + +<p>With trembling fingers he drew a one dollar bill from his pocket and +spread it on his knee.</p> + +<p>"There it is," he whispered. "There's the place where you came from, +little old one-spot. And I am going to take you back there. The +Wandering Jew once stood 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've got a country calling us, the +brightest, the best country on the map. And we dare try to go back. Once +that dark line of water disappears we'll be going."</p> + +<p>Then questions began to crowd his brain. Would Hanada attempt the Strait +at this time? What was his game anyway? Was he a member of the Japanese +secret service detailed to follow the Russian, or was he traveling of +his own accord? Except by special arrangement Japanese might not come to +America. Was Hanada sneaking back this way? It did not seem like him. +Perhaps he would not cross at all.</p> + +<p>Johnny's eyes once more swept the broad expanse of drifting ice. Then +his gaze became riveted on one spot. The band of black water 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 floe. Surely +there could be no better time to cross the Strait. With the air clear +and wind light, the crossing might be made in safety.</p> + +<p>Even as he looked, Johnny saw a man leap the gap. Curiosity caused him +to watch this man, whom he had taken for a Chukche hunter. Now he +appeared, now disappeared, only to reappear again round an ice pile. But +he behaved strangely for a hunter. Turning neither to right 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 Russian? Johnny decided he must +hurry down and tell Hanada. But, even as he rose, he saw a second person +leap across the gap in the ice. This one at once started to trail the +first man. There could be no mistaking that youthful springing step. It +was Hanada in pursuit.</p> + +<p>With cold perspiration springing out on his forehead, Johnny sat weakly +down. He was being left behind, left behind by his friend, his +classmate, the man who above all men he had thought could be depended +upon. How could he interpret this?</p> + +<p>For a time Johnny sat in gloomy silence, trying to form an answer to the +problem; trying also to map out a program of his own.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he sprang to his feet. He had remembered that there was some +sort of party down in the village, which he had 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 and straight to the igloo he had been +warned against entering. A strapping young buck was standing guard at +the flaps.</p> + +<p>"No go," he said as Johnny approached.</p> + +<p>"Go," answered Johnny.</p> + +<p>"No go," said the native, his voice rising.</p> + +<p>"Go," retorted Johnny quietly.</p> + +<p>He moved to pass the native. The latter put his hand out, and the next +instant felt himself whirled about and shot spinning down the short +steep slope which led from the igloo entrance. Johnny's good right arm +had done that.</p> + +<p>As the American lad pushed back the flaps of the igloo and entered he +stared for one brief second. Then he let out a howl and lunged forward. +Before him, in the center 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 floor. About his neck was +a skin rope. The rope, a strong one, was fastened securely to the cross +poles of the igloo. A younger man had been about to kick the box away.</p> + +<p>This same younger man suddenly felt the jar of something hard. It struck +his chin. After that he felt nothing.</p> + +<p>The fight was on. There were a dozen natives in the room. A brawny buck +with a livid scar on his right cheek lunged at Johnny. He speedily +joined his friend in oblivion. A third man leaped upon Johnny'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 slapped him nearly through the +skin wall. They came; they went; until at last, very much surprised and +quite satisfied, they allowed Johnny to cut the skin rope and help his +old blind friend down.</p> + +<p>A boy poked his head in at the flap. He had been a whaler and could +speak English. He surveyed the room in silence for a moment, taking in +each prostrate native.</p> + +<p>"Now you have spoiled it," he told Johnny with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I should say myself that I'd messed things up a bit," Johnny admitted, +"but tell me what it's all about. What did the poor old cuss do?"</p> + +<p>"Do?" the boy looked puzzled. "That one do?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. What did they want to hang him for? He was too old and feeble to +do anything very terrible; besides he's blind."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the boy smiling again. "He done not anything. Too old, that +why. No work. All time eat. Better dead. That way think all my people. +All time that way."</p> + +<p>Johnny looked at him in astonishment, then he said slowly:</p> + +<p>"I guess I get you. In this commune, this tribe of yours, everyone does +the best he can for the gang. When he is too old to work, fish or hunt, +the best thing he can do is die, so you hang him. Am I right?"</p> + +<p>"Sure a thing," replied the boy. "That's just it."</p> + +<p>Johnny shot back:</p> + +<p>"No enjoying a ripe old age in this commune business?"</p> + +<p>"No. Oh, no."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm off this commune stuff forever," exclaimed Johnny. "The old +order of things like we got back in the States is good enough for me. +And, I guess it's not so old after all. It's about the newest thing +there is. This commune business belongs back in the stone age when +primitive tribes were all the organizations there were."</p> + +<p>He had addressed this speech to no one in particular. He now turned to +the boy, a black frown on his brow.</p> + +<p>"See here," he said sharply, "this man, no die, See? Live. See? All time +live, see? No kill. You tell those guys that. Tell them I mebby come +back one winter, one summer. Come back. Old man dead. I kill three of +them. See?"</p> + +<p>Johnny took out his automatic and played with it longingly.</p> + +<p>"Tell them if they don't act as if they mean to do what I say, I'll +shoot them now, three of them."</p> + +<p>The boy interpreted this speech. Some of the men turned pale beneath +their brown skins; some shifted uneasily. They all answered quickly.</p> + +<p>"They say, all right," the boy explained solemnly. "Say that one, if had +known you so very much like old man, no want-a hang that one."</p> + +<p>"All right." Johnny smiled as he bowed himself out.</p> + +<p>It was the first near-hanging he had ever attended and he hoped it would +be the last. But as he came out into the clear afternoon air he drank +in three full breaths, then said, slowly:</p> + +<p>"Communism! Bah!"</p> + +<p>Hardly had he said this than he began to realize that he had a move +coming and a speedy one. He was in the real, the original, 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 the law of the tribe. He had +violated that law, defied it. He actually, for the moment, had set +himself up as a dictator.</p> + +<p>"Gee!" he muttered. "Wish I had time to be their king!"</p> + +<p>But he didn't have time, for in the first place, all the pangs of past +homesick days were returning to urge him across the Strait. In the +second place the mystery of the Russian and Hanada's relation to him was +calling for that 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 called. Johnny would be discussed. He had committed +an act of diplomatic indiscretion. He might be asked to leave these +shores; and then again an executioner might be appointed for him, and a +walrus lance thrust through his back.</p> + +<p>Yes, he would move. But first he must see the Jap girl and ask about her +plans. It would not do to desert her. Hurrying down the snow path, he +came upon her at the entrance to her igloo.</p> + +<p>Together they entered, and, sitting cross-legged on the deer skins by +the seal oil lamp, they discussed their futures.</p> + +<p>The girl made a rather pitiful figure as she sat there in the glow of +the yellow light. Much of her splendid "pep" seemed to have oozed away.</p> + +<p>As Johnny questioned her, she answered quite frankly. No, she would not +attempt to cross the Strait on the ice. It would be quite dangerous, +and, beside, she had promised to stay. She did not say the promise had +been made to Hanada but Johnny guessed that. Evidently they had thought +the Russian 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 the inland cities of Russia. The war had come and then +the revolution. The revolutionists had taken all that her father owned. +He had died from worry and exposure, and she had been left alone. Her +occupation at present was, well, just what he saw. She shrugged her +shoulders and said no more.</p> + +<p>Johnny with his natural generosity tried to press his roll of American +money upon her. She refused to accept it, but gave him a rare smile. She +had money enough for her immediate need and a diamond or two. Perhaps +when the Strait opened up she would come by gasoline schooner to +America.</p> + +<p>Her mention of diamonds made Johnny jump. He instantly thought of the +diamonds in his pocket. Could it be that her father had converted his +wealth into diamonds 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 once more of the cruel +revenges meted out by these Radicals. Should he give the diamonds to one +to whom they did not belong, the penalty would be swift and sure.</p> + +<p>Johnny did, however, press into her hand a card with his name and a +certain address in Chicago written upon it and he did urge her to come +there should she visit America.</p> + +<p>He had hardly left the igloo when a startling question came to his mind. +Why had the Russian gone away without further attempt to recover the +treasure now in Johnny's 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 diamonds were still safe in +Johnny's pocket. What could cause the man to abandon them? Here, indeed, +must be one of the big men of the cult, perhaps the master of them all.</p> + +<p>With this thought came another, which left Johnny cold. The cult had +spies and avengers everywhere. They were numerous in the United States. +They could afford to wait. Johnny could be trusted to cross the Strait +soon. There would be time enough then. His every move would be watched, +and when the time was ripe there would be a battle for the treasure.</p> + +<p>That night, by the light of the glorious Arctic moon Johnny found his +way across the solid shore ice and climbed upon the drifting floes, +which were even now shifting and slowly piling. He was on his way to +America. Perhaps he was the first American to walk from the old world to +his native land. Certainly, he had never attempted thirty-five miles of +travel which was fraught with so many perils.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_X"></a><h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE JAP GIRL IN PERIL</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Hardly had Johnny made his way across the shore ice and begun his +dangerous journey when things of a startling nature began to happen to +the Jap girl.</p> + +<p>She was seated in her igloo sewing a garment of eider duck skins, when +three rough-looking Chukches entered and, without ceremony, told her by +signs that she must accompany them.</p> + +<p>She was conducted to the largest igloo in the village. This she found +crowded with natives, mostly men. She was led to the center of the +floor, which was vacant, the natives being ranged round the sides of the +place.</p> + +<p>Instantly her eyes searched the frowning faces about her for a clue to +this move. She soon found it. In the throng, she recognized five of the +reindeer Chukches, members of that band which had attempted to murder +Johnny Thompson and herself.</p> + +<p>Their presence startled her. That they would make their way this far +north, when their reindeer had been sent back by paid messengers some +days before, had certainly seemed very improbable both to Johnny and to +the girl.</p> + +<p>Evidently the Chukches were very revengeful in spirit or very faithful +in the performance of murders they had covenanted to commit. At any +rate, here they were. And the girl did not deceive herself, this was a +council chamber. She did not doubt for a moment that her sentence would +be death. Her only question was, could there be a way of escape? The +wall was lined with dusky forms this time. The entrance was closely +guarded. Only one possibility offered; above her head, some five feet, a +strong rawhide rope crossed from pole to pole of the igloo. Directly +above this was the smoke hole. She had once entered one of these when an +igloo was drifted over with snow.</p> + +<p>The solemn parley of the council soon began. Like a lawyer presenting +his case, the headman of the reindeer tribe stood before them all and +with many gestures told his story. At intervals in his speech two men +stepped forward for examination. The jaw of one of them was very stiff +and three of his teeth were gone. As to the other, his face was still +tied up in bandages of tanned deer skin. His jaw was said to be broken. +The Jap girl, in spite of her peril, smiled. Johnny had done his work +well.</p> + +<p>There followed long harangues by other members of the reindeer tribe. +The last speech was made by the headman of East Cape. It was the longest +of all.</p> + +<p>At length a native boy turned to the Jap girl and spoke to her in +English.</p> + +<p>"They say, that one; they say all; you die. What you say?"</p> + +<p>"I say want—a—die," she replied smiling.</p> + +<p>This answer, when interpreted, brought forth many a grunt of surprise.</p> + +<p>"They say, that one! they say all," the boy went on, "how you want—a +die? Shoot? Stab?"</p> + +<p>"Shoot." She smiled again, then, "But first I do two thing. I sing. I +dance. My people alletime so."</p> + +<p>"Ki-ke" (go ahead) came in a chorus when her words had been +interpreted.</p> + +<p>No people are fonder of rhythmic motion and dreamy chanting than are the +natives of the far north. The keen-witted Japanese girl had learned this +by watching their native dancing. She had once visited an island in the +Pacific and had learned while there a weird song and a wild, whirling +dance.</p> + +<p>Now, as she stood up she kicked from her feet the clumsy deer skin boots +and, from beneath her parka extracted grass slippers light as silk. +Then, standing on tip toe with arms outspread, like a bird about to fly, +she bent her supple body forward, backward and to one side. Waving her +arms up and down she chanted in a low, monotonous and dreamy tone.</p> + +<p>All eyes were upon her. All ears were alert to every note of the chant. +Great was the Chukche who learned some new chant, introduced some +unfamiliar dance. Great would he be who remembered this song and dance +when this woman was dead.</p> + +<p>The tones of the singer became more distinct, her voice rose and fell. +Her feet began to move, slowly at first, then rapidly and yet more +rapidly. Now she became an animated voice of stirring chant, a whirling +personification of rhythm.</p> + +<p>And now, again, the song died away; the motion grew slower and slower, +until at last she stood before them motionless and panting.</p> + +<p>"Ke-ke! Ke-ke!" (More! More!) they shouted, in their excitement, +forgetting that this was a dance of death.</p> + +<p>Tearing the deer skin parka from her shoulders and standing before them +in her purple pajamas, she began again the motion and the song. Slow, +dreamy, fantastic was the dance and with it a chant as weird as the song +of the north wind. "Woo-woo-woo." It grew in volume. The motion +quickened. Her feet touched the floor as lightly as feathers. Her +swaying arms made a circle of purple about her. Then, as she spun round +and round, her whole body seemed a purple pillar of fire.</p> + +<p>At that instant a strange thing happened. As the natives, their minds +completely absorbed by the spell of the dance, watched and listened, +they saw the purple pillar rise suddenly toward the ceiling. Nor did it +pause, but mounting straight up, with a vaulting whirl disappeared from +sight.</p> + +<p>Overcome by the hypnotic spell of the dance, the natives sat motionless +for a moment. Then the bark of a dog outside broke the spell. With a mad +shout: "Pee-le-uk-tuk Pee-le-uk-tuk!" (Gone! Gone!) they rushed to the +entrance, trampling upon and hindering one another in their haste.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When Johnny reached the piling ice, on his way across the Strait, he at +first gave his entire attention to picking a pathway. Indeed this was +quite necessary, for here a great pan of ice, thirty yards square and +eight feet thick, glided upon another of the same tremendous proportions +to rear into the air and crumble down, a ponderous avalanche of ice +cakes and snow. He must leap nimbly from cake to cake. He must take +advantage of every rise and fall of the heaving swells which disturbed +the great blanket winter had cast upon the bosom of the deep.</p> + +<p>All this Johnny knew well. Guided only by the direction taken by the +moving cakes, he made his way across this danger zone, and out upon the +great floe, which though still drifting slowly northward, did not pile +and seemed as motionless as the shore ice itself.</p> + +<p>While at the village at East Cape Johnny had made good use of his time. +He had located accurately the position of the Diomede Islands, half way +station in the Strait. He had studied the rate of the ice's drift +northward. He now was in a position to know, approximately, how far he +might go due east and how much he must veer to the south to counteract +the drift of the ice. He soon reckoned that he would make three miles an +hour over the uneven surface of the floe. He also reckoned that the floe +was making one mile per hour due north. He must then, for every mile he +traveled going east, do one mile to the south. He did this by going a +full hour's travel east, then one-third of an hour south.</p> + +<p>So sure was he of his directions that he did not look up until the rocky +cliffs of Big Diomede Island loomed almost directly above him.</p> + +<p>There was a native village on this island where he hoped to find food +and rest and, perhaps, some news of the Russian and Hanada. He located +the village at last on a southern slope. This village, as he knew, +consisted of igloos of rock. Only poles protruding from the rocks told +him of its location.</p> + +<p>As he climbed the path to the slope he was surprised to be greeted only +by women and children. They seemed particularly unkempt and dirty. At +last, at the crest of the hill, he came upon a strange picture. A young +native woman tastily dressed was standing before her house, puffing a +turkish cigaret. She was a half-breed of the Spanish type, and Johnny +could imagine that some Spanish buccaneer, pausing at this desolate +island to hide his gold, had become her father.</p> + +<p>She asked him into an igloo and made tea for him, talking all the while +in broken English. She had learned the language, she told him, from the +whalers. She spoke cheerfully and answered his questions frankly. Yes, +his two friends had been here. They had gone, perhaps; she did not know. +Yes, he might cross to Cape Prince of Wales in safety she thought. But +Johnny had the feeling that her mind was filled with the dread of some +impending catastrophe which perhaps he might help avert.</p> + +<p>And at last the revelation came. Lighting a fresh cigaret, she leaned +back among the deer skins and spoke. "The men of the village," she said, +"you have not asked me about them."</p> + +<p>"Thought they were hunting," replied Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Hunting, no!" she exclaimed. "Boiling hooch."</p> + +<p>Johnny knew in a moment what she meant. "Hooch" was whisky, moonshine. +Many times he had heard of this vicious liquor which the Eskimos and +Chukches concocted by boiling sourdough, made of molasses, flour and +yeast.</p> + +<p>The girl told him frankly of the many carouses that had taken place +during the winter, of the deaths that had resulted from it, of the +shooting of her only brother by a drink-crazed native.</p> + +<p>Johnny listened in silence. That she told it all without apparent +emotion did not deceive him. Hooch was being brewed now. She wished it +destroyed. This was the last brew, for no more molasses and flour +remained in the village. This last drunken madness would be the most +terrible of all. She told him finally of the igloo where all the men had +gathered.</p> + +<p>Johnny pondered a while in silence. He was forever taking over the +troubles of others. How could he help this girl, and save himself from +harm? What could he do anyway? One could not steal four gallons of +liquor before thirty or forty pairs of eyes.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, an idea came to him. Begging a cigaret from the native beauty, +he lighted it and gave it three puffs. No, Johnny did not smoke. He was +merely experimenting. He wanted to see if it would make him sick. Three +puffs didn't, so having begged another "pill" and two matches he left +the room saying:</p> + +<p>"I'll take a look."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When the Jap girl leaped through the smoke hole of the igloo at East +Cape she rolled like a purple ball off the roof. Jumping to her feet she +darted down the row of igloos. Pausing for a dash into an igloo, she +emerged a moment later bearing under one arm a pile of fur garments and +under the other some native hunting implements. Then she made a dash for +the shore ice.</p> + +<p>It was at this juncture that the first Chukche emerged from the large +igloo. At his heels roared the whole gang. Like a pack of bloodthirsty +hounds, they strove each one to keep first place in the race. Their +grimy hands itched for a touch of that flying girlish figure.</p> + +<p>Though she was a good quarter mile in the lead she was hampered by the +articles she carried. Certain young Chukches, too, were noted for their +speed. Could she make it? There was a full mile of level, sandy beach +and quite as level shore ice to be crossed before she could reach the +protection of the up-turned and tumbled ice farther out to sea.</p> + +<p>On they came. Now their cries sounded more distinctly; they were +gaining. Now she heard the hoarse gasps of the foremost runner; now +imagining that she felt his hot breath on her cheek she redoubled her +energy. A grass slipper flew into the air. She ran on barefooted over +the stinging ice.</p> + +<p>Now an ice pile loomed very near. With a final dash she gained its +shelter. With a whirl she darted from it to the next, then to the right, +straight ahead, again to the right, then to the left. But even then she +did not pause. She must lose herself completely in this labyrinth of +up-ended ice cakes.</p> + +<p>Five minutes more of dodging found her far from the shouting mob, that +by this time was as hopelessly lost as dogs in a bramble patch.</p> + +<p>The Jap girl smiled and shook her fist at the shore. She was safe. +Compared to this tangled wilderness of ice, the Catacombs of Rome were +an open street.</p> + +<p>Throwing a fur garment on a cake of ice, she sat down upon it, at the +same time hastily drawing a parka over her perspiring shoulders. She +then proceeded to examine her collection of clothing. The examination +revealed one fawn skin parka, one under suit of eider duck skin, one +pair of seal skin trousers, two pairs of seal skin boots, with deer skin +socks to match, and one pair of deer skin mittens. Besides these there +was an undressed deer skin, a harpoon and a seal lance.</p> + +<p>Not such a bad selection, this, for a moment's choosing. The principal +difficulty was that the whole outfit had formerly belonged to a boy of +fourteen. The Jap girl shrugged her shoulders at this and donned the +clothing without compunctions.</p> + +<p>When that task was complete she surveyed herself in an up-ended cake of +blue ice and laughed. In this rig, with her hair closely plaited to her +head, her own mother would have taken her for a young Chukche boy out +for a hunt.</p> + +<p>Other problems now claimed her attention. She was alone in the world +without food or shelter. She dared not return to the village. Where +should she go?</p> + +<p>Again she shrugged her shoulders. She was warmly clad, but she was tired +and sleepy. Seeking out a cubby hole made by tumbled cakes of ice, she +plastered up the cracks between the cakes with snow until only one +opening remained. Then, dragging her deer skin after her, she crept +inside. She half closed the opening with a cake of snow, spread the deer +skin on the ice and curled up to sleep as peacefully as if she were in +her own home.</p> + +<p>One little thing she had not reckoned with; she was now on the drifting +ice of the ocean, and was moving steadily northward at the rate of one +mile an hour.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>A FACE IN THE NIGHT</h3> +<br /> + +<p>When Johnny left the igloo of the native girl he made his way directly +up the hill for a distance of a hundred yards. Then, turning, he took +three steps to the right and found himself facing the entrance to a +second stone igloo. That it was an old one and somewhat out of repair +was testified to by the fact that light came streaming through many a +crevice between the stones.</p> + +<p>Keeping well away from the entrance, Johnny took his place near one of +these crevices. What he saw as he peered within would have made John +Barleycorn turn green with envy. A moonshine still was in full +operation. Beneath a great sheet iron vat a slow fire of driftwood +burned. Extending from the vat was the barrel of a discarded rifle. This +rifle barrel passed through a keg of ice. Beneath the outer end of the +rifle barrel was a large copper-hooped keg which was nearly full of some +transparent liquid. The liquid was still slowly dripping from the end of +the rifle barrel.</p> + +<p>That the liquid was at least seventy-five per cent alcohol Johnny knew +right well. That it would soon cease to drip, he also knew; the fire was +burning low and no more driftwood was to be seen.</p> + +<p>Johnny sized up the situation carefully. Aside from some crude benches +running round its walls and a cruder table which held the moonshine +still, the room was devoid of furnishings. Ranged round the wall, with +the benches for seats, were some thirty men and perhaps half as many +hard-faced native women. On every face was an expression of gloating +expectancy.</p> + +<p>Now and again, a hand holding a small wooden cup would steal out toward +the keg to be instantly knocked aside by a husky young fellow whose duty +it appeared to be to guard the hooch.</p> + +<p>Johnny tried to imagine what the result would be were he suddenly to +enter the place. He would not risk that. He would wait. He counted the +moments as the sound of the dripping liquid grew fainter and fainter. At +last there came a loud:</p> + +<p>"Dez-ra" (enough), from an old man in the corner.</p> + +<p>Instantly the tank was lifted to one side, the fire beaten out, the keg +of ice flung outside and the keg of hooch set on the table in the center +of the room.</p> + +<p>Everybody now bent eagerly forward as if for a spring. Every hand held a +cup. But at this instant there came the shuffle of footsteps outside. +Instantly every cup disappeared. The kettle was lifted to a dark corner. +The room was silent when Johnny stepped inside.</p> + +<p>"Hello," he shouted.</p> + +<p>"Hello! Hello!" came from every corner.</p> + +<p>"Where you come from?" asked the former tender of the still.</p> + +<p>"East Cape."</p> + +<p>"Where you go?"</p> + +<p>"Cape Prince of Wales."</p> + +<p>"Puck-mum-ie?" (Now?) The man betrayed his anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Canak-ti-ma-na" (I don't know), said Johnny seating himself on the +table and allowing his glance to sweep the place from corner to corner. +"I don't know," he repeated, slowly. "How are you all anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Ti-ma-na" (Not so bad), answered the spokesman.</p> + +<p>Johnny was enjoying himself. He was exactly in the position of some good +motherly soul who held a pumpkin pie before the eyes of several hungry +boys. The only difference was that the pie Johnny was thinking of was +raw, so exceeding raw that it would turn these natives into wild men. So +Johnny decided that, like as not, he wouldn't let them have it at all.</p> + +<p>Johnny enjoyed the situation nevertheless. He was mighty unpopular at +that moment, he knew, but his unpopularity now was nothing to what it +would be in a very short time. Thinking of this, he measured the +distance to the door very carefully with his eye.</p> + +<p>At last, when it became evident that if he didn't move someone else +would, he turned to the still manager and said:</p> + +<p>"Well, guess I'll be going. Got a match?"</p> + +<p>He produced the borrowed cigaret. A sigh of hope escaped from the group +of natives and a match was thrust upon him.</p> + +<p>"Thanks."</p> + +<p>The match was of the sulphur kind, the sort that never blow out.</p> + +<p>Nonchalantly Johnny lighted the cigaret, then, all too carelessly, he +flipped the match. Though it seemed a careless act, it was deftly done.</p> + +<p>There came a sudden cry of alarm. But too late; the match dropped +squarely into the keg of alcohol. The next instant the place was all +alight with the blaze of the liquor, which flamed up like oil.</p> + +<p>"This way out," exclaimed Johnny leading the procession for the door. +Lightly he bounded down the hill. He caught one glimpse of the young +woman as he passed, but this was no time for lingering farewells. The +owner of the still was on his trail.</p> + +<p>Dodging this way and that, sliding over a wide expanse of ice, Johnny at +last eluded his pursuers in the wildly tumbled ice piles of the sea. As +he paused to catch his breath he heard the soft pat-pat of a footstep +and glancing up, caught a face peering at him round an ice pile.</p> + +<p>"The Russian," he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>* * * * *</p> + +<p>When the Jap girl awoke after several hours of delicious sleep in her +ice palace bedroom, she looked upon a world unknown. The sun was shining +brightly. The air was clear. In a general way she knew the outline of +East Cape and the Diomede Islands. She knew, too, where they should be +located. It took her some time to discover them and when she did it was +with a gasp of astonishment. They were behind her.</p> + +<p>Realizing at once what had happened, she stood up and held her face to +the air. The wind was off shore. There was not the least bit of use in +trying to make the land. A stretch of black waters yawned between shore +and ice floe by now.</p> + +<p>Shrugging her shoulders, she climbed a pile of ice for a better view, +then hurrying down again, she picked up the harpoon and began puzzling +over it. She coiled and uncoiled the skin rope attached to it. She +worked the rope up and down through the many buttons which held it to +the shaft. She examined the sharp steel point of the shaft which was +fastened to the skin rope.</p> + +<p>After that she sat down to think. Over to the left of her she had seen +something that lay near a pool of water. She had never hunted anything, +did not fancy she'd like it, but she was hungry.</p> + +<p>There was a level pan of ice by the pool. The creature lay on the ice +pan. Suddenly she sprang up and made her way across the ice piles to the +edge of that broad pan. The brown creature, a seal, still some distance +away, did not move.</p> + +<p>Searching the ice piles she at last found a regularly formed cake some +eight inches thick and two feet square. With some difficulty she pried +this out and stood it on edge. The edge was uneven, the cake tippy. +Rolling it on its side she chipped it smooth with the point of the +harpoon.</p> + +<p>The second trial found the cake standing erect and solid. Gripping her +harpoon, she threw herself flat on her stomach and pushing the cake +before her, began to wriggle her way toward the sleeping seal.</p> + +<p>Once she paused long enough to bore a peep hole through the cake with +her dagger. From time to time the seal wakened, and raised his head to +look about. Then he sank down again. Now she was but three rods away, +now two, now one. Now she was within ten feet of the still motionless +quarry.</p> + +<p>Stretching every muscle for a spring like a cat, she suddenly darted +forward. At the next instant she hurled the harpoon deep into the seal's +side. She had him! Through her body pulsated thrills of wild triumph +which harkened back to the days of her primitive ancestry. Then for a +second she wavered. She was a woman. But she was hungry. Tomorrow she +might be starving.</p> + +<p>Her knife flashed. A stream of red began dyeing the ice. A moment later, +the creature's muscles relaxed.</p> + +<p>The Japanese girl, Cio-Cio-San, sat up and began to think. Here was +food, but how was it to be prepared? To think of eating raw seal meat +was revolting, yet here on the floe there was neither stove nor fuel.</p> + +<p>Slowly and carefully she stripped the skin from the carcass. Beneath +this she found a two-inch layer of blubber, which must be more than +ninety per cent oil. Under this was a compact mass of dark meat. This +would be good if it was cooked. She sat down to think again. The fat +seemed to offer a solution. It would burn if she had matches. She felt +over the parka for pockets, and, with a little cry of joy, she found in +one several matches wrapped in a bit of oiled seal skin. Every native +carried them.</p> + +<p>Hastily she stripped off a bit of fat and having lighted it, watched it +flare up and burn rapidly. She laughed and clapped her hands.</p> + +<p>But before she could cut off a bit of meat to roast over its flames, the +soft ice began melting beneath it and the flames flickered out with a +snapping flutter.</p> + +<p>This would not do. There must be some other way found. Rising, she drove +her harpoon into the snow at the crest of an ice pile. To this she +fastened her deer skin, that it might act as a beacon to guide her back +to her food supply. Then she turned about the ice pile and began +wandering in search of she hardly knew what.</p> + +<p>She at last came upon some old ice, with cakes ground round and +discolored with age and then with a little cry of joy she started +forward. The thing she saw had been discarded as worthless long ago; +some gasoline schooner's crew had thrown it overboard. It was an empty +five-gallon can which had once held gasoline. It was red with rust, but +she pounced upon it and hurried away.</p> + +<p>Once safely back at her lodge she used the harpoon to cut out a door in +the upper end of the can. After cutting several holes in one side, she +placed it on the ice with the perforated side up and put a strip of +blubber within. This she lighted. It gave forth a smoky fire, with +little heat, but much oil collected in the can. Seeing this, she began +fraying out the silk ribbon of her pajamas. When she had secured a +sufficient amount of fine fuzz she dropped it along the edge of the oil +which saturated it at once. She lighted this, which had formed itself +into a sort of wick, and at once she had a clear and steady flame.</p> + +<p>She had solved the problem. In her seal oil oven, meat toasted +beautifully. In half an hour she was enjoying a bountiful repast. After +the feast, she sat down to think. She was fed for the moment and +apparently safe enough, but where was she and whither was she being +carried by this drifting ice floe?</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>For a second, after seeing the face of the Russian on the ice, Johnny +Thompson stood motionless. Then he turned and ran, ran madly out among +the ice piles. Heedless of direction he ran until he was out of breath +and exhausted, until he had lost himself and the Russian completely.</p> + +<p>No, Johnny was not running from the Russian. He was running from +himself. When he saw the Russian's face, lit up as it was by the flare +of the flames that had burst forth from that abandoned igloo, there had +been something so crafty, so cruel, so remorselessly terrible about it +that he had been seized with a mad desire to kill the man where he +stood.</p> + +<p>But Johnny felt, rather than knew, that there were very special reasons +why the Russian must not be killed, at least not at that particular +moment. Perhaps some dark secret was locked in his crafty brain, a +secret which the world should know and which would die if he died. +Johnny could only guess this, but whatever might be the reason he must +not at this moment kill the man whom he suspected of twice attempting +his life. So he fled.</p> + +<p>By the last flickering flames of the grand spree that had burned, Johnny +figured out his approximate location and began once more his three miles +east, one mile south journey to Cape Prince of Wales. Some hours later, +having landed safely at the Cape, and having displayed the postmarked +one dollar bill to the post mistress and given it to her in exchange for +a sumptuous meal of reindeer meat, hot biscuits and doughnuts, he +started sleeping the clock round in a room that had been arranged for +the benefit of weary travelers.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>"GET THAT MAN"</h3> +<br /> + +<p>The trip from Cape Prince of Wales to Nome was fraught with many +dangers. Already the spring thaw had begun. Had not the Eskimo whom +Johnny employed to take him to the Arctic metropolis with his dog team +been a marvel at skirting rotten ice and water holes in Port Clarence +Bay, at swimming the floods on Tissure River, and at canoeing across the +flooded Sinrock, Johnny might never have reached his journey's end.</p> + +<p>As it was, two weeks from the time he left East Cape in Siberia, he +stood on the sand spit at Nome, Alaska. By his side stood Hanada, who +was still acting the part of an Eskimo and who had come down a few days +ahead of him.</p> + +<p>They were viewing a rare sight, the passing out to sea of the two miles +of shore ice. The spring thaw had been followed by an off-shore wind +which was carrying the loosened ice away. Johnny's interest was evenly +divided between this rare spectacle and the recollection of the events +that had recently transpired.</p> + +<p>"Look!" said Hanada. "I believe the ice will carry the farther end of +the cable tramway out to sea."</p> + +<p>Johnny looked. It did seem that what the boy said was true. Already the +cable appeared to be as tight as a fiddle string.</p> + +<p>The tramway was a cable which stretched from a wooden tower set upon a +stone pillar jutting from the sea to a similar tower built upon the +land. This tramway, during the busy summer months of open sea, is used +in lieu of a harbor and docks to bring freight and passengers ashore. +This is done by drawing a swinging platform over the cable from tower to +tower and back again. The platform at the present moment swung idly at +the shore end of the cable. The beach had been fast locked in ice for +eight months and more.</p> + +<p>"Looks like it might go," said Johnny absentmindedly.</p> + +<p>Neither he nor the Jap had seen or heard anything of the Russian. Two +things would seem to indicate that that mysterious fugitive was in town; +three times Johnny had found himself being closely watched by certain +rough-looking Russian laborers, and once he had narrowly averted being +attacked in a dark street at night by a gang of the same general +character.</p> + +<p>Hanada had not yet chosen to reveal his identity, and Johnny had not +questioned him.</p> + +<p>Only the day before a placard in the post office had given him a start. +It was an advertisement offering a thousand dollars reward for knowledge +which would lead to the arrest of a certain Russian Radical of much +importance. This man was reported to have made his way through the +Allied front near Vladivostok, and to have started north, apparently +with the intention of crossing to America. To capture him, the placard +declared, would be an act of practical patriotism.</p> + +<p>Johnny had stared in wonder at the photograph attached. It was the +likeness of a man much younger than the Russian they had followed so +far, but there could be no mistaking that sharp chin and frowning brow. +They had doubtless followed that very man for hundreds of miles only to +lose him at this critical moment.</p> + +<p>What had surprised him most of all had been the Jap's remark, as he read +the notice:</p> + +<p>"The blunderer! Wooden-headed blunderer!" Hanada had muttered as he read +the printed words.</p> + +<p>"Would you take him if you saw him?" Johnny had asked.</p> + +<p>The Jap had turned a strangely inquiring glance at him, then answered:</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>But they had not found him. And now the ice was going out. Soon ships +would be coming and going. Little gasoline schooners would dash away to +catch the cream of the coast-wise trading; great steamers would bring in +coal, food, and men. In all this busy traffic, how easy it would be for +the Russian to depart unseen.</p> + +<p>Johnny sighed. He had grown exceedingly fond of dogging the track of +that man. And besides, that thousand dollars would come in handy. He +would dearly love to see the man behind prison bars. There would be no +holding him for crimes he had attempted in Siberia, but probably the +United States Government had something on him.</p> + +<p>"Look!" exclaimed the Jap. "The tower has tipped a full five feet!" It +was true. The ice crowding from the shore had blocked behind the tower, +which stood several hundred feet from land. A dark line of water had +opened between the two towers. Evidently the harbor committee would have +some work on its hands.</p> + +<p>"They're running down there," said Johnny, pointing to three men racing +as if for their lives toward the shore tower. "Wonder what they think +they can do?"</p> + +<p>"Looks like the two behind were chasing the fellow in the lead," said +Hanada.</p> + +<p>"They are!" exclaimed Johnny. "Poor place for safety, I'd say, but he's +got quite a lead."</p> + +<p>At that instant the man in front disappeared behind the shore tower. As +they watched, they saw a strange thing: the swinging platform began to +move slowly along the rusty cable, and, just as it got under way, a man +leaped out upon it.</p> + +<p>"He's started the electric motor and is giving himself a ride," +explained Johnny, "but if it's as bad as that, it must be pretty bad. +He's desperate, that's all. The outer tower's likely to go over at any +moment and dash him to death. Even if he makes it, where'll he be? Going +out to sea on the floe, that's all."</p> + +<p>Slowly the platform crept across the space over the black waters, then +over the tumbling ice. The outer tower could be seen to dip in toward +the shore. The cable sagged. The two other runners were nearing the +inner tower.</p> + +<p>"C'mon!" exclaimed Johnny, "The Golden West. A telescope!"</p> + +<p>Closely followed by Hanada, he leaped away toward the hotel where, in a +room especially prepared for it, was a huge brass telescope mounted on a +tripod. Johnny, glancing out to sea, knew that the tower would be over +in another thirty seconds. The platform was not twenty feet from its +goal. His eye was now at the telescope. One second and he swung the +instrument about. Then a gasp escaped his lips:</p> + +<p>"The Russian!"</p> + +<p>"The Russian?" Hanada snatched the telescope from him.</p> + +<p>As Johnny watched he saw the man leap just as the platform lurched +backward. The two men at the other tower had reversed the motor, but +they were too late.</p> + +<p>The next moment the outer tower toppled into the sea; the cable cut the +water with a resounding swish. Johnny saw the Russian leap from ice cake +to ice cake until at last he disappeared behind a giant pile, safe on a +broad field of solid ice.</p> + +<p>Hanada sat down. His face was white.</p> + +<p>"Gone!" he muttered hoarsely.</p> + +<p>"A boat?" suggested Johnny.</p> + +<p>"No good. The ice floe's two miles wide, forty miles long and all piled +up. Couldn't find him. He'd never give himself up. But he'll come +back.<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: Quotation mark missing in original">"</ins></p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but he'll come. You'll see. He's a devil, that one. But +we'll get him yet."</p> + +<p>"And the thousand," suggested Johnny.</p> + +<p>Hanada looked at him in disgust. "A thousand dollars! What is that?"</p> + +<p>"Is it as bad as that?" Johnny smiled in spite of himself.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and worse, many times worse. I tell you, we must get that man! +When the time comes, we must get him, or it will be worse for your +country and mine."</p> + +<p>"Ours is the same country," suggested Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Huh!" Hanada shrugged his shoulders. "I am Hanada, your old schoolmate, +now a member of the Japanese Secret Police, and you are Johnny Thompson. +Whatever else you are, I don't know. The Russian has left us for a time. +Let's talk about those old school days, and forget."</p> + +<p>And they did.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>BACK TO OLD CHICAGO</h3> +<br /> + +<p>In the spring all the ice from upper Behring Sea passes through Behring +Strait. One by one, like squadrons of great ships, floes from the shores +of Cape York, Cape Nome and the Yukon flats drift majestically through +that narrow channel to the broad Arctic Ocean.</p> + +<p>So it happened that in due time the ice floe on which the Russian had +sought refuge drifted past the Diomede Islands and farther out, well +into the Arctic Ocean, met the floe on which the Jap girl had been lost +as it circled to the east.</p> + +<p>All ignorant of the passenger it carried, the girl welcomed this +addition to her broad domain of ice. She had lived on the floe for days, +killing seal for her food and melting snow to quench her thirst. But of +late the cakes had begun to drift apart. There was danger that the great +pan on which she had established herself would drift away from the +others, and, in that case, if no seals came, she would starve. This new +floe crowded upon hers and made the one on which she camped a solid mass +again.</p> + +<p>Spying some strange, dark spots on the newly arrived floe, she hurried +over to the place and was surprised to find that it was a great heap of +rubbish carted from some city. Though she did not know it, she guessed +that city was Nome.</p> + +<p>With the keen pleasure of a child she explored the heaps, selecting here +a broken knife, there a discarded kettle, and again some other utensil +which would help her in setting up a convenient kitchen.</p> + +<p>But it was as she made her way back to her camp that she received the +greatest shock. Suddenly, as she rounded a cake of ice, she came upon a +man sprawled upon the ice, as if dead. The girl took no chances. In the +land whence she came, it was not considered possible that this man +should die. She sprang between two up-ended cakes, and from this shelter +studied him cautiously. Yes, there was no mistaking him; it was the +Russian. A slight movement of one arm told her he was not dead. Whether +he was unconscious or was sleeping she could not tell.</p> + +<p>Presently, after tying her dagger to her waist by a rawhide cord, she +crept silently forward. An ear inclined toward his face told her that he +was breathing regularly; he was sleeping the torpid sleep of one worn by +exhaustion, exposure and starvation.</p> + +<p>Ever so gently she touched him. He did not move. Then, with one hand on +her dagger, she felt his clothing, as if searching for some object +hidden in his fur garments. Her touch was light as a feather, yet she +appeared to have a wonderful sense of location in the tips of those +small, slender fingers.</p> + +<p>Once the man moved and groaned. Light as a leaf she sprang away, the +dagger gleaming in her hand. There were reasons why she did not wish to +kill that man; other reasons than the fact that she was a woman and +shrank from slaying, and yet she was in a perilous position. Should it +come to a choice between killing him or suffering herself, she would +kill him.</p> + +<p>Again the man's body relaxed in slumber. Again she glided to his side +and continued her search. When at last she straightened up, it was with +a look of despair. The thing she sought was not there.</p> + +<p>When the Russian awoke some time later it was with the feeling that he +had been prodded in the side. The first sensation to greet him after +that was the savory smell of cooked meat. Unable to believe his senses, +he opened his eyes and sat up. Before him was a tin pan partly filled +with strips of reddish-brown meat and squares of fried fat. The dish was +still hot.</p> + +<p>Like a dog that fears to have his food snatched from him, he glared +about him and a sort of snarl escaped his lips. Then he fell upon the +food and ate it ravenously. With the last morsel in his hand, he looked +about him for signs of the human being who had befriended him. But in +his eye was no sign of gratitude, rather the reverse—a burning fire of +suspicion and hate lurked in their sullen depths. His gaze finally +rested for a moment on the meat in his hand. Then his face blanched. The +meat had been neatly cut by an instrument keen as a razor.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The steam-whaler, Karluke, a whole year overdue, pushing her way south +through the ice-infested Strait, her crew half <ins class="correction" +title="Transcriber's Note: The original text reads 'mutinuous'">mutinous</ins>, and her food supply low, was subjected to +two vexatious delays. Once she halted to pick up a man who signaled her +from the top of a shattered tower of wood which topped an ice pile. The +man was a Russian. Again, the boat paused to take on board a youth, whom +they supposed to be a Chukche hunter who had been carried by the floes +from his native shores.</p> + +<p>The Russian paid them well for his passage to Seattle. The supposed +Chukche was sent to the galley to become cook's helper.</p> + +<p>This Chukche boy was no other than the Jap girl. She realized at once +the position she was in; a perilous enough one, once her identity was +disclosed, and she did all in her power to play the part of a Chukche +boy. She drew maps on the deck to show the seamen that she was a member +of the reindeer Chukche tribes, who spoke a different language from the +hunting tribes, thus explaining why she could not converse freely with +the veteran Arctic sailors who had learned Chukche on their many +voyages. She was fortunate in immediately securing a cook's linen cap. +This she wore tightly drawn down to her ears, covering her hair +completely.</p> + +<p>One thing she discovered the first night on board: The Russian had in +his stateroom a bundle. This had been hidden when she searched him on +the ice. To have a look into that bundle became her absorbing purpose. +Three times she attempted to enter his stateroom. On the third attempt +she did actually enter the room, but so narrowly escaped having her +linen mask torn from her head and her identity revealed by the irate +Russian, that she at last gave it up.</p> + +<p>Upon docking at Seattle both the Russian and the girl mingled with the +crowd on the dock and quickly disappeared.</p> + +<p>The clerks in Roman & Lanford's department store were more than mildly +curious regarding an Eskimo boy, who, entering their store that day and +displaying a large roll of bills, demanded the best in women's wearing +apparel. They had in stock a complete outfit, just the size that would +fit the strange customer, who was no other than the Jap girl.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Johnny Thompson and Hanada, after two weeks of fruitless watching and +waiting in Nome, took a steamer for Seattle. Johnny had not been in +that city a day when, while walking toward the Washington Hotel, he felt +a light touch on his arm, and turned to look into the beaming face of +the Jap girl.</p> + +<p>"You—you here?" he gasped in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Why! You look grand," he assured her. "Regular American girl."</p> + +<p>She blushed through her brown skin. Then her face took on a serious +look:</p> + +<p>"The Russian—" she began.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the Russian!" exclaimed Johnny eagerly.</p> + +<p>"He is here—no, not here. This morning he takes train for Chicago. +To-night we will follow. We will get that man, you and I, and—Iyok-ok." +Her lips tripped over the last word.</p> + +<p>"Hanada," Johnny corrected.</p> + +<p>"He has told you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he is an old friend."</p> + +<p>"And mine too. Good! To-night we will go. We will get that man. Three of +us. That bad one!"</p> + +<p>"All right," said Johnny. "See you at the depot to-night."</p> + +<p>"Wait," said the girl. Her hand still on his arm, she stood on her +tiptoe and whispered in his ear:</p> + +<p>"My name Cio-Cio-San; your friend, Hanada friend. Good-by." Then she was +gone.</p> + +<p>Johnny walked to his hotel as in a dream. He had hoped to return to his +den, his job and to Mazie in Chicago, and in a quiet way, all mysteries +dissolved, to live his old happy life. But here were all the mysteries +carrying him right to his own city and promising to end—in what? +Perhaps in some tremendous sensation. Who could tell? And the diamonds; +what of them? He put his hand to his inner pocket; they were still +there. Was he watched? Would he be followed? Even as he asked himself +the question, he fancied that a dark form moved stealthily across the +street.</p> + +<p>"Well, anyway," he said to himself, "I can't desert my Jap friends. +Besides, I don't want to."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Chicago," said Hanada some time later, as Johnny related his +conversation with Cio-Cio-San. "That means the end is near."</p> + +<p>The end was not so near as he thought. When it came it was not, alas! to +be for him the kind of end he fancied.</p> + +<p>"All right," he said. "To-night we go to Chicago."</p> + +<p>On the trip eastward from Seattle, Johnny slept much and talked little. +The Jap girl and Hanada occupied compartments in different cars and +appeared to wish to avoid being seen together or with Johnny. This, he +concluded, was because there might be Russian Radicals on this very +train. Johnny slept with the diamonds pressed against his chest and it +was with a distinct sense of relief that he at last heard the hollow +roar of the train as it passed over the street subways, for he knew this +meant he was back in dear old Chicago, where he might have bitter +enemies, but where also were many warm friends.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIV"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE MYSTERY OF THE CHICAGO RIVER</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny Thompson dodged around a corner on West Ohio street, then walked +hurriedly down Wells street. At a corner of the building which shadowed +the river from the north he paused and listened; then with a quick +wrench, he tore a door open, closed it hastily and silently, and was up +the dusty stairs like a flash. At the top he waited and listened, then +turning, made his way up two other flights, walked down a dark corridor, +turned a key in a lock, threw the door open, closed it after him, +scratched a match, lighted a gas lamp, then uttered a low "Whew!" at the +dust that had accumulated everywhere.</p> + +<p>Brushing off a chair, he sat down. For a few moments he sat there in +silent reflection. Then rising, he extinguished the light, threw up the +sash, unhooked some outer iron shutters, sent them jangling against the +brick wall, and drawing his chair to the window, stared reflectively +down into the sullen, murky waters of the river. At last he was back in +Chicago!</p> + +<p>The time had been when the fact that Johnny Thompson occupied this room +was no secret to anyone who really wanted to know. Johnny had roomed +here when he first came to Chicago as a boy, working for six dollars a +week. When, in the years that followed, it had been discovered that +Johnny was quick as a bobcat and packed a wallop; when Johnny began +making easy money, and plenty of it, he had stuck to the old room that +overlooked the river. When he had heard his country's call to go to war, +he had paid three years' rent on the room and had locked the door. If he +never came back, all good and well. If he did return, the old room would +be waiting for him, the room and the river. Now here he was once more.</p> + +<p>The river! The stream had always held a great fascination for him. +Johnny had seen other rivers but to him none of them quite came up to +the old Chicago. In its silent, sullen depths lay power and mystery. +The Charles River of Boston Johnny had seen, and called it a place of +play for college boys. The Seine of Paris was a thing of beauty, not of +power. The Spokane was a noisy blusterer. But the old Chicago was a grim +and silent toiler. It bore on its waters great scows, lake boats, +snorting, smoking tugs, screaming fire boats and police boats. Then, +too, it was a river of mysteries. Down into its murky depths no eye +could peer to discover the hidden and mysterious burdens which it +carried away toward the Father of Waters.</p> + +<p>Yes, give Johnny the room by the old Chicago! It was dusty and grim; but +tomorrow he would clean it thoroughly. Just now he wished merely to sit +here and think for an hour.</p> + +<p>The time had been when Johnny had not cared who saw him enter this +haven; but to-day things were different. Since he had got into this +affair with the Russian and his band he had had a feeling that he was +being constantly watched.</p> + +<p>There was little wonder at this, for did he not carry on his person +forty thousand dollars' worth of rare gems? And did they not belong to +someone else?</p> + +<p>"To whom?" Johnny said the words aloud as he thought of it.</p> + +<p>His mind turned to his Japanese comrades, the girl and the man. He had +told neither of them about the diamonds. Perhaps he should have done so, +and yet he felt a strange reticence in the matter.</p> + +<p>He was to meet Hanada at eight o'clock. Hanada had never told him why +they were pursuing the Russian; why he could not be killed in Siberia; +why he must not be killed or arrested if seen now, until he, Hanada, +said the word. He had not told why he thought that the Secret Service +men had committed a blunder in offering a reward for the Russian's +capture.</p> + +<p>As Johnny thought of it he wondered if he were a fool for sticking to +this affair into which he had been so blindly led. He had not shown +himself to his old boss or to Mazie. To them he was dead. He had looked +up the official record that very morning and had seen that he was +reported "Missing in Vladivostok; probably dead."</p> + +<p>Should he stick to the Russian's trail, a course which might lead to +his death, or should he take the diamonds to a customs office and turn +them in as smuggled goods, then tell Hanada he was off the hunt, was +going back to his old job and Mazie? That would be a very easy thing to +do; and to stick was fearfully hard. Yet the words of his long time +friend, "Get that man, or it will be worse for your country and mine," +still rang in his ears. Was it his patriotic duty to stick?</p> + +<p>And if he decided to go on with it, should he go to Hanada and ask for a +showdown, all cards on the table; or should he trust him to reveal the +facts in the case little by little or all at once, as seemed wise to +him? Well, he should see.</p> + +<p>Then, for a half hour, Johnny gave himself over to the wild, boyish +reveries which the city air and the lights flickering on the water +awakened. At the end of that half hour he put on his hat and went out. +He was to meet Hanada on the Wells street bridge. Where the Japanese was +staying he did not know, but that it was with some fellow countrymen he +did not doubt. Cio-Cio-San was staying with friends, students at the +University. It had been arranged that the three of them should meet at +odd times and various places to discuss matters relating to their +dangerous mission. In this way they hoped to throw members of the band +of Radicals off their tracks.</p> + +<p>Their conversation that night came to little. Hanada had found no trace +of the Russian, nor had he come into contact with any other important +Radicals since reaching Chicago. Johnny's report was quite as brief. +Hanada showed no inclination to reveal more regarding the matter, and +Johnny did not question him. He had fully determined to see the thing +through, cost what it might.</p> + +<p>It was after a roundabout walk through the deserted streets of the +business section of the city that they came to South Water street. This +street, the noisiest and most crowded of all Chicago at certain hours, +was now as silent and deserted as a village green at midnight. Here a +late pedestrian hurried down its narrow walk: there some boatman +loitered toward his craft in the river. But for these the street was +deserted.</p> + +<p>And it was here, of all places, that they experienced the first thrill +of the night. A heavy step sounded on the pavement around the corner. +The next instant a man appeared walking toward them. His face was +obscured by shadows, but there was no mistaking that stride.</p> + +<p>"That's our man," whispered Johnny.</p> + +<p>"The Russian?" questioned Hanada in equally guarded tones.</p> + +<p>There was not time for another word, for the man, having quickened his +pace was abreast of them, past them and gone.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Couldn't see his face," whispered the Jap.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" urged Johnny; "there's a short cut, an alley. We can meet him +again under the arc light."</p> + +<p>Down a dark alley they dashed. Crashing into a broken chicken crate, +then sprinting through an open court, they came out on another alley, +and then onto a street.</p> + +<p>They had raced madly, but now as they came up short, panting, they saw +no one. The man had disappeared.</p> + +<p>Suddenly they heard steps on the cross street.</p> + +<p>"Turned the corner," panted Johnny. "C'mon!"</p> + +<p>Again they dashed ahead, slowing only as they reached the other street.</p> + +<p>Sure enough, halfway down the block they saw their man. He was walking +rapidly toward the bridge. Quickening their pace they followed.</p> + +<p>Distinctly they saw the man go upon the bridge. Very plainly they heard +every footstep on the echoing planks. Then, just as they were about to +step upon the bridge, the footsteps ceased.</p> + +<p>"Sh!" whispered Johnny, bringing his friend to a halt. "He's stopped; +maybe laying for us."</p> + +<p>For a minute they stood there. The lapping of the water was the only +sound till, somewhere in the distance an elevated train rattled its way +north.</p> + +<p>"C'mon," said Johnny. "We've met that bird in worse places than this; we +can meet him again."</p> + +<p>But they did not meet him, although they walked the full length of the +bridge. There was not a place on the whole structure where a man could +hide, but they searched it thoroughly. Then Johnny searched the sides, +the abutments. He sent the gleam of his powerful flashlight into the +dark depths beneath, but all to no purpose. The man was gone.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Hisch!" breathed Hanada.</p> + +<p>"Well, all I have to say," observed Johnny presently, "is that if the +old Chicago River has that fellow, he'll be cast ashore. The good old +Chicago doesn't associate with any such."</p> + +<p>They stood there leaning on the wooden railing debating their next move, +when a shot rang out. Instantly they dropped to the floor of the bridge. +A bullet whizzed over their heads, then another and another. After that +silence.</p> + +<p>"Get you?" whispered Johnny.</p> + +<p>"No. You?"</p> + +<p>"Nope."</p> + +<p>Then a long finger of light came feeling its way along the murky waters +to rest on the bridge.</p> + +<p>With a sigh of relief, Johnny saw that it came from a police-boat down +stream. The light felt its way back and forth, back and forth across the +river, then up to the bridge and across that. It came to rest as it +glared into their eyes. It blinked one, two, three times, then went out.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad they didn't hold it on us," breathed Johnny. "In that light +anybody that wanted to could get a bead on us."</p> + +<p>Hearing heavy, hurrying footsteps approaching, they stood up well back +against the iron braces.</p> + +<p>"Police!" whispered Johnny.</p> + +<p>"You fellows shoot?" demanded one of the policemen as they came up and +halted before the two boys.</p> + +<p>"Nope," Johnny answered.</p> + +<p>"No stallin' now."</p> + +<p>"Search us," Johnny suggested. "The shots were fired at us, though where +from, blessed if I know. Came right out of space. We'd just searched the +bridge from end to end. Not a soul on it."</p> + +<p>"What'd y' search it fer?"</p> + +<p>"A man."</p> + +<p>"W'at man?"</p> + +<p>"That's it," Johnny evaded. "We wanted to know who he was."</p> + +<p>The policemen conversed with one another in low tones for a moment.</p> + +<p>"One of the bullets struck a cross-arm; I heard it," suggested Johnny. +"You can look at that if it'll be any comfort to you."</p> + +<p>The policeman grunted, then following Johnny's flashlight, examined the +spot where the bullet had flaked the paint from the bridge iron.</p> + +<p>"Hurum!" he grumbled. "That's queer. Bullet slid straight up the iron +when it struck. Ordinarily that'd mean she was shot square against it +from below and straight ahead, but that can't be, fer that brings her +comin' direct out of the river, which ain't human, nor possible. There +wasn't a boat nor a barge nor even a plank on the river when the +searchlight flashed from the gray prowler; was there, Mike?"</p> + +<p>"Not even a cork," said Mike.</p> + +<p>"Well, anyway, that clears youse guys," grunted the leader. "Now you +better beat it."</p> + +<p>Bidding Hanada good night, Johnny walked across the bridge, around four +blocks, then made a dash for his room. There was dust on his blankets, +but he could shake it off. Anyway, he probably would not sleep much that +night. Probably he would spend most of the night sitting by the window, +listening to the lap of the waters of the old river and trying to solve +the strange problem of the bullets fired apparently from the depths of +the stream.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XV"></a><h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>THE CAT CRY OF THE UNDERWORLD</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Dodging in front of a street car, Johnny turned abruptly to the right +and trailed a taxi for half a block; then he shot across the sidewalk to +the end of a dark alley. Then he flattened himself against the wall and +listened. Yes, it came at last, the faint thud of cautious footsteps. He +had not thrown the man off the scent.</p> + +<p>"Well then, I will," he muttered, gritting his teeth. Johnny was a +trifle out of sorts to-night. The chase annoyed him.</p> + +<p>He dodged down the alley, then up a narrow court. Prying open the window +of an empty building, he crept in and silently slid the sash back in its +place. Tiptoeing across the hall with the lightness of a cat, he crept +up the dusty stairs. One, two, three flights he ascended, then feeling +for the rounds of a short ladder, he climbed still higher, to lift a +trapdoor at last and creep out upon the roof.</p> + +<p>Once there he skulked from chimney to chimney until he had crossed the +flat roofs of three buildings. The third had a trapdoor close to a +chimney. This he lifted, then dropped behind him. He was now in his own +building. Panting a little from the exertion, he tiptoed down the hall, +turned the key and entered his room.</p> + +<p>Having made sure that the iron blinds were closed, he snapped on a +light. His eyes, roving around the room, fell presently upon something +white on the floor. Johnny could see his own name scrawled upon it. +There were but a few people in all the world who knew that Johnny +Thompson had ever lived here. Probably all of those who did know thought +him dead and buried in Russia. Who had written this note? Friend or foe?</p> + +<p>He tore open the envelope and glanced at the note. It came to the point +with brutal frankness.</p> + +<p>"Johnny Thompson: You are known to have in your possession rare gems +which do not belong to you. You will please leave them on the doorstep +of 316 North Bird place, and rap three times before you leave.</p> + +<p>"If not—"</p> + +<p>That was all, save that in place of a signature there was a splotch of +red sealing wax. The wax had been stamped with an iron seal. The mark of +the seal was that of the Radical Clan—the same as that on the envelope +which contained the diamonds.</p> + +<p>"And that, I suppose," whispered Johnny to himself, "means that if I do +not leave the diamonds where I am told to I shall be flattened out like +that drop of wax."</p> + +<p>Switching out the light, he opened the blinds and took his old seat by +the window. He was at once absorbed in thought. So all his dodging and +twisting had not served to throw them off his track. They had discovered +his den. And he must give up the diamonds and—</p> + +<p>"If not—"</p> + +<p>Those two words stood out as plainly before him as if they were flashed +forth from an electric sign on the roof across the river.</p> + +<p>He was half minded to give the diamonds up, but not to those rascals. +No, he would allow one of their spies to trail him to the Custom House, +and there, before the man's very eyes, Johnny would take out the +envelope with the seal plainly showing, and hand the diamonds in as +smuggled goods.</p> + +<p>There was but one objection to this plan; he still had a strange fancy +that someway Cio-Cio-San had a rightful interest in those gems. At +least, he was not sure she did not have. Until he had determined the +truth in this matter, he was loath to part with them.</p> + +<p>But in keeping them he was taking a risk. He might be attacked and +killed by that ruthless gang at any time.</p> + +<p>For a long time he sat, staring down at the river. He was not in a happy +mood. He was tired of all this trouble, fighting and mystery. On crowded +State street that afternoon, he had seen Mazie. That made it worse. He +had never seen her look so well. She had changed; grown older, and he +thought a little sadder. Was the sadness caused by the fact that she +believed him dead? He dared to hope so. All this filled him with a mad +desire to touch her hand once more, to speak to her, to assure her in a +score of ways that he was not dead.</p> + +<p>Then Hanada had disappointed him. He had hoped they would meet again and +have another conference that night; had hoped that the wise little Jap +would have some solution of the mystery of the shots from the river, and +the strange disappearance of the man they had taken to be the Russian. +But Hanada had said "No." He had given no reason; had merely left things +that way. Hanada had been like that always; he never explained. Perhaps +he did have some other important engagement; then why could he not tell +Johnny of it? Why all this constant enshrouding of affairs in mystery? +What did he, Johnny, know about the whole business anyway? Not a thing. +He was only assured by the Jap that it was his duty to stick on the +trail of the Russian until it led somewhere in particular. He was not, +in any circumstances, to have him arrested or killed without first +consulting Hanada.</p> + +<p>"What rot!"</p> + +<p>Johnny got up and paced the floor. Then, suddenly realizing that there +was no longer cause for secrecy as to his whereabouts, he threw on the +light and swung a punching bag down from the wall.</p> + +<p>This ancient bit of leather, which had hung unused for many months, gave +forth a volley of dust at first. But soon it was sending resounding +thwacks echoing down the hall from Johnny's right and left punch.</p> + +<p>Johnny even smiled as he sat down after a fifteen minutes round with +this old friend. He was greatly pleased at one thing; his left arm was +now quite as good as his right.</p> + +<p>As he sat there, still smiling, his eyes fell on that note which had +been thrust under his door. A strange, wild impulse seized him.</p> + +<p>"So they know where I stay," he muttered. "I'll see how near I can come +to finding out where they are hiding."</p> + +<p>Taking the envelope containing the diamonds from his pocket, he crowded +it down into the depths of his clothing; then, snapping off the light, +he went out.</p> + +<p>Hastening down the street and across the bridge, he was soon threading +deserted streets and dark alleys. In time he came out upon Bird place, +a half street, ending in a wall. The passage was narrow, hardly more +than an alley.</p> + +<p>The night was exceptionally dark and the place cheerless—just the +setting for a crime. Lights behind drawn shutters were few. Only the +very wretched or very wicked haunted such habitations.</p> + +<p>Hugging the wall, Johnny sidled along toward 316. He knew the spot +exactly, for though Johnny had never been of the underworld, he had +spent many a restless night prowling about in all parts of the city. +Suddenly he flattened out in a doorway and stood motionless, breathing +quietly.</p> + +<p>Had he heard the faint pat-pat of footsteps? Had he caught the dark blue +of a shadow on yonder wall? For a full three minutes he stood there; +then hearing, seeing nothing more, he glided out and resumed his +snake-like journey toward the door of 316.</p> + +<p>This time he did not go far, for suddenly looming from dark doorways +four huge forms sprang at him. Johnny understood it all in a moment. The +note was but a trick. They had not intended to trust him to leave the +diamonds. They did not live at 316 at all. They merely had meant to +draw him to this dark alley, then to "get" him. Well, they would find +him a tough nut to crack!</p> + +<p>His right shot out, and a heavy bulk crashed to the pavement. His left +swung and missed. A wild creature sprang at his throat. Johnny's mind +worked like lightning. Four were too many. They would get him. He must +have help. The cat cry of the underworld! He had known that cry two +years before. He had many friends who would answer it. They had +introduced themselves at his boxing bouts. They had liked him because he +played a fair game and "packed a winning wallop." If any of them were +near they would come to his aid.</p> + +<p>Drawing a long breath, he let forth a piercing scream that rose and fell +like the wail of a fire siren. At the same time he jabbed fiercely with +his right. The man collapsed, but at that instant a third man struck +Johnny on the head and, all but unconscious, he reeled and fell to the +ground.</p> + +<p>Faintly as in a dream, he heard guttural murmurs. He felt the buttons +give as his coat was torn open. Then there came the ringing report of a +shot from the distance.</p> + +<p>"Da bolice!" came in a guttural mutter.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The reason Hanada would not meet Johnny on this particular night was +that he had a pressing engagement with other persons. Just at seven +o'clock he might have been seen emerging from an obscure street. He +hailed a taxi-cab and getting in, drove due north across the river and +straight on until, with a sharp turn to the right, he drove two blocks +toward the lake, only to turn again to the right and cross the river +again. He had gone south several blocks when suddenly signaling the +driver to stop, he handed him a five-dollar bill and darted into the +welcoming portals of a vast hotel.</p> + +<p>The next moment he was crossing marble floors to enter a heavily +carpeted parlor. This, too, he crossed. Then the walls of the room +seemed to swallow him up.</p> + +<p>In a small, dimly lighted anteroom his coat and hat were taken by a +servant. He then stepped into a room where a round table was spread with +spotless linen and rare silver. There were five chairs ranged around +the table. Hanada frowned as he counted them.