It is different from the coast. Here there is shelter
everywhere." He spoke slowly, and he was thinking swiftly. "It would take
five days at thirty miles a day. And the chances are that your husband
would not stand it. One hundred and twenty hours at fifty degrees below
zero, and no fire until the fourth day. He would die."
"It would be better--for if we stay--" she stopped, unclenching her hands
slowly.
"What?" he asked.
"I shall kill Captain Rydal," she declared. "It is the only thing I can
do. Will you force me to do that, or will you help me? You have sledges
and many dogs, and we will pay. And I have judged you to be--a man."
He rose from the table, and for a moment his face was turned from her.
"You probably do not understand my position, Mrs. Keith," he said, pacing
slowly back and forth and chuckling inwardly at the shock he was about to
give her. "You see, my livelihood depends on such men as Captain Rydal. I
have already done a big business with him in bone, oil, pelts--and Eskimo
women."
Without looking at her he heard the horrified intake of her breath. It
gave him a pleasing sort of thrill, and he turned, smiling, to look into
her dead-white face. Her eyes had changed. There was no longer hope or
entreaty in them. They were simply pools of blue flame. And she, too,
rose to her feet.
"Then--I can expect--no help--from you."
"I didn't say that, Mrs.
Pages:
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42