Part 1 (2/2)

”You wanchee somsling?” The Oriental grinned, as Johnny seated himself cross-legged on a gra.s.s mat.

”Yep,” Johnny grinned in return, ”wanchee change.” He gripped the lapel of his blouse, as if he would remove it and exchange for another.

”You wanchee clange?” The Chinaman squinted at him with an air of incredulity.

Then a light of understanding seemed to over-spread his face. ”Ow!” he exclaimed, ”no can do, Mellican officer, not any. No can do.”

”Wo Cheng, you no savvy,” answered Johnny, glancing about at the tiers of costumes which hung on either side of the wall.

”Savvy! Savvy!” exclaimed Wo Cheng, bounding away to return with the uniform of an American private. ”Officer, all same,” he exclaimed. ”No can do.”

”No good,” said Johnny, starting up. ”You no savvy. Mebby you no wanchee savvy. No wanchee uniform. Wanchee clothes, fur, fur, plenty warm, you savvy? Go north, north, cold, savvy?”

”Ow!” exclaimed the Chinaman, scratching his head.

”Wo Cheng!” said Johnny solemnly, ”long time my see you. Allatime, my see you. Not speak American Major; not speak j.a.panese police.”

Wo Cheng s.h.i.+vered.

”Now,” said Johnny, ”my come buy.”

”Ow!” grunted Wo Cheng, ducking from sight and reappearing quickly with a great coat of real seal, trimmed with sea otter, a trifle which had cost some n.o.ble of other days a king's ransom.

”No wanchee,” Johnny shook his head.

”Ow!” Wo Cheng shook his head incredulously. This was his rarest offering. ”You no got c.u.mshaw, money?” he grinned. ”All wite, my say.”

”No wanchee my,” Johnny repeated.

The Chinaman took the garment away, and returned with a similar one, less pretentious. This, too, was waved aside.

By this time Johnny had become impatient. Time was pa.s.sing. A special train was to go north at four o'clock. It was going for reindeer meat, rations for the regiment that was Johnny's, or, at least, had been Johnny's. He could catch a ride on that train. A five hundred mile lift on a three thousand mile jaunt was not to be missed just because this c.h.i.n.k was something of a blockhead.

Pus.h.i.+ng the proprietor gently to one side, Johnny made his way toward the back of the room. Scrutinizing the hangers as he went, and giving them an occasional fling here and there, as some garment caught his eye, he came presently upon a solid square yard of fur. With a grunt of satisfaction, he dragged one of the garments from its place and held it before the flickering yellow taper.

The thing was shaped like a middy-blouse, only a little longer and it had a hood attached. It was made of the gray squirrel skins of Siberia, and was trimmed with wolf's skin. As Johnny held it against his body, it reached to his knees. It was, in fact, a parka, such as is worn by the Eskimos of Alaska and the Chukches, aborigines of North Siberia.

One by one, Johnny dragged similar garments from their hangers. Coming at last upon one made of the brown summer skins of reindeer, and trimmed with wolverine, he seemed satisfied, for, tossing the others into a pile, he had drawn off his blouse and was about to throw the parka over his head, when something fell with a jangling rattle to the floor.

”O-o-ee!” grunted the Chinaman, as he stared at the thing. It was the knife which had belonged to the Russian of the broad shoulders and sharp chin. As Johnny's eyes fell upon it now, he realized that it was an altogether unusual weapon. The blade was of blue steel, and from its ring it appeared to be exceptionally well tempered. The handle was of strangely carved ivory.

Quickly thrusting the knife beneath his belt, Johnny again took up the parka. This time, as he drew the garment down over his head, he appeared to experience considerable difficulty in getting his left arm into the sleeve. This task accomplished, he stretched himself this way and that.

He smoothed down the fur thoughtfully, pulled the hood about his ears, and back again, twisted himself about to test the fit, then, with a sigh of content, turned to examine a pile of fur trousers.

At that instant there came a low rap at the door--three raps, to be accurate--then a m.u.f.fled thud.

Johnny started. Someone wanted to enter. He was not exactly in a condition to be seen, especially if the person should prove to be an American officer. His fur parka, topping those khaki trousers and puttees of his, would seem at least to tell a tale, and might complicate matters considerably. Quickly seizing his blouse, he crowded his way far back into the depths of a furry ma.s.s of long coats.

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