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diff --git a/old/63549-h/63549-h.htm b/old/63549-h/63549-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index ab46947..0000000 --- a/old/63549-h/63549-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9973 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Under the Polar Star, by Dwight Weldon. - </title> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -.p1 {margin-top: 1em;} -.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} - -/*Modified horizontal rules to fix ePub display issue*/ -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -/*End modified horizontal rule CSS*/ - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; -} /* page numbers */ - -.boxit{ - max-width: 41em; - padding: 0.5em; - border: 0.1em solid black; - margin: 0 auto; } - -.boxvol{ - max-width: 42em; - padding: 0em; - border-top: 0.05em solid black; - border-bottom: 0.05em solid black; - margin: 0 auto; } - -.boxitems{ - max-width: 32em; - padding: 1em; - border: 0em solid black; - margin: 0 auto; } - -.boxcontents{ - max-width: 18em; - padding: 1em; - border: 0em solid black; - margin: 0 auto; } - -.pcontents{ - text-align:left; - text-indent:-2em; - padding-left:2em; - margin-top: 0.1em; - margin-bottom: 0.1em; -} - -/* Numbered list with hanging indent, for 1, 2, and 3 digit numbers */ -.numberitem1{ - text-align: left; - vertical-align: top; - margin-left:1em; - text-indent: -0.8em; - padding-left: 0.8em; } - -.numberitem2{ - text-align: left; - vertical-align: top; - margin-left:0.5em; - text-indent: -1.3em; - padding-left: 1.3em; } -/*End of numbered indent CSS*/ - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.caption {font-weight: bold;} - -/* Images */ -img {max-width: 100%; height:auto; } - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - max-width: 90%; -} - -.figleft { - float: left; - clear: left; - margin-left: 0; - margin-bottom: 1em; - margin-top: 1em; - margin-right: 1em; - padding: 0; - text-align: center; - max-width: 50%; -} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - -/*CSS to set font sizes*/ -/*font sizes for non-header font changes*/ -.xxlargefont{font-size: xx-large} -.xlargefont{font-size: x-large} -.largefont{font-size: large} -.mediumfont{font-size: medium} -.smallfont{font-size: small} -.boldfont{font-weight:bold} -.cheaderfont{font-size:medium} - -/*for drop caps*/ -p.dropcap { - text-indent: 0em; -} - -p.dropcap:first-letter -{ - float: left; - font-size: 2.75em; - padding-right: 0.05em; - margin-top: 0.1em; - margin-bottom: -0.1em; - line-height: 0.65em; -} - -/*CSS to force a page break in ePub*/ -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} - -.nobreak{ - page-break-before: avoid; - padding-top: 0; -} - -/*CSS markup for handhelds -- put at end of CSS*/ -@media handheld -{ - /*for drop caps -- gets rid of drop cap on eReaders*/ - p.dropcap:first-letter - { - font-size: 1em; - padding-right: 0em; - margin-top: 0em; - margin-bottom: 0em; - line-height: 1em; - } -} -/*End CSS for handhelds*/ - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Under the Polar Star, by Dwight Weldon - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States -and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no -restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook. - - -Title: Under the Polar Star - or, The Young Explorers - -Author: Dwight Weldon - -Release Date: October 25, 2020 [EBook #63549] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE POLAR STAR *** - - - - -Produced by Demian Katz, Craig Kirkwood, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net -(Images courtesy of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Cover." /> -</div> - -<div style="padding-top:2em"> -<div class="transnote"> -<h2 style="margin-top: 0em">Transcriber’s Notes:</h2> - -<p>The Table of Contents was created by the transcriber and placed -in the public domain.</p> - -<p><a href="#TN_end">Additional Transcriber’s Notes</a> are at the -end.</p> -</div></div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="boxcontents"> -<p class="xlargefont center boldfont">CONTENTS</p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">Chapter I. The Golden Moose.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">Chapter II. Captain Stephen Morris.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">Chapter III. A Daring Feat.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">Chapter IV. The Adventures of a Night.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">Chapter V. A Bad Predicament.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">Chapter VI. The Fire.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Chapter VII. Strange Companions.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Chapter VIII. On the March.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">Chapter IX. Lost.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">Chapter X. In the Wilderness.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Chapter XI. Imprisoned by Wolves.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Chapter XII. Stowaways.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">Chapter XIII. On the Ocean.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">Chapter XIV. A Friend in Need.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">Chapter XV. The Wreck.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">Chapter XVI. The Wreck.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">Chapter XVII. The Raft.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">Chapter XVIII. On Board the Whaler.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">Chapter XIX. The Breaking Ice.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">Chapter XX. Cast Away in the Cold.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">Chapter XXI. The Ice Hut.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">Chapter XXII. On the Mainland.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">Chapter XXIII. The Albatross.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">Chapter XXIV. The Wrecked Ship.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">Chapter XXV. A Thrilling Episode.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">Chapter XXVI. The Young Explorers.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">Chapter XXVII. The Snow Storm.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">Chapter XXVIII. The Attack.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">Chapter XXIX. Found at Last.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">Chapter XXX. Captain Alan Bertram.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">Chapter XXXI. A Terrible Experience.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">Chapter XXXII. New Perils.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">Chapter XXXIII. On the Yacht.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">Chapter XXXIV. Imprisoned.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">Chapter XXXV. The Rescued Castaways.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">Chapter XXXVI. At Portland.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">Chapter XXXVII. Will’s Escape.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">Chapter XXXVIII. On the Yacht.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">Chapter XXXIX. The Prisoners.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XL">Chapter XL. Alan’s Fortune.</a></p> -<p class="pcontents"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLI">Chapter XLI. Conclusion.</a></p> -</div></div> - - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i01.jpg" alt="Title page." /> -</div></div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="boxit"> -<p class="nobreak center"><span class="smcap xxlargefont">Golden Library</span><br /> -<span class="xlargefont">Of choice reading for Boys and Girls.</span><br /> -<span class="largefont">Price 10 cts</span></p> -</div> - -<p class="center smallfont">Copyrighted at Washington, D. C., by <span class="smcap">Albert Sibley & Co.</span> -Entered at the post-office at New York as second-class mail-matter.</p> - -<div class="boxvol"> -<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Vol. I.—No. 3.</span> <span style="padding-left:3em; padding-right:3em">NEW YORK.</span> -<span class="smcap">Nov. 1, 1886.</span></p> -</div> - -<h1 class="nobreak">Under the Polar Star;<br /> -<span class="smallfont" style="vertical-align:40%">—OR,—</span><br /> -<span class="xlargefont">THE YOUNG EXPLORERS.</span></h1> - - -<p class="center p2">By DWIGHT WELDON.</p> - -<p class="center p2 smallfont">NEW YORK:<br /> -<span class="mediumfont">ALBERT SIBLEY & CO.,</span><br /> -18 Rose Street.</p> - -<p class="center smallfont">1886. -</p> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div id="Ref_02" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i02.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE GOLDEN MOOSE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Chip! chip!</p> - -<p>All day long that same monotonous sound, -chip, chip—chip, chip, had echoed through -Solomon Bertram’s work room.</p> - -<p>He called himself a ship carpenter, and he -was one, for no member of that craft ever -did finer work than that he was now engaged -on. Before him, upon the bench, fast assuming -artistic proportions, was what had -been a rough block of wood, what was now -very nearly a carved animal’s head.</p> - -<p>The old man’s eyes filled with tears and -his thin hand trembled more than once as he -viewed the few tools at his command, and -ever and anon glanced past the half open -door which led into the living rooms of the -humble cottage he called home.</p> - -<p>For at the present moment grim poverty -and want hovered over that threshold, and -his brave heart that had never faltered before, -became sad and oppressed.</p> - -<p>From the window he could see the quaint -Maine town and the shipping in the harbor. -Here in Watertown he had lived, man and -boy, for nearly half a century, had brought up -a happy family, had accumulated almost a -fortune.</p> - -<p>Within two years that family had been sadly -bereaved, the fortune cut down to a pittance, -and one trouble succeeding another -rapidly, had made Solomon Bertram a prematurely -old man.</p> - -<p>Chip, chip!</p> - -<p>The mallet and chisel moved less deftly -now, for the hand that wielded them was -fast growing weary, and the task was almost -completed.</p> - -<p>There was a sudden interruption that made -the work cease entirely. Followed by the -smart, quick tramp of hurrying footsteps on -the walk outside, a boisterous form dashed -through the house and the work-room door,<span class="pagenum">[4]</span> -and a bright, boyish face intruded itself upon -the carpenter’s solitude.</p> - -<p>“Is the ship’s head done, father?” its possessor -asked eagerly, with a glance at the -work bench.</p> - -<p>“Almost, Will. Where have you been, -and what does that mean?”</p> - -<p>The boy’s eyes danced with delight and his -face flushed excitedly as he laid several -small silver coins on the bench.</p> - -<p>“It means money, father,” he cried; “it -means that I heard you tell mother this morning -that there was not enough in the house to -buy a pound of flour, and I made up my -mind to earn some. Look, father, nearly -four shillings!”</p> - -<p>The old man’s eyes were suffused with tears -as the boy rattled on volubly, and something -choked in his voice as he sought to murmur, -“My brave boy!”</p> - -<p>“You know I’m old enough to begin work, -father, and I know it too. There is not much -chance for employment in the town, though, -unless it’s among the shipping, and you won’t -hear of my going to sea.”</p> - -<p>“No, no!”