by others, sent three seamen to
search for him along the island. How he had fared with these, the
girls knew well enough.

After leaving the camp of the girls he had wandered in the woods and
along the beach for two weeks. He had at last been picked up by some
honest fishermen who turned him over to the revenue cutter which made
Alaskan ports. By the cutter he had been carried to Nome and from
there made his way, little by little, by skin-boat, dog-team, and
reindeer back to his native village. When he had finished telling his
story he turned to Marian and said:

"Idel-bene?" (yours) meaning he would like to hear their story.

Marian was not slow in telling their troubles.

"Me, I will take you back," the boy exclaimed as she finished. "To-day
we go."

Two hours later, with sleds loaded, they were discussing two possible
trails, one leading down a river where blizzards constantly threatened,
the other a valley trail through wolf-infested hills. The latter
course was finally chosen, since it promised to be the least dangerous
at that time of the year. Then they were away.

CHAPTER IX

A CLOSE CALL

They had made half the distance to the village. Hopes were running
high, when something occurred which threatened disaster.

Far up on the side of the hill along the base of which they were
traveling, there stood here and there a clump of scraggly, wind-torn
fir trees. Suddenly there appeared from out one of these clumps of
scrub trees, a gray streak. Another appeared, then another and
another, until there were six. They did not pause at the edge of the
bush, but rushed with swift, gliding motion down the steep hillside,
and their course led them directly toward the little caravan. Six
gaunt gray wolves they were, a pack of brigands in the Arctic desert.

Perhaps Marian, who rode on the last sled, saw them first. Perhaps
Ad-loo-at, the native, did. At any rate, before she could scream a
warning to him he had slapped his reindeer on the back and the sled on
which Marian rode shot forward so suddenly that she was nearly thrown
from her seat. In driving in the north they do not travel single file,
but each deer runs beside the sled of the one before it. The driver
who is to occupy the foremost position chooses the best trained deer
and attaches two reins to his halter that he may guide him. The
drivers who follow use but one rein. By jerking this they can cause
the reindeer to go faster, but t