Part 7 (2/2)
But one day, after six weeks of veritable dream life, as she lifted the tray to her paint-box her eyes fell on that blue envelope Instantly a flood of ree boy, the angry , who, sleek and fat on whale rizzled face of the miner framed in a port-hole; all these passed before her mind's vision and left her chilled
Her hand trembled She could not control her brush The sketch of two native women in deerskin unionsuits, their brown shoulders bared, working at the task of splitting walrus skins, went unfinished while she took a long walk down the beach
That very evening she had news that caused her blood to chill again A native had coe to the south He had seen a white e He had said that he intended co 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 ohly 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 hurrythe boat any sooner”
Had Marian known the tiht not have done thehteen-hour days through
In thedown from the north Still the bearded white ht 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, thewere not One lone whale, and that a s that the presence of strange, white-faced wo to the spirits of dead whales The es of the people on canvas was also sure to bring disaster
As reports of this dissatisfaction ca their eyes for a square sail on the horizon Still their boat did not co 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 theh!) the natives whispered a 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!” exclaily
”I wonder what--”
”Look, Marian; the whole village!”
”Let's run”
”Where to? We'd starve in two days, or freeze Come on They won't hurt us”
With anxious hearts and tre footsteps they approached the solid line of fur-clad figures which stretched along the southern outskirts of the village
As they came close they heard one word repeated over and over: ”Dezra!