</p> - -<p>“Not even when the old tars say I’m a natural -sailor and nimble as a monkey among -the rigging?”</p> - -<p>“Not even then, Will. The sea cost me -one brave son. I can’t spare the other.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I remembered that, and went among -the shops. No work anywhere. Finally I -came to the new building they are putting up -on the public square, and there I met my -luck, as the boys say.”</p> - -<p>“How, Will?” inquired the interested Mr. -Bertram.</p> - -<p>“They were just putting on the spire to the -tower, and, ready to arrange the tackle and -climb the ropes, was the steeple Jack.”</p> - -<p>“What’s a steeple Jack?” inquired the mystified -old man.</p> - -<p>“He’s a professional climber who makes a -business of going up to high places like -steeples and towers. They had sent to Portland -for him. He wanted one of the workmen -to help him by going to the top of the -tower, but they said it was too risky, and they -were more used to platforms than ropes. -Well, to make a long story short, <a href="#Ref_03">I offered -my services</a>.”</p> - -<div id="Ref_03" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i03.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>“Oh, Will, always venturesome and running -into danger!” spoke a reproachful voice.</p> - -<p>Will turned and surveyed his mother, who -had come unobserved to the door, with a -quizzical smile.</p> - -<p>“Now, don’t scold, mother,” he said. “I’m -at home among the ropes, as the man soon -found. I was on the tower before he was -half way up, and when he had set the vane -on the tower, two hours later, he told me he -wished he had me for an apprentice. Anyway, -I earned a little money, and there it is. -To-morrow I’ll start in for more, and then -you’ll receive pay for the ship’s head, father, -and we’ll get along famously.”</p> - -<p>Old Solomon Bertram shook his head sadly.</p> - -<p>“I shall get no pay for that work, Will,” -he said.</p> - -<p>“No pay, when you’ve put a week’s time -on it! Why, what do you mean, father?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Bertram looked anxiously at his wife -as if silently questioning her. She nodded -intelligently and withdrew.</p> - -<p>“Sit down near me, Will,” said Mr. Bertram, -seriously. “I promised to have the figure -head done to-day, so I will have to work -while I talk. You’re a good boy, Will; a -dutiful son and a help and comfort to your -old parents, and I don’t feel like clouding -your life with our troubles.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t worry about that, father,” cried -Will, eagerly. “If there are any clouds we’ll -drive them away.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Bertram smiled at Will’s boyish enthusiasm -and said:</p> - -<p>“Well, up to two years ago, when your -brother Alan sailed away for the far north on -a whaling voyage, we were happy and comfortable. -I owned the house and lot here -and another piece of property, besides having -two thousand dollars in bank. This I -put together and purchased a share in the -Albatross. That was the ship poor Alan was -captain of.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I remember,” assented Will murmuringly.</p> - -<p>“If the whaling voyage proved a success I -should have made enough to buy Alan a ship -of his own. Alas, my son, the staunch old -Albatross and its brave captain never came -back to Watertown again!”</p> - -<p>Mr. Bertram stopped his work to wipe -away a tear that trickled down his furrowed -cheek.</p> - -<p>“But one year afterwards,” he finally resumed, -“the mate of the doomed ship returned—Stephen -Morris. He told a thrilling -tale of adventure. The Albatross, he said, -had gone far north beyond the icebergs, but -had met its fate among the glaciers, and all on -board had been crushed in an ice floe but -himself.”</p> - -<p>“Do you believe him, father?” asked Will, -a look of dislike in his face at the mention -of Morris’ name.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[5]</span></p> - -<p>“He surely would have no object in spreading -a wholesale falsehood. No, no, his story -seemed true. He said that he saw ship and -men ground under a mighty wall of ice, and -that he miraculously escaped by being on the -ice floe away from the ship when the catastrophe -occurred. For months he froze and -starved amid a horrible solitude, and one day -was discovered and rescued by a whaler. He -landed at Boston, but came here at once and -told the story of his adventures.”</p> - -<p>“And he has been here since, hasn’t he, -father?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Will, and that is the strange part of -it. Stephen Morris went away a poor man. -He came back a comparatively rich one. He -claimed that a relative had died leaving him -heir to a large fortune. Be that as it may, -from mate he rose to captain and ship owner. -He has an interest in several coasters, and is -sole proprietor of the ocean ship the Golden -Moose. It’s for that ship I’m making this -figure head,” and Mr. Bertram resumed work -on the same, while Will sat for some moments -deeply absorbed in thought.</p> - -<p>He had never liked the coarse, rough man -his father had named, and despite himself he -seemed to trace some dark mystery in his solitary -rescue and the possession of sudden -wealth.</p> - -<p>“Is that all, father?” he asked after a pause.</p> - -<p>“No, for in addition to Stephen Morris’ -other possessions, he seems to have also purchased -a mortgage on this house and lot, representing -some of the money I borrowed to -buy the Albatross. He has been very hard -with me about it, for I have had to scrape -and save to pay the interest regularly, and -this figure head just makes out the amount -to pay him this six months’ interest.”</p> - -<p>“And I’ll be ready to pay the next,” cried -Will, staunchly. “Father, I’m glad you told -me just how we stand. I’m going to be a -man and help you, and I’m going to find out -just where Stephen Morris got all his money, -for I have a suspicion that he is hiding the -entire truth. You know how people dislike -him. Suppose my brother Alan and the -crew never perished at all?”</p> - -<p>“No, no, Will,” cried his father, suspensefully, -“don’t awaken my hopes only to be -plunged in despair again. No man would -be so cruel as to deceive a parent like that. -Stephen Morris is hard-hearted and rough in -his ways, but he would not dare to return -with a false story about the Albatross. You -are to take this figure head to Captain Morris. -It is to take the place of the moose head -that was broken in the last storm.”</p> - -<p>“All right, father,” said Will, cheerily, -but he kept thinking of the strange story he -had heard.</p> - -<p>“Tell Captain Morris to have it gilded at -Portland when he goes there. It can’t be -done, you know, in Watertown. There, it’s -done at last!”</p> - -<p>The old man drew back and surveyed his -handiwork with some little pride as he gave -it a last finishing touch with a chisel.</p> - -<p>Then he smoothed off the rough edges and -lifted it into Will’s arms.</p> - -<p>It was quite a bulky object, but Will professed -to be able without difficulty to convey -it to its destination.</p> - -<p>He carried it carefully by the doorway so -as not to injure the broad-spreading antlers -and walked down the street in the direction -of the harbor.</p> - -<p>His young mind was busy forming plans of -how he should best secure work and rescue -his parents from the poverty that threatened -them.</p> - -<p>“I will put school days and play days -aside,” he said, resolutely, “and begin life in -earnest.”</p> - -<p>Mark him well, reader, this boy with honest -face and manly bearing and noble determination -to win his way in the world, for ere -this story ends he is destined to meet with -many strange and varied adventures.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">CAPTAIN STEPHEN MORRIS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Look out there!”</p> - -<p>Will Bertram dodged aside as he was walking -along the wharf, near where the Golden -Moose lay at anchorage and a broad rope-loop -was thrown around a dock post from a yawl -coming ashore.</p> - -<p>“Ah, it’s you, my lad,” cried the same -hearty voice. “What’s that you’ve got?” and -fat and jolly Jack Marcy, boatswain of the -Golden Moose, clambered ashore and confronted -the lad.</p> - -<p>“A new figure-head,” explained the latter. -“The last one was lost in the storm.”</p> - -<p>“And a great storm it was, boy. Where -are you going—down to the ship?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; I want to find Captain Morris.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you’ll find him in squally temper, I -tell you that, but not at the ship.”</p> - -<p>“Where is he, then?”</p> - -<p>“At the shipping office down the wharf. -Come along, lad, I’ll show the way and help -you, if you don’t mind.”</p> - -<p>“It ain’t heavy, Jack,” replied Will, as he -trudged along in the boatswain’s wake. -“When does the Moose sail?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[6]</span></p> - -<p>“To-night, up the coast.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, how I wish I was going!”</p> - -<p>“Don’t I wish it too, lad. We’ve got one -youngster on board, but he is no earthly good, -except to get into mischief.”</p> - -<p>“Tom Dalton?”</p> - -<p>“Exactly; a shiftless, lazy piece of furniture. -Here we are, my boy. I’ll go in -first. Hear that; what did I tell you? The -captain’s in one of his tantrums and no mistake.”</p> - -<p>They had reached the door of the dilapidated -structure where the shipping office -was situated, and as the boatswain pushed it -open an exciting scene was revealed to the -vision of the two intruders.</p> - -<p>Jack nimbly rounded a desk and got to -the other side of the room unperceived by its -occupants, while Will stood staring over the -burden in his arms at <a href="#Ref_07">Captain Morris and his -clerk and general business manager, Donald -Parker</a>.</p> - -<p>The latter lay at full length on the floor -amid a wreck of the office furniture.</p> - -<p>Glowering down at him, his face alive with -brutal rage, was Captain Morris. He seemed -beside himself with passion, and his beard -fairly bristled as he clenched his fists.</p> - -<div id="Ref_07" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i07.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>“Say that again,” he shouted, “will you? -I’m an imposter, am I? You know that I -lied about the Albatross, do you? You can -tell the public that, where my money came -from, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Don’t Captain, I didn’t mean anything, -sure I didn’t,” pleaded the prostrate Parker, -fearful of a second onslaught.</p> - -<p>“You ungrateful scoundrel!” roared Morris, -“I’ve a good mind to send you to jail, -where you belong.”</p> - -<p>“No, no!” cried the affrighted Parker.</p> - -<p>“Yes I have. You might talk too freely. -See here, Donald Parker, I saved you from -prison and gave you a snug berth here, and -how do you reward me—threatening to betray -my secrets? I trust you no longer. You -get ready to take a voyage with me, and a -long one, too. You’re safer afloat, under my -eye.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t like the ocean,” whined Parker.</p> - -<p>“You’ll like it or go to jail. As to what -you pretend to know about the Albatross and -my fortune, you lisp one single word outside -and I’ll make you sorry for it. What do you -want?”</p> - -<p>Captain Morris directed this question to -Will Bertram as he caught sight of him, but -Will’s face was so obscured by the figurehead -he did not at once recognize him.</p> - -<p>“I’ve brought the moose head, sir.”