In a moment more the children were back in their seats, and the train was creeping slowly northward, on its way toward Gellivare and Mount Dundret, where, from the fifth of June to the eleventh of July, the sun may be seen shining all day and all night.
Birger took a tiny stone from his pocket and showed it to his sister, saying, "See my souvenir of Polcirkel." But Gerda paid little attention to his souvenir, and slipped over to her father's seat to ask a question.
"Father," she said softly.
Lieutenant Ekman looked up from the maps and papers in his lap. "What do you wish, little daughter?" he asked.
"Will you please make me a promise?" she begged.
"If it won't take all my money to keep it," he answered with a smile.
But Gerda seemed in no hurry to tell what it was that she wanted, and began looking over the papers in his lap. "What is this?" she asked, taking up a small blue card.
"That is my receipt from the Tourist Agency," he answered. "When I give it to the station master at Gellivare, he will give me a key which will open the hut on Mount Dundret, and let us see the midnight sun in comfort."
"How much did you pay for it?" was Gerda's next question.
"I paid about four kronor for the card and all the privileges that go with it," was the answer.