Part 11 (1/2)
”By the way,” he said, struggling to conceal his intense interest, ”have--have you the letter?”
Marian nodded ”It is in erly to his feet ”May we not go fetch it?”
”I can't leave er as a child
Then after a second, ”Why, by Jove! I' Perhaps your friend's in trouble Of course she is, or she'd be out here before this What is it? Can I help you?”
”She's only chilled and recovering fro shock The tidal wave threw her into the sea”
”Oh!” The boy stood thinking for a moment ”Do--do you intend to remain in Siberia all winter?”
”We had no such intentions e caht us No more boats now”
”The white line of ice from the north? No more boats this season?”
Then quickly, ”Say, you two can keep my cabin The shack on the beach is poor, and I dare say you haven't much food There's a bunk below the deck where I can be quite co in a bushel basket”
Marian lifted a hand in feeble protest What was the use? They were trapped in Siberia Here was an Ao for your things You stay here Any dogs?”
”Three”
”Good! I'll be back quicker than you think”
He ay Bounding from ice-cake to ice-cake he soon disappeared
Marian turned to enter the cabin
Lucile was still asleep Marian sat down to think She was not certain that their position was at all ier She felt almost resentful at his occupation of the wireless cabin They could have been quite cozy there alone Then again, in quite another est ait out At any rate, if they were forced to go to East Cape for food, they would not be afraid to go under his guard
She fell to wondering if he had reached the shore safely Leaving the cabin, she clihest point on the rail There she stood for soe he'd be way down there!” she murmured, at last ”Quarter of a mile south of the cabin Perhaps the ice carried hiuish a figure, athe ice-piles that lined the shore
For athe shi+p's deck Then again she gazed away
”Why,” she exclaimed suddenly, ”he has reached the cabin! Must have run every step of the way!”
In the cabin on shore, the young stranger began packing the girl's possessions preparatory to putting theru frohtened out Marian's paint-box, closed its cover doith a click He arrived at the schooner an hour later The sled load was soon stoay in the wireless cabin
He brought a quantity of food, canned vegetables, bacon, hardtack, coffee and sugar from his store below Then he stood by the door