</p> - -<p>Captain Morris muttered an alarmed interjection -under his breath and sprang to Will’s -side.</p> - -<p>“See here, you young Paul Pry, how long -have you been sneaking around here listening -to other people’s business?”</p> - -<p>He seized Will’s shoulder in a cruel grasp -as he spoke.</p> - -<p>“I don’t sneak around anywhere,” retorted -Will in a nettled tone, smarting under the -man’s grip, and wrenching himself free.</p> - -<p>Captain Morris scowled fearfully at the -boy.</p> - -<p>“Well, what do you want?” he demanded. -“Oh, the figurehead! Take it to the ship, do -you hear? What business have you to rush -in here with it?”</p> - -<p>“It’s my business to deliver it to you personally.”</p> - -<p>“No sauce, you young Jackanapes. You’d -better go slow or I’ll not only give your father -no work, but I’ll put the clamps on him and -close him out. Get out!”</p> - -<p>He pushed Will rudely from the threshold -and slammed the door in his face.</p> - -<p>“He’s a perfect bear,” murmured Will, indignantly, -as he started toward the ship. “I -believed him to be a villain before and I -know it now. He spoke of the Albatross as -if there was some secret about it he hadn’t -told. Oh, if I only knew! I will know, if -watching and working can bring it out.”</p> - -<p>The Golden Moose was a fine, seaworthy -craft, and despite his unpleasant experience -with its owner, Will felt a thrill of pleasure -and interest as he crossed its broad deck.</p> - -<p>He delivered the figure-head to the mate -and was absorbed for some time in watching -the sailors manipulate the rigging and -sails.</p> - -<p>There had always been a fascination about -shipping for Will Bertram, and he glanced at -a boy about his own age who was greasing -some ropes with positive envy.</p> - -<p>“I’d like to take Tom Dalton’s place for a -trip or two,” he thought, but he changed his -mind a moment later, as Captain Morris came -walking briskly from the shipping office toward -the ship.</p> - -<p>At the sight of him the ship’s boy, Tom -Dalton, whose head had been bent over his -work, uttered a howl of terror, and, springing -to the rigging, ensconced himself twenty feet -from the decks, where he sat pale and sniveling.</p> - -<p>A gloom seemed to come over every man -on deck as Captain Morris stepped aboard. -He had a reputation for excessive rudeness -and brutality, and his gleaming eyes and -flushed face told that he was half intoxicated -and ugly.</p> - -<p>“Aha, you’ve run away, have you?” he<span class="pagenum">[7]</span> -yelled at the terrified Tom, shaking his fist -at him; “well, so much the worse for you. -I told you if you went ashore without my -permission I’d treat you to the cat of nine -tails, and I mean to keep my word. Come -down, there!”</p> - -<p>But the cabin boy only broke into wilder -sobs and tears.</p> - -<p>“Get the whip!” ordered Morris of the mate.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[8]</span></p> - -<p>The latter went into the forecastle and returned -with the dreaded instrument of torture -with which the cruel captain occasionally -terrorized the delinquent members of -the ship’s crew.</p> - -<p>Will Bertram shuddered as he took it from -the mate’s hand and slashed it around a mast -with a whistling, cutting sound, a look of -fiendish satisfaction on his brutal face.</p> - -<p>“Now, Tom Dalton,” he yelled up into the -rigging, “it’s ten lashes if you take your -punishment like a man.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, captain, let me off, please let me off -this time,” cried Tom, frantically.</p> - -<p>“Come down, I tell you.”</p> - -<p>“It will kill me—I can’t stand it.”</p> - -<p>Captain Morris coolly consulted his watch.</p> - -<p>“For every minute you stay up there I’ll -give you an extra cut.”</p> - -<p>Amid violent moanings and with streaming -eyes, the wretched cabin boy began to slowly -descend to the deck.</p> - -<p>He shrank back as the captain made a -vicious grasp for him, and growled out:</p> - -<p>“Take off your jacket and shirt.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, captain; dear captain,” shrieked the -unhappy Tom, “for mercy’s sake not that; -oh, please, please, and I’ll never, never disobey -the rules again!”</p> - -<p>He groveled at the captain’s feet, he -writhed in an agony of fright and dread -torture.</p> - -<p>A low murmur of disapprobation swept -from the lips of the watching crew, but not -one of them dared to openly manifest his -disapproval of the captain’s course.</p> - -<p>Will Bertram alone, boiling over with indignation, -murmured audibly, with flushed -face and flashing eyes:</p> - -<p>“Shame!”</p> - -<p>Captain Morris spurned the suppliant boy -with his feet, glowered defiantly at the sullen -faced crew, and then turned fiercely on Will.</p> - -<p>“I’ll show you how I punish insolent and -disobedient boys, my pert young friend,” he -sneered, malignantly. “Off with your jacket, -I tell you!” he thundered at the half-crazed -Tom.</p> - -<p>“Don’t let him whip me. Save me, save -me!” shrieked the tormented boy, appealing -to the silent sailors.</p> - -<p>And then espying Will, he sprang to his -side and caught his hand frantically.</p> - -<p>There was not a fibre in Will Bertram’s -frame that did not tremble with indignation. -He was overwhelmed with sympathy for the -friendless Tom, and burning with resentment -against the brutal Morris.</p> - -<p>One sentence, quickly and impulsively, he -whispered into Tom’s ear:</p> - -<p>“Run for it!”</p> - -<p>A suggestion from an outsider, a hope -clutched at eagerly, the words seemed to -arouse him to action.</p> - -<p>With one bound he was over the rail and -on the wharf. Before Captain Morris could -comprehend what had occurred, Tom Dalton -was flying down the wharf like one mad.</p> - -<p>“You young jackanapes,” he yelled, advancing -with uplifted whip toward Will, “I’ll -teach you to raise a mutiny on my ship.”</p> - -<p>“Captain Morris, don’t you dare to strike -me.”</p> - -<p>Erect, defiant, flinching not one whit, the -spirited boy faced the enraged captain.</p> - -<p>“You’ll help my crew to desert, will you? -Take that.”</p> - -<p>The whip cut the air, but not so quickly -but that Will Bertram evaded its circling -stroke.</p> - -<p>He leaped aside, and seized the first article -for defense that came to hand.</p> - -<p>It proved to be a bucket half full of soft -soap with which a sailor had been washing -the decks, but he did not notice that amid his -excited determination to resent Captain -Morris’ exercise of authority.</p> - -<p>Lifting it threateningly aloft on a level -with the captain’s form, he cried out:</p> - -<p>“Don’t you strike me, Captain Morris; I -am not your slave, if that poor boy is.”</p> - -<p>“Drop that!”</p> - -<p>At the captain’s foaming, rage-filled tones -Will Bertram did drop it.</p> - -<p>The bucket fell between them. Its contents -splattering far and wide, and trickling over -the deck, made the captain retreat summarily.</p> - -<p>In so doing the soft, slimy substance gave -him a slippery foothold. He slid forward -with a muttered imprecation and fell.</p> - -<p>Will Bertram experienced a vague alarm -as the captain picked himself up.</p> - -<p>From head to foot the soft soap clung to -his clothing, while from his nose and mouth -the blood spurted freely.</p> - -<p>“I’ve done it,” muttered Will, apprehensively. -“I’d better keep out of his way now.”</p> - -<p>It was well that he clambered ashore at -that moment, for the captain, frenzied with -rage, was rushing towards the spot where he -had stood.</p> - -<p>“I’ll make you pay for this!” Will heard -him yell as he hurried down the wharf in the -direction Tom Dalton had gone, “I’ll make -you and all your family suffer for this!”</p> - -<p>Time proved to Will Bertram how cruelly -Captain Morris kept his word.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum">[9]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">A DARING FEAT.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Will Bertram satisfied himself on two -points before he relaxed the rapid pace with -which he had left the deck of the Golden -Moose.</p> - -<p>The first was to learn that Captain Morris -was not following him, and the next that -Tom Dalton had got out of sight.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know whether I have done right or -wrong in incurring Captain Morris’ enmity,” -he soliloquized, “but I couldn’t stand it to see -him abuse poor Tom, and I wouldn’t let him -whip me. I wonder what father will say -when I tell him what has occurred.”</p> - -<p>This thought worried Will considerably, -and, revolving the episodes of the day over -and over in his mind, he found himself wandering -considerably from a straight course -homewards.</p> - -<p>An exciting divertisement for the time -being took his thoughts into new channels. -As he reached the public square he observed -quite a throng of people gathered around a -large structure just in course of completion, -and went towards them to learn the cause of -the curiosity and excitement their actions -manifested.</p> - -<p>A moment’s lingering on the outskirts of -the throng gave Will an intelligent hint as to -their interest in the spot.</p> - -<p>“It’s up yonder,” a man said, pointing up at -the high spire which crowned the summit of -the tower of the structure.</p> - -<p>It was just getting towards dusk, but as -Will looked upwards he could make out a -white fluttering object. It seemed to be impaled -upon the pointed vane of the spire, and -Will, straining his vision, made out that it resembled -a large ocean bird.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“A white osprey.”</p> - -<p>“How did it get there?”</p> - -<p>“Flew against the point, I guess,” replied -the man.</p> - -<p>The dying daylight gleaming down the -valley showed the bird making frantic efforts -to release itself.</p> - -<p>Its strange, weird cries could be faintly -heard from where Will stood.</p> - -<p>The crowd kept increasing every moment, -and among them Will noticed a strange, well-dressed, -gentlemanly looking person who -seemed very much interested in the aerial -scene above.</p> - -<p>“It’s a fine specimen of a bird,” he remarked. -“Is there not some way of releasing -it from its plight?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, climb up and catch it,” responded a -pert young man.</p> - -<p>The stranger was not discomfitted at the -jeering proposition.</p> - -<p>He calmly took out his pocket book and -drew from it a ten dollar bill.</p> - -<p>“Why not?” he asked complacently. “Suppose -you try, since you suggest it. I will -willingly give that money for the bird.”</p> - -<p>The crowd laughed. It became the young -man’s turn to look embarrassed.</p> - -<p>“You ain’t in earnest,” he said.</p> - -<p>“But I am.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I guess no one in this crowd cares -to risk his neck, even for ten dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Steeple Jack would,” broke in a boy.</p> - -<p>“Where is he?” asked the stranger.</p> - -<p>“Oh, he’s left town after fixing the spire.”</p> - -<p>Will Bertram, an interested listener to all -that had been said, stepped forward impulsively.</p> - -<p>His heart beat more quickly as he thought -of how much good the money might do his -family, yet he trembled at his own boldness, -as he asked:</p> - -<p>“Is the offer open to anybody, sir?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll earn it. I’ll get the bird for you.”</p> - -<p>“Here, come back! I don’t want a reckless -boy to risk his life,” began the stranger, -alarmed at the result of his careless offer.</p> - -<p>But Will was gone, and a moment later after -disappearing in the basement, appeared on -the ledge of the third story of the building, -waving his hand to the people below.