BACK TO THE SHIP
With anxious eyes the adventurers crawled out on the floe and gazed
ahead. Across the black stretch of water could be seen a dim whiteness.
It looked like the main ice pack, but they realized that it might be
only another floe or berg. The current was setting strong in the
direction of it.
"We will soon learn our fate," said the professor. "We should be up to
it in an hour."
In less time than that they were near enough to the white mass to tell
that it was no floe or berg, but the main field of ice, part of that
from which they had been separated.
"I don't know as we'll be much better off when we get there," said Andy.
"There are not dogs enough left to draw the sled, and if we have to walk
back to where the airship is, providing this Esquimaux can find it,
we'll freeze."
"Let us wait until we get to shore before we begin to find new trouble,"
counseled the professor.
In a little while the floating floe bumped up against the main ice
field with a grinding and crashing. No sooner had it touched than the
dogs scampered off, and were soon lost to sight. The Esquimaux did not
seem to worry much over their disappearance. He coolly righted the sled,
having first demolished the temporary tent, and proceeded, unaided, to
haul the vehicle ashore.
"Give him a hand, Washington," said the professor. "He is our friend,
and rendered us good service. We must help him."
Then, while Washington and the native dragged the sled, the others
followed afoot, and in a short time were safe on the main ice.
"Now, the question is," said the inventor, "can our guide take us to the
ship?"
But the Esquimaux guide seemed to be in no dilemma. He gave one look
about, after reaching the main shore, and then, with Washington helping
him pull the sled, started off across the ice.
It was no easy path for the adventurers to follow. There were little
hills and hollows, many rough and few smooth places. Their feet were
weary before they had gone two miles. But the native did not seem to
tire.
"I declare to goodness I'se dat kerflusteredcated dat I can't
extradition myself forward in dis line ob progression de leastest moment
longer!" exclaimed Washington at length, coming to a halt. "I'se
prognosticated in de lower extremities!"
"I suppose he means he's too tired to go any further and his legs ache,"
translated Professor Henderson. "Well, he takes a lot of words, but I
guess his condition is about like that of all of us. I'm tired too."
One after another all admitted that they felt the need of rest. At the
professor's direction they came to a halt under the shelter of an ice
hill, that kept off some of the wind. Here they made some sort of a meal
of the condensed food.
This served to render their fatigue a little less, and, after an hour's
rest, they started off again. There did not seem to be much need of
dragging along the sled, which was useless without dogs to pull it, but
the vehicles are scarce and hard to make, so, doubtless, the Esquimaux
did not want to desert his property.
Mile after mile the refugees traversed. It was hard work and walking
over the humpy ice was quite different from anything the adventurers
were used to, and their feet ached very much. But they knew their only
safety was in keeping on.
The cold was terrible. They had no instruments for telling how low the
mercury might be, but the professor ventured a guess that it was at
seventy degrees below zero. The wind, too, sprang up, and adding to the
unpleasant situation the sky was overcast with heavy clouds that
threatened a snow storm.
That would mean a calamity which might bring to an untimely end the
brave men and boys who had dared so much in the search for the north
pole. A blinding fall of the white flakes would result in the guide
losing his way, and they might all perish. So they hurried on, anxious
to get to the _Monarch_, if they were lucky enough to find her.
There was no use asking the guide any questions or trying to learn how
much farther they had to go. Professor Henderson tried to learn from him
if the journey would last much longer, but the Esquimaux only shook his
head, pointed in advance, and uttered but one word:
"Ship!"
They kept on for several hours more. Their pace was slow, for all of the
adventurers, men and boys, were foot-sore and weary. The guide, however,
did not seem to mind it. Tom and Bill took turns relieving Washington at
helping pull the sled.
At last the party came to a long hill of ice. It was the hardest kind of
going to climb to the top, but the Esquimaux inspired hope in all their
hearts by showing signs of excitement, while he exclaimed rapidly:
"Ship! Ship! Ship!"
Up the long slope they toiled, almost ready to drop at every step.
Finally they gained the top. The guide was in the lead. As he got to the
summit he pointed down and gave a joyful cry.
Andy, weary as he was, hurried to his side. He gazed long and
steadfastly in the direction the Esquimaux pointed.
"It's the _Monarch_ sure enough!" cried the old hunter. "I can make out
the yellow gas bag against the snow bank! Hurrah!"
"Hurrah! Hurrah!" yelled Jack, Mark, Bill, Washington and Tom. Even
Professor Henderson joined in, and the Esquimaux added his voice in a
queer sort of native cheer that made all of the others smile.
"Now if we could only fly to her we'd be all right," exclaimed Mark.
The guide was busy overhauling the sled. He tightened some of the
retaining thongs that had become loosened, and then, with guttural
cries, he pointed to the vehicle, to the different members of the party
and to the long slope that lay before them, and which led down almost to
the abandoned airship.
"I believe he means for us to coast down the hill on the sled!" cried
Andy. "That's a good scheme. It will beat walking all to pieces!"
Down, down, down the adventurers went, like an arrow shot from a stout
bow. The bone runners of the sled glided over the frozen surface, which
was as slippery as glass.
The speed was very swift and the wind caused by the rapid passage cut in
their faces so that all had to pull their fur hoods over their heads.
The ice, scraped up by the runners, flew in a shower on either side.
The Esquimaux skillfully steered the sled. He avoided several hollows
and gullies that would have brought disaster, and kept the vehicle on a
proper course. In less than five minutes from the start at the top of
the hill they were at the bottom, more than a mile's distance, and
within a quarter of a mile of the airship.
Joy at the discovery of the _Monarch_ lent strength to travel-weary
legs. The refugees hastened on, and soon were at the place where the
craft had settled on a bank of ice and snow.
"Back to the _Monarch_!" shouted Andy. "I hope the ship is in working
order!"
Indeed this might well be a source of worry. One glance served to show
that the airship was frozen fast in the ice, while the gas bag, which
had collapsed, and was resting on top of the deck-house, was partially
covered with snow!
As weak as they were the boys set up a cheer and the men joined in, the
sound echoing for a long distance around.