g
the natives as a spirit-doctor and had, according to reports, worked
many wonderful cures by his incantations. Three whales had come into
the hands of the East Cape hunters. This was an excellent catch and
had been taken as a good omen; the bearded stranger was doubtless
highly favored by the spirits of dead whales.

"I wish our skin-boat would come for us," said Lucile suddenly, as they
talked of it in the privacy of their tent.

"But it won't, not for three weeks yet. That was the agreement."

"I know."

"And we haven't a wireless to call them with. Besides, my sketches are
not nearly complete."

"I know," said Lucile, her chin in her hands. "But, all the same, that
man makes me afraid."

"Well, I'll hurry my sketches, but that won't bring the boat any
sooner."

Had Marian known the time she would have for sketching, she might not
have done them so rapidly. As it was, she worked the whole long
eighteen-hour days through.

In the meantime, chill winds began sweeping down from the north. Still
the bearded white man did not come to Whaling, but every day brought
fresh reports of the good fortune of the people of East Cape. They had
captured a fourth whale, then a fifth. Their food for the winter was
secured. Whale meat was excellent food. They would have an abundance
of whale-bone to trade for flour, sugar and tea.

But if the East Capers were favored, the men of Whaling were not. One
lone whale, and that a small one, was their total take. Witch-doctors
began declaring that the presence of strange, white-faced women in
their midst was displeasing to the spirits of dead whales. The making
of the images of the people on canvas was also sure to bring disaster.

As reports of this dissatisfaction came to the ears of the girls, they
began straining their eyes for a square sail on the horizon. Still
their boat did not come.

Then came the crowning disaster of the year. The walrus herd, on which
the natives based their last hope, passed south along the coast of
Alaska instead of Siberia. Their caches were left empty. Only the
winter's supply of white bear and seal could save them from starvation.

"Dezra! Dezra!" (It is enough!) the natives whispered among themselves.

The day after the return of the walrus canoes Marian and Lucile went
for a long walk down the beach.

Upon rounding a point in returning Marian suddenly gave a gasp. "Look,
Lucile! It's gone--our tent!"

"Gone!" exclaime