But only one article of furniture caught Bobby’s eye, and that was the bed. On the bed reposed a form that lay so still that Bobby at first thought it was dead. The next moment he saw that he was mistaken.
The Eskimo, going swiftly over to the bed, muttered something and the quiet figure moved suddenly, struggling to a sitting posture. The Eskimo put a hand beneath his shoulders, supporting him.
“Come here,” said the man in the bed to Bobby, and then, and only then, did Bobby recognize the Eskimo chief, Takyak.
As the lad obeyed the summons he was shocked at the change in the man. He was gray and emaciated and the hand he held out to Bobby shook.
“What’s the matter? What’s happened?” cried Bobby. “You look sick, Chief Takyak.”
Takyak nodded simply.
“I am dying,” he said.
CHAPTER XVI
THE SECRET TOKEN
The Eskimo who had led Bobby to the cabin made the sick man as comfortable as possible with pillows propped behind his back, then, at a sign from the latter, he turned and left the room.