forward of the blue envelope this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Don Larson in Minnesota the blue envelope by Roy J. Snell forward when considering the manuscript of the blue envelope my publishers wrote me asking that I offer some sort of proof that the experiences of Marion and Lucille might really have happened to two girls so situated my answer ran somewhat as follows Alaska at least the northern part of it is so far removed from the rest of this old earth that it is almost as distinct from it as is the moon it's a good stiff nine-day trip to it by water and you sight land only once in all that nine days for nine months of winter you are quite shut off from the rest of the world your mail comes once a month letters only over an 1800 mile dog trail two months and a half for letters to come the same for the reply to go back do you wonder then that the Alaskan when going down to Seattle does not speak of it as going to Seattle or going down to the States but as going outside going outside seems to just exactly express it when you have spent a year in Alaska you feel as if you had truly been inside something for 12 months people who live inside of Alaska do not live exactly as they might were they in New England conventions for the most part disappear life is a struggle for existence and a bit of pleasure now and again if conventions and customs get in the way of these away with them and no one in his right senses can blame these people for living that way one question we meet and probably it should be answered would two lone girls do and dare the things that Lucille and Marion did my only answer must be that girls of their age girls from outside at that have done them Helen C a 16 year old girl came to Cape Prince of Wales to keep house for her father who was superintendent of the reindeer herd at that point she lived there with her father and the natives no white woman about for two years during that time her father often went to the herd which was grazing some 40 miles from the Cape and stayed for a week or two at a time marking deer or cutting them out to market Helen stayed at the Cape with the natives at times in the spring unattended by her father she went walrus hunting with the natives in their 30 foot sailing skin boat and stayed out with them for 30 hours at a time going 10 or 12 miles from land and sailing into the very midst of a school of 500 or more walrus this of course was not necessary just a part of the fun a healthy girl has when she lives in an Eskimo village Beth and a girl of 19 came to keep house for her brother the government teacher on Shishmaref Island a small sandy island off the shore of Alaska some 75 miles above Cape Prince of Wales she had not been with her brother long when a sailing schooner acreed offshore this schooner had on board their supply of winter food her brother went on board to superintend the unloading the work had scarcely begun when a sudden storm tore the schooner from her moorings and sent her whirling southward through the straits for some 10 or 12 days Beth was on that barren sandy island entirely alone the natives were at this time of the year off fishing up one of the rivers of the mainland she did not have as much as a match to light a fire she had no sort of notion as to how or when her brother would return the fact of the matter was that had not her brother had in his possession a note from the captain asking him to come aboard and had he not known the penalty for not returning a landsman to his port under such conditions the unprincipled seaman would have carried him to Seattle leaving Beth to shift for herself he reached home on a gasoline schooner some 10 days after his departure this same Beth when spring came and she wished to go outside engaged a white guide to take her by dog team to Cape Prince of Wales where the male steamer might be caught it was late in the spring and the ice was soft they had been traveling for some time on the rough shore ice when they discovered much to their horror that their icepan had broken loose from the shore and was drifting out to sea they hurried along the edge of it for some distance in the hope of finding a bridge to shore in this they were disappointed Beth could not swim fortunately the guide could leaping into the stinging water he swam from one cake to the next one leading the dogs Beth clung to the back of the sled and was thus brought ashore after wading many swollen torrents they at last reached Cape Prince of Wales in safety this sounds very much like fiction but is fact and can be verified as to crossing Bering Straits and living with the Chuchkes in Siberia I did that very thing myself went with a crew of Chuchkes I had never seen to I was over there for only three days but might have stayed the summer through in perfect safety while there I saw a character known as the French kid a white man who had crossed the Straits with the natives late in the year and had wintered there crossing 20 or more miles of flow ice might seem a trifle improbable but here too actual performance bears me out I sent the mail to Thompson the government teacher on the Little Diamed Island across 22 miles of flow ice by an Eskimo this man had made the trip many times before it is my opinion that what an Eskimo can do any white man or hearty young woman can do well there you have it I don't wish to make my fiction story seem tame or I might tell you more as it is I hope I may have convinced you that all the adventures of Lucille and Marion are probable and that the author knows something about the wonderland in which this story is set the author the blue envelope chapter one a mysterious disappearance at the center of a circular bay forming a perfect horseshoe with the sandy beach at its center and a rocky cliff on either side two girls were fishing for shrimps the taller of the two a curly haired red cheeked girl of 18 was rowing the other short and rather chubby now and again lifted a pocket net of wire screening and shaking a score or more of slimy snapping creatures into one corner of it gave a dexterous twist and neatly dropped the squirming mass into a tin bucket both girls had the clear ruddy complexion which comes from clean living and frequent sallies into the out of doors Lucille Tucker the tall one of curly hair was by nature a student her cousin Marion Norton had been born for action and adventure and was something of an artist as well look exclaimed Lucille suddenly what's that out at the entrance of the bay a bit of drift or a seal might be a seal watch it Bob it moves I'd say without further comment Lucille lifted a light rifle from the bow and passed it to her cousin Marion stood with one knee braced on the seat and steadied herself for a shot at the object which continued to rise and fall with the low roll of the sea born and reared at gnome on the barren tundra of Alaska Marion had hunted rabbits tarmigan and even caribou and white wolves with her father in her early teens she was as steady and sure as shot as most boys of her age boat rocks so she grumbled more waves out there too watch the thing Bob it's gone under no there it is try it now catching her breath Marion put her finger to the trigger for a second the boat was quiet the brown spot hung on the crest of a wavelet it was a beautiful target Marion was sure of her aim just as her finger touched the trigger a strange thing happened a something which sent the rifle clattering from nervous fingers and set the cold perspiration springing to her forehead a flash of white had suddenly appeared close to the brown spot a slim white line against the blue green of the sea it was a human arm who who where'd you suppose he came from she was at last able to sputter don't ask me said Lucille scanning the sea never a mist nor a cloud obscured the vision yet not a sail or coil of smoke of nearby craft what's more important is we must help him she said seizing the oars and rowing vigorously Marion having hung the shrimp trap across the bow drew a second pair of oars from beneath the seats and joined her in sending the clumsy craft toward the brown spot still bobbing in the water and which as they drew nearer they easily recognized as the head of a man or boy lucky for him that he had chance to throw a white forearm high out of the water just as Marion was prepared unwittingly to send a bullet crashing into his skull realizing that this person whoever he might be must have drifted in the water for hours and was doubtless exhausted the two girls now gave all their strength to the task of rowing with faces tense and forearms flashing with the oars they set the boat cutting the waves the beach and cliffs back of the bay in which the girls had been fishing were part of the shoreline of a small island which on this side faced the open pacific ocean and on the other the waters of Puget Sound off the coast of the state of Washington nestled among a group of giant yellow pines on a ridge well up from the beach two white tents gleamed this was the camp of Marion and Lucille the rock ribbed and heavily wooded island belonged to Lucille's father a fish canner of Anacortes Washington there was so far as they knew not another person on the island they had expected a maiden aunt to join them in their outing she was to have come down from the north in a fishing smack but up to this time had not arrived not that the girls were much concerned about this they had lived much in the open and rather welcomed the opportunity to be alone in the wilds it was good preparation for the future they had pledged themselves to spend the following winter in a far more isolated spot Cape Prince of Wales on Bering Straits in Alaska Lucille who though barely 18 years of age had finished high school and had spent one year in normal school was to teach the native school and to super intend the reindeer herd at that point Marion had lived the greater part of her life in Gnome Alaska but even from childhood she had shown a marked talent for drawing and painting and had now just finished a two-year course in a Chicago art school her drawings of Alaskan life and the natives had been exhibited and had attracted the attention of a society of ethnology in fact so greatly had they been impressed that they had asked Marion to accompany her cousin to Cape Prince of Wales to spend the winter sketching the village life of that vanishing race the Eskimo so this month of camping hunting and fishing was but a preparatory one to fit them the more perfectly for the more important adventure when they reached the mysterious swimmer they were surprised to find him a mere boy some 14 years of age what a strange face whispered Marion when they had assisted the dripping stranger into the boat they studied him for a moment in silence his hair and eyes were black his face brown he wore a single garment cleverly pieced together till it seemed one skin but made of many bird skins eiderduck perhaps this garment left his arms and legs free