</p> - -<p>A new element of excitement was awakened -by his rashness. When he appeared in -view again at the base of the tower an apprehensive -hush fell over the throng.</p> - -<p>He glanced down once at the upturned -faces and then looked upwards. But that he -did not care to expose himself to ridicule and -the charge of cowardice he would have returned -below.</p> - -<p>He remembered how he had seen the -Steeple Jack nimbly climb the tower and by -means of a rope work himself slowly round -and round the tiled ornamental steeple.</p> - -<p>Here and there in it were small holes bored, -the only means of sustaining the weight of -his body.</p> - -<p>At that dizzy height a misstep or a slip of -the hand meant certain death.</p> - -<p>Will Bertram summoned all his courage, -gained the base of the steeple, and tying the -rope he had secured on a floor below around -the steeple, rested his back against it and began -pulling himself sideways and upwards -along the smooth, even surface of the steeple.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[10]</span></p> - -<p>The throng below had lost a casual, idle -curiosity in the feat of daring now. Interest -had succeeded, and then, as they saw that -speck of diminishing humanity slowly, laboriously -round the point of blackness against -the darkening sky, a shuddering apprehension -filled the strongest heart.</p> - -<p>The clinging form would appear and disappear. -It reached the narrowing summit of -the steeple, and a hand clasped firmly the -lower gilded bar of the spire.</p> - -<p>There was a moment of awful suspense, -and eyes strained and wearied by piercing -the enveloping gloom of dusk, grew dimmer.</p> - -<p>For a moment the figure rested at the base -of the spire, then it was drawn a foot or two -higher.</p> - -<p>Darkness in earnest had come down over -the earth, but one last glint of the dying sunlight -far in the fading west illumined the -gilded spire.</p> - -<p>It showed the huddled form of the boy, -his hand extended towards the vane. That hand -clasped the bird, released it, and then swinging -clear of the spire, dropped it flutteringly -downward.</p> - -<p>A faint cheer tinged with dread went up -from the suspenseful throng. The daylight -faded utterly—night came down over all the -impressive scene, and only very dimly -visible was the form of Will Bertram, returning -to earth by the way he had left it.</p> - -<p>At last tower, steeple and boy were a black -blur against the darkened sky. A timid -watcher shrieked outright as some object -from above went whirling past him.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” inquired a dozen eager voices.</p> - -<p>“The rope! he has reached the base of the -tower! he is safe!”</p> - -<p>The stranger who had offered the money -had grown very pale. His hat, dropped off -in the excitement and suspense for the boy, -was disregarded.</p> - -<p>He turned to the side of the building and -an exclamation of delight parted his lips as -past a ledge of masonry a form came down a -rope.</p> - -<p>The rope was not long enough to reach the -ground.</p> - -<p>“Drop!” he cried, stretching out his arms.</p> - -<p>One minute later, the centre of a surging, -excited throng, Will Bertram had regained -terra firma in safety.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE ADVENTURES OF A NIGHT.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Will uttered a great sigh of relief as the -stranger led him towards the anxious throng.</p> - -<p>“Here’s your money, my little man,” he -said, extending a bill towards Will. “I -wouldn’t go through the suspense I’ve suffered -again, though, for ten ospreys.”</p> - -<p>Will took the money deprecatingly, and -his murmured words to the effect that “it -was too much,” were lost amid the busy hum -of talk around him.</p> - -<p>“Where’s the bird?” demanded the stranger, -abruptly.</p> - -<p>“They’re chasing it yonder, still alive.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but it can’t fly. Here they come -with it.”</p> - -<p>Will Bertram took this opportunity, while -attention was diverted from himself, to slip -away from the throng.</p> - -<p>Clasping the ten dollar bill tightly in his -hands, which were not a little bruised by -climbing, he thought only of the benefit its -possession would afford his parents.</p> - -<p>He burst into the house just as his father -and mother were sitting down to their humble -evening meal, and wondering what had -detained him so long beyond his usual time.</p> - -<p>Impulsive, excited boy that he was, Will -could not keep the climax of his adventure -of the afternoon and evening as a denouement -to a continuous narrative, but, flushed -with delight at imparting surprise and pleasure -to others, he laid the crisp, new bill at -his mother’s plate.</p> - -<p>“Will! Will!” she cried, in utter amazement, -“where did you get this?”</p> - -<p>“Earned it.”</p> - -<p>The incredulous, almost anxious, expression -in his mother’s face made Will hasten -his explanation.</p> - -<p>The repast was deferred, as with bated -breath and wondering faces his parents listened -to his recital.</p> - -<p>He saw his father’s face grow grave as he -told of his encounter with Captain Morris, -and that of his mother blanch with anxiety -when he described his ascent of the steeple.</p> - -<p>No chiding words fell from his father’s lips -when he had concluded his narrative. Instead, -he said, calmly:</p> - -<p>“It is not a question of incurring Captain -Morris’ enmity, Will, it is a simple question -of right and wrong. His conduct to poor -Tom Dalton was cruel in the extreme, and I -am afraid I should have done just as you did -in telling him to run away. As to defying -Morris and trying to resist his anger as you -did, hereafter I would simply keep out -the way of such men.”</p> - -<p>“He cannot injure you, father, as he threatened?” -inquired Will, anxiously.</p> - -<p>“No, Will, at least not until the next interest -note is due, six months hence, and by<span class="pagenum">[11]</span> -that time it looks as if my brave boy intends -to have enough money to settle the claim for -good.”</p> - -<p>“I will, father, see if I don’t,” cried Will, -enthusiastically. “I’m bound to work, and I -don’t intend to get into trouble and peril to -do it as I did to-day, either. Don’t think me -lacking in respect to my elders, father, because -I defied Captain Morris, but he is a bad-hearted, -malignant man, and I could not control -my indignation at his conduct.”</p> - -<p>“And where is Tom Dalton?” inquired -Mrs. Bertram.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” responded Will. “Poor -fellow, I must hunt him up as soon as the -Moose sails, for he’ll keep in hiding until -then. Captain Morris says I’m helping a -mutiny and breaking his discipline, but I -think it’s a mighty bad discipline he’s got, -father.”</p> - -<p>“Well, come, Will, your supper is ready, -and there’s plenty of time to discuss the affair -later,” urged Mrs. Bertram, as she bestowed -a tender look on her son and carefully -folded away the bill.</p> - -<p>They sat down at the table, but Will’s -tongue would run over the exciting events of -the day. They had scarcely completed the -meal when a quick knock sounded at the -door.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Bertram looked inquiringly at the -well-dressed stranger who stood revealed on -the threshold as she answered the knock.</p> - -<p>“Does Mr. Bertram live here?” he inquired, -and then, as she nodded assent, he -continued: “I am looking for Will Bertram.”</p> - -<p>Will recognized the voice and hastened to -the door.</p> - -<p>“Oh! it’s the gentleman who wanted the -osprey,” he explained.</p> - -<p>“Come in, sir,” spoke Mrs. Bertram, while -the husband tendered him a chair.</p> - -<p>The stranger nodded pleasantly to Will.</p> - -<p>“Yes, he’s the person I’m looking for. -The people directed me here. I suppose he -has told you of my recklessness in hiring -him to risk his neck for the sake of a bird?”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Bertram paled concernedly.</p> - -<p>“He is very venturesome,” she said, solicitously.</p> - -<p>“He is a natural acrobat,” broke in the -stranger, enthusiastically. “Mind me, madam, -not that I want to encourage him to these -feats of danger, but the agility, courage and -manliness he exhibits should not be suppressed.”</p> - -<p>Will’s cheek flushed at the honest compliment -the stranger bestowed upon him.</p> - -<p>“And now to business,” continued the -stranger, “for I didn’t come here from idle -curiosity. My name is Robert Hunter, and I -am an agent for the North American Menagerie -and Museum. Every year we send out -agents to secure material for our institution -from all quarters of the globe. I myself am -now on my way to the great northern forests -of Maine. We shall remain there for some -two months and endeavor to trap a large -number and variety of animals, such as the -deer, the moose, the otter, the beaver, the -catamount, the wolf, the bear, the fox, the -lynx, and also such large birds as can be -found. For this expedition we are very -nearly entirely equipped, and I am expected -to-morrow to join the wagons containing our -outfit, traps, and men, at a town some few -miles north of here.”</p> - -<p>Will Bertram had listened with breathless -attention. His eyes glittered with excitement -as Mr. Hunter’s words suggested to him -a fascinating field of adventure.</p> - -<p>“I’ve taken a rare fancy to your boy Will,” -continued Hunter. “He’s just the lad we -need for handy little tasks, and I’ve come to -make him an offer to accompany us on our expedition.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Bertram’s face had grown serious, -while Mrs. Bertram’s hand stole caressingly, -anxiously, around that of Will, who sat near -her.</p> - -<p>“You want him to go away,—to leave us?” -she murmured, tremulously.</p> - -<p>“If he wants to go and you are willing. -Don’t fear, madam. I’ll lead him into no -danger, and the wild life he’ll see will benefit -him. We carry everything for comfort, -and, aside from once in a while climbing a -hill to prospect, or a tree to get some bird’s -nest——”</p> - -<p>Will looked his disapproval at this suggestion, -and the keen-eyed stranger, quick to notice -it, laid his hand kindly on his arm and -said:</p> - -<p>“Don’t misunderstand me, lad. I mean no -nest-robbing expedition—only the securing -of abandoned nests to fit up a fancy aviary -in the museum. A man who has lived -long with animals and birds for his daily -companions learns to be kind to them, and -we allow no wanton killing of harmless -beasts. It was pity, as much as curiosity, -that made me want the osprey. Come, -madam, I’m ready to make your boy an -offer. What do you say?”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Bertram was mute, but glanced tearfully -at Will, and then inquiringly at her -husband.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[12]</span></p> - -<p>Will took their silence as a token of encouragement.</p> - -<p>“What will I be paid?” he asked. “You -see, my father is old and there is a debt on -the little home. As their help and support, -I would not leave them for the mere pleasure -of the expedition.”</p> - -<p>“Spoken like the true lad I believe you to -be,” said Mr. Hunter, heartily, “and business-like, -in the bargain. Well, Master Will, -aside from the premiums I will give you for -any important discovery or capture, I will -pay you fifteen dollars a month, and I’ll relieve -your anxiety about your parents by -paying you two months in advance.”</p> - -<p>“Thirty dollars! Oh, father, think what a -help it would be!” cried Will, breathlessly.</p> - -<p>Mr. Hunter arose to his feet, hat in hand.