st comrades, pointed towards the east.

"That is where I come from. As to my business at the moment you will
excuse me. It is perhaps not a rudeness to ask what is yours."

The stranger laughed. "Caution, it seems, is necessary; and to the east,
where you have pointed, there is only the sea. I will, however, tell you
my business. It is science, and not"--he seemed to add this with a
certain significance--"in any way connected with the administration of
the country."

Wyllard was conscious of a vast relief on hearing this, but as he was
not quite sure that he could believe it, he felt that prudence was still
advisable. In any case, he could not let the stranger go away until he
had learned whether there were any more white men with him. He sat
still, thinking hard for a moment or two.

"You have a camp somewhere near?" he asked at length.

"Certainly," replied the man. "You will come back with me, or shall I
come to yours?"

"There are several of you?"

"Besides myself, two Kamtchadales."

"Then," said Wyllard, "I will come with you. I have left two comrades a
little further down the ravine. Will you wait until I bring them?"

The stranger made a sign of assent, and sitting down upon a ledge of
rock took out a cigar. Wyllard now felt more sure of him, since it was
evident that had he meditated any treachery he would naturally have
preferred him to make the visit unattended. In any case, it seemed
likely that he would have something to eat in his camp.

Wyllard plodded back down the ravine, and when he returned with his
comrades Overweg was still sitting there in the gathering darkness. He
greeted them with a wave of his hand, and rising, silently led the way
up the hollow until they came in sight of a little tent that glimmered
beneath a rock. There was a light inside the tent and two dusky figures
were silhoueted against the canvas. Overweg drew the flap back, and the
light shone upon his face as he signed them to enter. Wyllard, standing
still a moment, looked at him steadily, and then, seeing a reassuring
smile, went in.

Overweg called to one of the Kamtchadales, who came in and busied
himself about the cooking-lamp. The three famished men sat down with a
sense of luxurious content among the skins that were spread upon the
ground sheet. After the raw cold outside the tent was very snug and
warm. Wyllard said little, however, and Overweg made no attempt at
conversation until the Kamtchadale laid out a mea