for swimming he said nothing simply stared at them as if in bewilderment we must get him ashore at once said Lucille he must have swum a long way 15 minutes later after tying up the boat Lucille came upon Marion picking the feathers from a duck they had shot that morning going to make him some broth she explained tossing a handful of feathers to the wind must be pretty weak Lucille stole a glance at the stranger's face do you think he's oriental she whispered might be said Marion you don't have to be so careful to whisper though he doesn't speak our language it seems nor any other that I know anything about very curious I tried him out on everything I know Chinese trying to smuggle in maybe he doesn't seem exactly oriental said Lucille looking closely at his face with his eyes closed as if in sleep the boy did not indeed seem to resemble very closely any of the many types Lucille had chance to meet there was something of the clean brown the perfect curve of the classic young Italian something of the smoothness of skin native to the Anglo-Saxon yet there was to the round face the short nose the slight angle at the eyes which spoke of the oriental he looks like the Eskimos we have on the streets of Gnome suggested Marion only he's too light complexioned couldn't be anyway not much likelihood of that laugh Lucille come two thousand miles in a skin kayak to have his craft wrecked in a calm sea that couldn't happen whoever he is he's a splendid swimmer commented Marion when we reached him he was a mile from any land with the sea bearing shoreward and there wasn't a sail or steamer in sight the two of them now busied themselves with preparing the evening meal and for a time forgot their strange uninvited guest when Lucille next looked his way she caught his eyes upon her in a wandering stare they were at once shifted to the kettle from which they're now issued savory odors of boiling foul he's hungry all right she smiled when the soup was ready to serve they were treated to a slight shock the bird had been carefully set on a wooden plate to one side their guest was being offered only the broth this he sniffed for a moment then placing it carefully on the ground seized the bird and holding it by the drumsticks begin to gnaw at its breast Marion stared at him then smiled i don't know as a full meal is good for him but we can't stop him now she set a plate of boiled potatoes before him the boy paused to stare then to point a finger at them and exclaimed something that sounded like uba canock do you suppose he never ate potatoes exclaimed Lucille in surprise what sort of boy must he be she broke a potato in half and ate one portion at once a broad smile spread over the brown boy's face as he proceeded to add the potatoes to his bill of fare guess we'll have to start all over getting this meal smiled Lucille our guest has turned into a host when at last the strange boy's hunger was assuaged Lucille brought woollen blankets from one of the tents and offered them to him wrapping himself in these he sat down by the fire soon with hands crossed over ankles with face drooped forward he slept queer sort of boy exclaimed Lucille i'd say he was an indian if indians lived that way but they don't and haven't for some generations our little brown boy appears to have walked from out another age night crept down over the island long tree shadows spread themselves everywhere to be at last dissolved into the general darkness still the boy sat by the fire asleep or feigning sleep not feeling quite at ease with such a stranger in their camp the girls decided to maintain a watch that night maryon agreed to stand the first watch until one o'clock lucille to finish the night in the morning they would take their small gasoline launch which was at this moment hidden around the bend in a small creek and would carry the boy to the emigration office at fort townsend they had worked and played hard that day when lucille was wakened at one o'clock in the morning she found herself unspeakably drowsy a brisk walk to the beach and back then a dash of cold spring water on her face roused her as she came back to camp she thought she caught a faint distant sound like an orlock creaking she told herself yet who would be out there at this time of night she retraced her steps to the beach to scan the sea that glistened in the moonlight not hearing or seeing anything she concluded that she had been mistaken back at the camp once more she glanced at the motionless figure seated by the bed of darkening coals then creeping inside the tent she drew a blanket over her shoulders and sat down lost at once in deep thought as time passed her thoughts turned into dreams and she slept how long she slept she could not tell she awoke at last with a start she felt greatly disturbed had she heard a muffled shout or was that part of a dream lifting the flap of the tent she stared at the boy's place by the fire it was vacant he was gone Marianne she whispered shaking her cousin into wakefulness Marianne he's gone the brown boy is gone let him go who wants him Marianne murmured sleepily at that instant Lucille's keen ears caught the groan of orlocks but I hear oars she whispered hoarsely they've come for him someone has carried him away I heard him try to cry for help we must stop them if we can find a way catching up their rifles they crept stealthily from their tents nothing was to be seen save the camp and the forest think we better try to follow them ask Lucille as she struggled into her shoes wrapping the laces round and round her ankles for the sake of speed I don't know said Marianne they're probably rough men and we're only girls but we must try to find out what has happened in a moment they were creeping stealthily rifles in hand toward the beach as they paused to listen they heard no sound either the intruders had rounded the point or had stopped rowing Lucille threw a circle of her flashlight out to see stop that whispered Marianne in alarm they might shoot look exclaimed Lucille suddenly our boat's gone hastening down the beach they found it was all too true the rowboat had disappeared there weren't any men exclaimed Marianne with sudden conviction that boy's taken our boat and rode away yes there were men insisted Lucille I just saw a track in the sand there it is she pointed to the beach an inspection of the sand showed three sets of footprints leading to the water's edge where a boat had been grounded these same footprints were about the spot where the stolen boat had been launched there's one queer person among them said Lucille after studying the marks closely he limps one step is long and one is short also one shoe is smaller than the other we'd know that man if we ever saw him listen said Marianne suddenly out of the silence that ensued there came the faint pop pop pop of a motorboat behind the point said Lucille our motorboat whispered Marianne without a word Lucille starred down the beach then up the creek she was followed closely by Marianne tripped by creeping vines torn at by underbrush swished by wet ferns they in time arrived at the point where the motorboat had been moored gone whispered Lucille we've been deceived and robbed said Marianne mournfully deceived by a boy his companions left him swimming in the sea so we would find him as soon as we were asleep he crept away and towed the schooner down the river then he flashed a signal and the others came in for him probably Indians and half-breeds they might have left us a rowboat at least she exclaimed and discussed with early dawn streaking the sky they sat down to consider the loss of their motorboat was a serious matter they had but a scant supply of food and while their aunt might arrive at any moment again she might not if she did not they had no way of leaving the island we'd better go down the beach said Marianne they might have engine trouble or something and be obliged to land then perhaps we could somehow get our boat it's the only thing we can do said Lucille it's a good thing we had our food supply in our tent or they would have taken that speaking of food said Marianne I'm hungry we'd better have our breakfast before we start end of chapter one chapter two of the blue envelope this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org reading today by Don Larson in Minnesota the blue envelope by Roy J. Snell chapter two a bold stroke rewarded bacon grease was spilled and toast burned in the preparation of breakfast which was devoured in gulps then with some misgivings but much determination the two girls hurried away up the beach in the direction from whence had come the pop popping of their stolen motorboat coming at last to the place where the sandy shore was replaced by ragged boulders they began making their way through the tangled mass of underbrush fallen tree trunks and ferns across the point of land which cut them off from the next sandy beach this would be splendid if it wasn't so serious said Marianne as they reached the crest of the ridge and prepared to descend I always did like rummaging about in an unexplored wilderness look at that fallen yellow pine eight feet through if it is an inch and the ferns are almost tall enough to hide it and look at those tamaracks down in that gully they look like black knights wouldn't they make a picture not just now come on exclaimed Lucille who was weary of battling with the jungle let's get down to the beach and see what's there there's a long stretch of beach I think maybe half a mile but we must be careful how we make our way down we might discover something and we might be discovered first to descend a rock ribbed hill overgrown with tangled underbrush and buried in decaying tree trunks is hardly easier than to ascend it both girls were thoroughly out of breath as they finally parted the branches of a fir tree and peered through to where the beach a yellow ribbon of sand circled away to the north not there whispered Marianne Lucille gripped her cousin's arm what's that thing two-thirds of the way down at the water's edge don't know rock maybe anyway it's not our motorboat no it's not it's worth looking into though let's go eagerly they hurried along the hard-packed sand the tide was ebbing the beach was like a floor their steps quickened as they approached the object at last less than half conscious of what they were doing they broke into a run the thing that had seen was a boat and a boat to persons in their position was a thing to be prized arriving at its side they looked it over for a moment in silence it's pretty poor and very heavy but it will float I think was Marianne's first comment it's theirs thought it wasn't worth risking a stop for but how did they get into our camp we haven't seen their tracks through the brush probably took up one small stream and down another the boat they had found was a wide heavy flat-bottomed affair such a craft as is used by fishermen intending pond nets for a time the two girls stood there undecided the chances of their