</p> - -<p>“I will leave the hotel here to join the expedition -at ten o’clock to-morrow morning. -If you want to go, let me hear from you early -in the day. Think it over, Mrs. Bertram, and -rest assured if you agree I’ll take good care -of him and return him safe and sound when -the expedition is over.”</p> - -<p>He bade them good-night and was gone -without another word, leaving Mrs. Bertram -in tears, her husband anxious and silent, and -Will excited and undecided over the strange -proposition he had made.</p> - -<p>“It seems like Providence, father,” he said -finally, after an oppressive silence. “With -what I got to-day, the two months’ wages will -support you for a long time, and you won’t -have to work so hard. Besides, if there’s any -extra money to earn, I will not miss it. Why, -at the stores here I couldn’t earn half the -amount, and I get my living free.”</p> - -<p>“We will have to think and talk it over, -Will,” replied Mr. Bertram, gravely, and at a -motion Mrs. Bertram followed him into the -next apartment.</p> - -<p>Will could hear the low, serious sound of -their voices in earnest consultation, even -after they had softly closed the door connecting -the two rooms.</p> - -<p>He took up a book and tried to read, but -the exciting thoughts that would come about -the expedition distracted his mind completely.</p> - -<p>“I hope they’ll let me go,” he breathed -fervently. “It’s even better than the ocean. -Hello, what is that?”</p> - -<p>There had come a quick, metallic tap at -the window, and Will fixed his eyes in its -direction.</p> - -<p>“It’s the wind, I guess,” he finally decided. -“No, there it is again.”</p> - -<p>Will arose, put on his cap, and, walking to -the door, opened it, stepped outside, and -looked searchingly around.</p> - -<p>A low whistle from the direction of the -woodshed told him that some one was there—some -one, he theorized, who had thrown the -pebbles against the window to attract his -attention, and who did not care to manifest -himself openly—in all probability, Tom Dalton.</p> - -<p>Will found his suspicions verified as he -approached the shed, and a disorderly figure -stepped from behind the door.</p> - -<p>“Tom?” he queried, peering into the face -of the other.</p> - -<p>“Yes, it’s me,” came the low, dogged response. -“I hadn’t ought to bother you, Will, -but I’m nigh starved.”</p> - -<p>“Hungry, eh, Tom?”</p> - -<p>“I should say so. Bring me a hunk of -bread and meat, and I’ll get out of town and -your way.”</p> - -<p>Poor Tom had become so used to being in -people’s way that he could not regard his association -with any human being as otherwise -than a disagreeable tolerance.</p> - -<p>“You ain’t in my way, Tom,” said Will, -kindly, “and I’ll not only get you something -to eat, but I’ll find a place for you to sleep -to-night. Wait a minute.”</p> - -<p>Will returned to the house, and, when he -came back, tendered his belated companion -the promised “hunk” of bread and meat, -which Tom seized and devoured ravenously.</p> - -<p>“Well, Tom,” said Will, finally, as the runaway -bolted the last morsel of food with a -sigh of intense satisfaction, “what are your -plans?”</p> - -<p>“Ain’t got any.”</p> - -<p>“You won’t go back to the Moose?”</p> - -<p>“Not much. Do you think I want to get -killed? I tell you, Will, you don’t know -what a brute the captain is.”</p> - -<p>“Won’t they look for you?”</p> - -<p>“Of course they will. They were down -the street searching for me everywhere half -an hour ago.”</p> - -<p>“Who?”</p> - -<p>“Captain Morris and two of the sailors in -one party, and the mate and the boatswain in -another.”</p> - -<p>Will reflected. He had intended to obtain -permission of his parents to allow Tom to -sleep in the house that night, but if Captain -Morris was looking for him it would be unsafe.</p> - -<p>“If I can only keep out of the way until -the Golden Moose sails, I shall be all right,” -said Tom, confidently.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[13]</span></p> - -<p>“Keep quiet, Tom; some one is coming,” -whispered Will, warningly.</p> - -<p>Some one was coming, sure enough, for as -he spoke the heavy tramp of footsteps at the -side of the house was followed by a thundering -knock at the back door as the forms of -two men loomed into view.</p> - -<p>“What did I tell you?” quavered Tom, beginning -to tremble violently.</p> - -<p>“Keep quiet and listen,” repeated Will, -peremptorily.</p> - -<p>At that moment Mrs. Bertram, in answer -to the knock, opened the door.</p> - -<p>The lamplight fell upon the faces of two -members of the crew of the Golden Moose—the -boatswain and mate in quest of Tom Dalton, -the runaway.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">A BAD PREDICAMENT.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The first question asked by the mate of the -Golden Moose referred to Will Bertram, as -the watching lad had expected.</p> - -<p>“Is your son at home, Mrs. Bertram?” -were his words.</p> - -<p>“He was a moment since,” replied Will’s -mother, a slight shade of anxiety in her face -as she glanced around the room. “He seems -to have gone.”</p> - -<p>“Where to?”</p> - -<p>“I do not know. Maybe to visit some -neighbor’s boy. Was it anything particular, -sir?”</p> - -<p>“Well, yes. You see he got our cabin boy -at the ship, Tom Dalton, to run away to-day, -and we’re ready to sail.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I am certain he does not know where -he is,” Mrs. Bertram hastened to say.</p> - -<p>“Trust a keen-witted boy like him for -that,” incredulously remarked the mate.</p> - -<p>“At least he has been busy or at home since -he was at the ship this afternoon.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I guess if we find Will Bertram -we’ll place Tom Dalton,” said the mate, confidently. -“Come, Jack, we won’t break our -necks looking for the lads, but, of course, we -must follow orders.”</p> - -<p>The watching boys did not move until the -two sailors were well out of sight. Tom was -crying bitterly.</p> - -<p>“Be a man, Tom,” urged Will, encouragingly. -“What are you crying about?”</p> - -<p>“Because they hunt me down so, and will -be sure to catch me. Everybody’s against me.”</p> - -<p>“Well I ain’t, Tom. Now, instead of mourning -uselessly, put your wits together and -decide what you’re going to do.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” responded Tom, hopelessly.</p> - -<p>“Is there not some acquaintance you could -stay with to-night?”</p> - -<p>“I ain’t got any friends.”</p> - -<p>Will pondered deeply for a moment or -two. Finally he said:</p> - -<p>“Look here, Tom; I think I know a place -where you could go.”</p> - -<p>“Where?”</p> - -<p>“You know the old mill down the river?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. I’ve been there lots of times.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I suggest that you hide there for -to-night.”</p> - -<p>“They’ll never think of searching for me -there. I’ll go, Will, if we can get there -without being seen.”</p> - -<p>“Come along, then.”</p> - -<p>Will took the most retired route he could -think of to reach the mill. As he went along -he talked seriously to Tom about his future, -and advised him to find his way to an uncle -who lived some distance down the coast, and -from whose charge Tom, who was an orphan, -had run away to gain a seafaring experience -at bitter cost.</p> - -<p>“Won’t I see you to-morrow?” inquired -Tom, lugubriously, somewhat depressed at -being left to his own resources.</p> - -<p>“I expect not.”</p> - -<p>“Are you going away?”</p> - -<p>“I may, Tom,” and Will told of Mr. Hunter’s -offer.</p> - -<p>Tom’s face grew animated and his eyes -flashed eagerly as Will enthusiastically referred -to the plans of the expedition.</p> - -<p>“Oh, if I could only go with you!” he -ejaculated.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know that I am going myself, -Tom.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Will!”</p> - -<p>They were crossing a vacant lot when Tom -brought Will to an abrupt halt with a startled -exclamation, at the same time clutching his -arm alarmedly.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter, Tom?” inquired Will.</p> - -<p>“Look yonder. There is the Captain and -two of his men.”</p> - -<p>Will grew a little excited as he glanced in -the direction his affrighted companion had -indicated.</p> - -<p>“It’s them, sure enough, Tom. Now don’t -get frightened, but walk fast.”</p> - -<p>He hoped to evade the scrutiny of the -trio, who were some distance away, by getting -out of their range of vision.</p> - -<p>A shout behind him, however, told him -that their identity was suspected, and he saw -the three men break into a run.</p> - -<p>Will followed their example, urging his -companion to do the same, and directing the<span class="pagenum">[14]</span> -way to the old ruined mill, the outline of -which was visible a short distance ahead of -them.</p> - -<p>They gained on their pursuers, and, reaching -the mill itself, observed with satisfaction -that their pursuers were almost invisible -in the darkness.</p> - -<p>“Maybe they won’t trace us here, Tom,” -said Will; “now you keep close to me, and -when we’ve found a snug spot we’ll keep -quiet and await developments.”</p> - -<p>The dilapidated old structure, gone to -wreck and ruin many a year agone, was a -familiar place to the boys of Watertown. -Will clasped Tom’s hand and led the way -through the doorless entrance to its lower -floor.</p> - -<p>As he did so Tom uttered a frightened cry.</p> - -<p>“Some one’s here,” he whispered.</p> - -<p>Some one certainly was there, for at that -moment a flashing light in one corner of the -place showed dimly its entire interior.</p> - -<p>Will soon made out the cause of the unexpected -illumination. On a heap of straw sat -a trampish-looking individual. He had just -lighted a match preparatory to taking a -smoke from his pipe, and did not apparently -notice the intruders.</p> - -<p>“It’s some old tramp,” whispered Will. -“Come, Tom: yonder’s a ladder leading to the -next story. Go slow on it, for it’s old and -rickety. Here we are.”</p> - -<p>He crept up a creaking ladder and -Tom followed him. Will took the precaution -to pull the ladder up after them, and -closed the broken trap door over their means -of entrance.</p> - -<p>“Now we’ll sit down and wait,” he said, -and both boys slid to the floor.</p> - -<p>It was so still that they could hear every -near sound. Will felt Tom tremble as from -the outside echoed faintly the gruff, harsh -voice of Captain Morris.</p> - -<p>A minute later there was a quick cry and -a sudden commotion below as if the sailors -had discovered the old tramp, and then, as a -light showed distinctly through the cracks of -the floor, Tom quavered, gaspingly:</p> - -<p>“They’ve traced us here, and have got a -light and are looking for us!”</p> - -<p>Will Bertram placed his eye to an interstice -in the floor to ascertain what was going -on below.</p> - -<p>He arose suddenly to his feet with a -startled cry.</p> - -<p>“Quick, Tom, open the trap door and get -the ladder down!”</p> - -<p>“What for?”</p> - -<p>“It is no light below, but a fire!”</p> - -<p>“A fire?” echoed Tom, wildly.</p> - -<p>“Yes; quick, I say; the trap! the ladder!”</p> - -<p>Will himself was compelled to lift the -trap door, for Tom was paralyzed with terror -and utter helplessness in their dilemma.</p> - -<p>He staggered back as he drew the trap -open. A dense volume of smoke issued from -below, while the crackling of burning wood -and a ruddy glare told that the careless tramp -had precipitated a catastrophe.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Will! what shall we do?”</p> - -<p>“Keep cool and get out of this,” replied -Will, bravely. “Stay where you are for a -minute.”