"Are there others?"

"Seven mines."

"Seven! And all of them rich as the one we were in yesterday?"

The boy shrugged his shoulders.

"Some much richer," he declared.

"How long has the world known of this wealth?"

"Never has known. A few men know, that's all. The old Czar, he knew,
but would let no one work the mines. Just at the last he said 'Yes.'
Then they hurried much machinery over here, but it was too late. The
Czar--well, you know he is dead now, but they have their machinery here
still."

"Who are 'they'?" asked Johnny with curiosity fully aroused.

"American. I know. Can't tell. Worked for them once. Promise never
tell."

Johnny wrinkled his brow but did not press the matter.

"But this Russia, the Kamchatkan Peninsula?" Iyok-ok continued. "Whom
does it belong to now? Can you tell me that?"

Johnny shook his head.