For a moment he was silent; then with a queer look on his face he said:
“One thing I am much afraid of.”
“What is that?” asked Patsy.
“Mebby not come,” said Terogloona, looking as if he was sorry he had spoken.
That was all he would say and Patsy felt a bit uneasy over his remark. Nevertheless, she could not help having a feeling of pride in her first day’s work as manager of the herd. Two serious problems had arisen and she had matched them against each other with the result that both had vanished. She had succeeded in getting rid of the unwelcome visitors and Bill Scarberry’s great herd. She had a right to feel a bit proud.
“10 - 10 = 0,” she marked on the floor with a bit of charcoal. “We are minus a few eatables but we can spare them all right. Besides, it’s real satisfying to know that you’ve given several hungry people an opportunity to earn a week’s provisions.”
Had she known the full and final effect of that week’s provisions, she might have experienced some moments of uncomfortable thinking. Lacking that knowledge, she smiled as she busied herself with preparing a belated breakfast for Terogloona and herself.
CHAPTER X
A STARTLING DISCOVERY
To Attatak, whose mind was filled with the weird tales of the spirit world, to enter a cave away on this unknown mountain side was a far greater trial than it was to Marian. Cold, blizzards, the wild beasts of timberlands—these she could face; but the possible dwelling place of the spirits of dead polar bears and walruses, to say nothing of old women who had died because they had disregarded the incantations of witch doctors, “Ugh!”—this was very bad indeed.
Marian felt the native girl tremble as she took her arm and led her gently forward into the dark depths of the cave.