</p> + +<p>"It seems," he murmured, "that the man who attends to the serving does +not know that Hanada dines with the Big Five to-night. Ah well! There is +time enough and room enough. We shall dine together; never fear."</p> + +<p>He stepped back in the shadow of the heavy curtains and waited +expectantly.</p> + +<p>"The Big Five," he murmured. "Some of America's richest, surely +Chicago's greatest millionaires. And Hanada dines with them. They will +listen to him, too. They will hang on his word. The Big Five will +listen. And if they say 'Yes,' if they do—" He drew in his breath +sharply. "If they do we will set the world afire with a great, new +thing. They have the money, which is power, and I have the knowledge, +which is greater power."</p> + +<p>There was a sound outside the door. A servant entered and, bowing +deferentially, moved toward the table. He deftly rearranged the chairs +and the silver. When he left, there were six places set. Hanada smiled.</p> + +<p>Had one been permitted to look in upon the diners in this simply +appointed room of one of America's great hotels that night, he might +have wondered at the manner in which five of Chicago's great men hung +upon the words of one little Japanese, who, now and then as he spoke, as +if to indicate the vastness and grandeur of his theme, spread his hands +forth in a broad gesture.</p> + +<p>The meal ended, his speech concluded, all questions answered, he at last +rose, and with a low bow said:</p> + +<p>"And now, gentlemen, I leave the proposition with you. Please do not +forget that it is a great and glorious venture; a new and glorious +empire! An honor to your country and mine."</p> + +<p>He was gone.</p> + +<p>For some time the five men sat in silence. Then one of them spoke:</p> + +<p>"Is he mad?"</p> + +<p>"Are we all mad?" questioned a second. His voice was husky.</p> + +<p>"Well," said a third, "it sounds like a dream, a dream of great +possibilities. We must sleep over it."</p> + +<p>Without another word they moved out of the room. The meeting, one of +the most momentous in the history of the century, perhaps, was ended.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When Johnny Thompson heard the shot and the guttural mutter, "Da +bolice!" he made a final effort to rally his senses and to put up a +fight.</p> + +<p>He did succeed in struggling to his knees, but to fight was unnecessary. +Just as another shot sent echoes down the alley and a bullet sang over +their heads, his assailants took to their heels.</p> + +<p>A slight, slouching figure came gliding toward Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Jerry the Rat!" he murmured; then to the man himself:</p> + +<p>"So, it's you, Jerry. Haven't seen you for two years."</p> + +<p>Through blear-eyes the little fellow surveyed Johnny for a second.</p> + +<p>"Johnny Thompson, de clean guy wot packs a wallop!" he exclaimed. "Dere +dey go! We can get 'em!" He pointed down the alley.</p> + +<p>"Got a gun?" asked Johnny, standing a bit unsteadily.</p> + +<p>"Two of 'em. C'mon. We ken git de yeggs yit."</p> + +<p>Johnny grasped the gun held out to him and the next instant was +following the strangely swift rat of the waterfront.</p> + +<p>"Dere dey go!" exclaimed the little fellow.</p> + +<p>Down an alley they rushed, then out on a broad, but dimly lighted +street. They were gaining on the gang. They would overhaul them. There +would be a battle. Johnny figured this out as he ran, and tried to +discover the mechanism of his weapon.</p> + +<p>But at that juncture the pursued ones dashed through an open window of a +deserted building which flanked the river.</p> + +<p>"Dere dey go! De cheap sluggers!" exclaimed Jerry.</p> + +<p>Leaping across the street, he reached the window only a moment after the +last of the four had slammed it down.</p> + +<p>But the men had paused long enough to throw the catch. It took Jerry a +full minute to break its grip.</p> + +<p>When, at last, they vaulted cautiously over the sill and flashed their +light about the interior, they found the place empty.</p> + +<p>"Dey's flew de coop!" whispered Jerry. "Now wot's de chanst of dem +makin' a clean git away?"</p> + +<p>They made a hurried examination of all possible exits. All the window +ledges and doorsills were so encrusted with dust that one passing +through them would be sure to leave his mark. That is, all but one were. +One windowsill had apparently been swept clean. But that window faced +the river. As they threw it up, and looked down from its ledge, they saw +only the murky waters of the river swirling beneath them.</p> + +<p>Johnny studied the situation carefully, and the more he studied, the +more baffled he became. If a boat had been tied to the windowsill there +would have been marks on the casing. There were no such marks; yet, the +fugitives had gone that way. He thought of the shots fired from the +river the previous night and tried to connect the two. He could not make +it out.</p> + +<p>"Dey's gone!" said Jerry the Rat. "Did dey fleece y'?"</p> + +<p>Johnny smiled. "They were trying to croak me, Jerry, and they nearly +did it. Got a bump on my head big as a turkey buzzard's egg."</p> + +<p>"Who wuz dey?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I don't know altogether. Say, Jerry, are there some tough +characters hanging around the river these days that ain't regular +crooks?"</p> + +<p>"Is dey? Dere's a mess of 'em!"</p> + +<p>"Where do they stay?" asked Johnny eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Dat's it." The little fellow scratched his head. "I bin skulkin' 'round +'em to find out. Sometimes I follers 'em, like now. Dey always drop out +like this. Dey's queer. Dey ain't regular crooks, nor regular guys +either. Dey's cookin' soup for sump'n big."</p> + +<p>"That's what I think," said Johnny. "What are they like?</p> + +<p>"Dey's five Roosians, three Heinies, one Wop, an' one Jap, I seen."</p> + +<p>"Say, Jerry," said Johnny suddenly, "do you want to earn some honest +money?"</p> + +<p>"Not work?"</p> + +<p>"No, spyin'."</p> + +<p>"Not on me pals? Not on regular crooks?"</p> + +<p>"No, on these queer ones."</p> + +<p>"I'm on. Wot's de lay?"</p> + +<p>"Find where they stay. Hunt them day and night till you do. Here's a +twenty. There's more where that came from. There's a century note if you +get them. Get me?"</p> + +<p>The Rat ducked his head in assent.</p> + +<p>"Then good night."</p> + +<p>"Night," he mumbled.</p> + +<p>They were out of the building now and Johnny made his way cautiously +back to his room. He had had quite enough for one night. Once he paused +to thrust his hand beneath his vest. Yes, the diamonds were still there. +His assailants had not had time to find them. He was not sure whether he +was glad or sorry.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>CIO-CIO-SAN BETRAYED</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Very alert, Johnny Thompson at the stroke of eight the next night crept +from a narrow runway between two buildings and walked briskly down the +street. He had reached the runway by a route known only to himself. He +was sure that for a time, at least, he would not be followed. At last he +reached the bridge which was coming to harbor many mysteries for him. +Halfway across the span he paused, and sinking into the shadow of an +iron girder, began watching the surface of the water.</p> + +<p>He was, in fact, attempting to understand those murky depths. From his +room he had detected a strange light. Either reflected on the water or +shining up through it, this light appeared a pale yellow glow, such as +he had often seen given off by the jelly fish in the Pacific. That there +was no such jelly fish to be found in fresh water he knew quite well. +And he had never in his life noticed that glow in the river.</p> + +<p>Now, as he surveyed the surroundings, he realized that the light could +not have been reflected from any illumination in street or building. The +glow from the water had appeared close to the wall of the empty building +through which his four assailants of the night before had made good +their escape.</p> + +<p>As he stood there, slouching in the shadows, Johnny gave a great start; +the light had appeared again. Beyond question it was beneath the water, +not shining upon it. From this vantage point the light seemed stronger. +It appeared for a few seconds, then disappeared again. Johnny scratched +his head. What could it mean? For some time he stood in a brown study, +then he laughed silently to himself.</p> + +<p>"Probably phosphorescent substances being sent out from the drainpipe of +a factory or chemical laboratory," he decided.</p> + +<p>At that instant he was all alert. His hand closed on his automatic. A +stealthy footfall had sounded on the bridge.</p> + +<p>"Oh! It's you," he whispered a moment later.</p> + +<p>Hanada grinned as he gripped Johnny's hand. "Thought I might miss you," +he whispered.</p> + +<p>The two were soon engaged in animated conversation. Their talk had to do +with Johnny's adventure of the night before and the information +regarding the Radicals furnished by Jerry the Rat. Hanada appeared +unduly excited at the news.</p> + +<p>"It seems," said Johnny, "that there must be a national conference of +Radicals meeting somewhere near this river. Perhaps our old friend, the +Russian of Vladivostok, is a delegate."</p> + +<p>Hanada shot him a swift glance, as if to say: "How much do you know +about this matter anyway?"</p> + +<p>But for some time the Japanese did not speak; then it was concerning an +entirely different affair. Cio-Cio-San had been visited by a fellow +countryman who, although wholly unknown to her, had appeared to know a +great deal about her private business. He had informed her that she had, +within the last year, been robbed of some very valuable property and +professed to have a knowledge of its whereabouts. If she would accompany +him he would see that it was restored to her. The actions of the man had +aroused her suspicions and she had refused to go. However, she had asked +him to give her a day to think it over. He was to return at nine this +night.</p> + +<p>"Some nifty little mind reader, that Jap," smiled Johnny. "Tell him to +come round and locate my long lost uncle's buried treasure."</p> + +<p>However, though he passed the matter off as a jest, he was doing some +very serious thinking about this rather strange affair. He had never +told Hanada about the diamonds. Neither had he told of the note which +had been thrust under the door. Now he remembered that Jerry the Rat had +spoken of a Jap as a member of the Radicals, and he wondered if +Cio-Cio-San's visitor was the same man. If that were so, then what was +his game? Was he planning to lead Cio-Cio-San into a trap? Certainly if +the treasure the strange Jap had spoken of as having been stolen from +the Japanese girl was the envelope of diamonds, and they had hoped to +recover them from Johnny that night, they would have no intention of +restoring them to Cio-Cio-San.</p> + +<p>"I'd advise her, if I were you," said Johnny slowly, "to find out as +much as she can, and not take too many chances. The man may be one of +the Radicals, and he may be using the supposed treasure as a decoy. At +the same time, if she handles the affair discreetly enough, she may be +able to assist you in locating the Russian and his band, which, I take +it, is your chief end and aim in life just now."</p> + +<p>Hanada sent him another penetrating glance. "You have guessed that +much," he admitted. "Well, soon I may be able to tell you all. In the +meantime, if you need more money to pay this Jerry—Jerry, what was it +you called him?"</p> + +<p>"Jerry the Rat."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, Jerry the Rat. If you need more money for him, I can get you +more, plenty more. But," the lines of his face grew tense, "we must find +them and soon, or it may be too late. We must act quickly."</p> + +<p>Hanada had not said one word of his affairs of the night before, nor +did he now as they were about to part.</p> + +<p>Dull and heavy, there came the tread of feet on the bridge.</p> + +<p>"The police!" whispered Johnny.</p> + +<p>Hanada seemed distinctly nervous.</p> + +<p>As the two patrolmen came abreast of them one of them flashed his light.</p> + +<p>Hanada cringed into the shadows.</p> + +<p>"Well," said a deep voice, "here's luck! Youse guys come with us. Youse +guys is wanted at the station."</p> + +<p>"What for?" Johnny demanded.</p> + +<p>"Youse guys know well enough. Treason, they call it."</p> + +<p>"Treason?" Johnny gave a happy laugh. "Treason? They'll have hard work +to prove that."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Had one been privileged to see Cio-Cio-San at the moment Johnny <ins +class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: The original text reads 'Tompson'">Thompson</ins> and his friend were arrested, he might easily +have imagined that she was back in Japan. The room in which she paced +anxiously back and forth was Japanese to the final detail. The floor was +covered thickly with mattings and the walls, done in a pale blue, were +hung everywhere with long scrolls of ancient Japanese origin. Here a +silver stork stood in a pool of limpid blue; there a cherry orchard +blossomed out with all the extravagant beauty of spring, and in the +corner a pagoda, with sloping, red-tile roof and wide doors, proclaimed +the fact that the Japanese were a people of art, even down to house +building. Silk tapestries of varying tints hung about the room, while in +the shadows a small heathen god smiled a perpetual smile.</p> + +<p>But it was none of these things that the girl saw at that moment. This +room, fitted up as it had been by rich Japanese students, most certainly +had brought back fond memories of her own country. But at this instant, +her eyes turned often to a screen behind which was a stand, and on that +stand was a desk telephone.</p> + +<p>Hanada had promised to consult Johnny Thompson regarding the strange +proposition of the unknown Japanese. He had promised to call her at +once; by eight-thirty at the latest. The stranger was to return for his +answer at nine. It now lacked but ten minutes of that hour, and no call +had come from Hanada. She could not, of course, know that the men on +whom she depended for counsel were prisoners of the police. So she paced +the floor and waited.</p> + +<p>Five minutes to nine and yet no call. Wrinkles came to her forehead, her +step grew more impatient.</p> + +<p>"If he does not call, what shall I do?" she asked herself.</p> + +<p>Then there came the sharp ring of the telephone. She sprang to the +instrument, but the call was for another member of the club.</p> + +<p>Three minutes in which to decide. She walked thoughtfully across the +floor. Should she go? Her money was now almost gone. It was true that a +treasure, which to many would seem a vast fortune, had disappeared from +her father's house over night. It had been taken by force. And she knew +the man who had taken it; had followed him thousands of miles. Now there +had come to her a man of her own race, who assured her that the treasure +was not in the possession of the man who had stolen it, but in the +possession of an honest man who would willingly surrender it to her, +providing only he could be made certain that it was to go directly into +her hands. That this might be, he demanded that she meet him at a +certain place known to the strange Japanese. There she might prove her +property. The story did seem plausible—and her need was great. Soon she +would be cast out upon the world without a penny. So long as she had +money she was welcome at this club; not longer.</p> + +<p>There came the purring of a muffled bell in the hall. He had come.</p> + +<p>Should she go? A mood of reckless desperation seized her.</p> + +<p>"I will," she declared.</p> + +<p>The next instant she was tucking a short, gleaming blade beneath her +silk middy and then drawing on a long silk coat.</p> + +<p>The man waited in the hallway. He was doubtless prepared for another +extended argument, but none came. Instead, the girl walked down the +steps with him and into a waiting taxi.</p> + +<p>It was a rather long ride they took. First speeding along between rows +of apartment houses they at last dashed into the business section of +the city. The stranger sat in one corner of the cab, not saying a word. +Passing through the business section, they approached the river. It was +then that Cio-Cio-San's heart began to be filled with dread. She had +heard of many dark deeds done down by the river. But after all, what +could they want of her, a poor Japanese girl, almost without funds?</p> + +<p>The cab came to a stop with a jolt. A tall building loomed above them. +The strange Japanese held the door open that she might alight. She +stepped to the sidewalk, and, at that instant, strong arms seized her, +pinning her arms to her sides, while a coarse cloth was drawn tightly +over her mouth. She then felt herself being pushed through space, and +the next moment heard the muffled echoes of the footsteps of her +captors. They were in the basement of some great deserted building, the +sound told her that.</p> + +<p>"Betrayed! Betrayed!" her mind kept repeating. "Betrayed by one of my +own people!"</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>A THREE-CORNERED BATTLE</h3> +<br /> + +<p>While Johnny and Hanada were being led away to the patrol box a young +man came running up. He was a reporter, out scouting for news.</p> + +<p>"Who's that?" he asked, as he caught a glimpse of Johnny's face.</p> + +<p>"Johnny Thompson, you nut!" growled the policeman. "Didn't you never +view that map of his before?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but Johnny Thompson's dead."</p> + +<p>"All right, have it your own way."</p> + +<p>"What's the charge?"</p> + +<p>"Conspiracy. Now beat it."</p> + +<p>The youth started on a run for the nearest telephone. He had hit upon a +first page story. A half-hour later every newsboy in the downtown +district was shouting himself hoarse, and the words he shouted were +these:</p> + +<p>"All about Johnny Thompson. Johnny Thompson, featherweight champion. +Alive! Arrested for conspiracy! Extry!"</p> + +<p>The theatre crowds were thronging the streets, and the newsies reaped a +rich harvest. Among those in the throng was Mazie Mortimer, Johnny +Thompson's one-time pal. She had gone to the theatre alone. When Johnny +was in Chicago, she had gone with him, but now no one seemed to quite +take his place.</p> + +<p>As she hastened to the elevated station the shouts of the newsboys +struck her ears. At first she heard only those two electrifying words, +"Johnny Thompson." Then she listened and heard it all.</p> + +<p>Had she not been held up and hurried along by the throng, she would have +fallen in a faint. As it was her senses seemed to reel. "Johnny +Thompson! Alive! Arrested! Conspiracy!" It could not be true.</p> + +<p>Breaking away from the crowd, she snatched a paper from a boy, flung him +a half-dollar, then hurried to the corner, where, beneath an arclight +she read the astounding news. Again it seemed that her senses would +desert her. With an effort she made her way to a restaurant where a cup +of black coffee revived her.</p> + +<p>For a time she sat in a daze, utterly oblivious of the figure she cut—a +well dressed, handsome young woman in opera cloak and silk gown, seated +at the counter of a cheap restaurant.</p> + +<p>Johnny Thompson alive, here in Chicago, arrested for conspiracy? What +did it mean? Could it mean that Johnny had been a deserter, that he had +become involved in the radical movement which, coming from Russia, +seemed about to sweep the country off its feet? She could not quite +believe that, but—</p> + +<p>Suddenly a new thought sent her hurrying into the street. Hailing a +taxi, she ordered the chauffeur to drive around the block until she gave +him further orders. Her thoughts now were all shaped toward a definite +end: Johnny Thompson, her good pal, was not dead. He was in Chicago and +in trouble. If it were within her power, she must find him and help him.</p> + +<p>Studying the newspaper, she noted the point at which he had been +arrested. "Wells street bridge," she read. "That means the Madison +Street police station."</p> + +<p>Her lips were at the speaking tube in an instant. "Madison Street +police station, and hurry!" she ordered. "An extra five for speed." The +taxi whirled around a corner on two wheels; it shot by a policeman; +dodged up an alley, and out on the other side, then stopped with a jolt +that came near sending Mazie through the glass.</p> + +<p>"Here you are." She thrust a bill in the driver's hand, then raced up +the steps and into the forbidding police station.</p> + +<p>A sergeant looked up from the desk as she entered.</p> + +<p>"Johnny Thompson," she said excitedly. "I want to see Johnny Thompson!"</p> + +<p>"I'd like to myself, miss," he said smiling. "There never was a +featherweight like him. But he's dead."</p> + +<p>"Dead?" Mazie caught at her throat.</p> + +<p>"Sure. Didn't you read about it? Long time ago. Died in Russia."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Mazie sank limply into a chair. "Then you haven't heard? He isn't +arrested? He isn't here?"</p> + +<p>"Arrested?" The sergeant's face took on an amused and puzzled look; +then he smiled again. "Oh, yes, there was something on the records +tonight saying he and a Jap was wanted for conspiracy. But take it from +me, lady, that's all pure bunk; some crook posing as Johnny Thompson, +more than likely. I tell you, there never was a more loyal chap than +this same Johnny; one of the first to enlist."</p> + +<p>"I—I know," faltered Mazie. Now, for the first time, she noticed a man +who had entered after her. He stepped to the desk and asked a question +regarding a person she knew nothing of. Then he went silently out again. +Mazie sat quite still, then rising, she smiled faintly at the sergeant.</p> + +<p>"I—I guess you must be right—but—but the papers are full of it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, the papers!" The officer spread his hands out in a gesture of +contempt. "They'd print anything!"</p> + +<p>As Mazie stepped out into the street she was approached by a man, and +with a little start, she noticed that it was the one who had entered the +police station a few minutes before. Halting, she waited for him to +speak.</p> + +<p>"You were looking for Johnny Thompson?" He said the words almost in a +whisper.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, he is alive. He is not dead. He was arrested, but has been +discharged. I can take you to him. Shall I?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, will you?" Mazie's voice echoed her gratitude.</p> + +<p>"Sure. There's a taxi now," the man replied in a foreign accent.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Johnny had not been released; far from it. And yet it was true, he was +at that very moment free. His freedom was only from moment to moment, +however; the kind of freedom one gets who runs away from the police.</p> + +<p>It was not Johnny's fault that he ran away either. They had been +following the orders of the police to the letter, he and Hanada. They +had gone across the bridge with them, had meekly submitted to being +handcuffed, had been waiting for the patrol-wagon, when things happened.</p> + +<p>Four men dashed suddenly from the darkness, and before the patrolmen +could draw guns or clubs, before Johnny could realize what was +happening, the officers were flat on the pavement, with hands and feet +tied.</p> + +<p>Johnny's brain worked rapidly. He understood all right. These men were +Radicals. He was the prize they were after—he and the diamonds. Once +let him be taken to the police station, there to be searched, the +diamonds would be lost to them forever.</p> + +<p>But handcuffed as he was, Johnny was not the boy to submit to being +kidnapped without a fight. As one of the Radicals leaped at him, he put +his hands up, as in a sign of surrender, then brought them, iron +bracelets and all, crashing down on the fellow's head. The man went down +without a cry.</p> + +<p>Hanada, too, had not been idle. He slipped the handcuffs from his +slender wrists and seizing the club of one of the fallen policemen, +aimed a blow at the second man who leaped at Johnny. A moment later, +Johnny heard his shrill whisper:</p> + +<p>"C'mon!"</p> + +<p>They were away like a flash. Down a dark alley, over a fence, with +Johnny's handcuffs jangling, they sped. Then, after crossing a street +and leaping into a yard filled with junk and scrap iron, they paused.</p> + +<p>"Let's see," said Hanada.</p> + +<p>He took Johnny's wrist, and after twisting the iron bracelets and +working for a moment with a bit of rusty wire, he unlocked the handcuffs +and threw them in the scrap heap.</p> + +<p>"Clumsy things! Belong there," he grunted.</p> + +<p>"But," said Johnny slowly, "what's the big idea? They'll get us again, +and running away will only get us in bad. They'll think those Radicals +were in cahoots with us."</p> + +<p>"I think not," said Hanada. "We left them one or two of the Radicals for +samples. But that doesn't much matter now. They will get me, yes. And +they will not let me go either, not even under bond. But you, you have +done nothing. They will let you go. My testimony will set you free. Then +you must carry on the hunt and the fight, which they will keep me from +continuing because they do not know what they are doing. That's why I +must have a little time to talk to you before they take me; time to +explain everything, and to tell you how very important it is that you +get that Russian, and all those that are with him."</p> + +<p>"My room," whispered Johnny, now breathless with interest. "My room; the +police do not know about it. We might be able to hide there for hours. +We can reach it by the next bridge and by alleys and roofs. C'mon!"</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>HANADA'S SECRET</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny smiled grimly. He was in his old place by the window overlooking +the river. Hanada was seated beside him.</p> + +<p>They could hear the many noises that rose from the street below. Now a +patrol wagon came jangling by. Now a squad of policemen emerged from one +alley to plunge down another. A riot call had been sent in and the +streets were alive with patrolmen and detectives all on the trail of +Johnny and his Japanese companion. By this time, too, they must be on +the trail of the Radicals. So far as Johnny knew, the Radicals had not +actually interfered with the enforcement of the law. Now driven to +desperation at the thought of the loss of that treasure which was still +in Johnny's possession, they had stepped over the line. From now on the +police would be after them. Johnny was awakened from these reflections +by the voice of Hanada.</p> + +<p>"That man," the Japanese youth was saying, "that Russian, the one we +have followed so far, he is the big one, the head of the Radical +movement, and he is at this moment in conference with all his chosen +leaders. To-morrow, next day, next week, he may strike. And what will +the result be? Who can tell? In the whole world he has millions of +followers who will rise at his call. We must get him, get that man +before it is too late. I am a member of the Japanese Secret Police. And +you?"</p> + +<p>"A plain American citizen," answered Johnny, "which, by the laws of our +land, makes me a policeman, a marshal, a member of the secret +service—anything and everything, when the safety of my people, the +stability of my government, is at stake." Johnny's chest swelled +proudly.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I understand," breathed Hanada.</p> + +<p>"But," said Johnny quickly, "you say we must get that man. I have had +opportunities to kill him, to let him be killed and always you have +hindered me. Why?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you see even now?" Hanada asked. "Don't you see that now is the +time to strike? Now he is meeting with his leaders. We must take him not +alone, but the whole band. We must scatter them to the ends of the +earth, put them in prison, banish them. Then the whole affair will be +ended forever."</p> + +<p>Hanada leaned forward. His eyes glowed; his words were sharp with +excitement. Johnny listened, breathless.</p> + +<p>"We must get them all," he continued. "That is why our secret service +people allowed him to break through the lines at Vladivostok, and make +his way north to cross the Strait. That is why I followed him, as an +Eskimo, to dog his tracks and yet to protect him. That is why he could +not be killed. He was to be a decoy; a decoy for the whole band. Your +Secret Service, of which I thought you were a member, would not have +allowed him to cross to America. That is why I deserted you at East +Cape. I thought you were of the Secret Service, and would have the +Russian arrested as soon as his foot touched American soil. That is why +I said the offer of a reward for his arrest was a blunder. Don't you +see? We were to get them all."</p> + +<p>"But the girl, Cio-Cio-San?" Johnny questioned.</p> + +<p>"She is not of the secret police. She helps me as a friend, that's all, +and I will help her if I can."</p> + +<p>Johnny wished to question him regarding the treasure, but something held +him back.</p> + +<p>"So you see how it is." Hanada spoke wearily. "We have gone so far, so +very far. Mebbe to-morrow, mebbe next day, we would have uncovered their +lair; but to-night the police are on my trail, for 'treason' they call +it. Bah! It was a dream, a great and wonderful dream; a dream that would +mean much for your country and mine." His words were full of mystery. +"But now they will arrest me, and you must carry on the hunt for the +Russian and his band. This other thing, it can wait. It will come, +sometime, but not now."</p> + +<p>"What other?" asked Johnny.</p> + +<p>Hanada did not answer.</p> + +<p>There came the stealthy shuffle of feet in the corridor.</p> + +<p>"They are coming," whispered Hanada. "Remember my testimony will free +you, but you must not stop; you must hunt as never before, you must get +that man!"</p> + +<p>There came, not the expected tattoo of police billies on the door, but a +shrill whisper through the key-hole:</p> + +<p>"Johnny," the voice said, "are you there? Let me in. I seen it! I seen +it! I get the century note you promised me! Let me in!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When Mazie entered the taxi with the man who was an entire stranger to +her she did it on the impulse of the moment. The swift sequence of +events had carried her off her feet. First, she had been startled into +the hope that Johnny still lived; then she had been assured by the +police sergeant that he could not possibly be living, only to be told a +moment later by this stranger that he was still alive.</p> + +<p>Once she had settled back against the cushions and felt the jolt of the +taxi over the car tracks, she began to have misgivings. Was this a trap? +Had she better call to the driver and demand to be allowed to alight? A +glance at her fellow traveler tended to reassure her. He was +undoubtedly a foreigner, but was an honest-looking fellow and neatly +dressed.</p> + +<p>As the cab lurched into a side street toward the river, she again +experienced misgivings; but this time it was the faint hope still +lingering in her breast of seeing her good pal once more that kept her +in her seat.</p> + +<p>The taxi paused before an old building which was enshrouded in darkness. +She was ushered out of the taxi and the next instant, before she had +time to cry out, she was bound and gagged. Her feet were tied as well as +her hands, and she was hastily carried into the building. Through rooms +and halls all dark as night she was half carried, half dragged, until +she found herself out over the swirling waters of the river.</p> + +<p>Wild questions rushed through her brain. Was this murder? Bound and +gagged as she was, would she be thrown into the river to drown? Why? Who +were these men? She had not believed until that moment that she had an +enemy in the world. She knew no secrets that could inspire anyone to +kill her.</p> + +<p>While all these thoughts were driving through her brain, she was being +slowly lowered toward the water. Down, down she sank until it seemed to +her she could feel the wash of the water on her skirts. At that instant, +when all seemed lost, strong arms seized her and she was carried down a +clanking iron stairway.</p> + +<p>She caught her breath. She must now be far below the level of the water. +What place was this she was being taken into? And why?</p> + +<p>She was finally flung down upon a leather covered lounge. The next +moment the whole place seemed to be sinking with her as if she were in +some slowly descending elevator.</p> + +<p>Opening her eyes she looked about her. The place, a long and narrow +compartment, was dimly lighted by small incandescent bulbs. The +trapdoor, or whatever it had been, through which she had been carried, +was closed.</p> + +<p>Eight or ten men were grouped about the room, while in one of the +darkest corners cowered a little Japanese girl. One of the men came +close to Mazie and untied her bonds, also removing the gag. She was now +free to move and talk. She realized the utter uselessness of either. The +walls of the room appeared to be of steel. There was a strange +stuffiness about the air of the place; they must be either underground +or under water. She did not know what was to be the next move, or why +she was here. She realized only that she could do nothing.</p> + +<p>Instinctively she moved toward the girl in the corner. Before she had +gone half the distance, a man uttered a low growl of disapproval, and +motioned her to a chair. She sat down unsteadily and, as she did so, she +realized that the place had a slightly rolling motion, like a ship on +the sea.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIX"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>"I SEEN IT—A SUBMARINE!"</h3> +<br /> + +<p>When Johnny realized that it was Jerry the Rat who was whispering at the +keyhole he admitted him at once.</p> + +<p>"I seen it! I seen it; a submarine! A German submarine in the river!" +the Rat whispered excitedly. "I seen dose blokes wid me own eyes. Dey +wuz packin' a skirt thru de hatch. Den dey dropped in too. Den dey let +down the hatch, an' swush-swuey, down she went, an' all dey left was a +splash in de ol' Chicago!"</p> + +<p>"A submarine!" Johnny exclaimed. "That doesn't sound possible; not a +German submarine surely!"</p> + +<p>"The same," insisted Jerry. "Some old tub. Saw her over by the Municipal +Pier, er one like her. Some old fish!"</p> + +<p>Johnny sat in silent thought. Hanada was gazing out of the window. +Suddenly the Jap exclaimed in surprise:</p> + +<p>"Did you see that? There it goes again! Lights flashing beneath the +water. It's the 'sub' for sure. Couldn't be anything else."</p> + +<p>"I have seen such lights before," said Johnny, striving hard to maintain +a sane judgment in this time of great crisis, "but I attributed it to +phosphorus on the water."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't be!" declared Hanada. "Couldn't make a flicker and flash like +that. I tell you, it's a submarine, and the home of the Radicals. That's +why we couldn't find them. That's where our Russian disappeared to that +night on the bridge. That's where the shots came from. Remember right +from the center of the river? That's where your four assailants went to +when they vanished from that deserted building. It's the Radicals. +C'mon! We may not be too late yet. We'll get them before the police get +us."</p> + +<p>Together the three rushed from the room.</p> + +<p>"Did you say they were carrying a woman?" Johnny asked Jerry, as they +hastened down the stairs.</p> + +<p>"Yes, a skirt; a swell-looking skirt. Mouth gagged, hands tied, but +dressed to kill, opry coat and everything!"</p> + +<p>"Some more of their dirty work," Johnny grumbled, "but we'll get them +this time. If we can convince the police that they're there they'll drag +the river and haul 'em out like a dead rat."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>At the moment when the three men were hurrying down the stairs which led +from Johnny's room to the street, Mazie sat silently searching the faces +of the men about her. Wild questions raced through her brain. Who were +these men? Why had they kidnapped her? What did they want? What would +they do to her? She shivered a little at the last question.</p> + +<p>That they were criminals she had not the least doubt. Only criminals +could do such a thing. But what type of criminal <ins class="correction" +title="Transcriber's Note: The original text reads 'where'">were</ins> +they? In her research courses at the University she had visited court +rooms, jails and reformatories. Criminals were not new to her. But these +men lacked utterly the markings of the average city criminal. Their eyes +lacked the keen alertness, their fingers the slim tapering points of the +professional crook. Suddenly, as she pondered, there came to her mind a +paragraph from one of her text-books on crime:</p> + +<p>"There are two types of law-breakers. The one believes that the hand of +organized society is lifted against him; the other that he is bound to +lift his hand against organized society. The first class are the common +crooks of the street, and are ofttimes more to be pitied than blamed, +for after all, environment has been a great factor in their undoing. The +second group are those men who are opposed to all forms of organized +society. They are commonly known as Radicals. There is little to be said +in their favor. Reared, more often than not, in the lap of a society +organized for the welfare of all, they turn ungratefully against the +mother who nurtured and protected them."</p> + +<p>As she recalled this, Mazie realized that this group must be a band of +Radicals. Radicals? And one of them had promised to take her to her +friend, Johnny Thompson. Could it be that in Russia, that hotbed of +radicalism, Johnny had had his head turned and was at that moment a +member of this band? It did not seem possible. She would not for a +moment believe it.</p> + +<p>She was soon to see, for a man of distinctly Russian type, a short man +with broad shoulders, sharp chin and frowning brow, approached her, and +in a suave manner began to speak to her.</p> + +<p>"You have nothing to fear from us, Miss," he began. "We are gentlemen of +the finest type. No harm will come to you during your brief stay with +us; and I trust it may be very brief."</p> + +<p>Mazie heaved a sigh of relief. Perhaps there was going to be nothing so +very terrible about the affair after all.</p> + +<p>"We only ask a little service of you," the Russian continued as he let +down a swinging table from the wall, and drawing a chair to it, motioned +her to be seated. He next placed pen, ink and paper on the table.</p> + +<p>"You cannot know," he said with a smile, "that your friend, Johnny +Thompson, has been causing me a very great deal of trouble of late."</p> + +<p>Mazie felt a great desire to shout on hearing this, for it told her +plainly that Johnny was no friend of this crowd.</p> + +<p>"No, of course you could not know," the man went on, "since you have not +seen him. I may say frankly that your friend is clever, and has a way, +quite a way, of using his hands."</p> + +<p>Mazie did not need to be told that.</p> + +<p>"But it is not that of which I wish to speak." The Russian took a step +nearer. Mazie, feeling his hot breath on her cheek, shrank back. "Your +friend, as I say, has been troubling us a great deal, and in this he has +been misled, sadly misled. He does not understand our high and lofty +purpose; our desire to free all mankind from the bonds of organized +society. If he knew he would act far differently. Of course, you cannot +explain all this to him, but you can write him a note, just a little +note. You will write it now, in just another moment. First, I will tell +you what to say. Say to him that you are in great trouble and danger. +Say that you may be killed, or worse things may happen to you, unless he +does precisely as you tell him to do. Say that he is to leave a certain +package, about which he knows well enough, at the Pendergast Hotel, to +be given to M. Kriskie. Say that he is, after that, to leave Chicago at +once and is not to return for sixty days.</p> + +<p>"See?" He attempted another smile. "It is little that we ask of you; +little that we ask of him—virtually nothing."</p> + +<p>Mazie's heart was beating wildly. So that was the game? She was to be a +decoy. She knew nothing of Johnny's actions, but knew they were for the +good of his country. How could she ask him to abandon them for her sake?</p> + +<p>As her eyes roamed about the room they fell upon the little Jap girl. In +her face Mazie read black rage for the Russian, and a deep compassion +for herself.</p> + +<p>"Come," said the Russian; "we are wasting time. Is it not so? You must +write. You should begin now. So, it will be better for all."</p> + +<p>For answer, Mazie took the paper in her white, delicate fingers and tore +it across twice. Then she threw it on the floor.</p> + +<p>Quickly the man's attitude changed to wild rage.</p> + +<p>"So!" he roared. "You will not write? You will not? We shall see!"</p> + +<p>He seized her arm and gripped it until the blood rushed from her face, +and she was obliged to bite her lips to suppress a scream.</p> + +<p>"So!" he raged. "We shall see what happens to young women like you. +First, we will kill your young friend, Johnny Thompson; then what good +will your refusal have done? After that, we shall see what will happen +to you. We Radicals will win by fair means or foul. What does it matter +what means we take, so long as the point has been won?"</p> + +<p>Roughly he pulled her from the chair and flung her from him.</p> + +<p>Then the little Japanese girl was dragged to the chair. A Japanese man, +whom Mazie had not before noticed, came forward. From his words and +gestures Mazie concluded that he was going through, in the Japanese +language, the same program which the Russian had just finished.</p> + +<p>The results were apparently the same, for at the close the girl threw +the paper cm the floor and stamped upon it. At that the Russian's rage +knew no bounds. With an imprecation, he sprang at the Japanese girl. As +Mazie looked on in speechless horror, she fancied she caught the gleam +of a knife in the girl's hand.</p> + +<p>But at that instant the attention of all was drawn to a man, who, after +peering through some form of a periscope for a moment, had uttered a +surprised exclamation. Instantly the Japanese man sprang to a strangely +built rifle which lay against the wall. This he fitted into a frame +beside the periscope and thrust its long barrel apparently through the +ceiling of the compartment and into the water above. Adjusting a lever +here, and another there, he appeared to sight through a hollow tube that +ran along the barrel.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the Russian, a cruel gleam in his eye, "we shall kill your +two friends whom you so blindly refused to protect. Providence has +thrown them within our power. They are on the bridge at this moment. The +rifle, you see, protrudes quite through the water. Our friend's aim is +true."</p> + +<p>The Japanese girl, seeming to grasp the import of this, sprang at her +fellow countryman. But she was too late. There came the report of two +explosions in quick succession. Through the periscope, Mazie caught a +glimpse of two bodies falling on the bridge. Then she closed her eyes. +Her senses reeled.</p> + +<p>This lasted but a moment. Then her eyes were on the little Jap girl. +She had dropped to the floor, as if crushed; but there was a dark gleam +of unutterable hate in her eyes. She was looking at the Japanese man, +who, after firing the rifle, had turned and was going through a door +into a rear compartment.</p> + +<p>Like a flash, the Jap girl sprang after him. With a cry that died on her +lips, Mazie followed, and as she entered the compartment slamming the +heavy metal door, she threw down the iron clamps which held it.</p> + +<p>They were now two to one, but that one was a man. However, there was no +call for effort on her part. Like a tigress the Japanese girl, +Cio-Cio-San, sprang at the man of her own country.</p> + +<p>"You traitor!" she gasped. "You have betrayed me, your +fellow-countryman, and murdered my friend!" and she drove her dagger +into his breast to the hilt.</p> + +<p>Mazie closed her eyes and sat down dizzily. When she dared look up, she +saw the man sprawled on the floor, and the girl crouching beside him, +like a wild beast beside her kill.</p> + +<p>Seeming to feel Mazie's eyes upon her, Cio-Cio-San turned and smiled +strangely, as she said:</p> + +<p>"He is dead!"</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XX"></a><h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER</h3> +<br /> + +<p>The Russian had told the truth when he said the friends of Mazie and +Cio-Cio-San were on the bridge. Johnny and Hanada had rushed from the +room and had been standing there straining their eyes for a trace of +that strange light beneath the water, when the first shot rang out. But +the Russian had not counted on the extraordinary speed with which Johnny +could drop to earth.</p> + +<p>Before the second shot could be fired, Johnny was flat on the surface of +the bridge, quite out of range. Hanada had not fared so well. The first +shot had been aimed at him and had found its mark. He lay all crumpled +up, groaning in mortal agony.</p> + +<p>"Get you?" Johnny whispered.</p> + +<p>"Yes," the boy groaned, "but you—you get that man."</p> + +<p>There came the tramp of feet on the bridge. The police had heard the +shots. The long finger of light from the police boat again felt its way +back and forth through the darkness.</p> + +<p>"D' you shoot?" demanded the first policeman to arrive.</p> + +<p>"No! No! They didn't do it," a second man interrupted before Johnny +could reply. "It came from the river. I saw the flash. Devils of the +river's deep! What kind of a fight is this, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"I seen it! I seen it!" It was Jerry the Rat who now broke into the +gathering throng. "I seen it; a German sub."</p> + +<p>"A submarine!" echoed a half dozen policemen at once.</p> + +<p>"I think he is right," said Johnny. "You better drag the river."</p> + +<p>"Hello!" exclaimed one of the officers. "If this ain't the same two guys +we've been looking for? Johnny Thompson and the Jap."</p> + +<p>"You are right," said Johnny disgustedly, "but for once use a little +reason. There are world crooks down there in the river and they have +some helpless woman there as hostage. Perhaps by this time they may be +killing her. I'll keep. I can't get away; not for good. I'm known the +country over, beside your charge against me is false, idiotic."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," it was Hanada's hoarse whisper. "Take me to a hospital. I'll +tell all and you will know he was not in it at all. Let him help you. +And—and, for God's sake, get that man."</p> + +<p>He sank back unconscious.</p> + +<p>"Here, Mulligan," ordered a sergeant, "you and Murphy take this Jap to +the Emergency quick. You, Kelly and Flannigan, get over to the box and +call the police boats with drags. Tell 'em to drag the river from +Madison street in one direction and from the lake in the other. It +sounds like a dream, but this thing has got to be cleared up. Them shots +come from the river sure's my name's Harrigan. We got to find how it's +done."</p> + +<p>A half hour later, two innocent looking police boats moved silently up +the river from Madison street bridge. They traveled abreast, keeping +half the river's width between them. From their bows there protruded to +right and left, heavy iron shafts. From these iron shafts, at regular +intervals, there hung slender but strong steel chains. These chains +reaching nearly to the bottom of the river were fitted up at the lower +end with heavy pronged steel hooks. At that same moment, two similarly +equipped boats started up the river from the lake. They were combing the +river with a fine tooth comb.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Meanwhile the men beneath the surface of the river were not idle. They +did not realize the danger which their last act had drawn them into and +therefore did not attempt to escape by running their craft out into the +lake. But they did have other matters to attend to. One of their number +was locked in the rear compartment. His fate was unknown to them. This +much they did know, he had not unfastened the door nor answered when +they called to him.</p> + +<p>After vainly pounding and kicking the door, they lifted a heavy steel +shaft and using this as a battering ram, proceeded to smash the door +from its fastenings. At first this did not avail. But at last each +succeeding blow left a slightly larger gap between the door and its +steel jamb. Then suddenly, after a violent ram, which sent echoes +through the compartment, the lower catch gave way. With a hoarse shout +the Russian urged his men to redoubled effort. Three more times they +backed away to come plunging forward. The third blow struck the door at +the very spot where the fastening still hung. And then, with a creaking +groan the door gave way.</p> + +<p>Just inside the door, Mazie stood tense, motionless, her arms +outstretched in terror. Fingers rigid, lips half-parted in a scream, she +stared at the door. In the doorway stood the Russian, a knife gleaming +in his hand. For a second his eyes searched the room. Then they fell on +the body of the Jap huddled on the floor. Rage darkened his face as the +Russian took a step forward.</p> + +<p>At that instant there had come a dull sound of metal grating on metal. +The Russian toppled over on his side and the two girls were thrown to +the floor.</p> + +<p>The chamber had given a sudden lurch. The next instant it rolled quite +over, piling the two women and the corpse in a heap and sending the door +shut with a bang. The Russian had fallen outside. The craft rolled over, +once, twice, three times and then hung there, with the floor for its +ceiling.</p> + +<p>Overcome with fright and misery, Mazie did not stir for a full minute, +then she dragged herself from the gruesome spot where she lay.</p> + +<p>She gave one quick glance at the door. It appeared to have been wedged +solidly shut. Then she turned to Cio-Cio-San, who also had arisen.</p> + +<p>"What can have happened?" Mazie asked in a voice she could scarcely +believe was her own.</p> + +<p>What had happened was this: one of the hooks on the police boat had +caught in an outer railing of the submarine. The giant iron fish was +hooked.</p> + +<p>To throw other drags, fastened on longer chains, into the sub; to send +tugs and police boats snorting backward; to tighten the chains and draw +the sub to the surface, to whirl it about until the hatchway was once +more at the upper side, this was merely a matter of time.</p> + +<p>When the Radicals saw what had been done, they doubtless realized that +if they refused to come out the lid would be blown off and they would +be likely to perish in the explosion. They had apparently planned to +charge the police and attempt an escape, for the Russian came first with +a rush, a pistol in each hand. But Johnny Thompson's good right arm +spoiled all this. He had leaped to the surface of the sub and when the +Russian appeared he gave him a blow under the chin that lifted him off +his feet and sent him plunging into the river.</p> + +<p>Seeing this the other members of the gang surrendered.</p> + +<p>Johnny was the first man below. Seeing the closed door to the right, he +hammered on it, shouting:</p> + +<p>"C'mon out, we're the police."</p> + +<p>Slowly the door opened. There before him stood Mazie.</p> + +<p>"Mazie!" Johnny's eyes bulged with astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Johnny!" There was a sob in her voice. Then catching herself, she +glanced down at her wrinkled and blood-bespattered dress.</p> + +<p>"Johnny," she implored, "for goodness' sake get me out of this horrid +place so I can change these clothes."</p> + +<p>"There's decent enough dresses at the police station," suggested a +smiling officer.</p> + +<p>"Call the wagon," said Johnny.</p> + +<p>Soon they were rattling away toward the station, Mazie, Cio-Cio-San, and +Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Johnny," Mazie whispered, "you didn't desert, did you?"</p> + +<p>"Did you think that?" Johnny groaned in mock agony.</p> + +<p>"No, honest I didn't, but what—what did you do?"</p> + +<p>"Just got tired of waiting for Uncle Sam to bring me home from Russia, +so I walked, that's all. Here's my discharge papers, all right. And +here's my transportation."</p> + +<p>With a smile Johnny handed her the two crumpled papers.</p> + +<p>"You see," he exclaimed, "a Russian brigand got me in the left arm when +I was guarding the Trans-Siberian Railroad. They sent me to the +hospital, then gave me my discharge. Said I'd be no more good as a +soldier. And after waiting for a boat that never seemed to come I hit +out for the north. Nothing crooked about that at all, but I had to be a +bit sly about it anyway, for Uncle Sam don't like to have you take +chances even if you are discharged."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Johnny, that's grand!" murmured Mazie.</p> + +<p>The rest of the journey was accomplished in silence. Now and again Mazie +gave Johnny's arm a little squeeze, as if to make sure he was still +there.</p> + +<p>"Gee, kid," Johnny exclaimed as Mazie reappeared, after a half hour in +the matron's room. "You sure do look swell."</p> + +<p>She was dressed in the plain cotton dress furnished by the city to +destitute prisoners. But the dress was as spotlessly clean as was +Mazie's faultless complexion.</p> + +<p>"Gee, Mazie!" Johnny went on, "I've seen you in a lot of glad rags but +this tops them all. Looks like you'd just come from your own +kitchenette."</p> + +<p>Mazie bit her lip to hide her confusion. Then blushing, she said:</p> + +<p>"Johnny, I'm hungry. When do we eat?"</p> + +<p>"I know a nice place right round the corner. C'mon. Where's +Cio-Cio-San?"</p> + +<p>"Gone to the Emergency hospital."</p> + +<p>"Hanada," Johnny exclaimed. "I must find out about him."</p> + +<p>"Just came from there myself," said the police sergeant, a kindly light +in his eyes. "I'm sorry to tell you, but your friend's checked in."</p> + +<p>"Dead?"</p> + +<p>"Dead," answered the officer, "but he lived long enough to know that the +band of world outlaws was captured. He died happy knowing that he had +served his country well, and I guess that's about all any Jap asks."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, one more thing," he went on; "he cleared up that little matter +of conspiracy before he died. Something that concerned him alone. You +weren't in it. His part, well, you might call it treason, then again you +mightn't. Considering what he's done for this country and his, we don't +call it treason. It's been sponged off the slate."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to hear that," sighed Johnny, as he turned to rejoin Mazie.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE OWNER OF THE DIAMONDS</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny did not return to his room that night. After reporting to the +police station and letting them know where he might be found if needed, +he secured a room in one of Chicago's finest hotels, and pulling down +the blinds turned in to sleep until noon.</p> + +<p>When he awoke he remembered at once that he had several little matters +to attend to. Hanada's funeral would be cared for by his own people. But +he must see Cio-Cio-San; he must get the hundred dollars promised to +Jerry the Rat and he must put in a claim for the thousand dollars reward +offered for the arrest of the Russian. He need bother his head no longer +about the captured Radicals. There was plenty of evidence aboard the +craft to condemn them to prison or deportation.</p> + +<p>When he came down to the hotel desk he found a letter waiting for him. +He opened this in some surprise and read it in great astonishment. It +was from one of Chicago's richest men; a man he had never met and indeed +had never dreamed of meeting. Yet here was the man's note requesting him +to meet him in his private office at five o'clock.</p> + +<p>"All right, I'll do that little thing," Johnny whispered to himself, +"but meantime I'll go out to the University and see Cio-Cio-San."</p> + +<p>An hour later he found himself sitting beside the Japanese girl on the +thick mats of that Japanese room at her club.</p> + +<p>"Cio-Cio-San," he said thoughtfully, "I remember hearing you tell of +having been robbed of a treasure. Did you find it last night in the +submarine?"</p> + +<p>"No," she said softly. "Last night was a bad night for me. I lost my +best friend. He is dead. I lost my treasure. I do not hope to ever find +it now."</p> + +<p>"Cio-Cio-San," Johnny said the name slowly. "Since you do not hope ever +to see your treasure again, perhaps you will tell me what it was."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I will tell you. You are my good friend. It was diamonds, one +hundred and ten diamonds and ten rubies, all in a leather lined envelope +with three long compartments. The rubies were at the bottom of the +envelope."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Johnny, "you are not so far from your treasure after all. A +few of the stones are gone, but most of them are safe."</p> + +<p>He drew from his pocket the envelope which he had carried so far and at +such great peril.</p> + +<p>Had he needed any reward, other than the consciousness of having done an +honest deed, he would have received it then and there in the glad cry +that escaped from the Japanese girl's lips.</p> + +<p>When she had wept for joy, she opened the envelope and shaking out the +three loose stones dropped them into Johnny's hand.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"A little reward. A present."</p> + +<p>Taking the smallest of the three between finger and thumb he gave her +back the others.</p> + +<p>"One is enough," he told her. "I'll give it to Mazie."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, to Mazie, your so beautiful, so wonderful friend," she +murmured. Then, after a moment, "As for me, I go back to my own people. +I shall spend my life and my fortune helping those very much to be +pitied ones who have lost all in that so terrible Russia."</p> + +<p>As Johnny left that room, he thought he was going to have that diamond +set in a ring and present it to Mazie the very next day. But he was not. +That interview with one of Chicago's leading bankers at five o'clock was +destined to change the course of his whole life; for though the Big Five +had never decided to act in unison with Hanada in his wild dream of a +Kamchatkan Republic—the plan which had brought his arrest as a +conspirator—they did propose to work those Kamchatkan gold mines on an +old concession, given them by the former Czar, and they did propose that +Johnny take charge of the expedition.</p> +<br /> + +<h4>THE END</h4> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13880 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + + diff --git a/13880-h/images/frontis.jpg b/13880-h/images/frontis.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8b66489 --- /dev/null +++ b/13880-h/images/frontis.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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Snell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Triple Spies + +Author: Roy J. Snell + +Release Date: October 27, 2004 [EBook #13880] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRIPLE SPIES *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and PG Distributed Proofreaders. + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h3><i>Mystery Stories for Boys</i></h3> + +<h1>Triple Spies</h1> + +<h3><i>By</i></h3> + +<h2>ROY J. SNELL</h2> + +<br /> + +<h4>The Reilly & Lee Co.</h4> +<h4>Chicago</h4> +<h4>1920</h4> +<br /> +<center> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="750" height="471" alt="Roy J. Snell, and his sledge-team of Alaskan Huskies." title="Roy J. Snell, and his sledge-team of Alaskan Huskies."> +</center> +<div class="caption"><center><b>Roy J. Snell, and his sledge-team of Alaskan Huskies.</b></center></div> +<br /> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<br /> +<h4>Table of Contents</h4> + +<center>I <a href="#CHAPTER_I">THE DEN OF DISGUISES</a></center> +<center>II <a href="#CHAPTER_II">THE MYSTERIOUS RUSSIAN</a></center> +<center>III <a href="#CHAPTER_III">TREACHERY OUT OF THE NIGHT</a></center> +<center>IV <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">A NARROW ESCAPE</a></center> +<center>V <a href="#CHAPTER_V">"FRIEND? ENEMY?"</a></center> +<center>VI <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">"NOW I SHALL KILL YOU"</a></center> +<center>VII <a href="#CHAPTER_VII">SAVED FROM THE MOB</a></center> +<center>VIII <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">WHEN AN ESKIMO BECOMES A JAP</a></center> +<center>IX <a href="#CHAPTER_IX">JOHNNY'S FREE-FOR-ALL</a></center> +<center>X <a href="#CHAPTER_X">THE JAP GIRL IN PERIL</a></center> +<center>XI <a href="#CHAPTER_XI">A FACE IN THE NIGHT</a></center> +<center>XII <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">"GET THAT MAN"</a></center> +<center>XIII <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">BACK TO OLD CHICAGO</a></center> +<center>XIV <a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">THE MYSTERY OF THE CHICAGO RIVER</a></center> +<center>XV <a href="#CHAPTER_XV">THE CAT CRY OF THE UNDERWORLD</a></center> +<center>XVI <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CIO-CIO-SAN BETRAYED</a></center> +<center>XVII <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">A THREE-CORNERED BATTLE</a></center> +<center>XVIII <a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">HANADA'S SECRET</a></center> +<center>XIX <a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">"I SEEN IT—A SUBMARINE!"</a></center> +<center>XX <a href="#CHAPTER_XX">AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER</a></center> +<center>XXI <a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">THE OWNER OF THE DIAMONDS</a></center> + +<br /> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<br /> +<a name="TRIPLE_SPIES"></a><h2>TRIPLE SPIES</h2> +<br /> + +<a name="CHAPTER_I"></a><h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>THE DEN OF DISGUISES</h3> +<br /> + +<p>As Johnny Thompson stood in the dark doorway of the gray stone +court-yard he shivered. He was not cold, though this was +Siberia—Vladivostok—and a late winter night. But he was excited.</p> + +<p>Before him, slipping, sliding, rolling over and over on the hard packed +snow of the narrow street, two men were gripped in a life and death +struggle. They had been struggling thus for five minutes, each striving +for the upper hand. The clock in the Greek Catholic church across the +way told Johnny how long they had fought.</p> + +<p>He had been an accidental and entirely disinterested witness. He knew +neither of the men; he had merely happened along just when the row +began, and had lingered in the shadows to see it through. Twelve, yes, +even six months before, he would have mixed in at once; that had always +been his way in the States. Not that he was a quarrelsome fellow; on the +contrary he was fond of peace, was Johnny, in spite of the fact that he +carried on his person various medals for rather more-than-good +feather-weight fighting. He loved peace so much that he was willing to +lick almost anyone in order to make them stop fighting. That was why he +had joined the American army, and allowed himself to be made part of the +Expeditionary force that went to the Pacific coast side of Siberia.</p> + +<p>But twelve months in Siberia had taught him many things. He had learned +that he could not get these Russians to stop quarreling by merely +whipping them. Therefore, since these men were both Russians, he had let +them fight.</p> + +<p>The tall, slender man had started it. He had rushed at the short, square +shouldered one from the dark. The square shouldered one had flashed a +knife. This had been instantly knocked from his grasp. By some chance, +the knife had dropped only an arm's length from the doorway into which +Johnny had dodged. Johnny now held the knife discreetly behind his +back.</p> + +<p>Yes, Johnny trembled. There was a reason for that. The tall, slender man +had gained the upper hand. He was stretched across the prone form of his +antagonist, his slim, horny hands even now gliding toward the other's +throat. And, right there, Johnny had decided to draw the line. He was +not going to allow himself to witness the strangling of a man. That +wasn't his idea of fighting. He would end the fight, even at the expense +of being mussed up a bit himself, or having certain of his cherished +plans interfered with by being dragged before a "Provo" as witness or +participant.</p> + +<p>He was counting in a half-audible whisper, "Forty-one, forty-two, +forty-three." It was a way he had when something big was about to +happen. The hand of the slender man was at the second button on the +other's rough coat when Johnny reached fifty. At sixty it had come to +the top button. At sixty-five his long finger-tips were doubling in for +the fatal, vice-like grip. Noiselessly, Johnny laid the knife on a cross +bar of the door. Knives were too deadly. Johnny's "wallop" was quite +enough; more than enough, as the slender one might learn to his sorrow.</p> + +<p>But before Johnny could move a convulsion shot through the prostrate +fighter. He was again struggling wildly. At the same instant, Johnny +heard shuffling footsteps approaching around the corner. He was sure he +did not mistake the tread of Japanese military police who were guarding +that section of the city. For a moment he studied the probabilities of +the short one's power of endurance, then, deciding it sufficient to last +until the police arrived, he gripped the knife behind his back and +darted toward an opposite corner where was an alley offering safety. +There were very definite reasons why Johnny did not wish to figure even +as a witness in any case in Vladivostok that night.</p> + +<p>In a doorway off the alley, he paused, listening for sounds of increased +tumult. They came quickly enough. There was a renewed struggle, a grunt, +a groan; then the scuffling ceased.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, a figure darted down the alley. Johnny caught a clear view of +the man's face. The fugitive was the shorter man with broad shoulders +and sharp chin; the man who the moment before had been the under dog. +He was followed closely by another runner, but not his antagonist in the +street fight. This man was a Japanese; and Johnny saw to his surprise +that the Jap did not wear the uniform of the military police; in fact, +not any uniform at all.</p> + +<p>"Evidently, that stubby Russian with the queer chin is wanted for +something," Johnny muttered. "I wonder what. Anyway, I've got his +knife."</p> + +<p>At that he tucked the weapon beneath his squirrel-lined coat and, +dropping out of his corner, went cautiously on his way.</p> + +<p>So eager was he to attend to other matters that the episode of the +street fight was soon forgotten. Dodging around this corner, then that, +giving a wide berth to a group of American non-coms, dashing off a hasty +salute to three Japanese officers, he at last turned up a narrow alley, +and, with a sigh of relief, gave three sharp raps, then a muffled one, +at a door half hidden in the gloom.</p> + +<p>The door opened a crack, and a pair of squint eyes studied him +cautiously.</p> + +<p>"Ow!" said the yellow man, opening the door wider, and then closing it +almost before Johnny could crowd himself inside.</p> + +<p>To one coming from the outer air, the reeking atmosphere within this low +ceilinged, narrow room was stifling. There was a blend of vile odors; +opium smoke, not too ancient in origin, mixed with smells of cooking, +while an ill-defined but all-pervading odor permeated the place; such an +odor as one finds in a tailor's repair shop, or in the place of a dealer +in second-hand clothing.</p> + +<p>Second-hand clothing, that was Wo Cheng's line. But it was a rather +unusual shop he kept. Being a Chinaman, he could adapt himself to +circumstances, at least within his own realm, which was clothes. His +establishment had grown up out of the grim necessity and dire pressure +of war. Not that the pressure was on his own person; far from that. +Somewhere back in China this crafty fellow was accumulating a fortune. +He was making it in this dim, taper-lighted, secret shop, opening off an +alley in Vladivostok.</p> + +<p>In these times of shifting scenes, when the rich of to-day were the poor +of to-morrow, or at least were under the necessity of feigning poverty, +there were many people who wished to change their station in life, and +that very quickly. It was Wo Cheng's business to help them make this +change. Many a Russian noble had sought this noisome shop to exchange +his "purple and fine linen" for very humble garb, and just what he took +from the pockets of one and put in the pockets of the other suit, Wo +Cheng had a way of guessing, though he appeared not to see at all.</p> + +<p>Johnny had known Wo Cheng for some time. He had discovered his shop by +accident when out scouting for billets for American soldiers. He had +later assisted in protecting the place from a raid by Japanese military +police.</p> + +<p>"You wanchee somsling?" The Oriental grinned, as Johnny seated himself +cross-legged on a grass mat.</p> + +<p>"Yep," Johnny grinned in return, "wanchee change." He gripped the lapel +of his blouse, as if he would remove it and exchange for another.</p> + +<p>"You wanchee clange?" The Chinaman squinted at him with an air of +incredulity.</p> + +<p>Then a light of understanding seemed to over-spread his face. "Ow!" he +exclaimed, "no can do, Mellican officer, not any. No can do."</p> + +<p>"Wo Cheng, you no savvy," answered Johnny, glancing about at the tiers +of costumes which hung on either side of the wall.</p> + +<p>"Savvy! Savvy!" exclaimed Wo Cheng, bounding away to return with the +uniform of an American private. "Officer, all same," he exclaimed. "No +can do."</p> + +<p>"No good," said Johnny, starting up. "You no savvy. Mebby you no wanchee +savvy. No wanchee uniform. Wanchee clothes, fur, fur, plenty warm, you +savvy? Go north, north, cold, savvy?"</p> + +<p>"Ow!" exclaimed the Chinaman, scratching his head.</p> + +<p>"Wo Cheng!" said Johnny solemnly, "long time my see you. Allatime, my +see you. Not speak American Major; not speak Japanese police."</p> + +<p>Wo Cheng shivered.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Johnny, "my come buy."</p> + +<p>"Ow!" grunted Wo Cheng, ducking from sight and reappearing quickly with +a great coat of real seal, trimmed with sea otter, a trifle which had +cost some noble of other days a king's ransom.</p> + +<p>"No wanchee," Johnny shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Ow!" Wo Cheng shook his head incredulously. This was his rarest +offering. "You no got cumshaw, money?" he grinned. "All wite, my say."</p> + +<p>"No wanchee my," Johnny repeated.</p> + +<p>The Chinaman took the garment away, and returned with a similar one, +less pretentious. This, too, was waved aside.</p> + +<p>By this time Johnny had become impatient. Time was passing. A special +train was to go north at four o'clock. It was going for reindeer meat, +rations for the regiment that was Johnny's, or, at least, had been +Johnny's. He could catch a ride on that train. A five hundred mile lift +on a three thousand mile jaunt was not to be missed just because this +Chink was something of a blockhead.</p> + +<p>Pushing the proprietor gently to one side, Johnny made his way toward +the back of the room. Scrutinizing the hangers as he went, and giving +them an occasional fling here and there, as some garment caught his eye, +he came presently upon a solid square yard of fur. With a grunt of +satisfaction, he dragged one of the garments from its place and held it +before the flickering yellow taper.</p> + +<p>The thing was shaped like a middy-blouse, only a little longer and it +had a hood attached. It was made of the gray squirrel skins of Siberia, +and was trimmed with wolf's skin. As Johnny held it against his body, it +reached to his knees. It was, in fact, a parka, such as is worn by the +Eskimos of Alaska and the Chukches, aborigines of North Siberia.</p> + +<p>One by one, Johnny dragged similar garments from their hangers. Coming +at last upon one made of the brown summer skins of reindeer, and trimmed +with wolverine, he seemed satisfied, for, tossing the others into a +pile, he had drawn off his blouse and was about to throw the parka over +his head, when something fell with a jangling rattle to the floor.</p> + +<p>"O-o-ee!" grunted the <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: The original text reads 'Chinman'">Chinaman</ins>, as he stared at the +thing. It was the knife which had belonged to the Russian of the broad +shoulders and sharp chin. As Johnny's eyes fell upon it now, he realized +that it was an altogether unusual weapon. The blade was of blue steel, +and from its ring it appeared to be exceptionally well tempered. The +handle was of strangely carved ivory.</p> + +<p>Quickly thrusting the knife beneath his belt, Johnny again took up the +parka. This time, as he drew the garment down over his head, he appeared +to experience considerable difficulty in getting his left arm into the +sleeve. This task accomplished, he stretched himself this way and that. +He smoothed down the fur thoughtfully, pulled the hood about his ears, +and back again, twisted himself about to test the fit, then, with a sigh +of content, turned to examine a pile of fur trousers.</p> + +<p>At that instant there came a low rap at the door—three raps, to be +accurate—then a muffled thud.</p> + +<p>Johnny started. Someone wanted to enter. He was not exactly in a +condition to be seen, especially if the person should prove to be an +American officer. His fur parka, topping those khaki trousers and +puttees of his, would seem at least to tell a tale, and might complicate +matters considerably. Quickly seizing his blouse, he crowded his way +far back into the depths of a furry mass of long coats.</p> + +<p>"Wo Cheng!" he whispered, "my wanchee you keep mouth shut. Allatime +shut!"</p> + +<p>"O-o-ee," grunted the Chinaman.</p> + +<p>The next moment he had opened the door a crack.</p> + +<p>The squint eyes of the Chinaman surveyed the person without for a long +time, so long, in fact, that Johnny began to wonder what sort of person +the newcomer could be. Wo Cheng was keen of wit. To many he refused +entrance. But he was also a keen trader. All manner of men and women +came to him; some for a permanent change of costume, some for a night's +exchange only. Peasants, grown suddenly and strangely rich, bearing +passports and tickets for other lands, came to buy the cast-off finery +of the one time nobility. Russian, Japanese, American soldiers and +officers came to Wo Cheng for a change, most of them for a single twelve +hours, that they might revel in places forbidden to men in uniform. But +some came for a permanent change. Wo Cheng never inquired why. He asked +only "Cumshaw, money," and got it.</p> + +<p>Was this newcomer Russian, Japanese, Chinaman or American?</p> + +<p>The door at last opened half way, then closed quickly. The person who +stood blinking in the light was not a man, but a woman, a short and slim +young woman, with the dark round face of a Japanese.</p> + +<p>"You come buy?" solicited Wo Cheng.</p> + +<p>For answer, the woman drew off her outer garment of some strange wool +texture and trimmed with ermine. Then, as if it were an everyday +occurrence, she stepped out of her rich silk gown, and stood there in a +suit of deep purple pajamas.