</p> - -<p>He flung the trap shut and groped his way -to the window.</p> - -<p>It was now an open aperture, but, as he -well knew, looked down upon a deep pit by -the side of the structure.</p> - -<p>“There used to be some ladder steps nailed -to the side of the building,” he said, as he -leaned out of the window.</p> - -<p>He peered searchingly forth, and with his -hand felt for the means of escape he had -described.</p> - -<p>A murmur of concern swept his lips as he -made a thrilling discovery.</p> - -<p>The ladder steps were gone!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE FIRE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Wind and weather or the destructive freak -of some careless boy had certainly cut off -the one avenue of escape for the imprisoned -boys from the burning building.</p> - -<p>Had not the pit yawned far below the -ground surface Will would have trusted to a -flying jump in the darkness.</p> - -<p>Tom Dalton, utterly overwhelmed, sat huddled -together on the floor quaking with -terror.</p> - -<p>The encroaching fire showed through the -cracks so plainly now that they could see -each other’s face.</p> - -<p>Already the fire was burning the floor beneath -them. They could not descend.</p> - -<p>“We must climb higher,” said Will, forming -a quick resolution. “There is the old -stairs yonder. Follow me, Tom.”</p> - -<p>The cabin boy obeyed Will’s order mutely, -and they found themselves in a large loft at -the top story of the building.</p> - -<p>Will began to reconnoitre at once, but he -found that the distance from the windows to -the ground was too great to encourage him -to take a dangerous leap downwards.</p> - -<p>They might reach the attic or the roof, but -that only made their dilemma worse.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[15]</span></p> - -<p>At last, after a rapid inspection, he lit a -match and surveyed critically an aperture in -the side of the building.</p> - -<p>The smoke and heat had now become well-nigh -intolerable, and occasionally some timber -burning in two would make the weakened -structure topple and tremble.</p> - -<p>“Oh! what shall we do?” moaned Tom, -despairingly.</p> - -<p>“Get out of this when it comes to the -worst.”</p> - -<p>“How?”</p> - -<p>“By jumping from the window.”</p> - -<p>“And kill ourselves by the fall!” cried -Tom. “Can’t we call for help?”</p> - -<p>“There’s no one in sight on this side of the -building, and besides they couldn’t reach us -from the river end. Now, listen carefully to -me, Tom, for our safety depends on our own -efforts.”</p> - -<p>“What is it, Will?”</p> - -<p>“In the corner yonder there’s an old -shute leading to the river.”</p> - -<p>“What’s a shute?”</p> - -<p>“A long, tightly-boarded box. They used -it to send rubbish down to the river. It slants -down the side of the building about forty -feet.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t mean to slide down it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I do. It’s our only chance of escape.”</p> - -<p>It seemed a perilous one, and as Will held -a match over the end of the shute and explained -that a swift descent might terminate -in a cold plunge in the river, Tom drew back -in dismay.</p> - -<p>“I’ll go first,” said Will. “You’ll follow.”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid, Will.”</p> - -<p>“Then we’re lost, for the fire—hear -that!”</p> - -<p>“I’ll do it! I’ll do it!” cried Tom, starting, -as one side of the building, the lower props -burned away, sagged to one side.</p> - -<p>It was high time for action. Will climbed -over the extending top of the shute and -lowered himself into it.</p> - -<p>Clinging to the edge he gave Tom a warning -word:</p> - -<p>“Don’t delay a moment in following me.”</p> - -<p>“I won’t.”</p> - -<p>“Here goes, then!”</p> - -<p>Will Bertram experienced a strange sensation -as, relaxing his grasp, he shot vertically -downwards.</p> - -<p>His breath seemed taken away, and his -hands, sweeping the bottom of the shute -seemed to gather a thousand little slivers.</p> - -<p>Then, with a gasp, he felt his body strike -the water and become entirely submerged. -He was chilled by the shock, but he puffed -and struggled, and then clung at a rock and -drew himself to the shore, breathless and -exhausted.</p> - -<p>Splash!</p> - -<p>A second echoing plunge followed his own, -and in the radiating illumination he made out -a struggling figure in the water.</p> - -<p>Tom Dalton had followed his example, and -just in time, for a crash told of a floor giving -way in the structure they had vacated.</p> - -<p>“Tom! Tom! this way!” called Will, cautiously.</p> - -<p>But his companion in peril either did not -hear him or had determined to follow his -own course. He struck out deliberately to -cross the river, swam vigorously forward, -and, reaching the opposite shore, cast a quick -look in the direction of the burning mill, -and then disappeared in the darkness outside -the radius of its light.</p> - -<p>“He’s probably afraid the captain will -catch him,” theorized Will. “At all events, -he’s safe.”</p> - -<p>Will shook the water from his clothes and -made a wide detour of the burning.</p> - -<p>As he looked back he saw quite a crowd -gathered around the building, but determined -to evade them, and made his way -homeward, walking briskly to restore the -circulation to his chilled frame.</p> - -<p>He found the lamp turned down when he -reached home, and was glad to know that his -father and mother had retired for the night.</p> - -<p>“There’s no use worrying them about -what’s happened to-night,” he soliloquized, -and he made up a good fire in the kitchen -and spread out his soaked garments to dry.</p> - -<p>“Is that you, Will?” Mrs. Bertram called -from her chamber.</p> - -<p>“Yes, mother.”</p> - -<p>“Where have you been?”</p> - -<p>“With Tom Dalton. The poor fellow was -afraid Captain Morris would find him, and I -went with him to try and find him a place to -sleep,” and with this vague explanation -Will bade his parents good-night and repaired -to his own room.</p> - -<p>He dozed restlessly the first portion of the -night, and then, unable to sleep, his mind -filled with thoughts of his varied adventures -and the anticipated expedition of the morning, -he wrapped a blanket around himself -and stole silently to the kitchen.</p> - -<p>He devoted the remainder of the night to -drying his clothes. With the first break of -dawn he had donned them and attended to -various little chores around the house.</p> - -<p>His curiosity impelled him to proceed a<span class="pagenum">[16]</span> -little distance down the street, whence a view -of the harbor could be obtained.</p> - -<p>He was familiar enough with the various -craft at anchorage to miss the trim sails and -masts of Captain Morris’ ship.</p> - -<p>The Golden Moose had sailed during the -night; but where was poor Tom Dalton, the -runaway?</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">STRANGE COMPANIONS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Will Bertram studied his mother’s face -searchingly as he sat down to breakfast that -morning. The sad, patient features gave no -indication of the decision arrived at regarding -the proposed expedition, however, and -Will was compelled to wait until the morning -meal was over before the subject was referred -to.</p> - -<p>“Well, my son, your mother and I have -talked over the matter of your going away,” -said Mr. Bertram.</p> - -<p>Will looked suspenseful.</p> - -<p>“We have decided, since your heart seems -so set upon it, to let you do as you please.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, father, I am so glad!” cried Will, -rapturously. “Of course I long for the adventurous -life the expedition offers—what -boy wouldn’t?—but, honestly, I want to help -you, and in a business point of view it’s the -best thing open to me.”</p> - -<p>He promised his mother to indulge in no -reckless or dangerous exploits, and to evade -companionship with any evil persons he -might meet.</p> - -<p>Then, while his mother was making up a -package of his clothes, Will went to the -hotel.</p> - -<p>Mr. Hunter expressed a keen satisfaction -at his decision. He drew a sort of contract -between them, and, as he had promised, advanced -the two months’ wages, and bade Will -return by ten o’clock to leave home for good.</p> - -<p>Will paid the money over to his mother, -and took occasion to relate his adventures of -the night previous. She trembled at the -stirring recital. He listened attentively to -her parting words of advice. Mrs. Bertram -was not the woman to show her anxiety and -grief at his departure, but kissed him good-by -with cheering words and hopeful smiles.</p> - -<p>Little did either dream of the long, weary -months destined to intervene ere they again -clasped hands.</p> - -<p>Will’s step was quick and elastic, and his -heart thrilled with pleasure as he again -reached the hotel, his bundle of clothing -strapped over his shoulder.</p> - -<p>Youth does not cherish sadness, and his -exuberant spirits regarded the parting with -his parents tenderly rather than with forebodings -of distress.</p> - -<p>“Well, my boy, all ready?” asked Mr. -Hunter, as he welcomed Will.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“If we ride to the meeting place where the -expedition is we will have to wait for a -stage. It’s barely ten miles. What do you -say to a walk?”</p> - -<p>Will expressed himself eminently satisfied -with this arrangement, and the two set out at -a brisk gait.</p> - -<p>Watertown was soon left behind them. The -morning was clear and frosty, and as they -trudged along Mr. Hunter entered into numerous -details regarding the expedition.</p> - -<p>Will found him one of the most entertaining -talkers he had ever met. He told of all -the practical operations of museum, menagerie -and circus life, and revealed to his companion -the fact that under the artificial glitter -and tinsel of circus experience existed -hard realities, of which securing the collection -of animals was one.</p> - -<p>The caravan bound for the expedition was -reached shortly after noon. Mr. Hunter -pointed it out to Will as they reached the -edge of the town where he was to meet it.</p> - -<p>Will Bertram was amazed to find that there -were nearly twenty wagons and as many -men.</p> - -<p>Mr. Hunter noticed his surprise.</p> - -<p>“Are you going to use all those wagons?” -inquired Will.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and possibly we will have to secure -more before the expedition is ended. When -we reach the northern limit of settlements -half the wagons will remain there. The -others will go on and again divide. When we -come down to actual operations we will have -only two wagons with us, one with cages for -the animals we capture, and one for our own -use. As soon as the former is filled we send -it back to the last station, and the train moves -forward the entire line, one station. Thus -we will have a progressive and return caravan, -the wagon with the animals going back -to the nearest railroad town, shipping its -cages, and coming back again.”</p> - -<p>For over an hour Will studied the caravan -in all its appointments. He found the men -composing it rough, good natured people, -who answered his numerous questions cheerfully.</p> - -<p>They showed him the four living vehicles, -as they were called, stout, boarded wagons, -with heavy wheels and a stove and bunks inside,<span class="pagenum">[17]</span> -as also the supply or provision cart and -the cage wagons. These latter were provided -with barred cages, and in some of them -were animals that had already been purchased -from people along the route, consisting -of a tame fox, a pet bear, and quite a -number of birds.