Part 24 (1/2)

”If they do But where are they?” asked Marian in a puzzled tone of voice

”Dead, perhaps Let's eat,” she added abruptly, as Marian shi+vered

”But, Lucile, we can't cook the fish”

”Don't have to Frozen fish is good raw if it's frozen hard enough

I've tried it before You just shave it off thin like chipped dried beef and gulp it right down before it tastes too fishy”

Marian did not think she would like it, but she found it not half bad

When they had dined, and had sat by the yello of their seal-oil la look at thewhiteness of the sea

”That,” said Marian i on all our friends wherever they are to-night”

The thought gave the was spread out on the floor, and they had snuggled coo off into the land of drea in one corner, Marian said with a laugh: ”Snug as two little Red Riding Hoods”

”Yes, but if the big bear comes home?” murmured Lucile

”He won't,” said Marian with conviction But the next moment her faith was shattered There came a sound froainst the door

”What was that?” both exclaimed at once in hoarse whispers

CHAPTER XVI

A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY

As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before the brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge

”What do you suppose that is?” he said to the dog, at the sa aside to examine it ”It's a net,” he commented ”Too fine for a fish net--ood luck for us if it were summer Place must be alive with birds then from the looks of all the deserted nests, but no you're no good to us” He kicked the net conteh,” he confided to Rover; ”there are people on this island, or at least have been Natives of some kind, they must be, for no white man would have the patience to make a net of sealskin as fine as that Question is, were they just cas or do they live here? If they live here, what kind of people are they? Well, anyway, let's go see”

Wearily he dragged his tired li followed on

But as they reached the crest the dog becas stiff, he sniffed the air

”What's that, old fellow? Birds? You've a bit of bird dog blood in you Lots of leaders have, but I guess you're mistaken Not birds this late in the year”

He moved forward a few feet, then his mouth flew open, but no sound came out Had he seen a white streak flit across the snow? He had

There was another and another

Slowly he backed away Followed reluctantly by the dog, he retreated to the rocky shelf where lay the net