recovering the motorboat seemed very poor indeed to go forward in this heavy boat meant hours of hand blistering rowing to bring them back to camp yet the thought of returning to tell Lucille's brother that they had lost his motorboat was disheartening to go on seemed dangerous true they had rifles but they were after all but two girls against three rough men in spite of all this they decided in the end to go on pushing the boat into the sea they rode out a few fathoms then set the sail and bore away before the brisk breeze the fact that the orolocks which were mere wooden pegs were worn smooth and shiny told that the boat had not been long unused in a short time they found themselves well out from the shore in a gently rippling sea while the point behind which lay their camp grew smaller and smaller in the distance presently they cleared a wooded point of land and came in view of a short line of beach deep set in a narrow bay it might have escaped the eye of a less observant person than Marianne so too might the white speck that shown from the brown surface of that beach what's that in the center she mumbled reaching for the binoculars by her side it's our schooner she exclaimed after a moment's survey yes sir it is anyway it's a motorboat and if not ours who's then we'd better pull in behind the point drag our boat up on the rocks and come around by land whispered lucille yes if we dare said Marianne overcome for a moment with fear if they have seen us and come out to meet us what then i hardly think they'd see us without a field glass said lucille bedding to the oars they set their boat cutting across the wavelets that increased in size with the rising wind ten minutes of hard pulling brought their boat in behind the point where it was quieter water and better rowing this took them to a position quite out of sight of the white spot on the distant beach if the pirate robbers were truly located in the bay and had not seen the girls they were safe to steal up close well suppose they have if the worst comes to the worst we can escape into the brush said Marianne we won't be worse off than than we are now if only we can catch them off guard and get away with our motorboat said lucille fervently two hours of fighting the wilderness brought them at last to the beginning of the short sandy beach by peering through the branches they discovered that a clump of young tamaracks growing close down to the shore still hid the white spot they had taken for their boat lucille stepped out upon the sand and then bent down to examine a footprint quickly she dodged back into the brush they're here all right she whispered that's the track of the fellow with the mismatch feet listen said mariam sounds like shouting said lucille after a moment's silence what do you suppose we'd better move around to a better position cautiously they worked their way through the dense undergrowth pausing now and again to listen they laid their course by the sounds these sounds resolved themselves into bursts of song and boisterous laughter they're drinking said lucille with a shutter if they are we daren't get near them whispered marian closer and closer they crept until at last they expected at any moment to come into view of the camp it's no use said lucille at last shrinking back into the brush i can't go on they're drunk and all drunken men are dangerous it is no use risking too much for a motorboat where early then they made their way back through the brush so sore were their muscles by this time that every step gave them pain missing their way they came out upon the beach a hundred yards from their boat there behind the sheltering boughs of a dwarf fir tree they threw themselves upon the bed of pine needles to rest look exclaimed lucille suddenly what's that out there our motorboat marian gas it's broken loose and is going out with the tide they must not have seen it quick our rowboat we may beat them yet with wildly beating hearts they raced up the beach having reached the heavy rowboat they pushed it off waiting knee deep in the sea to give the boat a good start they at last leapt into their seats and grasped the oars and with strong deft strokes set her cutting the water length by length they listened the distance between them and the drifting prize now they were 200 yards away now 100 now 50 now there came a shout from the shore with a quick glance over her shoulder lucille took in the situation we'll make it she breathed pull hard they're a long way off moments seemed ours as they strained at the oars but at last they bumped the side of the motorboat and the next second found themselves on board marian clutched to the tiller of the rowboat while she sprung round to the wheel lucille gave the motorboat a turn and to their great joy the noble little engine responded with a pop pop pop there came another shout a hopeless one from the robbers we'll beat them we marian broke off short look lucille look over there to the right of them bobbing up and down as they had seen it once before was the head of the strange brown boy do you suppose they did kidnap him said lucille we can go by where he is said marian they can't catch us now the boat swung around and soon they were beside the swimmer look cried lucille his feet are tied tightly together he mustn't have been their friend they carried him off they had him bound and he rolled down the beach to escape by swimming they dragged the boy on board then they were away again full speed once more well that's done said lucille as she settled herself at the wheel they've our rowboat and we have theirs I hope that after this they will let us alone the person who is bothering me said marian with a frown is this little brown visitor of ours who is he where did he come from where does he want to go where should he go what are we going to do with him that said lucille wrinkling her brow is more than I know neither do I know how those men came to steal him they probably kidnapped him from his home wherever that is and have been making a slave of him I think you are right said marian and probably the problem will solve itself in time the problem did solve itself at least part of it that very night the remaining part of the problem was to be solved months later under conditions so strange that had the girls been able to vision them lying away like a mirage on the horizon of the future they would have been tempted to change their plans for the year just before them the first question what was to be done with the little brown stranger was solved that night he solved it himself the girls had decided upon maintaining a watch lucille was on the second watch at something like one o'clock in the morning when she saw the brown boy stirring in his place by the fire she was seated far back in the shadowy depths of the tent with a rifle across her knee he could not see her though she could catch his every move in the moonlight with a gliding motion he carried his two blankets to a shadowy spot and there folded each one laying one upon the other he then proceeded to gather up certain articles about camp a small axe a knife fishing tackle and matches were hurriedly thrown upon the blanket now and again like some wild thing of the forest he paused to cock his head to one side and listen should i call marian and stop him lucille asked herself the question was left all undecided the little drama being enacted was too fascinating to suffer interruption it was like something that had happened in her earlier childhood when she had lain in a garret watching a mother mouse carry away her five children lucille thereby suffered a loss of six cents for she would have been paid a cent apiece for the capture of those mice the brown boy next approached the kitchen tent he entered to appear a moment later with a modest arm load of provisions when these had been placed on the blanket with marvelous speed and skill he converted the hole into a convenient pack shall i stop him lucille asked herself she was about to call out from her corner when a peculiar action of the boy arrested her he appeared to be taking some small object from beneath the collar of his strange suit of bird skin i wonder what that is she puzzled whatever it was he walked with it to a broad flat rock and placing it in the very center turned and left it there the object gave forth such a startling luster in the moonlight and lucille was so intent about watching it she did not realize that the brown boy had thrown the pack over his shoulder and disappeared into the woods when she did discover it she merely shrugged her shoulders and smiled probably for the best she told herself he's taken nothing of any great value and nothing we will need badly and unless i miss my guess he'll be quite able to take care of himself in the wood that is full of game and berries and where there are fish for throwing in the hook let's see what he left though cautiously she crept out into the moonlight a low exclamation escaped her lips as her hand closed upon the glistening object as she examined it closely she found it to be three teeth apparently elk teeth which were held together with a plain leather thong but sit in the center of each was a ring of blue jade and in the center of each two of the rings was a large pearl the center of the third was beyond doubt a crudely cut diamond of about two carats in weight lucille turned it over and over in her hand why the poor fellow she murmured he's given us a king's ransom for a few trinkets and a little food and i thought that he was stealing she reproached herself her first instinct was to attempt to call him back but she told herself my voice would not carry far in that dense woods besides he wouldn't understand me and would only be frightened returning to her tent she hid the strange bit of jewelry which to its wearer had doubtless been a charm then waited to the end of her watch to tell of the strange occurrence to her cousin when mary and awoke lucille told her story together in that early hour of the morning they exclaimed over the rare treasure that had come into their hands together agreed that somehow it must be returned to the original owner and at last after much talk on the subject agreed that on the whole the departure of the brown boy reduced the possible complications to a considerable degree the next day their aunt arrived and with her a school teacher friend with their forces increased by two the girls were not afraid to maintain their camp in fear of the return of the robbers they established a nightly watch that this fear was not unfounded was proved by the events of the third night of the vigil it was again in the early morning when mary and was on guard that heavy footsteps could be heard in the underbrush about the camp she had left the tent flap open commanding a view of the shoreline the gasoline schooner lay high and dry on the sandy beach within her line of vision this she watched carefully a man who dared to touch that boat was in danger of his life