no got cumshaw, 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 passing. 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
Chink was something of a blockhead.

Pushing 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 a