"That's the frost coming out of it. It'll be all right after a bit," Bob assured him.
"Jack have heap bad nose, Injun no rub heem," Lucky explained.
"And I'm much obliged," Jack grinned realizing now that the Indian had indeed done him a good turn.
They were two days making the next town about eighty miles farther north. This was Arctic City, so called because of being situated exactly on the Arctic Circle. The weather had held clear and cold and they had made good time and were in good spirits as they entered the town about three o'clock. Although only the middle of the afternoon it was dark enough for lights in the cabins. Indeed there was only about five hours a day during which the sun was above the horizon.
Arctic City much resembled the other towns through which they had passed and they found the people much the same type. They were kindly received and secured a comfortable room for the night. During the evening they interviewed several of the men of the place most of whom were known to the Indian. But it was just as they were about to start off the next morning that they received their first real clue.
The dogs were harnessed and Lucky had already given the order to "Mush" when a very small man dressed in a heavy bearskin coat shouted to them to wait a minute.
"Wonder what he wants," Bob said as Lucky ordered the dogs to stop.
"Reckon we'll know in a minute," Jack told him.
"Yer lookin' fer two mans, eh?" the little man asked as he came puffing up.
"Yes," Bob told him. "Can you give us any information regarding them?"