for a rifle lay across her knees and with the native hardy hood of an alaskan she would not fail to shoot quick and sure but the man did not approach the boat he merely prowled about the tents as if seeking information maryon caught one glimpse of him over the cooking tent though he was gone in an instant she recognized him as one of the men who had stolen their motorboat after a time his footsteps sounded far down the beach nothing more was heard from him guess he was looking for the brown boy but became satisfied that he was not here exclaimed maryon in the morning perhaps they'll let us alone after this said lucille this prophecy came to pass after a few nights the vigil was dropped and the remaining days on the island were given over to the pleasures of camp life the discovery of a freshly abandoned fire on the beach some miles from camp proved that lucille's belief that the brown boy could take care of himself was well founded his footprints were all about in the sand feathers of a wild duck in the heads of three good-sized fishes showed that he had fared well we'll meet him again somewhere i am sure said lucille with conviction and until we do i shall carry his little present as a sort of talisman the weeks passed all too quickly one day with many regrets they packed their camp kid in the motorboat and went pop popping to lucille's home three weeks later saw them aboard the steamship torrentia bound for cape prince of wales by way of gnome they were entering upon a new and adventure filled life this journey though they little guessed it brought them some two thousand miles nearer to the spot where once again under the strangest of circumstances they were to meet the brown boy who had come swimming to them from the ocean end of chapter two chapter three of the blue envelope this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox dot org recording today by don larson in minnesota the blue envelope by roi j snel chapter three the mysterious phy beta chi it was some months later that marion stood looking down from snow clad hill from where she stood brushes and pallet in hand she could see the broad stretch of snow covered beach and beyond that the unbroken stretch of drifting ice which chained the restless arctic sea at cape prince of wales alaska she gloried in all the wealth of light and shadow which lay like a changing panorama before her she thrilled at the thought of the mighty forces that shifted the massive ice flows as they drifted from nowhere to nowhere now for the thousandth time she stood spellbound before it as she gazed out to see her mind went back over the year and a half that had passed since she and lucille had spent that eventful month on mutineers island but her thoughts were cut short throwing up her hands and wild glee she exclaimed the mail the mail the coming of the mail carrier was indeed a great event in this out of the way spot once a month he came whirling around the point behind a swift footed dog team he came unheralded conditions of snow and storm governed his time of travel yet come he always did no throng greeted his coming no eager crowd hovered about the lattice window waiting for the mail to be made up if a dozen letters were in the sack that was what might be expected but these letters had come 1800 miles by dog team precious messages they were tomorrow perhaps a bearded minor would drop in from tin city which was a city only in name this lone minor would claim one of the letters two perhaps would go to another minor on sawtooth mountain next week an eskimo happening down from shish maraf island 75 miles north would take three letters to ben norton and his sister the government teachers for the eskimos two would go in a pigeonhole for tomson the teacher on little diamede island 22 miles across the drifting ice later a native would be paid 10 sacks of flour for attempting to cross that flow and deliver the contents of that box there might be a scrawled note for some eskimo a stray letter or two and the rest would be for maryon at the present moment she was the only white person on cape prince of wales a little town of 350 eskimos pretty light this time smiled the grizzled mail carrier as he reached the cabin at the top of the hill maybe 10 letters uncle sam takes good care of his people smiled maryon the teachers of his native children and the miners who search for his hidden treasures i'll say he does must have cost all of ten dollars apiece to deliver them letters chuckle the carrier and the people that mailed them stuck on a measly red two cent stamp i get 50 dollars for bringing them the last 60 miles and it's worth it too you're just right pretty tough trail pretty trough say he exclaimed suddenly remembering a bit of gossip did you hear about tootsie silak no maryon was busy with the mail just gossip i reckon but they say she's left her eskimo husband maryon did not answer gossip did not interest her besides she had found a letter that did interest her even more than those addressed to her a very careful penman had drawn the greek letters phi beta chi on the outside of an envelope and beneath it had written cape prince of wales alaska she was on the point of sharing the mystery with the carrier but checked herself just some new gossip for him was her mental comment here's the sack she said noting that he had finished drinking the coffee she had prepared for him i hope there'll be more mail next time letters mean so much to these people up at the top of the world spring fall be here pretty soon then they can't get mail for two or three months that's right it's fierce said the carrier taking the sack and turning toward the door phi beta chi maryon pronounced the letters softly to herself as the door closed now who could that be she was still puzzling over the mysterious letter when after a hasty luncheon she again took up her palette and brushes and wound her way around the hill to a point where stood a cabinet ten feet square and made a fiberboard she returned to her painting she was doing a mass of ice that piled up some two hundred yards out to sea the work was absorbing yet eager as she was to work her mind went back to that letter in the pigeonhole up in the cabin she was deep in the mystery of it when a voice startled her it came from back of the cabinet i say the voice saying cheerly have you any letters in your little p o on the hill the voice thrilled her it was new and sounded young yes she said throwing open the back of the cabinet and standing up we have quite quite a variety the visitor was young not more than twenty she thought what color she said teasingly as she stepped from the cabinet blue he said seriously blue she started the mysterious letter was blue the only blue one she had seen for months what name well you see the young man flushed not not any real name just the greek letters phi beta chi he stepped into the cabinet and with deft fingers drew with charcoal the characters like that he smiled yes she smiled back there is one grand he exclaimed let's get it at once shall we they hastened up the hill maryon wondered at herself as she handed out the letter wondered that she did not question him further to make sure he was really the rightful owner but there was something free and frank about his bearing it disarmed suspicion after he read the letter she thought she caught a look of disappointment on his face if she did it quickly vanished while she was dispensing the accustomed hospitality of the northland a steaming plate of mulligan and a cup of coffee she felt his eyes resting upon her many times when at last he finished eating he turned and spoke hesitantly i'd i'd like to ask a favor of you all right if another letter like that comes to me here you keep it for me will you why yes only i won't be here much longer i'm going to know him after the breakup i'm going north i'll be back before then but if i'm not you keep it will you there was a tense eagerness about him that stirred her strongly why yes i i guess so but what shall i do if you don't get back before i leave take it with you leave word where i can find you and take it you see he half apologized after a moment's thought these northern po's change hands so many times and so many people handle the mail that i'm afraid i might lose one of these letters and and they're mighty important at least one of them is going to be will you do it i i think i'd trust you though i don't just know why he asked marion said slowly i'll do that three minutes later she saw him skillfully disentangling his dogs and sending them on their way one of those college boys she whispered to herself they come north expecting to find gold shining in the sand of the beach i've seen so many come up here as he is happy and hopeful and in three or four years i've seen them go outside old beyond their years half blind with snow blindness or worse broken in body and spirit i only hope it does not happen to him but what's all the mystery i'd like to know she gave a sudden start for the first time she realized that he had not given her his name and i promised to personally conduct that mysterious mail of his she exclaimed under her breath and of chapter three chapter four of the blue envelope this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox dot org recording today by don larson in minnesota the blue envelope by roi j snel chapter four for he is a white man's dog two months had elapsed since the mysterious college boy had passed on north with his dog team many things could have happened to him in those months his marion sat looking away at the vast expanse of drifting ice which had been restless in its movements of late telling of the coming of the spring breakup she wondered what had happened to the frank eyed friendly boy he had not returned had a blizzard caught him and snatched his life away the rivers were overflowing their banks now though thick and rotten ice was still beneath the milky water had he completed his mission north and was he now struggling to make his way southward or was he securely housed in some out-of-the-way cabin waiting for open water and a schooner a letter had come a letter in a blue envelope and addressed as the other to fai betekai that was after lucille's return lucille had been away to the gnome market with her dear herd when the first letter had come but had now been home for a month the two of them had laughed and wondered about that letter they had put it in the pigeonhole and there it now was but marion had not forgotten her promise to take it with her in case the boy did not return before she left the cape now as she watched the restless ocean she realized that it would not be many days before it would break its bonds the ice would then float away to points unknown little gasoline schooners would go flitting here and there like seagulls and then there would come the horse voice of the corwin male carrier for arctic she would take that steamer to gnome would the boy be back by then or would she carry the