“Of course. Probably inside of a couple of hours.”
Serge hurriedly explained Phil’s proposal to Kooga, and that shrewd native, glad to have the company of so mighty a hunter as the Yankee lad, willingly agreed to take him along and show him how sea-otters are captured.
Then he hastily collected his weapons, and taking with him a few strips of dried meat to be eaten as they went, the young Aleut led the way to the cove, where his bidarkie was hauled up.
Phil, also snatching up some strips of meat, quickly followed, and Serge went down to see them off.
“Don’t forget, Phil, that you’re to be back before dark!” he shouted, as the light craft shot out from the cove.
“Never you fear, old man!” came back in laughing tones.
He who was left climbed up to the place Phil had occupied the evening before, and watched the fleet of bidarkies until all of them had vanished in the dim distance. Then, with many misgivings as to the wisdom of the plan just pursued, Serge turned slowly away to prepare his solitary breakfast.