</p> + +<p>She then stared about the place until her eyes reached the fur garments +which Johnny had recently examined. With a laugh and a spring, lithe as +a panther, she seized upon one of these, then discarding it with a +fling, delved deeper until she came upon some smaller garments, which +might better fit her slight form. Comparing for a moment one of squirrel +skin with one of fawn skin, she finally laid aside the latter. Then she +attacked the pile of fur trousers. At the bottom she came upon some +short bloomers, made also of fawn skin. With another little gurgle of +laughter, she stepped into these. Next she drew the spotted fawn skin +parka over her head, and stood there at last, the picture of a winsome +Eskimo maid.</p> + +<p>This done, woman-like, she plumed herself for a time before a murky +mirror. Then, turning briskly, she slipped out of the garments and back +into her own.</p> + +<p>"You wanchee cumshaw?" she asked, handing the furs to the Chinaman to be +wrapped.</p> + +<p>The Chinaman grinned.</p> + +<p>From somewhere on her person she extracted bills, American bills. Johnny +was not surprised at that, for in these uncertain times, American money +had come to be an undisputed medium of exchange. It was always worth as +much to-day as yesterday—very often more. The thing that did surprise +Johnny was the size of the bills she left with the dealer. She was +buying those garments, there could be no question about that. But why? +No one in this region would think of wearing them. They were seldom seen +five hundred miles north. And this woman was a Japanese. There were no +Japanese men at Khabarask, five hundred miles north, let alone Japanese +women; Johnny knew that.</p> + +<p>But the door had closed. The American looked at his watch. It was one +o'clock. The train went at four. He must hurry.</p> + +<p>He was about to move out from among the furs, when again there came a +rap, this time loud and insistent, as if coming from one who was +accustomed to be obeyed.</p> + +<p>"American officer!" Johnny stifled a groan, as he slid back into hiding.</p> + +<p>"Wo Cheng!" he cautioned again in a whisper, "my wanchee you keep mouth +shut; you savvy?"</p> + +<p>"O-o-ee," mumbled Wo Cheng, his hand on the latch.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_II"></a><h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE MYSTERIOUS RUSSIAN</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny's jaw dropped, and he barely checked a gasp, as through his +screen of furs he saw the man who now entered Wo Cheng's den of +disguises. He was none other than the man of the street fight, the short +one of the broad shoulders and sharp chin. Johnny was surprised in more +ways than one; surprised that the man was here at all; that it could +have been he who had given that authoritative signal at the door, and +most of all, surprised that Wo Cheng should have admitted him so +readily, and should be treating him with such deference.</p> + +<p>"Evidently," Johnny thought to himself, "this fellow has been here +before."</p> + +<p>Although unquestionably a Russian, the newcomer appeared quite equal to +the task of making his wants known in Chinese, for after a moment's +conversation the two men made their way toward the back of the room.</p> + +<p>Johnny had his second shock when he saw the garments the Russian began +to examine. They were no other than those which had twice before in the +last hour been examined by customers, the clothing for the Far North. +This was too much. Again, he barely checked a gasp. Was the entire +population of the city about to move to the polar regions? He would ask +Wo Cheng. In the meantime, Johnny prayed that the Russian might make his +choice speedily, since the time of departure of his train was +approaching.</p> + +<p>The Russian made his selections, apparently more from a sense of taste +than with an eye to warmth and service. This final choice was a suit of +squirrel skin and boots of deer skin.</p> + +<p>"Cumshaw?"</p> + +<p>Into Wo Cheng's beady, squinting eyes, as he addressed this word to the +Russian, there came a look of malignant cunning which Johnny had not +seen there before. It sent chills racing up and down his spine. It +almost seemed to him that the Chinaman's hand was feeling for his belt, +where his knife was hidden.</p> + +<p>For a moment the Russian turned his back to Wo Cheng, and so faced +Johnny. Behind his screen, the "Yank" could observe his actions without +himself being seen.</p> + +<p>From an inner pocket the Russian extracted a long, thick envelope. +Unwrapping the cord at the top of this, he shook from it three shining +particles.</p> + +<p>"Diamonds!" Johnny's eyes were dazzled with the lustre of the jewels.</p> + +<p>The Russian, selecting one, dropped the others back into the envelope.</p> + +<p>"Bet he's got a hundred more," was Johnny's mental comment. Then he +noticed a peculiarity of the envelope. There was a red circle in the +lower, left hand corner, as if a seal had been stamped there. He would +remember that envelope should he ever see it again.</p> + +<p>But at this instant his attention was drawn to the men again. The +Russian had turned and handed the gem to Wo Cheng. Wo Cheng stepped to +the light and examined it.</p> + +<p>"No need cumshaw my," he murmured.</p> + +<p>The Russian bowed gravely, and turned toward the door.</p> + +<p>It was then that the face of the Chinaman underwent a rapid change. The +look of craftiness, treachery, and greed swept over it again. This time +the yellow man's hand unmistakably reached for the knife.</p> + +<p>Then he appeared to remember Johnny, for his hand dropped, and he half +turned with an air of guilt.</p> + +<p>The door closed with a little swish. The Russian was gone. With him went +the stifling air of treachery, murder and intrigue, yet it left Johnny +wondering. Why was every man's hand lifted against the sharp-chinned +Russian? Had Wo Cheng been actuated by hate, or by greed? Johnny could +not but wonder if some of Russia's former noblemen did not rest in +shallow graves beneath Wo Cheng's cellar floor. But there was little +time for speculation. In two hours the special train that Johnny wanted +to take would be on its way north.</p> + +<p>Springing nimbly from his place of hiding, Johnny recovered his blouse, +and having secured from it certain papers, which were of the utmost +importance to him, he pinned them in a pocket of his shirt. He next +selected a pair of wolf skin trousers, a pair of corduroy trousers, one +pair of deer skin boots and two of seal skin.</p> + +<p>"Cumshaw?" he grinned, facing Wo Cheng, as he completed his selection.</p> + +<p>The yellow man shrugged his shoulders, as if to say it made little +difference to him in this case.</p> + +<p>Johnny peeled a bill from his roll of United States currency and handed +it to him.</p> + +<p>"Wo Cheng," he said slowly, "go north, Jap woman? Go north, that +Russian? Why?"</p> + +<p>The Chinaman's face took on a mask-like appearance.</p> + +<p>"No can do," he muttered. "Allatime keep mouth shut my."</p> + +<p>"Tell me," commanded Johnny, advancing in a threatening manner, with his +hand near the Russian's knife.</p> + +<p>"No can do," protested the Chinaman cringing away. "Allatime keep mouth +shut my. No ask my. No tell my. Allatime buy, sell my. No savvy my."</p> + +<p>It was evident that nothing was to be learned here of the intentions of +the two strangers; so, grasping his bundle, Johnny lifted the latch and +found himself out in the silent, deserted alley.</p> + +<p>The air was kind to his heated brow. As he took the first few steps his +costume troubled him. He was wearing the parka and the corduroy +trousers. He felt no longer the slight tug of puttees about his ankles. +His trousers flapped against his legs at every step. The hood heated the +back of his neck. The fur trousers and the skin boots were in the bundle +under his arm. His soldier's uniform he had left with the keeper of the +hidden clothes shop. He hardly thought that anyone, save a very personal +acquaintance, would recognize him in his new garb, and there was little +chance of such a meeting at this hour of the night. However, he gave +three American officers, apparently returning from a late party of some +sort, a wide berth, and dodging down a narrow street, made his way +toward the railway yards where he would find the drowsy comforts of the +caboose of the "Reindeer Special."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"American, ain't y'?" A sergeant of the United States army addressed +this question to Johnny.</p> + +<p>The latter was curled up half asleep in a corner of the caboose of the +"Reindeer Special" which had been bumping over the rails for some time.</p> + +<p>"Ya-a," he yawned.</p> + +<p>"Going north to trade, I s'pose?"</p> + +<p>Johnny was tempted not to answer. Still, he was not yet out of the +woods.</p> + +<p>"Yep," he replied cheerfully. "Red fox, white fox, mink, squirrel, +ermine, muskrat. Mighty good price."</p> + +<p>"Where's your pack?" The sergeant half grinned.</p> + +<p>Johnny sat up and stared. No, it was not that he had had a pack and lost +it. It was that he had never had a pack. And traders carried packs. Why +to be sure; things to trade for furs.</p> + +<p>"Pack?" he said confusedly. "Ah-er, yes. Why, yes, my pack, of course, +why I left it; no—hang it! Come to think of it, I'm getting that at the +end of this line, Khabarask, you know."</p> + +<p>Johnny studied the old sergeant through narrowing eyelids. He had given +him a ten spot before the train rattled from the yards. Was that enough? +Would any sum be enough? Johnny shivered a little. The man was an old +regular, a veteran of many battles not given in histories. Was he one +of those who took this motto: "Anything's all right that you can get +away with?" Johnny wondered. It might be, just might be, that Johnny +would go back on this same train to Vladivostok; and that, Johnny had no +desire to do.</p> + +<p>The sergeant's eyes closed for a wink of sleep. Johnny looked furtively +about the car. The three other occupants were asleep. He drew a fat roll +of American bills from his pocket. From the very center he extracted a +well worn one dollar bill. Having replaced the roll, he smoothed out the +"one spot" and examined it closely. Across the face of it was a purple +stamp. In the circle of this stamp were the words, "Wales, Alaska." A +smile spread over Johnny's shrewd, young face.</p> + +<p>"Yes sir, there you are, li'l ol' one-case note," he whispered. "You +come all the way from God's country, from Alaska to Vladivostok, all by +yourself. I don't know how many times you changed hands before you got +here, but here you are, and it took you only four months to come. Stay +with me, little old bit of Uncle Sam's treasure, and I'll take you +home; straight back to God's country."</p> + +<p>He folded the bill carefully and stowed it in an inner pocket, next to +his heart.</p> + +<p>If the missionary postmistress at Cape Prince of Wales, on Behring +Strait, had realized what homesick feelings she was going to stir up in +Johnny's heart by impressing her post office stamp on that bill before +she paid it to some Eskimo, perhaps she would not have stamped it, and +then again, perhaps she would.</p> + +<p>A sudden jolt as they rumbled on to a sidetrack awoke the sergeant, who +seemed disposed to resume the conversation where he had left off.</p> + +<p>"S'pose it's mighty dangerous tradin' on this side?"</p> + +<p>"Uh-huh," Johnny grunted.</p> + +<p>"S'pose it's a long way back to God's country this way?"</p> + +<p>"Uh-huh."</p> + +<p>"Lot of the boys mighty sick of soldiering over here. Lot of 'em 'ud try +it back to God's country 'f 'twasn't so far."</p> + +<p>"Would, huh?" Johnny yawned.</p> + +<p>"Ye-ah, and then the officers are mighty hard on the ones they +ketch—ketch desertin', I mean—officers are; when they ketch 'em, an' +they mostly do."</p> + +<p>"Do what?" Johnny tried to yawn again.</p> + +<p>"Ketch 'em! They're fierce at that."</p> + +<p>There was a knowing grin on the sergeant's face, but no wink followed. +Johnny waited anxiously for the wink.</p> + +<p>"But it's tough, now ain't it?" observed the sergeant. "We can't go home +and can't fight. What we here for, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Ye-ah," Johnny smiled hopefully.</p> + +<p>"Expected to go home long ago, but no transportation, not before spring; +not even for them that's got discharges and papers to go home. It's +tough! You'd think a lot of 'em 'ud try goin' north to Alaska, wouldn't +you? Three days in God's country's worth three years in Leavenworth; +you'd think they'd try it. And they would, if 't'wasn't so far. Gad! +Three thousand miles! I'd admire the pluck of the fellow that dared."</p> + +<p>This time the wink which Johnny had been so anxiously awaiting came; a +full, free and frank wink it was. He winked back, then settled down in +his corner to sleep.</p> + +<p>A train rattled by. The "Reindeer Special" bumped back on the main track +and went crashing on its way. It screeched through little villages, half +buried in snow. It glided along between plains of whiteness. It rattled +between narrow hills, but Johnny was unconscious of it all. He was fast +asleep, storing up strength for the morrow, and the many wild to-morrows +which were to follow.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_III"></a><h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>TREACHERY OUT OF THE NIGHT</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny moved restlessly beneath his furs. He had been dreaming, and in +his dream he had traveled far over scorching deserts, his steed a camel, +his companions Arabs. In his dream he slept by night on the burning +sand, with only a silken canopy above him. In his dream he had awakened +with a sense of impending danger. A prowling tiger had wandered over the +desert, an Arab had proved treacherous—who knows what? The feeling, +after all, had been only of a vague dread.</p> + +<p>The dream had wakened him, and now he lay staring into utter darkness +and marveling that the dream was so much like the reality. He was +traveling over barren wastes with a caravan; had been for three days. +But the waste they crossed was a waste of snow. His companions were +natives—who like the Arabs, lived a nomadic life. Their steeds the +swift footed reindeer, their tents the igloos of walrus and reindeer +skins, they roamed over a territory hundreds of miles in extent. To one +of these "fleets of the frozen desert," Johnny had attached himself +after leaving the train.</p> + +<p>It had been a wonderful three days that he had spent in his journeying +northward. These Chukches of Siberia, so like the Eskimos of Alaska that +one could distinguish them only by the language they spoke, lived a +romantic life. Johnny had entered into this life with all the zest of +youth. True, he had found himself very awkward in many things and had +been set aside with a growled, "Dezra" (that is enough), many times but +he had persevered and had learned far more about the ways of these +nomads of the great, white north than they themselves suspected.</p> + +<p>During those three days Johnny's eyes had been always on the job. He had +not traveled a dozen miles before he had made a thorough study of the +reindeer equipment. This, indeed, was simple enough, but the simpler +one's equipment, the more thorough must be one's knowledge of its +handling. The harness of the deer was made of split walrus skin and +wood. Simple wooden hames, cut to fit the shoulders of the deer and tied +together with a leather thong, took the place of both collar and hames +of other harnesses. From the bottom of these hames ran a broad strap of +leather. This, passing between both the fore and hind legs of the deer, +was fastened to the sled. A second broad strap was passed around the +deer's body directly behind the fore legs. This held the pulling strap +above the ground to prevent the reindeer from stepping over his trace. +In travel, in spite of this precaution, the deer did often step over the +trace. In such cases, the driver had but to seize the draw strap and +give it a quick pull, sending the sled close to the deer's heels. This +gave the draw straps slack and the deer stepped over the trace again to +his proper place.</p> + +<p>The sleds were made of a good quality of hard wood procured from the +river forests or from the Russians, and fitted with shoes of steel or of +walrus ivory cut in thin strips. The sleds were built short, broad and +low. This prevented many a spill, for as Johnny soon learned, the +reindeer is a cross between a burro and an ox in his disposition, and, +once he has scented a rich bed of mosses and lichens, on which he feeds, +he takes on the strength and speed of an ox stampeding for a water hole +in the desert, and the stubbornness of a burro drawn away from his +favorite thistle.</p> + +<p>The deer were driven by a single leather strap; the old, old jerk strap +of the days of ox teams. Johnny had demanded at once the privilege of +driving but he had made a sorry mess of it. He had jerked the strap to +make the deer go more slowly. This really being the signal for greater +speed, the deer had bolted across the tundra, at last spilling Johnny +and his load of Chukche plunder over a cutbank. This procedure did not +please the Chukches, and Johnny was not given a second opportunity to +drive. He was compelled to trot along beside the sleds or, back to back +with one of his fellow travelers, to ride over the gleaming whiteness +that lay everywhere.</p> + +<p>It was at such times as these that Johnny had ample opportunity to study +the country through which they passed. Lighted as it was by a glorious +moon, it presented a grand and fascinating panorama. To the right lay +the frozen ocean, its white expanse cut here and there by a pool of salt +water pitchy black by contrast with the ice. To the left lay the +mountains extending as far as the eye could see, with their dark purple +shadows and triangles of light and seeming but another sea, that +tempest-tossed and terrible had been congealed by the bitter northern +blasts.</p> + +<p>When twelve hours of travel had been accomplished, and it had been +proposed that they camp for the night, Johnny had been quite free to +offer his assistance in setting up the tents. In this he had been even +less successful than in his performance with the reindeer. He had set +the igloo poles wrong end up and, when these had been righted, had +spread the long haired deerskin robes, which were to serve as the inner +lining of the shelters, hair side out, which was also wrong. He had once +more been relegated to the background. This time he had not cared, for +it gave him an opportunity to study his fellow travelers. They were for +the most part a dark and sullen bunch. Not understanding Johnny's +language, they did not attempt to talk with him, but certain gloomy +glances seemed to tell him that, though his money had been accepted by +them, there was still some secret reason why he might have been +traveling in safer company.</p> + +<p>This, however, was more a feeling than an idea based on any overt act of +the natives, and Johnny tried to shake it off. That he might do this +more quickly, he gave himself over to the study of these strange nomads. +Their dress was a one-piece suit made of short haired deer skins. Men, +women and children dressed alike, with the exception that very small +children were sewed into their garments, hands, feet and all and were +strapped on the sleds like bundles.</p> + +<p>The food was strange to the American. One needed a good appetite to +enjoy it. Great twenty-five pound white fish were produced from skin +bags and sliced off to be eaten raw. Reindeer meat was stewed in copper +kettles. Hard tack was soaked in water and mixed with reindeer suet. Tea +from the ever present Russian tea kettle and seal oil from a sewed up +seal skin took the place of drink and relish. The tea was good, the +seal oil unspeakable, a liquid not even to be smelled of by a white man, +let alone tasted.</p> + +<p>By the second day Johnny had found himself confining his associations to +one person, who, to all appearances, was a fellow passenger, and not a +member of the tribe. He had learned to pitch his own igloo and hers. Not +five hours before he had hewn away a hard bank of snow and built there a +shelf for his bed. When his igloo was completed he had erected a second +not many feet away. This was for his fellow passenger. In case anything +should happen he felt that he would like to be near her, and she had +shown by many little signs that she shared his feelings in this.</p> + +<p>"In case something happened," Johnny reflected drowsily. He had a +feeling that, sooner or later, something was going to happen. There was +something altogether mysterious about the actions of these Chukches, +especially one great sullen fellow, who had come skulking about Johnny's +igloo just before he had turned in.</p> + +<p>These natives were supposed to be trustworthy, but Johnny had his +misgivings and was on his guard. They had come in contact with +Russians, perhaps also with Orientals, and had learned treachery.</p> + +<p>"And yet," thought Johnny, "what could they want from me? I paid them +well for my transportation. They sold their reindeer to the American +army for a fat price. They would be more than greedy if they wanted +more."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, the air of mystery hung about him like a dark cloud. He +could not sleep. And not being able to sleep, he meditated.</p> + +<p>He had already begun the eternal round of thoughts that will revolve +through a fellow's brain at night, when he heard a sound—the soft crush +of a skin boot in the snow it seemed. He listened and thought he heard +it again, this time more distinctly, as if the person were approaching +his igloo. A chill crept up and down his spine. His right hand +involuntarily freed itself from the furs and sought the cold hilt of the +Russian knife. He had his army automatic, but where there are many ears +to hear a shot, a knife is better.</p> + +<p>"What an ideal trap for treachery, this igloo! A villain need but creep +through tent-flaps, pause for a breath, then stealthily lift the deer +skin curtain. A stab or a shot, and all would be ended." These thoughts +sped through Johnny's mind.</p> + +<p>Scarcely breathing, he waited for other signs of life abroad at that +hour of night—a night sixteen hours long. He heard nothing.</p> + +<p>Finally, his mind took up again the endless chain of thought. He had +arrived safely at Khabarask, the terminus of the Russian line. Here he +had remained for three days, half in hiding, until the "Reindeer +Special" had completed its loading and had started on its southern +journey to the waiting doughboys. During those three days he had made +two startling discoveries; the short Russian of the broad shoulders and +sharp chin, he of the envelope of diamonds, was in Khabarask. Johnny had +seen him in an eating place, and had had an opportunity to study him +without being observed. The man, he concluded, although a total stranger +in these parts, was a person of consequence, a leader of some sort, +accustomed to being obeyed. There seemed a brutal certainty about the +way he ordered the servants of the place to do his bidding. There was a +constant wrinkle of a frown between his eyes. A man, perhaps without a +sense of humor, he would force every issue to the utmost. Once given an +idea, he would override all obstacles to carry it through, not stopping +at death, or at many deaths. This had been Johnny's mental analysis of +the character of the man, and at once he began to half hate and half +admire him. He had lost sight of him immediately, and had not discovered +him again. Whether the Russian had left town before the native band did, +Johnny could not tell. But, if he had moved on, where did he go?</p> + +<p>The other shock was similar in character. The woman who had bought furs +for the North had also been in Khabarask. Whether she was a Japanese +Johnny was not prepared to say, and that in spite of the fact that he +had studied her carefully for five days. She might be a Chukche who, +through some strange impulse, had been led south to seek culture and +education. He doubted that. She might be an Eskimo from Alaska making +her way north to cross Behring Strait in the spring. He doubted that +also. Finally she might be a Japanese woman, but in that case, what +could be the explanation of her presence here, some two hundred miles +north of the last vestige of civilization?</p> + +<p>Now, not ten feet from the spot where Johnny lay in an igloo assigned +for her private use by the natives, that identical girl slept at this +moment. Only four hours before, Johnny had bade her good night, after an +enjoyable repast of tea, reindeer meat and hard bread prepared by her +own hand over a small wood fire. It was she who was his fellow +passenger, whose igloo he had erected, close to his own. Yes, there was +mystery enough about the whole situation to keep any fellow awake; yet +Johnny hated himself for not sleeping. He felt that the time was coming +when he would need stored strength.</p> + +<p>He had half dosed off when a sound very close at hand, within the walls +of canvas he thought, started him again into wakefulness. His arm ready +and free for action, he lay still. His breathing well regulated and +even, as in sleep, he watched through narrow slit eyes the deer skin +curtain rise, and a head appear. The ugly shaved head of a Chukche it +was; and in the intruder's hand was a knife.</p> + +<p>The knife startled Johnny. He could not believe his eyes. He thought he +was seeing double; yet he did not move.</p> + +<p>Slowly, silently the arm of the native rose until it hung over Johnny's +heart. In a second it would—</p> + +<p>In that second something happened. There came a deadly thwack. The +native, without a cry, fell backward beyond the curtain. His knife shot +outward too, and stuck hilt downward in the snow.</p> + +<p>Johnny drew himself slowly from beneath the furs. Lifting the deer skin +curtain cautiously, he looked out. Then he chuckled a cold, dry chuckle. +His knuckles were bloody, for the only weapon he had used was that truly +American weapon, a clenched fist. Johnny, as I have suggested before, +was somewhat handy with his "dukes." His left was a bit out of repair +just now, but his right was quite all right, as the crumpled heap of a +man testified.</p> + +<p>Johnny bent over the man and twisted his head about. No, his neck was +not broken. Johnny was thankful for that. He hated to see dead people +even when they richly deserved to die.</p> + +<p>Then he turned to the knife. He started again, as he extricated the +hilt from the snow. But there was no time for examining it. His ear +caught a stifled cry, a woman's cry. It came, without a doubt, from the +igloo of his fellow traveler, the woman. Hastily thrusting his knife in +his belt, he threw back the tentflap and crossed the intervening +snowpatch in three strides.</p> + +<p>He threw back the canvas just in time to seize a second native by the +hood of his deer skin parka. He whirled the man completely about, tossed +him high in the air, then struck him as he was coming down; struck him +in the same place he had hit the other, only harder, very much harder. +He did not examine him later for a broken neck, either.</p> + +<p>Turning, Johnny saw the woman staring at him. Evidently she had slept in +her furs. As she stood there now, she seemed quite equal to the task of +caring for herself. There was a muscular sturdiness about her which +Johnny had failed to notice before. In her hand gleamed a wicked looking +dagger with a twisted blade.</p> + +<p>But that she had been caught unawares, there could be no question, and +from the kindly flash in her eyes Johnny read the fact that she was +grateful for her deliverance.</p> + +<p>He threw one glance at the other igloos. Standing there casting dark, +purple shadows, they were strangely silent. Apparently these two +murderers had been appointed to accomplish the task alone. The others +were asleep. For this Johnny was thankful.</p> + +<p>Turning to the woman he said sharply:</p> + +<p>"Gotta git outa here. You, me, savvy?"</p> + +<p>"Savvy," she replied placidly.</p> + +<p>Seizing her fur bag of small belongings, Johnny hastened before her to +where the sled deer were tethered. Two sleds were still loaded, one with +an unused igloo and deerskins, the other with food. To each of these +Johnny hastily harnessed a reindeer. Then whipping out his knife, he cut +the tether of all the other deer. They would follow; it was the way of +reindeer.</p> + +<p>Johnny smiled. These extra deer would spell the others and quicken +travel. In case of need, they could be killed for food. Besides, if they +had no deer, the treacherous natives could not follow. They would be +obliged to return to the Russian town they had left and make a new +start, and by that time—Johnny patted his chest where reposed the bill +with the Alaskan stamp on it, and murmured:</p> + +<p>"Stay with me li'l' ol' one-spot, and I'll take you home."</p> + +<p>He cast one more glance toward the igloos. Not a soul had stirred.</p> + +<p>"We're off," he exclaimed, leaping on his sled and slapping his reindeer +on the thigh with the jerkstrap.</p> + +<p>"Yes," the Jap girl smiled as she followed his example.</p> + +<p>Johnny thought they were "off," but it took only an instant to tell that +they were not. His deer cut a circle and sent him gliding away over the +snows. Fortunately he held to his jerkstrap and at last succeeded in +stopping the animal's mad rush.</p> + +<p>The Jap girl smiled again as she took the jerkstrap from his hand and +tied it down short to her own sled. Then she leaped upon her sled again +and, with some cooing words spoke to her reindeer. The deer tossed his +antlers and trotted quietly away, leaving Johnny to spring upon his own +sled and ride in increasing wonderment over the long glistening miles.</p> + +<p>When they had traveled for eight hours without a pause and without a +balk, the Jap girl allowed her deer to stop. She loosened the draw strap +and, turning the animal about, tied him by a long line to the sled, that +he might paw moss from beneath the snow in a wide circle.</p> + +<p>"How—how'd you know how to drive?" Johnny stammered.</p> + +<p>"Never before so," she smiled.</p> + +<p>"You mean you never drove a reindeer?"</p> + +<p>"Before now, no. Hungry you?" The Jap girl smiled, as if to say, "Enough +about that, let's eat."</p> + +<p>It was a royal meal they ate together, those two there beneath the +Arctic moon. This Jap girl was a wonder, Johnny felt that, and he was to +learn it more certainly as the days passed.</p> + +<p>Three days later he sat upon a robe of deer skin. The corners of the +robe were drawn up over his shoulders. A shelter of deer skins and +walrus skins, hastily improvised by him during the beginning of a +terrible blizzard which came howling down from the north, was ample to +keep the wind from driving the biting snow into their faces, but it +could hardly keep out the cold. In spite of that, the Jap girl, buried +in deer skins, with her back against his, was sleeping soundly. Johnny +was sleeping bolt upright with one ear awake. His reindeer were picketed +close to the improvised igloo. Other nights, they had taken turns +watching to protect them from prowling wolves, but this night no one +could long withstand the numbing cold of the blizzard. So he watched and +half slept. Now he caught the rising howl of the wind, and now felt its +lull as the deer skins sagged. But what was this? Was there a different +note, a howl that was not of the wind?</p> + +<p>Shaking himself into entire wakefulness, Johnny sat bolt upright and +listened intently. Yes, there it was again. A wolf beyond doubt, as yet +some distance away, but coming toward them with the wind.</p> + +<p>A wolf, a single one, was not all menace. If he could be shot before his +fangs tore at the flesh of a reindeer, there would be gain. He would be +food, and at the present moment there was no food. The Jap girl did not +know it, but Johnny did. Not a fish, not a hunk of venison, not a pilot +biscuit was on their sled. They would soon be reduced to the necessity +of killing and eating one of their deer, unless, unless—the howl came +more plainly and strangely enough with it came the crack crack of hoofs.</p> + +<p>Johnny sprang to his feet. What could that crack cracking of hoofs mean? +Had one of his deer already broken his tether?</p> + +<p>With automatic in hand, he was out in the storm in an instant. Even as +he became accustomed to the dim light, he saw a skulking form drifting +down with the wind. Dropping upon his stomach, he took deliberate aim +and fired. There was a howl of agony but still the creature came on. +Another shot and it turned over tearing at the whirling snow.</p> + +<p>Johnny jumped to his feet. "Eats," he murmured.</p> + +<p>But then there came that other sound again, the crack crack of hoofs. He +peered through the swirling snow, counting his reindeer. They were all +there. Here was a mystery. It was not long in solving. He had but to +glance to the south of his reindeer to detect some dark object bulking +large in the night.</p> + +<p>"A deer!" he muttered. "A wild reindeer! What luck!"</p> + +<p>It was true. The wolf had doubtless been stalking him. Creeping +stealthily forward, foot by foot, Johnny was at last within easy range +of the creature. His automatic cracked twice in quick succession and a +moment later he was exulting over two hundred pounds of fresh meat, food +for many days.</p> + +<p>Twenty hours later, Johnny found himself sitting sleepily on the edge of +one of the deer sleds. The reindeer, unhitched and tethered, were +digging beneath the snow for moss. The storm had subsided and once more +they had journeyed far. The Jap girl was buried deep beneath the furs on +the other sled.</p> + +<p>Johnny was puzzling his brain at this time over one thing. They had +followed a half covered, ancient trail due north for two days. Then a +fresh track had joined the old one. It was the track of a man with dog +team and sled. This they had followed due north again, and two hours +ago, while the deer were resting and feeding, Johnny had detected the +Jap girl in the act of measuring the footprints of the man who drove the +dog team.</p> + +<p>She had appeared troubled and embarrassed when she knew that he had seen +what she was doing. Notwithstanding the fact that there had been no sign +of guilt or treachery in her frank brown eyes, Johnny had been +perplexed. What secret was she hiding from him? What did she know, or +seek to know, about this man whose trail had joined theirs at an angle? +Could it be? No, Johnny dismissed the thought which came to his mind.</p> + +<p>He had dismissed all his perplexities, and was about to abandon himself +to three winks of sleep, when something on the horizon attracted his +attention. A mere dot at first, it grew rapidly larger.</p> + +<p>"Dog team or reindeer on our trail," he thought. "I wonder."</p> + +<p>From beneath his parka he drew his long blue automatic. After examining +its clip, he laid it down on the sled with two other clips beside it. +Then he drew the two knives also from his belt; the one he had secured +at the time of the street fight in Vladivostok, the other had belonged +to the Chukche who had attacked him. For the twentieth time he noted +that they were exactly alike, blade forging, hilt carving, and all. And +again, this realization set him to speculating. How had this brace of +knives got so widely separated? How had this one found its way to the +heart of a Chukche tribe? Why had the Chukches attempted to murder the +Japanese girl and himself? Had it been with the hope of securing wealth +from their simple luggage, or had they been bribed to do it? Once more +his brain was in a whirl.</p> + +<p>But there was business at hand. The black spot had developed into a +reindeer, driven by a man. How many were following this man Johnny could +not tell.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV"></a><h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>A NARROW ESCAPE</h3> +<br /> + +<p>As Johnny stood awaiting the arrival of the stranger, many wild +misgivings raced through his mind. What if this man was but the +forerunner of the whole Chukche tribe? Then indeed, for himself and the +Japanese girl things were at an end.</p> + +<p>The newcomer was armed with a rifle. Johnny would stand little show with +him in a duel, good as his automatic was.</p> + +<p>But the man came on with a jaunty swing that somehow was reassuring. Who +could he be? As he came close, he dropped his rifle on his sled and +approached with empty hands.</p> + +<p>"I am Iyok-ok," he said in good English, at the same time thrusting out +his hand. "I was an American soldier, an Eskimo. Now I am going back to +my home at Cape Prince of Wales."</p> + +<p>"You got your discharge easily," smiled Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Not so easy, but I got it."</p> + +<p>"Well, anyway, stranger," said Johnny gripping the other's hand, "I can +give you welcome, comrade. We are traveling the same way."</p> + +<p>The Eskimo looked at Johnny's regulation army shoes as he said the word +comrade, but made no comment.</p> + +<p>"Know anything about travel in such a country?" asked Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Most things you need to know."</p> + +<p>"Then you sure are welcome," Johnny declared. Then, as he looked at the +Eskimo closely there came to him a feeling that they had met before but +where and when he could not recall. He did not mention the fact, but +merely motioned the stranger to a seat on the sled while he dug into his +pack for a morsel of good cheer.</p> + +<p>Many days later, Johnny lay sprawled upon a double thickness of long +haired deer skins. He was reading a book. Two seal oil lamps sputtered +in the igloo, but these were for heat, not for light. Johnny got his +light in the form of a raggedly round patch of sunlight which fell +straight down from the top where the poles of the igloo met.</p> + +<p>Johnny was very comfortable physically, but not entirely at ease +mentally. He had been puzzled by something that had happened five +minutes before. Moreover, he was half angry at his enforced idleness +here.</p> + +<p>Yet he was very comfortable. The igloo was a permanent one. Erected at +the base of a cliff, covered over with walrus skin, lined with deer +skin, and floored with planks hewn from driftwood logs, it was perfect +for a dwelling of its kind. It stood in a hunting village on the +Siberian shore of Behring Sea. The Jap girl, Johnny and Iyok-ok had +traveled thus far in safety.</p> + +<p>Yes, they had come a long distance, many hundreds of miles. As Johnny +thought of it now, he put his book aside (a dry, old novel, left here by +some American seaman) and dreamed those days all through again.</p> + +<p>Wonderful days had followed the addition of Iyok-ok to their party. From +that hour they had wanted nothing of food or shelter. Reared as he +apparently had been in such wilds as these, the native skillfully had +sought out the best of game, the driest, most sheltered of camping +spots, in fact, had done everything that tended to make life easy in +such a land.</p> + +<p>Johnny's reveries were cut short and he started suddenly to his feet. A +pebble had dropped squarely upon the deer skin spread out before him. It +had come through the hole in the peak of the igloo. He glanced quickly +up, but saw nothing.</p> + +<p>Then he grinned. "Just a case of nerves, I guess. Some kids playing on +the cliff. Anyway, I'll investigate," he said to himself.</p> + +<p>Throwing back the deerskin flap, he stepped outside. Did he see a boot +disappear around the point of the cliff above the igloo? He could not +tell. At any rate, there was no use wasting more time on the question. +To see farther around the cliff, one must climb up its rough face, and +by that time any mischief maker might have disappeared.</p> + +<p>Yet Johnny stood there worried and puzzled. Twice in the last hour +pebbles had rattled down upon the igloo, and now one had dropped inside. +An old grievance stirred him: Why were not he and his strange +companions on their way? With only four hundred miles to travel to East +Cape, with a splendid trail, with reindeer well fed and rested, it +seemed folly to linger in this native village. The reindeer Chukches, +whose sled deer they had borrowed, might be upon them at any moment, and +that, Johnny felt sure, would result in an unpleasant mixup. Yet he had +been utterly unable to get the little Oriental girl and Iyok-ok to go +on. Why? He could only guess. There were a great many other things he +could only guess at. The little Oriental girl's reason for going so far +into the wilderness was as much a secret as ever. He could only guess +that it had to do with the following of that mysterious driver of a dog +team. With unerring precision this man had pushed straight on northward +toward East Cape and Behring Strait. And they had followed, not, so far +as Johnny was concerned, because they were interested in him, but +because he had traveled their way.</p> + +<p>At times they had come upon his camp. Located at the edge of some bank +or beside some willow clump, where there was shelter from the wind, +these camps told little or nothing of the man who had made them. +Everything which might tell tales had been carried on or burned. Once +only Johnny had found a scrap of paper. Nothing had been written on it. +From it Johnny had learned one thing only: it had originally come from +some Russian town, for it had the texture of Russian bond. But this was +little news.</p> + +<p>Who was this stranger who traveled so far? Johnny had a feeling that he +was at the moment hiding in this native village, and that this was the +reason his two companions did not wish to proceed. There had grown up +between these two, the Eskimo boy and the Japanese girl, a strange +friendship. At times Johnny had suspicions that this friendship had +existed before they had met on the tundra. However that might have been, +they seemed now to be working in unison. Only the day before he had +happened to overhear them conversing in low tones, and the language, he +would have sworn, was neither Eskimo, English, nor Pidgen. Yet he did +not question the boy's statement that he was an American Eskimo. Indeed +there were times when the flash of his honest smile made Johnny believe +that they had met somewhere in America. On his trip to Nome and +Fairbanks before the war, Johnny had met many Eskimos, and had boxed and +wrestled with some of the best of them.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," he sighed, and stretched himself, "'tain't that I've got a +string on 'em, nor them on me. I'll have to wait or go on alone, that's +all."</p> + +<p>He entered the igloo, and tried again to become interested in his book, +but his mind kept returning to the strange friendship which had grown up +between the three of them, Iyok-ok, the Jap girl and himself. The Jap +girl had proved a good sport indeed. She might have ridden all the time, +but she walked as far in a day as they did. She cooked their meals +cheerfully, and laughed over every mishap.</p> + +<p>So they had traveled northward. Three happy children in a great white +wilderness, they pitched their igloos at night, a small one for the +girl, a larger one for the two men, and, burying themselves beneath the +deer skins, had slept the dreamless sleep of children, wearied from +play.</p> + +<p>The Jap girl had appeared to be quite content to be going into an +unknown wilderness. Only once she had seemed concerned. That was when a +long detour had taken them from the track of the unknown traveler, but +her cheerfulness had returned once they had come upon his track again. +This had set Johnny speculating once more. Who was this stranger? Was he +related to the girl in some way? Was he her friend or her foe? Was he +really in this village at this time? If so, why did she not seek him +out? If a friend, why did she not join him; and, if an enemy, why not +have him killed? Surely, here they were quite beyond the law.</p> + +<p>Oh, yes, Johnny might get a dog team and go on up the coast alone, but +Johnny liked his two traveling companions too well for that, and +besides, Johnny dearly loved mysteries, and here was a whole nest of +them. No, Johnny would wait.</p> + +<p>The seal oil lamps imparted a drowsy warmth to the igloo. The deer skins +were soft and comfortable. Johnny grew sleepy. Throwing the ragged old +book in the corner, he stretched out full length on the skins, which lay +in the irregular circle of light, and was soon fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Just how long he slept he could not tell. When he awoke it was with a +feeling of great <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: The original text reads 'perie'">peril</ins> tugging at his heart. His first +conscious thought was that the aperture above him had, in some way, been +darkened. Instantly his eyes sought that opening. What he saw there +caused his heart to pause and his eyes to bulge.</p> + +<p>Directly above him, seemingly poised for a drop, was a vicious looking +hook. With a keen point and a barb fully three inches across, with a +shaft of half-inch steel which was driven into a pole three inches in +diameter and of indefinite length, it could drive right through Johnny's +stomach, and pin him to the planks beneath. And, as his startled eyes +stared fixedly at it, the thing shot downward.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_V"></a><h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>"FRIEND? ENEMY?"</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny Thompson, before he joined the army, had been considered one of +the speediest men of the boxing ring. His brain worked like lightning, +and every 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 car-wheel, he rolled over twice before the hook buried itself +to the end of its barb in the pungent plank on which he had reclined an +instant before.</p> + +<p>Nor did Johnny stop rolling then. He continued until he bumped against +the skin wall of his abode. This was fortunate also, for he had not half +regained his senses when two almost instantaneous explosions shook the +igloo, tore the plank floor into shreds, shooting splinters about, and +even through the double skin wall, and filling Johnny's eyes with powder +smoke and dust.</p> + +<p>Johnny sat up with one hand on his automatic. He was fully awake.</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" he drawled. "Thanks! It's enough, I should say. Johnny +Thompson exit." A wry grin was on his face. "Johnny Thompson killed by a +falling whale harpoon; shot to death by a whale gun; blown to atoms by a +whale bomb. Exit Johnny. They do it in the movies, I say!"</p> + +<p>But that was not quite all. The blazing seal oil lamps had overturned. +Splinters from the floor were catching fire. Johnny busied himself at +beating these out. As soon as this had been accomplished, he stepped +outside.</p> + +<p>From an awe-struck ring of native women and children, who had been +attracted by the explosion, the little Jap girl darted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Meester Thompsie!" she exclaimed, wringing her hands, "so terrible, +awful a catastrophe! Are you not killed? So terrible!"</p> + +<p>Johnny grinned.</p> + +<p>"Nope," he said, putting out a hand to console her. "I'm not killed, nor +even blown to pieces. What I'd like to know is, who dropped that +harpoon."</p> + +<p>He looked from face to face of the silent circle. Not one showed a sign +of any knowledge of the affair. They had heard the explosion and had run +from their homes to see what had happened.</p> + +<p>Turning toward the cliff, from which the harpoon had been dropped, +Johnny studied it carefully. No trace of living creature was to be +discovered there. Then he looked again at the circle of brown faces, +seeking any recent arrival. There was none.</p> + +<p>"Come!" he said to the Jap girl.</p> + +<p>Taking her hand, he led her from house to house of the village. Beyond +two to three old women, too badly crippled to walk, the houses were +found to contain no one.</p> + +<p>"Well, one thing is sure," Johnny observed, "the Chukche reindeer +herders have not come. It was not they who did it."</p> + +<p>"No," answered the Jap girl.</p> + +<p>"Say!" exclaimed Johnny, in a tone more severe than he had ever used +with his companion, "why in thunder can't we get out of this hole? What +are we sticking here for?"</p> + +<p>"Can't tell." The girl wrung her hands again. "Can't tell. Can't go, +that's all. You go; all right, mebby. Can't go my. That's all. Mebby go +to-morrow; mebby next day. Can't tell."</p> + +<p>Johnny was half inclined to believe that she was in league with the +treachery which hung over the place, and had shown itself in the form of +loaded harpoons, but when he realized that she did not urge him to stay, +he found it impossible to suspect her.</p> + +<p>"Well, anyway, darn it!"</p> + +<p>"What?" she smiled.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing," he growled, and turned away.</p> + +<p>Two hours later Johnny was lying on the flat ledge of the rocky cliff +from which the harpoon had been dropped. He was, however, a hundred 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. Iyok-ok had gone seal +hunting. When he returned over the ice, Johnny meant to have a final +confab with him in regard to starting north.</p> + +<p>As to the vigil he kept on the igloo, that was the result of certain +suspicions regarding the occupants of that particular shelter. There was +a dog team which hung about the place. These 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 made several journeys of a mile or two up and down +the beach trail, and, as far as he could tell, the man of mystery whose +trail they had followed to this village had not left the place.</p> + +<p>"Of course," he had told himself, "he might have been one of the +villagers returning to his home. But that doesn't seem probable."</p> + +<p>From all this, Johnny had arrived at the conclusion that the watching of +this house would yield interesting results.</p> + +<p>It did. He had not been lying on the cliff half an hour, when the figure +of a man came backing out of the igloo's entrance. Johnny whistled. 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 smoothness about +the tan and something about the cut of it that marked it at once as +coming from a Russian shop, such as Wo Cheng kept.</p> + +<p>"And squirrel skin!" Johnny breathed.</p> + +<p>He was not kept long in doubt as to the identity of the wearer. As the +man turned to look behind him, Johnny saw the sharp chin of the Russian, +the man of the street fight and the many diamonds. He had acquired +something of a beard, but there was no mistaking those frowning brows, +square shoulders and that chin.</p> + +<p>"So," Johnny thought, "he is the fellow we have been trailing. The Jap +girl wanted to follow him and so, perhaps, did Iyok-ok. I wonder why? +And say, old dear," he whispered, "I wonder if it could have been you +who dropped that harpoon. It's plain enough from the looks of you that +you'd do it, once you fancied you'd half a reason. I've a good mind—" +His hand reached for his automatic.</p> + +<p>"No," he decided, "I won't do it. I don't really know that you deserve +it; besides I hate corpses, and things like that. But I say!"</p> + +<p>A new and wonderful thought had come to him. He felt that, at any rate, +he owed this person something, and he should have it. Beside Johnny on +the ledge, where some native had left it, out of reach of the dog's, was +a sewed up seal skin full of seal oil. 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 tell that by the smooth, balloon-like rotundity of the thing. In +fact, he guessed it was about due to burst. Once Johnny had taken a cup +of this liquid for tea. He had it close enough to his face to catch a +whiff of it. He could still recall the smell of it.</p> + +<p>Now his right hand smoothed the bloated skin tenderly. He twisted it +about, and balanced it in his hand. Yes, he could do it! The Russian was +not looking up. There was a convenient ledge, some three feet above his +head. There the sack would strike and burst. The boy smiled, in +contemplation of that bursting.</p> + +<p>"This for what you may have done," Johnny whispered, and balancing the +sack in his hand, as if it had been a football, he gave it a little +toss. Over the cliff it went to a sheer fall of fifteen feet. There +followed a muffled explosion. It had burst! Johnny saw the Russian +completely deluged with the vile smelling liquid. Then he ducked.</p> + +<p>As he lay flat on the ledge, he caught a silvery laugh. Looking quickly +about, he found himself staring into the eyes of the little Jap girl. +She had been watching him.</p> + +<p>"You—you—know him?" he stammered.</p> + +<p>The girl shrugged her shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Your friend?"</p> + +<p>She shook her head vigorously.</p> + +<p>"Enemy? Kill?" Johnny's hand sought his automatic.</p> + +<p>"No! No! No!" she fairly screamed. "Not kill!" Her hand was on his arm +with a frantic grip.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"No can tell. Only, not kill; not kill now. No! No! No! Mebby never!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll be—" Johnny took his hand from his gun and peered over the +ledge. The man was gone. It was a dirty trick 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 had been close enough to have stopped him, had she +thought it right. She had not done so. His conscience was clear.</p> + +<p>They crept away in the gathering darkness, these two; and Johnny +suddenly felt for this little Jap girl a comradeship that he had not +known before. It was such a feeling as he had experienced in school +days, when he was prowling about with boy pals.</p> + +<p>Shortly after darkness had fallen, Johnny was seated cross-legged on a +deer skin, staring gloomily at the ragged hole left by the whale harpoon +bomb. He had not yet seen Iyok-ok. He was trying now to unravel some of +the mysteries which the happenings of the day had served only to tangle +more terribly. He had not meant to kill the Russian, even though the Jap +girl 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 proposed to kill him. What could a fellow make of +all this? Who was this Jap girl anyway, and why had she followed this +Russian so far? Somehow, Johnny could not help but feel that the Russian +was a deep dyed plotter of some sort. He was inclined to believe that he +had had much to do with that harpoon episode as well as the murder +attempted by the reindeer Chukches.</p> + +<p>"By Jove!" the American boy suddenly slapped his knee. "The knife, the +two knives exactly alike. One he tried to use in the street fight at +Vladivostok; the other he must have given to the reindeer Chukche to use +on anyone who might follow him."</p> + +<p>For a time he sat in deep thought. As he weighed the probabilities for +and against this theory, he found himself doubting. There might be many +knives of 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, having no idea to what deadly purposes it would be put. +And, again, if he were that type of plotter, would not the Jap girl know +of it, and desire him killed?</p> + +<p>The Japanese girl puzzled Johnny more and more. Her friendship for +Iyok-ok, her eagerness to protect the Russian—what was to be made of +all this? Were the three of them, after all, leagued together in deeds +of darkness? And was he, Johnny, a pawn to be sacrificed at the proper +moment?</p> + +<p>And the Russian, why was he traveling so far north? What possible +interests could he have here? Was he, too, planning to cross the Strait +to America? Or was he in search of wealth hidden away in this frozen +land?</p> + +<p>"The furs! I'll bet that's it!" Johnny slapped his knee. "This Russian +has come north to demand tribute for his government from the hunting +Chukches. They're rich in furs—mink, ermine, red, white, silver gray +and black fox. A man could carry a fortune in them on one sled. Yes, +sir! That's his business up here."</p> + +<p>But then, the diamonds? Again Johnny seemed to have reached the end of a +blind alley in his thinking. Who could be so rash as to carry thousands +of dollars' worth of jewels on such a trip? And yet, he was not certain +the man had them now. He had seen them but once, and that in the +disguise shop.</p> + +<p>Further thoughts were cut short by a head thrust in at the flap of the +igloo. It was Iyok-ok.</p> + +<p>"Go soon," he smiled. "Mebby two hours."</p> + +<p>"North?"</p> + +<p>"Eh-eh" (yes), he answered, lapsing into Eskimo.</p> + +<p>"All right."</p> + +<p>The head disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Well, anyway, my seal oil bath did some good," Johnny remarked to +himself. "It jarred the old fox out of his lair and started him on his +way."</p> + +<p>He wondered a little about the Jap girl. Would she still travel with +them? These musings were cut short when he carried his bundle to the +deer sled. She was there to greet him with a broad smile. And so once +more they sped away over the tundra in the moonlight.</p> + +<p>They had not gone five miles before Johnny had assured himself that once +more the Russian and his dog team had preceded them.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI"></a><h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>"NOW I SHALL KILL YOU"</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny Thompson was at peace with the world. He was engaged in the most +delightful of all occupations, gathering gold. He had often dreamed of +gathering gold. He had dreamed, too, of finding money strewn upon the +street. But now, here he was, with one of these choice Russian knives, +picking away at clumps of frozen earth and picking up, as they fell out, +particles of gold. Some were tiny; many were large as a pea, and one had +been the size of a hickory nut. Now and again he straightened up to +swing a pick into the frozen gravel which lay within the circle of light +made by his pocket flashlight. After a few strokes he would throw down +the pick and begin breaking up the lumps. Every now and again, he would +lift the small sack into which the lumps were dropped. It grew heavier +every moment.</p> + +<p>It was quite dark all about him; indeed, Johnny was nearly a hundred +feet straight into the heart of a cut bank, and, to start on this +straight ahead drift, he had been obliged to lower himself into a shaft +as into a well, a drop of fifteen feet or more. That the mine had other +drifts he knew, but this one suited him. That it had another occupant he +also knew, but this did not trouble him. He was too much interested in +the yellow glitter of real gold to think of danger. And he was half +dazed by the realization that there could be a gold mine like this in +Siberia. Alaska had gold, plenty of it, of course, and he was now less +than two hundred miles from Alaska, but he had never dreamed that the +dreary slopes of the Kamchatkan Peninsula could harbor such wealth. +Someone had been mining it, too, but that must have been months, perhaps +years, ago. The pick handles were rough with decay, the pans red with +rust.</p> + +<p>Curiosity had led Johnny to this spot, a half mile from the native +village at the mouth of the Anadir River. He had been marooned again in +that village. They had covered three hundred miles on their last +journey, then had come another pause. This time, though he did not even +see his dogs about the village, Johnny felt sure that the Russian had +once more taken to hiding.</p> + +<p>Having nothing else to do, Johnny had followed a narrow track up the +river. The track had come to an end at the entrance to the mine. +Thinking it merely a sort of crude cold storage plant for keeping meat +fresh, he had let himself down to explore it. Increasing curiosity had +led him on until he had discovered the gold. Now he had quite forgotten +the person whose tracks led him to the spot.</p> + +<p>He was shocked into instant and vivid realization of peril by a cold +pressure on his temple and a voice which said in the preciseness of a +foreigner:</p> + +<p>"Now I have you, sir. Now I shall kill you, sir."</p> + +<p>In that instant Johnny prepared himself for his final earthly sensation. +He had recognized the voice of the Russian.</p> + +<p>There came a click, then a snap. The next instant the revolver which had +rested against his forehead struck the frozen roof of the mine. The +weapon had missed fire and, between turns of the cylinder, Johnny's good +right hand had struck out and up.</p> + +<p>The light snapped out, and in the midnight darkness of that icy cavern +the two grappled and fell.</p> + +<p>Had Johnny been in possession of the full power of his left arm, the +battle would have been over soon. As it was they rolled over and over, +their bodies crushing frozen bits of pay-dirt, like twin rollers. They +struggled for mastery. Each man realized that, unless some unforeseen +power intervened, defeat meant death. The Russian fought with the +stubbornness of his race; fought unfairly too, biting and kicking when +opportunity permitted. Three times Johnny barely missed a blow on the +head which meant unconsciousness, then death.</p> + +<p>At last, panting, perspiring, bleeding and bruised, Johnny clamped his +right arm about his antagonist's neck and, flopping his body across his +chest, lay there until the Russian's muscles relaxed.</p> + +<p>Sliding to a sitting position, the American began feeling about in the +dark. At last, gripping a flashlight, he snapped it on. The face of the +Russian revealed the fact that he was not unconscious. Johnny slid to a +position which brought each knee down upon one of the Russian's arms. He +would take no chances with that man.</p> + +<p>Slowly Johnny flashed the light about, then, with a little exclamation, +he reached out and gripped the handle of the Russian's revolver.</p> + +<p>"Now," he mocked, "now I have you, sir. Now I shall kill you, sir."</p> + +<p>He had hardly spoken the words when a body hurled itself upon him, +knocking the revolver from his hand and extinguishing the light.</p> + +<p>"So. There are others! Let them come," roared Johnny, striking out with +his right in the dark.</p> + +<p>"Azeezruk nucky." To his astonishment he recognized the voice of +Iyok-ok. What he had said, in Eskimo, was, "It would be a bad thing to +kill him," meaning doubtless the Russian.</p> + +<p>"Azeezruk adocema" (he is a bad one), replied Johnny, throwing the light +on the sullen face of the Eskimo.</p> + +<p>"Eh-eh" (yes), the other agreed.</p> + +<p>"Then what in thunder!" Johnny exclaimed, falling back on English. "He +tried to kill me. Kill me! Do you understand? Why shouldn't I kill him?"</p> + +<p>"No kill," said the Eskimo stubbornly.</p> + +<p>Johnny sat and thought for a full three minutes. In that time, his blood +had cooled. He was able to reason about the matter. In the army he had +learned one rule: "If someone knows more about a matter than you do, +follow his guidance, though, at the time, it seems dead wrong." +Evidently Iyok-ok knew more about this Russian than Johnny did. Then the +thing to do was to let the man go.</p> + +<p>Before releasing him, he searched him carefully. Beyond a few +uninteresting papers, a pencil, a cigaret case and a purse he found +nothing. Evidently the revolver had been his only weapon.</p> + +<p>As he searched the man, one peculiar question flashed through Johnny's +mind; if the Russian had the envelope full of diamonds on his person, +what should he do, take them or leave them? He was saved the necessity +of a decision; they were not there.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Johnny, seating himself on a rusty pan, as the Russian went +shuffling out of the mine, "tell me why you didn't let me kill him."</p> + +<p>"Can't tell," was Iyok-ok's laconic reply.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Not now. Sometime, maybe. Not now."</p> + +<p>"Look here," said Johnny savagely, "that man has tried to kill me or +have me killed, three times, is it not so?"</p> + +<p>Iyok-ok did not answer.</p> + +<p>"First," Johnny went on, "he induces the reindeer Chukches to try to +kill me and furnishes them the knife to do it with. Eh?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe."</p> + +<p>"Second, he drops a harpoon into my igloo and tries to harpoon me and +blow me up."</p> + +<p>"Maybe."</p> + +<p>"And now he puts a revolver to my head and pulls the trigger. Still you +say 'No kill.' What shall I make of that?"</p> + +<p>"Canak-ti-ma-na" (I don't know), said the Eskimo. "No kill, that's all."</p> + +<p>Johnny was too much astonished and perplexed to say anything further. +The two sat there for some time in silence. At last the Eskimo rose and +made his way toward the entrance.</p> + +<p>Johnny flashed his light about the place. He was looking for his sack of +gold. Suddenly he uttered an exclamation and put out his hand. What it +grasped was the envelope he had seen in the Russian's pocket at Wo +Cheng's shop, the envelope of diamonds. And the diamonds were still +there; he could tell that by the feel of the envelope.</p> + +<p>Hastily searching out his now insignificant treasure of gold, Johnny +placed it with the envelope of diamonds in his inner pocket and hurried +from the mine.</p> + +<p>Darkness again found him musing over a seal oil lamp. He was not in a +very happy mood. He was weary of orientalism and mystery. He longed for +the quiet of his little old town, Chicago. Wouldn't it be great to put +his feet under his old job and say, "Well, Boss, what's the dope +to-day?" Wouldn't it, though? And to go home at night to doll up in his +glad rags and call on Mazie. Oh, boy! It fairly made him sick to think +of it.</p> + +<p>But, at last, his mind wandered back to the many mysteries which had +been straightened out not one bit by these events of the day. Here he +was traveling with two companions, a Jap girl and an Eskimo. Eskimo? +Right there he began to wonder if Iyok-ok, as he called himself, was +really an Eskimo after all. What if he should turn out to be a Jap +playing the part of an Eskimo? Only that day Johnny had once more come +upon him suddenly to find him in earnest conversation with the Jap girl. +And the language they had been using had sounded distinctly oriental. +And yet, if he was a Jap, how did it come about that he spoke the Eskimo +language so well?</p> + +<p>Dismissing this question, his mind dwelt upon the events of the past few +days. Twice he had been begged not to kill the Russian. This last time +he most decidedly would have been justified in putting a bullet into the +rascal's brain. He had been prevented from doing so by Iyok-ok. Why?</p> + +<p>"Anyway," he said to himself, yawning, "I'm glad I didn't do it. It's +nasty business, this killing people. I couldn't very well tell such a +thing to Mazie; you can't tell such things to a woman, and I want to +tell her all about things over here. It's been a hard old life, but so +far I haven't done a single thing that I wouldn't be proud to tell her +about. No, sir, not one! I can say: 'Mazie, I did this and I did that,' +and Mazie'll say, 'Oh, Johnny! Wasn't that gr-ran-nd?'"</p> + +<p>Johnny grinned as the thought of it and felt decidedly better. After +all, what was the use of living if one was to live on and on and on and +never have any adventures worth the telling?</p> + +<p>For some time he lay sprawled out before the lamp in silent reflection, +then he sat up suddenly and pounded his knee.</p> + +<p>"By Jove! I'll bet that's it!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>He had happened upon a new theory regarding the Russian. It seemed +probable to him that this man, knowing of this gold mine, perhaps being +owner of it, had come north to determine its value and the advisability +of opening it for operation in the spring. In these days, when the money +market of the world was gold hungry, that glittering, yellow metal was +of vast importance, especially to the warring factions of Russia. +Surely, this seemed a plausible explanation. And if it was true then he +could hurry on up the coast, with or without his companions and make his +way home.</p> + +<p>"But then," he said, perplexed again. He reached his hand into his +pocket to draw out the envelope he had found in the mine. "But then, +there's the diamonds. Would a man coming on such a journey bring such +treasure with him? He couldn't trade them to the natives. They know +money well enough, but not diamonds."</p> + +<p>Johnny opened the envelope and shook it gently. Three stones fell into +his hand. They were of purest blue white, perfect stones and perfectly +cut. A glance at the envelope showed him that it was divided into four +narrow compartments and that each compartment was filled with diamonds +wrapped in tissue paper. Only these three were unwrapped.</p> + +<p>Running his fingers down the outside of the compartments, he counted the +jewels.</p> + +<p>"One hundred and four," he breathed. "A king's ransom. Forty or fifty +thousand dollars worth, anyway. Whew!"</p> + +<p>Then he stared and his hand shook. His eye had fallen upon the stamp of +the seal in the corner of the envelope. He knew that secret mark all too +well; had learned it from Wo Cheng. It was the stamp of the biggest and +worst society of Radicals in all the world.</p> + +<p>"So!" Johnny whispered to himself. "So, Mr. Russian, you are a Radical, +a red, a Nihilist, a communist, an anything-but-society-as-it-is guy. +You want the world to cough up its dough and own nothing, and yet here +you are carrying round the price of a farm in your vest pocket." He +chuckled. "Some reformer, I'd say!"</p> + +<p>But his next thought sobered him. What was he to do with all that +wealth? One of those stones would make Mazie happy for a lifetime. But +it wasn't his. He had no right to it. He could not do a thing he'd be +ashamed to tell Mazie and his old boss about.</p> + +<p>But, if they didn't belong to him, perhaps the diamonds didn't belong to +the Russian either. At any rate, the latter's disloyalty to his nation +had forfeited his right to own property.</p> + +<p>Even should this Russian be the rightful owner, Johnny could not very +well hunt him up and say: "Here, mister. You tried to kill me +yesterday. Here are your diamonds. I found them in the mine. Please +count them and see if they are all there."</p> + +<p>Johnny grinned as he thought of that. There seemed to be nothing to do +but keep the stones, for the time being at least.</p> + +<p>"Anyway," he said to himself as he rolled up in his deer skins. "I'll +bet I have discovered something. I'll bet he's one of the big ones, +perhaps the biggest of them all. And he's trying to make his way across +to America to stir things up over there."</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_VII"></a><h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>SAVED FROM THE MOB</h3> +<br /> + +<p>"What do you know about that gold mine?" Johnny asked, turning an +inquiring eye on Iyok-ok, whom Johnny now strongly suspected of being a +Japanese and a member of the Mikado's secret service as well.</p> + +<p>"Which mine?" Iyok-ok smiled good-naturedly as he blinked in the +sunlight. It was the morning after Johnny's battle with the Russian.</p> + +<p>"Are there others?"</p> + +<p>"Seven mines."</p> + +<p>"Seven! And all of them rich as the one we were in yesterday?"</p> + +<p>The boy shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Some much richer," he declared.</p> + +<p>"How long has the world known of this wealth?"</p> + +<p>"Never has known. A few men know, that's all. The old Czar, he knew, +but would let no one work the mines. Just at the last he said 'Yes.' +Then they hurried much machinery over here, but it was too late. The +Czar—well, you know he is dead now, but they have their machinery here +still."</p> + +<p>"Who are 'they'?" asked Johnny with curiosity fully aroused.</p> + +<p>"American. I know. Can't tell. Worked for them once. Promise never +tell."</p> + +<p>Johnny wrinkled his brow but did not press the matter.</p> + +<p>"But this Russia, the Kamchatkan Peninsula?" Iyok-ok continued. "Whom +does it belong to now? Can you tell me that?"</p> + +<p>Johnny shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Neither can They tell. If They knew, and if They knew it was safe to +come back and mine here, when the world has so great need of gold, you +better believe They would come and mine, But They do not know; They do +not know." The boy pronounced the last words with an undertone of +mystery. "Sometime I will know. Then I—I will tell you, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"Where's the machinery?" asked Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Up the river. Wanta see it?"</p> + +<p>"Sure."</p> + +<p>They hurried away up the frozen river and in fifteen minutes came upon a +row of low sheds. The doors were locked, but to his great surprise +Johnny discovered that his companion had the keys.</p> + +<p>They were soon walking through dark aisles, on each side of which were +piled parts of mining machines of every description, crushers, rollers, +smelters and various accessories connected with quartz mining. Mingled +with these were picks, pans, steam thawers, windlasses, and great piles +of sluice timber. All these last named were for mining placer gold.</p> + +<p>"Quartz too?" asked Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Plenty of quartz," grinned Iyok-ok. "Come out here, I will show you."</p> + +<p>They stepped outside. The boy locked the door, then led his companion up +a steep slope until they were on a low point commanding a view of the +village below and a rocky cliff above.</p> + +<p>"See that cliff?" asked Iyok-ok. "Plenty of gold there. Pick it out with +your pen knife. Rich! Too rich."</p> + +<p>"Then this Peninsula is as rich as Alaska?"</p> + +<p>"Alaska?" Iyok-ok grinned. "Alaska? What shall I say? Alaska, it is a +joke. Think of the great Lena River! Great as the Yukon. Who knows what +gold is deposited in the beds and banks of that mighty stream? Who knows +anything about this wonderful peninsula? The Czar, he has kept it +locked. But now the Czar is dead. The key is lost. Who will find it? +Sometime we will see."</p> + +<p>The boy was interrupted by wild shouts coming from the village. As their +eyes turned in that direction, Johnny and Iyok-ok beheld a strange +sight. The entire village had apparently turned out to give chase to one +man. And, down to the last child, they were armed. But such strange +implements of warfare as they carried! All were relics of by-gone days; +lances, walrus harpoons, bows and arrows, axes, hammers and many more.</p> + +<p>As Johnny watched them, he remembered having been told by an old native +that during and after the great war these people had been unable to +procure a sufficient supply of ammunition and had been obliged to resort +to ancient methods of hunting. These were the bow and arrow, the lance +and the harpoon. Powerful bows, of some native wood, shot arrows tipped +with cunningly tempered bits of steel. The drawn and tempered barrel of +a discarded rifle formed a point for the long-shafted lance. The +harpoon, most terrible of all weapons, both for man and beast, was a +long wooden shaft with a loose point attached to a long skin rope. Once +five or six of these had been thrown into the body of a great white bear +or some offending human he was doomed to die a death of agonizing +torture; his body being literally torn to pieces by the drag upon the +strong skin ropes, fastened to the steel points imbedded in his flesh.</p> + +<p>Now it seemed evident that for some misdeed one member of the tribe had +been condemned to die. As Johnny stood there staring, the whole affair +seemed so much like things he had seen done on the screen, that he found +it difficult to realize that this was an actual tragedy, being enacted +before his very eyes.</p> + +<p>"They do it in the movies," he said.</p> + +<p>"Yes," his companion agreed, "but here they will kill him. We must hurry +to help him."</p> + +<p>"Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you see? The Russian."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" sighed Johnny. "Let 'em have him. He deserves as much from me, +probably deserves more from them."</p> + +<p>"No! No! No!" Iyok-ok protested, now very much excited. "That will never +do. We must save him. They think he's from the Russian Government. Think +he will demand their furs and carry them away. They mistake. They will +kill him. Your automatic! We must hurry. Come."