Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/117

 corral behind the hut—and say, for endurance in gastronomic stunts those fairies had all the old Roman gluttons reduced to light-weight dyspeptics.

"Just as we had cemented the entente cordiale by the simple donation, a cloud of snow capered over the hut and the captain gained the open in three jumps. 'An inshore wind,' he cried, in explanation. I've got to save Liz. Stay here and I'll beat back at the first let-up.' And his lank form was lost in a swirl of feathers, and we were left alone.

"We built a rousing fire, for despite the month the ground was covered with cotton batting and the raw breezes owned the beach. We were pleased to note the Innuits had disappeared from the map when the storm broke loose. Olfen's letter was not very reassuring, you know. After we had fixed up the hut we paid another visit to the bears. Tib's control over them was something uncanny. They seemed to dope out everything he said, and on the first day he taught them to form pyramids and do several stereotyped tricks.

"‘What an elegant football squad they'd make,' I carelessly observed on the third morning, as he dealt out the fish.

"Tib stood transfixed for a minute, and then cut a pigeon-wing of unadulterated ecstasy. 'An inspiration, Billy!' he cried, and straightway began