</p> - -<p>The wounded osprey Will had rescued the -night previous, and which Mr. Hunter had -sent on early that morning, was being fed and -nursed by a member of the caravan.</p> - -<p>Up to this stage of the journey the party -had remained at a hotel when they reached a -town, but as villages grew less frequent it -was designed to cook, eat and sleep in the -living wagons.</p> - -<p>This nomadic life pleased Will from its -very novelty, and he longed for the journey -to begin, anticipating rare sport when they -reached the wilderness, and marveling at the -immense wagon load of traps and snares carried -by the caravan.</p> - -<p>Mr. Hunter ordered an immediate start. -There were several extra horses, and he and -Will rode two of them ahead of the train.</p> - -<p>At dusk they halted in a little stretch of -timber, no near town being visible. Huge -torches were planted in the ground, the wagons -drawn in a circle, the horses tethered, -and an immense camp-fire built for the night.</p> - -<p>It was a novel and busy sight for the interested -Will, and he watched the preparations -for supper with a keen appetite and rare -enjoyment of the scene.</p> - -<p>Suddenly, at one of the wagons, where a -man was taking some feed for the horses, -there was a quick commotion.</p> - -<p>“Hello! Mr. Hunter,” he cried, “here’s a -discovery.”</p> - -<p>“What is it?” inquired Mr. Hunter, coming -to the wagon, Will pressing close to his side.</p> - -<p>Amid a mass of straw was a form, which -kicked vigorously as the man endeavored to -drag it from the wagon.</p> - -<p>“A stowaway!” cried the man.</p> - -<p>“True enough,” replied Mr. Hunter. “Pull -him out, and let us have a look at him.”</p> - -<p>“Let me go! Let me go! I tell you I -haven’t done anything wrong!” cried a voice -that fell familiarly on Will’s startled ear.</p> - -<p>The man drew its possessor out of the -wagon, and wheeled him around to the camp-fire.</p> - -<p>Mr. Hunter stared amusedly at the form -thus revealed.</p> - -<p>An amazed ejaculation swept Will Bertram’s -lips as he recognized him.</p> - -<p>“Why, its Tom Dalton!” he cried, breathlessly.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">ON THE MARCH.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Will Bertram’s expressive face must have -betrayed to Mr. Hunter that the stowaway -was a friend, for that gentleman regarded -Tom with a critical, amused smile, and then -asked Will:</p> - -<p>“You know this boy?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Who is he?”</p> - -<p>“Tom Dalton. He is from Watertown, but -how he came here is more than I can tell.”</p> - -<p>Tom stood sullenly regarding the curious -men around him, half-cowering, as if expecting -the usual beating he had received on -board the Golden Moose for any delinquency.</p> - -<p>“Come to the fire and warm yourself, and -get something to eat,” said Mr. Hunter, in a -kindly tone, to the friendless runaway.</p> - -<p>Tom crept to the camp-fire with a look of -infinite relief. He evaded Will’s glance -sheepishly, and was entirely silent until the -rude, but plentiful, evening repast was finished.</p> - -<p>Will was consumed with curiosity to learn -by what strange series of circumstances Tom -had become a member of the wagon train, -but no opportunity presented itself to question -him.</p> - -<p>Mr. Hunter himself, however, took Tom in -hand and drew from him the story of his escapade.</p> - -<p>Briefly related, it was to the effect that -after the fire at the mill, concerning which -Will had spoken freely to Mr. Hunter, he -had wandered away from Watertown.</p> - -<p>Tom remembered all Will had told him -about the proposed expedition, recalling -even the location of the meeting place.</p> - -<p>The temptations offered by the expected -trip to the wilderness were too much for -Tom. He climbed into a wagon, and had -lain snugly ensconced in his hiding place -until now.</p> - -<p>“And what do you expect I’m going to do -with you?” inquired Mr. Hunter.</p> - -<p>“Let me work for you, sir,” responded -Tom, promptly.</p> - -<p>“Good! I will,” and, to the infinite delight -of Tom, he was accepted as a member -of the caravan and assigned to a bunk in the -same wagon with Will.</p> - -<p>The evening around the camp-fire, during -which rare stories of adventure held the -boys spellbound, the jaunt through a strange -country, and the zest of anticipated pleasure -when hunting and trapping should begin,<span class="pagenum">[18]</span> -made the time pass rapidly to Will and Tom.</p> - -<p>The history of each succeeding day tallied -with its predecessor in the main details of -incident, except that the caravan was penetrating -farther and farther into the belt of -the uninhabited territory where their actual -operations were to begin.</p> - -<p>The weather had been clear and cold, but -the rivers they passed, so far, were free of -ice, and the roads were not blocked with -snow.</p> - -<p>Mr. Hunter had predicted a change, and -one evening it came. Since morning they -had passed only one solitary hut, and he explained -that they were entering a section of -timber where some game might be found.</p> - -<p>At any rate, the caravan was divided, and -minute instructions given for the future. -Then the main party struck off into the wilderness.</p> - -<p>The flakes began to fall thick and heavy as -darkness came down. Mr. Hunter expressed -his satisfaction at this.</p> - -<p>“If we have a heavy fall of snow and it -continues cold,” he said, “it will be just right -for trapping. At any rate, we’ll stay here a -day or two and reconnoitre.”</p> - -<p>No camp-fire was built that night, the men -huddling around their stoves in the living -wagons.</p> - -<p>It was cozy and warm for Will and Tom, -but one of the drivers, whose horses had got -loose and had to be hunted up, reported a -severe experience.</p> - -<p>“The snow’s getting terribly deep and -blinding,” he said, “and, <a href="#Ref_19">as I came up to the -horses, I’m sure I heard and saw a wolf</a>.”</p> - -<div id="Ref_19" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i19.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>“We’ll keep a watch on the horses, then,” -said Mr. Hunter. “Are the traps all ready -for use?” he inquired of the man who had -charge of the equipment wagon.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Very well; we’ll devote to-morrow and the -next day to a search for animals. If the -signs are plentiful we’ll make our first station -here.”</p> - -<p>Bright and early the two boys were awake -and up. They found the ground foot deep with -snow, and the vast forests, now covered with -a mantle of white, presenting the aspect of a -vast, untraversed wilderness.</p> - -<p>Mr. Hunter joined them as they gathered -a lot of wood for a fire, and invited them to -take a brief tour of inspection with him.</p> - -<p>His practiced eyes passed by no marks in -the snow, and whenever he came to a series -of tracks he examined them closely.</p> - -<p>“Plenty of small animals,” he remarked; -“and an occasional fox and wolf.”</p> - -<p>“What is this?” inquired Will.</p> - -<p>He pointed to a deep, heavy furrow in the -snow, which looked as if some object had -been dragged over its surface.</p> - -<p>Mr. Hunter proceeded at once to follow -the marks. Here and there a hole like that -made by a horse’s foot would appear outside -of the smooth indentation.</p> - -<p>It led direct to a dark ravine, and terminated -at a cave-like aperture in a mound covered -with stunted trees.</p> - -<p>Here Mr. Hunter paused.</p> - -<p>“You’ve made quite a discovery, Will,” he -said.</p> - -<p>“Is it an animal, sir?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. Its footmarks are obscured by the -object it seems to have been dragging along -by its mouth.”</p> - -<p>“And you think it’s in the cave there?”</p> - -<p>“Undoubtedly.”</p> - -<p>“What is it—a wolf or fox?”</p> - -<p>“No, a bear.”</p> - -<p>The announcement excited both boys tremendously.</p> - -<p>“Let’s catch him,” cried Tom.</p> - -<p>Mr. Hunter smiled.</p> - -<p>“He’d catch us if he saw us unarmed as we -are. No, we’ll get back to camp and get the -traps out. Maybe by morning Mr. Bruin will -walk into the one we shall set for him.”</p> - -<p>After breakfast there was a busy time -among the men. At Mr. Hunter’s direction -traps and snares were set in various places, -and Will and Tom were employed in gathering -tree moss and abandoned nests for the -aviary. A hawk and an owl were captured -during the day, but it was the following -morning that Mr. Hunter expected to find -quite a number of animals in the traps baited -over night.</p> - -<p>The large bear trap left at the entrance to -the cave was a great objective point of interest -to the boys, and they visited the spot several -times, hoping to be the first to announce -the capture of bruin should that important -event occur.</p> - -<p>They stood before the entrance to the cave -late in the afternoon regarding the set trap -curiously.</p> - -<p>“Do you see?” remarked Will, pointing to -it.</p> - -<p>“What?” inquired Tom.</p> - -<p>“The meat is gone. It must be a cunning -bear. He has sniffed the bait and cautiously -eaten it off without putting his feet in.”</p> - -<p>It certainly seemed that what Will said was -true, for the marks of the animal’s feet could -be traced in the snow that had blown into the -entrance to its den.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[19]</span></p> - -<p>Will left Tom at the place and announced -his intention of going around the mound.</p> - -<p>He made a new discovery as he came to -the other side of the mound. A double track -in the snow led to and from a clump of -bushes, and these latter were brushed aside -and broken as if recently passed over.</p> - -<p>Will thrilled at his discovery. The cave -had two entrances, and the bear, too keen-witted -to step into the trap, was using this one -as a means of entrance and exit.</p> - -<p>“I believe I’ll have a look into the place,” -murmured Will.</p> - -<p>He parted the brushes and found a large -aperture looking down into complete darkness.</p> - -<p>Will’s curiosity overcame his prudence, -and there being no indication of the presence -of the bear, he withdrew his head, and, -cutting a large, resinous knot from a tree -near at hand, proceeded to ignite it with a -match.</p> - -<p>When it flared up sufficiently, he again approached -the rear opening to the cave, -brushed aside the bushes, and extended it -far into the darkness.</p> - -<p>Its radiance showed the clay floor of the -cave a few feet below. Straining his eyes to -pierce the darkness, Will met with an unexpected -accident.</p> - -<p>The bush he was holding to gave way, and -he fell forward precipitately. The torch was -hurled downwards, while he himself plunged -head foremost into the cave.</p> - -<p>Bruised and startled, he scrambled to his -feet.</p> - -<p>At that moment a terrific roar echoed -through the darkness and gloom of the -cave.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">LOST.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Will Bertram discovered two things as he -thrilled to a realization of his true position.</p> - -<p>Some ten feet away was daylight penetrating -through the main aperture to the cave, -while directly in front of him and against -this light was the great, crouching body of -the bear itself.</p> - -<p>Its eyes, like two sparks of yellow fire, -glared fixedly upon him, while its low grumblings -told that its rage was fully aroused.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[20]</span></p> - -<p>Will stood rooted to the spot, but only for -a moment, for a movement on the part of the -bear aroused him to sudden action.