mysterious letter with her for a long time marion gave herself up to speculation as she sat dreaming of these things she started suddenly something had touched her foot oh she exclaimed and then laughed the most forlorn looking dog she had ever seen had touched her foot with his nose his hair was ragged and matted his bones protruded at every possible point his mouth was set awry one side hanging half open so it's you she said you're looking worse than common the dog opened his mouth allowing his long tongue to lull out i suppose that means you're hungry well for once you're in luck the natives caught a hundred or more salmon through the ice i have some of them fish old top fish what say the dog stood on his hind legs and barked for joy he read the sign in her eyes if he did not understand her lip message in another moment he was gulping down a fat four pound salmon while marion eyed him a curious questioning look on her face now she said is the dog finished the question is what are we going to do with you you're an old dog you're no good in a team too old bad feet no sir you can't be any good or you wouldn't be back here in five days we gave you to Tommy Iliac to lead his team you were a leader in your day all right and you'd lead him yet if you could poor old soul there was a catch in her voice to her dogs were next to humans in the north they were necessary servants as well as friends the thing that makes it hard to turn you out she went on huskily is the fact that you're a white man's dog yes sir a white man's dog and that means an awful lot means you'd stick till death to any white person who'd feed you and call you friend mr jack london has written a book about a white man's dog that turned wild and joined a wolf pack it's a wonderful book but i don't believe it a white man's dog wants a white man for a friend and if he loses one he'll keep traveling until he finds another that's the way a white man's dog is and that's why you came back to us poor old dear she stooped and padded the shaggy head i'll tell you what she murmured after a moment's reflection if the fish keep running if the wild ducks come north or the walrus come barking in from bearing sea then you can stay with us and get sleek and fat you can sleep by our door in the hallway every night and if anyone comes prowling around you can ask them what they want how's that the dog howled his approval maryon smiled and turning went into the cabin the dog did not belong to them he was an old and decrepit leader deserted by a faithless master he had adopted their cabin as his home when food had become scarce they had been forced to give him to an eskimo traveling up the coast now in five days he was back again maryon was not sure that lucille would approve of the arrangement she had made with the dog but when her heart prompted her she could only follow its promptings she had hardly entered the cabin then she heard a growl from the dog followed by the voice of a stranger down rover she shouted as she sprang to the door the man who stood before her was badly dressed and unshaven his eyes bore a shifty gleam get out you cur he kicked at the dog with his heavy boot maryon's eyes flashed but she said nothing this the post office the man attempted a smile yes sir is there a letter here for me i don't know she smiled won't you come in the man came inside now she said i'll see what is your name ben he hesitated oh that don't matter won't be addressed to my name addressed like that he drew from his pocket a closely folded dirt begrimed envelope maryon's heart stopped beating the envelope was blue yes the very shade of blue of that other in the pigeonhole and it was addressed phi beta chi gnome alaska is there a letter here like that the man demanded squinting at her through bloodshot eyes it was a tense moment what should she say she loathed the man feared him as well yet he had asked for the letter and had offered better proof than the mysterious college boy had what should she say yes she said and then hesitated her heart beat violently his searching eyes were upon her yes there was one it came two months ago a young man called for it and took it away you you gave it to him the man lifted a hand as if to strike maryon she did not flinch there came a growl from the door looking quickly maryon caught the question and gleam in the old leader's eye the man's arm fell yes she said stoutly i gave it to him why should i not he offered no real proof that he was the right person it is true then why but neither have you maryon hurried on you might have picked that envelope up in the street or taken it from a waste paper basket how do i know what what sort of a boy was it the man asked more steadily a good-looking strapping young fellow with blue eyes and an honest face that's him that's him the man almost raved honest good looking yes honest looking they ain't all honest that looks that way again came the growl from the door maryon's eyes glanced uneasily toward the pigeonhole where the latest blue envelope rested she caught an easy breath a large white legal envelope hid the blue one well if another one comes remember it's mine mine growled the man as he went stamping out of the room old rover said maryon taking the dog's head between her hands i'm glad you're here when there are such men as that about we need you and yet as she spoke her heart was full of misgivings what if this man's looks belied his nature what if he were honest and what if her good-looking college boy was a rascal there in the pigeonhole was the blue envelope what was her duty pulling on her calico parka she went for a stroll on the beach the cool damp air of arctic twilight by the sea was balmed to her troubled brain she came back to the cabin with a deep-seated conviction that she was right she was not given many days to decide whether she should take the letter with her or leave it a sudden gale from the south sent the ice flows rushing through the straits they hastened away to seize unknown not to return for months the little male steamer came hooting its way around the point it brought a letter of the utmost importance to maryon while in gnome the summer before she had made some hasty sketches of the chetchkees natives of the arctic coast of cyberia while they camped on the beach there on a trading voyage in a 30-foot skin boat these sketches had come to the notice of the ethnological society they now wrote to her asking that she spend a summer on the arctic coast of cyberia making sketches of these natives who so like the eskimos are yet so unlike them in many ways the pay they assured her would be ample in fact the figures fairly staggered her should she complete this task in safety and to the satisfaction of the society they would then be prepared to pay her way through a three years course in the best art school of america this had long been a cherished dream maryon's eyes shown with happiness when she had read the letter through she went for a five mile walk down the beach upon returning she burst in on her companion lucille she exclaimed how would you like to spend the summer in cyberia fine salt mine i suppose laughed lucille but i thought all political prisoners had been released by the new russian government i'm not joking said maryon explain then maryon did explain at the end of her explanation lucille agreed to go as maryon's traveling companion and tent keeper in two weeks her schoolwork would be finished it would be a strange a delightful summer their enthusiasm grew as they talked about it long after they should have been asleep they were still making plans for this their most wonderful adventure but how will we go over exclaimed lucille suddenly gasoline schooner i suppose i'd hate to trust any men i know who run those crafts said maryon thoughtfully lucille considered a moment native skinboat then that would be rather thrilling to cross from the new world into the old in a skinboat and safe enough to said maryon did you ever hear of a native boat being lost at sea one but that one turned up at king's island 150 miles off its course i guess we could risk it all right let's go maryon sprang to her feet threw back the blankets to her couch and 15 minutes later was dreaming of a tossing skin boat on the wild sea of walrus monsters and huge white bears her wild dreams did not come true when the time came to cross the 35 miles of water which separates the old world from the new they sailed and paddled over a sea as placid as a mill pond here a brown seal bobbed his head out of the water here a spectacled eider duck rode up and down on the tiny waves and here a great mass of tubular seaweed drifted by to remind them that they were really on the bosom of a briny ocean only one incident of the voyage caused them a feeling of vague unrest a fog had settled down over the sea they were drifting and paddling slowly forward when the faint scream of sirens struck their ears it came nearer and nearer a gasoline schooner said maryon the natives began shouting to avert a possible collision presently the schooner appeared a dark bulk in the fog it took shape men were seen on the deck it came close by the waves from it reached the skin boat they were passing with a salute when a strange thing happened rover the old dog leader who had been riding in the bow standing well forward as if taking the place of a painted figurehead suddenly began to bark furiously at the same time maryon caught sight of a bearded face framed in a porthole involuntarily she shrank back out of sight the next instant the schooner had faded away into the fog the dog ceased barking what was it lucille asked anxiously only a face who the man who wanted the blue envelope rover recognized him first you don't suppose he knew and is following how could he know but what is he going to cyberia for perhaps to trade they do that a great deal let's not talk of it maryon shivered the incident was soon forgotten they were nearing the Siberian shore which was to be their summer home a million nesting birds came skimming out over the sea singing their mary song as if to greet them they would soon be living in a tent in the midst of a city of tents they would be studying a people whose lives are as little known as were those of the natives in the heart of Africa before the days of livingston as she thought of these things maryon's cheeks flushed with excitement what new thrill will come to us here her lips whispered end of chapter four chapter five of the blue envelope this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org today's reading by Don Larson in minnesota the blue envelope by Roy J. Snell chapter five cast adrift there was a shallow space beneath the tray of color tubes in the very bottom of maryon's paint box there on leaving Cape Prince of Wales she had stowed the blue envelope addressed to Phi Beta Chi she had not done this without misgivings disturbing thoughts had come to her was it the right thing to do was it safe the latter question had come