nition to shoot birds, but if we can
get this boy to go along on a goose-hunt we may have a new sort of fun,
and maybe get some game."

The young Aleut showed no disposition to return to his own people, and
when at length, after they had all eaten heartily, the three friends
turned toward the door of the barabbara, he followed them as though he
had been invited.

"What are we going to do with this boy?" asked Jesse. "He acts as if he
belonged here."

"Maybe he does," said John. "I saw him talking to the old chief, and
maybe he's his son. I have more than half a guess that the old man does
own this house, anyhow."

As the sun began to sink toward the horizon a wind arose and dark clouds
overspread the sky.

"I don't blame the boy for wanting to stay here where he will be dry. If
I'm not mistaken, we are going to have rain and plenty of it. Meantime,
we might as well turn in and go to sleep," added Rob.

He motioned the young Aleut to the blankets which Jimmy had abandoned,
and the latter, without ado, curled himself up on them. The others,
tired enough, followed his example, and for that night at least they did
not trouble themselves to keep any watch. Perhaps they had never had
greater cause for vigilance, but their anxiety was lost in the bodily
weariness which came over them after so many stirring incidents.

XVIII

UNWELCOME VISITORS

After the edge of their weariness had worn off with their first heavy
slumbers, the mental anxiety of the young adventurers began to return,
and they slept so uneasily that when morning came they all awoke with a
start at the sounds they heard outside the barabbara.

Rain and heavy wind had begun some time in the night; but now they heard
something else--the swishing of feet in the wet grass and the sound of
low voices.

The young Aleut was awake also, but he smiled as he sat up on the
blankets.

"I don't think we need be alarmed," said Rob, in a low tone to his
friends. "If these people had meant us any harm we'd have been foolish
to go out in their boats with them and leave our guns. Now we're here
safe with all our guns and other stuff, and here's this boy with us,
too. If they had not felt friendly toward us they would never have let
him stay here all night. Too bad we can't understand their talk, and
just have to guess at things; but that's the way I guess it."

A moment later there came the sound of a loud voice at the door. It
opened, and the swarthy fac