</p> + +<p>Johnny found himself being dragged down the hill. As he looked below, he +realized that his companion was right. The man was doomed unless they +interfered. Already skillful archers were pausing to shoot and their +arrows fell dangerously near the fugitive.</p> + +<p>"Now, from here," panted Iyok-ok. "Your automatic. Shoot over their +heads. They will stop. I will tell them. They will not kill him."</p> + +<p>Johnny's hand went to his automatic, but there it rested. These natives? +What did he have against them that he should interrupt them in the +chase? And this Russian, what claim did he have on him that he should +save his life? None, the answer was plain. And yet, here was this boy, +to whom he had grown strangely attached, begging him to help save the +Russian. A strange state of affairs, for sure.</p> + +<p>Toward them, as he ran, the Russian turned a white, appealing face. To +them came ever louder and more appalling the cry of the excited natives. +Now an arrow fell three feet short of its mark. And now, a stronger arm +sent one three yards beyond the man, but a foot to one side. The whole +scene, set as it was in the purple shadows and yellow lights of the +north-land, was fascinating.</p> + +<p>But the time had come to act.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," Johnny grunted, whipping out his automatic, "for your sake +I'll do it."</p> + +<p>Three times the automatic barked its vicious challenge. The mob paused +and waited silently.</p> + +<p>Out of this silence there came a voice. It was the voice of Iyok-ok by +Johnny's side. Through cupped hands, he was speaking calmly to the +natives. His words were a jumble of Eskimo, Chukche and pidgen-English, +but Johnny knew they understood, for, as the speech went on, he saw +them drop their weapons, then one by one pick them up again to go +shuffling away.</p> + +<p>Johnny looked about for the Russian. He had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Now what did you do that for?" he asked his companion.</p> + +<p>"Can't tell now," Iyok-ok answered slowly. "Sometime, mebbe. Not now. +Azeezruk nucky, that's all."</p> + +<p>He paused and looked away at the hills; then turning, extended his hand. +"Anyway, I thank you very, very much I thank you."</p> + +<p>With that they made their way toward the village and the sea, which, +packed and glistening with ice, reflected all the glories of the +gorgeous Arctic sunset.</p> + +<p>Three hours later Iyok-ok put his head in at Johnny's igloo and said:</p> + +<p>"One hour go."</p> + +<p>"North?" asked Johnny.</p> + +<p>"North."</p> + +<p>"You go?"</p> + +<p>"Eh-eh."</p> + +<p>"Jap girl go?"</p> + +<p>"Eh-eh."</p> + +<p>"East Cape? Behring Strait?"</p> + +<p>"Mebbe." With a smile, the boy was gone.</p> + +<p>"Evidently the Russian is on the move again," Johnny observed to +himself. "Wonder what he intends to do about his diamonds? Well, anyway, +that proves that the gold mines are not his goal."</p> + +<p>As Johnny dug into his pack for a dry pair of deer skin stocks, he +discovered that his belongings had been tampered with.</p> + +<p>"The Russian," he decided, "evidently hasn't forgotten his diamonds."</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_VIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>WHEN AN ESKIMO BECOMES A JAP</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny Thompson smiled as he drew on a pair of rabbit skin trousers, +then a parka made of striped ground squirrel skin, finished with a hood +of wolf skin. It was not his own suit; it had been borrowed from his +host, a husky young hunter of East Cape. But that was not his reason for +smiling. He was amused at the thought of the preposterous +misunderstanding which his traveling companions had concerning him.</p> + +<p>Only the day before he had exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Iyok-ok, I believe I have guessed why the Russian wants to kill me."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"He thinks I am a member of the United States Secret Service."</p> + +<p>"Well? Canak-ti-ma-na" (I don't know).</p> + +<p>The boy had looked him squarely in the eye as much as to say, "Who could +doubt that?"</p> + +<p>At first Johnny had been inclined to assure Iyok-ok that there was no +truth in the assumption, but the more he thought of it, the better he +was satisfied with things as they were. His companions carried with them +a great air of mystery; why should he not share this a little with them? +He had let the matter drop.</p> + +<p>But now, since he was considered to be a member of a secret service +organization, he prepared to act the part for one night at least. With +the wolf skin parka hood drawn well around his face, he would hardly be +recognized, garbed as he was in borrowed clothes.</p> + +<p>The mysterious Russian had adopted a plan of sending his dogs to some +outpost to be cared for by natives. This made the locating of the igloo +he occupied extremely difficult. It had been by the merest chance that +Johnny had caught a glimpse of him as he disappeared through the flaps +of a dwelling near the center of the village. The American had resolved +to watch that place and discover, if possible, some additional clues to +the purpose of the Russian.</p> + +<p>Skulking from igloo to igloo, Johnny came at last to the one he sought. +Making his way to the back of it, he studied it carefully. There were +no windows and but one entrance. There was an opening at the top but to +climb up there was to be detected. He crept round to the other corner. +There a glad sigh escaped his lips. A spot of light shone through the +semi-transparent outer covering of walrus skin. That meant that there +was a hole in the inner lining of deer skin. He had only to cut a hole +through the walrus skin to get a clear view of the interior. This he did +quickly and silently.</p> + +<p>He swung his arm in disgust as he peered inside. Only an old Chukche +woman sat in the corner, chewing and sewing at a skin boot sole.</p> + +<p>Johnny hesitated. Had he mistaken the igloo? Had the Russian purposely +misled him? He was beginning to think so, when his eye caught the end of +a sleeping bag protruding from a pile of deer skins. This he instantly +recognized as belonging to the Russian.</p> + +<p>"Evidently our friend is out. Then I'll wait," he whispered to himself.</p> + +<p>He had been there but a few moments, when the native woman, putting away +her work, went out. She had scarcely disappeared through the flap than +a dark brown streak shot into the room. As Johnny watched it, he +realized that it was a small woman, and, though her clothing was +unfamiliar, he knew by certain quick and peculiar movements that this +was the Jap girl.</p> + +<p>Ah ha! Now, perhaps, he should learn some things. Perhaps after all +these three were in league; perhaps they were all Radicals with a common +purpose, the destruction of all organized society; Japanese Radicals are +not at all uncommon.</p> + +<p>But what was this the Jap girl was doing? She had overturned the pile of +deer skins and was attempting to reach to the bottom of the Russian's +sleeping bag. Failing in this, she gave it a number of punches. With a +keen glance toward the entrance she at last darted head foremost into +the bag, much as a mouse would have gone into a boot.</p> + +<p>She came out almost at once. Her hands were empty. Evidently the thing +she sought was not there. Next she attacked a bundle, which Johnny +recognized as part of the Russian's equipment. She had examined this and +was about to put it in shape again when there came the faint shuffle of +feet at the entrance. With one wild look about her, she darted to the +pile of deer skins and disappeared beneath it.</p> + +<p>She was not a moment too soon, for instantly the sharp chin and the +sullen brow of the Russian appeared at the entrance.</p> + +<p>When he saw the bundle in disorder, he sprang to the center of the room. +His hand on his belt, he stared about the place for a second, then much +as a cat springs at a tuft of grass where a mole is concealed, he sprang +at the pile of deer skins.</p> + +<p>Johnny's lips parted, but he uttered not a sound. <ins +class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: The original text reads 'He'">His</ins> hand gripped the blue automatic. If the Russian found +her, there would be no more Russian, that was all.</p> + +<p>But to his intense surprise, he saw that as the man tore angrily at the +pile, he uncovered nothing but skins.</p> + +<p>Johnny smothered a sigh of relief which was mixed with a gasp of +admiration. The girl was clever, he was obliged to admit that. In a +period only of seconds, she had cut away the rope which bound the skin +wall to the floor and had crept under the wall to freedom.</p> + +<p>As Johnny settled back to watch, his brain was puzzled by one question; +what was it that the Jap girl sought? Was it certain papers which the +Russian carried, or was it—was it something which Johnny himself +carried in his pocket at this very moment—the diamonds?</p> + +<p>This last thought caused him a twinge of discomfort. If she was +searching for the diamonds, could it be that they rightfully belonged to +her or to her family, and had they been taken by the Russian? Or had the +girl merely learned that the Russian had the jewels and had she followed +him all this way with the purpose of robbing him? If the first +supposition was correct, ought Johnny not to go to her and tell her that +he had the diamonds? If, on the other hand, she was seeking possession +of that which did not rightfully belong to her, would she not take them +from him anyway and leave him to face dire results? For, though no law +existed which would hold him responsible for the jewels, obtained as +they had been under such unusual conditions, still Johnny knew all too +well that the world organization of Radicals to which this Russian +belonged had a system of laws and modes of punishment all its own, and, +if the Russian succeeded in making his way to America and if he, Johnny, +did not give proper account of these diamonds, sooner or later, +punishment would be meted out to him, and that not the least written in +the code of the Radical world.</p> + +<p>He dismissed the subject from his mind for the time and gave his whole +attention to the Russian. But that gentleman, after evincing his +exceeding displeasure by kicking his sleeping bag about the room for a +time, at last removed his outer garments, crept into the bag and went to +sleep.</p> + +<p>One other visit Johnny made that night. As the result of it he did not +sleep for three hours after he had let down the deer skin curtain to his +sleeping compartment.</p> + +<p>"Hanada! Hanada?" he kept repeating to himself. "Of all the Japs in all +the world! To meet him here! And not to have known him. It's +preposterous."</p> + +<p>Johnny had gone to the igloo now occupied by Iyok-ok. He had gone, not +to spy on his friend, but to talk to him about recent developments and +to ascertain, if possible, when they would cross the Strait. He had got +as far as the tent flaps, had peered within for a few moments and had +come away again walking as a man in his dream.</p> + +<p>What he had seen was apparently not so startling either. It was no more +than the boy with his parka off. But that was quite enough. Iyok-ok was +dressed in a suit of purple pajamas and was turned half about in such a +manner that Johnny had seen his right shoulder. On it was a +three-cornered, jagged scar.</p> + +<p>This scar had told the story. The boy was not an Eskimo but a Jap +masquerading as an Eskimo. Furthermore, and this is the part which gave +Johnny the start, this Jap was none other than Hanada, his schoolmate of +other days; a boy to whom he owed much, perhaps his very life.</p> + +<p>"Hanada!" he repeated again, as he turned beneath the furs. How well he +remembered that fight. Even then—it was his first year in a military +preparatory school—he had shown his tendencies to develop as a +featherweight champion. And this tendency had come near to ending his +career. The military school was one of those in which the higher +classmen treated the beginners rough. Johnny had resented this treatment +and had been set upon by four husky lads in the darkness. He had settled +two of them, knocked them cold. But the other two had got him down, and +were beating the life out of him when this little Jap, Hanada, had +appeared on the scene. Being also a first year student, he had come in +with his ju'jut'su and between them they had won the battle, but not +until the Jap had been hung over a picket fence with a jagged wound in +his shoulder. It was the scar of that wound Johnny had seen and it was +that scar which had told him that this must be Hanada.</p> + +<p>He smiled now, as he thought how he had taken Hanada to his room after +that boy's battle and had attempted to sew up the cut with an ordinary +needle. He smiled grimly as he thought of the fight and how he had +resolved to win or die. Hanada had helped him win.</p> + +<p>And here he had been traveling with the Japanese days on end and had not +recognized him. And yet it was not so strange. He had not seen him for +six years. Had Hanada recognized him? If he had, and Johnny found it +hard to doubt it, then he had his own reasons for keeping silent. Johnny +decided that he would not be the first to break the silence. But after +all there was a strange new comfort in the realization that here was one +among all these strangers whom he could trust implicitly. And Hanada +would make a capital companion with whom he might cross the thirty-five +miles of drifting, piling ice which still lay between him and America. +It was the contemplation of these realities which at last led him to the +land of dreams.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_IX"></a><h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>JOHNNY'S FREE-FOR-ALL</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny smiled as he sat before his igloo. Two signs of spring pleased +him. Some tiny icicles had formed on the cliff above him, telling of the +first thaw. An aged Chukche, toothless, and blind, had unwrapped his +long-stemmed pipe to smoke in the sunshine.</p> + +<p>Johnny had seen the old man before and liked him. He was cheerful and +interesting to talk to.</p> + +<p>"See that old man there?" he asked Hanada, whom he still called Iyok-ok +when speaking to him. "Communism isn't so bad for him after all."</p> + +<p>Hanada squinted at him curiously without speaking.</p> + +<p>"Of course, you know," said Johnny, "what these people have here is the +communal form of government, or the tribal form. Everything belongs to +the tribe. They own it in common. If I kill a white bear, a walrus 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 my old +friend gets too old to hunt, fish or mend nets, he basks in the sun and +needn't worry about anything at all. Pretty soft. Perhaps our friend the +Russian is not so far wrong after all if he's a communist."</p> + +<p>"Uh-hu," the Jap grunted; then he exclaimed, "That reminds me, +Terogloona, the Chukche who lives three doors from here, asked me to +tell you to stay out of his igloo this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>The Jap merely shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I have a way of doing what I am told not to, you should—" Johnny was +about to say, "you should know that," but checked himself in time.</p> + +<p>"Better not go," warned Hanada as he turned away.</p> + +<p>After an early noon lunch Johnny strolled up the hill top. He wanted to +get a view of the Strait. On particularly clear days, Cape Prince of +Wales on the American side of Behring Strait can be seen from East Cape +in Siberia. This day was clear, and, as Johnny climbed, he saw more and +more of the peak as it lay across the Strait, above the white ice floes.</p> + +<p>With trembling fingers he drew a one dollar bill from his pocket and +spread it on his knee.</p> + +<p>"There it is," he whispered. "There's the place where you came from, +little old one-spot. And I am going to take you back there. The +Wandering Jew once stood 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've got a country calling us, the +brightest, the best country on the map. And we dare try to go back. Once +that dark line of water disappears we'll be going."</p> + +<p>Then questions began to crowd his brain. Would Hanada attempt the Strait +at this time? What was his game anyway? Was he a member of the Japanese +secret service detailed to follow the Russian, or was he traveling of +his own accord? Except by special arrangement Japanese might not come to +America. Was Hanada sneaking back this way? It did not seem like him. +Perhaps he would not cross at all.</p> + +<p>Johnny's eyes once more swept the broad expanse of drifting ice. Then +his gaze became riveted on one spot. The band of black water 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 floe. Surely +there could be no better time to cross the Strait. With the air clear +and wind light, the crossing might be made in safety.</p> + +<p>Even as he looked, Johnny saw a man leap the gap. Curiosity caused him +to watch this man, whom he had taken for a Chukche hunter. Now he +appeared, now disappeared, only to reappear again round an ice pile. But +he behaved strangely for a hunter. Turning neither to right 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 Russian? Johnny decided he must +hurry down and tell Hanada. But, even as he rose, he saw a second person +leap across the gap in the ice. This one at once started to trail the +first man. There could be no mistaking that youthful springing step. It +was Hanada in pursuit.</p> + +<p>With cold perspiration springing out on his forehead, Johnny sat weakly +down. He was being left behind, left behind by his friend, his +classmate, the man who above all men he had thought could be depended +upon. How could he interpret this?</p> + +<p>For a time Johnny sat in gloomy silence, trying to form an answer to the +problem; trying also to map out a program of his own.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he sprang to his feet. He had remembered that there was some +sort of party down in the village, which he had 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 and straight to the igloo he had been +warned against entering. A strapping young buck was standing guard at +the flaps.</p> + +<p>"No go," he said as Johnny approached.</p> + +<p>"Go," answered Johnny.</p> + +<p>"No go," said the native, his voice rising.</p> + +<p>"Go," retorted Johnny quietly.</p> + +<p>He moved to pass the native. The latter put his hand out, and the next +instant felt himself whirled about and shot spinning down the short +steep slope which led from the igloo entrance. Johnny's good right arm +had done that.</p> + +<p>As the American lad pushed back the flaps of the igloo and entered he +stared for one brief second. Then he let out a howl and lunged forward. +Before him, in the center 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 floor. About his neck was +a skin rope. The rope, a strong one, was fastened securely to the cross +poles of the igloo. A younger man had been about to kick the box away.</p> + +<p>This same younger man suddenly felt the jar of something hard. It struck +his chin. After that he felt nothing.</p> + +<p>The fight was on. There were a dozen natives in the room. A brawny buck +with a livid scar on his right cheek lunged at Johnny. He speedily +joined his friend in oblivion. A third man leaped upon Johnny'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 slapped him nearly through the +skin wall. They came; they went; until at last, very much surprised and +quite satisfied, they allowed Johnny to cut the skin rope and help his +old blind friend down.</p> + +<p>A boy poked his head in at the flap. He had been a whaler and could +speak English. He surveyed the room in silence for a moment, taking in +each prostrate native.</p> + +<p>"Now you have spoiled it," he told Johnny with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I should say myself that I'd messed things up a bit," Johnny admitted, +"but tell me what it's all about. What did the poor old cuss do?"</p> + +<p>"Do?" the boy looked puzzled. "That one do?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. What did they want to hang him for? He was too old and feeble to +do anything very terrible; besides he's blind."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the boy smiling again. "He done not anything. Too old, that +why. No work. All time eat. Better dead. That way think all my people. +All time that way."</p> + +<p>Johnny looked at him in astonishment, then he said slowly:</p> + +<p>"I guess I get you. In this commune, this tribe of yours, everyone does +the best he can for the gang. When he is too old to work, fish or hunt, +the best thing he can do is die, so you hang him. Am I right?"</p> + +<p>"Sure a thing," replied the boy. "That's just it."</p> + +<p>Johnny shot back:</p> + +<p>"No enjoying a ripe old age in this commune business?"</p> + +<p>"No. Oh, no."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm off this commune stuff forever," exclaimed Johnny. "The old +order of things like we got back in the States is good enough for me. +And, I guess it's not so old after all. It's about the newest thing +there is. This commune business belongs back in the stone age when +primitive tribes were all the organizations there were."</p> + +<p>He had addressed this speech to no one in particular. He now turned to +the boy, a black frown on his brow.</p> + +<p>"See here," he said sharply, "this man, no die, See? Live. See? All time +live, see? No kill. You tell those guys that. Tell them I mebby come +back one winter, one summer. Come back. Old man dead. I kill three of +them. See?"</p> + +<p>Johnny took out his automatic and played with it longingly.</p> + +<p>"Tell them if they don't act as if they mean to do what I say, I'll +shoot them now, three of them."</p> + +<p>The boy interpreted this speech. Some of the men turned pale beneath +their brown skins; some shifted uneasily. They all answered quickly.</p> + +<p>"They say, all right," the boy explained solemnly. "Say that one, if had +known you so very much like old man, no want-a hang that one."</p> + +<p>"All right." Johnny smiled as he bowed himself out.</p> + +<p>It was the first near-hanging he had ever attended and he hoped it would +be the last. But as he came out into the clear afternoon air he drank +in three full breaths, then said, slowly:</p> + +<p>"Communism! Bah!"</p> + +<p>Hardly had he said this than he began to realize that he had a move +coming and a speedy one. He was in the real, the original, 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 the law of the tribe. He had +violated that law, defied it. He actually, for the moment, had set +himself up as a dictator.</p> + +<p>"Gee!" he muttered. "Wish I had time to be their king!"</p> + +<p>But he didn't have time, for in the first place, all the pangs of past +homesick days were returning to urge him across the Strait. In the +second place the mystery of the Russian and Hanada's relation to him was +calling for that 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 called. Johnny would be discussed. He had committed +an act of diplomatic indiscretion. He might be asked to leave these +shores; and then again an executioner might be appointed for him, and a +walrus lance thrust through his back.</p> + +<p>Yes, he would move. But first he must see the Jap girl and ask about her +plans. It would not do to desert her. Hurrying down the snow path, he +came upon her at the entrance to her igloo.</p> + +<p>Together they entered, and, sitting cross-legged on the deer skins by +the seal oil lamp, they discussed their futures.</p> + +<p>The girl made a rather pitiful figure as she sat there in the glow of +the yellow light. Much of her splendid "pep" seemed to have oozed away.</p> + +<p>As Johnny questioned her, she answered quite frankly. No, she would not +attempt to cross the Strait on the ice. It would be quite dangerous, +and, beside, she had promised to stay. She did not say the promise had +been made to Hanada but Johnny guessed that. Evidently they had thought +the Russian 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 the inland cities of Russia. The war had come and then +the revolution. The revolutionists had taken all that her father owned. +He had died from worry and exposure, and she had been left alone. Her +occupation at present was, well, just what he saw. She shrugged her +shoulders and said no more.</p> + +<p>Johnny with his natural generosity tried to press his roll of American +money upon her. She refused to accept it, but gave him a rare smile. She +had money enough for her immediate need and a diamond or two. Perhaps +when the Strait opened up she would come by gasoline schooner to +America.</p> + +<p>Her mention of diamonds made Johnny jump. He instantly thought of the +diamonds in his pocket. Could it be that her father had converted his +wealth into diamonds 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 once more of the cruel +revenges meted out by these Radicals. Should he give the diamonds to one +to whom they did not belong, the penalty would be swift and sure.</p> + +<p>Johnny did, however, press into her hand a card with his name and a +certain address in Chicago written upon it and he did urge her to come +there should she visit America.</p> + +<p>He had hardly left the igloo when a startling question came to his mind. +Why had the Russian gone away without further attempt to recover the +treasure now in Johnny's 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 diamonds were still safe in +Johnny's pocket. What could cause the man to abandon them? Here, indeed, +must be one of the big men of the cult, perhaps the master of them all.</p> + +<p>With this thought came another, which left Johnny cold. The cult had +spies and avengers everywhere. They were numerous in the United States. +They could afford to wait. Johnny could be trusted to cross the Strait +soon. There would be time enough then. His every move would be watched, +and when the time was ripe there would be a battle for the treasure.</p> + +<p>That night, by the light of the glorious Arctic moon Johnny found his +way across the solid shore ice and climbed upon the drifting floes, +which were even now shifting and slowly piling. He was on his way to +America. Perhaps he was the first American to walk from the old world to +his native land. Certainly, he had never attempted thirty-five miles of +travel which was fraught with so many perils.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_X"></a><h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE JAP GIRL IN PERIL</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Hardly had Johnny made his way across the shore ice and begun his +dangerous journey when things of a startling nature began to happen to +the Jap girl.</p> + +<p>She was seated in her igloo sewing a garment of eider duck skins, when +three rough-looking Chukches entered and, without ceremony, told her by +signs that she must accompany them.</p> + +<p>She was conducted to the largest igloo in the village. This she found +crowded with natives, mostly men. She was led to the center of the +floor, which was vacant, the natives being ranged round the sides of the +place.</p> + +<p>Instantly her eyes searched the frowning faces about her for a clue to +this move. She soon found it. In the throng, she recognized five of the +reindeer Chukches, members of that band which had attempted to murder +Johnny Thompson and herself.</p> + +<p>Their presence startled her. That they would make their way this far +north, when their reindeer had been sent back by paid messengers some +days before, had certainly seemed very improbable both to Johnny and to +the girl.</p> + +<p>Evidently the Chukches were very revengeful in spirit or very faithful +in the performance of murders they had covenanted to commit. At any +rate, here they were. And the girl did not deceive herself, this was a +council chamber. She did not doubt for a moment that her sentence would +be death. Her only question was, could there be a way of escape? The +wall was lined with dusky forms this time. The entrance was closely +guarded. Only one possibility offered; above her head, some five feet, a +strong rawhide rope crossed from pole to pole of the igloo. Directly +above this was the smoke hole. She had once entered one of these when an +igloo was drifted over with snow.</p> + +<p>The solemn parley of the council soon began. Like a lawyer presenting +his case, the headman of the reindeer tribe stood before them all and +with many gestures told his story. At intervals in his speech two men +stepped forward for examination. The jaw of one of them was very stiff +and three of his teeth were gone. As to the other, his face was still +tied up in bandages of tanned deer skin. His jaw was said to be broken. +The Jap girl, in spite of her peril, smiled. Johnny had done his work +well.</p> + +<p>There followed long harangues by other members of the reindeer tribe. +The last speech was made by the headman of East Cape. It was the longest +of all.</p> + +<p>At length a native boy turned to the Jap girl and spoke to her in +English.</p> + +<p>"They say, that one; they say all; you die. What you say?"</p> + +<p>"I say want—a—die," she replied smiling.</p> + +<p>This answer, when interpreted, brought forth many a grunt of surprise.</p> + +<p>"They say, that one! they say all," the boy went on, "how you want—a +die? Shoot? Stab?"</p> + +<p>"Shoot." She smiled again, then, "But first I do two thing. I sing. I +dance. My people alletime so."</p> + +<p>"Ki-ke" (go ahead) came in a chorus when her words had been +interpreted.</p> + +<p>No people are fonder of rhythmic motion and dreamy chanting than are the +natives of the far north. The keen-witted Japanese girl had learned this +by watching their native dancing. She had once visited an island in the +Pacific and had learned while there a weird song and a wild, whirling +dance.</p> + +<p>Now, as she stood up she kicked from her feet the clumsy deer skin boots +and, from beneath her parka extracted grass slippers light as silk. +Then, standing on tip toe with arms outspread, like a bird about to fly, +she bent her supple body forward, backward and to one side. Waving her +arms up and down she chanted in a low, monotonous and dreamy tone.</p> + +<p>All eyes were upon her. All ears were alert to every note of the chant. +Great was the Chukche who learned some new chant, introduced some +unfamiliar dance. Great would he be who remembered this song and dance +when this woman was dead.</p> + +<p>The tones of the singer became more distinct, her voice rose and fell. +Her feet began to move, slowly at first, then rapidly and yet more +rapidly. Now she became an animated voice of stirring chant, a whirling +personification of rhythm.</p> + +<p>And now, again, the song died away; the motion grew slower and slower, +until at last she stood before them motionless and panting.</p> + +<p>"Ke-ke! Ke-ke!" (More! More!) they shouted, in their excitement, +forgetting that this was a dance of death.</p> + +<p>Tearing the deer skin parka from her shoulders and standing before them +in her purple pajamas, she began again the motion and the song. Slow, +dreamy, fantastic was the dance and with it a chant as weird as the song +of the north wind. "Woo-woo-woo." It grew in volume. The motion +quickened. Her feet touched the floor as lightly as feathers. Her +swaying arms made a circle of purple about her. Then, as she spun round +and round, her whole body seemed a purple pillar of fire.</p> + +<p>At that instant a strange thing happened. As the natives, their minds +completely absorbed by the spell of the dance, watched and listened, +they saw the purple pillar rise suddenly toward the ceiling. Nor did it +pause, but mounting straight up, with a vaulting whirl disappeared from +sight.</p> + +<p>Overcome by the hypnotic spell of the dance, the natives sat motionless +for a moment. Then the bark of a dog outside broke the spell. With a mad +shout: "Pee-le-uk-tuk Pee-le-uk-tuk!" (Gone! Gone!) they rushed to the +entrance, trampling upon and hindering one another in their haste.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When Johnny reached the piling ice, on his way across the Strait, he at +first gave his entire attention to picking a pathway. Indeed this was +quite necessary, for here a great pan of ice, thirty yards square and +eight feet thick, glided upon another of the same tremendous proportions +to rear into the air and crumble down, a ponderous avalanche of ice +cakes and snow. He must leap nimbly from cake to cake. He must take +advantage of every rise and fall of the heaving swells which disturbed +the great blanket winter had cast upon the bosom of the deep.</p> + +<p>All this Johnny knew well. Guided only by the direction taken by the +moving cakes, he made his way across this danger zone, and out upon the +great floe, which though still drifting slowly northward, did not pile +and seemed as motionless as the shore ice itself.</p> + +<p>While at the village at East Cape Johnny had made good use of his time. +He had located accurately the position of the Diomede Islands, half way +station in the Strait. He had studied the rate of the ice's drift +northward. He now was in a position to know, approximately, how far he +might go due east and how much he must veer to the south to counteract +the drift of the ice. He soon reckoned that he would make three miles an +hour over the uneven surface of the floe. He also reckoned that the floe +was making one mile per hour due north. He must then, for every mile he +traveled going east, do one mile to the south. He did this by going a +full hour's travel east, then one-third of an hour south.</p> + +<p>So sure was he of his directions that he did not look up until the rocky +cliffs of Big Diomede Island loomed almost directly above him.</p> + +<p>There was a native village on this island where he hoped to find food +and rest and, perhaps, some news of the Russian and Hanada. He located +the village at last on a southern slope. This village, as he knew, +consisted of igloos of rock. Only poles protruding from the rocks told +him of its location.</p> + +<p>As he climbed the path to the slope he was surprised to be greeted only +by women and children. They seemed particularly unkempt and dirty. At +last, at the crest of the hill, he came upon a strange picture. A young +native woman tastily dressed was standing before her house, puffing a +turkish cigaret. She was a half-breed of the Spanish type, and Johnny +could imagine that some Spanish buccaneer, pausing at this desolate +island to hide his gold, had become her father.</p> + +<p>She asked him into an igloo and made tea for him, talking all the while +in broken English. She had learned the language, she told him, from the +whalers. She spoke cheerfully and answered his questions frankly. Yes, +his two friends had been here. They had gone, perhaps; she did not know. +Yes, he might cross to Cape Prince of Wales in safety she thought. But +Johnny had the feeling that her mind was filled with the dread of some +impending catastrophe which perhaps he might help avert.</p> + +<p>And at last the revelation came. Lighting a fresh cigaret, she leaned +back among the deer skins and spoke. "The men of the village," she said, +"you have not asked me about them."</p> + +<p>"Thought they were hunting," replied Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Hunting, no!" she exclaimed. "Boiling hooch."</p> + +<p>Johnny knew in a moment what she meant. "Hooch" was whisky, moonshine. +Many times he had heard of this vicious liquor which the Eskimos and +Chukches concocted by boiling sourdough, made of molasses, flour and +yeast.</p> + +<p>The girl told him frankly of the many carouses that had taken place +during the winter, of the deaths that had resulted from it, of the +shooting of her only brother by a drink-crazed native.</p> + +<p>Johnny listened in silence. That she told it all without apparent +emotion did not deceive him. Hooch was being brewed now. She wished it +destroyed. This was the last brew, for no more molasses and flour +remained in the village. This last drunken madness would be the most +terrible of all. She told him finally of the igloo where all the men had +gathered.</p> + +<p>Johnny pondered a while in silence. He was forever taking over the +troubles of others. How could he help this girl, and save himself from +harm? What could he do anyway? One could not steal four gallons of +liquor before thirty or forty pairs of eyes.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, an idea came to him. Begging a cigaret from the native beauty, +he lighted it and gave it three puffs. No, Johnny did not smoke. He was +merely experimenting. He wanted to see if it would make him sick. Three +puffs didn't, so having begged another "pill" and two matches he left +the room saying:</p> + +<p>"I'll take a look."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When the Jap girl leaped through the smoke hole of the igloo at East +Cape she rolled like a purple ball off the roof. Jumping to her feet she +darted down the row of igloos. Pausing for a dash into an igloo, she +emerged a moment later bearing under one arm a pile of fur garments and +under the other some native hunting implements. Then she made a dash for +the shore ice.</p> + +<p>It was at this juncture that the first Chukche emerged from the large +igloo. At his heels roared the whole gang. Like a pack of bloodthirsty +hounds, they strove each one to keep first place in the race. Their +grimy hands itched for a touch of that flying girlish figure.</p> + +<p>Though she was a good quarter mile in the lead she was hampered by the +articles she carried. Certain young Chukches, too, were noted for their +speed. Could she make it? There was a full mile of level, sandy beach +and quite as level shore ice to be crossed before she could reach the +protection of the up-turned and tumbled ice farther out to sea.</p> + +<p>On they came. Now their cries sounded more distinctly; they were +gaining. Now she heard the hoarse gasps of the foremost runner; now +imagining that she felt his hot breath on her cheek she redoubled her +energy. A grass slipper flew into the air. She ran on barefooted over +the stinging ice.</p> + +<p>Now an ice pile loomed very near. With a final dash she gained its +shelter. With a whirl she darted from it to the next, then to the right, +straight ahead, again to the right, then to the left. But even then she +did not pause. She must lose herself completely in this labyrinth of +up-ended ice cakes.</p> + +<p>Five minutes more of dodging found her far from the shouting mob, that +by this time was as hopelessly lost as dogs in a bramble patch.</p> + +<p>The Jap girl smiled and shook her fist at the shore. She was safe. +Compared to this tangled wilderness of ice, the Catacombs of Rome were +an open street.</p> + +<p>Throwing a fur garment on a cake of ice, she sat down upon it, at the +same time hastily drawing a parka over her perspiring shoulders. She +then proceeded to examine her collection of clothing. The examination +revealed one fawn skin parka, one under suit of eider duck skin, one +pair of seal skin trousers, two pairs of seal skin boots, with deer skin +socks to match, and one pair of deer skin mittens. Besides these there +was an undressed deer skin, a harpoon and a seal lance.</p> + +<p>Not such a bad selection, this, for a moment's choosing. The principal +difficulty was that the whole outfit had formerly belonged to a boy of +fourteen. The Jap girl shrugged her shoulders at this and donned the +clothing without compunctions.</p> + +<p>When that task was complete she surveyed herself in an up-ended cake of +blue ice and laughed. In this rig, with her hair closely plaited to her +head, her own mother would have taken her for a young Chukche boy out +for a hunt.</p> + +<p>Other problems now claimed her attention. She was alone in the world +without food or shelter. She dared not return to the village. Where +should she go?</p> + +<p>Again she shrugged her shoulders. She was warmly clad, but she was tired +and sleepy. Seeking out a cubby hole made by tumbled cakes of ice, she +plastered up the cracks between the cakes with snow until only one +opening remained. Then, dragging her deer skin after her, she crept +inside. She half closed the opening with a cake of snow, spread the deer +skin on the ice and curled up to sleep as peacefully as if she were in +her own home.</p> + +<p>One little thing she had not reckoned with; she was now on the drifting +ice of the ocean, and was moving steadily northward at the rate of one +mile an hour.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>A FACE IN THE NIGHT</h3> +<br /> + +<p>When Johnny left the igloo of the native girl he made his way directly +up the hill for a distance of a hundred yards. Then, turning, he took +three steps to the right and found himself facing the entrance to a +second stone igloo. That it was an old one and somewhat out of repair +was testified to by the fact that light came streaming through many a +crevice between the stones.</p> + +<p>Keeping well away from the entrance, Johnny took his place near one of +these crevices. What he saw as he peered within would have made John +Barleycorn turn green with envy. A moonshine still was in full +operation. Beneath a great sheet iron vat a slow fire of driftwood +burned. Extending from the vat was the barrel of a discarded rifle. This +rifle barrel passed through a keg of ice. Beneath the outer end of the +rifle barrel was a large copper-hooped keg which was nearly full of some +transparent liquid. The liquid was still slowly dripping from the end of +the rifle barrel.</p> + +<p>That the liquid was at least seventy-five per cent alcohol Johnny knew +right well. That it would soon cease to drip, he also knew; the fire was +burning low and no more driftwood was to be seen.</p> + +<p>Johnny sized up the situation carefully. Aside from some crude benches +running round its walls and a cruder table which held the moonshine +still, the room was devoid of furnishings. Ranged round the wall, with +the benches for seats, were some thirty men and perhaps half as many +hard-faced native women. On every face was an expression of gloating +expectancy.</p> + +<p>Now and again, a hand holding a small wooden cup would steal out toward +the keg to be instantly knocked aside by a husky young fellow whose duty +it appeared to be to guard the hooch.</p> + +<p>Johnny tried to imagine what the result would be were he suddenly to +enter the place. He would not risk that. He would wait. He counted the +moments as the sound of the dripping liquid grew fainter and fainter. At +last there came a loud:</p> + +<p>"Dez-ra" (enough), from an old man in the corner.</p> + +<p>Instantly the tank was lifted to one side, the fire beaten out, the keg +of ice flung outside and the keg of hooch set on the table in the center +of the room.</p> + +<p>Everybody now bent eagerly forward as if for a spring. Every hand held a +cup. But at this instant there came the shuffle of footsteps outside. +Instantly every cup disappeared. The kettle was lifted to a dark corner. +The room was silent when Johnny stepped inside.</p> + +<p>"Hello," he shouted.</p> + +<p>"Hello! Hello!" came from every corner.</p> + +<p>"Where you come from?" asked the former tender of the still.</p> + +<p>"East Cape."</p> + +<p>"Where you go?"</p> + +<p>"Cape Prince of Wales."</p> + +<p>"Puck-mum-ie?" (Now?) The man betrayed his anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Canak-ti-ma-na" (I don't know), said Johnny seating himself on the +table and allowing his glance to sweep the place from corner to corner. +"I don't know," he repeated, slowly. "How are you all anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Ti-ma-na" (Not so bad), answered the spokesman.</p> + +<p>Johnny was enjoying himself. He was exactly in the position of some good +motherly soul who held a pumpkin pie before the eyes of several hungry +boys. The only difference was that the pie Johnny was thinking of was +raw, so exceeding raw that it would turn these natives into wild men. So +Johnny decided that, like as not, he wouldn't let them have it at all.</p> + +<p>Johnny enjoyed the situation nevertheless. He was mighty unpopular at +that moment, he knew, but his unpopularity now was nothing to what it +would be in a very short time. Thinking of this, he measured the +distance to the door very carefully with his eye.</p> + +<p>At last, when it became evident that if he didn't move someone else +would, he turned to the still manager and said:</p> + +<p>"Well, guess I'll be going. Got a match?"</p> + +<p>He produced the borrowed cigaret. A sigh of hope escaped from the group +of natives and a match was thrust upon him.</p> + +<p>"Thanks."</p> + +<p>The match was of the sulphur kind, the sort that never blow out.</p> + +<p>Nonchalantly Johnny lighted the cigaret, then, all too carelessly, he +flipped the match. Though it seemed a careless act, it was deftly done.</p> + +<p>There came a sudden cry of alarm. But too late; the match dropped +squarely into the keg of alcohol. The next instant the place was all +alight with the blaze of the liquor, which flamed up like oil.</p> + +<p>"This way out," exclaimed Johnny leading the procession for the door. +Lightly he bounded down the hill. He caught one glimpse of the young +woman as he passed, but this was no time for lingering farewells. The +owner of the still was on his trail.</p> + +<p>Dodging this way and that, sliding over a wide expanse of ice, Johnny at +last eluded his pursuers in the wildly tumbled ice piles of the sea. As +he paused to catch his breath he heard the soft pat-pat of a footstep +and glancing up, caught a face peering at him round an ice pile.</p> + +<p>"The Russian," he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>* * * * *</p> + +<p>When the Jap girl awoke after several hours of delicious sleep in her +ice palace bedroom, she looked upon a world unknown. The sun was shining +brightly. The air was clear. In a general way she knew the outline of +East Cape and the Diomede Islands. She knew, too, where they should be +located. It took her some time to discover them and when she did it was +with a gasp of astonishment. They were behind her.</p> + +<p>Realizing at once what had happened, she stood up and held her face to +the air. The wind was off shore. There was not the least bit of use in +trying to make the land. A stretch of black waters yawned between shore +and ice floe by now.</p> + +<p>Shrugging her shoulders, she climbed a pile of ice for a better view, +then hurrying down again, she picked up the harpoon and began puzzling +over it. She coiled and uncoiled the skin rope attached to it. She +worked the rope up and down through the many buttons which held it to +the shaft. She examined the sharp steel point of the shaft which was +fastened to the skin rope.</p> + +<p>After that she sat down to think. Over to the left of her she had seen +something that lay near a pool of water. She had never hunted anything, +did not fancy she'd like it, but she was hungry.</p> + +<p>There was a level pan of ice by the pool. The creature lay on the ice +pan. Suddenly she sprang up and made her way across the ice piles to the +edge of that broad pan. The brown creature, a seal, still some distance +away, did not move.</p> + +<p>Searching the ice piles she at last found a regularly formed cake some +eight inches thick and two feet square. With some difficulty she pried +this out and stood it on edge. The edge was uneven, the cake tippy. +Rolling it on its side she chipped it smooth with the point of the +harpoon.</p> + +<p>The second trial found the cake standing erect and solid. Gripping her +harpoon, she threw herself flat on her stomach and pushing the cake +before her, began to wriggle her way toward the sleeping seal.</p> + +<p>Once she paused long enough to bore a peep hole through the cake with +her dagger. From time to time the seal wakened, and raised his head to +look about. Then he sank down again. Now she was but three rods away, +now two, now one. Now she was within ten feet of the still motionless +quarry.</p> + +<p>Stretching every muscle for a spring like a cat, she suddenly darted +forward. At the next instant she hurled the harpoon deep into the seal's +side. She had him! Through her body pulsated thrills of wild triumph +which harkened back to the days of her primitive ancestry. Then for a +second she wavered. She was a woman. But she was hungry. Tomorrow she +might be starving.</p> + +<p>Her knife flashed. A stream of red began dyeing the ice. A moment later, +the creature's muscles relaxed.</p> + +<p>The Japanese girl, Cio-Cio-San, sat up and began to think. Here was +food, but how was it to be prepared? To think of eating raw seal meat +was revolting, yet here on the floe there was neither stove nor fuel.</p> + +<p>Slowly and carefully she stripped the skin from the carcass. Beneath +this she found a two-inch layer of blubber, which must be more than +ninety per cent oil. Under this was a compact mass of dark meat. This +would be good if it was cooked. She sat down to think again. The fat +seemed to offer a solution. It would burn if she had matches. She felt +over the parka for pockets, and, with a little cry of joy, she found in +one several matches wrapped in a bit of oiled seal skin. Every native +carried them.</p> + +<p>Hastily she stripped off a bit of fat and having lighted it, watched it +flare up and burn rapidly. She laughed and clapped her hands.</p> + +<p>But before she could cut off a bit of meat to roast over its flames, the +soft ice began melting beneath it and the flames flickered out with a +snapping flutter.</p> + +<p>This would not do. There must be some other way found. Rising, she drove +her harpoon into the snow at the crest of an ice pile. To this she +fastened her deer skin, that it might act as a beacon to guide her back +to her food supply. Then she turned about the ice pile and began +wandering in search of she hardly knew what.</p> + +<p>She at last came upon some old ice, with cakes ground round and +discolored with age and then with a little cry of joy she started +forward. The thing she saw had been discarded as worthless long ago; +some gasoline schooner's crew had thrown it overboard. It was an empty +five-gallon can which had once held gasoline. It was red with rust, but +she pounced upon it and hurried away.</p> + +<p>Once safely back at her lodge she used the harpoon to cut out a door in +the upper end of the can. After cutting several holes in one side, she +placed it on the ice with the perforated side up and put a strip of +blubber within. This she lighted. It gave forth a smoky fire, with +little heat, but much oil collected in the can. Seeing this, she began +fraying out the silk ribbon of her pajamas. When she had secured a +sufficient amount of fine fuzz she dropped it along the edge of the oil +which saturated it at once. She lighted this, which had formed itself +into a sort of wick, and at once she had a clear and steady flame.</p> + +<p>She had solved the problem. In her seal oil oven, meat toasted +beautifully. In half an hour she was enjoying a bountiful repast. After +the feast, she sat down to think. She was fed for the moment and +apparently safe enough, but where was she and whither was she being +carried by this drifting ice floe?</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>For a second, after seeing the face of the Russian on the ice, Johnny +Thompson stood motionless. Then he turned and ran, ran madly out among +the ice piles. Heedless of direction he ran until he was out of breath +and exhausted, until he had lost himself and the Russian completely.</p> + +<p>No, Johnny was not running from the Russian. He was running from +himself. When he saw the Russian's face, lit up as it was by the flare +of the flames that had burst forth from that abandoned igloo, there had +been something so crafty, so cruel, so remorselessly terrible about it +that he had been seized with a mad desire to kill the man where he +stood.</p> + +<p>But Johnny felt, rather than knew, that there were very special reasons +why the Russian must not be killed, at least not at that particular +moment. Perhaps some dark secret was locked in his crafty brain, a +secret which the world should know and which would die if he died. +Johnny could only guess this, but whatever might be the reason he must +not at this moment kill the man whom he suspected of twice attempting +his life. So he fled.</p> + +<p>By the last flickering flames of the grand spree that had burned, Johnny +figured out his approximate location and began once more his three miles +east, one mile south journey to Cape Prince of Wales. Some hours later, +having landed safely at the Cape, and having displayed the postmarked +one dollar bill to the post mistress and given it to her in exchange for +a sumptuous meal of reindeer meat, hot biscuits and doughnuts, he +started sleeping the clock round in a room that had been arranged for +the benefit of weary travelers.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>"GET THAT MAN"</h3> +<br /> + +<p>The trip from Cape Prince of Wales to Nome was fraught with many +dangers. Already the spring thaw had begun. Had not the Eskimo whom +Johnny employed to take him to the Arctic metropolis with his dog team +been a marvel at skirting rotten ice and water holes in Port Clarence +Bay, at swimming the floods on Tissure River, and at canoeing across the +flooded Sinrock, Johnny might never have reached his journey's end.</p> + +<p>As it was, two weeks from the time he left East Cape in Siberia, he +stood on the sand spit at Nome, Alaska. By his side stood Hanada, who +was still acting the part of an Eskimo and who had come down a few days +ahead of him.</p> + +<p>They were viewing a rare sight, the passing out to sea of the two miles +of shore ice. The spring thaw had been followed by an off-shore wind +which was carrying the loosened ice away. Johnny's interest was evenly +divided between this rare spectacle and the recollection of the events +that had recently transpired.</p> + +<p>"Look!" said Hanada. "I believe the ice will carry the farther end of +the cable tramway out to sea."</p> + +<p>Johnny looked. It did seem that what the boy said was true. Already the +cable appeared to be as tight as a fiddle string.</p> + +<p>The tramway was a cable which stretched from a wooden tower set upon a +stone pillar jutting from the sea to a similar tower built upon the +land. This tramway, during the busy summer months of open sea, is used +in lieu of a harbor and docks to bring freight and passengers ashore. +This is done by drawing a swinging platform over the cable from tower to +tower and back again. The platform at the present moment swung idly at +the shore end of the cable. The beach had been fast locked in ice for +eight months and more.</p> + +<p>"Looks like it might go," said Johnny absentmindedly.</p> + +<p>Neither he nor the Jap had seen or heard anything of the Russian. Two +things would seem to indicate that that mysterious fugitive was in town; +three times Johnny had found himself being closely watched by certain +rough-looking Russian laborers, and once he had narrowly averted being +attacked in a dark street at night by a gang of the same general +character.</p> + +<p>Hanada had not yet chosen to reveal his identity, and Johnny had not +questioned him.</p> + +<p>Only the day before a placard in the post office had given him a start. +It was an advertisement offering a thousand dollars reward for knowledge +which would lead to the arrest of a certain Russian Radical of much +importance. This man was reported to have made his way through the +Allied front near Vladivostok, and to have started north, apparently +with the intention of crossing to America. To capture him, the placard +declared, would be an act of practical patriotism.</p> + +<p>Johnny had stared in wonder at the photograph attached. It was the +likeness of a man much younger than the Russian they had followed so +far, but there could be no mistaking that sharp chin and frowning brow. +They had doubtless followed that very man for hundreds of miles only to +lose him at this critical moment.</p> + +<p>What had surprised him most of all had been the Jap's remark, as he read +the notice:</p> + +<p>"The blunderer! Wooden-headed blunderer!" Hanada had muttered as he read +the printed words.</p> + +<p>"Would you take him if you saw him?" Johnny had asked.</p> + +<p>The Jap had turned a strangely inquiring glance at him, then answered:</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>But they had not found him. And now the ice was going out. Soon ships +would be coming and going. Little gasoline schooners would dash away to +catch the cream of the coast-wise trading; great steamers would bring in +coal, food, and men. In all this busy traffic, how easy it would be for +the Russian to depart unseen.</p> + +<p>Johnny sighed. He had grown exceedingly fond of dogging the track of +that man. And besides, that thousand dollars would come in handy. He +would dearly love to see the man behind prison bars. There would be no +holding him for crimes he had attempted in Siberia, but probably the +United States Government had something on him.</p> + +<p>"Look!" exclaimed the Jap. "The tower has tipped a full five feet!" It +was true. The ice crowding from the shore had blocked behind the tower, +which stood several hundred feet from land. A dark line of water had +opened between the two towers. Evidently the harbor committee would have +some work on its hands.</p> + +<p>"They're running down there," said Johnny, pointing to three men racing +as if for their lives toward the shore tower. "Wonder what they think +they can do?"</p> + +<p>"Looks like the two behind were chasing the fellow in the lead," said +Hanada.</p> + +<p>"They are!" exclaimed Johnny. "Poor place for safety, I'd say, but he's +got quite a lead."</p> + +<p>At that instant the man in front disappeared behind the shore tower. As +they watched, they saw a strange thing: the swinging platform began to +move slowly along the rusty cable, and, just as it got under way, a man +leaped out upon it.</p> + +<p>"He's started the electric motor and is giving himself a ride," +explained Johnny, "but if it's as bad as that, it must be pretty bad. +He's desperate, that's all. The outer tower's likely to go over at any +moment and dash him to death. Even if he makes it, where'll he be? Going +out to sea on the floe, that's all."</p> + +<p>Slowly the platform crept across the space over the black waters, then +over the tumbling ice. The outer tower could be seen to dip in toward +the shore. The cable sagged. The two other runners were nearing the +inner tower.</p> + +<p>"C'mon!" exclaimed Johnny, "The Golden West. A telescope!"</p> + +<p>Closely followed by Hanada, he leaped away toward the hotel where, in a +room especially prepared for it, was a huge brass telescope mounted on a +tripod. Johnny, glancing out to sea, knew that the tower would be over +in another thirty seconds. The platform was not twenty feet from its +goal. His eye was now at the telescope. One second and he swung the +instrument about. Then a gasp escaped his lips:</p> + +<p>"The Russian!"</p> + +<p>"The Russian?" Hanada snatched the telescope from him.</p> + +<p>As Johnny watched he saw the man leap just as the platform lurched +backward. The two men at the other tower had reversed the motor, but +they were too late.</p> + +<p>The next moment the outer tower toppled into the sea; the cable cut the +water with a resounding swish. Johnny saw the Russian leap from ice cake +to ice cake until at last he disappeared behind a giant pile, safe on a +broad field of solid ice.</p> + +<p>Hanada sat down. His face was white.</p> + +<p>"Gone!" he muttered hoarsely.</p> + +<p>"A boat?" suggested Johnny.</p> + +<p>"No good. The ice floe's two miles wide, forty miles long and all piled +up. Couldn't find him. He'd never give himself up. But he'll come +back.<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: Quotation mark missing in original">"</ins></p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but he'll come. You'll see. He's a devil, that one. But +we'll get him yet."</p> + +<p>"And the thousand," suggested Johnny.</p> + +<p>Hanada looked at him in disgust. "A thousand dollars! What is that?"</p> + +<p>"Is it as bad as that?" Johnny smiled in spite of himself.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and worse, many times worse. I tell you, we must get that man! +When the time comes, we must get him, or it will be worse for your +country and mine."</p> + +<p>"Ours is the same country," suggested Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Huh!" Hanada shrugged his shoulders. "I am Hanada, your old schoolmate, +now a member of the Japanese Secret Police, and you are Johnny Thompson. +Whatever else you are, I don't know. The Russian has left us for a time. +Let's talk about those old school days, and forget."</p> + +<p>And they did.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>BACK TO OLD CHICAGO</h3> +<br /> + +<p>In the spring all the ice from upper Behring Sea passes through Behring +Strait. One by one, like squadrons of great ships, floes from the shores +of Cape York, Cape Nome and the Yukon flats drift majestically through +that narrow channel to the broad Arctic Ocean.</p> + +<p>So it happened that in due time the ice floe on which the Russian had +sought refuge drifted past the Diomede Islands and farther out, well +into the Arctic Ocean, met the floe on which the Jap girl had been lost +as it circled to the east.</p> + +<p>All ignorant of the passenger it carried, the girl welcomed this +addition to her broad domain of ice. She had lived on the floe for days, +killing seal for her food and melting snow to quench her thirst. But of +late the cakes had begun to drift apart. There was danger that the great +pan on which she had established herself would drift away from the +others, and, in that case, if no seals came, she would starve. This new +floe crowded upon hers and made the one on which she camped a solid mass +again.</p> + +<p>Spying some strange, dark spots on the newly arrived floe, she hurried +over to the place and was surprised to find that it was a great heap of +rubbish carted from some city. Though she did not know it, she guessed +that city was Nome.</p> + +<p>With the keen pleasure of a child she explored the heaps, selecting here +a broken knife, there a discarded kettle, and again some other utensil +which would help her in setting up a convenient kitchen.</p> + +<p>But it was as she made her way back to her camp that she received the +greatest shock. Suddenly, as she rounded a cake of ice, she came upon a +man sprawled upon the ice, as if dead. The girl took no chances. In the +land whence she came, it was not considered possible that this man +should die. She sprang between two up-ended cakes, and from this shelter +studied him cautiously. Yes, there was no mistaking him; it was the +Russian. A slight movement of one arm told her he was not dead. Whether +he was unconscious or was sleeping she could not tell.</p> + +<p>Presently, after tying her dagger to her waist by a rawhide cord, she +crept silently forward. An ear inclined toward his face told her that he +was breathing regularly; he was sleeping the torpid sleep of one worn by +exhaustion, exposure and starvation.</p> + +<p>Ever so gently she touched him. He did not move. Then, with one hand on +her dagger, she felt his clothing, as if searching for some object +hidden in his fur garments. Her touch was light as a feather, yet she +appeared to have a wonderful sense of location in the tips of those +small, slender fingers.</p> + +<p>Once the man moved and groaned. Light as a leaf she sprang away, the +dagger gleaming in her hand. There were reasons why she did not wish to +kill that man; other reasons than the fact that she was a woman and +shrank from slaying, and yet she was in a perilous position. Should it +come to a choice between killing him or suffering herself, she would +kill him.</p> + +<p>Again the man's body relaxed in slumber. Again she glided to his side +and continued her search. When at last she straightened up, it was with +a look of despair. The thing she sought was not there.</p> + +<p>When the Russian awoke some time later it was with the feeling that he +had been prodded in the side. The first sensation to greet him after +that was the savory smell of cooked meat. Unable to believe his senses, +he opened his eyes and sat up. Before him was a tin pan partly filled +with strips of reddish-brown meat and squares of fried fat. The dish was +still hot.</p> + +<p>Like a dog that fears to have his food snatched from him, he glared +about him and a sort of snarl escaped his lips. Then he fell upon the +food and ate it ravenously. With the last morsel in his hand, he looked +about him for signs of the human being who had befriended him. But in +his eye was no sign of gratitude, rather the reverse—a burning fire of +suspicion and hate lurked in their sullen depths. His gaze finally +rested for a moment on the meat in his hand. Then his face blanched. The +meat had been neatly cut by an instrument keen as a razor.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The steam-whaler, Karluke, a whole year overdue, pushing her way south +through the ice-infested Strait, her crew half <ins class="correction" +title="Transcriber's Note: The original text reads 'mutinuous'">mutinous</ins>, and her food supply low, was subjected to +two vexatious delays. Once she halted to pick up a man who signaled her +from the top of a shattered tower of wood which topped an ice pile. The +man was a Russian. Again, the boat paused to take on board a youth, whom +they supposed to be a Chukche hunter who had been carried by the floes +from his native shores.</p> + +<p>The Russian paid them well for his passage to Seattle. The supposed +Chukche was sent to the galley to become cook's helper.</p> + +<p>This Chukche boy was no other than the Jap girl. She realized at once +the position she was in; a perilous enough one, once her identity was +disclosed, and she did all in her power to play the part of a Chukche +boy. She drew maps on the deck to show the seamen that she was a member +of the reindeer Chukche tribes, who spoke a different language from the +hunting tribes, thus explaining why she could not converse freely with +the veteran Arctic sailors who had learned Chukche on their many +voyages. She was fortunate in immediately securing a cook's linen cap. +This she wore tightly drawn down to her ears, covering her hair +completely.</p> + +<p>One thing she discovered the first night on board: The Russian had in +his stateroom a bundle. This had been hidden when she searched him on +the ice. To have a look into that bundle became her absorbing purpose. +Three times she attempted to enter his stateroom. On the third attempt +she did actually enter the room, but so narrowly escaped having her +linen mask torn from her head and her identity revealed by the irate +Russian, that she at last gave it up.</p> + +<p>Upon docking at Seattle both the Russian and the girl mingled with the +crowd on the dock and quickly disappeared.</p> + +<p>The clerks in Roman & Lanford's department store were more than mildly +curious regarding an Eskimo boy, who, entering their store that day and +displaying a large roll of bills, demanded the best in women's wearing +apparel. They had in stock a complete outfit, just the size that would +fit the strange customer, who was no other than the Jap girl.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Johnny Thompson and Hanada, after two weeks of fruitless watching and +waiting in Nome, took a steamer for Seattle. Johnny had not been in +that city a day when, while walking toward the Washington Hotel, he felt +a light touch on his arm, and turned to look into the beaming face of +the Jap girl.</p> + +<p>"You—you here?" he gasped in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Why! You look grand," he assured her. "Regular American girl."</p> + +<p>She blushed through her brown skin. Then her face took on a serious +look:</p> + +<p>"The Russian—" she began.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the Russian!" exclaimed Johnny eagerly.</p> + +<p>"He is here—no, not here. This morning he takes train for Chicago. +To-night we will follow. We will get that man, you and I, and—Iyok-ok." +Her lips tripped over the last word.</p> + +<p>"Hanada," Johnny corrected.</p> + +<p>"He has told you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he is an old friend."</p> + +<p>"And mine too. Good! To-night we will go. We will get that man. Three of +us. That bad one!"</p> + +<p>"All right," said Johnny. "See you at the depot to-night."</p> + +<p>"Wait," said the girl. Her hand still on his arm, she stood on her +tiptoe and whispered in his ear:</p> + +<p>"My name Cio-Cio-San; your friend, Hanada friend. Good-by." Then she was +gone.</p> + +<p>Johnny walked to his hotel as in a dream. He had hoped to return to his +den, his job and to Mazie in Chicago, and in a quiet way, all mysteries +dissolved, to live his old happy life. But here were all the mysteries +carrying him right to his own city and promising to end—in what? +Perhaps in some tremendous sensation. Who could tell? And the diamonds; +what of them? He put his hand to his inner pocket; they were still +there. Was he watched? Would he be followed? Even as he asked himself +the question, he fancied that a dark form moved stealthily across the +street.</p> + +<p>"Well, anyway," he said to himself, "I can't desert my Jap friends. +Besides, I don't want to."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Chicago," said Hanada some time later, as Johnny related his +conversation with Cio-Cio-San. "That means the end is near."</p> + +<p>The end was not so near as he thought. When it came it was not, alas! to +be for him the kind of end he fancied.</p> + +<p>"All right," he said. "To-night we go to Chicago."</p> + +<p>On the trip eastward from Seattle, Johnny slept much and talked little. +The Jap girl and Hanada occupied compartments in different cars and +appeared to wish to avoid being seen together or with Johnny. This, he +concluded, was because there might be Russian Radicals on this very +train. Johnny slept with the diamonds pressed against his chest and it +was with a distinct sense of relief that he at last heard the hollow +roar of the train as it passed over the street subways, for he knew this +meant he was back in dear old Chicago, where he might have bitter +enemies, but where also were many warm friends.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIV"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE MYSTERY OF THE CHICAGO RIVER</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny Thompson dodged around a corner on West Ohio street, then walked +hurriedly down Wells street. At a corner of the building which shadowed +the river from the north he paused and listened; then with a quick +wrench, he tore a door open, closed it hastily and silently, and was up +the dusty stairs like a flash. At the top he waited and listened, then +turning, made his way up two other flights, walked down a dark corridor, +turned a key in a lock, threw the door open, closed it after him, +scratched a match, lighted a gas lamp, then uttered a low "Whew!" at the +dust that had accumulated everywhere.</p> + +<p>Brushing off a chair, he sat down. For a few moments he sat there in +silent reflection. Then rising, he extinguished the light, threw up the +sash, unhooked some outer iron shutters, sent them jangling against the +brick wall, and drawing his chair to the window, stared reflectively +down into the sullen, murky waters of the river. At last he was back in +Chicago!</p> + +<p>The time had been when the fact that Johnny Thompson occupied this room +was no secret to anyone who really wanted to know. Johnny had roomed +here when he first came to Chicago as a boy, working for six dollars a +week. When, in the years that followed, it had been discovered that +Johnny was quick as a bobcat and packed a wallop; when Johnny began +making easy money, and plenty of it, he had stuck to the old room that +overlooked the river. When he had heard his country's call to go to war, +he had paid three years' rent on the room and had locked the door. If he +never came back, all good and well. If he did return, the old room would +be waiting for him, the room and the river. Now here he was once more.</p> + +<p>The river! The stream had always held a great fascination for him. +Johnny had seen other rivers but to him none of them quite came up to +the old Chicago. In its silent, sullen depths lay power and mystery. +The Charles River of Boston Johnny had seen, and called it a place of +play for college boys. The Seine of Paris was a thing of beauty, not of +power. The Spokane was a noisy blusterer. But the old Chicago was a grim +and silent toiler. It bore on its waters great scows, lake boats, +snorting, smoking tugs, screaming fire boats and police boats. Then, +too, it was a river of mysteries. Down into its murky depths no eye +could peer to discover the hidden and mysterious burdens which it +carried away toward the Father of Waters.</p> + +<p>Yes, give Johnny the room by the old Chicago! It was dusty and grim; but +tomorrow he would clean it thoroughly. Just now he wished merely to sit +here and think for an hour.</p> + +<p>The time had been when Johnny had not cared who saw him enter this +haven; but to-day things were different. Since he had got into this +affair with the Russian and his band he had had a feeling that he was +being constantly watched.</p> + +<p>There was little wonder at this, for did he not carry on his person +forty thousand dollars' worth of rare gems? And did they not belong to +someone else?</p> + +<p>"To whom?" Johnny said the words aloud as he thought of it.</p> + +<p>His mind turned to his Japanese comrades, the girl and the man. He had +told neither of them about the diamonds. Perhaps he should have done so, +and yet he felt a strange reticence in the matter.</p> + +<p>He was to meet Hanada at eight o'clock. Hanada had never told him why +they were pursuing the Russian; why he could not be killed in Siberia; +why he must not be killed or arrested if seen now, until he, Hanada, +said the word. He had not told why he thought that the Secret Service +men had committed a blunder in offering a reward for the Russian's +capture.</p> + +<p>As Johnny thought of it he wondered if he were a fool for sticking to +this affair into which he had been so blindly led. He had not shown +himself to his old boss or to Mazie. To them he was dead. He had looked +up the official record that very morning and had seen that he was +reported "Missing in Vladivostok; probably dead."</p> + +<p>Should he stick to the Russian's trail, a course which might lead to +his death, or should he take the diamonds to a customs office and turn +them in as smuggled goods, then tell Hanada he was off the hunt, was +going back to his old job and Mazie? That would be a very easy thing to +do; and to stick was fearfully hard. Yet the words of his long time +friend, "Get that man, or it will be worse for your country and mine," +still rang in his ears. Was it his patriotic duty to stick?</p> + +<p>And if he decided to go on with it, should he go to Hanada and ask for a +showdown, all cards on the table; or should he trust him to reveal the +facts in the case little by little or all at once, as seemed wise to +him? Well, he should see.</p> + +<p>Then, for a half hour, Johnny gave himself over to the wild, boyish +reveries which the city air and the lights flickering on the water +awakened. At the end of that half hour he put on his hat and went out. +He was to meet Hanada on the Wells street bridge. Where the Japanese was +staying he did not know, but that it was with some fellow countrymen he +did not doubt. Cio-Cio-San was staying with friends, students at the +University. It had been arranged that the three of them should meet at +odd times and various places to discuss matters relating to their +dangerous mission. In this way they hoped to throw members of the band +of Radicals off their tracks.</p> + +<p>Their conversation that night came to little. Hanada had found no trace +of the Russian, nor had he come into contact with any other important +Radicals since reaching Chicago. Johnny's report was quite as brief. +Hanada showed no inclination to reveal more regarding the matter, and +Johnny did not question him. He had fully determined to see the thing +through, cost what it might.