“They run in winter!”
“Yes. Kadiak comes in for a swing eastward of the warm Japanese current. The boats ply regularly to Sitka.”
“It must have taken you a long time to do all that first part on your own two feet.”
He didn’t answer.
“When did you see father last?”
“On the morning of the 8th of December, when I cracked my whip over my dog-team and turned my back on Nome.”
“Heavens! Why, that’s—”
“Over three months ago.” Most men would have paused a moment for contemplation of their prowess or at least of their hardships, but Cheviot was ready to put his achievement at once and for ever behind him—ready, not only to imagine the general interest somewhere else, but to lead the way thither. “To be exact, it was three months and sixteen days ago; but your father was all right when I left him, and he had supplies.”
“Has he any friends?”