f one in deep slumber. The Mongol had drawn a curtain of ermine
skins between them and his own bed. Could it be that this interpreter had
made his way into the good graces of Mazie only to turn murderer and
robber at the proper time? Johnny had only Mazie's word that the person
could be trusted, and Mazie was but a girl, not accustomed to the
deep-seated treachery in the oriental mind.

He had traveled far that day; he had talked long and dined well; he was a
healthy human being; and sleep came at last.

How long he had slept, he did not know when he was awakened by an
indescribable sensation. Had he heard something, felt something? He could
not tell. He breathed on, the steady deep breath of a sleeper, and did not
stir, but he opened an eye a mere crack. A shadow stretched across him. It
was made by a person who stood between him and an oriental lamp which
flickered dimly in the corner. His eye sought the place where the
interpreter lay. The skins were too deep there and he could not tell
whether he was there or not.

The shadow shifted. The person was moving into view. He could see him now.
He was short and brown of face.

"The interpreter!" These words formed themselves on his lips, but were not
spoken.

The next second he knew it was not the interpreter, for there came a stir
at his side as the interpreter sat up.

So there were two of them. Treachery! Well, he should not die alone. His
hand gripped the cold steel of his automatic. He tilted it ever so
slightly. Fired from where it lay, it would send a bullet crashing through
the crouching interpreter's chest. He was about to pull the trigger when
something arrested his attention.

A blade gleamed in the hand of the interpreter. Even in this darkness, he
recognized the weapon as one he had taken from a would-be murderer, a
Russian Chukche. He had given it to a very good friend, a Japanese
lady--Cio-Cio-San!

A cold chill ran down his spine. Had he come near killing a friend? Was
this one crouching in the act of defending him against an enemy? Cold
perspiration stood out upon his brow. He made a tremendous effort to
continue breathing evenly. He could only take a desperate chance and await
the turn of events.

* * * * *

Hardly had Dave Tower discovered the imminent peril of drifting out over
the ice-packed sea, than a ray of hope came to him. Scattered along the
mainland of this vast continent there was, here a