</p> + +<p>It was after a roundabout walk through the deserted streets of the +business section of the city that they came to South Water street. This +street, the noisiest and most crowded of all Chicago at certain hours, +was now as silent and deserted as a village green at midnight. Here a +late pedestrian hurried down its narrow walk: there some boatman +loitered toward his craft in the river. But for these the street was +deserted.</p> + +<p>And it was here, of all places, that they experienced the first thrill +of the night. A heavy step sounded on the pavement around the corner. +The next instant a man appeared walking toward them. His face was +obscured by shadows, but there was no mistaking that stride.</p> + +<p>"That's our man," whispered Johnny.</p> + +<p>"The Russian?" questioned Hanada in equally guarded tones.</p> + +<p>There was not time for another word, for the man, having quickened his +pace was abreast of them, past them and gone.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Couldn't see his face," whispered the Jap.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" urged Johnny; "there's a short cut, an alley. We can meet him +again under the arc light."</p> + +<p>Down a dark alley they dashed. Crashing into a broken chicken crate, +then sprinting through an open court, they came out on another alley, +and then onto a street.</p> + +<p>They had raced madly, but now as they came up short, panting, they saw +no one. The man had disappeared.</p> + +<p>Suddenly they heard steps on the cross street.</p> + +<p>"Turned the corner," panted Johnny. "C'mon!"</p> + +<p>Again they dashed ahead, slowing only as they reached the other street.</p> + +<p>Sure enough, halfway down the block they saw their man. He was walking +rapidly toward the bridge. Quickening their pace they followed.</p> + +<p>Distinctly they saw the man go upon the bridge. Very plainly they heard +every footstep on the echoing planks. Then, just as they were about to +step upon the bridge, the footsteps ceased.</p> + +<p>"Sh!" whispered Johnny, bringing his friend to a halt. "He's stopped; +maybe laying for us."</p> + +<p>For a minute they stood there. The lapping of the water was the only +sound till, somewhere in the distance an elevated train rattled its way +north.</p> + +<p>"C'mon," said Johnny. "We've met that bird in worse places than this; we +can meet him again."</p> + +<p>But they did not meet him, although they walked the full length of the +bridge. There was not a place on the whole structure where a man could +hide, but they searched it thoroughly. Then Johnny searched the sides, +the abutments. He sent the gleam of his powerful flashlight into the +dark depths beneath, but all to no purpose. The man was gone.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Hisch!" breathed Hanada.</p> + +<p>"Well, all I have to say," observed Johnny presently, "is that if the +old Chicago River has that fellow, he'll be cast ashore. The good old +Chicago doesn't associate with any such."</p> + +<p>They stood there leaning on the wooden railing debating their next move, +when a shot rang out. Instantly they dropped to the floor of the bridge. +A bullet whizzed over their heads, then another and another. After that +silence.</p> + +<p>"Get you?" whispered Johnny.</p> + +<p>"No. You?"</p> + +<p>"Nope."</p> + +<p>Then a long finger of light came feeling its way along the murky waters +to rest on the bridge.</p> + +<p>With a sigh of relief, Johnny saw that it came from a police-boat down +stream. The light felt its way back and forth, back and forth across the +river, then up to the bridge and across that. It came to rest as it +glared into their eyes. It blinked one, two, three times, then went out.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad they didn't hold it on us," breathed Johnny. "In that light +anybody that wanted to could get a bead on us."</p> + +<p>Hearing heavy, hurrying footsteps approaching, they stood up well back +against the iron braces.</p> + +<p>"Police!" whispered Johnny.</p> + +<p>"You fellows shoot?" demanded one of the policemen as they came up and +halted before the two boys.</p> + +<p>"Nope," Johnny answered.</p> + +<p>"No stallin' now."</p> + +<p>"Search us," Johnny suggested. "The shots were fired at us, though where +from, blessed if I know. Came right out of space. We'd just searched the +bridge from end to end. Not a soul on it."</p> + +<p>"What'd y' search it fer?"</p> + +<p>"A man."</p> + +<p>"W'at man?"</p> + +<p>"That's it," Johnny evaded. "We wanted to know who he was."</p> + +<p>The policemen conversed with one another in low tones for a moment.</p> + +<p>"One of the bullets struck a cross-arm; I heard it," suggested Johnny. +"You can look at that if it'll be any comfort to you."</p> + +<p>The policeman grunted, then following Johnny's flashlight, examined the +spot where the bullet had flaked the paint from the bridge iron.</p> + +<p>"Hurum!" he grumbled. "That's queer. Bullet slid straight up the iron +when it struck. Ordinarily that'd mean she was shot square against it +from below and straight ahead, but that can't be, fer that brings her +comin' direct out of the river, which ain't human, nor possible. There +wasn't a boat nor a barge nor even a plank on the river when the +searchlight flashed from the gray prowler; was there, Mike?"</p> + +<p>"Not even a cork," said Mike.</p> + +<p>"Well, anyway, that clears youse guys," grunted the leader. "Now you +better beat it."</p> + +<p>Bidding Hanada good night, Johnny walked across the bridge, around four +blocks, then made a dash for his room. There was dust on his blankets, +but he could shake it off. Anyway, he probably would not sleep much that +night. Probably he would spend most of the night sitting by the window, +listening to the lap of the waters of the old river and trying to solve +the strange problem of the bullets fired apparently from the depths of +the stream.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XV"></a><h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>THE CAT CRY OF THE UNDERWORLD</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Dodging in front of a street car, Johnny turned abruptly to the right +and trailed a taxi for half a block; then he shot across the sidewalk to +the end of a dark alley. Then he flattened himself against the wall and +listened. Yes, it came at last, the faint thud of cautious footsteps. He +had not thrown the man off the scent.</p> + +<p>"Well then, I will," he muttered, gritting his teeth. Johnny was a +trifle out of sorts to-night. The chase annoyed him.</p> + +<p>He dodged down the alley, then up a narrow court. Prying open the window +of an empty building, he crept in and silently slid the sash back in its +place. Tiptoeing across the hall with the lightness of a cat, he crept +up the dusty stairs. One, two, three flights he ascended, then feeling +for the rounds of a short ladder, he climbed still higher, to lift a +trapdoor at last and creep out upon the roof.</p> + +<p>Once there he skulked from chimney to chimney until he had crossed the +flat roofs of three buildings. The third had a trapdoor close to a +chimney. This he lifted, then dropped behind him. He was now in his own +building. Panting a little from the exertion, he tiptoed down the hall, +turned the key and entered his room.</p> + +<p>Having made sure that the iron blinds were closed, he snapped on a +light. His eyes, roving around the room, fell presently upon something +white on the floor. Johnny could see his own name scrawled upon it. +There were but a few people in all the world who knew that Johnny +Thompson had ever lived here. Probably all of those who did know thought +him dead and buried in Russia. Who had written this note? Friend or foe?</p> + +<p>He tore open the envelope and glanced at the note. It came to the point +with brutal frankness.</p> + +<p>"Johnny Thompson: You are known to have in your possession rare gems +which do not belong to you. You will please leave them on the doorstep +of 316 North Bird place, and rap three times before you leave.</p> + +<p>"If not—"</p> + +<p>That was all, save that in place of a signature there was a splotch of +red sealing wax. The wax had been stamped with an iron seal. The mark of +the seal was that of the Radical Clan—the same as that on the envelope +which contained the diamonds.</p> + +<p>"And that, I suppose," whispered Johnny to himself, "means that if I do +not leave the diamonds where I am told to I shall be flattened out like +that drop of wax."</p> + +<p>Switching out the light, he opened the blinds and took his old seat by +the window. He was at once absorbed in thought. So all his dodging and +twisting had not served to throw them off his track. They had discovered +his den. And he must give up the diamonds and—</p> + +<p>"If not—"</p> + +<p>Those two words stood out as plainly before him as if they were flashed +forth from an electric sign on the roof across the river.</p> + +<p>He was half minded to give the diamonds up, but not to those rascals. +No, he would allow one of their spies to trail him to the Custom House, +and there, before the man's very eyes, Johnny would take out the +envelope with the seal plainly showing, and hand the diamonds in as +smuggled goods.</p> + +<p>There was but one objection to this plan; he still had a strange fancy +that someway Cio-Cio-San had a rightful interest in those gems. At +least, he was not sure she did not have. Until he had determined the +truth in this matter, he was loath to part with them.</p> + +<p>But in keeping them he was taking a risk. He might be attacked and +killed by that ruthless gang at any time.</p> + +<p>For a long time he sat, staring down at the river. He was not in a happy +mood. He was tired of all this trouble, fighting and mystery. On crowded +State street that afternoon, he had seen Mazie. That made it worse. He +had never seen her look so well. She had changed; grown older, and he +thought a little sadder. Was the sadness caused by the fact that she +believed him dead? He dared to hope so. All this filled him with a mad +desire to touch her hand once more, to speak to her, to assure her in a +score of ways that he was not dead.</p> + +<p>Then Hanada had disappointed him. He had hoped they would meet again and +have another conference that night; had hoped that the wise little Jap +would have some solution of the mystery of the shots from the river, and +the strange disappearance of the man they had taken to be the Russian. +But Hanada had said "No." He had given no reason; had merely left things +that way. Hanada had been like that always; he never explained. Perhaps +he did have some other important engagement; then why could he not tell +Johnny of it? Why all this constant enshrouding of affairs in mystery? +What did he, Johnny, know about the whole business anyway? Not a thing. +He was only assured by the Jap that it was his duty to stick on the +trail of the Russian until it led somewhere in particular. He was not, +in any circumstances, to have him arrested or killed without first +consulting Hanada.</p> + +<p>"What rot!"</p> + +<p>Johnny got up and paced the floor. Then, suddenly realizing that there +was no longer cause for secrecy as to his whereabouts, he threw on the +light and swung a punching bag down from the wall.</p> + +<p>This ancient bit of leather, which had hung unused for many months, gave +forth a volley of dust at first. But soon it was sending resounding +thwacks echoing down the hall from Johnny's right and left punch.</p> + +<p>Johnny even smiled as he sat down after a fifteen minutes round with +this old friend. He was greatly pleased at one thing; his left arm was +now quite as good as his right.</p> + +<p>As he sat there, still smiling, his eyes fell on that note which had +been thrust under his door. A strange, wild impulse seized him.</p> + +<p>"So they know where I stay," he muttered. "I'll see how near I can come +to finding out where they are hiding."</p> + +<p>Taking the envelope containing the diamonds from his pocket, he crowded +it down into the depths of his clothing; then, snapping off the light, +he went out.</p> + +<p>Hastening down the street and across the bridge, he was soon threading +deserted streets and dark alleys. In time he came out upon Bird place, +a half street, ending in a wall. The passage was narrow, hardly more +than an alley.</p> + +<p>The night was exceptionally dark and the place cheerless—just the +setting for a crime. Lights behind drawn shutters were few. Only the +very wretched or very wicked haunted such habitations.</p> + +<p>Hugging the wall, Johnny sidled along toward 316. He knew the spot +exactly, for though Johnny had never been of the underworld, he had +spent many a restless night prowling about in all parts of the city. +Suddenly he flattened out in a doorway and stood motionless, breathing +quietly.</p> + +<p>Had he heard the faint pat-pat of footsteps? Had he caught the dark blue +of a shadow on yonder wall? For a full three minutes he stood there; +then hearing, seeing nothing more, he glided out and resumed his +snake-like journey toward the door of 316.</p> + +<p>This time he did not go far, for suddenly looming from dark doorways +four huge forms sprang at him. Johnny understood it all in a moment. The +note was but a trick. They had not intended to trust him to leave the +diamonds. They did not live at 316 at all. They merely had meant to +draw him to this dark alley, then to "get" him. Well, they would find +him a tough nut to crack!</p> + +<p>His right shot out, and a heavy bulk crashed to the pavement. His left +swung and missed. A wild creature sprang at his throat. Johnny's mind +worked like lightning. Four were too many. They would get him. He must +have help. The cat cry of the underworld! He had known that cry two +years before. He had many friends who would answer it. They had +introduced themselves at his boxing bouts. They had liked him because he +played a fair game and "packed a winning wallop." If any of them were +near they would come to his aid.</p> + +<p>Drawing a long breath, he let forth a piercing scream that rose and fell +like the wail of a fire siren. At the same time he jabbed fiercely with +his right. The man collapsed, but at that instant a third man struck +Johnny on the head and, all but unconscious, he reeled and fell to the +ground.</p> + +<p>Faintly as in a dream, he heard guttural murmurs. He felt the buttons +give as his coat was torn open. Then there came the ringing report of a +shot from the distance.</p> + +<p>"Da bolice!" came in a guttural mutter.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The reason Hanada would not meet Johnny on this particular night was +that he had a pressing engagement with other persons. Just at seven +o'clock he might have been seen emerging from an obscure street. He +hailed a taxi-cab and getting in, drove due north across the river and +straight on until, with a sharp turn to the right, he drove two blocks +toward the lake, only to turn again to the right and cross the river +again. He had gone south several blocks when suddenly signaling the +driver to stop, he handed him a five-dollar bill and darted into the +welcoming portals of a vast hotel.</p> + +<p>The next moment he was crossing marble floors to enter a heavily +carpeted parlor. This, too, he crossed. Then the walls of the room +seemed to swallow him up.</p> + +<p>In a small, dimly lighted anteroom his coat and hat were taken by a +servant. He then stepped into a room where a round table was spread with +spotless linen and rare silver. There were five chairs ranged around +the table. Hanada frowned as he counted them.</p> + +<p>"It seems," he murmured, "that the man who attends to the serving does +not know that Hanada dines with the Big Five to-night. Ah well! There is +time enough and room enough. We shall dine together; never fear."</p> + +<p>He stepped back in the shadow of the heavy curtains and waited +expectantly.</p> + +<p>"The Big Five," he murmured. "Some of America's richest, surely +Chicago's greatest millionaires. And Hanada dines with them. They will +listen to him, too. They will hang on his word. The Big Five will +listen. And if they say 'Yes,' if they do—" He drew in his breath +sharply. "If they do we will set the world afire with a great, new +thing. They have the money, which is power, and I have the knowledge, +which is greater power."</p> + +<p>There was a sound outside the door. A servant entered and, bowing +deferentially, moved toward the table. He deftly rearranged the chairs +and the silver. When he left, there were six places set. Hanada smiled.</p> + +<p>Had one been permitted to look in upon the diners in this simply +appointed room of one of America's great hotels that night, he might +have wondered at the manner in which five of Chicago's great men hung +upon the words of one little Japanese, who, now and then as he spoke, as +if to indicate the vastness and grandeur of his theme, spread his hands +forth in a broad gesture.</p> + +<p>The meal ended, his speech concluded, all questions answered, he at last +rose, and with a low bow said:</p> + +<p>"And now, gentlemen, I leave the proposition with you. Please do not +forget that it is a great and glorious venture; a new and glorious +empire! An honor to your country and mine."</p> + +<p>He was gone.</p> + +<p>For some time the five men sat in silence. Then one of them spoke:</p> + +<p>"Is he mad?"</p> + +<p>"Are we all mad?" questioned a second. His voice was husky.</p> + +<p>"Well," said a third, "it sounds like a dream, a dream of great +possibilities. We must sleep over it."</p> + +<p>Without another word they moved out of the room. The meeting, one of +the most momentous in the history of the century, perhaps, was ended.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When Johnny Thompson heard the shot and the guttural mutter, "Da +bolice!" he made a final effort to rally his senses and to put up a +fight.</p> + +<p>He did succeed in struggling to his knees, but to fight was unnecessary. +Just as another shot sent echoes down the alley and a bullet sang over +their heads, his assailants took to their heels.</p> + +<p>A slight, slouching figure came gliding toward Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Jerry the Rat!" he murmured; then to the man himself:</p> + +<p>"So, it's you, Jerry. Haven't seen you for two years."</p> + +<p>Through blear-eyes the little fellow surveyed Johnny for a second.</p> + +<p>"Johnny Thompson, de clean guy wot packs a wallop!" he exclaimed. "Dere +dey go! We can get 'em!" He pointed down the alley.</p> + +<p>"Got a gun?" asked Johnny, standing a bit unsteadily.</p> + +<p>"Two of 'em. C'mon. We ken git de yeggs yit."</p> + +<p>Johnny grasped the gun held out to him and the next instant was +following the strangely swift rat of the waterfront.</p> + +<p>"Dere dey go!" exclaimed the little fellow.</p> + +<p>Down an alley they rushed, then out on a broad, but dimly lighted +street. They were gaining on the gang. They would overhaul them. There +would be a battle. Johnny figured this out as he ran, and tried to +discover the mechanism of his weapon.</p> + +<p>But at that juncture the pursued ones dashed through an open window of a +deserted building which flanked the river.</p> + +<p>"Dere dey go! De cheap sluggers!" exclaimed Jerry.</p> + +<p>Leaping across the street, he reached the window only a moment after the +last of the four had slammed it down.</p> + +<p>But the men had paused long enough to throw the catch. It took Jerry a +full minute to break its grip.</p> + +<p>When, at last, they vaulted cautiously over the sill and flashed their +light about the interior, they found the place empty.</p> + +<p>"Dey's flew de coop!" whispered Jerry. "Now wot's de chanst of dem +makin' a clean git away?"</p> + +<p>They made a hurried examination of all possible exits. All the window +ledges and doorsills were so encrusted with dust that one passing +through them would be sure to leave his mark. That is, all but one were. +One windowsill had apparently been swept clean. But that window faced +the river. As they threw it up, and looked down from its ledge, they saw +only the murky waters of the river swirling beneath them.</p> + +<p>Johnny studied the situation carefully, and the more he studied, the +more baffled he became. If a boat had been tied to the windowsill there +would have been marks on the casing. There were no such marks; yet, the +fugitives had gone that way. He thought of the shots fired from the +river the previous night and tried to connect the two. He could not make +it out.</p> + +<p>"Dey's gone!" said Jerry the Rat. "Did dey fleece y'?"</p> + +<p>Johnny smiled. "They were trying to croak me, Jerry, and they nearly +did it. Got a bump on my head big as a turkey buzzard's egg."</p> + +<p>"Who wuz dey?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I don't know altogether. Say, Jerry, are there some tough +characters hanging around the river these days that ain't regular +crooks?"</p> + +<p>"Is dey? Dere's a mess of 'em!"</p> + +<p>"Where do they stay?" asked Johnny eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Dat's it." The little fellow scratched his head. "I bin skulkin' 'round +'em to find out. Sometimes I follers 'em, like now. Dey always drop out +like this. Dey's queer. Dey ain't regular crooks, nor regular guys +either. Dey's cookin' soup for sump'n big."</p> + +<p>"That's what I think," said Johnny. "What are they like?</p> + +<p>"Dey's five Roosians, three Heinies, one Wop, an' one Jap, I seen."</p> + +<p>"Say, Jerry," said Johnny suddenly, "do you want to earn some honest +money?"</p> + +<p>"Not work?"</p> + +<p>"No, spyin'."</p> + +<p>"Not on me pals? Not on regular crooks?"</p> + +<p>"No, on these queer ones."</p> + +<p>"I'm on. Wot's de lay?"</p> + +<p>"Find where they stay. Hunt them day and night till you do. Here's a +twenty. There's more where that came from. There's a century note if you +get them. Get me?"</p> + +<p>The Rat ducked his head in assent.</p> + +<p>"Then good night."</p> + +<p>"Night," he mumbled.</p> + +<p>They were out of the building now and Johnny made his way cautiously +back to his room. He had had quite enough for one night. Once he paused +to thrust his hand beneath his vest. Yes, the diamonds were still there. +His assailants had not had time to find them. He was not sure whether he +was glad or sorry.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>CIO-CIO-SAN BETRAYED</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Very alert, Johnny Thompson at the stroke of eight the next night crept +from a narrow runway between two buildings and walked briskly down the +street. He had reached the runway by a route known only to himself. He +was sure that for a time, at least, he would not be followed. At last he +reached the bridge which was coming to harbor many mysteries for him. +Halfway across the span he paused, and sinking into the shadow of an +iron girder, began watching the surface of the water.</p> + +<p>He was, in fact, attempting to understand those murky depths. From his +room he had detected a strange light. Either reflected on the water or +shining up through it, this light appeared a pale yellow glow, such as +he had often seen given off by the jelly fish in the Pacific. That there +was no such jelly fish to be found in fresh water he knew quite well. +And he had never in his life noticed that glow in the river.</p> + +<p>Now, as he surveyed the surroundings, he realized that the light could +not have been reflected from any illumination in street or building. The +glow from the water had appeared close to the wall of the empty building +through which his four assailants of the night before had made good +their escape.</p> + +<p>As he stood there, slouching in the shadows, Johnny gave a great start; +the light had appeared again. Beyond question it was beneath the water, +not shining upon it. From this vantage point the light seemed stronger. +It appeared for a few seconds, then disappeared again. Johnny scratched +his head. What could it mean? For some time he stood in a brown study, +then he laughed silently to himself.</p> + +<p>"Probably phosphorescent substances being sent out from the drainpipe of +a factory or chemical laboratory," he decided.</p> + +<p>At that instant he was all alert. His hand closed on his automatic. A +stealthy footfall had sounded on the bridge.</p> + +<p>"Oh! It's you," he whispered a moment later.</p> + +<p>Hanada grinned as he gripped Johnny's hand. "Thought I might miss you," +he whispered.</p> + +<p>The two were soon engaged in animated conversation. Their talk had to do +with Johnny's adventure of the night before and the information +regarding the Radicals furnished by Jerry the Rat. Hanada appeared +unduly excited at the news.</p> + +<p>"It seems," said Johnny, "that there must be a national conference of +Radicals meeting somewhere near this river. Perhaps our old friend, the +Russian of Vladivostok, is a delegate."</p> + +<p>Hanada shot him a swift glance, as if to say: "How much do you know +about this matter anyway?"</p> + +<p>But for some time the Japanese did not speak; then it was concerning an +entirely different affair. Cio-Cio-San had been visited by a fellow +countryman who, although wholly unknown to her, had appeared to know a +great deal about her private business. He had informed her that she had, +within the last year, been robbed of some very valuable property and +professed to have a knowledge of its whereabouts. If she would accompany +him he would see that it was restored to her. The actions of the man had +aroused her suspicions and she had refused to go. However, she had asked +him to give her a day to think it over. He was to return at nine this +night.</p> + +<p>"Some nifty little mind reader, that Jap," smiled Johnny. "Tell him to +come round and locate my long lost uncle's buried treasure."</p> + +<p>However, though he passed the matter off as a jest, he was doing some +very serious thinking about this rather strange affair. He had never +told Hanada about the diamonds. Neither had he told of the note which +had been thrust under the door. Now he remembered that Jerry the Rat had +spoken of a Jap as a member of the Radicals, and he wondered if +Cio-Cio-San's visitor was the same man. If that were so, then what was +his game? Was he planning to lead Cio-Cio-San into a trap? Certainly if +the treasure the strange Jap had spoken of as having been stolen from +the Japanese girl was the envelope of diamonds, and they had hoped to +recover them from Johnny that night, they would have no intention of +restoring them to Cio-Cio-San.</p> + +<p>"I'd advise her, if I were you," said Johnny slowly, "to find out as +much as she can, and not take too many chances. The man may be one of +the Radicals, and he may be using the supposed treasure as a decoy. At +the same time, if she handles the affair discreetly enough, she may be +able to assist you in locating the Russian and his band, which, I take +it, is your chief end and aim in life just now."</p> + +<p>Hanada sent him another penetrating glance. "You have guessed that +much," he admitted. "Well, soon I may be able to tell you all. In the +meantime, if you need more money to pay this Jerry—Jerry, what was it +you called him?"</p> + +<p>"Jerry the Rat."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, Jerry the Rat. If you need more money for him, I can get you +more, plenty more. But," the lines of his face grew tense, "we must find +them and soon, or it may be too late. We must act quickly."</p> + +<p>Hanada had not said one word of his affairs of the night before, nor +did he now as they were about to part.</p> + +<p>Dull and heavy, there came the tread of feet on the bridge.</p> + +<p>"The police!" whispered Johnny.</p> + +<p>Hanada seemed distinctly nervous.</p> + +<p>As the two patrolmen came abreast of them one of them flashed his light.</p> + +<p>Hanada cringed into the shadows.</p> + +<p>"Well," said a deep voice, "here's luck! Youse guys come with us. Youse +guys is wanted at the station."</p> + +<p>"What for?" Johnny demanded.</p> + +<p>"Youse guys know well enough. Treason, they call it."</p> + +<p>"Treason?" Johnny gave a happy laugh. "Treason? They'll have hard work +to prove that."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Had one been privileged to see Cio-Cio-San at the moment Johnny <ins +class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: The original text reads 'Tompson'">Thompson</ins> and his friend were arrested, he might easily +have imagined that she was back in Japan. The room in which she paced +anxiously back and forth was Japanese to the final detail. The floor was +covered thickly with mattings and the walls, done in a pale blue, were +hung everywhere with long scrolls of ancient Japanese origin. Here a +silver stork stood in a pool of limpid blue; there a cherry orchard +blossomed out with all the extravagant beauty of spring, and in the +corner a pagoda, with sloping, red-tile roof and wide doors, proclaimed +the fact that the Japanese were a people of art, even down to house +building. Silk tapestries of varying tints hung about the room, while in +the shadows a small heathen god smiled a perpetual smile.</p> + +<p>But it was none of these things that the girl saw at that moment. This +room, fitted up as it had been by rich Japanese students, most certainly +had brought back fond memories of her own country. But at this instant, +her eyes turned often to a screen behind which was a stand, and on that +stand was a desk telephone.</p> + +<p>Hanada had promised to consult Johnny Thompson regarding the strange +proposition of the unknown Japanese. He had promised to call her at +once; by eight-thirty at the latest. The stranger was to return for his +answer at nine. It now lacked but ten minutes of that hour, and no call +had come from Hanada. She could not, of course, know that the men on +whom she depended for counsel were prisoners of the police. So she paced +the floor and waited.</p> + +<p>Five minutes to nine and yet no call. Wrinkles came to her forehead, her +step grew more impatient.</p> + +<p>"If he does not call, what shall I do?" she asked herself.</p> + +<p>Then there came the sharp ring of the telephone. She sprang to the +instrument, but the call was for another member of the club.</p> + +<p>Three minutes in which to decide. She walked thoughtfully across the +floor. Should she go? Her money was now almost gone. It was true that a +treasure, which to many would seem a vast fortune, had disappeared from +her father's house over night. It had been taken by force. And she knew +the man who had taken it; had followed him thousands of miles. Now there +had come to her a man of her own race, who assured her that the treasure +was not in the possession of the man who had stolen it, but in the +possession of an honest man who would willingly surrender it to her, +providing only he could be made certain that it was to go directly into +her hands. That this might be, he demanded that she meet him at a +certain place known to the strange Japanese. There she might prove her +property. The story did seem plausible—and her need was great. Soon she +would be cast out upon the world without a penny. So long as she had +money she was welcome at this club; not longer.</p> + +<p>There came the purring of a muffled bell in the hall. He had come.</p> + +<p>Should she go? A mood of reckless desperation seized her.</p> + +<p>"I will," she declared.</p> + +<p>The next instant she was tucking a short, gleaming blade beneath her +silk middy and then drawing on a long silk coat.</p> + +<p>The man waited in the hallway. He was doubtless prepared for another +extended argument, but none came. Instead, the girl walked down the +steps with him and into a waiting taxi.</p> + +<p>It was a rather long ride they took. First speeding along between rows +of apartment houses they at last dashed into the business section of +the city. The stranger sat in one corner of the cab, not saying a word. +Passing through the business section, they approached the river. It was +then that Cio-Cio-San's heart began to be filled with dread. She had +heard of many dark deeds done down by the river. But after all, what +could they want of her, a poor Japanese girl, almost without funds?</p> + +<p>The cab came to a stop with a jolt. A tall building loomed above them. +The strange Japanese held the door open that she might alight. She +stepped to the sidewalk, and, at that instant, strong arms seized her, +pinning her arms to her sides, while a coarse cloth was drawn tightly +over her mouth. She then felt herself being pushed through space, and +the next moment heard the muffled echoes of the footsteps of her +captors. They were in the basement of some great deserted building, the +sound told her that.</p> + +<p>"Betrayed! Betrayed!" her mind kept repeating. "Betrayed by one of my +own people!"</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>A THREE-CORNERED BATTLE</h3> +<br /> + +<p>While Johnny and Hanada were being led away to the patrol box a young +man came running up. He was a reporter, out scouting for news.</p> + +<p>"Who's that?" he asked, as he caught a glimpse of Johnny's face.</p> + +<p>"Johnny Thompson, you nut!" growled the policeman. "Didn't you never +view that map of his before?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but Johnny Thompson's dead."</p> + +<p>"All right, have it your own way."</p> + +<p>"What's the charge?"</p> + +<p>"Conspiracy. Now beat it."</p> + +<p>The youth started on a run for the nearest telephone. He had hit upon a +first page story. A half-hour later every newsboy in the downtown +district was shouting himself hoarse, and the words he shouted were +these:</p> + +<p>"All about Johnny Thompson. Johnny Thompson, featherweight champion. +Alive! Arrested for conspiracy! Extry!"</p> + +<p>The theatre crowds were thronging the streets, and the newsies reaped a +rich harvest. Among those in the throng was Mazie Mortimer, Johnny +Thompson's one-time pal. She had gone to the theatre alone. When Johnny +was in Chicago, she had gone with him, but now no one seemed to quite +take his place.</p> + +<p>As she hastened to the elevated station the shouts of the newsboys +struck her ears. At first she heard only those two electrifying words, +"Johnny Thompson." Then she listened and heard it all.</p> + +<p>Had she not been held up and hurried along by the throng, she would have +fallen in a faint. As it was her senses seemed to reel. "Johnny +Thompson! Alive! Arrested! Conspiracy!" It could not be true.</p> + +<p>Breaking away from the crowd, she snatched a paper from a boy, flung him +a half-dollar, then hurried to the corner, where, beneath an arclight +she read the astounding news. Again it seemed that her senses would +desert her. With an effort she made her way to a restaurant where a cup +of black coffee revived her.</p> + +<p>For a time she sat in a daze, utterly oblivious of the figure she cut—a +well dressed, handsome young woman in opera cloak and silk gown, seated +at the counter of a cheap restaurant.</p> + +<p>Johnny Thompson alive, here in Chicago, arrested for conspiracy? What +did it mean? Could it mean that Johnny had been a deserter, that he had +become involved in the radical movement which, coming from Russia, +seemed about to sweep the country off its feet? She could not quite +believe that, but—</p> + +<p>Suddenly a new thought sent her hurrying into the street. Hailing a +taxi, she ordered the chauffeur to drive around the block until she gave +him further orders. Her thoughts now were all shaped toward a definite +end: Johnny Thompson, her good pal, was not dead. He was in Chicago and +in trouble. If it were within her power, she must find him and help him.</p> + +<p>Studying the newspaper, she noted the point at which he had been +arrested. "Wells street bridge," she read. "That means the Madison +Street police station."</p> + +<p>Her lips were at the speaking tube in an instant. "Madison Street +police station, and hurry!" she ordered. "An extra five for speed." The +taxi whirled around a corner on two wheels; it shot by a policeman; +dodged up an alley, and out on the other side, then stopped with a jolt +that came near sending Mazie through the glass.</p> + +<p>"Here you are." She thrust a bill in the driver's hand, then raced up +the steps and into the forbidding police station.</p> + +<p>A sergeant looked up from the desk as she entered.</p> + +<p>"Johnny Thompson," she said excitedly. "I want to see Johnny Thompson!"</p> + +<p>"I'd like to myself, miss," he said smiling. "There never was a +featherweight like him. But he's dead."</p> + +<p>"Dead?" Mazie caught at her throat.</p> + +<p>"Sure. Didn't you read about it? Long time ago. Died in Russia."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Mazie sank limply into a chair. "Then you haven't heard? He isn't +arrested? He isn't here?"</p> + +<p>"Arrested?" The sergeant's face took on an amused and puzzled look; +then he smiled again. "Oh, yes, there was something on the records +tonight saying he and a Jap was wanted for conspiracy. But take it from +me, lady, that's all pure bunk; some crook posing as Johnny Thompson, +more than likely. I tell you, there never was a more loyal chap than +this same Johnny; one of the first to enlist."</p> + +<p>"I—I know," faltered Mazie. Now, for the first time, she noticed a man +who had entered after her. He stepped to the desk and asked a question +regarding a person she knew nothing of. Then he went silently out again. +Mazie sat quite still, then rising, she smiled faintly at the sergeant.</p> + +<p>"I—I guess you must be right—but—but the papers are full of it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, the papers!" The officer spread his hands out in a gesture of +contempt. "They'd print anything!"</p> + +<p>As Mazie stepped out into the street she was approached by a man, and +with a little start, she noticed that it was the one who had entered the +police station a few minutes before. Halting, she waited for him to +speak.</p> + +<p>"You were looking for Johnny Thompson?" He said the words almost in a +whisper.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, he is alive. He is not dead. He was arrested, but has been +discharged. I can take you to him. Shall I?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, will you?" Mazie's voice echoed her gratitude.</p> + +<p>"Sure. There's a taxi now," the man replied in a foreign accent.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Johnny had not been released; far from it. And yet it was true, he was +at that very moment free. His freedom was only from moment to moment, +however; the kind of freedom one gets who runs away from the police.</p> + +<p>It was not Johnny's fault that he ran away either. They had been +following the orders of the police to the letter, he and Hanada. They +had gone across the bridge with them, had meekly submitted to being +handcuffed, had been waiting for the patrol-wagon, when things happened.</p> + +<p>Four men dashed suddenly from the darkness, and before the patrolmen +could draw guns or clubs, before Johnny could realize what was +happening, the officers were flat on the pavement, with hands and feet +tied.</p> + +<p>Johnny's brain worked rapidly. He understood all right. These men were +Radicals. He was the prize they were after—he and the diamonds. Once +let him be taken to the police station, there to be searched, the +diamonds would be lost to them forever.</p> + +<p>But handcuffed as he was, Johnny was not the boy to submit to being +kidnapped without a fight. As one of the Radicals leaped at him, he put +his hands up, as in a sign of surrender, then brought them, iron +bracelets and all, crashing down on the fellow's head. The man went down +without a cry.</p> + +<p>Hanada, too, had not been idle. He slipped the handcuffs from his +slender wrists and seizing the club of one of the fallen policemen, +aimed a blow at the second man who leaped at Johnny. A moment later, +Johnny heard his shrill whisper:</p> + +<p>"C'mon!"</p> + +<p>They were away like a flash. Down a dark alley, over a fence, with +Johnny's handcuffs jangling, they sped. Then, after crossing a street +and leaping into a yard filled with junk and scrap iron, they paused.</p> + +<p>"Let's see," said Hanada.</p> + +<p>He took Johnny's wrist, and after twisting the iron bracelets and +working for a moment with a bit of rusty wire, he unlocked the handcuffs +and threw them in the scrap heap.</p> + +<p>"Clumsy things! Belong there," he grunted.</p> + +<p>"But," said Johnny slowly, "what's the big idea? They'll get us again, +and running away will only get us in bad. They'll think those Radicals +were in cahoots with us."</p> + +<p>"I think not," said Hanada. "We left them one or two of the Radicals for +samples. But that doesn't much matter now. They will get me, yes. And +they will not let me go either, not even under bond. But you, you have +done nothing. They will let you go. My testimony will set you free. Then +you must carry on the hunt and the fight, which they will keep me from +continuing because they do not know what they are doing. That's why I +must have a little time to talk to you before they take me; time to +explain everything, and to tell you how very important it is that you +get that Russian, and all those that are with him."</p> + +<p>"My room," whispered Johnny, now breathless with interest. "My room; the +police do not know about it. We might be able to hide there for hours. +We can reach it by the next bridge and by alleys and roofs. C'mon!"</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>HANADA'S SECRET</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny smiled grimly. He was in his old place by the window overlooking +the river. Hanada was seated beside him.</p> + +<p>They could hear the many noises that rose from the street below. Now a +patrol wagon came jangling by. Now a squad of policemen emerged from one +alley to plunge down another. A riot call had been sent in and the +streets were alive with patrolmen and detectives all on the trail of +Johnny and his Japanese companion. By this time, too, they must be on +the trail of the Radicals. So far as Johnny knew, the Radicals had not +actually interfered with the enforcement of the law. Now driven to +desperation at the thought of the loss of that treasure which was still +in Johnny's possession, they had stepped over the line. From now on the +police would be after them. Johnny was awakened from these reflections +by the voice of Hanada.</p> + +<p>"That man," the Japanese youth was saying, "that Russian, the one we +have followed so far, he is the big one, the head of the Radical +movement, and he is at this moment in conference with all his chosen +leaders. To-morrow, next day, next week, he may strike. And what will +the result be? Who can tell? In the whole world he has millions of +followers who will rise at his call. We must get him, get that man +before it is too late. I am a member of the Japanese Secret Police. And +you?"</p> + +<p>"A plain American citizen," answered Johnny, "which, by the laws of our +land, makes me a policeman, a marshal, a member of the secret +service—anything and everything, when the safety of my people, the +stability of my government, is at stake." Johnny's chest swelled +proudly.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I understand," breathed Hanada.</p> + +<p>"But," said Johnny quickly, "you say we must get that man. I have had +opportunities to kill him, to let him be killed and always you have +hindered me. Why?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you see even now?" Hanada asked. "Don't you see that now is the +time to strike? Now he is meeting with his leaders. We must take him not +alone, but the whole band. We must scatter them to the ends of the +earth, put them in prison, banish them. Then the whole affair will be +ended forever."</p> + +<p>Hanada leaned forward. His eyes glowed; his words were sharp with +excitement. Johnny listened, breathless.</p> + +<p>"We must get them all," he continued. "That is why our secret service +people allowed him to break through the lines at Vladivostok, and make +his way north to cross the Strait. That is why I followed him, as an +Eskimo, to dog his tracks and yet to protect him. That is why he could +not be killed. He was to be a decoy; a decoy for the whole band. Your +Secret Service, of which I thought you were a member, would not have +allowed him to cross to America. That is why I deserted you at East +Cape. I thought you were of the Secret Service, and would have the +Russian arrested as soon as his foot touched American soil. That is why +I said the offer of a reward for his arrest was a blunder. Don't you +see? We were to get them all."</p> + +<p>"But the girl, Cio-Cio-San?" Johnny questioned.</p> + +<p>"She is not of the secret police. She helps me as a friend, that's all, +and I will help her if I can."</p> + +<p>Johnny wished to question him regarding the treasure, but something held +him back.</p> + +<p>"So you see how it is." Hanada spoke wearily. "We have gone so far, so +very far. Mebbe to-morrow, mebbe next day, we would have uncovered their +lair; but to-night the police are on my trail, for 'treason' they call +it. Bah! It was a dream, a great and wonderful dream; a dream that would +mean much for your country and mine." His words were full of mystery. +"But now they will arrest me, and you must carry on the hunt for the +Russian and his band. This other thing, it can wait. It will come, +sometime, but not now."</p> + +<p>"What other?" asked Johnny.</p> + +<p>Hanada did not answer.</p> + +<p>There came the stealthy shuffle of feet in the corridor.</p> + +<p>"They are coming," whispered Hanada. "Remember my testimony will free +you, but you must not stop; you must hunt as never before, you must get +that man!"</p> + +<p>There came, not the expected tattoo of police billies on the door, but a +shrill whisper through the key-hole:</p> + +<p>"Johnny," the voice said, "are you there? Let me in. I seen it! I seen +it! I get the century note you promised me! Let me in!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When Mazie entered the taxi with the man who was an entire stranger to +her she did it on the impulse of the moment. The swift sequence of +events had carried her off her feet. First, she had been startled into +the hope that Johnny still lived; then she had been assured by the +police sergeant that he could not possibly be living, only to be told a +moment later by this stranger that he was still alive.</p> + +<p>Once she had settled back against the cushions and felt the jolt of the +taxi over the car tracks, she began to have misgivings. Was this a trap? +Had she better call to the driver and demand to be allowed to alight? A +glance at her fellow traveler tended to reassure her. He was +undoubtedly a foreigner, but was an honest-looking fellow and neatly +dressed.</p> + +<p>As the cab lurched into a side street toward the river, she again +experienced misgivings; but this time it was the faint hope still +lingering in her breast of seeing her good pal once more that kept her +in her seat.</p> + +<p>The taxi paused before an old building which was enshrouded in darkness. +She was ushered out of the taxi and the next instant, before she had +time to cry out, she was bound and gagged. Her feet were tied as well as +her hands, and she was hastily carried into the building. Through rooms +and halls all dark as night she was half carried, half dragged, until +she found herself out over the swirling waters of the river.</p> + +<p>Wild questions rushed through her brain. Was this murder? Bound and +gagged as she was, would she be thrown into the river to drown? Why? Who +were these men? She had not believed until that moment that she had an +enemy in the world. She knew no secrets that could inspire anyone to +kill her.</p> + +<p>While all these thoughts were driving through her brain, she was being +slowly lowered toward the water. Down, down she sank until it seemed to +her she could feel the wash of the water on her skirts. At that instant, +when all seemed lost, strong arms seized her and she was carried down a +clanking iron stairway.</p> + +<p>She caught her breath. She must now be far below the level of the water. +What place was this she was being taken into? And why?</p> + +<p>She was finally flung down upon a leather covered lounge. The next +moment the whole place seemed to be sinking with her as if she were in +some slowly descending elevator.</p> + +<p>Opening her eyes she looked about her. The place, a long and narrow +compartment, was dimly lighted by small incandescent bulbs. The +trapdoor, or whatever it had been, through which she had been carried, +was closed.</p> + +<p>Eight or ten men were grouped about the room, while in one of the +darkest corners cowered a little Japanese girl. One of the men came +close to Mazie and untied her bonds, also removing the gag. She was now +free to move and talk. She realized the utter uselessness of either. The +walls of the room appeared to be of steel. There was a strange +stuffiness about the air of the place; they must be either underground +or under water. She did not know what was to be the next move, or why +she was here. She realized only that she could do nothing.</p> + +<p>Instinctively she moved toward the girl in the corner. Before she had +gone half the distance, a man uttered a low growl of disapproval, and +motioned her to a chair. She sat down unsteadily and, as she did so, she +realized that the place had a slightly rolling motion, like a ship on +the sea.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIX"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>"I SEEN IT—A SUBMARINE!"</h3> +<br /> + +<p>When Johnny realized that it was Jerry the Rat who was whispering at the +keyhole he admitted him at once.</p> + +<p>"I seen it! I seen it; a submarine! A German submarine in the river!" +the Rat whispered excitedly. "I seen dose blokes wid me own eyes. Dey +wuz packin' a skirt thru de hatch. Den dey dropped in too. Den dey let +down the hatch, an' swush-swuey, down she went, an' all dey left was a +splash in de ol' Chicago!"</p> + +<p>"A submarine!" Johnny exclaimed. "That doesn't sound possible; not a +German submarine surely!"</p> + +<p>"The same," insisted Jerry. "Some old tub. Saw her over by the Municipal +Pier, er one like her. Some old fish!"</p> + +<p>Johnny sat in silent thought. Hanada was gazing out of the window. +Suddenly the Jap exclaimed in surprise:</p> + +<p>"Did you see that? There it goes again! Lights flashing beneath the +water. It's the 'sub' for sure. Couldn't be anything else."</p> + +<p>"I have seen such lights before," said Johnny, striving hard to maintain +a sane judgment in this time of great crisis, "but I attributed it to +phosphorus on the water."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't be!" declared Hanada. "Couldn't make a flicker and flash like +that. I tell you, it's a submarine, and the home of the Radicals. That's +why we couldn't find them. That's where our Russian disappeared to that +night on the bridge. That's where the shots came from. Remember right +from the center of the river? That's where your four assailants went to +when they vanished from that deserted building. It's the Radicals. +C'mon! We may not be too late yet. We'll get them before the police get +us."</p> + +<p>Together the three rushed from the room.</p> + +<p>"Did you say they were carrying a woman?" Johnny asked Jerry, as they +hastened down the stairs.</p> + +<p>"Yes, a skirt; a swell-looking skirt. Mouth gagged, hands tied, but +dressed to kill, opry coat and everything!"</p> + +<p>"Some more of their dirty work," Johnny grumbled, "but we'll get them +this time. If we can convince the police that they're there they'll drag +the river and haul 'em out like a dead rat."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>At the moment when the three men were hurrying down the stairs which led +from Johnny's room to the street, Mazie sat silently searching the faces +of the men about her. Wild questions raced through her brain. Who were +these men? Why had they kidnapped her? What did they want? What would +they do to her? She shivered a little at the last question.</p> + +<p>That they were criminals she had not the least doubt. Only criminals +could do such a thing. But what type of criminal <ins class="correction" +title="Transcriber's Note: The original text reads 'where'">were</ins> +they? In her research courses at the University she had visited court +rooms, jails and reformatories. Criminals were not new to her. But these +men lacked utterly the markings of the average city criminal. Their eyes +lacked the keen alertness, their fingers the slim tapering points of the +professional crook. Suddenly, as she pondered, there came to her mind a +paragraph from one of her text-books on crime:</p> + +<p>"There are two types of law-breakers. The one believes that the hand of +organized society is lifted against him; the other that he is bound to +lift his hand against organized society. The first class are the common +crooks of the street, and are ofttimes more to be pitied than blamed, +for after all, environment has been a great factor in their undoing. The +second group are those men who are opposed to all forms of organized +society. They are commonly known as Radicals. There is little to be said +in their favor. Reared, more often than not, in the lap of a society +organized for the welfare of all, they turn ungratefully against the +mother who nurtured and protected them."</p> + +<p>As she recalled this, Mazie realized that this group must be a band of +Radicals. Radicals? And one of them had promised to take her to her +friend, Johnny Thompson. Could it be that in Russia, that hotbed of +radicalism, Johnny had had his head turned and was at that moment a +member of this band? It did not seem possible. She would not for a +moment believe it.</p> + +<p>She was soon to see, for a man of distinctly Russian type, a short man +with broad shoulders, sharp chin and frowning brow, approached her, and +in a suave manner began to speak to her.</p> + +<p>"You have nothing to fear from us, Miss," he began. "We are gentlemen of +the finest type. No harm will come to you during your brief stay with +us; and I trust it may be very brief."</p> + +<p>Mazie heaved a sigh of relief. Perhaps there was going to be nothing so +very terrible about the affair after all.</p> + +<p>"We only ask a little service of you," the Russian continued as he let +down a swinging table from the wall, and drawing a chair to it, motioned +her to be seated. He next placed pen, ink and paper on the table.</p> + +<p>"You cannot know," he said with a smile, "that your friend, Johnny +Thompson, has been causing me a very great deal of trouble of late."</p> + +<p>Mazie felt a great desire to shout on hearing this, for it told her +plainly that Johnny was no friend of this crowd.</p> + +<p>"No, of course you could not know," the man went on, "since you have not +seen him. I may say frankly that your friend is clever, and has a way, +quite a way, of using his hands."</p> + +<p>Mazie did not need to be told that.</p> + +<p>"But it is not that of which I wish to speak." The Russian took a step +nearer. Mazie, feeling his hot breath on her cheek, shrank back. "Your +friend, as I say, has been troubling us a great deal, and in this he has +been misled, sadly misled. He does not understand our high and lofty +purpose; our desire to free all mankind from the bonds of organized +society. If he knew he would act far differently. Of course, you cannot +explain all this to him, but you can write him a note, just a little +note. You will write it now, in just another moment. First, I will tell +you what to say. Say to him that you are in great trouble and danger. +Say that you may be killed, or worse things may happen to you, unless he +does precisely as you tell him to do. Say that he is to leave a certain +package, about which he knows well enough, at the Pendergast Hotel, to +be given to M. Kriskie. Say that he is, after that, to leave Chicago at +once and is not to return for sixty days.</p> + +<p>"See?" He attempted another smile. "It is little that we ask of you; +little that we ask of him—virtually nothing."</p> + +<p>Mazie's heart was beating wildly. So that was the game? She was to be a +decoy. She knew nothing of Johnny's actions, but knew they were for the +good of his country. How could she ask him to abandon them for her sake?</p> + +<p>As her eyes roamed about the room they fell upon the little Jap girl. In +her face Mazie read black rage for the Russian, and a deep compassion +for herself.</p> + +<p>"Come," said the Russian; "we are wasting time. Is it not so? You must +write. You should begin now. So, it will be better for all."</p> + +<p>For answer, Mazie took the paper in her white, delicate fingers and tore +it across twice. Then she threw it on the floor.</p> + +<p>Quickly the man's attitude changed to wild rage.</p> + +<p>"So!" he roared. "You will not write? You will not? We shall see!"</p> + +<p>He seized her arm and gripped it until the blood rushed from her face, +and she was obliged to bite her lips to suppress a scream.</p> + +<p>"So!" he raged. "We shall see what happens to young women like you. +First, we will kill your young friend, Johnny Thompson; then what good +will your refusal have done? After that, we shall see what will happen +to you. We Radicals will win by fair means or foul. What does it matter +what means we take, so long as the point has been won?"</p> + +<p>Roughly he pulled her from the chair and flung her from him.</p> + +<p>Then the little Japanese girl was dragged to the chair. A Japanese man, +whom Mazie had not before noticed, came forward. From his words and +gestures Mazie concluded that he was going through, in the Japanese +language, the same program which the Russian had just finished.</p> + +<p>The results were apparently the same, for at the close the girl threw +the paper cm the floor and stamped upon it. At that the Russian's rage +knew no bounds. With an imprecation, he sprang at the Japanese girl. As +Mazie looked on in speechless horror, she fancied she caught the gleam +of a knife in the girl's hand.</p> + +<p>But at that instant the attention of all was drawn to a man, who, after +peering through some form of a periscope for a moment, had uttered a +surprised exclamation. Instantly the Japanese man sprang to a strangely +built rifle which lay against the wall. This he fitted into a frame +beside the periscope and thrust its long barrel apparently through the +ceiling of the compartment and into the water above. Adjusting a lever +here, and another there, he appeared to sight through a hollow tube that +ran along the barrel.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the Russian, a cruel gleam in his eye, "we shall kill your +two friends whom you so blindly refused to protect. Providence has +thrown them within our power. They are on the bridge at this moment. The +rifle, you see, protrudes quite through the water. Our friend's aim is +true."</p> + +<p>The Japanese girl, seeming to grasp the import of this, sprang at her +fellow countryman. But she was too late. There came the report of two +explosions in quick succession. Through the periscope, Mazie caught a +glimpse of two bodies falling on the bridge. Then she closed her eyes. +Her senses reeled.</p> + +<p>This lasted but a moment. Then her eyes were on the little Jap girl. +She had dropped to the floor, as if crushed; but there was a dark gleam +of unutterable hate in her eyes. She was looking at the Japanese man, +who, after firing the rifle, had turned and was going through a door +into a rear compartment.</p> + +<p>Like a flash, the Jap girl sprang after him. With a cry that died on her +lips, Mazie followed, and as she entered the compartment slamming the +heavy metal door, she threw down the iron clamps which held it.</p> + +<p>They were now two to one, but that one was a man. However, there was no +call for effort on her part. Like a tigress the Japanese girl, +Cio-Cio-San, sprang at the man of her own country.</p> + +<p>"You traitor!" she gasped. "You have betrayed me, your +fellow-countryman, and murdered my friend!" and she drove her dagger +into his breast to the hilt.</p> + +<p>Mazie closed her eyes and sat down dizzily. When she dared look up, she +saw the man sprawled on the floor, and the girl crouching beside him, +like a wild beast beside her kill.</p> + +<p>Seeming to feel Mazie's eyes upon her, Cio-Cio-San turned and smiled +strangely, as she said:</p> + +<p>"He is dead!"</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XX"></a><h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER</h3> +<br /> + +<p>The Russian had told the truth when he said the friends of Mazie and +Cio-Cio-San were on the bridge. Johnny and Hanada had rushed from the +room and had been standing there straining their eyes for a trace of +that strange light beneath the water, when the first shot rang out. But +the Russian had not counted on the extraordinary speed with which Johnny +could drop to earth.</p> + +<p>Before the second shot could be fired, Johnny was flat on the surface of +the bridge, quite out of range. Hanada had not fared so well. The first +shot had been aimed at him and had found its mark. He lay all crumpled +up, groaning in mortal agony.</p> + +<p>"Get you?" Johnny whispered.</p> + +<p>"Yes," the boy groaned, "but you—you get that man."</p> + +<p>There came the tramp of feet on the bridge. The police had heard the +shots. The long finger of light from the police boat again felt its way +back and forth through the darkness.</p> + +<p>"D' you shoot?" demanded the first policeman to arrive.</p> + +<p>"No! No! They didn't do it," a second man interrupted before Johnny +could reply. "It came from the river. I saw the flash. Devils of the +river's deep! What kind of a fight is this, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"I seen it! I seen it!" It was Jerry the Rat who now broke into the +gathering throng. "I seen it; a German sub."</p> + +<p>"A submarine!" echoed a half dozen policemen at once.</p> + +<p>"I think he is right," said Johnny. "You better drag the river."</p> + +<p>"Hello!" exclaimed one of the officers. "If this ain't the same two guys +we've been looking for? Johnny Thompson and the Jap."</p> + +<p>"You are right," said Johnny disgustedly, "but for once use a little +reason. There are world crooks down there in the river and they have +some helpless woman there as hostage. Perhaps by this time they may be +killing her. I'll keep. I can't get away; not for good. I'm known the +country over, beside your charge against me is false, idiotic."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," it was Hanada's hoarse whisper. "Take me to a hospital. I'll +tell all and you will know he was not in it at all. Let him help you. +And—and, for God's sake, get that man."</p> + +<p>He sank back unconscious.</p> + +<p>"Here, Mulligan," ordered a sergeant, "you and Murphy take this Jap to +the Emergency quick. You, Kelly and Flannigan, get over to the box and +call the police boats with drags. Tell 'em to drag the river from +Madison street in one direction and from the lake in the other. It +sounds like a dream, but this thing has got to be cleared up. Them shots +come from the river sure's my name's Harrigan. We got to find how it's +done."</p> + +<p>A half hour later, two innocent looking police boats moved silently up +the river from Madison street bridge. They traveled abreast, keeping +half the river's width between them. From their bows there protruded to +right and left, heavy iron shafts. From these iron shafts, at regular +intervals, there hung slender but strong steel chains. These chains +reaching nearly to the bottom of the river were fitted up at the lower +end with heavy pronged steel hooks. At that same moment, two similarly +equipped boats started up the river from the lake. They were combing the +river with a fine tooth comb.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Meanwhile the men beneath the surface of the river were not idle. They +did not realize the danger which their last act had drawn them into and +therefore did not attempt to escape by running their craft out into the +lake. But they did have other matters to attend to. One of their number +was locked in the rear compartment. His fate was unknown to them. This +much they did know, he had not unfastened the door nor answered when +they called to him.</p> + +<p>After vainly pounding and kicking the door, they lifted a heavy steel +shaft and using this as a battering ram, proceeded to smash the door +from its fastenings. At first this did not avail. But at last each +succeeding blow left a slightly larger gap between the door and its +steel jamb. Then suddenly, after a violent ram, which sent echoes +through the compartment, the lower catch gave way. With a hoarse shout +the Russian urged his men to redoubled effort. Three more times they +backed away to come plunging forward. The third blow struck the door at +the very spot where the fastening still hung. And then, with a creaking +groan the door gave way.</p> + +<p>Just inside the door, Mazie stood tense, motionless, her arms +outstretched in terror. Fingers rigid, lips half-parted in a scream, she +stared at the door. In the doorway stood the Russian, a knife gleaming +in his hand. For a second his eyes searched the room. Then they fell on +the body of the Jap huddled on the floor. Rage darkened his face as the +Russian took a step forward.</p> + +<p>At that instant there had come a dull sound of metal grating on metal. +The Russian toppled over on his side and the two girls were thrown to +the floor.</p> + +<p>The chamber had given a sudden lurch. The next instant it rolled quite +over, piling the two women and the corpse in a heap and sending the door +shut with a bang. The Russian had fallen outside. The craft rolled over, +once, twice, three times and then hung there, with the floor for its +ceiling.</p> + +<p>Overcome with fright and misery, Mazie did not stir for a full minute, +then she dragged herself from the gruesome spot where she lay.</p> + +<p>She gave one quick glance at the door. It appeared to have been wedged +solidly shut. Then she turned to Cio-Cio-San, who also had arisen.</p> + +<p>"What can have happened?" Mazie asked in a voice she could scarcely +believe was her own.</p> + +<p>What had happened was this: one of the hooks on the police boat had +caught in an outer railing of the submarine. The giant iron fish was +hooked.</p> + +<p>To throw other drags, fastened on longer chains, into the sub; to send +tugs and police boats snorting backward; to tighten the chains and draw +the sub to the surface, to whirl it about until the hatchway was once +more at the upper side, this was merely a matter of time.</p> + +<p>When the Radicals saw what had been done, they doubtless realized that +if they refused to come out the lid would be blown off and they would +be likely to perish in the explosion. They had apparently planned to +charge the police and attempt an escape, for the Russian came first with +a rush, a pistol in each hand. But Johnny Thompson's good right arm +spoiled all this. He had leaped to the surface of the sub and when the +Russian appeared he gave him a blow under the chin that lifted him off +his feet and sent him plunging into the river.</p> + +<p>Seeing this the other members of the gang surrendered.</p> + +<p>Johnny was the first man below. Seeing the closed door to the right, he +hammered on it, shouting:</p> + +<p>"C'mon out, we're the police."</p> + +<p>Slowly the door opened. There before him stood Mazie.</p> + +<p>"Mazie!" Johnny's eyes bulged with astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Johnny!" There was a sob in her voice. Then catching herself, she +glanced down at her wrinkled and blood-bespattered dress.</p> + +<p>"Johnny," she implored, "for goodness' sake get me out of this horrid +place so I can change these clothes."</p> + +<p>"There's decent enough dresses at the police station," suggested a +smiling officer.</p> + +<p>"Call the wagon," said Johnny.</p> + +<p>Soon they were rattling away toward the station, Mazie, Cio-Cio-San, and +Johnny.</p> + +<p>"Johnny," Mazie whispered, "you didn't desert, did you?"</p> + +<p>"Did you think that?" Johnny groaned in mock agony.</p> + +<p>"No, honest I didn't, but what—what did you do?"</p> + +<p>"Just got tired of waiting for Uncle Sam to bring me home from Russia, +so I walked, that's all. Here's my discharge papers, all right. And +here's my transportation."</p> + +<p>With a smile Johnny handed her the two crumpled papers.</p> + +<p>"You see," he exclaimed, "a Russian brigand got me in the left arm when +I was guarding the Trans-Siberian Railroad. They sent me to the +hospital, then gave me my discharge. Said I'd be no more good as a +soldier. And after waiting for a boat that never seemed to come I hit +out for the north. Nothing crooked about that at all, but I had to be a +bit sly about it anyway, for Uncle Sam don't like to have you take +chances even if you are discharged."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Johnny, that's grand!" murmured Mazie.</p> + +<p>The rest of the journey was accomplished in silence. Now and again Mazie +gave Johnny's arm a little squeeze, as if to make sure he was still +there.</p> + +<p>"Gee, kid," Johnny exclaimed as Mazie reappeared, after a half hour in +the matron's room. "You sure do look swell."</p> + +<p>She was dressed in the plain cotton dress furnished by the city to +destitute prisoners. But the dress was as spotlessly clean as was +Mazie's faultless complexion.</p> + +<p>"Gee, Mazie!" Johnny went on, "I've seen you in a lot of glad rags but +this tops them all. Looks like you'd just come from your own +kitchenette."</p> + +<p>Mazie bit her lip to hide her confusion. Then blushing, she said:</p> + +<p>"Johnny, I'm hungry. When do we eat?"</p> + +<p>"I know a nice place right round the corner. C'mon. Where's +Cio-Cio-San?"</p> + +<p>"Gone to the Emergency hospital."</p> + +<p>"Hanada," Johnny exclaimed. "I must find out about him."</p> + +<p>"Just came from there myself," said the police sergeant, a kindly light +in his eyes. "I'm sorry to tell you, but your friend's checked in."</p> + +<p>"Dead?"</p> + +<p>"Dead," answered the officer, "but he lived long enough to know that the +band of world outlaws was captured. He died happy knowing that he had +served his country well, and I guess that's about all any Jap asks."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, one more thing," he went on; "he cleared up that little matter +of conspiracy before he died. Something that concerned him alone. You +weren't in it. His part, well, you might call it treason, then again you +mightn't. Considering what he's done for this country and his, we don't +call it treason. It's been sponged off the slate."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to hear that," sighed Johnny, as he turned to rejoin Mazie.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE OWNER OF THE DIAMONDS</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Johnny did not return to his room that night. After reporting to the +police station and letting them know where he might be found if needed, +he secured a room in one of Chicago's finest hotels, and pulling down +the blinds turned in to sleep until noon.</p> + +<p>When he awoke he remembered at once that he had several little matters +to attend to. Hanada's funeral would be cared for by his own people. But +he must see Cio-Cio-San; he must get the hundred dollars promised to +Jerry the Rat and he must put in a claim for the thousand dollars reward +offered for the arrest of the Russian. He need bother his head no longer +about the captured Radicals. There was plenty of evidence aboard the +craft to condemn them to prison or deportation.</p> + +<p>When he came down to the hotel desk he found a letter waiting for him. +He opened this in some surprise and read it in great astonishment. It +was from one of Chicago's richest men; a man he had never met and indeed +had never dreamed of meeting. Yet here was the man's note requesting him +to meet him in his private office at five o'clock.</p> + +<p>"All right, I'll do that little thing," Johnny whispered to himself, +"but meantime I'll go out to the University and see Cio-Cio-San."</p> + +<p>An hour later he found himself sitting beside the Japanese girl on the +thick mats of that Japanese room at her club.</p> + +<p>"Cio-Cio-San," he said thoughtfully, "I remember hearing you tell of +having been robbed of a treasure. Did you find it last night in the +submarine?"</p> + +<p>"No," she said softly. "Last night was a bad night for me. I lost my +best friend. He is dead. I lost my treasure. I do not hope to ever find +it now."</p> + +<p>"Cio-Cio-San," Johnny said the name slowly. "Since you do not hope ever +to see your treasure again, perhaps you will tell me what it was."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I will tell you. You are my good friend. It was diamonds, one +hundred and ten diamonds and ten rubies, all in a leather lined envelope +with three long compartments. The rubies were at the bottom of the +envelope."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Johnny, "you are not so far from your treasure after all. A +few of the stones are gone, but most of them are safe."</p> + +<p>He drew from his pocket the envelope which he had carried so far and at +such great peril.</p> + +<p>Had he needed any reward, other than the consciousness of having done an +honest deed, he would have received it then and there in the glad cry +that escaped from the Japanese girl's lips.</p> + +<p>When she had wept for joy, she opened the envelope and shaking out the +three loose stones dropped them into Johnny's hand.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"A little reward. A present."</p> + +<p>Taking the smallest of the three between finger and thumb he gave her +back the others.</p> + +<p>"One is enough," he told her. "I'll give it to Mazie."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, to Mazie, your so beautiful, so wonderful friend," she +murmured. Then, after a moment, "As for me, I go back to my own people. +I shall spend my life and my fortune helping those very much to be +pitied ones who have lost all in that so terrible Russia."</p> + +<p>As Johnny left that room, he thought he was going to have that diamond +set in a ring and present it to Mazie the very next day. But he was not. +That interview with one of Chicago's leading bankers at five o'clock was +destined to change the course of his whole life; for though the Big Five +had never decided to act in unison with Hanada in his wild dream of a +Kamchatkan Republic—the plan which had brought his arrest as a +conspirator—they did propose to work those Kamchatkan gold mines on an +old concession, given them by the former Czar, and they did propose that +Johnny take charge of the expedition.</p> +<br /> + +<h4>THE END</h4> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Triple Spies, by Roy J. