"But it's tough, now ain't it?" observed the sergeant. "We can't go home
and can't fight. What we here for, anyway?"

"Ye-ah," Johnny smiled hopefully.

"Expected to go home long ago, but no transportation, not before spring;
not even for them that's got discharges and papers to go home. It's
tough! You'd think a lot of 'em 'ud try goin' north to Alaska, wouldn't
you? Three days in God's country's worth three years in Leavenworth;
you'd think they'd try it. And they would, if 't'wasn't so far. Gad!
Three thousand miles! I'd admire the pluck of the fellow that dared."

This time the wink which Johnny had been so anxiously awaiting came; a
full, free and frank wink it was. He winked back, then settled down in
his corner to sleep.

A train rattled by. The "Reindeer Special" bumped back on the main track
and went crashing on its way. It screeched through little villages, half
buried in snow. It glided along between plains of whiteness. It rattled
between narrow hills, but Johnny was unconscious of it all. He was fast
asleep, storing up strength for the morrow, and the many wild to-morrows
which were to follow.




CHAPTER III

TREACHERY OUT OF THE NIGHT