It was indeed the Albatross, or rather the dismantled hull of that
ship, which the Arctic castaways had discovered.
Will and Jack both recognized it at a glance, although it was encrusted
in ice and covered with snow.
Its presence here gave the lie to Captain Stephen Morris’ story, but it
intensified the mystery of his solitary escape.
It was apparent as they approached the ship that it had been deserted
for a long time.
They were compelled to remove a large quantity of snow from the deck
before they could force a way to the cabin.
Everything here was in disorder--the hold almost empty and the
forecastle dismal and badly damaged by a fire that had taken place
there.
A few days previous the little party would have been delighted at
the discovery of a warm home and the various articles of utility and
comfort with which the cabin abounded.
Now, however, Jack was almost positive that research would result in
the finding of a native settlement, and through this means a return
home.
Will, too, believing his brother Alan alive, was anxious to pursue
their journey.
They found a stove in the cabin and plenty of fuel to burn, and they
had an abundance of food.
“We have been going in a wrong direction,” said Jack that night. “The
party that left the ship went around to the northeast.”
“Then we must retrace our way?” asked Hugo.
“Yes, by following them as closely as possible we shall learn their
fate or reach the place of safety they have gained.”
It was decided to prepare for a long journey.
Jack built a better sled and selected various articles of food which he
made into compact packages.
They were two days on the ship when some startling incidents occurred
to hasten their journey from the place.
Tracks of various animals had been seen in the snow, and the boys had
been allowed to visit the shore.
Will had constructed a trap out of two iron hoops found in the hold of
the ship, and had set it at a spot where these tracks in the snow were
most numerous.
It was the ensuing morning that he and Tom, visiting the vicinity, to
their delight saw some kind of an animal struggling in the trap they
had set.
[Illustration]
As they drew nearer Tom exclaimed:
“A fox, Will!”
They got near enough to observe it closely.
It proved to be an animal of a strange color, with bushy tail and
thickly furred feet, even to the soles.
Will made a slip-knot on a rope they carried and flung it over the
fox’s head.
He pulled at the animal while Tom released it from the trap.
The first movement of the fox was to start on a run. Will held on to
the rope, slipped, fell and went clear over an icy ledge ten feet below.
The fox had disappeared, carrying the rope away.
Will was half disposed to laugh. He looked up to see how he would
regain the ledge, when he heard Tom utter a frightened cry.
At the same moment an immense white object loomed up before his vision.
It was a white polar bear, and with eyes fixed on Will it was advancing
straight towards him.
Will turned pale and began to retreat slowly. He could hear Tom’s cry
die out in the distance, and knew that he was deserted.
Will found that he had one advantage over the bear. The place where he
was had a narrow path leading towards the sea, was deep with snow, and
the bear made but slow progress.
Still it kept following him, and he could not run.
He grew terrified as he came to an abrupt halt.
The path he had been following was blocked by a projecting mass of ice.
He must either retrace his way or leap down a steep incline at the risk
of his life.
The bear, after floundering around for some moments, glared at him
fiercely.
It kept advancing in a cautious, stealthy manner.
“I am lost,” murmured the imperilled lad, in a tone of utter despair.
Just then he saw a dark object drop directly behind the bear from the
ledge above.
It was Jack.
He held in his hand the hatchet, and Will saw him creep behind the bear
until he had reached the animal.
The bear seemed about to spring upon Will when Jack lifted the hatchet.
Its sharp edge came down on the hind foot of the animal with terrific
force, almost severing it from its body.
At the same moment a gun was fired from the upper ledge, doubtless in
the hands of Hugo.
The bear turned with a horrible howl, and then, making a red track in
the snow after it, fell down the steep incline.
It seems that Tom had alarmed Jack and Hugo at the ship in time to come
to Will’s rescue.
Will reached the ledge again with Jack’s help, and the little party
hurried down to the ravine where the bear lay.
They found the animal dead. The shot from the gun and the blow from the
hatchet had killed him.
The bear was a monster, and Jack set about removing its skin, which
froze hard before they reached the ship with it.
That night they had fresh bear steaks for supper.
The next morning they were arranging the sled, ready to depart, with
the bear skin covering the articles carried, when Tom came rushing from
the cabin, where he had remained.
“Fire! Fire!” he cried, wildly; “the ship is on fire!”