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Triple Spies + +Author: Roy J. Snell + +Release Date: October 27, 2004 [EBook #13880] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRIPLE SPIES *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and PG Distributed Proofreaders. + + + + +_Mystery Stories for Boys_ + +Triple Spies + +By ROY J. SNELL + + +The Reilly & Lee Co. +Chicago +1920 + + +[Illustration: Roy J. Snell, and his sledge-team of Alaskan Huskies.] + + +CONTENTS + + I THE DEN OF DISGUISES + II THE MYSTERIOUS RUSSIAN + III TREACHERY OUT OF THE NIGHT + IV A NARROW ESCAPE + V "FRIEND? ENEMY?" + VI "NOW I SHALL KILL YOU" + VII SAVED FROM THE MOB + VIII WHEN AN ESKIMO BECOMES A JAP + IX JOHNNY'S FREE-FOR-ALL + X THE JAP GIRL IN PERIL + XI A FACE IN THE NIGHT + XII "GET THAT MAN" + XIII BACK TO OLD CHICAGO + XIV THE MYSTERY OF THE CHICAGO RIVER + XV THE CAT CRY OF THE UNDERWORLD + XVI CIO-CIO-SAN BETRAYED + XVII A THREE-CORNERED BATTLE +XVIII HANADA'S SECRET + XIX "I SEEN IT--A SUBMARINE!" + XX AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER + XXI THE OWNER OF THE DIAMONDS + + + + +TRIPLE SPIES + + +CHAPTER I + +THE DEN OF DISGUISES + + +As Johnny Thompson stood in the dark doorway of the gray stone +court-yard he shivered. He was not cold, though this was +Siberia--Vladivostok--and a late winter night. But he was excited. + +Before him, slipping, sliding, rolling over and over on the hard packed +snow of the narrow street, two men were gripped in a life and death +struggle. They had been struggling thus for five minutes, each striving +for the upper hand. The clock in the Greek Catholic church across the +way told Johnny how long they had fought. + +He had been an accidental and entirely disinterested witness. He knew +neither of the men; he had merely happened along just when the row +began, and had lingered in the shadows to see it through. Twelve, yes, +even six months before, he would have mixed in at once; that had always +been his way in the States. Not that he was a quarrelsome fellow; on the +contrary he was fond of peace, was Johnny, in spite of the fact that he +carried on his person various medals for rather more-than-good +feather-weight fighting. He loved peace so much that he was willing to +lick almost anyone in order to make them stop fighting. That was why he +had joined the American army, and allowed himself to be made part of the +Expeditionary force that went to the Pacific coast side of Siberia. + +But twelve months in Siberia had taught him many things. He had learned +that he could not get these Russians to stop quarreling by merely +whipping them. Therefore, since these men were both Russians, he had let +them fight. + +The tall, slender man had started it. He had rushed at the short, square +shouldered one from the dark. The square shouldered one had flashed a +knife. This had been instantly knocked from his grasp. By some chance, +the knife had dropped only an arm's length from the doorway into which +Johnny had dodged. Johnny now held the knife discreetly behind his +back. + +Yes, Johnny trembled. There was a reason for that. The tall, slender man +had gained the upper hand. He was stretched across the prone form of his +antagonist, his slim, horny hands even now gliding toward the other's +throat. And, right there, Johnny had decided to draw the line. He was +not going to allow himself to witness the strangling of a man. That +wasn't his idea of fighting. He would end the fight, even at the expense +of being mussed up a bit himself, or having certain of his cherished +plans interfered with by being dragged before a "Provo" as witness or +participant. + +He was counting in a half-audible whisper, "Forty-one, forty-two, +forty-three." It was a way he had when something big was about to +happen. The hand of the slender man was at the second button on the +other's rough coat when Johnny reached fifty. At sixty it had come to +the top button. At sixty-five his long finger-tips were doubling in for +the fatal, vice-like grip. Noiselessly, Johnny laid the knife on a cross +bar of the door. Knives were too deadly. Johnny's "wallop" was quite +enough; more than enough, as the slender one might learn to his sorrow. + +But before Johnny could move a convulsion shot through the prostrate +fighter. He was again struggling wildly. At the same instant, Johnny +heard shuffling footsteps approaching around the corner. He was sure he +did not mistake the tread of Japanese military police who were guarding +that section of the city. For a moment he studied the probabilities of +the short one's power of endurance, then, deciding it sufficient to last +until the police arrived, he gripped the knife behind his back and +darted toward an opposite corner where was an alley offering safety. +There were very definite reasons why Johnny did not wish to figure even +as a witness in any case in Vladivostok that night. + +In a doorway off the alley, he paused, listening for sounds of increased +tumult. They came quickly enough. There was a renewed struggle, a grunt, +a groan; then the scuffling ceased. + +Suddenly, a figure darted down the alley. Johnny caught a clear view of +the man's face. The fugitive was the shorter man with broad shoulders +and sharp chin; the man who the moment before had been the under dog. +He was followed closely by another runner, but not his antagonist in the +street fight. This man was a Japanese; and Johnny saw to his surprise +that the Jap did not wear the uniform of the military police; in fact, +not any uniform at all. + +"Evidently, that stubby Russian with the queer chin is wanted for +something," Johnny muttered. "I wonder what. Anyway, I've got his +knife." + +At that he tucked the weapon beneath his squirrel-lined coat and, +dropping out of his corner, went cautiously on his way. + +So eager was he to attend to other matters that the episode of the +street fight was soon forgotten. Dodging around this corner, then that, +giving a wide berth to a group of American non-coms, dashing off a hasty +salute to three Japanese officers, he at last turned up a narrow alley, +and, with a sigh of relief, gave three sharp raps, then a muffled one, +at a door half hidden in the gloom. + +The door opened a crack, and a pair of squint eyes studied him +cautiously. + +"Ow!" said the yellow man, opening the door wider, and then closing it +almost before Johnny could crowd himself inside. + +To one coming from the outer air, the reeking atmosphere within this low +ceilinged, narrow room was stifling. There was a blend of vile odors; +opium smoke, not too ancient in origin, mixed with smells of cooking, +while an ill-defined but all-pervading odor permeated the place; such an +odor as one finds in a tailor's repair shop, or in the place of a dealer +in second-hand clothing. + +Second-hand clothing, that was Wo Cheng's line. But it was a rather +unusual shop he kept. Being a Chinaman, he could adapt himself to +circumstances, at least within his own realm, which was clothes. His +establishment had grown up out of the grim necessity and dire pressure +of war. Not that the pressure was on his own person; far from that. +Somewhere back in China this crafty fellow was accumulating a fortune. +He was making it in this dim, taper-lighted, secret shop, opening off an +alley in Vladivostok. + +In these times of shifting scenes, when the rich of to-day were the poor +of to-morrow, or at least were under the necessity of feigning poverty, +there were many people who wished to change their station in life, and +that very quickly. It was Wo Cheng's business to help them make this +change. Many a Russian noble had sought this noisome shop to exchange +his "purple and fine linen" for very humble garb, and just what he took +from the pockets of one and put in the pockets of the other suit, Wo +Cheng had a way of guessing, though he appeared not to see at all. + +Johnny had known Wo Cheng for some time. He had discovered his shop by +accident when out scouting for billets for American soldiers. He had +later assisted in protecting the place from a raid by Japanese military +police. + +"You wanchee somsling?" The Oriental grinned, as Johnny seated himself +cross-legged on a grass mat. + +"Yep," Johnny grinned in return, "wanchee change." He gripped the lapel +of his blouse, as if he would remove it and exchange for another. + +"You wanchee clange?" The Chinaman squinted at him with an air of +incredulity. + +Then a light of understanding seemed to over-spread his face. "Ow!" he +exclaimed, "no can do, Mellican officer, not any. No can do." + +"Wo Cheng, you no savvy," answered Johnny, glancing about at the tiers +of costumes which hung on either side of the wall. + +"Savvy! Savvy!" exclaimed Wo Cheng, bounding away to return with the +uniform of an American private. "Officer, all same," he exclaimed. "No +can do." + +"No good," said Johnny, starting up. "You no savvy. Mebby you no wanchee +savvy. No wanchee uniform. Wanchee clothes, fur, fur, plenty warm, you +savvy? Go north, north, cold, savvy?" + +"Ow!" exclaimed the Chinaman, scratching his head. + +"Wo Cheng!" said Johnny solemnly, "long time my see you. Allatime, my +see you. Not speak American Major; not speak Japanese police." + +Wo Cheng shivered. + +"Now," said Johnny, "my come buy." + +"Ow!" grunted Wo Cheng, ducking from sight and reappearing quickly with +a great coat of real seal, trimmed with sea otter, a trifle which had +cost some noble of other days a king's ransom. + +"No wanchee," Johnny shook his head. + +"Ow!" Wo Cheng shook his head incredulously. This was his rarest +offering. "You no got cumshaw, money?" he grinned. "All wite, my say." + +"No wanchee my," Johnny repeated. + +The Chinaman took the garment away, and returned with a similar one, +less pretentious. This, too, was waved aside. + +By this time Johnny had become impatient. Time was passing. A special +train was to go north at four o'clock. It was going for reindeer meat, +rations for the regiment that was Johnny's, or, at least, had been +Johnny's. He could catch a ride on that train. A five hundred mile lift +on a three thousand mile jaunt was not to be missed just because this +Chink was something of a blockhead. + +Pushing the proprietor gently to one side, Johnny made his way toward +the back of the room. Scrutinizing the hangers as he went, and giving +them an occasional fling here and there, as some garment caught his eye, +he came presently upon a solid square yard of fur. With a grunt of +satisfaction, he dragged one of the garments from its place and held it +before the flickering yellow taper. + +The thing was shaped like a middy-blouse, only a little longer and it +had a hood attached. It was made of the gray squirrel skins of Siberia, +and was trimmed with wolf's skin. As Johnny held it against his body, it +reached to his knees. It was, in fact, a parka, such as is worn by the +Eskimos of Alaska and the Chukches, aborigines of North Siberia. + +One by one, Johnny dragged similar garments from their hangers. Coming +at last upon one made of the brown summer skins of reindeer, and trimmed +with wolverine, he seemed satisfied, for, tossing the others into a +pile, he had drawn off his blouse and was about to throw the parka over +his head, when something fell with a jangling rattle to the floor. + +"O-o-ee!" grunted the Chinaman, as he stared at the thing. It was the +knife which had belonged to the Russian of the broad shoulders and sharp +chin. As Johnny's eyes fell upon it now, he realized that it was an +altogether unusual weapon. The blade was of blue steel, and from its +ring it appeared to be exceptionally well tempered. The handle was of +strangely carved ivory. + +Quickly thrusting the knife beneath his belt, Johnny again took up the +parka. This time, as he drew the garment down over his head, he appeared +to experience considerable difficulty in getting his left arm into the +sleeve. This task accomplished, he stretched himself this way and that. +He smoothed down the fur thoughtfully, pulled the hood about his ears, +and back again, twisted himself about to test the fit, then, with a sigh +of content, turned to examine a pile of fur trousers. + +At that instant there came a low rap at the door--three raps, to be +accurate--then a muffled thud. + +Johnny started. Someone wanted to enter. He was not exactly in a +condition to be seen, especially if the person should prove to be an +American officer. His fur parka, topping those khaki trousers and +puttees of his, would seem at least to tell a tale, and might complicate +matters considerably. Quickly seizing his blouse, he crowded his way +far back into the depths of a furry mass of long coats. + +"Wo Cheng!" he whispered, "my wanchee you keep mouth shut. Allatime +shut!" + +"O-o-ee," grunted the Chinaman. + +The next moment he had opened the door a crack. + +The squint eyes of the Chinaman surveyed the person without for a long +time, so long, in fact, that Johnny began to wonder what sort of person +the newcomer could be. Wo Cheng was keen of wit. To many he refused +entrance. But he was also a keen trader. All manner of men and women +came to him; some for a permanent change of costume, some for a night's +exchange only. Peasants, grown suddenly and strangely rich, bearing +passports and tickets for other lands, came to buy the cast-off finery +of the one time nobility. Russian, Japanese, American soldiers and +officers came to Wo Cheng for a change, most of them for a single twelve +hours, that they might revel in places forbidden to men in uniform. But +some came for a permanent change. Wo Cheng never inquired why. He asked +only "Cumshaw, money," and got it. + +Was this newcomer Russian, Japanese, Chinaman or American? + +The door at last opened half way, then closed quickly. The person who +stood blinking in the light was not a man, but a woman, a short and slim +young woman, with the dark round face of a Japanese. + +"You come buy?" solicited Wo Cheng. + +For answer, the woman drew off her outer garment of some strange wool +texture and trimmed with ermine. Then, as if it were an everyday +occurrence, she stepped out of her rich silk gown, and stood there in a +suit of deep purple pajamas. + +She then stared about the place until her eyes reached the fur garments +which Johnny had recently examined. With a laugh and a spring, lithe as +a panther, she seized upon one of these, then discarding it with a +fling, delved deeper until she came upon some smaller garments, which +might better fit her slight form. Comparing for a moment one of squirrel +skin with one of fawn skin, she finally laid aside the latter. Then she +attacked the pile of fur trousers. At the bottom she came upon some +short bloomers, made also of fawn skin. With another little gurgle of +laughter, she stepped into these. Next she drew the spotted fawn skin +parka over her head, and stood there at last, the picture of a winsome +Eskimo maid. + +This done, woman-like, she plumed herself for a time before a murky +mirror. Then, turning briskly, she slipped out of the garments and back +into her own. + +"You wanchee cumshaw?" she asked, handing the furs to the Chinaman to be +wrapped. + +The Chinaman grinned. + +From somewhere on her person she extracted bills, American bills. Johnny +was not surprised at that, for in these uncertain times, American money +had come to be an undisputed medium of exchange. It was always worth as +much to-day as yesterday--very often more. The thing that did surprise +Johnny was the size of the bills she left with the dealer. She was +buying those garments, there could be no question about that. But why? +No one in this region would think of wearing them. They were seldom seen +five hundred miles north. And this woman was a Japanese. There were no +Japanese men at Khabarask, five hundred miles north, let alone Japanese +women; Johnny knew that. + +But the door had closed. The American looked at his watch. It was one +o'clock. The train went at four. He must hurry. + +He was about to move out from among the furs, when again there came a +rap, this time loud and insistent, as if coming from one who was +accustomed to be obeyed. + +"American officer!" Johnny stifled a groan, as he slid back into hiding. + +"Wo Cheng!" he cautioned again in a whisper, "my wanchee you keep mouth +shut; you savvy?" + +"O-o-ee," mumbled Wo Cheng, his hand on the latch. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE MYSTERIOUS RUSSIAN + + +Johnny's jaw dropped, and he barely checked a gasp, as through his +screen of furs he saw the man who now entered Wo Cheng's den of +disguises. He was none other than the man of the street fight, the short +one of the broad shoulders and sharp chin. Johnny was surprised in more +ways than one; surprised that the man was here at all; that it could +have been he who had given that authoritative signal at the door, and +most of all, surprised that Wo Cheng should have admitted him so +readily, and should be treating him with such deference. + +"Evidently," Johnny thought to himself, "this fellow has been here +before." + +Although unquestionably a Russian, the newcomer appeared quite equal to +the task of making his wants known in Chinese, for after a moment's +conversation the two men made their way toward the back of the room. + +Johnny had his second shock when he saw the garments the Russian began +to examine. They were no other than those which had twice before in the +last hour been examined by customers, the clothing for the Far North. +This was too much. Again, he barely checked a gasp. Was the entire +population of the city about to move to the polar regions? He would ask +Wo Cheng. In the meantime, Johnny prayed that the Russian might make his +choice speedily, since the time of departure of his train was +approaching. + +The Russian made his selections, apparently more from a sense of taste +than with an eye to warmth and service. This final choice was a suit of +squirrel skin and boots of deer skin. + +"Cumshaw?" + +Into Wo Cheng's beady, squinting eyes, as he addressed this word to the +Russian, there came a look of malignant cunning which Johnny had not +seen there before. It sent chills racing up and down his spine. It +almost seemed to him that the Chinaman's hand was feeling for his belt, +where his knife was hidden. + +For a moment the Russian turned his back to Wo Cheng, and so faced +Johnny. Behind his screen, the "Yank" could observe his actions without +himself being seen. + +From an inner pocket the Russian extracted a long, thick envelope. +Unwrapping the cord at the top of this, he shook from it three shining +particles. + +"Diamonds!" Johnny's eyes were dazzled with the lustre of the jewels. + +The Russian, selecting one, dropped the others back into the envelope. + +"Bet he's got a hundred more," was Johnny's mental comment. Then he +noticed a peculiarity of the envelope. There was a red circle in the +lower, left hand corner, as if a seal had been stamped there. He would +remember that envelope should he ever see it again. + +But at this instant his attention was drawn to the men again. The +Russian had turned and handed the gem to Wo Cheng. Wo Cheng stepped to +the light and examined it. + +"No need cumshaw my," he murmured. + +The Russian bowed gravely, and turned toward the door. + +It was then that the face of the Chinaman underwent a rapid change. The +look of craftiness, treachery, and greed swept over it again. This time +the yellow man's hand unmistakably reached for the knife. + +Then he appeared to remember Johnny, for his hand dropped, and he half +turned with an air of guilt. + +The door closed with a little swish. The Russian was gone. With him went +the stifling air of treachery, murder and intrigue, yet it left Johnny +wondering. Why was every man's hand lifted against the sharp-chinned +Russian? Had Wo Cheng been actuated by hate, or by greed? Johnny could +not but wonder if some of Russia's former noblemen did not rest in +shallow graves beneath Wo Cheng's cellar floor. But there was little +time for speculation. In two hours the special train that Johnny wanted +to take would be on its way north. + +Springing nimbly from his place of hiding, Johnny recovered his blouse, +and having secured from it certain papers, which were of the utmost +importance to him, he pinned them in a pocket of his shirt. He next +selected a pair of wolf skin trousers, a pair of corduroy trousers, one +pair of deer skin boots and two of seal skin. + +"Cumshaw?" he grinned, facing Wo Cheng, as he completed his selection. + +The yellow man shrugged his shoulders, as if to say it made little +difference to him in this case. + +Johnny peeled a bill from his roll of United States currency and handed +it to him. + +"Wo Cheng," he said slowly, "go north, Jap woman? Go north, that +Russian? Why?" + +The Chinaman's face took on a mask-like appearance. + +"No can do," he muttered. "Allatime keep mouth shut my." + +"Tell me," commanded Johnny, advancing in a threatening manner, with his +hand near the Russian's knife. + +"No can do," protested the Chinaman cringing away. "Allatime keep mouth +shut my. No ask my. No tell my. Allatime buy, sell my. No savvy my." + +It was evident that nothing was to be learned here of the intentions of +the two strangers; so, grasping his bundle, Johnny lifted the latch and +found himself out in the silent, deserted alley. + +The air was kind to his heated brow. As he took the first few steps his +costume troubled him. He was wearing the parka and the corduroy +trousers. He felt no longer the slight tug of puttees about his ankles. +His trousers flapped against his legs at every step. The hood heated the +back of his neck. The fur trousers and the skin boots were in the bundle +under his arm. His soldier's uniform he had left with the keeper of the +hidden clothes shop. He hardly thought that anyone, save a very personal +acquaintance, would recognize him in his new garb, and there was little +chance of such a meeting at this hour of the night. However, he gave +three American officers, apparently returning from a late party of some +sort, a wide berth, and dodging down a narrow street, made his way +toward the railway yards where he would find the drowsy comforts of the +caboose of the "Reindeer Special." + + * * * * * + +"American, ain't y'?" A sergeant of the United States army addressed +this question to Johnny. + +The latter was curled up half asleep in a corner of the caboose of the +"Reindeer Special" which had been bumping over the rails for some time. + +"Ya-a," he yawned. + +"Going north to trade, I s'pose?" + +Johnny was tempted not to answer. Still, he was not yet out of the +woods. + +"Yep," he replied cheerfully. "Red fox, white fox, mink, squirrel, +ermine, muskrat. Mighty good price." + +"Where's your pack?" The sergeant half grinned. + +Johnny sat up and stared. No, it was not that he had had a pack and lost +it. It was that he had never had a pack. And traders carried packs. Why +to be sure; things to trade for furs. + +"Pack?" he said confusedly. "Ah-er, yes. Why, yes, my pack, of course, +why I left it; no--hang it! Come to think of it, I'm getting that at the +end of this line, Khabarask, you know." + +Johnny studied the old sergeant through narrowing eyelids. He had given +him a ten spot before the train rattled from the yards. Was that enough? +Would any sum be enough? Johnny shivered a little. The man was an old +regular, a veteran of many battles not given in histories. Was he one +of those who took this motto: "Anything's all right that you can get +away with?" Johnny wondered. It might be, just might be, that Johnny +would go back on this same train to Vladivostok; and that, Johnny had no +desire to do. + +The sergeant's eyes closed for a wink of sleep. Johnny looked furtively +about the car. The three other occupants were asleep. He drew a fat roll +of American bills from his pocket. From the very center he extracted a +well worn one dollar bill. Having replaced the roll, he smoothed out the +"one spot" and examined it closely. Across the face of it was a purple +stamp. In the circle of this stamp were the words, "Wales, Alaska." A +smile spread over Johnny's shrewd, young face. + +"Yes sir, there you are, li'l ol' one-case note," he whispered. "You +come all the way from God's country, from Alaska to Vladivostok, all by +yourself. I don't know how many times you changed hands before you got +here, but here you are, and it took you only four months to come. Stay +with me, little old bit of Uncle Sam's treasure, and I'll take you +home; straight back to God's country." + +He folded the bill carefully and stowed it in an inner pocket, next to +his heart. + +If the missionary postmistress at Cape Prince of Wales, on Behring +Strait, had realized what homesick feelings she was going to stir up in +Johnny's heart by impressing her post office stamp on that bill before +she paid it to some Eskimo, perhaps she would not have stamped it, and +then again, perhaps she would. + +A sudden jolt as they rumbled on to a sidetrack awoke the sergeant, who +seemed disposed to resume the conversation where he had left off. + +"S'pose it's mighty dangerous tradin' on this side?" + +"Uh-huh," Johnny grunted. + +"S'pose it's a long way back to God's country this way?" + +"Uh-huh." + +"Lot of the boys mighty sick of soldiering over here. Lot of 'em 'ud try +it back to God's country 'f 'twasn't so far." + +"Would, huh?" Johnny yawned. + +"Ye-ah, and then the officers are mighty hard on the ones they +ketch--ketch desertin', I mean--officers are; when they ketch 'em, an' +they mostly do." + +"Do what?" Johnny tried to yawn again. + +"Ketch 'em! They're fierce at that." + +There was a knowing grin on the sergeant's face, but no wink followed. +Johnny waited anxiously for the wink. + +"But it's tough, now ain't it?" observed the sergeant. "We can't go home +and can't fight. What we here for, anyway?" + +"Ye-ah," Johnny smiled hopefully. + +"Expected to go home long ago, but no transportation, not before spring; +not even for them that's got discharges and papers to go home. It's +tough! You'd think a lot of 'em 'ud try goin' north to Alaska, wouldn't +you? Three days in God's country's worth three years in Leavenworth; +you'd think they'd try it. And they would, if 't'wasn't so far. Gad! +Three thousand miles! I'd admire the pluck of the fellow that dared." + +This time the wink which Johnny had been so anxiously awaiting came; a +full, free and frank wink it was. He winked back, then settled down in +his corner to sleep. + +A train rattled by. The "Reindeer Special" bumped back on the main track +and went crashing on its way. It screeched through little villages, half +buried in snow. It glided along between plains of whiteness. It rattled +between narrow hills, but Johnny was unconscious of it all. He was fast +asleep, storing up strength for the morrow, and the many wild to-morrows +which were to follow. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +TREACHERY OUT OF THE NIGHT + + +Johnny moved restlessly beneath his furs. He had been dreaming, and in +his dream he had traveled far over scorching deserts, his steed a camel, +his companions Arabs. In his dream he slept by night on the burning +sand, with only a silken canopy above him. In his dream he had awakened +with a sense of impending danger. A prowling tiger had wandered over the +desert, an Arab had proved treacherous--who knows what? The feeling, +after all, had been only of a vague dread. + +The dream had wakened him, and now he lay staring into utter darkness +and marveling that the dream was so much like the reality. He was +traveling over barren wastes with a caravan; had been for three days. +But the waste they crossed was a waste of snow. His companions were +natives--who like the Arabs, lived a nomadic life. Their steeds the +swift footed reindeer, their tents the igloos of walrus and reindeer +skins, they roamed over a territory hundreds of miles in extent. To one +of these "fleets of the frozen desert," Johnny had attached himself +after leaving the train. + +It had been a wonderful three days that he had spent in his journeying +northward. These Chukches of Siberia, so like the Eskimos of Alaska that +one could distinguish them only by the language they spoke, lived a +romantic life. Johnny had entered into this life with all the zest of +youth. True, he had found himself very awkward in many things and had +been set aside with a growled, "Dezra" (that is enough), many times but +he had persevered and had learned far more about the ways of these +nomads of the great, white north than they themselves suspected. + +During those three days Johnny's eyes had been always on the job. He had +not traveled a dozen miles before he had made a thorough study of the +reindeer equipment. This, indeed, was simple enough, but the simpler +one's equipment, the more thorough must be one's knowledge of its +handling. The harness of the deer was made of split walrus skin and +wood. Simple wooden hames, cut to fit the shoulders of the deer and tied +together with a leather thong, took the place of both collar and hames +of other harnesses. From the bottom of these hames ran a broad strap of +leather. This, passing between both the fore and hind legs of the deer, +was fastened to the sled. A second broad strap was passed around the +deer's body directly behind the fore legs. This held the pulling strap +above the ground to prevent the reindeer from stepping over his trace. +In travel, in spite of this precaution, the deer did often step over the +trace. In such cases, the driver had but to seize the draw strap and +give it a quick pull, sending the sled close to the deer's heels. This +gave the draw straps slack and the deer stepped over the trace again to +his proper place. + +The sleds were made of a good quality of hard wood procured from the +river forests or from the Russians, and fitted with shoes of steel or of +walrus ivory cut in thin strips. The sleds were built short, broad and +low. This prevented many a spill, for as Johnny soon learned, the +reindeer is a cross between a burro and an ox in his disposition, and, +once he has scented a rich bed of mosses and lichens, on which he feeds, +he takes on the strength and speed of an ox stampeding for a water hole +in the desert, and the stubbornness of a burro drawn away from his +favorite thistle. + +The deer were driven by a single leather strap; the old, old jerk strap +of the days of ox teams. Johnny had demanded at once the privilege of +driving but he had made a sorry mess of it. He had jerked the strap to +make the deer go more slowly. This really being the signal for greater +speed, the deer had bolted across the tundra, at last spilling Johnny +and his load of Chukche plunder over a cutbank. This procedure did not +please the Chukches, and Johnny was not given a second opportunity to +drive. He was compelled to trot along beside the sleds or, back to back +with one of his fellow travelers, to ride over the gleaming whiteness +that lay everywhere. + +It was at such times as these that Johnny had ample opportunity to study +the country through which they passed. Lighted as it was by a glorious +moon, it presented a grand and fascinating panorama. To the right lay +the frozen ocean, its white expanse cut here and there by a pool of salt +water pitchy black by contrast with the ice. To the left lay the +mountains extending as far as the eye could see, with their dark purple +shadows and triangles of light and seeming but another sea, that +tempest-tossed and terrible had been congealed by the bitter northern +blasts. + +When twelve hours of travel had been accomplished, and it had been +proposed that they camp for the night, Johnny had been quite free to +offer his assistance in setting up the tents. In this he had been even +less successful than in his performance with the reindeer. He had set +the igloo poles wrong end up and, when these had been righted, had +spread the long haired deerskin robes, which were to serve as the inner +lining of the shelters, hair side out, which was also wrong. He had once +more been relegated to the background. This time he had not cared, for +it gave him an opportunity to study his fellow travelers. They were for +the most part a dark and sullen bunch. Not understanding Johnny's +language, they did not attempt to talk with him, but certain gloomy +glances seemed to tell him that, though his money had been accepted by +them, there was still some secret reason why he might have been +traveling in safer company. + +This, however, was more a feeling than an idea based on any overt act of +the natives, and Johnny tried to shake it off. That he might do this +more quickly, he gave himself over to the study of these strange nomads. +Their dress was a one-piece suit made of short haired deer skins. Men, +women and children dressed alike, with the exception that very small +children were sewed into their garments, hands, feet and all and were +strapped on the sleds like bundles. + +The food was strange to the American. One needed a good appetite to +enjoy it. Great twenty-five pound white fish were produced from skin +bags and sliced off to be eaten raw. Reindeer meat was stewed in copper +kettles. Hard tack was soaked in water and mixed with reindeer suet. Tea +from the ever present Russian tea kettle and seal oil from a sewed up +seal skin took the place of drink and relish. The tea was good, the +seal oil unspeakable, a liquid not even to be smelled of by a white man, +let alone tasted. + +By the second day Johnny had found himself confining his associations to +one person, who, to all appearances, was a fellow passenger, and not a +member of the tribe. He had learned to pitch his own igloo and hers. Not +five hours before he had hewn away a hard bank of snow and built there a +shelf for his bed. When his igloo was completed he had erected a second +not many feet away. This was for his fellow passenger. In case anything +should happen he felt that he would like to be near her, and she had +shown by many little signs that she shared his feelings in this. + +"In case something happened," Johnny reflected drowsily. He had a +feeling that, sooner or later, something was going to happen. There was +something altogether mysterious about the actions of these Chukches, +especially one great sullen fellow, who had come skulking about Johnny's +igloo just before he had turned in. + +These natives were supposed to be trustworthy, but Johnny had his +misgivings and was on his guard. They had come in contact with +Russians, perhaps also with Orientals, and had learned treachery. + +"And yet," thought Johnny, "what could they want from me? I paid them +well for my transportation. They sold their reindeer to the American +army for a fat price. They would be more than greedy if they wanted +more." + +Nevertheless, the air of mystery hung about him like a dark cloud. He +could not sleep. And not being able to sleep, he meditated. + +He had already begun the eternal round of thoughts that will revolve +through a fellow's brain at night, when he heard a sound--the soft crush +of a skin boot in the snow it seemed. He listened and thought he heard +it again, this time more distinctly, as if the person were approaching +his igloo. A chill crept up and down his spine. His right hand +involuntarily freed itself from the furs and sought the cold hilt of the +Russian knife. He had his army automatic, but where there are many ears +to hear a shot, a knife is better. + +"What an ideal trap for treachery, this igloo! A villain need but creep +through tent-flaps, pause for a breath, then stealthily lift the deer +skin curtain. A stab or a shot, and all would be ended." These thoughts +sped through Johnny's mind. + +Scarcely breathing, he waited for other signs of life abroad at that +hour of night--a night sixteen hours long. He heard nothing. + +Finally, his mind took up again the endless chain of thought. He had +arrived safely at Khabarask, the terminus of the Russian line. Here he +had remained for three days, half in hiding, until the "Reindeer +Special" had completed its loading and had started on its southern +journey to the waiting doughboys. During those three days he had made +two startling discoveries; the short Russian of the broad shoulders and +sharp chin, he of the envelope of diamonds, was in Khabarask. Johnny had +seen him in an eating place, and had had an opportunity to study him +without being observed. The man, he concluded, although a total stranger +in these parts, was a person of consequence, a leader of some sort, +accustomed to being obeyed. There seemed a brutal certainty about the +way he ordered the servants of the place to do his bidding. There was a +constant wrinkle of a frown between his eyes. A man, perhaps without a +sense of humor, he would force every issue to the utmost. Once given an +idea, he would override all obstacles to carry it through, not stopping +at death, or at many deaths. This had been Johnny's mental analysis of +the character of the man, and at once he began to half hate and half +admire him. He had lost sight of him immediately, and had not discovered +him again. Whether the Russian had left town before the native band did, +Johnny could not tell. But, if he had moved on, where did he go? + +The other shock was similar in character. The woman who had bought furs +for the North had also been in Khabarask. Whether she was a Japanese +Johnny was not prepared to say, and that in spite of the fact that he +had studied her carefully for five days. She might be a Chukche who, +through some strange impulse, had been led south to seek culture and +education. He doubted that. She might be an Eskimo from Alaska making +her way north to cross Behring Strait in the spring. He doubted that +also. Finally she might be a Japanese woman, but in that case, what +could be the explanation of her presence here, some two hundred miles +north of the last vestige of civilization? + +Now, not ten feet from the spot where Johnny lay in an igloo assigned +for her private use by the natives, that identical girl slept at this +moment. Only four hours before, Johnny had bade her good night, after an +enjoyable repast of tea, reindeer meat and hard bread prepared by her +own hand over a small wood fire. It was she who was his fellow +passenger, whose igloo he had erected, close to his own. Yes, there was +mystery enough about the whole situation to keep any fellow awake; yet +Johnny hated himself for not sleeping. He felt that the time was coming +when he would need stored strength. + +He had half dosed off when a sound very close at hand, within the walls +of canvas he thought, started him again into wakefulness. His arm ready +and free for action, he lay still. His breathing well regulated and +even, as in sleep, he watched through narrow slit eyes the deer skin +curtain rise, and a head appear. The ugly shaved head of a Chukche it +was; and in the intruder's hand was a knife. + +The knife startled Johnny. He could not believe his eyes. He thought he +was seeing double; yet he did not move. + +Slowly, silently the arm of the native rose until it hung over Johnny's +heart. In a second it would-- + +In that second something happened. There came a deadly thwack. The +native, without a cry, fell backward beyond the curtain. His knife shot +outward too, and stuck hilt downward in the snow. + +Johnny drew himself slowly from beneath the furs. Lifting the deer skin +curtain cautiously, he looked out. Then he chuckled a cold, dry chuckle. +His knuckles were bloody, for the only weapon he had used was that truly +American weapon, a clenched fist. Johnny, as I have suggested before, +was somewhat handy with his "dukes." His left was a bit out of repair +just now, but his right was quite all right, as the crumpled heap of a +man testified. + +Johnny bent over the man and twisted his head about. No, his neck was +not broken. Johnny was thankful for that. He hated to see dead people +even when they richly deserved to die. + +Then he turned to the knife. He started again, as he extricated the +hilt from the snow. But there was no time for examining it. His ear +caught a stifled cry, a woman's cry. It came, without a doubt, from the +igloo of his fellow traveler, the woman. Hastily thrusting his knife in +his belt, he threw back the tentflap and crossed the intervening +snowpatch in three strides. + +He threw back the canvas just in time to seize a second native by the +hood of his deer skin parka. He whirled the man completely about, tossed +him high in the air, then struck him as he was coming down; struck him +in the same place he had hit the other, only harder, very much harder. +He did not examine him later for a broken neck, either. + +Turning, Johnny saw the woman staring at him. Evidently she had slept in +her furs. As she stood there now, she seemed quite equal to the task of +caring for herself. There was a muscular sturdiness about her which +Johnny had failed to notice before. In her hand gleamed a wicked looking +dagger with a twisted blade. + +But that she had been caught unawares, there could be no question, and +from the kindly flash in her eyes Johnny read the fact that she was +grateful for her deliverance. + +He threw one glance at the other igloos. Standing there casting dark, +purple shadows, they were strangely silent. Apparently these two +murderers had been appointed to accomplish the task alone. The others +were asleep. For this Johnny was thankful. + +Turning to the woman he said sharply: + +"Gotta git outa here. You, me, savvy?" + +"Savvy," she replied placidly. + +Seizing her fur bag of small belongings, Johnny hastened before her to +where the sled deer were tethered. Two sleds were still loaded, one with +an unused igloo and deerskins, the other with food. To each of these +Johnny hastily harnessed a reindeer. Then whipping out his knife, he cut +the tether of all the other deer. They would follow; it was the way of +reindeer. + +Johnny smiled. These extra deer would spell the others and quicken +travel. In case of need, they could be killed for food. Besides, if they +had no deer, the treacherous natives could not follow. They would be +obliged to return to the Russian town they had left and make a new +start, and by that time--Johnny patted his chest where reposed the bill +with the Alaskan stamp on it, and murmured: + +"Stay with me li'l' ol' one-spot, and I'll take you home." + +He cast one more glance toward the igloos. Not a soul had stirred. + +"We're off," he exclaimed, leaping on his sled and slapping his reindeer +on the thigh with the jerkstrap. + +"Yes," the Jap girl smiled as she followed his example. + +Johnny thought they were "off," but it took only an instant to tell that +they were not. His deer cut a circle and sent him gliding away over the +snows. Fortunately he held to his jerkstrap and at last succeeded in +stopping the animal's mad rush. + +The Jap girl smiled again as she took the jerkstrap from his hand and +tied it down short to her own sled. Then she leaped upon her sled again +and, with some cooing words spoke to her reindeer. The deer tossed his +antlers and trotted quietly away, leaving Johnny to spring upon his own +sled and ride in increasing wonderment over the long glistening miles. + +When they had traveled for eight hours without a pause and without a +balk, the Jap girl allowed her deer to stop. She loosened the draw strap +and, turning the animal about, tied him by a long line to the sled, that +he might paw moss from beneath the snow in a wide circle. + +"How--how'd you know how to drive?" Johnny stammered. + +"Never before so," she smiled. + +"You mean you never drove a reindeer?" + +"Before now, no. Hungry you?" The Jap girl smiled, as if to say, "Enough +about that, let's eat." + +It was a royal meal they ate together, those two there beneath the +Arctic moon. This Jap girl was a wonder, Johnny felt that, and he was to +learn it more certainly as the days passed. + +Three days later he sat upon a robe of deer skin. The corners of the +robe were drawn up over his shoulders. A shelter of deer skins and +walrus skins, hastily improvised by him during the beginning of a +terrible blizzard which came howling down from the north, was ample to +keep the wind from driving the biting snow into their faces, but it +could hardly keep out the cold. In spite of that, the Jap girl, buried +in deer skins, with her back against his, was sleeping soundly. Johnny +was sleeping bolt upright with one ear awake. His reindeer were picketed +close to the improvised igloo. Other nights, they had taken turns +watching to protect them from prowling wolves, but this night no one +could long withstand the numbing cold of the blizzard. So he watched and +half slept. Now he caught the rising howl of the wind, and now felt its +lull as the deer skins sagged. But what was this? Was there a different +note, a howl that was not of the wind? + +Shaking himself into entire wakefulness, Johnny sat bolt upright and +listened intently. Yes, there it was again. A wolf beyond doubt, as yet +some distance away, but coming toward them with the wind. + +A wolf, a single one, was not all menace. If he could be shot before his +fangs tore at the flesh of a reindeer, there would be gain. He would be +food, and at the present moment there was no food. The Jap girl did not +know it, but Johnny did. Not a fish, not a hunk of venison, not a pilot +biscuit was on their sled. They would soon be reduced to the necessity +of killing and eating one of their deer, unless, unless--the howl came +more plainly and strangely enough with it came the crack crack of hoofs. + +Johnny sprang to his feet. What could that crack cracking of hoofs mean? +Had one of his deer already broken his tether? + +With automatic in hand, he was out in the storm in an instant. Even as +he became accustomed to the dim light, he saw a skulking form drifting +down with the wind. Dropping upon his stomach, he took deliberate aim +and fired. There was a howl of agony but still the creature came on. +Another shot and it turned over tearing at the whirling snow. + +Johnny jumped to his feet. "Eats," he murmured. + +But then there came that other sound again, the crack crack of hoofs. He +peered through the swirling snow, counting his reindeer. They were all +there. Here was a mystery. It was not long in solving. He had but to +glance to the south of his reindeer to detect some dark object bulking +large in the night. + +"A deer!" he muttered. "A wild reindeer! What luck!" + +It was true. The wolf had doubtless been stalking him. Creeping +stealthily forward, foot by foot, Johnny was at last within easy range +of the creature. His automatic cracked twice in quick succession and a +moment later he was exulting over two hundred pounds of fresh meat, food +for many days. + +Twenty hours later, Johnny found himself sitting sleepily on the edge of +one of the deer sleds. The reindeer, unhitched and tethered, were +digging beneath the snow for moss. The storm had subsided and once more +they had journeyed far. The Jap girl was buried deep beneath the furs on +the other sled. + +Johnny was puzzling his brain at this time over one thing. They had +followed a half covered, ancient trail due north for two days. Then a +fresh track had joined the old one. It was the track of a man with dog +team and sled. This they had followed due north again, and two hours +ago, while the deer were resting and feeding, Johnny had detected the +Jap girl in the act of measuring the footprints of the man who drove the +dog team. + +She had appeared troubled and embarrassed when she knew that he had seen +what she was doing. Notwithstanding the fact that there had been no sign +of guilt or treachery in her frank brown eyes, Johnny had been +perplexed. What secret was she hiding from him? What did she know, or +seek to know, about this man whose trail had joined theirs at an angle? +Could it be? No, Johnny dismissed the thought which came to his mind. + +He had dismissed all his perplexities, and was about to abandon himself +to three winks of sleep, when something on the horizon attracted his +attention. A mere dot at first, it grew rapidly larger. + +"Dog team or reindeer on our trail," he thought. "I wonder." + +From beneath his parka he drew his long blue automatic. After examining +its clip, he laid it down on the sled with two other clips beside it. +Then he drew the two knives also from his belt; the one he had secured +at the time of the street fight in Vladivostok, the other had belonged +to the Chukche who had attacked him. For the twentieth time he noted +that they were exactly alike, blade forging, hilt carving, and all. And +again, this realization set him to speculating. How had this brace of +knives got so widely separated? How had this one found its way to the +heart of a Chukche tribe? Why had the Chukches attempted to murder the +Japanese girl and himself? Had it been with the hope of securing wealth +from their simple luggage, or had they been bribed to do it? Once more +his brain was in a whirl. + +But there was business at hand. The black spot had developed into a +reindeer, driven by a man. How many were following this man Johnny could +not tell. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A NARROW ESCAPE + + +As Johnny stood awaiting the arrival of the stranger, many wild +misgivings raced through his mind. What if this man was but the +forerunner of the whole Chukche tribe? Then indeed, for himself and the +Japanese girl things were at an end. + +The newcomer was armed with a rifle. Johnny would stand little show with +him in a duel, good as his automatic was. + +But the man came on with a jaunty swing that somehow was reassuring. Who +could he be? As he came close, he dropped his rifle on his sled and +approached with empty hands. + +"I am Iyok-ok," he said in good English, at the same time thrusting out +his hand. "I was an American soldier, an Eskimo. Now I am going back to +my home at Cape Prince of Wales." + +"You got your discharge easily," smiled Johnny. + +"Not so easy, but I got it." + +"Well, anyway, stranger," said Johnny gripping the other's hand, "I can +give you welcome, comrade. We are traveling the same way." + +The Eskimo looked at Johnny's regulation army shoes as he said the word +comrade, but made no comment. + +"Know anything about travel in such a country?" asked Johnny. + +"Most things you need to know." + +"Then you sure are welcome," Johnny declared. Then, as he looked at the +Eskimo closely there came to him a feeling that they had met before but +where and when he could not recall. He did not mention the fact, but +merely motioned the stranger to a seat on the sled while he dug into his +pack for a morsel of good cheer. + +Many days later, Johnny lay sprawled upon a double thickness of long +haired deer skins. He was reading a book. Two seal oil lamps sputtered +in the igloo, but these were for heat, not for light. Johnny got his +light in the form of a raggedly round patch of sunlight which fell +straight down from the top where the poles of the igloo met. + +Johnny was very comfortable physically, but not entirely at ease +mentally. He had been puzzled by something that had happened five +minutes before. Moreover, he was half angry at his enforced idleness +here. + +Yet he was very comfortable. The igloo was a permanent one. Erected at +the base of a cliff, covered over with walrus skin, lined with deer +skin, and floored with planks hewn from driftwood logs, it was perfect +for a dwelling of its kind. It stood in a hunting village on the +Siberian shore of Behring Sea. The Jap girl, Johnny and Iyok-ok had +traveled thus far in safety. + +Yes, they had come a long distance, many hundreds of miles. As Johnny +thought of it now, he put his book aside (a dry, old novel, left here by +some American seaman) and dreamed those days all through again. + +Wonderful days had followed the addition of Iyok-ok to their party. From +that hour they had wanted nothing of food or shelter. Reared as he +apparently had been in such wilds as these, the native skillfully had +sought out the best of game, the driest, most sheltered of camping +spots, in fact, had done everything that tended to make life easy in +such a land. + +Johnny's reveries were cut short and he started suddenly to his feet. A +pebble had dropped squarely upon the deer skin spread out before him. It +had come through the hole in the peak of the igloo. He glanced quickly +up, but saw nothing. + +Then he grinned. "Just a case of nerves, I guess. Some kids playing on +the cliff. Anyway, I'll investigate," he said to himself. + +Throwing back the deerskin flap, he stepped outside. Did he see a boot +disappear around the point of the cliff above the igloo? He could not +tell. At any rate, there was no use wasting more time on the question. +To see farther around the cliff, one must climb up its rough face, and +by that time any mischief maker might have disappeared. + +Yet Johnny stood there worried and puzzled. Twice in the last hour +pebbles had rattled down upon the igloo, and now one had dropped inside. +An old grievance stirred him: Why were not he and his strange +companions on their way? With only four hundred miles to travel to East +Cape, with a splendid trail, with reindeer well fed and rested, it +seemed folly to linger in this native village. The reindeer Chukches, +whose sled deer they had borrowed, might be upon them at any moment, and +that, Johnny felt sure, would result in an unpleasant mixup. Yet he had +been utterly unable to get the little Oriental girl and Iyok-ok to go +on. Why? He could only guess. There were a great many other things he +could only guess at. The little Oriental girl's reason for going so far +into the wilderness was as much a secret as ever. He could only guess +that it had to do with the following of that mysterious driver of a dog +team. With unerring precision this man had pushed straight on northward +toward East Cape and Behring Strait. And they had followed, not, so far +as Johnny was concerned, because they were interested in him, but +because he had traveled their way. + +At times they had come upon his camp. Located at the edge of some bank +or beside some willow clump, where there was shelter from the wind, +these camps told little or nothing of the man who had made them. +Everything which might tell tales had been carried on or burned. Once +only Johnny had found a scrap of paper. Nothing had been written on it. +From it Johnny had learned one thing only: it had originally come from +some Russian town, for it had the texture of Russian bond. But this was +little news. + +Who was this stranger who traveled so far? Johnny had a feeling that he +was at the moment hiding in this native village, and that this was the +reason his two companions did not wish to proceed. There had grown up +between these two, the Eskimo boy and the Japanese girl, a strange +friendship. At times Johnny had suspicions that this friendship had +existed before they had met on the tundra. However that might have been, +they seemed now to be working in unison. Only the day before he had +happened to overhear them conversing in low tones, and the language, he +would have sworn, was neither Eskimo, English, nor Pidgen. Yet he did +not question the boy's statement that he was an American Eskimo. Indeed +there were times when the flash of his honest smile made Johnny believe +that they had met somewhere in America. On his trip to Nome and +Fairbanks before the war, Johnny had met many Eskimos, and had boxed and +wrestled with some of the best of them. + +"Oh, well," he sighed, and stretched himself, "'tain't that I've got a +string on 'em, nor them on me. I'll have to wait or go on alone, that's +all." + +He entered the igloo, and tried again to become interested in his book, +but his mind kept returning to the strange friendship which had grown up +between the three of them, Iyok-ok, the Jap girl and himself. The Jap +girl had proved a good sport indeed. She might have ridden all the time, +but she walked as far in a day as they did. She cooked their meals +cheerfully, and laughed over every mishap. + +So they had traveled northward. Three happy children in a great white +wilderness, they pitched their igloos at night, a small one for the +girl, a larger one for the two men, and, burying themselves beneath the +deer skins, had slept the dreamless sleep of children, wearied from +play. + +The Jap girl had appeared to be quite content to be going into an +unknown wilderness. Only once she had seemed concerned. That was when a +long detour had taken them from the track of the unknown traveler, but +her cheerfulness had returned once they had come upon his track again. +This had set Johnny speculating once more. Who was this stranger? Was he +related to the girl in some way? Was he her friend or her foe? Was he +really in this village at this time? If so, why did she not seek him +out? If a friend, why did she not join him; and, if an enemy, why not +have him killed? Surely, here they were quite beyond the law. + +Oh, yes, Johnny might get a dog team and go on up the coast alone, but +Johnny liked his two traveling companions too well for that, and +besides, Johnny dearly loved mysteries, and here was a whole nest of +them. No, Johnny would wait. + +The seal oil lamps imparted a drowsy warmth to the igloo. The deer skins +were soft and comfortable. Johnny grew sleepy. Throwing the ragged old +book in the corner, he stretched out full length on the skins, which lay +in the irregular circle of light, and was soon fast asleep. + +Just how long he slept he could not tell. When he awoke it was with a +feeling of great peril tugging at his heart. His first conscious thought +was that the aperture above him had, in some way, been darkened. +Instantly his eyes sought that opening. What he saw there caused his +heart to pause and his eyes to bulge. + +Directly above him, seemingly poised for a drop, was a vicious looking +hook. With a keen point and a barb fully three inches across, with a +shaft of half-inch steel which was driven into a pole three inches in +diameter and of indefinite length, it could drive right through Johnny's +stomach, and pin him to the planks beneath. And, as his startled eyes +stared fixedly at it, the thing shot downward. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +"FRIEND? ENEMY?" + + +Johnny Thompson, before he joined the army, had been considered one of +the speediest men of the boxing ring. His brain worked like lightning, +and every 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 car-wheel, he rolled over twice before the hook buried itself +to the end of its barb in the pungent plank on which he had reclined an +instant before. + +Nor did Johnny stop rolling then. He continued until he bumped against +the skin wall of his abode. This was fortunate also, for he had not half +regained his senses when two almost instantaneous explosions shook the +igloo, tore the plank floor into shreds, shooting splinters about, and +even through the double skin wall, and filling Johnny's eyes with powder +smoke and dust. + +Johnny sat up with one hand on his automatic. He was fully awake. + +"Is that all?" he drawled. "Thanks! It's enough, I should say. Johnny +Thompson exit." A wry grin was on his face. "Johnny Thompson killed by a +falling whale harpoon; shot to death by a whale gun; blown to atoms by a +whale bomb. Exit Johnny. They do it in the movies, I say!" + +But that was not quite all. The blazing seal oil lamps had overturned. +Splinters from the floor were catching fire. Johnny busied himself at +beating these out. As soon as this had been accomplished, he stepped +outside. + +From an awe-struck ring of native women and children, who had been +attracted by the explosion, the little Jap girl darted. + +"Oh, Meester Thompsie!" she exclaimed, wringing her hands, "so terrible, +awful a catastrophe! Are you not killed? So terrible!" + +Johnny grinned. + +"Nope," he said, putting out a hand to console her. "I'm not killed, nor +even blown to pieces. What I'd like to know is, who dropped that +harpoon." + +He looked from face to face of the silent circle. Not one showed a sign +of any knowledge of the affair. They had heard the explosion and had run +from their homes to see what had happened. + +Turning toward the cliff, from which the harpoon had been dropped, +Johnny studied it carefully. No trace of living creature was to be +discovered there. Then he looked again at the circle of brown faces, +seeking any recent arrival. There was none. + +"Come!" he said to the Jap girl. + +Taking her hand, he led her from house to house of the village. Beyond +two to three old women, too badly crippled to walk, the houses were +found to contain no one. + +"Well, one thing is sure," Johnny observed, "the Chukche reindeer +herders have not come. It was not they who did it." + +"No," answered the Jap girl. + +"Say!" exclaimed Johnny, in a tone more severe than he had ever used +with his companion, "why in thunder can't we get out of this hole? What +are we sticking here for?" + +"Can't tell." The girl wrung her hands again. "Can't tell. Can't go, +that's all. You go; all right, mebby. Can't go my. That's all. Mebby go +to-morrow; mebby next day. Can't tell." + +Johnny was half inclined to believe that she was in league with the +treachery which hung over the place, and had shown itself in the form of +loaded harpoons, but when he realized that she did not urge him to stay, +he found it impossible to suspect her. + +"Well, anyway, darn it!" + +"What?" she smiled. + +"Oh, nothing," he growled, and turned away. + +Two hours later Johnny was lying on the flat ledge of the rocky cliff +from which the harpoon had been dropped. He was, however, a hundred 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. Iyok-ok had gone seal +hunting. When he returned over the ice, Johnny meant to have a final +confab with him in regard to starting north. + +As to the vigil he kept on the igloo, that was the result of certain +suspicions regarding the occupants of that particular shelter. There was +a dog team which hung about the place. These 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 made several journeys of a mile or two up and down +the beach trail, and, as far as he could tell, the man of mystery whose +trail they had followed to this village had not left the place. + +"Of course," he had told himself, "he might have been one of the +villagers returning to his home. But that doesn't seem probable." + +From all this, Johnny had arrived at the conclusion that the watching of +this house would yield interesting results. + +It did. He had not been lying on the cliff half an hour, when the figure +of a man came backing out of the igloo's entrance. Johnny whistled. 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 smoothness about +the tan and something about the cut of it that marked it at once as +coming from a Russian shop, such as Wo Cheng kept. + +"And squirrel skin!" Johnny breathed. + +He was not kept long in doubt as to the identity of the wearer. As the +man turned to look behind him, Johnny saw the sharp chin of the Russian, +the man of the street fight and the many diamonds. He had acquired +something of a beard, but there was no mistaking those frowning brows, +square shoulders and that chin. + +"So," Johnny thought, "he is the fellow we have been trailing. The Jap +girl wanted to follow him and so, perhaps, did Iyok-ok. I wonder why? +And say, old dear," he whispered, "I wonder if it could have been you +who dropped that harpoon. It's plain enough from the looks of you that +you'd do it, once you fancied you'd half a reason. I've a good mind--" +His hand reached for his automatic. + +"No," he decided, "I won't do it. I don't really know that you deserve +it; besides I hate corpses, and things like that. But I say!" + +A new and wonderful thought had come to him. He felt that, at any rate, +he owed this person something, and he should have it. Beside Johnny on +the ledge, where some native had left it, out of reach of the dog's, was +a sewed up seal skin full of seal oil. 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 tell that by the smooth, balloon-like rotundity of the thing. In +fact, he guessed it was about due to burst. Once Johnny had taken a cup +of this liquid for tea. He had it close enough to his face to catch a +whiff of it. He could still recall the smell of it. + +Now his right hand smoothed the bloated skin tenderly. He twisted it +about, and balanced it in his hand. Yes, he could do it! The Russian was +not looking up. There was a convenient ledge, some three feet above his +head. There the sack would strike and burst. The boy smiled, in +contemplation of that bursting. + +"This for what you may have done," Johnny whispered, and balancing the +sack in his hand, as if it had been a football, he gave it a little +toss. Over the cliff it went to a sheer fall of fifteen feet. There +followed a muffled explosion. It had burst! Johnny saw the Russian +completely deluged with the vile smelling liquid. Then he ducked. + +As he lay flat on the ledge, he caught a silvery laugh. Looking quickly +about, he found himself staring into the eyes of the little Jap girl. +She had been watching him. + +"You--you--know him?" he stammered. + +The girl shrugged her shoulders. + +"Your friend?" + +She shook her head vigorously. + +"Enemy? Kill?" Johnny's hand sought his automatic. + +"No! No! No!" she fairly screamed. "Not kill!" Her hand was on his arm +with a frantic grip. + +"Why?" + +"No can tell. Only, not kill; not kill now. No! No! No! Mebby never!" + +"Well, I'll be--" Johnny took his hand from his gun and peered over the +ledge. The man was gone. It was a dirty trick 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 had been close enough to have stopped him, had she +thought it right. She had not done so. His conscience was clear. + +They crept away in the gathering darkness, these two; and Johnny +suddenly felt for this little Jap girl a comradeship that he had not +known before. It was such a feeling as he had experienced in school +days, when he was prowling about with boy pals. + +Shortly after darkness had fallen, Johnny was seated cross-legged on a +deer skin, staring gloomily at the ragged hole left by the whale harpoon +bomb. He had not yet seen Iyok-ok. He was trying now to unravel some of +the mysteries which the happenings of the day had served only to tangle +more terribly. He had not meant to kill the Russian, even though the Jap +girl 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 proposed to kill him. What could a fellow make of +all this? Who was this Jap girl anyway, and why had she followed this +Russian so far? Somehow, Johnny could not help but feel that the Russian +was a deep dyed plotter of some sort. He was inclined to believe that he +had had much to do with that harpoon episode as well as the murder +attempted by the reindeer Chukches. + +"By Jove!" the American boy suddenly slapped his knee. "The knife, the +two knives exactly alike. One he tried to use in the street fight at +Vladivostok; the other he must have given to the reindeer Chukche to use +on anyone who might follow him." + +For a time he sat in deep thought. As he weighed the probabilities for +and against this theory, he found himself doubting. There might be many +knives of 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, having no idea to what deadly purposes it would be put. +And, again, if he were that type of plotter, would not the Jap girl know +of it, and desire him killed? + +The Japanese girl puzzled Johnny more and more. Her friendship for +Iyok-ok, her eagerness to protect the Russian--what was to be made of +all this? Were the three of them, after all, leagued together in deeds +of darkness? And was he, Johnny, a pawn to be sacrificed at the proper +moment? + +And the Russian, why was he traveling so far north? What possible +interests could he have here? Was he, too, planning to cross the Strait +to America? Or was he in search of wealth hidden away in this frozen +land? + +"The furs! I'll bet that's it!" Johnny slapped his knee. "This Russian +has come north to demand tribute for his government from the hunting +Chukches. They're rich in furs--mink, ermine, red, white, silver gray +and black fox. A man could carry a fortune in them on one sled. Yes, +sir! That's his business up here." + +But then, the diamonds? Again Johnny seemed to have reached the end of a +blind alley in his thinking. Who could be so rash as to carry thousands +of dollars' worth of jewels on such a trip? And yet, he was not certain +the man had them now. He had seen them but once, and that in the +disguise shop. + +Further thoughts were cut short by a head thrust in at the flap of the +igloo. It was Iyok-ok. + +"Go soon," he smiled. "Mebby two hours." + +"North?" + +"Eh-eh" (yes), he answered, lapsing into Eskimo. + +"All right." + +The head disappeared. + +"Well, anyway, my seal oil bath did some good," Johnny remarked to +himself. "It jarred the old fox out of his lair and started him on his +way." + +He wondered a little about the Jap girl. Would she still travel with +them? These musings were cut short when he carried his bundle to the +deer sled. She was there to greet him with a broad smile. And so once +more they sped away over the tundra in the moonlight. + +They had not gone five miles before Johnny had assured himself that once +more the Russian and his dog team had preceded them. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +"NOW I SHALL KILL YOU" + + +Johnny Thompson was at peace with the world. He was engaged in the most +delightful of all occupations, gathering gold. He had often dreamed of +gathering gold. He had dreamed, too, of finding money strewn upon the +street. But now, here he was, with one of these choice Russian knives, +picking away at clumps of frozen earth and picking up, as they fell out, +particles of gold. Some were tiny; many were large as a pea, and one had +been the size of a hickory nut. Now and again he straightened up to +swing a pick into the frozen gravel which lay within the circle of light +made by his pocket flashlight. After a few strokes he would throw down +the pick and begin breaking up the lumps. Every now and again, he would +lift the small sack into which the lumps were dropped. It grew heavier +every moment. + +It was quite dark all about him; indeed, Johnny was nearly a hundred +feet straight into the heart of a cut bank, and, to start on this +straight ahead drift, he had been obliged to lower himself into a shaft +as into a well, a drop of fifteen feet or more. That the mine had other +drifts he knew, but this one suited him. That it had another occupant he +also knew, but this did not trouble him. He was too much interested in +the yellow glitter of real gold to think of danger. And he was half +dazed by the realization that there could be a gold mine like this in +Siberia. Alaska had gold, plenty of it, of course, and he was now less +than two hundred miles from Alaska, but he had never dreamed that the +dreary slopes of the Kamchatkan Peninsula could harbor such wealth. +Someone had been mining it, too, but that must have been months, perhaps +years, ago. The pick handles were rough with decay, the pans red with +rust. + +Curiosity had led Johnny to this spot, a half mile from the native +village at the mouth of the Anadir River. He had been marooned again in +that village. They had covered three hundred miles on their last +journey, then had come another pause. This time, though he did not even +see his dogs about the village, Johnny felt sure that the Russian had +once more taken to hiding. + +Having nothing else to do, Johnny had followed a narrow track up the +river. The track had come to an end at the entrance to the mine. +Thinking it merely a sort of crude cold storage plant for keeping meat +fresh, he had let himself down to explore it. Increasing curiosity had +led him on until he had discovered the gold. Now he had quite forgotten +the person whose tracks led him to the spot. + +He was shocked into instant and vivid realization of peril by a cold +pressure on his temple and a voice which said in the preciseness of a +foreigner: + +"Now I have you, sir. Now I shall kill you, sir." + +In that instant Johnny prepared himself for his final earthly sensation. +He had recognized the voice of the Russian. + +There came a click, then a snap. The next instant the revolver which had +rested against his forehead struck the frozen roof of the mine. The +weapon had missed fire and, between turns of the cylinder, Johnny's good +right hand had struck out and up. + +The light snapped out, and in the midnight darkness of that icy cavern +the two grappled and fell. + +Had Johnny been in possession of the full power of his left arm, the +battle would have been over soon. As it was they rolled over and over, +their bodies crushing frozen bits of pay-dirt, like twin rollers. They +struggled for mastery. Each man realized that, unless some unforeseen +power intervened, defeat meant death. The Russian fought with the +stubbornness of his race; fought unfairly too, biting and kicking when +opportunity permitted. Three times Johnny barely missed a blow on the +head which meant unconsciousness, then death. + +At last, panting, perspiring, bleeding and bruised, Johnny clamped his +right arm about his antagonist's neck and, flopping his body across his +chest, lay there until the Russian's muscles relaxed. + +Sliding to a sitting position, the American began feeling about in the +dark. At last, gripping a flashlight, he snapped it on. The face of the +Russian revealed the fact that he was not unconscious. Johnny slid to a +position which brought each knee down upon one of the Russian's arms. He +would take no chances with that man. + +Slowly Johnny flashed the light about, then, with a little exclamation, +he reached out and gripped the handle of the Russian's revolver. + +"Now," he mocked, "now I have you, sir. Now I shall kill you, sir." + +He had hardly spoken the words when a body hurled itself upon him, +knocking the revolver from his hand and extinguishing the light. + +"So. There are others! Let them come," roared Johnny, striking out with +his right in the dark. + +"Azeezruk nucky." To his astonishment he recognized the voice of +Iyok-ok. What he had said, in Eskimo, was, "It would be a bad thing to +kill him," meaning doubtless the Russian. + +"Azeezruk adocema" (he is a bad one), replied Johnny, throwing the light +on the sullen face of the Eskimo. + +"Eh-eh" (yes), the other agreed. + +"Then what in thunder!" Johnny exclaimed, falling back on English. "He +tried to kill me. Kill me! Do you understand? Why shouldn't I kill him?" + +"No kill," said the Eskimo stubbornly. + +Johnny sat and thought for a full three minutes. In that time, his blood +had cooled. He was able to reason about the matter. In the army he had +learned one rule: "If someone knows more about a matter than you do, +follow his guidance, though, at the time, it seems dead wrong." +Evidently Iyok-ok knew more about this Russian than Johnny did. Then the +thing to do was to let the man go. + +Before releasing him, he searched him carefully. Beyond a few +uninteresting papers, a pencil, a cigaret case and a purse he found +nothing. Evidently the revolver had been his only weapon. + +As he searched the man, one peculiar question flashed through Johnny's +mind; if the Russian had the envelope full of diamonds on his person, +what should he do, take them or leave them? He was saved the necessity +of a decision; they were not there. + +"Now," said Johnny, seating himself on a rusty pan, as the Russian went +shuffling out of the mine, "tell me why you didn't let me kill him." + +"Can't tell," was Iyok-ok's laconic reply. + +"Why?" + +"Not now. Sometime, maybe. Not now." + +"Look here," said Johnny savagely, "that man has tried to kill me or +have me killed, three times, is it not so?" + +Iyok-ok did not answer. + +"First," Johnny went on, "he induces the reindeer Chukches to try to +kill me and furnishes them the knife to do it with. Eh?" + +"Maybe." + +"Second, he drops a harpoon into my igloo and tries to harpoon me and +blow me up." + +"Maybe." + +"And now he puts a revolver to my head and pulls the trigger. Still you +say 'No kill.' What shall I make of that?" + +"Canak-ti-ma-na" (I don't know), said the Eskimo. "No kill, that's all." + +Johnny was too much astonished and perplexed to say anything further. +The two sat there for some time in silence. At last the Eskimo rose and +made his way toward the entrance. + +Johnny flashed his light about the place. He was looking for his sack of +gold. Suddenly he uttered an exclamation and put out his hand. What it +grasped was the envelope he had seen in the Russian's pocket at Wo +Cheng's shop, the envelope of diamonds. And the diamonds were still +there; he could tell that by the feel of the envelope. + +Hastily searching out his now insignificant treasure of gold, Johnny +placed it with the envelope of diamonds in his inner pocket and hurried +from the mine. + +Darkness again found him musing over a seal oil lamp. He was not in a +very happy mood. He was weary of orientalism and mystery. He longed for +the quiet of his little old town, Chicago. Wouldn't it be great to put +his feet under his old job and say, "Well, Boss, what's the dope +to-day?" Wouldn't it, though? And to go home at night to doll up in his +glad rags and call on Mazie. Oh, boy! It fairly made him sick to think +of it. + +But, at last, his mind wandered back to the many mysteries which had +been straightened out not one bit by these events of the day. Here he +was traveling with two companions, a Jap girl and an Eskimo. Eskimo? +Right there he began to wonder if Iyok-ok, as he called himself, was +really an Eskimo after all. What if he should turn out to be a Jap +playing the part of an Eskimo? Only that day Johnny had once more come +upon him suddenly to find him in earnest conversation with the Jap girl. +And the language they had been using had sounded distinctly oriental. +And yet, if he was a Jap, how did it come about that he spoke the Eskimo +language so well? + +Dismissing this question, his mind dwelt upon the events of the past few +days. Twice he had been begged not to kill the Russian. This last time +he most decidedly would have been justified in putting a bullet into the +rascal's brain. He had been prevented from doing so by Iyok-ok. Why? + +"Anyway," he said to himself, yawning, "I'm glad I didn't do it. It's +nasty business, this killing people. I couldn't very well tell such a +thing to Mazie; you can't tell such things to a woman, and I want to +tell her all about things over here. It's been a hard old life, but so +far I haven't done a single thing that I wouldn't be proud to tell her +about. No, sir, not one! I can say: 'Mazie, I did this and I did that,' +and Mazie'll say, 'Oh, Johnny! Wasn't that gr-ran-nd?'" + +Johnny grinned as the thought of it and felt decidedly better. After +all, what was the use of living if one was to live on and on and on and +never have any adventures worth the telling? + +For some time he lay sprawled out before the lamp in silent reflection, +then he sat up suddenly and pounded his knee. + +"By Jove! I'll bet that's it!" he exclaimed. + +He had happened upon a new theory regarding the Russian. It seemed +probable to him that this man, knowing of this gold mine, perhaps being +owner of it, had come north to determine its value and the advisability +of opening it for operation in the spring. In these days, when the money +market of the world was gold hungry, that glittering, yellow metal was +of vast importance, especially to the warring factions of Russia. +Surely, this seemed a plausible explanation. And if it was true then he +could hurry on up the coast, with or without his companions and make his +way home. + +"But then," he said, perplexed again. He reached his hand into his +pocket to draw out the envelope he had found in the mine. "But then, +there's the diamonds. Would a man coming on such a journey bring such +treasure with him? He couldn't trade them to the natives. They know +money well enough, but not diamonds." + +Johnny opened the envelope and shook it gently. Three stones fell into +his hand. They were of purest blue white, perfect stones and perfectly +cut. A glance at the envelope showed him that it was divided into four +narrow compartments and that each compartment was filled with diamonds +wrapped in tissue paper. Only these three were unwrapped. + +Running his fingers down the outside of the compartments, he counted the +jewels. + +"One hundred and four," he breathed. "A king's ransom. Forty or fifty +thousand dollars worth, anyway. Whew!" + +Then he stared and his hand shook. His eye had fallen upon the stamp of +the seal in the corner of the envelope. He knew that secret mark all too +well; had learned it from Wo Cheng. It was the stamp of the biggest and +worst society of Radicals in all the world. + +"So!" Johnny whispered to himself. "So, Mr. Russian, you are a Radical, +a red, a Nihilist, a communist, an anything-but-society-as-it-is guy. +You want the world to cough up its dough and own nothing, and yet here +you are carrying round the price of a farm in your vest pocket." He +chuckled. "Some reformer, I'd say!" + +But his next thought sobered him. What was he to do with all that +wealth? One of those stones would make Mazie happy for a lifetime. But +it wasn't his. He had no right to it. He could not do a thing he'd be +ashamed to tell Mazie and his old boss about. + +But, if they didn't belong to him, perhaps the diamonds didn't belong to +the Russian either. At any rate, the latter's disloyalty to his nation +had forfeited his right to own property. + +Even should this Russian be the rightful owner, Johnny could not very +well hunt him up and say: "Here, mister. You tried to kill me +yesterday. Here are your diamonds. I found them in the mine. Please +count them and see if they are all there." + +Johnny grinned as he thought of that. There seemed to be nothing to do +but keep the stones, for the time being at least. + +"Anyway," he said to himself as he rolled up in his deer skins. "I'll +bet I have discovered something. I'll bet he's one of the big ones, +perhaps the biggest of them all. And he's trying to make his way across +to America to stir things up over there." