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.