Part 25 (1/2)

”What was it?” Marian repeated Her teeth were chattering so she could hardly whisper

”It saw the light from the seal-oil lamp,” Lucile whispered A cold chill ran up her back ”sh!+ Listen!”

It was a tense moment A dead silence hovered over the roo, or was it the wind?

”Marian,” whispered Lucile, ”what sort of a sound does a polar bear make?”

”I don't know,” Marian shi+vered

”Whatever it is, we're not going to open that door”

”I--I don't know” Thesound ”Perhaps we ought Perhaps--perhaps it is soht of that

For fiveNot a word passed between theain there ca Save for the dis about the corners of the house there was no other sound

The seal-oil la a weird yellow light dancing fro

”Lucile,” said Marian at last, ”I can't stand it any longer If it's someone in distress, they'll surely freeze, and then we could never forgive ourselves The chain will let the door open a crack If it's a bear, or a wolf, or a wild dog, he can't break the chain If it's soht to help hi about, found the butcher knife

”I'll stand by with the knife” She followed Marian, as they tiptoed toward the door

The h theWhatever was at the door, they would be able to see it once the door was open a crack

”Now! Ready!” whispered Marian, as she grasped the doorknob and turned it

With a wildly beating heart Lucile waited at her side

But the door did not open ”It's stuck,” whispered Marian ”I--I guess you'll have to helpdown the knife, Lucile put both hands over Marian's and exerted all her strength in a pull

The next instant the door gave way, but instead of being permanently held by the chain, it was only irls crashi+ng to the floor The rusty staple had broken

Too frightened to breathe they scrambled to their feet Lucile fumbled about for the knife Marian seized the door to close it Then in one breath they exclaimed, ”Why, it's only an Eski white-faced at them, was a native boy, probably not over ten years old

He dragged hi position, then atteain

”He must be injured,” said Marian

”Or starved,” answered Lucile

It was plain that the boy was at this tiirls a et hi over and grasping the boy by the shoulder As she did this he uttered a lowthis, the two girls lifted hi-bag with the wall of the room as a prop to his back

”I believe his foot's hurt,” said Lucile suddenly ”See how his skin-boot is torn!”