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SAVED FROM THE MOB + + +"What do you know about that gold mine?" Johnny asked, turning an +inquiring eye on Iyok-ok, whom Johnny now strongly suspected of being a +Japanese and a member of the Mikado's secret service as well. + +"Which mine?" Iyok-ok smiled good-naturedly as he blinked in the +sunlight. It was the morning after Johnny's battle with the Russian. + +"Are there others?" + +"Seven mines." + +"Seven! And all of them rich as the one we were in yesterday?" + +The boy shrugged his shoulders. + +"Some much richer," he declared. + +"How long has the world known of this wealth?" + +"Never has known. A few men know, that's all. The old Czar, he knew, +but would let no one work the mines. Just at the last he said 'Yes.' +Then they hurried much machinery over here, but it was too late. The +Czar--well, you know he is dead now, but they have their machinery here +still." + +"Who are 'they'?" asked Johnny with curiosity fully aroused. + +"American. I know. Can't tell. Worked for them once. Promise never +tell." + +Johnny wrinkled his brow but did not press the matter. + +"But this Russia, the Kamchatkan Peninsula?" Iyok-ok continued. "Whom +does it belong to now? Can you tell me that?" + +Johnny shook his head. + +"Neither can They tell. If They knew, and if They knew it was safe to +come back and mine here, when the world has so great need of gold, you +better believe They would come and mine, But They do not know; They do +not know." The boy pronounced the last words with an undertone of +mystery. "Sometime I will know. Then I--I will tell you, perhaps." + +"Where's the machinery?" asked Johnny. + +"Up the river. Wanta see it?" + +"Sure." + +They hurried away up the frozen river and in fifteen minutes came upon a +row of low sheds. The doors were locked, but to his great surprise +Johnny discovered that his companion had the keys. + +They were soon walking through dark aisles, on each side of which were +piled parts of mining machines of every description, crushers, rollers, +smelters and various accessories connected with quartz mining. Mingled +with these were picks, pans, steam thawers, windlasses, and great piles +of sluice timber. All these last named were for mining placer gold. + +"Quartz too?" asked Johnny. + +"Plenty of quartz," grinned Iyok-ok. "Come out here, I will show you." + +They stepped outside. The boy locked the door, then led his companion up +a steep slope until they were on a low point commanding a view of the +village below and a rocky cliff above. + +"See that cliff?" asked Iyok-ok. "Plenty of gold there. Pick it out with +your pen knife. Rich! Too rich." + +"Then this Peninsula is as rich as Alaska?" + +"Alaska?" Iyok-ok grinned. "Alaska? What shall I say? Alaska, it is a +joke. Think of the great Lena River! Great as the Yukon. Who knows what +gold is deposited in the beds and banks of that mighty stream? Who knows +anything about this wonderful peninsula? The Czar, he has kept it +locked. But now the Czar is dead. The key is lost. Who will find it? +Sometime we will see." + +The boy was interrupted by wild shouts coming from the village. As their +eyes turned in that direction, Johnny and Iyok-ok beheld a strange +sight. The entire village had apparently turned out to give chase to one +man. And, down to the last child, they were armed. But such strange +implements of warfare as they carried! All were relics of by-gone days; +lances, walrus harpoons, bows and arrows, axes, hammers and many more. + +As Johnny watched them, he remembered having been told by an old native +that during and after the great war these people had been unable to +procure a sufficient supply of ammunition and had been obliged to resort +to ancient methods of hunting. These were the bow and arrow, the lance +and the harpoon. Powerful bows, of some native wood, shot arrows tipped +with cunningly tempered bits of steel. The drawn and tempered barrel of +a discarded rifle formed a point for the long-shafted lance. The +harpoon, most terrible of all weapons, both for man and beast, was a +long wooden shaft with a loose point attached to a long skin rope. Once +five or six of these had been thrown into the body of a great white bear +or some offending human he was doomed to die a death of agonizing +torture; his body being literally torn to pieces by the drag upon the +strong skin ropes, fastened to the steel points imbedded in his flesh. + +Now it seemed evident that for some misdeed one member of the tribe had +been condemned to die. As Johnny stood there staring, the whole affair +seemed so much like things he had seen done on the screen, that he found +it difficult to realize that this was an actual tragedy, being enacted +before his very eyes. + +"They do it in the movies," he said. + +"Yes," his companion agreed, "but here they will kill him. We must hurry +to help him." + +"Who is he?" + +"Don't you see? The Russian." + +"Oh!" sighed Johnny. "Let 'em have him. He deserves as much from me, +probably deserves more from them." + +"No! No! No!" Iyok-ok protested, now very much excited. "That will never +do. We must save him. They think he's from the Russian Government. Think +he will demand their furs and carry them away. They mistake. They will +kill him. Your automatic! We must hurry. Come." + +Johnny found himself being dragged down the hill. As he looked below, he +realized that his companion was right. The man was doomed unless they +interfered. Already skillful archers were pausing to shoot and their +arrows fell dangerously near the fugitive. + +"Now, from here," panted Iyok-ok. "Your automatic. Shoot over their +heads. They will stop. I will tell them. They will not kill him." + +Johnny's hand went to his automatic, but there it rested. These natives? +What did he have against them that he should interrupt them in the +chase? And this Russian, what claim did he have on him that he should +save his life? None, the answer was plain. And yet, here was this boy, +to whom he had grown strangely attached, begging him to help save the +Russian. A strange state of affairs, for sure. + +Toward them, as he ran, the Russian turned a white, appealing face. To +them came ever louder and more appalling the cry of the excited natives. +Now an arrow fell three feet short of its mark. And now, a stronger arm +sent one three yards beyond the man, but a foot to one side. The whole +scene, set as it was in the purple shadows and yellow lights of the +north-land, was fascinating. + +But the time had come to act. + +"Well, then," Johnny grunted, whipping out his automatic, "for your sake +I'll do it." + +Three times the automatic barked its vicious challenge. The mob paused +and waited silently. + +Out of this silence there came a voice. It was the voice of Iyok-ok by +Johnny's side. Through cupped hands, he was speaking calmly to the +natives. His words were a jumble of Eskimo, Chukche and pidgen-English, +but Johnny knew they understood, for, as the speech went on, he saw +them drop their weapons, then one by one pick them up again to go +shuffling away. + +Johnny looked about for the Russian. He had disappeared. + +"Now what did you do that for?" he asked his companion. + +"Can't tell now," Iyok-ok answered slowly. "Sometime, mebbe. Not now. +Azeezruk nucky, that's all." + +He paused and looked away at the hills; then turning, extended his hand. +"Anyway, I thank you very, very much I thank you." + +With that they made their way toward the village and the sea, which, +packed and glistening with ice, reflected all the glories of the +gorgeous Arctic sunset. + +Three hours later Iyok-ok put his head in at Johnny's igloo and said: + +"One hour go." + +"North?" asked Johnny. + +"North." + +"You go?" + +"Eh-eh." + +"Jap girl go?" + +"Eh-eh." + +"East Cape? Behring Strait?" + +"Mebbe." With a smile, the boy was gone. + +"Evidently the Russian is on the move again," Johnny observed to +himself. "Wonder what he intends to do about his diamonds? Well, anyway, +that proves that the gold mines are not his goal." + +As Johnny dug into his pack for a dry pair of deer skin stocks, he +discovered that his belongings had been tampered with. + +"The Russian," he decided, "evidently hasn't forgotten his diamonds." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +WHEN AN ESKIMO BECOMES A JAP + + +Johnny Thompson smiled as he drew on a pair of rabbit skin trousers, +then a parka made of striped ground squirrel skin, finished with a hood +of wolf skin. It was not his own suit; it had been borrowed from his +host, a husky young hunter of East Cape. But that was not his reason for +smiling. He was amused at the thought of the preposterous +misunderstanding which his traveling companions had concerning him. + +Only the day before he had exclaimed: + +"Iyok-ok, I believe I have guessed why the Russian wants to kill me." + +"Why?" + +"He thinks I am a member of the United States Secret Service." + +"Well? Canak-ti-ma-na" (I don't know). + +The boy had looked him squarely in the eye as much as to say, "Who could +doubt that?" + +At first Johnny had been inclined to assure Iyok-ok that there was no +truth in the assumption, but the more he thought of it, the better he +was satisfied with things as they were. His companions carried with them +a great air of mystery; why should he not share this a little with them? +He had let the matter drop. + +But now, since he was considered to be a member of a secret service +organization, he prepared to act the part for one night at least. With +the wolf skin parka hood drawn well around his face, he would hardly be +recognized, garbed as he was in borrowed clothes. + +The mysterious Russian had adopted a plan of sending his dogs to some +outpost to be cared for by natives. This made the locating of the igloo +he occupied extremely difficult. It had been by the merest chance that +Johnny had caught a glimpse of him as he disappeared through the flaps +of a dwelling near the center of the village. The American had resolved +to watch that place and discover, if possible, some additional clues to +the purpose of the Russian. + +Skulking from igloo to igloo, Johnny came at last to the one he sought. +Making his way to the back of it, he studied it carefully. There were +no windows and but one entrance. There was an opening at the top but to +climb up there was to be detected. He crept round to the other corner. +There a glad sigh escaped his lips. A spot of light shone through the +semi-transparent outer covering of walrus skin. That meant that there +was a hole in the inner lining of deer skin. He had only to cut a hole +through the walrus skin to get a clear view of the interior. This he did +quickly and silently. + +He swung his arm in disgust as he peered inside. Only an old Chukche +woman sat in the corner, chewing and sewing at a skin boot sole. + +Johnny hesitated. Had he mistaken the igloo? Had the Russian purposely +misled him? He was beginning to think so, when his eye caught the end of +a sleeping bag protruding from a pile of deer skins. This he instantly +recognized as belonging to the Russian. + +"Evidently our friend is out. Then I'll wait," he whispered to himself. + +He had been there but a few moments, when the native woman, putting away +her work, went out. She had scarcely disappeared through the flap than +a dark brown streak shot into the room. As Johnny watched it, he +realized that it was a small woman, and, though her clothing was +unfamiliar, he knew by certain quick and peculiar movements that this +was the Jap girl. + +Ah ha! Now, perhaps, he should learn some things. Perhaps after all +these three were in league; perhaps they were all Radicals with a common +purpose, the destruction of all organized society; Japanese Radicals are +not at all uncommon. + +But what was this the Jap girl was doing? She had overturned the pile of +deer skins and was attempting to reach to the bottom of the Russian's +sleeping bag. Failing in this, she gave it a number of punches. With a +keen glance toward the entrance she at last darted head foremost into +the bag, much as a mouse would have gone into a boot. + +She came out almost at once. Her hands were empty. Evidently the thing +she sought was not there. Next she attacked a bundle, which Johnny +recognized as part of the Russian's equipment. She had examined this and +was about to put it in shape again when there came the faint shuffle of +feet at the entrance. With one wild look about her, she darted to the +pile of deer skins and disappeared beneath it. + +She was not a moment too soon, for instantly the sharp chin and the +sullen brow of the Russian appeared at the entrance. + +When he saw the bundle in disorder, he sprang to the center of the room. +His hand on his belt, he stared about the place for a second, then much +as a cat springs at a tuft of grass where a mole is concealed, he sprang +at the pile of deer skins. + +Johnny's lips parted, but he uttered not a sound. His hand gripped the +blue automatic. If the Russian found her, there would be no more +Russian, that was all. + +But to his intense surprise, he saw that as the man tore angrily at the +pile, he uncovered nothing but skins. + +Johnny smothered a sigh of relief which was mixed with a gasp of +admiration. The girl was clever, he was obliged to admit that. In a +period only of seconds, she had cut away the rope which bound the skin +wall to the floor and had crept under the wall to freedom. + +As Johnny settled back to watch, his brain was puzzled by one question; +what was it that the Jap girl sought? Was it certain papers which the +Russian carried, or was it--was it something which Johnny himself +carried in his pocket at this very moment--the diamonds? + +This last thought caused him a twinge of discomfort. If she was +searching for the diamonds, could it be that they rightfully belonged to +her or to her family, and had they been taken by the Russian? Or had the +girl merely learned that the Russian had the jewels and had she followed +him all this way with the purpose of robbing him? If the first +supposition was correct, ought Johnny not to go to her and tell her that +he had the diamonds? If, on the other hand, she was seeking possession +of that which did not rightfully belong to her, would she not take them +from him anyway and leave him to face dire results? For, though no law +existed which would hold him responsible for the jewels, obtained as +they had been under such unusual conditions, still Johnny knew all too +well that the world organization of Radicals to which this Russian +belonged had a system of laws and modes of punishment all its own, and, +if the Russian succeeded in making his way to America and if he, Johnny, +did not give proper account of these diamonds, sooner or later, +punishment would be meted out to him, and that not the least written in +the code of the Radical world. + +He dismissed the subject from his mind for the time and gave his whole +attention to the Russian. But that gentleman, after evincing his +exceeding displeasure by kicking his sleeping bag about the room for a +time, at last removed his outer garments, crept into the bag and went to +sleep. + +One other visit Johnny made that night. As the result of it he did not +sleep for three hours after he had let down the deer skin curtain to his +sleeping compartment. + +"Hanada! Hanada?" he kept repeating to himself. "Of all the Japs in all +the world! To meet him here! And not to have known him. It's +preposterous." + +Johnny had gone to the igloo now occupied by Iyok-ok. He had gone, not +to spy on his friend, but to talk to him about recent developments and +to ascertain, if possible, when they would cross the Strait. He had got +as far as the tent flaps, had peered within for a few moments and had +come away again walking as a man in his dream. + +What he had seen was apparently not so startling either. It was no more +than the boy with his parka off. But that was quite enough. Iyok-ok was +dressed in a suit of purple pajamas and was turned half about in such a +manner that Johnny had seen his right shoulder. On it was a +three-cornered, jagged scar. + +This scar had told the story. The boy was not an Eskimo but a Jap +masquerading as an Eskimo. Furthermore, and this is the part which gave +Johnny the start, this Jap was none other than Hanada, his schoolmate of +other days; a boy to whom he owed much, perhaps his very life. + +"Hanada!" he repeated again, as he turned beneath the furs. How well he +remembered that fight. Even then--it was his first year in a military +preparatory school--he had shown his tendencies to develop as a +featherweight champion. And this tendency had come near to ending his +career. The military school was one of those in which the higher +classmen treated the beginners rough. Johnny had resented this treatment +and had been set upon by four husky lads in the darkness. He had settled +two of them, knocked them cold. But the other two had got him down, and +were beating the life out of him when this little Jap, Hanada, had +appeared on the scene. Being also a first year student, he had come in +with his ju'jut'su and between them they had won the battle, but not +until the Jap had been hung over a picket fence with a jagged wound in +his shoulder. It was the scar of that wound Johnny had seen and it was +that scar which had told him that this must be Hanada. + +He smiled now, as he thought how he had taken Hanada to his room after +that boy's battle and had attempted to sew up the cut with an ordinary +needle. He smiled grimly as he thought of the fight and how he had +resolved to win or die. Hanada had helped him win. + +And here he had been traveling with the Japanese days on end and had not +recognized him. And yet it was not so strange. He had not seen him for +six years. Had Hanada recognized him? If he had, and Johnny found it +hard to doubt it, then he had his own reasons for keeping silent. Johnny +decided that he would not be the first to break the silence. But after +all there was a strange new comfort in the realization that here was one +among all these strangers whom he could trust implicitly. And Hanada +would make a capital companion with whom he might cross the thirty-five +miles of drifting, piling ice which still lay between him and America. +It was the contemplation of these realities which at last led him to the +land of dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +JOHNNY'S FREE-FOR-ALL + + +Johnny smiled as he sat before his igloo. Two signs of spring pleased +him. Some tiny icicles had formed on the cliff above him, telling of the +first thaw. An aged Chukche, toothless, and blind, had unwrapped his +long-stemmed pipe to smoke in the sunshine. + +Johnny had seen the old man before and liked him. He was cheerful and +interesting to talk to. + +"See that old man there?" he asked Hanada, whom he still called Iyok-ok +when speaking to him. "Communism isn't so bad for him after all." + +Hanada squinted at him curiously without speaking. + +"Of course, you know," said Johnny, "what these people have here is the +communal form of government, or the tribal form. Everything belongs to +the tribe. They own it in common. If I kill a white bear, a walrus 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 my old +friend gets too old to hunt, fish or mend nets, he basks in the sun and +needn't worry about anything at all. Pretty soft. Perhaps our friend the +Russian is not so far wrong after all if he's a communist." + +"Uh-hu," the Jap grunted; then he exclaimed, "That reminds me, +Terogloona, the Chukche who lives three doors from here, asked me to +tell you to stay out of his igloo this afternoon." + +"Why?" + +The Jap merely shrugged his shoulders. + +"I have a way of doing what I am told not to, you should--" Johnny was +about to say, "you should know that," but checked himself in time. + +"Better not go," warned Hanada as he turned away. + +After an early noon lunch Johnny strolled up the hill top. He wanted to +get a view of the Strait. On particularly clear days, Cape Prince of +Wales on the American side of Behring Strait can be seen from East Cape +in Siberia. This day was clear, and, as Johnny climbed, he saw more and +more of the peak as it lay across the Strait, above the white ice floes. + +With trembling fingers he drew a one dollar bill from his pocket and +spread it on his knee. + +"There it is," he whispered. "There's the place where you came from, +little old one-spot. And I am going to take you back there. The +Wandering Jew once stood 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've got a country calling us, the +brightest, the best country on the map. And we dare try to go back. Once +that dark line of water disappears we'll be going." + +Then questions began to crowd his brain. Would Hanada attempt the Strait +at this time? What was his game anyway? Was he a member of the Japanese +secret service detailed to follow the Russian, or was he traveling of +his own accord? Except by special arrangement Japanese might not come to +America. Was Hanada sneaking back this way? It did not seem like him. +Perhaps he would not cross at all. + +Johnny's eyes once more swept the broad expanse of drifting ice. Then +his gaze became riveted on one spot. The band of black water 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 floe. Surely +there could be no better time to cross the Strait. With the air clear +and wind light, the crossing might be made in safety. + +Even as he looked, Johnny saw a man leap the gap. Curiosity caused him +to watch this man, whom he had taken for a Chukche hunter. Now he +appeared, now disappeared, only to reappear again round an ice pile. But +he behaved strangely for a hunter. Turning neither to right 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 Russian? Johnny decided he must +hurry down and tell Hanada. But, even as he rose, he saw a second person +leap across the gap in the ice. This one at once started to trail the +first man. There could be no mistaking that youthful springing step. It +was Hanada in pursuit. + +With cold perspiration springing out on his forehead, Johnny sat weakly +down. He was being left behind, left behind by his friend, his +classmate, the man who above all men he had thought could be depended +upon. How could he interpret this? + +For a time Johnny sat in gloomy silence, trying to form an answer to the +problem; trying also to map out a program of his own. + +Suddenly he sprang to his feet. He had remembered that there was some +sort of party down in the village, which he had 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 and straight to the igloo he had been +warned against entering. A strapping young buck was standing guard at +the flaps. + +"No go," he said as Johnny approached. + +"Go," answered Johnny. + +"No go," said the native, his voice rising. + +"Go," retorted Johnny quietly. + +He moved to pass the native. The latter put his hand out, and the next +instant felt himself whirled about and shot spinning down the short +steep slope which led from the igloo entrance. Johnny's good right arm +had done that. + +As the American lad pushed back the flaps of the igloo and entered he +stared for one brief second. Then he let out a howl and lunged forward. +Before him, in the center 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 floor. About his neck was +a skin rope. The rope, a strong one, was fastened securely to the cross +poles of the igloo. A younger man had been about to kick the box away. + +This same younger man suddenly felt the jar of something hard. It struck +his chin. After that he felt nothing. + +The fight was on. There were a dozen natives in the room. A brawny buck +with a livid scar on his right cheek lunged at Johnny. He speedily +joined his friend in oblivion. A third man leaped upon Johnny'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 slapped him nearly through the +skin wall. They came; they went; until at last, very much surprised and +quite satisfied, they allowed Johnny to cut the skin rope and help his +old blind friend down. + +A boy poked his head in at the flap. He had been a whaler and could +speak English. He surveyed the room in silence for a moment, taking in +each prostrate native. + +"Now you have spoiled it," he told Johnny with a smile. + +"I should say myself that I'd messed things up a bit," Johnny admitted, +"but tell me what it's all about. What did the poor old cuss do?" + +"Do?" the boy looked puzzled. "That one do?" + +"Sure. What did they want to hang him for? He was too old and feeble to +do anything very terrible; besides he's blind." + +"Oh," said the boy smiling again. "He done not anything. Too old, that +why. No work. All time eat. Better dead. That way think all my people. +All time that way." + +Johnny looked at him in astonishment, then he said slowly: + +"I guess I get you. In this commune, this tribe of yours, everyone does +the best he can for the gang. When he is too old to work, fish or hunt, +the best thing he can do is die, so you hang him. Am I right?" + +"Sure a thing," replied the boy. "That's just it." + +Johnny shot back: + +"No enjoying a ripe old age in this commune business?" + +"No. Oh, no." + +"Then I'm off this commune stuff forever," exclaimed Johnny. "The old +order of things like we got back in the States is good enough for me. +And, I guess it's not so old after all. It's about the newest thing +there is. This commune business belongs back in the stone age when +primitive tribes were all the organizations there were." + +He had addressed this speech to no one in particular. He now turned to +the boy, a black frown on his brow. + +"See here," he said sharply, "this man, no die, See? Live. See? All time +live, see? No kill. You tell those guys that. Tell them I mebby come +back one winter, one summer. Come back. Old man dead. I kill three of +them. See?" + +Johnny took out his automatic and played with it longingly. + +"Tell them if they don't act as if they mean to do what I say, I'll +shoot them now, three of them." + +The boy interpreted this speech. Some of the men turned pale beneath +their brown skins; some shifted uneasily. They all answered quickly. + +"They say, all right," the boy explained solemnly. "Say that one, if had +known you so very much like old man, no want-a hang that one." + +"All right." Johnny smiled as he bowed himself out. + +It was the first near-hanging he had ever attended and he hoped it would +be the last. But as he came out into the clear afternoon air he drank +in three full breaths, then said, slowly: + +"Communism! Bah!" + +Hardly had he said this than he began to realize that he had a move +coming and a speedy one. He was in the real, the original, 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 the law of the tribe. He had +violated that law, defied it. He actually, for the moment, had set +himself up as a dictator. + +"Gee!" he muttered. "Wish I had time to be their king!" + +But he didn't have time, for in the first place, all the pangs of past +homesick days were returning to urge him across the Strait. In the +second place the mystery of the Russian and Hanada's relation to him was +calling for that 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 called. Johnny would be discussed. He had committed +an act of diplomatic indiscretion. He might be asked to leave these +shores; and then again an executioner might be appointed for him, and a +walrus lance thrust through his back. + +Yes, he would move. But first he must see the Jap girl and ask about her +plans. It would not do to desert her. Hurrying down the snow path, he +came upon her at the entrance to her igloo. + +Together they entered, and, sitting cross-legged on the deer skins by +the seal oil lamp, they discussed their futures. + +The girl made a rather pitiful figure as she sat there in the glow of +the yellow light. Much of her splendid "pep" seemed to have oozed away. + +As Johnny questioned her, she answered quite frankly. No, she would not +attempt to cross the Strait on the ice. It would be quite dangerous, +and, beside, she had promised to stay. She did not say the promise had +been made to Hanada but Johnny guessed that. Evidently they had thought +the Russian 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 the inland cities of Russia. The war had come and then +the revolution. The revolutionists had taken all that her father owned. +He had died from worry and exposure, and she had been left alone. Her +occupation at present was, well, just what he saw. She shrugged her +shoulders and said no more. + +Johnny with his natural generosity tried to press his roll of American +money upon her. She refused to accept it, but gave him a rare smile. She +had money enough for her immediate need and a diamond or two. Perhaps +when the Strait opened up she would come by gasoline schooner to +America. + +Her mention of diamonds made Johnny jump. He instantly thought of the +diamonds in his pocket. Could it be that her father had converted his +wealth into diamonds 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 once more of the cruel +revenges meted out by these Radicals. Should he give the diamonds to one +to whom they did not belong, the penalty would be swift and sure. + +Johnny did, however, press into her hand a card with his name and a +certain address in Chicago written upon it and he did urge her to come +there should she visit America. + +He had hardly left the igloo when a startling question came to his mind. +Why had the Russian gone away without further attempt to recover the +treasure now in Johnny's 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 diamonds were still safe in +Johnny's pocket. What could cause the man to abandon them? Here, indeed, +must be one of the big men of the cult, perhaps the master of them all. + +With this thought came another, which left Johnny cold. The cult had +spies and avengers everywhere. They were numerous in the United States. +They could afford to wait. Johnny could be trusted to cross the Strait +soon. There would be time enough then. His every move would be watched, +and when the time was ripe there would be a battle for the treasure. + +That night, by the light of the glorious Arctic moon Johnny found his +way across the solid shore ice and climbed upon the drifting floes, +which were even now shifting and slowly piling. He was on his way to +America. Perhaps he was the first American to walk from the old world to +his native land. Certainly, he had never attempted thirty-five miles of +travel which was fraught with so many perils. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE JAP GIRL IN PERIL + + +Hardly had Johnny made his way across the shore ice and begun his +dangerous journey when things of a startling nature began to happen to +the Jap girl. + +She was seated in her igloo sewing a garment of eider duck skins, when +three rough-looking Chukches entered and, without ceremony, told her by +signs that she must accompany them. + +She was conducted to the largest igloo in the village. This she found +crowded with natives, mostly men. She was led to the center of the +floor, which was vacant, the natives being ranged round the sides of the +place. + +Instantly her eyes searched the frowning faces about her for a clue to +this move. She soon found it. In the throng, she recognized five of the +reindeer Chukches, members of that band which had attempted to murder +Johnny Thompson and herself. + +Their presence startled her. That they would make their way this far +north, when their reindeer had been sent back by paid messengers some +days before, had certainly seemed very improbable both to Johnny and to +the girl. + +Evidently the Chukches were very revengeful in spirit or very faithful +in the performance of murders they had covenanted to commit. At any +rate, here they were. And the girl did not deceive herself, this was a +council chamber. She did not doubt for a moment that her sentence would +be death. Her only question was, could there be a way of escape? The +wall was lined with dusky forms this time. The entrance was closely +guarded. Only one possibility offered; above her head, some five feet, a +strong rawhide rope crossed from pole to pole of the igloo. Directly +above this was the smoke hole. She had once entered one of these when an +igloo was drifted over with snow. + +The solemn parley of the council soon began. Like a lawyer presenting +his case, the headman of the reindeer tribe stood before them all and +with many gestures told his story. At intervals in his speech two men +stepped forward for examination. The jaw of one of them was very stiff +and three of his teeth were gone. As to the other, his face was still +tied up in bandages of tanned deer skin. His jaw was said to be broken. +The Jap girl, in spite of her peril, smiled. Johnny had done his work +well. + +There followed long harangues by other members of the reindeer tribe. +The last speech was made by the headman of East Cape. It was the longest +of all. + +At length a native boy turned to the Jap girl and spoke to her in +English. + +"They say, that one; they say all; you die. What you say?" + +"I say want--a--die," she replied smiling. + +This answer, when interpreted, brought forth many a grunt of surprise. + +"They say, that one! they say all," the boy went on, "how you want--a +die? Shoot? Stab?" + +"Shoot." She smiled again, then, "But first I do two thing. I sing. I +dance. My people alletime so." + +"Ki-ke" (go ahead) came in a chorus when her words had been +interpreted. + +No people are fonder of rhythmic motion and dreamy chanting than are the +natives of the far north. The keen-witted Japanese girl had learned this +by watching their native dancing. She had once visited an island in the +Pacific and had learned while there a weird song and a wild, whirling +dance. + +Now, as she stood up she kicked from her feet the clumsy deer skin boots +and, from beneath her parka extracted grass slippers light as silk. +Then, standing on tip toe with arms outspread, like a bird about to fly, +she bent her supple body forward, backward and to one side. Waving her +arms up and down she chanted in a low, monotonous and dreamy tone. + +All eyes were upon her. All ears were alert to every note of the chant. +Great was the Chukche who learned some new chant, introduced some +unfamiliar dance. Great would he be who remembered this song and dance +when this woman was dead. + +The tones of the singer became more distinct, her voice rose and fell. +Her feet began to move, slowly at first, then rapidly and yet more +rapidly. Now she became an animated voice of stirring chant, a whirling +personification of rhythm. + +And now, again, the song died away; the motion grew slower and slower, +until at last she stood before them motionless and panting. + +"Ke-ke! Ke-ke!" (More! More!) they shouted, in their excitement, +forgetting that this was a dance of death. + +Tearing the deer skin parka from her shoulders and standing before them +in her purple pajamas, she began again the motion and the song. Slow, +dreamy, fantastic was the dance and with it a chant as weird as the song +of the north wind. "Woo-woo-woo." It grew in volume. The motion +quickened. Her feet touched the floor as lightly as feathers. Her +swaying arms made a circle of purple about her. Then, as she spun round +and round, her whole body seemed a purple pillar of fire. + +At that instant a strange thing happened. As the natives, their minds +completely absorbed by the spell of the dance, watched and listened, +they saw the purple pillar rise suddenly toward the ceiling. Nor did it +pause, but mounting straight up, with a vaulting whirl disappeared from +sight. + +Overcome by the hypnotic spell of the dance, the natives sat motionless +for a moment. Then the bark of a dog outside broke the spell. With a mad +shout: "Pee-le-uk-tuk Pee-le-uk-tuk!" (Gone! Gone!) they rushed to the +entrance, trampling upon and hindering one another in their haste. + + * * * * * + +When Johnny reached the piling ice, on his way across the Strait, he at +first gave his entire attention to picking a pathway. Indeed this was +quite necessary, for here a great pan of ice, thirty yards square and +eight feet thick, glided upon another of the same tremendous proportions +to rear into the air and crumble down, a ponderous avalanche of ice +cakes and snow. He must leap nimbly from cake to cake. He must take +advantage of every rise and fall of the heaving swells which disturbed +the great blanket winter had cast upon the bosom of the deep. + +All this Johnny knew well. Guided only by the direction taken by the +moving cakes, he made his way across this danger zone, and out upon the +great floe, which though still drifting slowly northward, did not pile +and seemed as motionless as the shore ice itself. + +While at the village at East Cape Johnny had made good use of his time. +He had located accurately the position of the Diomede Islands, half way +station in the Strait. He had studied the rate of the ice's drift +northward. He now was in a position to know, approximately, how far he +might go due east and how much he must veer to the south to counteract +the drift of the ice. He soon reckoned that he would make three miles an +hour over the uneven surface of the floe. He also reckoned that the floe +was making one mile per hour due north. He must then, for every mile he +traveled going east, do one mile to the south. He did this by going a +full hour's travel east, then one-third of an hour south. + +So sure was he of his directions that he did not look up until the rocky +cliffs of Big Diomede Island loomed almost directly above him. + +There was a native village on this island where he hoped to find food +and rest and, perhaps, some news of the Russian and Hanada. He located +the village at last on a southern slope. This village, as he knew, +consisted of igloos of rock. Only poles protruding from the rocks told +him of its location. + +As he climbed the path to the slope he was surprised to be greeted only +by women and children. They seemed particularly unkempt and dirty. At +last, at the crest of the hill, he came upon a strange picture. A young +native woman tastily dressed was standing before her house, puffing a +turkish cigaret. She was a half-breed of the Spanish type, and Johnny +could imagine that some Spanish buccaneer, pausing at this desolate +island to hide his gold, had become her father. + +She asked him into an igloo and made tea for him, talking all the while +in broken English. She had learned the language, she told him, from the +whalers. She spoke cheerfully and answered his questions frankly. Yes, +his two friends had been here. They had gone, perhaps; she did not know. +Yes, he might cross to Cape Prince of Wales in safety she thought. But +Johnny had the feeling that her mind was filled with the dread of some +impending catastrophe which perhaps he might help avert. + +And at last the revelation came. Lighting a fresh cigaret, she leaned +back among the deer skins and spoke. "The men of the village," she said, +"you have not asked me about them." + +"Thought they were hunting," replied Johnny. + +"Hunting, no!" she exclaimed. "Boiling hooch." + +Johnny knew in a moment what she meant. "Hooch" was whisky, moonshine. +Many times he had heard of this vicious liquor which the Eskimos and +Chukches concocted by boiling sourdough, made of molasses, flour and +yeast. + +The girl told him frankly of the many carouses that had taken place +during the winter, of the deaths that had resulted from it, of the +shooting of her only brother by a drink-crazed native. + +Johnny listened in silence. That she told it all without apparent +emotion did not deceive him. Hooch was being brewed now. She wished it +destroyed. This was the last brew, for no more molasses and flour +remained in the village. This last drunken madness would be the most +terrible of all. She told him finally of the igloo where all the men had +gathered. + +Johnny pondered a while in silence. He was forever taking over the +troubles of others. How could he help this girl, and save himself from +harm? What could he do anyway? One could not steal four gallons of +liquor before thirty or forty pairs of eyes. + +Suddenly, an idea came to him. Begging a cigaret from the native beauty, +he lighted it and gave it three puffs. No, Johnny did not smoke. He was +merely experimenting. He wanted to see if it would make him sick. Three +puffs didn't, so having begged another "pill" and two matches he left +the room saying: + +"I'll take a look." + + * * * * * + +When the Jap girl leaped through the smoke hole of the igloo at East +Cape she rolled like a purple ball off the roof. Jumping to her feet she +darted down the row of igloos. Pausing for a dash into an igloo, she +emerged a moment later bearing under one arm a pile of fur garments and +under the other some native hunting implements. Then she made a dash for +the shore ice. + +It was at this juncture that the first Chukche emerged from the large +igloo. At his heels roared the whole gang. Like a pack of bloodthirsty +hounds, they strove each one to keep first place in the race. Their +grimy hands itched for a touch of that flying girlish figure. + +Though she was a good quarter mile in the lead she was hampered by the +articles she carried. Certain young Chukches, too, were noted for their +speed. Could she make it? There was a full mile of level, sandy beach +and quite as level shore ice to be crossed before she could reach the +protection of the up-turned and tumbled ice farther out to sea. + +On they came. Now their cries sounded more distinctly; they were +gaining. Now she heard the hoarse gasps of the foremost runner; now +imagining that she felt his hot breath on her cheek she redoubled her +energy. A grass slipper flew into the air. She ran on barefooted over +the stinging ice. + +Now an ice pile loomed very near. With a final dash she gained its +shelter. With a whirl she darted from it to the next, then to the right, +straight ahead, again to the right, then to the left. But even then she +did not pause. She must lose herself completely in this labyrinth of +up-ended ice cakes. + +Five minutes more of dodging found her far from the shouting mob, that +by this time was as hopelessly lost as dogs in a bramble patch. + +The Jap girl smiled and shook her fist at the shore. She was safe. +Compared to this tangled wilderness of ice, the Catacombs of Rome were +an open street. + +Throwing a fur garment on a cake of ice, she sat down upon it, at the +same time hastily drawing a parka over her perspiring shoulders. She +then proceeded to examine her collection of clothing. The examination +revealed one fawn skin parka, one under suit of eider duck skin, one +pair of seal skin trousers, two pairs of seal skin boots, with deer skin +socks to match, and one pair of deer skin mittens. Besides these there +was an undressed deer skin, a harpoon and a seal lance. + +Not such a bad selection, this, for a moment's choosing. The principal +difficulty was that the whole outfit had formerly belonged to a boy of +fourteen. The Jap girl shrugged her shoulders at this and donned the +clothing without compunctions. + +When that task was complete she surveyed herself in an up-ended cake of +blue ice and laughed. In this rig, with her hair closely plaited to her +head, her own mother would have taken her for a young Chukche boy out +for a hunt. + +Other problems now claimed her attention. She was alone in the world +without food or shelter. She dared not return to the village. Where +should she go? + +Again she shrugged her shoulders. She was warmly clad, but she was tired +and sleepy. Seeking out a cubby hole made by tumbled cakes of ice, she +plastered up the cracks between the cakes with snow until only one +opening remained. Then, dragging her deer skin after her, she crept +inside. She half closed the opening with a cake of snow, spread the deer +skin on the ice and curled up to sleep as peacefully as if she were in +her own home. + +One little thing she had not reckoned with; she was now on the drifting +ice of the ocean, and was moving steadily northward at the rate of one +mile an hour. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A FACE IN THE NIGHT + + +When Johnny left the igloo of the native girl he made his way directly +up the hill for a distance of a hundred yards. Then, turning, he took +three steps to the right and found himself facing the entrance to a +second stone igloo. That it was an old one and somewhat out of repair +was testified to by the fact that light came streaming through many a +crevice between the stones. + +Keeping well away from the entrance, Johnny took his place near one of +these crevices. What he saw as he peered within would have made John +Barleycorn turn green with envy. A moonshine still was in full +operation. Beneath a great sheet iron vat a slow fire of driftwood +burned. Extending from the vat was the barrel of a discarded rifle. This +rifle barrel passed through a keg of ice. Beneath the outer end of the +rifle barrel was a large copper-hooped keg which was nearly full of some +transparent liquid. The liquid was still slowly dripping from the end of +the rifle barrel. + +That the liquid was at least seventy-five per cent alcohol Johnny knew +right well. That it would soon cease to drip, he also knew; the fire was +burning low and no more driftwood was to be seen. + +Johnny sized up the situation carefully. Aside from some crude benches +running round its walls and a cruder table which held the moonshine +still, the room was devoid of furnishings. Ranged round the wall, with +the benches for seats, were some thirty men and perhaps half as many +hard-faced native women. On every face was an expression of gloating +expectancy. + +Now and again, a hand holding a small wooden cup would steal out toward +the keg to be instantly knocked aside by a husky young fellow whose duty +it appeared to be to guard the hooch. + +Johnny tried to imagine what the result would be were he suddenly to +enter the place. He would not risk that. He would wait. He counted the +moments as the sound of the dripping liquid grew fainter and fainter. At +last there came a loud: + +"Dez-ra" (enough), from an old man in the corner. + +Instantly the tank was lifted to one side, the fire beaten out, the keg +of ice flung outside and the keg of hooch set on the table in the center +of the room. + +Everybody now bent eagerly forward as if for a spring. Every hand held a +cup. But at this instant there came the shuffle of footsteps outside. +Instantly every cup disappeared. The kettle was lifted to a dark corner. +The room was silent when Johnny stepped inside. + +"Hello," he shouted. + +"Hello! Hello!" came from every corner. + +"Where you come from?" asked the former tender of the still. + +"East Cape." + +"Where you go?" + +"Cape Prince of Wales." + +"Puck-mum-ie?" (Now?) The man betrayed his anxiety. + +"Canak-ti-ma-na" (I don't know), said Johnny seating himself on the +table and allowing his glance to sweep the place from corner to corner. +"I don't know," he repeated, slowly. "How are you all anyway?" + +"Ti-ma-na" (Not so bad), answered the spokesman. + +Johnny was enjoying himself. He was exactly in the position of some good +motherly soul who held a pumpkin pie before the eyes of several hungry +boys. The only difference was that the pie Johnny was thinking of was +raw, so exceeding raw that it would turn these natives into wild men. So +Johnny decided that, like as not, he wouldn't let them have it at all. + +Johnny enjoyed the situation nevertheless. He was mighty unpopular at +that moment, he knew, but his unpopularity now was nothing to what it +would be in a very short time. Thinking of this, he measured the +distance to the door very carefully with his eye. + +At last, when it became evident that if he didn't move someone else +would, he turned to the still manager and said: + +"Well, guess I'll be going. Got a match?" + +He produced the borrowed cigaret. A sigh of hope escaped from the group +of natives and a match was thrust upon him. + +"Thanks." + +The match was of the sulphur kind, the sort that never blow out. + +Nonchalantly Johnny lighted the cigaret, then, all too carelessly, he +flipped the match. Though it seemed a careless act, it was deftly done. + +There came a sudden cry of alarm. But too late; the match dropped +squarely into the keg of alcohol. The next instant the place was all +alight with the blaze of the liquor, which flamed up like oil. + +"This way out," exclaimed Johnny leading the procession for the door. +Lightly he bounded down the hill. He caught one glimpse of the young +woman as he passed, but this was no time for lingering farewells. The +owner of the still was on his trail. + +Dodging this way and that, sliding over a wide expanse of ice, Johnny at +last eluded his pursuers in the wildly tumbled ice piles of the sea. As +he paused to catch his breath he heard the soft pat-pat of a footstep +and glancing up, caught a face peering at him round an ice pile. + +"The Russian," he exclaimed. + +* * * * * + +When the Jap girl awoke after several hours of delicious sleep in her +ice palace bedroom, she looked upon a world unknown. The sun was shining +brightly. The air was clear. In a general way she knew the outline of +East Cape and the Diomede Islands. She knew, too, where they should be +located. It took her some time to discover them and when she did it was +with a gasp of astonishment. They were behind her. + +Realizing at once what had happened, she stood up and held her face to +the air. The wind was off shore. There was not the least bit of use in +trying to make the land. A stretch of black waters yawned between shore +and ice floe by now. + +Shrugging her shoulders, she climbed a pile of ice for a better view, +then hurrying down again, she picked up the harpoon and began puzzling +over it. She coiled and uncoiled the skin rope attached to it. She +worked the rope up and down through the many buttons which held it to +the shaft. She examined the sharp steel point of the shaft which was +fastened to the skin rope. + +After that she sat down to think. Over to the left of her she had seen +something that lay near a pool of water. She had never hunted anything, +did not fancy she'd like it, but she was hungry. + +There was a level pan of ice by the pool. The creature lay on the ice +pan. Suddenly she sprang up and made her way across the ice piles to the +edge of that broad pan. The brown creature, a seal, still some distance +away, did not move. + +Searching the ice piles she at last found a regularly formed cake some +eight inches thick and two feet square. With some difficulty she pried +this out and stood it on edge. The edge was uneven, the cake tippy. +Rolling it on its side she chipped it smooth with the point of the +harpoon. + +The second trial found the cake standing erect and solid. Gripping her +harpoon, she threw herself flat on her stomach and pushing the cake +before her, began to wriggle her way toward the sleeping seal. + +Once she paused long enough to bore a peep hole through the cake with +her dagger. From time to time the seal wakened, and raised his head to +look about. Then he sank down again. Now she was but three rods away, +now two, now one. Now she was within ten feet of the still motionless +quarry. + +Stretching every muscle for a spring like a cat, she suddenly darted +forward. At the next instant she hurled the harpoon deep into the seal's +side. She had him! Through her body pulsated thrills of wild triumph +which harkened back to the days of her primitive ancestry. Then for a +second she wavered. She was a woman. But she was hungry. Tomorrow she +might be starving. + +Her knife flashed. A stream of red began dyeing the ice. A moment later, +the creature's muscles relaxed. + +The Japanese girl, Cio-Cio-San, sat up and began to think. Here was +food, but how was it to be prepared? To think of eating raw seal meat +was revolting, yet here on the floe there was neither stove nor fuel. + +Slowly and carefully she stripped the skin from the carcass. Beneath +this she found a two-inch layer of blubber, which must be more than +ninety per cent oil. Under this was a compact mass of dark meat. This +would be good if it was cooked. She sat down to think again. The fat +seemed to offer a solution. It would burn if she had matches. She felt +over the parka for pockets, and, with a little cry of joy, she found in +one several matches wrapped in a bit of oiled seal skin. Every native +carried them. + +Hastily she stripped off a bit of fat and having lighted it, watched it +flare up and burn rapidly. She laughed and clapped her hands. + +But before she could cut off a bit of meat to roast over its flames, the +soft ice began melting beneath it and the flames flickered out with a +snapping flutter. + +This would not do. There must be some other way found. Rising, she drove +her harpoon into the snow at the crest of an ice pile. To this she +fastened her deer skin, that it might act as a beacon to guide her back +to her food supply. Then she turned about the ice pile and began +wandering in search of she hardly knew what. + +She at last came upon some old ice, with cakes ground round and +discolored with age and then with a little cry of joy she started +forward. The thing she saw had been discarded as worthless long ago; +some gasoline schooner's crew had thrown it overboard. It was an empty +five-gallon can which had once held gasoline. It was red with rust, but +she pounced upon it and hurried away. + +Once safely back at her lodge she used the harpoon to cut out a door in +the upper end of the can. After cutting several holes in one side, she +placed it on the ice with the perforated side up and put a strip of +blubber within. This she lighted. It gave forth a smoky fire, with +little heat, but much oil collected in the can. Seeing this, she began +fraying out the silk ribbon of her pajamas. When she had secured a +sufficient amount of fine fuzz she dropped it along the edge of the oil +which saturated it at once. She lighted this, which had formed itself +into a sort of wick, and at once she had a clear and steady flame. + +She had solved the problem. In her seal oil oven, meat toasted +beautifully. In half an hour she was enjoying a bountiful repast. After +the feast, she sat down to think. She was fed for the moment and +apparently safe enough, but where was she and whither was she being +carried by this drifting ice floe? + + * * * * * + +For a second, after seeing the face of the Russian on the ice, Johnny +Thompson stood motionless. Then he turned and ran, ran madly out among +the ice piles. Heedless of direction he ran until he was out of breath +and exhausted, until he had lost himself and the Russian completely. + +No, Johnny was not running from the Russian. He was running from +himself. When he saw the Russian's face, lit up as it was by the flare +of the flames that had burst forth from that abandoned igloo, there had +been something so crafty, so cruel, so remorselessly terrible about it +that he had been seized with a mad desire to kill the man where he +stood. + +But Johnny felt, rather than knew, that there were very special reasons +why the Russian must not be killed, at least not at that particular +moment. Perhaps some dark secret was locked in his crafty brain, a +secret which the world should know and which would die if he died. +Johnny could only guess this, but whatever might be the reason he must +not at this moment kill the man whom he suspected of twice attempting +his life. So he fled. + +By the last flickering flames of the grand spree that had burned, Johnny +figured out his approximate location and began once more his three miles +east, one mile south journey to Cape Prince of Wales. Some hours later, +having landed safely at the Cape, and having displayed the postmarked +one dollar bill to the post mistress and given it to her in exchange for +a sumptuous meal of reindeer meat, hot biscuits and doughnuts, he +started sleeping the clock round in a room that had been arranged for +the benefit of weary travelers. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +"GET THAT MAN" + + +The trip from Cape Prince of Wales to Nome was fraught with many +dangers. Already the spring thaw had begun. Had not the Eskimo whom +Johnny employed to take him to the Arctic metropolis with his dog team +been a marvel at skirting rotten ice and water holes in Port Clarence +Bay, at swimming the floods on Tissure River, and at canoeing across the +flooded Sinrock, Johnny might never have reached his journey's end. + +As it was, two weeks from the time he left East Cape in Siberia, he +stood on the sand spit at Nome, Alaska. By his side stood Hanada, who +was still acting the part of an Eskimo and who had come down a few days +ahead of him. + +They were viewing a rare sight, the passing out to sea of the two miles +of shore ice. The spring thaw had been followed by an off-shore wind +which was carrying the loosened ice away. Johnny's interest was evenly +divided between this rare spectacle and the recollection of the events +that had recently transpired. + +"Look!" said Hanada. "I believe the ice will carry the farther end of +the cable tramway out to sea." + +Johnny looked. It did seem that what the boy said was true. Already the +cable appeared to be as tight as a fiddle string. + +The tramway was a cable which stretched from a wooden tower set upon a +stone pillar jutting from the sea to a similar tower built upon the +land. This tramway, during the busy summer months of open sea, is used +in lieu of a harbor and docks to bring freight and passengers ashore. +This is done by drawing a swinging platform over the cable from tower to +tower and back again. The platform at the present moment swung idly at +the shore end of the cable. The beach had been fast locked in ice for +eight months and more. + +"Looks like it might go," said Johnny absentmindedly. + +Neither he nor the Jap had seen or heard anything of the Russian. Two +things would seem to indicate that that mysterious fugitive was in town; +three times Johnny had found himself being closely watched by certain +rough-looking Russian laborers, and once he had narrowly averted being +attacked in a dark street at night by a gang of the same general +character. + +Hanada had not yet chosen to reveal his identity, and Johnny had not +questioned him. + +Only the day before a placard in the post office had given him a start. +It was an advertisement offering a thousand dollars reward for knowledge +which would lead to the arrest of a certain Russian Radical of much +importance. This man was reported to have made his way through the +Allied front near Vladivostok, and to have started north, apparently +with the intention of crossing to America. To capture him, the placard +declared, would be an act of practical patriotism. + +Johnny had stared in wonder at the photograph attached. It was the +likeness of a man much younger than the Russian they had followed so +far, but there could be no mistaking that sharp chin and frowning brow. +They had doubtless followed that very man for hundreds of miles only to +lose him at this critical moment. + +What had surprised him most of all had been the Jap's remark, as he read +the notice: + +"The blunderer! Wooden-headed blunderer!" Hanada had muttered as he read +the printed words. + +"Would you take him if you saw him?" Johnny had asked. + +The Jap had turned a strangely inquiring glance at him, then answered: + +"No!" + +But they had not found him. And now the ice was going out. Soon ships +would be coming and going. Little gasoline schooners would dash away to +catch the cream of the coast-wise trading; great steamers would bring in +coal, food, and men. In all this busy traffic, how easy it would be for +the Russian to depart unseen. + +Johnny sighed. He had grown exceedingly fond of dogging the track of +that man. And besides, that thousand dollars would come in handy. He +would dearly love to see the man behind prison bars. There would be no +holding him for crimes he had attempted in Siberia, but probably the +United States Government had something on him. + +"Look!" exclaimed the Jap. "The tower has tipped a full five feet!" It +was true. The ice crowding from the shore had blocked behind the tower, +which stood several hundred feet from land. A dark line of water had +opened between the two towers. Evidently the harbor committee would have +some work on its hands. + +"They're running down there," said Johnny, pointing to three men racing +as if for their lives toward the shore tower. "Wonder what they think +they can do?" + +"Looks like the two behind were chasing the fellow in the lead," said +Hanada. + +"They are!" exclaimed Johnny. "Poor place for safety, I'd say, but he's +got quite a lead." + +At that instant the man in front disappeared behind the shore tower. As +they watched, they saw a strange thing: the swinging platform began to +move slowly along the rusty cable, and, just as it got under way, a man +leaped out upon it. + +"He's started the electric motor and is giving himself a ride," +explained Johnny, "but if it's as bad as that, it must be pretty bad. +He's desperate, that's all. The outer tower's likely to go over at any +moment and dash him to death. Even if he makes it, where'll he be? Going +out to sea on the floe, that's all." + +Slowly the platform crept across the space over the black waters, then +over the tumbling ice. The outer tower could be seen to dip in toward +the shore. The cable sagged. The two other runners were nearing the +inner tower. + +"C'mon!" exclaimed Johnny, "The Golden West. A telescope!" + +Closely followed by Hanada, he leaped away toward the hotel where, in a +room especially prepared for it, was a huge brass telescope mounted on a +tripod. Johnny, glancing out to sea, knew that the tower would be over +in another thirty seconds. The platform was not twenty feet from its +goal. His eye was now at the telescope. One second and he swung the +instrument about. Then a gasp escaped his lips: + +"The Russian!" + +"The Russian?" Hanada snatched the telescope from him. + +As Johnny watched he saw the man leap just as the platform lurched +backward. The two men at the other tower had reversed the motor, but +they were too late. + +The next moment the outer tower toppled into the sea; the cable cut the +water with a resounding swish. Johnny saw the Russian leap from ice cake +to ice cake until at last he disappeared behind a giant pile, safe on a +broad field of solid ice. + +Hanada sat down. His face was white. + +"Gone!" he muttered hoarsely. + +"A boat?" suggested Johnny. + +"No good. The ice floe's two miles wide, forty miles long and all piled +up. Couldn't find him. He'd never give himself up. But he'll come back." + +"How?" + +"I don't know, but he'll come. You'll see. He's a devil, that one. But +we'll get him yet." + +"And the thousand," suggested Johnny. + +Hanada looked at him in disgust. "A thousand dollars! What is that?" + +"Is it as bad as that?" Johnny smiled in spite of himself. + +"Yes, and worse, many times worse. I tell you, we must get that man! +When the time comes, we must get him, or it will be worse for your +country and mine." + +"Ours is the same country," suggested Johnny. + +"Huh!" Hanada shrugged his shoulders. "I am Hanada, your old schoolmate, +now a member of the Japanese Secret Police, and you are Johnny Thompson. +Whatever else you are, I don't know. The Russian has left us for a time. +Let's talk about those old school days, and forget." + +And they did. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +BACK TO OLD CHICAGO + + +In the spring all the ice from upper Behring Sea passes through Behring +Strait. One by one, like squadrons of great ships, floes from the shores +of Cape York, Cape Nome and the Yukon flats drift majestically through +that narrow channel to the broad Arctic Ocean. + +So it happened that in due time the ice floe on which the Russian had +sought refuge drifted past the Diomede Islands and farther out, well +into the Arctic Ocean, met the floe on which the Jap girl had been lost +as it circled to the east. + +All ignorant of the passenger it carried, the girl welcomed this +addition to her broad domain of ice. She had lived on the floe for days, +killing seal for her food and melting snow to quench her thirst. But of +late the cakes had begun to drift apart. There was danger that the great +pan on which she had established herself would drift away from the +others, and, in that case, if no seals came, she would starve. This new +floe crowded upon hers and made the one on which she camped a solid mass +again. + +Spying some strange, dark spots on the newly arrived floe, she hurried +over to the place and was surprised to find that it was a great heap of +rubbish carted from some city. Though she did not know it, she guessed +that city was Nome. + +With the keen pleasure of a child she explored the heaps, selecting here +a broken knife, there a discarded kettle, and again some other utensil +which would help her in setting up a convenient kitchen. + +But it was as she made her way back to her camp that she received the +greatest shock. Suddenly, as she rounded a cake of ice, she came upon a +man sprawled upon the ice, as if dead. The girl took no chances. In the +land whence she came, it was not considered possible that this man +should die. She sprang between two up-ended cakes, and from this shelter +studied him cautiously. Yes, there was no mistaking him; it was the +Russian. A slight movement of one arm told her he was not dead. Whether +he was unconscious or was sleeping she could not tell. + +Presently, after tying her dagger to her waist by a rawhide cord, she +crept silently forward. An ear inclined toward his face told her that he +was breathing regularly; he was sleeping the torpid sleep of one worn by +exhaustion, exposure and starvation. + +Ever so gently she touched him. He did not move. Then, with one hand on +her dagger, she felt his clothing, as if searching for some object +hidden in his fur garments. Her touch was light as a feather, yet she +appeared to have a wonderful sense of location in the tips of those +small, slender fingers. + +Once the man moved and groaned. Light as a leaf she sprang away, the +dagger gleaming in her hand. There were reasons why she did not wish to +kill that man; other reasons than the fact that she was a woman and +shrank from slaying, and yet she was in a perilous position. Should it +come to a choice between killing him or suffering herself, she would +kill him. + +Again the man's body relaxed in slumber. Again she glided to his side +and continued her search. When at last she straightened up, it was with +a look of despair. The thing she sought was not there. + +When the Russian awoke some time later it was with the feeling that he +had been prodded in the side. The first sensation to greet him after +that was the savory smell of cooked meat. Unable to believe his senses, +he opened his eyes and sat up. Before him was a tin pan partly filled +with strips of reddish-brown meat and squares of fried fat. The dish was +still hot. + +Like a dog that fears to have his food snatched from him, he glared +about him and a sort of snarl escaped his lips. Then he fell upon the +food and ate it ravenously. With the last morsel in his hand, he looked +about him for signs of the human being who had befriended him. But in +his eye was no sign of gratitude, rather the reverse--a burning fire of +suspicion and hate lurked in their sullen depths. His gaze finally +rested for a moment on the meat in his hand. Then his face blanched. The +meat had been neatly cut by an instrument keen as a razor. + + * * * * * + +The steam-whaler, Karluke, a whole year overdue, pushing her way south +through the ice-infested Strait, her crew half mutinous, and her food +supply low, was subjected to two vexatious delays. Once she halted to +pick up a man who signaled her from the top of a shattered tower of wood +which topped an ice pile. The man was a Russian. Again, the boat paused +to take on board a youth, whom they supposed to be a Chukche hunter who +had been carried by the floes from his native shores. + +The Russian paid them well for his passage to Seattle. The supposed +Chukche was sent to the galley to become cook's helper. + +This Chukche boy was no other than the Jap girl. She realized at once +the position she was in; a perilous enough one, once her identity was +disclosed, and she did all in her power to play the part of a Chukche +boy. She drew maps on the deck to show the seamen that she was a member +of the reindeer Chukche tribes, who spoke a different language from the +hunting tribes, thus explaining why she could not converse freely with +the veteran Arctic sailors who had learned Chukche on their many +voyages. She was fortunate in immediately securing a cook's linen cap. +This she wore tightly drawn down to her ears, covering her hair +completely. + +One thing she discovered the first night on board: The Russian had in +his stateroom a bundle. This had been hidden when she searched him on +the ice. To have a look into that bundle became her absorbing purpose. +Three times she attempted to enter his stateroom. On the third attempt +she did actually enter the room, but so narrowly escaped having her +linen mask torn from her head and her identity revealed by the irate +Russian, that she at last gave it up. + +Upon docking at Seattle both the Russian and the girl mingled with the +crowd on the dock and quickly disappeared. + +The clerks in Roman & Lanford's department store were more than mildly +curious regarding an Eskimo boy, who, entering their store that day and +displaying a large roll of bills, demanded the best in women's wearing +apparel. They had in stock a complete outfit, just the size that would +fit the strange customer, who was no other than the Jap girl. + + * * * * * + +Johnny Thompson and Hanada, after two weeks of fruitless watching and +waiting in Nome, took a steamer for Seattle. Johnny had not been in +that city a day when, while walking toward the Washington Hotel, he felt +a light touch on his arm, and turned to look into the beaming face of +the Jap girl. + +"You--you here?" he gasped in amazement. + +"Yes." + +"Why! You look grand," he assured her. "Regular American girl." + +She blushed through her brown skin. Then her face took on a serious +look: + +"The Russian--" she began. + +"Yes, the Russian!" exclaimed Johnny eagerly. + +"He is here--no, not here. This morning he takes train for Chicago. +To-night we will follow. We will get that man, you and I, and--Iyok-ok." +Her lips tripped over the last word. + +"Hanada," Johnny corrected. + +"He has told you?" + +"Yes, he is an old friend." + +"And mine too. Good! To-night we will go. We will get that man. Three of +us. That bad one!" + +"All right," said Johnny. "See you at the depot to-night." + +"Wait," said the girl. Her hand still on his arm, she stood on her +tiptoe and whispered in his ear: + +"My name Cio-Cio-San; your friend, Hanada friend. Good-by." Then she was +gone. + +Johnny walked to his hotel as in a dream. He had hoped to return to his +den, his job and to Mazie in Chicago, and in a quiet way, all mysteries +dissolved, to live his old happy life. But here were all the mysteries +carrying him right to his own city and promising to end--in what? +Perhaps in some tremendous sensation. Who could tell? And the diamonds; +what of them? He put his hand to his inner pocket; they were still +there. Was he watched? Would he be followed? Even as he asked himself +the question, he fancied that a dark form moved stealthily across the +street. + +"Well, anyway," he said to himself, "I can't desert my Jap friends. +Besides, I don't want to." + + * * * * * + +"Chicago," said Hanada some time later, as Johnny related his +conversation with Cio-Cio-San. "That means the end is near." + +The end was not so near as he thought. When it came it was not, alas! to +be for him the kind of end he fancied. + +"All right," he said. "To-night we go to Chicago." + +On the trip eastward from Seattle, Johnny slept much and talked little. +The Jap girl and Hanada occupied compartments in different cars and +appeared to wish to avoid being seen together or with Johnny. This, he +concluded, was because there might be Russian Radicals on this very +train. Johnny slept with the diamonds pressed against his chest and it +was with a distinct sense of relief that he at last heard the hollow +roar of the train as it passed over the street subways, for he knew this +meant he was back in dear old Chicago, where he might have bitter +enemies, but where also were many warm friends. