BARWELL DAWSON REACHES A DECISION
The trip to Portland proved full of keen interest to both boys, who had
spent most of their lives in the backwoods. Barwell Dawson procured
rooms for all at a hotel not far from Monument Square, and then he
allowed the lads to do all the sightseeing they pleased. They took
several trolley trips, and visited many points of interest, not
forgetting the big stores, which were as much of a revelation as
anything to them.
The hunter and explorer set to work without delay to find out if
possible what had become of the whaler, _Betsey Andrews_. At first he
could learn little, but one day came a letter from New Bedford, from a
maritime agency, stating that the whaler had not been heard of since
stopping at Disko Island, off the coast of Greenland, two years before.
It was supposed that she had either been hit by an iceberg, or been sunk
in a storm, with all on board. Once a small boat belonging to the whaler
had been found washed up on the coast of Greenland, but it had contained
no persons, dead or alive.
This news was very disheartening to Chet, and for several days he was
not himself at all, and Andy could do little to cheer him up. But it was
not as bad as if the youth had not expected something of this sort
before, and his hopes soon came back to him.
"I'll not believe father is dead until I see the proofs," he told his
chum. "He may have been cast away on the coast of Greenland, and been
unable to find a ship to bring him back home."
"Let us hope that is true," answered Andy. "And let us hope that he gets
back soon." But though Andy spoke thus, he had small expectations of
ever seeing Mr. Greene alive.
"I expect Professor Jeffer down tomorrow," said Barwell Dawson, one
morning after reading his mail. "As soon as he comes we'll run up the
coast to where the _Ice King_ is being fitted out."
The weather had cleared off warm, and the snow was fast vanishing. The
professor arrived on time, and was full of enthusiasm concerning the
proposed trip to the north.
"I wish we were sure of going," said Andy, to him, and then told of what
had been said to Mr. Dawson.
"I like you lads very much," returned the old scientist. "I hope Mr.
Dawson sees fit to take you along."
"Perhaps you can put in a good word for us," suggested Chet.
"I'll do it," was the prompt answer.
Professor Jeffer was as good as his word, and that evening he and
Barwell Dawson had a long talk concerning the boys. The hunter and
explorer could not help but smile at Upham Jeffer's enthusiasm.
"Well, if you are on their side too, I'll surely have to take them," he
said at length. "But it is a risky thing to do--they are not men,
remember."
"They will stand the trip as well as though they were men," was the
professor's answer. "They are in the best of health, and full of vigor.
Besides, it is well to have the enthusiasm of youth with us. It may help
to cheer up many a lonely hour."
"I like the idea of their being without close family connections,
Professor. I hate to take a man away from those near and dear to him."
"True, sir, true--especially when it is not actually necessary. Yes, I'd
take the boys by all means. I do not think you'll regret it. Of course,
though, each will have to have a complete outfit."
"You can trust me to get the best there is."
When Andy and Chet heard the good news they could scarcely contain
themselves. Andy danced a jig right in the hotel room, while both lads
had to shake Barwell Dawson by the hand several times, and then they
shook hands with Professor Jeffer, too.
"It makes me feel just as if we were one big family," cried Andy,
enthusiastically. "Oh, Chet, just to think of it! We'll hunt musk oxen,
and polar bears, and seals, and walruses! And go clear to the Pole,
too!"
"And travel on dog sledges," put in Chet. "Say, I'm ready to go this
minute!"
"So am I! Mr. Dawson, you can't start any too soon for us."
"Well, boys, don't be too enthusiastic. Remember, this is going to be no
child's play--trying to get to the North Pole. And we won't try to reach
that point at all unless, when we get into the Arctic regions, we find
the conditions more or less favorable. You must remember that many brave
and vigorous men have tried to reach the Pole and have failed. There are
immense fields of ice and snow to cross, and 'leads' or rivers of icy
water. And if you lose your supplies, there remains nothing to do but to
starve."
Nevertheless, even though he spoke thus, Barwell Dawson was secretly as
hopeful as were the boys. Could he have seen what was before him, his
enthusiasm might have quickly died within him.
Now that it had been settled that they could go, the two boys were eager
to see the vessel which was to be their home during the coming summer
and winter. The _Ice King_ was being fitted out at the seaport town of
Rathley, and they took the train for the place, arriving there about
noon. The vessel was tied up at the dock, and the lads and Professor
Jeffer were invited by Mr. Dawson to come on board.
"I'll introduce you to Captain Williamson," said the hunter. "He is in
charge of the repairs that are being made. He is a fine man, and I know
you will like him."
The captain proved to be a bluff and hearty old salt, who had at one
time commanded a whaler. He shook hands with a grip that made Andy and
Chet wince, and looked them over with a twinkle in his eye.
"So you are going to try to hunt polar bears and such, eh?" he said.
"Well, you look out that the bears don't eat you up," and he laughed
broadly.
"We'll try to keep out of the way," answered Chet, modestly.
"And what are you going to do when the thermometer drops to fifty below
zero?"