to her with great force when she saw the grizzled miner's face framed in the porthole of that schooner but from the day they landed at whaling on the mainland of Siberia all thoughts of the letter and the two claimants for its possession were completely crowded from her mind never in all her adventurous life had maryon experienced anything quite so thrilling as this life with the chuchkeys of the Arctic coast of Siberia in Alaska the natives had had missionaries and teachers among them for 30 years they had been Americanized and in a sense Christianized the development of large mining centers to which they journeyed every summer to beg and barter had tended to rob them of the romantic wildness of their existence but here here where no missionaries had been allowed nor teachers been sent were gold gleamed still ungathered in the beds of the rivers here the natives still dwelt in their dome-like houses of poles and skins here they fared boldly forth in search of dangerous walrus and white bear and monstrous whale here they made strange fire to the spirits of the monsters they had slaughtered and spoken grave tones of the great spirit that had come down from the moon in the form of a raven with a beak of old ivory it is little wonder that maryon forgot all thought of fear amid such surroundings as she worked industriously at the sketches which were to furnish her with three years of wonderful study under great masters but one day after six weeks of veritable dream life as she lifted the tray to her paint box her eyes fell on that blue envelope instantly a flood of remembrance rushed through her mind the frank-faced college boy the angry minor old rover the dog whose sleek and fat on whale meat lay curled up beside her then again the grizzled face of the minor framed in a porthole all these passed before her mind's vision and left her chilled her hand trembled she could not control her rush the sketch of two native women in deerskin union suits their brown shoulders bared working at the task of splitting walrus skins went unfinished while she took a long walk down the beach that very evening she had news that caused her blood to chill again a native had come from east cape the next village to the south he had seen a white man there a full bearded man of middle age he had said that he intended coming to whaling in a few days he had posed among the natives as a spirit doctor and had according to reports worked many wonderful cures by his incantations three whales had come into the hands of the east cape hunters this was an excellent catch and had been taken as a good omen the bearded stranger was doubtless highly favored by the spirits of dead whales i wish our skin boat would come for us said lucille suddenly as they talked of it in the privacy of their tent but it won't not for three weeks yet that was the agreement i know and we haven't a wireless to call them with besides my sketches are not nearly complete i know said lucille her chin in her hands but all the same that man makes me afraid well i'll hurry my sketches but that won't bring the boat any sooner had marion known the time she would have for sketching she might not have done them so rapidly as it was she worked the whole long 18 hour days through in the meantime chill winds began sweeping down from the north still the bearded white man did not come to whaling but every day brought fresh reports of the good fortune of the people of east cape they had captured a fourth whale then a fifth their food for the winter was secured whale meat was excellent food they would have an abundance of whale bone to trade for flour sugar and tea but if the east capers were favored the men of whaling were not one lone whale and that a small one was their total take which doctors began declaring that the presence of strange white faced women in their midst was displeasing to the spirits of dead whales the making of the images of the people on canvas was also sure to bring disaster as reports of this dissatisfaction came to the ears of the girls they began straining their eyes for a square of sail on the horizon still their boat did not come then came the crowning disaster of the year the walrus herd on which the natives based their last hope passed south along the coast of alaska instead of cyberia their caches were left empty only the winter supply of white bear and seal could save them from starvation desra desra it is enough the natives whispered among themselves the day after the return of the walrus canoes maryon and lucille went for a long walk down the beach upon rounding a point in the return maryon suddenly gave a gasp look lucille it's gone our tent gone exclaimed lucille unbelieving i wonder what look maryon the whole village let's run where to we'd starve in two days or freeze come on they won't hurt us with anxious hearts and trembling footsteps they approached the solid line of fur clad figures which stretched along the southern outskirts of the village as they came close they heard one word repeated over and over desra desra enough enough and as the natives almost chanted this single word they pointed to the sled on which the girl's belongings had been neatly packed to the sled three dogs were hitched two young wolf hounds with rover as leader they want us to go whispered lucille yes and where shall we go east cape is the only place and that minor it may not be he three times maryon tried to press her way through the line each time the line grew more dense at the point she approached not a hand was laid upon her she could not go through that was all the situation thrilled her as much as it troubled her here was a people kind at heart but superstitious they believed that their very existence depended upon getting these two strangers from their midst what was there to do but go they went and all through the night they assisted the little dog team to drag the heavy load over the first thin snow of autumn over and over again maryon blessed the day she had been kind to old rover because he was a white man's dog for he was the pluckiest polar of them all just as dawn streaked the east they came inside of what appeared to be a rude shack built of boards as they came closer they could see that some of the boards had been painted and some had not some were painted halfway across and some only in patches of a foot or two they had been hastily thrown together the whole effect viewed at a distance resembled nothing so much as a crazy quilt must have been built from the wreckage of a house said the seal yes or a boat a boat yes look there it is out there quite a large one it stranded on the sandbar and half broken up the girls paused in consternation it seemed they were hedged in on all sides by perils to go back was impossible to go forward was to throw themselves upon the mercies of a gang of rough seamen to pass around the cabin was only to face the bearded stranger who they had reason to believe was none other than the man who had demanded the blue envelope a few minutes debate brought them to a decision they would go straight on to the cabin mush rover mush maryon threw her tired shoulders into the improvised harness and once more they moved slowly forward it was with wildly beating hearts that they eventually rounded the corner of the cabin and came to stand by the door at once an exclamation escaped their lips empty deserted and so it proved snow that had fallen two days before a lay piled within the half open doorway no sign of occupation was to be found within save a great rusty galley range two rickety chairs an improvised table two rusty kettles and a huge frying pan they had given the ship up is a total loss and have left in dory's or skin boat said maryon yes agreed lucille wanted to get across the straits before the coming of the white line the coming of the white line maryon started she knew what that meant far better than lucille did she had lived in alaska longer had seen it oftener now she thought what it would mean to them if it came before the skin boat came for them and that skin boat what would happen when it came to wailing would the chuchkeys tell them in which direction they had gone and if they did with the eskimo boat men set their sail and go directly to east cape if they did would they miss this diminutive cabin standing back as it did from the shore and seeming but a part of the sambar we'll put up a white flag a skirt or something on the peak of the cabin she said half talking to herself do you think we ought to go right on to east cape said lucille we can't decide that now said maryon we need food and sleep and the dogs need rest some broken pieces of drift were piled outside the cabin they made a ready fire they were soon enjoying a feast of fried fish and canned beans then with their water-soaked mucklucks skin boots and stockings hanging by the fire they threw deer skin on the rude bunk attached to the wall and were soon fast asleep out on the wreck some 200 yards from shore a figure emerged from a small cabin aft the stern of the ship had been carried completely about by the violence of the waves it had left this little cabin formerly the wireless cabin high and dry the person came out upon the deck and scanned the horizon suddenly his eyes fell upon the cabin and the strange white signal which the girls had set fluttering there before they went to sleep sliding a native skin kayak down from the deck he launched it then leaping into the narrow seat began paddling rapidly toward the shore having beached his kayak he hurried toward the cabin his hand was on the latch when he chanced to glance up at the white emblem of distress which floated over his head his hand dropped to his side his mouth flew open an expression of amazement spread over his face jump in Jupiter he muttered beneath his breath he beat a haste to retreat once in the kayak he made double time back to the wreck Marion was the first to awaken in the cabin by the dull light that shone through the cracks she could tell that it was growing dark springing from her bunk she put her hand to the latch hardly had she done this then the door flew open with a force that threw her back against the opposite wall fine particles of snow cut her face the wind set every loose thing in the cabin bobbing and fluttering the skirt they had attached to the stout pole as a signal was booming overhead like a gun wow a blizzard she groaned seizing the door she attempted to close it twice the violence of the storm threw her back when at last her efforts had been rewarded with success she turned to rouse her companion lucille lucille wake up a blizzard lucille turned over and groaned then she opened her eyes what she droned sleepily a blizzard a blizzard from the north lucille sat up quickly from the north she exclaimed fully awake in an instant the ice perhaps and if it comes we're stuck that's all Siberia for nine months won't dare try to cross the straits on the ice no white man has ever done it let alone a woman well she