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE MYSTERY OF THE CHICAGO RIVER + + +Johnny Thompson dodged around a corner on West Ohio street, then walked +hurriedly down Wells street. At a corner of the building which shadowed +the river from the north he paused and listened; then with a quick +wrench, he tore a door open, closed it hastily and silently, and was up +the dusty stairs like a flash. At the top he waited and listened, then +turning, made his way up two other flights, walked down a dark corridor, +turned a key in a lock, threw the door open, closed it after him, +scratched a match, lighted a gas lamp, then uttered a low "Whew!" at the +dust that had accumulated everywhere. + +Brushing off a chair, he sat down. For a few moments he sat there in +silent reflection. Then rising, he extinguished the light, threw up the +sash, unhooked some outer iron shutters, sent them jangling against the +brick wall, and drawing his chair to the window, stared reflectively +down into the sullen, murky waters of the river. At last he was back in +Chicago! + +The time had been when the fact that Johnny Thompson occupied this room +was no secret to anyone who really wanted to know. Johnny had roomed +here when he first came to Chicago as a boy, working for six dollars a +week. When, in the years that followed, it had been discovered that +Johnny was quick as a bobcat and packed a wallop; when Johnny began +making easy money, and plenty of it, he had stuck to the old room that +overlooked the river. When he had heard his country's call to go to war, +he had paid three years' rent on the room and had locked the door. If he +never came back, all good and well. If he did return, the old room would +be waiting for him, the room and the river. Now here he was once more. + +The river! The stream had always held a great fascination for him. +Johnny had seen other rivers but to him none of them quite came up to +the old Chicago. In its silent, sullen depths lay power and mystery. +The Charles River of Boston Johnny had seen, and called it a place of +play for college boys. The Seine of Paris was a thing of beauty, not of +power. The Spokane was a noisy blusterer. But the old Chicago was a grim +and silent toiler. It bore on its waters great scows, lake boats, +snorting, smoking tugs, screaming fire boats and police boats. Then, +too, it was a river of mysteries. Down into its murky depths no eye +could peer to discover the hidden and mysterious burdens which it +carried away toward the Father of Waters. + +Yes, give Johnny the room by the old Chicago! It was dusty and grim; but +tomorrow he would clean it thoroughly. Just now he wished merely to sit +here and think for an hour. + +The time had been when Johnny had not cared who saw him enter this +haven; but to-day things were different. Since he had got into this +affair with the Russian and his band he had had a feeling that he was +being constantly watched. + +There was little wonder at this, for did he not carry on his person +forty thousand dollars' worth of rare gems? And did they not belong to +someone else? + +"To whom?" Johnny said the words aloud as he thought of it. + +His mind turned to his Japanese comrades, the girl and the man. He had +told neither of them about the diamonds. Perhaps he should have done so, +and yet he felt a strange reticence in the matter. + +He was to meet Hanada at eight o'clock. Hanada had never told him why +they were pursuing the Russian; why he could not be killed in Siberia; +why he must not be killed or arrested if seen now, until he, Hanada, +said the word. He had not told why he thought that the Secret Service +men had committed a blunder in offering a reward for the Russian's +capture. + +As Johnny thought of it he wondered if he were a fool for sticking to +this affair into which he had been so blindly led. He had not shown +himself to his old boss or to Mazie. To them he was dead. He had looked +up the official record that very morning and had seen that he was +reported "Missing in Vladivostok; probably dead." + +Should he stick to the Russian's trail, a course which might lead to +his death, or should he take the diamonds to a customs office and turn +them in as smuggled goods, then tell Hanada he was off the hunt, was +going back to his old job and Mazie? That would be a very easy thing to +do; and to stick was fearfully hard. Yet the words of his long time +friend, "Get that man, or it will be worse for your country and mine," +still rang in his ears. Was it his patriotic duty to stick? + +And if he decided to go on with it, should he go to Hanada and ask for a +showdown, all cards on the table; or should he trust him to reveal the +facts in the case little by little or all at once, as seemed wise to +him? Well, he should see. + +Then, for a half hour, Johnny gave himself over to the wild, boyish +reveries which the city air and the lights flickering on the water +awakened. At the end of that half hour he put on his hat and went out. +He was to meet Hanada on the Wells street bridge. Where the Japanese was +staying he did not know, but that it was with some fellow countrymen he +did not doubt. Cio-Cio-San was staying with friends, students at the +University. It had been arranged that the three of them should meet at +odd times and various places to discuss matters relating to their +dangerous mission. In this way they hoped to throw members of the band +of Radicals off their tracks. + +Their conversation that night came to little. Hanada had found no trace +of the Russian, nor had he come into contact with any other important +Radicals since reaching Chicago. Johnny's report was quite as brief. +Hanada showed no inclination to reveal more regarding the matter, and +Johnny did not question him. He had fully determined to see the thing +through, cost what it might. + +It was after a roundabout walk through the deserted streets of the +business section of the city that they came to South Water street. This +street, the noisiest and most crowded of all Chicago at certain hours, +was now as silent and deserted as a village green at midnight. Here a +late pedestrian hurried down its narrow walk: there some boatman +loitered toward his craft in the river. But for these the street was +deserted. + +And it was here, of all places, that they experienced the first thrill +of the night. A heavy step sounded on the pavement around the corner. +The next instant a man appeared walking toward them. His face was +obscured by shadows, but there was no mistaking that stride. + +"That's our man," whispered Johnny. + +"The Russian?" questioned Hanada in equally guarded tones. + +There was not time for another word, for the man, having quickened his +pace was abreast of them, past them and gone. + +"I don't know. Couldn't see his face," whispered the Jap. + +"Quick!" urged Johnny; "there's a short cut, an alley. We can meet him +again under the arc light." + +Down a dark alley they dashed. Crashing into a broken chicken crate, +then sprinting through an open court, they came out on another alley, +and then onto a street. + +They had raced madly, but now as they came up short, panting, they saw +no one. The man had disappeared. + +Suddenly they heard steps on the cross street. + +"Turned the corner," panted Johnny. "C'mon!" + +Again they dashed ahead, slowing only as they reached the other street. + +Sure enough, halfway down the block they saw their man. He was walking +rapidly toward the bridge. Quickening their pace they followed. + +Distinctly they saw the man go upon the bridge. Very plainly they heard +every footstep on the echoing planks. Then, just as they were about to +step upon the bridge, the footsteps ceased. + +"Sh!" whispered Johnny, bringing his friend to a halt. "He's stopped; +maybe laying for us." + +For a minute they stood there. The lapping of the water was the only +sound till, somewhere in the distance an elevated train rattled its way +north. + +"C'mon," said Johnny. "We've met that bird in worse places than this; we +can meet him again." + +But they did not meet him, although they walked the full length of the +bridge. There was not a place on the whole structure where a man could +hide, but they searched it thoroughly. Then Johnny searched the sides, +the abutments. He sent the gleam of his powerful flashlight into the +dark depths beneath, but all to no purpose. The man was gone. + +"Humph!" said Johnny. + +"Hisch!" breathed Hanada. + +"Well, all I have to say," observed Johnny presently, "is that if the +old Chicago River has that fellow, he'll be cast ashore. The good old +Chicago doesn't associate with any such." + +They stood there leaning on the wooden railing debating their next move, +when a shot rang out. Instantly they dropped to the floor of the bridge. +A bullet whizzed over their heads, then another and another. After that +silence. + +"Get you?" whispered Johnny. + +"No. You?" + +"Nope." + +Then a long finger of light came feeling its way along the murky waters +to rest on the bridge. + +With a sigh of relief, Johnny saw that it came from a police-boat down +stream. The light felt its way back and forth, back and forth across the +river, then up to the bridge and across that. It came to rest as it +glared into their eyes. It blinked one, two, three times, then went out. + +"I'm glad they didn't hold it on us," breathed Johnny. "In that light +anybody that wanted to could get a bead on us." + +Hearing heavy, hurrying footsteps approaching, they stood up well back +against the iron braces. + +"Police!" whispered Johnny. + +"You fellows shoot?" demanded one of the policemen as they came up and +halted before the two boys. + +"Nope," Johnny answered. + +"No stallin' now." + +"Search us," Johnny suggested. "The shots were fired at us, though where +from, blessed if I know. Came right out of space. We'd just searched the +bridge from end to end. Not a soul on it." + +"What'd y' search it fer?" + +"A man." + +"W'at man?" + +"That's it," Johnny evaded. "We wanted to know who he was." + +The policemen conversed with one another in low tones for a moment. + +"One of the bullets struck a cross-arm; I heard it," suggested Johnny. +"You can look at that if it'll be any comfort to you." + +The policeman grunted, then following Johnny's flashlight, examined the +spot where the bullet had flaked the paint from the bridge iron. + +"Hurum!" he grumbled. "That's queer. Bullet slid straight up the iron +when it struck. Ordinarily that'd mean she was shot square against it +from below and straight ahead, but that can't be, fer that brings her +comin' direct out of the river, which ain't human, nor possible. There +wasn't a boat nor a barge nor even a plank on the river when the +searchlight flashed from the gray prowler; was there, Mike?" + +"Not even a cork," said Mike. + +"Well, anyway, that clears youse guys," grunted the leader. "Now you +better beat it." + +Bidding Hanada good night, Johnny walked across the bridge, around four +blocks, then made a dash for his room. There was dust on his blankets, +but he could shake it off. Anyway, he probably would not sleep much that +night. Probably he would spend most of the night sitting by the window, +listening to the lap of the waters of the old river and trying to solve +the strange problem of the bullets fired apparently from the depths of +the stream. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE CAT CRY OF THE UNDERWORLD + + +Dodging in front of a street car, Johnny turned abruptly to the right +and trailed a taxi for half a block; then he shot across the sidewalk to +the end of a dark alley. Then he flattened himself against the wall and +listened. Yes, it came at last, the faint thud of cautious footsteps. He +had not thrown the man off the scent. + +"Well then, I will," he muttered, gritting his teeth. Johnny was a +trifle out of sorts to-night. The chase annoyed him. + +He dodged down the alley, then up a narrow court. Prying open the window +of an empty building, he crept in and silently slid the sash back in its +place. Tiptoeing across the hall with the lightness of a cat, he crept +up the dusty stairs. One, two, three flights he ascended, then feeling +for the rounds of a short ladder, he climbed still higher, to lift a +trapdoor at last and creep out upon the roof. + +Once there he skulked from chimney to chimney until he had crossed the +flat roofs of three buildings. The third had a trapdoor close to a +chimney. This he lifted, then dropped behind him. He was now in his own +building. Panting a little from the exertion, he tiptoed down the hall, +turned the key and entered his room. + +Having made sure that the iron blinds were closed, he snapped on a +light. His eyes, roving around the room, fell presently upon something +white on the floor. Johnny could see his own name scrawled upon it. +There were but a few people in all the world who knew that Johnny +Thompson had ever lived here. Probably all of those who did know thought +him dead and buried in Russia. Who had written this note? Friend or foe? + +He tore open the envelope and glanced at the note. It came to the point +with brutal frankness. + +"Johnny Thompson: You are known to have in your possession rare gems +which do not belong to you. You will please leave them on the doorstep +of 316 North Bird place, and rap three times before you leave. + +"If not--" + +That was all, save that in place of a signature there was a splotch of +red sealing wax. The wax had been stamped with an iron seal. The mark of +the seal was that of the Radical Clan--the same as that on the envelope +which contained the diamonds. + +"And that, I suppose," whispered Johnny to himself, "means that if I do +not leave the diamonds where I am told to I shall be flattened out like +that drop of wax." + +Switching out the light, he opened the blinds and took his old seat by +the window. He was at once absorbed in thought. So all his dodging and +twisting had not served to throw them off his track. They had discovered +his den. And he must give up the diamonds and-- + +"If not--" + +Those two words stood out as plainly before him as if they were flashed +forth from an electric sign on the roof across the river. + +He was half minded to give the diamonds up, but not to those rascals. +No, he would allow one of their spies to trail him to the Custom House, +and there, before the man's very eyes, Johnny would take out the +envelope with the seal plainly showing, and hand the diamonds in as +smuggled goods. + +There was but one objection to this plan; he still had a strange fancy +that someway Cio-Cio-San had a rightful interest in those gems. At +least, he was not sure she did not have. Until he had determined the +truth in this matter, he was loath to part with them. + +But in keeping them he was taking a risk. He might be attacked and +killed by that ruthless gang at any time. + +For a long time he sat, staring down at the river. He was not in a happy +mood. He was tired of all this trouble, fighting and mystery. On crowded +State street that afternoon, he had seen Mazie. That made it worse. He +had never seen her look so well. She had changed; grown older, and he +thought a little sadder. Was the sadness caused by the fact that she +believed him dead? He dared to hope so. All this filled him with a mad +desire to touch her hand once more, to speak to her, to assure her in a +score of ways that he was not dead. + +Then Hanada had disappointed him. He had hoped they would meet again and +have another conference that night; had hoped that the wise little Jap +would have some solution of the mystery of the shots from the river, and +the strange disappearance of the man they had taken to be the Russian. +But Hanada had said "No." He had given no reason; had merely left things +that way. Hanada had been like that always; he never explained. Perhaps +he did have some other important engagement; then why could he not tell +Johnny of it? Why all this constant enshrouding of affairs in mystery? +What did he, Johnny, know about the whole business anyway? Not a thing. +He was only assured by the Jap that it was his duty to stick on the +trail of the Russian until it led somewhere in particular. He was not, +in any circumstances, to have him arrested or killed without first +consulting Hanada. + +"What rot!" + +Johnny got up and paced the floor. Then, suddenly realizing that there +was no longer cause for secrecy as to his whereabouts, he threw on the +light and swung a punching bag down from the wall. + +This ancient bit of leather, which had hung unused for many months, gave +forth a volley of dust at first. But soon it was sending resounding +thwacks echoing down the hall from Johnny's right and left punch. + +Johnny even smiled as he sat down after a fifteen minutes round with +this old friend. He was greatly pleased at one thing; his left arm was +now quite as good as his right. + +As he sat there, still smiling, his eyes fell on that note which had +been thrust under his door. A strange, wild impulse seized him. + +"So they know where I stay," he muttered. "I'll see how near I can come +to finding out where they are hiding." + +Taking the envelope containing the diamonds from his pocket, he crowded +it down into the depths of his clothing; then, snapping off the light, +he went out. + +Hastening down the street and across the bridge, he was soon threading +deserted streets and dark alleys. In time he came out upon Bird place, +a half street, ending in a wall. The passage was narrow, hardly more +than an alley. + +The night was exceptionally dark and the place cheerless--just the +setting for a crime. Lights behind drawn shutters were few. Only the +very wretched or very wicked haunted such habitations. + +Hugging the wall, Johnny sidled along toward 316. He knew the spot +exactly, for though Johnny had never been of the underworld, he had +spent many a restless night prowling about in all parts of the city. +Suddenly he flattened out in a doorway and stood motionless, breathing +quietly. + +Had he heard the faint pat-pat of footsteps? Had he caught the dark blue +of a shadow on yonder wall? For a full three minutes he stood there; +then hearing, seeing nothing more, he glided out and resumed his +snake-like journey toward the door of 316. + +This time he did not go far, for suddenly looming from dark doorways +four huge forms sprang at him. Johnny understood it all in a moment. The +note was but a trick. They had not intended to trust him to leave the +diamonds. They did not live at 316 at all. They merely had meant to +draw him to this dark alley, then to "get" him. Well, they would find +him a tough nut to crack! + +His right shot out, and a heavy bulk crashed to the pavement. His left +swung and missed. A wild creature sprang at his throat. Johnny's mind +worked like lightning. Four were too many. They would get him. He must +have help. The cat cry of the underworld! He had known that cry two +years before. He had many friends who would answer it. They had +introduced themselves at his boxing bouts. They had liked him because he +played a fair game and "packed a winning wallop." If any of them were +near they would come to his aid. + +Drawing a long breath, he let forth a piercing scream that rose and fell +like the wail of a fire siren. At the same time he jabbed fiercely with +his right. The man collapsed, but at that instant a third man struck +Johnny on the head and, all but unconscious, he reeled and fell to the +ground. + +Faintly as in a dream, he heard guttural murmurs. He felt the buttons +give as his coat was torn open. Then there came the ringing report of a +shot from the distance. + +"Da bolice!" came in a guttural mutter. + + * * * * * + +The reason Hanada would not meet Johnny on this particular night was +that he had a pressing engagement with other persons. Just at seven +o'clock he might have been seen emerging from an obscure street. He +hailed a taxi-cab and getting in, drove due north across the river and +straight on until, with a sharp turn to the right, he drove two blocks +toward the lake, only to turn again to the right and cross the river +again. He had gone south several blocks when suddenly signaling the +driver to stop, he handed him a five-dollar bill and darted into the +welcoming portals of a vast hotel. + +The next moment he was crossing marble floors to enter a heavily +carpeted parlor. This, too, he crossed. Then the walls of the room +seemed to swallow him up. + +In a small, dimly lighted anteroom his coat and hat were taken by a +servant. He then stepped into a room where a round table was spread with +spotless linen and rare silver. There were five chairs ranged around +the table. Hanada frowned as he counted them. + +"It seems," he murmured, "that the man who attends to the serving does +not know that Hanada dines with the Big Five to-night. Ah well! There is +time enough and room enough. We shall dine together; never fear." + +He stepped back in the shadow of the heavy curtains and waited +expectantly. + +"The Big Five," he murmured. "Some of America's richest, surely +Chicago's greatest millionaires. And Hanada dines with them. They will +listen to him, too. They will hang on his word. The Big Five will +listen. And if they say 'Yes,' if they do--" He drew in his breath +sharply. "If they do we will set the world afire with a great, new +thing. They have the money, which is power, and I have the knowledge, +which is greater power." + +There was a sound outside the door. A servant entered and, bowing +deferentially, moved toward the table. He deftly rearranged the chairs +and the silver. When he left, there were six places set. Hanada smiled. + +Had one been permitted to look in upon the diners in this simply +appointed room of one of America's great hotels that night, he might +have wondered at the manner in which five of Chicago's great men hung +upon the words of one little Japanese, who, now and then as he spoke, as +if to indicate the vastness and grandeur of his theme, spread his hands +forth in a broad gesture. + +The meal ended, his speech concluded, all questions answered, he at last +rose, and with a low bow said: + +"And now, gentlemen, I leave the proposition with you. Please do not +forget that it is a great and glorious venture; a new and glorious +empire! An honor to your country and mine." + +He was gone. + +For some time the five men sat in silence. Then one of them spoke: + +"Is he mad?" + +"Are we all mad?" questioned a second. His voice was husky. + +"Well," said a third, "it sounds like a dream, a dream of great +possibilities. We must sleep over it." + +Without another word they moved out of the room. The meeting, one of +the most momentous in the history of the century, perhaps, was ended. + + * * * * * + +When Johnny Thompson heard the shot and the guttural mutter, "Da +bolice!" he made a final effort to rally his senses and to put up a +fight. + +He did succeed in struggling to his knees, but to fight was unnecessary. +Just as another shot sent echoes down the alley and a bullet sang over +their heads, his assailants took to their heels. + +A slight, slouching figure came gliding toward Johnny. + +"Jerry the Rat!" he murmured; then to the man himself: + +"So, it's you, Jerry. Haven't seen you for two years." + +Through blear-eyes the little fellow surveyed Johnny for a second. + +"Johnny Thompson, de clean guy wot packs a wallop!" he exclaimed. "Dere +dey go! We can get 'em!" He pointed down the alley. + +"Got a gun?" asked Johnny, standing a bit unsteadily. + +"Two of 'em. C'mon. We ken git de yeggs yit." + +Johnny grasped the gun held out to him and the next instant was +following the strangely swift rat of the waterfront. + +"Dere dey go!" exclaimed the little fellow. + +Down an alley they rushed, then out on a broad, but dimly lighted +street. They were gaining on the gang. They would overhaul them. There +would be a battle. Johnny figured this out as he ran, and tried to +discover the mechanism of his weapon. + +But at that juncture the pursued ones dashed through an open window of a +deserted building which flanked the river. + +"Dere dey go! De cheap sluggers!" exclaimed Jerry. + +Leaping across the street, he reached the window only a moment after the +last of the four had slammed it down. + +But the men had paused long enough to throw the catch. It took Jerry a +full minute to break its grip. + +When, at last, they vaulted cautiously over the sill and flashed their +light about the interior, they found the place empty. + +"Dey's flew de coop!" whispered Jerry. "Now wot's de chanst of dem +makin' a clean git away?" + +They made a hurried examination of all possible exits. All the window +ledges and doorsills were so encrusted with dust that one passing +through them would be sure to leave his mark. That is, all but one were. +One windowsill had apparently been swept clean. But that window faced +the river. As they threw it up, and looked down from its ledge, they saw +only the murky waters of the river swirling beneath them. + +Johnny studied the situation carefully, and the more he studied, the +more baffled he became. If a boat had been tied to the windowsill there +would have been marks on the casing. There were no such marks; yet, the +fugitives had gone that way. He thought of the shots fired from the +river the previous night and tried to connect the two. He could not make +it out. + +"Dey's gone!" said Jerry the Rat. "Did dey fleece y'?" + +Johnny smiled. "They were trying to croak me, Jerry, and they nearly +did it. Got a bump on my head big as a turkey buzzard's egg." + +"Who wuz dey?" + +"That's what I don't know altogether. Say, Jerry, are there some tough +characters hanging around the river these days that ain't regular +crooks?" + +"Is dey? Dere's a mess of 'em!" + +"Where do they stay?" asked Johnny eagerly. + +"Dat's it." The little fellow scratched his head. "I bin skulkin' 'round +'em to find out. Sometimes I follers 'em, like now. Dey always drop out +like this. Dey's queer. Dey ain't regular crooks, nor regular guys +either. Dey's cookin' soup for sump'n big." + +"That's what I think," said Johnny. "What are they like? + +"Dey's five Roosians, three Heinies, one Wop, an' one Jap, I seen." + +"Say, Jerry," said Johnny suddenly, "do you want to earn some honest +money?" + +"Not work?" + +"No, spyin'." + +"Not on me pals? Not on regular crooks?" + +"No, on these queer ones." + +"I'm on. Wot's de lay?" + +"Find where they stay. Hunt them day and night till you do. Here's a +twenty. There's more where that came from. There's a century note if you +get them. Get me?" + +The Rat ducked his head in assent. + +"Then good night." + +"Night," he mumbled. + +They were out of the building now and Johnny made his way cautiously +back to his room. He had had quite enough for one night. Once he paused +to thrust his hand beneath his vest. Yes, the diamonds were still there. +His assailants had not had time to find them. He was not sure whether he +was glad or sorry. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +CIO-CIO-SAN BETRAYED + + +Very alert, Johnny Thompson at the stroke of eight the next night crept +from a narrow runway between two buildings and walked briskly down the +street. He had reached the runway by a route known only to himself. He +was sure that for a time, at least, he would not be followed. At last he +reached the bridge which was coming to harbor many mysteries for him. +Halfway across the span he paused, and sinking into the shadow of an +iron girder, began watching the surface of the water. + +He was, in fact, attempting to understand those murky depths. From his +room he had detected a strange light. Either reflected on the water or +shining up through it, this light appeared a pale yellow glow, such as +he had often seen given off by the jelly fish in the Pacific. That there +was no such jelly fish to be found in fresh water he knew quite well. +And he had never in his life noticed that glow in the river. + +Now, as he surveyed the surroundings, he realized that the light could +not have been reflected from any illumination in street or building. The +glow from the water had appeared close to the wall of the empty building +through which his four assailants of the night before had made good +their escape. + +As he stood there, slouching in the shadows, Johnny gave a great start; +the light had appeared again. Beyond question it was beneath the water, +not shining upon it. From this vantage point the light seemed stronger. +It appeared for a few seconds, then disappeared again. Johnny scratched +his head. What could it mean? For some time he stood in a brown study, +then he laughed silently to himself. + +"Probably phosphorescent substances being sent out from the drainpipe of +a factory or chemical laboratory," he decided. + +At that instant he was all alert. His hand closed on his automatic. A +stealthy footfall had sounded on the bridge. + +"Oh! It's you," he whispered a moment later. + +Hanada grinned as he gripped Johnny's hand. "Thought I might miss you," +he whispered. + +The two were soon engaged in animated conversation. Their talk had to do +with Johnny's adventure of the night before and the information +regarding the Radicals furnished by Jerry the Rat. Hanada appeared +unduly excited at the news. + +"It seems," said Johnny, "that there must be a national conference of +Radicals meeting somewhere near this river. Perhaps our old friend, the +Russian of Vladivostok, is a delegate." + +Hanada shot him a swift glance, as if to say: "How much do you know +about this matter anyway?" + +But for some time the Japanese did not speak; then it was concerning an +entirely different affair. Cio-Cio-San had been visited by a fellow +countryman who, although wholly unknown to her, had appeared to know a +great deal about her private business. He had informed her that she had, +within the last year, been robbed of some very valuable property and +professed to have a knowledge of its whereabouts. If she would accompany +him he would see that it was restored to her. The actions of the man had +aroused her suspicions and she had refused to go. However, she had asked +him to give her a day to think it over. He was to return at nine this +night. + +"Some nifty little mind reader, that Jap," smiled Johnny. "Tell him to +come round and locate my long lost uncle's buried treasure." + +However, though he passed the matter off as a jest, he was doing some +very serious thinking about this rather strange affair. He had never +told Hanada about the diamonds. Neither had he told of the note which +had been thrust under the door. Now he remembered that Jerry the Rat had +spoken of a Jap as a member of the Radicals, and he wondered if +Cio-Cio-San's visitor was the same man. If that were so, then what was +his game? Was he planning to lead Cio-Cio-San into a trap? Certainly if +the treasure the strange Jap had spoken of as having been stolen from +the Japanese girl was the envelope of diamonds, and they had hoped to +recover them from Johnny that night, they would have no intention of +restoring them to Cio-Cio-San. + +"I'd advise her, if I were you," said Johnny slowly, "to find out as +much as she can, and not take too many chances. The man may be one of +the Radicals, and he may be using the supposed treasure as a decoy. At +the same time, if she handles the affair discreetly enough, she may be +able to assist you in locating the Russian and his band, which, I take +it, is your chief end and aim in life just now." + +Hanada sent him another penetrating glance. "You have guessed that +much," he admitted. "Well, soon I may be able to tell you all. In the +meantime, if you need more money to pay this Jerry--Jerry, what was it +you called him?" + +"Jerry the Rat." + +"Yes, yes, Jerry the Rat. If you need more money for him, I can get you +more, plenty more. But," the lines of his face grew tense, "we must find +them and soon, or it may be too late. We must act quickly." + +Hanada had not said one word of his affairs of the night before, nor +did he now as they were about to part. + +Dull and heavy, there came the tread of feet on the bridge. + +"The police!" whispered Johnny. + +Hanada seemed distinctly nervous. + +As the two patrolmen came abreast of them one of them flashed his light. + +Hanada cringed into the shadows. + +"Well," said a deep voice, "here's luck! Youse guys come with us. Youse +guys is wanted at the station." + +"What for?" Johnny demanded. + +"Youse guys know well enough. Treason, they call it." + +"Treason?" Johnny gave a happy laugh. "Treason? They'll have hard work +to prove that." + + * * * * * + +Had one been privileged to see Cio-Cio-San at the moment Johnny Thompson +and his friend were arrested, he might easily have imagined that she was +back in Japan. The room in which she paced anxiously back and forth was +Japanese to the final detail. The floor was covered thickly with +mattings and the walls, done in a pale blue, were hung everywhere with +long scrolls of ancient Japanese origin. Here a silver stork stood in a +pool of limpid blue; there a cherry orchard blossomed out with all the +extravagant beauty of spring, and in the corner a pagoda, with sloping, +red-tile roof and wide doors, proclaimed the fact that the Japanese were +a people of art, even down to house building. Silk tapestries of varying +tints hung about the room, while in the shadows a small heathen god +smiled a perpetual smile. + +But it was none of these things that the girl saw at that moment. This +room, fitted up as it had been by rich Japanese students, most certainly +had brought back fond memories of her own country. But at this instant, +her eyes turned often to a screen behind which was a stand, and on that +stand was a desk telephone. + +Hanada had promised to consult Johnny Thompson regarding the strange +proposition of the unknown Japanese. He had promised to call her at +once; by eight-thirty at the latest. The stranger was to return for his +answer at nine. It now lacked but ten minutes of that hour, and no call +had come from Hanada. She could not, of course, know that the men on +whom she depended for counsel were prisoners of the police. So she paced +the floor and waited. + +Five minutes to nine and yet no call. Wrinkles came to her forehead, her +step grew more impatient. + +"If he does not call, what shall I do?" she asked herself. + +Then there came the sharp ring of the telephone. She sprang to the +instrument, but the call was for another member of the club. + +Three minutes in which to decide. She walked thoughtfully across the +floor. Should she go? Her money was now almost gone. It was true that a +treasure, which to many would seem a vast fortune, had disappeared from +her father's house over night. It had been taken by force. And she knew +the man who had taken it; had followed him thousands of miles. Now there +had come to her a man of her own race, who assured her that the treasure +was not in the possession of the man who had stolen it, but in the +possession of an honest man who would willingly surrender it to her, +providing only he could be made certain that it was to go directly into +her hands. That this might be, he demanded that she meet him at a +certain place known to the strange Japanese. There she might prove her +property. The story did seem plausible--and her need was great. Soon she +would be cast out upon the world without a penny. So long as she had +money she was welcome at this club; not longer. + +There came the purring of a muffled bell in the hall. He had come. + +Should she go? A mood of reckless desperation seized her. + +"I will," she declared. + +The next instant she was tucking a short, gleaming blade beneath her +silk middy and then drawing on a long silk coat. + +The man waited in the hallway. He was doubtless prepared for another +extended argument, but none came. Instead, the girl walked down the +steps with him and into a waiting taxi. + +It was a rather long ride they took. First speeding along between rows +of apartment houses they at last dashed into the business section of +the city. The stranger sat in one corner of the cab, not saying a word. +Passing through the business section, they approached the river. It was +then that Cio-Cio-San's heart began to be filled with dread. She had +heard of many dark deeds done down by the river. But after all, what +could they want of her, a poor Japanese girl, almost without funds? + +The cab came to a stop with a jolt. A tall building loomed above them. +The strange Japanese held the door open that she might alight. She +stepped to the sidewalk, and, at that instant, strong arms seized her, +pinning her arms to her sides, while a coarse cloth was drawn tightly +over her mouth. She then felt herself being pushed through space, and +the next moment heard the muffled echoes of the footsteps of her +captors. They were in the basement of some great deserted building, the +sound told her that. + +"Betrayed! Betrayed!" her mind kept repeating. "Betrayed by one of my +own people!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A THREE-CORNERED BATTLE + + +While Johnny and Hanada were being led away to the patrol box a young +man came running up. He was a reporter, out scouting for news. + +"Who's that?" he asked, as he caught a glimpse of Johnny's face. + +"Johnny Thompson, you nut!" growled the policeman. "Didn't you never +view that map of his before?" + +"Yes, but Johnny Thompson's dead." + +"All right, have it your own way." + +"What's the charge?" + +"Conspiracy. Now beat it." + +The youth started on a run for the nearest telephone. He had hit upon a +first page story. A half-hour later every newsboy in the downtown +district was shouting himself hoarse, and the words he shouted were +these: + +"All about Johnny Thompson. Johnny Thompson, featherweight champion. +Alive! Arrested for conspiracy! Extry!" + +The theatre crowds were thronging the streets, and the newsies reaped a +rich harvest. Among those in the throng was Mazie Mortimer, Johnny +Thompson's one-time pal. She had gone to the theatre alone. When Johnny +was in Chicago, she had gone with him, but now no one seemed to quite +take his place. + +As she hastened to the elevated station the shouts of the newsboys +struck her ears. At first she heard only those two electrifying words, +"Johnny Thompson." Then she listened and heard it all. + +Had she not been held up and hurried along by the throng, she would have +fallen in a faint. As it was her senses seemed to reel. "Johnny +Thompson! Alive! Arrested! Conspiracy!" It could not be true. + +Breaking away from the crowd, she snatched a paper from a boy, flung him +a half-dollar, then hurried to the corner, where, beneath an arclight +she read the astounding news. Again it seemed that her senses would +desert her. With an effort she made her way to a restaurant where a cup +of black coffee revived her. + +For a time she sat in a daze, utterly oblivious of the figure she cut--a +well dressed, handsome young woman in opera cloak and silk gown, seated +at the counter of a cheap restaurant. + +Johnny Thompson alive, here in Chicago, arrested for conspiracy? What +did it mean? Could it mean that Johnny had been a deserter, that he had +become involved in the radical movement which, coming from Russia, +seemed about to sweep the country off its feet? She could not quite +believe that, but-- + +Suddenly a new thought sent her hurrying into the street. Hailing a +taxi, she ordered the chauffeur to drive around the block until she gave +him further orders. Her thoughts now were all shaped toward a definite +end: Johnny Thompson, her good pal, was not dead. He was in Chicago and +in trouble. If it were within her power, she must find him and help him. + +Studying the newspaper, she noted the point at which he had been +arrested. "Wells street bridge," she read. "That means the Madison +Street police station." + +Her lips were at the speaking tube in an instant. "Madison Street +police station, and hurry!" she ordered. "An extra five for speed." The +taxi whirled around a corner on two wheels; it shot by a policeman; +dodged up an alley, and out on the other side, then stopped with a jolt +that came near sending Mazie through the glass. + +"Here you are." She thrust a bill in the driver's hand, then raced up +the steps and into the forbidding police station. + +A sergeant looked up from the desk as she entered. + +"Johnny Thompson," she said excitedly. "I want to see Johnny Thompson!" + +"I'd like to myself, miss," he said smiling. "There never was a +featherweight like him. But he's dead." + +"Dead?" Mazie caught at her throat. + +"Sure. Didn't you read about it? Long time ago. Died in Russia." + +"Oh!" Mazie sank limply into a chair. "Then you haven't heard? He isn't +arrested? He isn't here?" + +"Arrested?" The sergeant's face took on an amused and puzzled look; +then he smiled again. "Oh, yes, there was something on the records +tonight saying he and a Jap was wanted for conspiracy. But take it from +me, lady, that's all pure bunk; some crook posing as Johnny Thompson, +more than likely. I tell you, there never was a more loyal chap than +this same Johnny; one of the first to enlist." + +"I--I know," faltered Mazie. Now, for the first time, she noticed a man +who had entered after her. He stepped to the desk and asked a question +regarding a person she knew nothing of. Then he went silently out again. +Mazie sat quite still, then rising, she smiled faintly at the sergeant. + +"I--I guess you must be right--but--but the papers are full of it." + +"Oh, the papers!" The officer spread his hands out in a gesture of +contempt. "They'd print anything!" + +As Mazie stepped out into the street she was approached by a man, and +with a little start, she noticed that it was the one who had entered the +police station a few minutes before. Halting, she waited for him to +speak. + +"You were looking for Johnny Thompson?" He said the words almost in a +whisper. + +"Yes." + +"Well, he is alive. He is not dead. He was arrested, but has been +discharged. I can take you to him. Shall I?" + +"Oh, will you?" Mazie's voice echoed her gratitude. + +"Sure. There's a taxi now," the man replied in a foreign accent. + + * * * * * + +Johnny had not been released; far from it. And yet it was true, he was +at that very moment free. His freedom was only from moment to moment, +however; the kind of freedom one gets who runs away from the police. + +It was not Johnny's fault that he ran away either. They had been +following the orders of the police to the letter, he and Hanada. They +had gone across the bridge with them, had meekly submitted to being +handcuffed, had been waiting for the patrol-wagon, when things happened. + +Four men dashed suddenly from the darkness, and before the patrolmen +could draw guns or clubs, before Johnny could realize what was +happening, the officers were flat on the pavement, with hands and feet +tied. + +Johnny's brain worked rapidly. He understood all right. These men were +Radicals. He was the prize they were after--he and the diamonds. Once +let him be taken to the police station, there to be searched, the +diamonds would be lost to them forever. + +But handcuffed as he was, Johnny was not the boy to submit to being +kidnapped without a fight. As one of the Radicals leaped at him, he put +his hands up, as in a sign of surrender, then brought them, iron +bracelets and all, crashing down on the fellow's head. The man went down +without a cry. + +Hanada, too, had not been idle. He slipped the handcuffs from his +slender wrists and seizing the club of one of the fallen policemen, +aimed a blow at the second man who leaped at Johnny. A moment later, +Johnny heard his shrill whisper: + +"C'mon!" + +They were away like a flash. Down a dark alley, over a fence, with +Johnny's handcuffs jangling, they sped. Then, after crossing a street +and leaping into a yard filled with junk and scrap iron, they paused. + +"Let's see," said Hanada. + +He took Johnny's wrist, and after twisting the iron bracelets and +working for a moment with a bit of rusty wire, he unlocked the handcuffs +and threw them in the scrap heap. + +"Clumsy things! Belong there," he grunted. + +"But," said Johnny slowly, "what's the big idea? They'll get us again, +and running away will only get us in bad. They'll think those Radicals +were in cahoots with us." + +"I think not," said Hanada. "We left them one or two of the Radicals for +samples. But that doesn't much matter now. They will get me, yes. And +they will not let me go either, not even under bond. But you, you have +done nothing. They will let you go. My testimony will set you free. Then +you must carry on the hunt and the fight, which they will keep me from +continuing because they do not know what they are doing. That's why I +must have a little time to talk to you before they take me; time to +explain everything, and to tell you how very important it is that you +get that Russian, and all those that are with him." + +"My room," whispered Johnny, now breathless with interest. "My room; the +police do not know about it. We might be able to hide there for hours. +We can reach it by the next bridge and by alleys and roofs. C'mon!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +HANADA'S SECRET + + +Johnny smiled grimly. He was in his old place by the window overlooking +the river. Hanada was seated beside him. + +They could hear the many noises that rose from the street below. Now a +patrol wagon came jangling by. Now a squad of policemen emerged from one +alley to plunge down another. A riot call had been sent in and the +streets were alive with patrolmen and detectives all on the trail of +Johnny and his Japanese companion. By this time, too, they must be on +the trail of the Radicals. So far as Johnny knew, the Radicals had not +actually interfered with the enforcement of the law. Now driven to +desperation at the thought of the loss of that treasure which was still +in Johnny's possession, they had stepped over the line. From now on the +police would be after them. Johnny was awakened from these reflections +by the voice of Hanada. + +"That man," the Japanese youth was saying, "that Russian, the one we +have followed so far, he is the big one, the head of the Radical +movement, and he is at this moment in conference with all his chosen +leaders. To-morrow, next day, next week, he may strike. And what will +the result be? Who can tell? In the whole world he has millions of +followers who will rise at his call. We must get him, get that man +before it is too late. I am a member of the Japanese Secret Police. And +you?" + +"A plain American citizen," answered Johnny, "which, by the laws of our +land, makes me a policeman, a marshal, a member of the secret +service--anything and everything, when the safety of my people, the +stability of my government, is at stake." Johnny's chest swelled +proudly. + +"Oh! I understand," breathed Hanada. + +"But," said Johnny quickly, "you say we must get that man. I have had +opportunities to kill him, to let him be killed and always you have +hindered me. Why?" + +"Don't you see even now?" Hanada asked. "Don't you see that now is the +time to strike? Now he is meeting with his leaders. We must take him not +alone, but the whole band. We must scatter them to the ends of the +earth, put them in prison, banish them. Then the whole affair will be +ended forever." + +Hanada leaned forward. His eyes glowed; his words were sharp with +excitement. Johnny listened, breathless. + +"We must get them all," he continued. "That is why our secret service +people allowed him to break through the lines at Vladivostok, and make +his way north to cross the Strait. That is why I followed him, as an +Eskimo, to dog his tracks and yet to protect him. That is why he could +not be killed. He was to be a decoy; a decoy for the whole band. Your +Secret Service, of which I thought you were a member, would not have +allowed him to cross to America. That is why I deserted you at East +Cape. I thought you were of the Secret Service, and would have the +Russian arrested as soon as his foot touched American soil. That is why +I said the offer of a reward for his arrest was a blunder. Don't you +see? We were to get them all." + +"But the girl, Cio-Cio-San?" Johnny questioned. + +"She is not of the secret police. She helps me as a friend, that's all, +and I will help her if I can." + +Johnny wished to question him regarding the treasure, but something held +him back. + +"So you see how it is." Hanada spoke wearily. "We have gone so far, so +very far. Mebbe to-morrow, mebbe next day, we would have uncovered their +lair; but to-night the police are on my trail, for 'treason' they call +it. Bah! It was a dream, a great and wonderful dream; a dream that would +mean much for your country and mine." His words were full of mystery. +"But now they will arrest me, and you must carry on the hunt for the +Russian and his band. This other thing, it can wait. It will come, +sometime, but not now." + +"What other?" asked Johnny. + +Hanada did not answer. + +There came the stealthy shuffle of feet in the corridor. + +"They are coming," whispered Hanada. "Remember my testimony will free +you, but you must not stop; you must hunt as never before, you must get +that man!" + +There came, not the expected tattoo of police billies on the door, but a +shrill whisper through the key-hole: + +"Johnny," the voice said, "are you there? Let me in. I seen it! I seen +it! I get the century note you promised me! Let me in!" + + * * * * * + +When Mazie entered the taxi with the man who was an entire stranger to +her she did it on the impulse of the moment. The swift sequence of +events had carried her off her feet. First, she had been startled into +the hope that Johnny still lived; then she had been assured by the +police sergeant that he could not possibly be living, only to be told a +moment later by this stranger that he was still alive. + +Once she had settled back against the cushions and felt the jolt of the +taxi over the car tracks, she began to have misgivings. Was this a trap? +Had she better call to the driver and demand to be allowed to alight? A +glance at her fellow traveler tended to reassure her. He was +undoubtedly a foreigner, but was an honest-looking fellow and neatly +dressed. + +As the cab lurched into a side street toward the river, she again +experienced misgivings; but this time it was the faint hope still +lingering in her breast of seeing her good pal once more that kept her +in her seat. + +The taxi paused before an old building which was enshrouded in darkness. +She was ushered out of the taxi and the next instant, before she had +time to cry out, she was bound and gagged. Her feet were tied as well as +her hands, and she was hastily carried into the building. Through rooms +and halls all dark as night she was half carried, half dragged, until +she found herself out over the swirling waters of the river. + +Wild questions rushed through her brain. Was this murder? Bound and +gagged as she was, would she be thrown into the river to drown? Why? Who +were these men? She had not believed until that moment that she had an +enemy in the world. She knew no secrets that could inspire anyone to +kill her. + +While all these thoughts were driving through her brain, she was being +slowly lowered toward the water. Down, down she sank until it seemed to +her she could feel the wash of the water on her skirts. At that instant, +when all seemed lost, strong arms seized her and she was carried down a +clanking iron stairway. + +She caught her breath. She must now be far below the level of the water. +What place was this she was being taken into? And why? + +She was finally flung down upon a leather covered lounge. The next +moment the whole place seemed to be sinking with her as if she were in +some slowly descending elevator. + +Opening her eyes she looked about her. The place, a long and narrow +compartment, was dimly lighted by small incandescent bulbs. The +trapdoor, or whatever it had been, through which she had been carried, +was closed. + +Eight or ten men were grouped about the room, while in one of the +darkest corners cowered a little Japanese girl. One of the men came +close to Mazie and untied her bonds, also removing the gag. She was now +free to move and talk. She realized the utter uselessness of either. The +walls of the room appeared to be of steel. There was a strange +stuffiness about the air of the place; they must be either underground +or under water. She did not know what was to be the next move, or why +she was here. She realized only that she could do nothing. + +Instinctively she moved toward the girl in the corner. Before she had +gone half the distance, a man uttered a low growl of disapproval, and +motioned her to a chair. She sat down unsteadily and, as she did so, she +realized that the place had a slightly rolling motion, like a ship on +the sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +"I SEEN IT--A SUBMARINE!" + + +When Johnny realized that it was Jerry the Rat who was whispering at the +keyhole he admitted him at once. + +"I seen it! I seen it; a submarine! A German submarine in the river!" +the Rat whispered excitedly. "I seen dose blokes wid me own eyes. Dey +wuz packin' a skirt thru de hatch. Den dey dropped in too. Den dey let +down the hatch, an' swush-swuey, down she went, an' all dey left was a +splash in de ol' Chicago!" + +"A submarine!" Johnny exclaimed. "That doesn't sound possible; not a +German submarine surely!" + +"The same," insisted Jerry. "Some old tub. Saw her over by the Municipal +Pier, er one like her. Some old fish!" + +Johnny sat in silent thought. Hanada was gazing out of the window. +Suddenly the Jap exclaimed in surprise: + +"Did you see that? There it goes again! Lights flashing beneath the +water. It's the 'sub' for sure. Couldn't be anything else." + +"I have seen such lights before," said Johnny, striving hard to maintain +a sane judgment in this time of great crisis, "but I attributed it to +phosphorus on the water." + +"Couldn't be!" declared Hanada. "Couldn't make a flicker and flash like +that. I tell you, it's a submarine, and the home of the Radicals. That's +why we couldn't find them. That's where our Russian disappeared to that +night on the bridge. That's where the shots came from. Remember right +from the center of the river? That's where your four assailants went to +when they vanished from that deserted building. It's the Radicals. +C'mon! We may not be too late yet. We'll get them before the police get +us." + +Together the three rushed from the room. + +"Did you say they were carrying a woman?" Johnny asked Jerry, as they +hastened down the stairs. + +"Yes, a skirt; a swell-looking skirt. Mouth gagged, hands tied, but +dressed to kill, opry coat and everything!" + +"Some more of their dirty work," Johnny grumbled, "but we'll get them +this time. If we can convince the police that they're there they'll drag +the river and haul 'em out like a dead rat." + + * * * * * + +At the moment when the three men were hurrying down the stairs which led +from Johnny's room to the street, Mazie sat silently searching the faces +of the men about her. Wild questions raced through her brain. Who were +these men? Why had they kidnapped her? What did they want? What would +they do to her? She shivered a little at the last question. + +That they were criminals she had not the least doubt. Only criminals +could do such a thing. But what type of criminal were they? In her +research courses at the University she had visited court rooms, jails +and reformatories. Criminals were not new to her. But these men lacked +utterly the markings of the average city criminal. Their eyes lacked the +keen alertness, their fingers the slim tapering points of the +professional crook. Suddenly, as she pondered, there came to her mind a +paragraph from one of her text-books on crime: + +"There are two types of law-breakers. The one believes that the hand of +organized society is lifted against him; the other that he is bound to +lift his hand against organized society. The first class are the common +crooks of the street, and are ofttimes more to be pitied than blamed, +for after all, environment has been a great factor in their undoing. The +second group are those men who are opposed to all forms of organized +society. They are commonly known as Radicals. There is little to be said +in their favor. Reared, more often than not, in the lap of a society +organized for the welfare of all, they turn ungratefully against the +mother who nurtured and protected them." + +As she recalled this, Mazie realized that this group must be a band of +Radicals. Radicals? And one of them had promised to take her to her +friend, Johnny Thompson. Could it be that in Russia, that hotbed of +radicalism, Johnny had had his head turned and was at that moment a +member of this band? It did not seem possible. She would not for a +moment believe it. + +She was soon to see, for a man of distinctly Russian type, a short man +with broad shoulders, sharp chin and frowning brow, approached her, and +in a suave manner began to speak to her. + +"You have nothing to fear from us, Miss," he began. "We are gentlemen of +the finest type. No harm will come to you during your brief stay with +us; and I trust it may be very brief." + +Mazie heaved a sigh of relief. Perhaps there was going to be nothing so +very terrible about the affair after all. + +"We only ask a little service of you," the Russian continued as he let +down a swinging table from the wall, and drawing a chair to it, motioned +her to be seated. He next placed pen, ink and paper on the table. + +"You cannot know," he said with a smile, "that your friend, Johnny +Thompson, has been causing me a very great deal of trouble of late." + +Mazie felt a great desire to shout on hearing this, for it told her +plainly that Johnny was no friend of this crowd. + +"No, of course you could not know," the man went on, "since you have not +seen him. I may say frankly that your friend is clever, and has a way, +quite a way, of using his hands." + +Mazie did not need to be told that. + +"But it is not that of which I wish to speak." The Russian took a step +nearer. Mazie, feeling his hot breath on her cheek, shrank back. "Your +friend, as I say, has been troubling us a great deal, and in this he has +been misled, sadly misled. He does not understand our high and lofty +purpose; our desire to free all mankind from the bonds of organized +society. If he knew he would act far differently. Of course, you cannot +explain all this to him, but you can write him a note, just a little +note. You will write it now, in just another moment. First, I will tell +you what to say. Say to him that you are in great trouble and danger. +Say that you may be killed, or worse things may happen to you, unless he +does precisely as you tell him to do. Say that he is to leave a certain +package, about which he knows well enough, at the Pendergast Hotel, to +be given to M. Kriskie. Say that he is, after that, to leave Chicago at +once and is not to return for sixty days. + +"See?" He attempted another smile. "It is little that we ask of you; +little that we ask of him--virtually nothing." + +Mazie's heart was beating wildly. So that was the game? She was to be a +decoy. She knew nothing of Johnny's actions, but knew they were for the +good of his country. How could she ask him to abandon them for her sake? + +As her eyes roamed about the room they fell upon the little Jap girl. In +her face Mazie read black rage for the Russian, and a deep compassion +for herself. + +"Come," said the Russian; "we are wasting time. Is it not so? You must +write. You should begin now. So, it will be better for all." + +For answer, Mazie took the paper in her white, delicate fingers and tore +it across twice. Then she threw it on the floor. + +Quickly the man's attitude changed to wild rage. + +"So!" he roared. "You will not write? You will not? We shall see!" + +He seized her arm and gripped it until the blood rushed from her face, +and she was obliged to bite her lips to suppress a scream. + +"So!" he raged. "We shall see what happens to young women like you. +First, we will kill your young friend, Johnny Thompson; then what good +will your refusal have done? After that, we shall see what will happen +to you. We Radicals will win by fair means or foul. What does it matter +what means we take, so long as the point has been won?" + +Roughly he pulled her from the chair and flung her from him. + +Then the little Japanese girl was dragged to the chair. A Japanese man, +whom Mazie had not before noticed, came forward. From his words and +gestures Mazie concluded that he was going through, in the Japanese +language, the same program which the Russian had just finished. + +The results were apparently the same, for at the close the girl threw +the paper cm the floor and stamped upon it. At that the Russian's rage +knew no bounds. With an imprecation, he sprang at the Japanese girl. As +Mazie looked on in speechless horror, she fancied she caught the gleam +of a knife in the girl's hand. + +But at that instant the attention of all was drawn to a man, who, after +peering through some form of a periscope for a moment, had uttered a +surprised exclamation. Instantly the Japanese man sprang to a strangely +built rifle which lay against the wall. This he fitted into a frame +beside the periscope and thrust its long barrel apparently through the +ceiling of the compartment and into the water above. Adjusting a lever +here, and another there, he appeared to sight through a hollow tube that +ran along the barrel. + +"Now," said the Russian, a cruel gleam in his eye, "we shall kill your +two friends whom you so blindly refused to protect. Providence has +thrown them within our power. They are on the bridge at this moment. The +rifle, you see, protrudes quite through the water. Our friend's aim is +true." + +The Japanese girl, seeming to grasp the import of this, sprang at her +fellow countryman. But she was too late. There came the report of two +explosions in quick succession. Through the periscope, Mazie caught a +glimpse of two bodies falling on the bridge. Then she closed her eyes. +Her senses reeled. + +This lasted but a moment. Then her eyes were on the little Jap girl. +She had dropped to the floor, as if crushed; but there was a dark gleam +of unutterable hate in her eyes. She was looking at the Japanese man, +who, after firing the rifle, had turned and was going through a door +into a rear compartment. + +Like a flash, the Jap girl sprang after him. With a cry that died on her +lips, Mazie followed, and as she entered the compartment slamming the +heavy metal door, she threw down the iron clamps which held it. + +They were now two to one, but that one was a man. However, there was no +call for effort on her part. Like a tigress the Japanese girl, +Cio-Cio-San, sprang at the man of her own country. + +"You traitor!" she gasped. "You have betrayed me, your +fellow-countryman, and murdered my friend!" and she drove her dagger +into his breast to the hilt. + +Mazie closed her eyes and sat down dizzily. When she dared look up, she +saw the man sprawled on the floor, and the girl crouching beside him, +like a wild beast beside her kill. + +Seeming to feel Mazie's eyes upon her, Cio-Cio-San turned and smiled +strangely, as she said: + +"He is dead!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER + + +The Russian had told the truth when he said the friends of Mazie and +Cio-Cio-San were on the bridge. Johnny and Hanada had rushed from the +room and had been standing there straining their eyes for a trace of +that strange light beneath the water, when the first shot rang out. But +the Russian had not counted on the extraordinary speed with which Johnny +could drop to earth. + +Before the second shot could be fired, Johnny was flat on the surface of +the bridge, quite out of range. Hanada had not fared so well. The first +shot had been aimed at him and had found its mark. He lay all crumpled +up, groaning in mortal agony. + +"Get you?" Johnny whispered. + +"Yes," the boy groaned, "but you--you get that man." + +There came the tramp of feet on the bridge. The police had heard the +shots. The long finger of light from the police boat again felt its way +back and forth through the darkness. + +"D' you shoot?" demanded the first policeman to arrive. + +"No! No! They didn't do it," a second man interrupted before Johnny +could reply. "It came from the river. I saw the flash. Devils of the +river's deep! What kind of a fight is this, anyway?" + +"I seen it! I seen it!" It was Jerry the Rat who now broke into the +gathering throng. "I seen it; a German sub." + +"A submarine!" echoed a half dozen policemen at once. + +"I think he is right," said Johnny. "You better drag the river." + +"Hello!" exclaimed one of the officers. "If this ain't the same two guys +we've been looking for? Johnny Thompson and the Jap." + +"You are right," said Johnny disgustedly, "but for once use a little +reason. There are world crooks down there in the river and they have +some helpless woman there as hostage. Perhaps by this time they may be +killing her. I'll keep. I can't get away; not for good. I'm known the +country over, beside your charge against me is false, idiotic." + +"Yes, yes," it was Hanada's hoarse whisper. "Take me to a hospital. I'll +tell all and you will know he was not in it at all. Let him help you. +And--and, for God's sake, get that man." + +He sank back unconscious. + +"Here, Mulligan," ordered a sergeant, "you and Murphy take this Jap to +the Emergency quick. You, Kelly and Flannigan, get over to the box and +call the police boats with drags. Tell 'em to drag the river from +Madison street in one direction and from the lake in the other. It +sounds like a dream, but this thing has got to be cleared up. Them shots +come from the river sure's my name's Harrigan. We got to find how it's +done." + +A half hour later, two innocent looking police boats moved silently up +the river from Madison street bridge. They traveled abreast, keeping +half the river's width between them. From their bows there protruded to +right and left, heavy iron shafts. From these iron shafts, at regular +intervals, there hung slender but strong steel chains. These chains +reaching nearly to the bottom of the river were fitted up at the lower +end with heavy pronged steel hooks. At that same moment, two similarly +equipped boats started up the river from the lake. They were combing the +river with a fine tooth comb. + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile the men beneath the surface of the river were not idle. They +did not realize the danger which their last act had drawn them into and +therefore did not attempt to escape by running their craft out into the +lake. But they did have other matters to attend to. One of their number +was locked in the rear compartment. His fate was unknown to them. This +much they did know, he had not unfastened the door nor answered when +they called to him. + +After vainly pounding and kicking the door, they lifted a heavy steel +shaft and using this as a battering ram, proceeded to smash the door +from its fastenings. At first this did not avail. But at last each +succeeding blow left a slightly larger gap between the door and its +steel jamb. Then suddenly, after a violent ram, which sent echoes +through the compartment, the lower catch gave way. With a hoarse shout +the Russian urged his men to redoubled effort. Three more times they +backed away to come plunging forward. The third blow struck the door at +the very spot where the fastening still hung. And then, with a creaking +groan the door gave way. + +Just inside the door, Mazie stood tense, motionless, her arms +outstretched in terror. Fingers rigid, lips half-parted in a scream, she +stared at the door. In the doorway stood the Russian, a knife gleaming +in his hand. For a second his eyes searched the room. Then they fell on +the body of the Jap huddled on the floor. Rage darkened his face as the +Russian took a step forward. + +At that instant there had come a dull sound of metal grating on metal. +The Russian toppled over on his side and the two girls were thrown to +the floor. + +The chamber had given a sudden lurch. The next instant it rolled quite +over, piling the two women and the corpse in a heap and sending the door +shut with a bang. The Russian had fallen outside. The craft rolled over, +once, twice, three times and then hung there, with the floor for its +ceiling. + +Overcome with fright and misery, Mazie did not stir for a full minute, +then she dragged herself from the gruesome spot where she lay. + +She gave one quick glance at the door. It appeared to have been wedged +solidly shut. Then she turned to Cio-Cio-San, who also had arisen. + +"What can have happened?" Mazie asked in a voice she could scarcely +believe was her own. + +What had happened was this: one of the hooks on the police boat had +caught in an outer railing of the submarine. The giant iron fish was +hooked. + +To throw other drags, fastened on longer chains, into the sub; to send +tugs and police boats snorting backward; to tighten the chains and draw +the sub to the surface, to whirl it about until the hatchway was once +more at the upper side, this was merely a matter of time. + +When the Radicals saw what had been done, they doubtless realized that +if they refused to come out the lid would be blown off and they would +be likely to perish in the explosion. They had apparently planned to +charge the police and attempt an escape, for the Russian came first with +a rush, a pistol in each hand. But Johnny Thompson's good right arm +spoiled all this. He had leaped to the surface of the sub and when the +Russian appeared he gave him a blow under the chin that lifted him off +his feet and sent him plunging into the river. + +Seeing this the other members of the gang surrendered. + +Johnny was the first man below. Seeing the closed door to the right, he +hammered on it, shouting: + +"C'mon out, we're the police." + +Slowly the door opened. There before him stood Mazie. + +"Mazie!" Johnny's eyes bulged with astonishment. + +"Johnny!" There was a sob in her voice. Then catching herself, she +glanced down at her wrinkled and blood-bespattered dress. + +"Johnny," she implored, "for goodness' sake get me out of this horrid +place so I can change these clothes." + +"There's decent enough dresses at the police station," suggested a +smiling officer. + +"Call the wagon," said Johnny. + +Soon they were rattling away toward the station, Mazie, Cio-Cio-San, and +Johnny. + +"Johnny," Mazie whispered, "you didn't desert, did you?" + +"Did you think that?" Johnny groaned in mock agony. + +"No, honest I didn't, but what--what did you do?" + +"Just got tired of waiting for Uncle Sam to bring me home from Russia, +so I walked, that's all. Here's my discharge papers, all right. And +here's my transportation." + +With a smile Johnny handed her the two crumpled papers. + +"You see," he exclaimed, "a Russian brigand got me in the left arm when +I was guarding the Trans-Siberian Railroad. They sent me to the +hospital, then gave me my discharge. Said I'd be no more good as a +soldier. And after waiting for a boat that never seemed to come I hit +out for the north. Nothing crooked about that at all, but I had to be a +bit sly about it anyway, for Uncle Sam don't like to have you take +chances even if you are discharged." + +"Oh! Johnny, that's grand!" murmured Mazie. + +The rest of the journey was accomplished in silence. Now and again Mazie +gave Johnny's arm a little squeeze, as if to make sure he was still +there. + +"Gee, kid," Johnny exclaimed as Mazie reappeared, after a half hour in +the matron's room. "You sure do look swell." + +She was dressed in the plain cotton dress furnished by the city to +destitute prisoners. But the dress was as spotlessly clean as was +Mazie's faultless complexion. + +"Gee, Mazie!" Johnny went on, "I've seen you in a lot of glad rags but +this tops them all. Looks like you'd just come from your own +kitchenette." + +Mazie bit her lip to hide her confusion. Then blushing, she said: + +"Johnny, I'm hungry. When do we eat?" + +"I know a nice place right round the corner. C'mon. Where's +Cio-Cio-San?" + +"Gone to the Emergency hospital." + +"Hanada," Johnny exclaimed. "I must find out about him." + +"Just came from there myself," said the police sergeant, a kindly light +in his eyes. "I'm sorry to tell you, but your friend's checked in." + +"Dead?" + +"Dead," answered the officer, "but he lived long enough to know that the +band of world outlaws was captured. He died happy knowing that he had +served his country well, and I guess that's about all any Jap asks." + +"Oh, yes, one more thing," he went on; "he cleared up that little matter +of conspiracy before he died. Something that concerned him alone. You +weren't in it. His part, well, you might call it treason, then again you +mightn't. Considering what he's done for this country and his, we don't +call it treason. It's been sponged off the slate." + +"I'm glad to hear that," sighed Johnny, as he turned to rejoin Mazie. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE OWNER OF THE DIAMONDS + + +Johnny did not return to his room that night. After reporting to the +police station and letting them know where he might be found if needed, +he secured a room in one of Chicago's finest hotels, and pulling down +the blinds turned in to sleep until noon. + +When he awoke he remembered at once that he had several little matters +to attend to. Hanada's funeral would be cared for by his own people. But +he must see Cio-Cio-San; he must get the hundred dollars promised to +Jerry the Rat and he must put in a claim for the thousand dollars reward +offered for the arrest of the Russian. He need bother his head no longer +about the captured Radicals. There was plenty of evidence aboard the +craft to condemn them to prison or deportation. + +When he came down to the hotel desk he found a letter waiting for him. +He opened this in some surprise and read it in great astonishment. It +was from one of Chicago's richest men; a man he had never met and indeed +had never dreamed of meeting. Yet here was the man's note requesting him +to meet him in his private office at five o'clock. + +"All right, I'll do that little thing," Johnny whispered to himself, +"but meantime I'll go out to the University and see Cio-Cio-San." + +An hour later he found himself sitting beside the Japanese girl on the +thick mats of that Japanese room at her club. + +"Cio-Cio-San," he said thoughtfully, "I remember hearing you tell of +having been robbed of a treasure. Did you find it last night in the +submarine?" + +"No," she said softly. "Last night was a bad night for me. I lost my +best friend. He is dead. I lost my treasure. I do not hope to ever find +it now." + +"Cio-Cio-San," Johnny said the name slowly. "Since you do not hope ever +to see your treasure again, perhaps you will tell me what it was." + +"Yes, I will tell you. You are my good friend. It was diamonds, one +hundred and ten diamonds and ten rubies, all in a leather lined envelope +with three long compartments. The rubies were at the bottom of the +envelope." + +"Then," said Johnny, "you are not so far from your treasure after all. A +few of the stones are gone, but most of them are safe." + +He drew from his pocket the envelope which he had carried so far and at +such great peril. + +Had he needed any reward, other than the consciousness of having done an +honest deed, he would have received it then and there in the glad cry +that escaped from the Japanese girl's lips. + +When she had wept for joy, she opened the envelope and shaking out the +three loose stones dropped them into Johnny's hand. + +"What's that?" he asked. + +"A little reward. A present." + +Taking the smallest of the three between finger and thumb he gave her +back the others. + +"One is enough," he told her. "I'll give it to Mazie." + +"Ah, yes, to Mazie, your so beautiful, so wonderful friend," she +murmured. Then, after a moment, "As for me, I go back to my own people. +I shall spend my life and my fortune helping those very much to be +pitied ones who have lost all in that so terrible Russia." + +As Johnny left that room, he thought he was going to have that diamond +set in a ring and present it to Mazie the very next day. But he was not. +That interview with one of Chicago's leading bankers at five o'clock was +destined to change the course of his whole life; for though the Big Five +had never decided to act in unison with Hanada in his wild dream of a +Kamchatkan Republic--the plan which had brought his arrest as a +conspirator--they did propose to work those Kamchatkan gold mines on an +old concession, given them by the former Czar, and they did propose that +Johnny take charge of the expedition. + + +THE END + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Triple Spies, by Roy J. 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