"Work around and keep warm," answered Andy, with a grin, and this made
the captain laugh again.
"Guess you'll do," he said. "Anyway, we'll try you."
The _Ice King_ was a two-masted steamer that had been built for use in
the icy seas of the north. She was small, broad of beam, and shallow,
with an outer "jacket" of stout oak planks, and a prow and stern of
steel. Inside, all the bracings were extra heavy, and the railings of
the deck were of the hardest kind of timber. She carried an engine of
great power, and steam could be gotten up both with coal and with oil.
"You see, it will not do to take too large a ship," explained Barwell
Dawson. "A small vessel can often get through where a big one would get
stuck. The _Ice King_ is built shallow, so that instead of being crushed
in the floating ice, she will slide up on it, or over it. The sides are
two feet thick, and they ought to resist a tremendous pressure. We have
to have great engine power, and a steel prow, for sometimes we'll have
to simply smash our way through."
The entire lower portion of the ship was to be given over to the storage
of provisions and coal, and coal was also to be stored, at the start, on
deck. The quarters for the crew were forward, in a forecastle of the
usual order. At the stern was a fair-sized cabin, half above and half
below the deck, with quarters for Barwell Dawson, the captain, and the
others. The boys were conducted to a stateroom not over six feet by
seven. It had an upper and a lower berth on one side, and a tiny
washstand and some clothing hooks on the other.
"We'll all have close quarters," said Barwell Dawson. "My own room is
but two feet larger than this."
"It's large enough," said Andy. He turned to his chum. "We'll be as snug
as a bug in a rug in here, won't we?"
"Suits me right down to the ground," returned Chet. "Not much room for
clothing, but as we haven't much, that's all right."
Professor Jeffer was to share his stateroom with another man, who had
not yet arrived. He asked for a cabinet, in which he might store his
scientific instruments, and Mr. Dawson said he would attend to the
matter.
"Next week I shall commence the purchase of all supplies," said the man
who headed the expedition. "Until that time there will be little for any
of you to do, and you can go where you please."
"I'm going back home--to have another look for those missing papers,"
said Andy. "Besides, I want to bring away the rest of my things, and
nail up the cabin."
"And I'll go along," said Chet. "I want to get my things, too. About the
cabin, I don't care much what becomes of it, for it has seen its best
days."
The two boys spent three days in the vicinity of Pine Run. During that
time both went out twice to look for the documents Andy had lost, but
without success.
"They are gone, and I'll have to make the best of it," said Andy, with a
deep sigh.
The two boys packed up what few things they wished to take along, and
then each cabin was nailed up tightly. Both wondered if they would ever
see the places again.
"Maybe we'll never come back from the far north," said Chet.
"Are you afraid, Chet?" demanded Andy, quickly.
"Not a bit of it. Just the same, we may never see Maine again. What
happened to my father may happen to us."
Professor Jeffer had come back also, to ship his case of scientific
instruments, and also another case of books. The professor did not want
much in the way of clothing, but it would have been a real hardship had
he been deprived of his other belongings.
"The success of this trip will depend upon accurate scientific
observations," said he to the boys, when on the return to Rathley. "It
is all well enough to hunt, and even to reach the North Pole, but of
what use is it if we cannot return with full data of what we have
observed?"
"You are right, Professor," answered Andy. "But your instruments are
beyond me."
"I will teach you how to use some of them, after we are on board ship.
There will be many days when you boys will have little to do, and it
will be an excellent opportunity to improve your minds."
"Well, I wouldn't mind a little more education," said Chet, bluntly.
"I'll be pleased to teach you, my boy. I was once a
schoolmaster--although that was years ago."
"Professor, do you really think we'll reach the Pole?" asked Andy,
earnestly.
"I do not think; I hope. Many have tried and failed, but I believe the
Pole will be gained some day, and we'll have an excellent chance of
success. Mr. Dawson is a wonderful man--he seems more wonderful every
time I talk to him. He is fitting up his ship with the greatest possible
care and forethought, and has made a deep study of polar conditions.
Besides, he has had practical experience on the fields of ice and snow,
and knows just what to expect in the way of hardships."
The run to Rathley was made in less than two hours. It had been decided
that the party should put up at a hotel for a few days, until some
painting on board the _Ice King_ was finished. Then they were to go
aboard and make themselves at home as best they could until the day set
for the departure.
They reached the hotel in the evening, and that night all slept soundly.
In the morning, after breakfast, Chet suggested they walk down to the
steamer and see how the painting was progressing.
"Hark!" cried Andy, when they were within two blocks of the wharf. "What
is that man crying?"
"Fire! fire! fire!" yelled the individual in question, as he came
rushing up the street.
"Where is it?" asked Andy and Chet in a breath.
"Down at the dock! A steamer is on fire!"
"A steamer!" exclaimed Professor Jeffer. "Can it be the _Ice King_?"
"Oh, I hope not!" burst out Andy, and then he set off on a run, with
Chet by his side, and the professor following more slowly.