smiled we've got food for five days and five days is a long time we'd better try to bring in some wood and get the dogs in here they'd freeze out there end of chapter five chapter six of the blue envelope this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording today by Don Larson in Minnesota the blue envelope by Roy J. Snell chapter six the dread white line three days the blizzard raged about the cabin where Lucille and Marion had found shelter such a storm at this season of the year had not been known on the Arctic for more than 20 years for three days the girls shivered by the galley range husbanding their little supply of food and hoping for something to turn up when the storm was over just what that something might be neither of them could have told the third day broke clear and cold with the wind still blowing a gale lucille was the first to throw open the door as it came back with a bang something fell from the beam above and rattled to the floor she stooped to pick it up look Marion she exclaimed a key a big brass key Marion examined it closely what can it belong to the wreck perhaps probably looks like a steward's pass key but what would they save it for you don't think if we could get out to the wreck we'd see yes but we can't there look Marion Lucille's eyes were large and wild the white line gasped Marion gripping her arm it was true before them lay the dark ocean still flecked with foam but at the horizon gleaming whiter than burnished silver straight distinct unmistakable was a white line and that means we're trapped Lucille sank weakly into a chair Marion began pacing the floor anyway she exclaimed at last I can paint it it will make a wonderful study suiting action towards she sought out her paint box and was soon busy with the sketch which developing bit by bit or rather seeming to evolve out of nothing showed a native dressed in furs shading his eyes to scan the dark tossing ocean and beyond the object of his gaze was the silvery line when she had finished she playfully inscribed a title at the bottom the coming of the white line as she put her paints away something caught her eye it was one corner of the blue envelope with the strange address upon it ah there you still are she sighed and there you will remain for nine months unless I miss my guess I wish I hadn't kept my promise to the college boy wish I'd left you in the pigeonhole at Cape Prince of Wales since the air was too chill the wind too keen for travel the girls slept that night in the cabin they awoke to a new world the first glimpse outside the cabin brought surprised exclamations to their lips in a single night the world appeared to have been transformed the white line was gone so too was the ocean before them as far as the eye could reach lay a mass of yellow lights and purple shadows ice fields that had buried the sea only one object stood out black bleak and bare before them the haul of the wrecked and abandoned ship look said Lucille suddenly we can go out to the ship over the ice flow let's do it said Marian enthusiastically perhaps there's some sort of a solution to our problem there they were soon threading their way in and out among the ice piles which were already solidly attaching themselves to the sand beneath the shallow water and now they reached a spot where the water was deeper where ice cakes some small as a kitchen floor some large as a town lot jostled and ground one upon another oh I don't like it exclaimed Lucille as she leaped a narrow chasm of dark water will soon be there drilled her companion just watch your step that's all they pushed on leaping from cake to cake racing across a broad ice pan now skirting a dark pool now clamoring over a pile of ice ground fine they made their way slowly but surely toward their goal listen exclaimed Marian stopping dead in her tracks what is it asked Lucille her voice quivering with alarm a strange wild weird sound came to them across the flow a grinding rushing creaking moaning sound that increased in volume as the voice of a cyclone increases only a second elapsed before they knew then with a cry of terror Marian dragged her companion to the center of the ice pan and pulled her flat to its surface from somewhere far out to sea a giant tidal wave was sweeping through the ice flow Marian had seen it the mountain of ice which it bore on its crest seemed as high as the solid ridge of rock behind them on the land and with its weird wild rushing scream of grinding and breaking ice it was traveling toward them it had the speed of the wind the force of an avalanche when it came what then with a rush the wild terror of the arctic sea burst upon them it lifted the giant ice pan weighing hundreds of tons tilted it to a dangerous angle then dropped from beneath it Marian's heart stopped beating as she felt the downward rush of the avalanche of ice the next instant she felt it crumble like an eggshell it had broken at the point where they lay with a warning cry of terror she sprang to her feet and pitched forward the cry was too late as she rose unsteadily to her knees she saw a dark brown bulk topple at the edge of the cake then roll like a log into the dark pool of water which appeared where the cake had parted that object was Lucille dead or alive Marian could not tell but whether dead or alive she had fallen into the stinging arctic brine what chance could there be for her life for the time being the ice field was quiet the tidal wave had spent its force on the sandy beach that other less violent disturbances would follow the first the girl knew right well hastily creeping to the brink of the dark pool she strained her eyes for a sight of a floating bit of cloth a waving hand there was none despair gripped her heart she still waited and as she waited there came the distant sound growing ever louder of another on rushing tide when Lucille went down into the dark pool she was not dead she was conscious and very much alive very conscious she was too of the peril of her situation should that chasm close before she rose or as she rose she was doomed in one case she would drown in the other she would be crushed down down she sank but the water was salt and buoyant now she felt herself rising holding her breath she looked upward a narrow ribbon of black was to the right of her that will be the open water was her mental comment must swim for it she was a strong swimmer but her heavy fur garments impeded her the sting of the water imperiled her power to remain conscious yet she struggled even as she rose just when Marion had given up hope she saw a head shoot above the water then a pair of arms the next instant she gripped both her companions wrists and lifted as she had never lifted before there was wild terror in her eye the roar of the second wave was drumming in her ears she was not a second too soon hardly had she dragged the half unconscious girl from the pool then it closed with a grinding crash and the icepan again tilted high in the air the strain of this on rush was not so great the cake held together gradually it settled back to its place Marion glanced in the direction of the wreck they were very much nearer to it than to the shore she thought she saw a small cabin in the stern Lucille must be relieved of her water soaked and fast freezing garments at once can you walk she asked as Lucille staggered dizzily to her feet I'll help you the wreck we must get there you must struggle or you'll freeze Lucille did try she fought as she never fought before against the stiffening garments the aching lungs and muscles but most of all against the almost unconquerable desire to sleep foot by foot yard by yard they made their way across the treacherous tangle of ice piles which was still in restless motion now they had covered a quarter of the distance now half now three quarters and now with an exultant cry Marion dragged her half unconscious companion upon the center of the deck there's a cabin aft she whispered a warm cabin will soon be there soon be there Lucille echoed faintly the climbing of the long slanting slippery deck was a terrible ordeal more than once Marion despaired at last they stood before the door she put a hand to the knob a cry escaped her lips the cabin door was locked dark despair gripped her heart but only for an instant Lucille the key the key we found in the cabin where is it the key the key Lucille repeated dreamily oh yes the key why that's not any good yes it is it is it's in my parka pocket the next moment Marion was prying the key from frozen pocket and the next after that she was dragging Lucille into the cabin in one corner of the cabin stood a small oil heater above it a matchbox with a cry of joy Marion found matches lighted one tried the stove and found it filled with oil a bright blaze rewarded her efforts there was heat heat that would save her companion's life she next attacked the frozen garments using a knife where nothing else would avail she stripped the clothing away until at last she fell to chafing the white and chilled limbs of the girl who still struggled bravely against the desire to sleep a half hour later Lucille was sleeping naturally in a bunk against the upper wall of the room she was snuggled deep in the interior of a mammoth deer skin sleeping bag while her garments were drying beside the kerosene stove Marion was drowsing half asleep by the fire suddenly she was aroused by a voice it was a man's voice she was startled please the voice said may I come in that's supposed to be my cabin don't you know but I don't want to be pigish Marion stared wildly about her for a second she was quite speechless then she spoke wait wait a minute I'm coming out end of chapter six chapter seven of the blue envelope this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording today by Don Larson in Minnesota the blue envelope by Roy J. Snell chapter seven the blue envelope disappears when Marion heard the voice outside the cabin on the rack she realized that a new problem a whole set of new problems had arisen here was a man who was he could he be the grizzled miner who had demanded the blue envelope if so what then was there more than one man what was to come of it all anyway all this sped through her mind while she was drawing on her parka the next moment she had opened the door stepped out and closed the door behind her ah I have the pleasure you Marion gasped for a second she could say no more before her dressed in a jaunty parka of Siberian squirrel skin was her frank faced college boy he of the Phi Beta Chi why yes he said rather awkwardly it is I does it seem so strange well yes I dare say it does suppose you sit down and I'll tell you about it Marion sat down on a section of the broken rail well you see he began a quizzical smile playing about his lips when I had completed my my well my mission to the north of Cape Prince of Wales it was too late to return by dog team I waited for a boat I arrived at the PO you used to keep you were gone so was my letter yes you