p."

Again they took up their heavy, even tread and came out from the narrow
street onto a broader one, which appeared to lead to the business section
of the city.

As Johnny sniffed the pungent odor of spring in the twilight air, he was
forcibly reminded of the time consumed in that journey from the mines to
Vladivostok. He regretted the many delays. When they occurred, he had
fairly fumed at them. He realized now that "M," whoever that might be, the
agent sent from Chicago to superintend the distribution of supplies for
the refugee orphans, might have been compelled to leave Russia before
this. That the Russians, disturbed by a thousand suspicions and fears,
would not tolerate a stranger who had no apparent purpose for being in
their land, he knew all too well. The agent could state the purpose of his
presence in the beginning and get away with it, but when months had
elapsed and nothing had been done, what dark suspicions might be directed
against him?

Johnny heaved a sigh of resignation. Nothing that had happened could have
been avoided. Time and again ice-floes clogging the waters of those
northern seas had threatened to crush their craft, and only by long
detours and many hours of tireless pulling away from the giant cakes had
they found a passage. The journey could have been made by reindeer in the
same length of time. As he thought of that, his heart skipped a beat. What
if the little yellow men who had come so near making away with that two
hundredweight of gold had succeeded in securing reindeer, and had made
their way to Vladivostok? What would they not risk to regain possession of
the gold that had been snatched from them?

As he thought of this, he picked his steps more cautiously along the
slippery streets. He cast a glance to the right and left of him. Then he
started and plucked at his companion's sleeve.

"Hist!" he whispered. "Watch the alley to the right!"

* * * * *

When Pant so abruptly deserted Johnny Thompson's service, leaving only a
vaguely worded note to tell of his going, he had, indeed, a plan and a
purpose. So daring was this purpose that had he taken time to think it
through to its end, he might never have attempted it. But Pant thought
only of beginnings of enterprises, leaving the conclusions to work
themselves out as best they might, effectively aided by his own audacity.

His purpose can best be stated by telling what he did.

When