said that was quite all right the thing I wanted you to but you see that letter is mighty important I had to follow this craft we're sitting on was coming this way I took passage she ran into a mess of bad luck first we were picked up by an ice flow and carried far into the Arctic Ocean when at last we pulled our way out of that we were caught by a storm and carried southwest with such violence that we were thrown upon this sambar the ship broke up some but we managed to stick to her until the weather calmed we went ashore and threw some of the wreckage into the form of a cabin you've been staying there I guess he grinned Marion nodded well the ship was hopeless natives came in their skin boats from East Cape East Cape how far how far is that perhaps 10 miles why he studied the girl's startled face nothing only didn't a white man come with the natives a white man I've heard there was one staying there no he didn't come Marion settled back in her seat well he went on the captain of this craft traded everything on board to the natives for furs everything but some food I bought that from him you see they were determined to get away as soon as possible I was just as determined to stay I didn't know exactly where you were but was bound I'd find you hand and the letter he pause by the way he said struggling to conceal his intense interest have have you the letter Marion nodded it's in my paint box over in the cabin the boy sprang eagerly to his feet may we not go fetch it I can't leave my friend then may I go he was eager as a child then after a second why by Joe I'm selfish haven't given you a chance to say a thing perhaps your friend is in trouble of course she is or she'd be out here before this what is it can I help you she's only chilled recovering from a trifling shock the tidal wave threw her into the sea oh the boy stood thinking for a moment do do you intend to remain in Siberia all winter we had no such intentions when we came but the storm and the white line caught us no more boats now the white line of ice from the north no more boats this season then quickly say you two can keep my cabin the shack on the beach is poor and I dare say you haven't much food there's a bunk below the deck where I can be quite comfortable will be snug as a bug in a bushel basket Marion lifted a hand in feeble protest what was the use they were trapped in Siberia here was an American who seemed at least to be a friend I'll go for your things you stay here any dogs three good I'll be back quicker than you think he was away bounding from ice cake to ice cake he soon disappeared Marion turned to enter the cabin Lucille was still asleep Marion sat down to think she was not certain that their position was at all improved they knew so little of the young stranger she felt almost resentful at his occupation of the wireless cabin they could have been quite cozy there alone then again in quite another mood she was glad the stranger was here he might suggest a means of escape from the exile and might assist in carrying it out at any rate if they were forced to go to East Cape for food they would not be afraid to go under his guard she fell to wondering if he had reached the shore safely leaving the cabin she climbed to the highest point on the rail there she stood for some time scanning the horizon strange he'd be way down there she murmured at last quarter of a mile south of the cabin perhaps the ice carried himself the distance was so great she could distinguish a figure a mere speck moving in and out among the ice piles that line the shore for a moment she rested her eyes by studying the ship's deck then again she gazed away why she exclaimed suddenly he has reached the cabin must have run every step of the way in the cabin on shore the young stranger began packing the girl's possessions preparatory to putting them on the sled some careless housekeeper he grumbled as he gathered up articles of clothing from every corner of the room and having straightened out Marion's paint box closed its cover down with a click he arrived at the schooner an hour later the sled load was soon stowed away in the wireless cabin he brought a quantity of food canned vegetables bacon hardtack coffee and sugar from his store below then he stood by the door Marion was bustling about the cabin putting things to write wants to make a good impression was the young man's mental comment Lucille a trifle pale was sitting in the corner presently Marion caught sight of him standing there oh she exclaimed you are waiting for your reward anytime he smiled you shall have it right now the blue envelope she seized her paint box and throwing back the cover lifted the paint tray then from her lips escaped one word gone he sprang eagerly forward can't be Lucille breathed take a good look the boy suggested Marion inspected the box thoroughly no she said with an error of finality it's not here your or the paint box was a bit disarranged he stammered disarranged well not in the best of order letter might have dropped out in the cabin I dare say it's on the floor back there had you seen it lately only this morning I can't understand about the box the wind must have blown it down or something I dare say the boy smiled good-naturedly as he recalled the disordered room I'll hop right back and look for it he was away like a flash it was with a very dejected air that he returned Marion could not tell whether it was genuine or feigned he had been in such haste to secure the letter that he had taken it at once from the box was all his letter action mere stage play no he said bringing forth a forlorn smile I couldn't find it it's not there that evening after supper served on a small tip-down table in the wireless cabin after the boy had gone to his bunk below and Lucille had fallen asleep Marion lay awake a long time puzzling over the mysteries of the past and the problems of the future where had the blue envelope disappeared to did the boy have it she resolved to search the cabin on the beach for herself she felt half inclined to talk matters over frankly with him there were mysteries which might be cleared up she remembered with what astonishing speed he had reached the cabin once he had sprung upon the shore she remembered too how he had spoken of the disordered paint box she prided herself on neatness and that paint box was it not her workshop her most prized possession she longed to talk it over with him but on the other hand she could not bring herself to feel that her trust in him was fully warranted she hated above all things to be taken in if she discussed all these things with him and if at the same time the letter rested in his pocket wouldn't she be taken in for fair wouldn't she though no she pressed her lips tight shut no I won't but even as she said this she saw again the downhearted expression on his face heard his mournful I couldn't find it it's not there with that she relented and air she slept resolved to take up the matter of the mysterious disappearance with him the first thing in the morning but morning found the boy in quite a different mood he laughed and chatted gaily over his sourdough pancakes now you know he said as he shoved back his stool I like your company awfully well and I'd like to keep this up indefinitely but truth is I can't I've got to get across the straits we'll be sorry to lose you Laugh Marion but just you run along and when you get there tell the missionary breakfast is ready ask him to step over and eat with us no but I'm serious then you're crazy no white man has ever crossed 35 miles of flowing ice there's always to be a first natives do it don't they I've heard they do I can go anywhere a native can provided he doesn't get out of my sight a guide across the straits it's a grand idea Marion sees the seal about the waist and went hopping out on deck a guide across the straits will be home for Christmas dinner yet what you don't mean the boy stared in astonishment sure I do we can go anywhere you can provided you don't get out of our sight that why that will be bully he said this with lagging enthusiasm it was evident that he doubted their power of endurance we'll have to go to East Cape to start he suggested East Cape Marion exclaimed in a startled tone sure what's wrong with East Cape nothing only only that's where that strange white man is what's so terrible about him Marion hesitated she had come to the end of a blind alley should she tell him of her experience with the minor who demanded the blue envelope and of her suspicion that this man at East Cape was the same man she looked into his frank blue eyes for a moment then said to herself yes I will she did tell him the whole story when she had finished there was a new a very friendly light in the boys eyes I say he exclaimed that was bully good of you it really was that man he hesitated Marion thought she was going to be told the whole secret of the blue envelope that man he repeated he won't hurt you you need have no fear of him as for yours truly meaning me I can take care of myself we start for East Cape today what say all right Marion sprained to her feet and after imparting the news to Lucille who had by this time fully recovered from the shock of the previous day set to work packing their sled for the journey all the time she was packing her mind was working she had meant to discuss the mysterious disappearance of the blue envelope with the college boy even as she thought of this there flashed through her mind the question why is he so cheerful now why so anxious to get across the straits one explanation alone came to her he had deceived them the envelope was secure in his possession it had imparted to him news of great importance he was eager to cross the straits and put its instructions into execution what these instructions might be she could not tell the north was a place of rare furs ivory and much gold anything was possible no she almost exploded between tight set teeth no I won't talk it over with him I won't one thing however she did do under pretense of missing some article from her wardrobe went on the beach ready to start for East Cape she hastened to the cabin on the beach and executed a quick search for the missing envelope the search was unrewarded one thing though arrested her attention for a moment as she left the cabin she noticed near the door the print of a man's skin boot in the snow it was an exceedingly large print such as is made by a careless white man who buys the first badly made skin boots offered to him by a native seamstress the college boy could not have made that track his skin boots had been made by some eskimo woman of no mean ability she had fitted them to his high arched and shapely feet as she might have done had he been her eskimo husband oh well she exclaimed as she raced to join her companions probably some native who has passed this way even as she said it she doubted her own judgment she had never in her life seen a native wear such a clumsy and badly shaped skin boot