</p> - -<p>Springing forward, the animal brought its -huge foot across the intruder’s arm, tearing -the sleeve of his coat into shreds.</p> - -<p>The torch had fallen to the floor of the -cave, and still flickered brightly. With no -weapon to defend himself, Will stooped and -seized it, and brandished it squarely in the -bear’s face.</p> - -<p>With a growl the animal retreated a step -or two, but maintained a strict and entire -guardianship of the way leading to the main -exit from the cave.</p> - -<p>Will gave a quick glance behind him, but -instantly abandoned all thoughts of escaping -by the way he had come.</p> - -<p>The aperture was at the end of a slanting -decline and several feet above his head.</p> - -<p>To climb up that would consume time, and -bruin, more agile than he, would certainly -overtake him ere he had accomplished the -exit.</p> - -<p>In a flash, Will decided that but one -way of escape lay open to him, and that was -by dashing past the bear through the main -entrance, beyond which a glance revealed -Tom Dalton.</p> - -<p>The cave narrowed as it came to this spot, -and this passage way was almost completely -filled by the bear’s enormous body.</p> - -<p>The animal seemed ready for a second onslaught -on the intruder, when Will, waving -the torch so as to cause it to flame still more, -again thrust it into the animal’s face.</p> - -<p>Bruin roared with pain and rage and -showed his horrible fangs, but retreated -slowly.</p> - -<p>“If I could only drive him to the open -air,” murmured Will, tumultuously.</p> - -<p>There seemed but little hope of this, however, -for the bear at last appeared to make a -sullen stand, and half-raised himself, as if to -spring on Will.</p> - -<p>The latter could see open daylight beyond. -A few feet more and he believed he could -rush past the bear in safety.</p> - -<p>With a last, desperate movement he flung -the burning torch square at the head of the -bear.</p> - -<p>The animal crouched back, and then -turned with a frightful howl.</p> - -<p>A sudden, clicking snap echoed on the air, -and the bear seemed struggling and floundering -in a strange way.</p> - -<p>“The trap!” cried Will, wildly.</p> - -<p>His excited words expressed the bear’s -dilemma. Bruin, enraged and retreating, -had walked into the very snare he had before -avoided.</p> - -<p>He was foaming with rage, and, his hind -legs firmly caught between the clamps of the -immense steel trap set at the mouth of the -cave, was struggling wildly to release himself.</p> - -<p>With a shout of relief and joy, Will darted -past the imprisoned bear and into the open air.</p> - -<p>He found Tom Dalton standing staring at -the bear in open-mouthed wonderment.</p> - -<p>The trap was secured by an iron chain -around a tree, and, although it allowed bruin -a certain range of action, it held him a prisoner.</p> - -<p>Tom was struck on the arm, and came very -near within the bear’s floundering grasp, but -Will pulled him aside in time to avoid a -crushing blow from the animal’s heavy paw.</p> - -<p>Will entertained his companion with a -vivid account of his adventure.</p> - -<p>“You run to the camp and tell Mr. Hunter -what has occurred,” he said, when he had -concluded his story. “I’ll stay and watch -the bear.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Hunter and several of the men arrived -soon. He complimented Will on his capture, -and pronounced the bear a fine specimen -of his species.</p> - -<p>Will watched the men interestedly as, with -the aid of poles and hooks, they secured -bruin so that he could not injure them, when -they conveyed him to a cage wagon which -was sent for.</p> - -<p>Some chloroform on a sponge robbed -bruin of his natural fierceness, and he was -finally safely caged.</p> - -<p>The ensuing morning a fox and a wolf -were found, with other smaller animals, in -the traps, set in various places around the -camp.</p> - -<p>The history of one day was that of all the -week spent at the camp. One wagon was -ready to send back, and then Mr. Hunter announced -that they would push on still further -into the wilderness.</p> - -<p>It was an exciting and interesting tramp -for the two boys. The ensuing three weeks -were the busiest ones they had ever known.</p> - -<p>They learned how the moose, the deer, the -otter, the catamount and other animals were -captured, and many a thrilling experience -was theirs in a quest for rare birds amid the -lonely forests.</p> - -<p>When the snow became compact, rude runners -were substituted for wheels on the wagons, -and several of the vehicles left the expedition -filled with captured animals and -birds.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[21]</span></p> - -<p>When they were traveling it would sometimes -be entire days ere they would come -across a settlement, or even a house.</p> - -<p>It was just about a month after leaving -Watertown when, one day, an incident occurred -which materially changed all the -plans of the two boys who had so strangely -become members of the expedition.</p> - -<p>They had orders to prepare for a new move -that night, and early in the day had gone -back by the route they had come to a -place where a rocky formation in the landscape -had suggested the idea of successful -bird hunting.</p> - -<p>Several eagles had been noticed by the -boys, and it was to capture one of these that -they determined to make the expedition on -their own account.</p> - -<p>The weather had become mild, and the -snow had almost disappeared. Mr. Hunter -warned them not to go too far from the -camp, as a storm was threatened.</p> - -<p>Provided with ropes and snares, Will and -Tom reached the spot they had in view, and -for over an hour wandered about the place.</p> - -<p>At last, some distance away, they made out -several large birds circling about a rocky -point of land.</p> - -<p>Will suggested that they visit the spot, and -this took them still farther away from the -camp.</p> - -<p>Clambering over the rocks, exploring this -and that secluded aerie, and endeavoring to -snare some of the birds, which they thought -to be eagles, the hours passed so rapidly -away that dusk grew upon them before they -realized how the day had advanced.</p> - -<p>“Why, Will, it’s getting dark!” suddenly -exclaimed Tom.</p> - -<p>They abandoned their efforts at catching -the birds and descended to the level plain beneath.</p> - -<p>The scenery around them seemed utterly -unfamiliar, and Will was somewhat alarmed, -as he found that he was considerably confused -as to the points of the compass.</p> - -<p>However, he finally decided upon what he -supposed to be the direction in which the -camp lay, and they started forward on their -way.</p> - -<p>Darkness came on, and, although they had -progressed several miles, they were more bewildered -than ever concerning their real -whereabouts.</p> - -<p>Any person who has been lost knows how, -in the effort to regain some familiar landmark, -the mind becomes affrighted and bewildered, -and the feet wander unconsciously -and aimlessly.</p> - -<p>It was so with Will and Tom. It must -have been nearly morning before they came -to a halt.</p> - -<p>They built a fire in a thicket and determined -to wait until daybreak before they -attempted again to ascertain their bearings -or endeavored to reach the camp.</p> - -<p>Will had not imparted his real anxieties to -Tom, but when, the ensuing day, several -hours’ wandering failed to reveal any trace -of the camp or its proximity, he began to exhibit -a deep concern.</p> - -<p>“See here, Tom,” he said, frankly, at last, -“I’ve led you to believe that it was only a -matter of time in reaching the camp.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Will.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I thought it was, but I’ve changed -my mind.”</p> - -<p>“You said the opening here looked like one -near our last camping place.”</p> - -<p>“I was mistaken.”</p> - -<p>“Then you don’t think we’ll reach camp -to-night?”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid not, Tom. There’s no use -evading the true condition of affairs. We’ve -been going in a wrong direction all day. We -are lost!”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">IN THE WILDERNESS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>It was a dreary prospect for the tired and -hungry boys, and Tom’s face lengthened as -he realized the hardship and privation in -store for them.</p> - -<p>They had eaten the last morsel of food -they had brought with them the day before, -and the danger of actual starvation stared -them in the face.</p> - -<p>“We may have wandered miles from the -camp, and Mr. Hunter may be looking for -us in an entirely different direction,” said -Will, seriously.</p> - -<p>“Can’t we reach some town or settlement?” -inquired Tom, hopefully.</p> - -<p>“There may not be a house within a hundred -miles, and there may be one within ten. -All we can do is to struggle on, and as it’s -getting night and looks like snow, we had -better hurry away from this level prairie.”</p> - -<p>In the far distance trees were visible, and -the boys, keeping them in view, trudged -wearily onwards.</p> - -<p>Snow began to fall late in the afternoon, -and this caused Will to urge the lagging Tom -to hasten his pace, and endeavor to reach the -timber ere night and storm overtook them.</p> - -<p>They reached a scattering woods finally. -Seeking a place to camp for the night, Tom<span class="pagenum">[22]</span> -startled his companion with a welcome discovery.</p> - -<p>It was the track of horses’ feet and wagon -wheels along the edge of the timber, and -they were quite fresh.</p> - -<p>“Some vehicle has passed here lately, sure,” -said Will, quite excitedly.</p> - -<p>“Let us follow up the tracks,—they may -lead to some town,” suggested Tom.</p> - -<p>This course seemed a wise one, and was -immediately followed, but when the road diverged -to the opening all traces were hidden -by the fast falling snow.</p> - -<p>Darkness coming down showed a dreary -waste of snow lying before them far as the -eye could reach.</p> - -<p>“We had better find a camp for the night,” -said Will.</p> - -<p>They devoted some time to searching for -a convenient spot. The snow had become -heavy and blinding, and penetrated even the -timber.</p> - -<p>“We’ll find a clump of screening bushes -somewhere,” said Will, and they kept on -through the woods.</p> - -<p>At a little opening they paused, wet, chilled -and discouraged.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Will started.</p> - -<p>“Hark!” he said, impressively.</p> - -<p>Tom bent his ear to catch an ominous -noise echoing strangely through the silent -woods.</p> - -<p>A distant baying sound was borne upon the -breeze, becoming augmented in volume and -nearness as they listened.</p> - -<p>“What is it, Will?” inquired Tom, in awe-stricken -tones.</p> - -<p>“Wolves.”</p> - -<p>Tom’s face grew pale and his hands began -trembling violently.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Will, what shall we do if they come -here?”</p> - -<p>“They probably will come here, but we -won’t let them catch us just yet.”</p> - -<p>“What shall we do?”</p> - -<p>“Build a fire and climb the highest tree we -can find.”</p> - -<p>Will began at once to gather leaves and -wood, but paused with a cry of delight.</p> - -<p>“Come this way quick, Tom. Do you see -yonder?”</p> - -<p>“In the opening?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. It’s a house. Run, Tom, for the -wolves are coming nearer.”</p> - -<p>The baying sound seemed directly in the -timber as they dashed across the snowy waste.</p> - -<p>In the centre of the opening stood a structure -of some kind. As they neared it the -rude outlines of a log cabin were revealed.</p> - -<p>The single door was open. Through the -roofless top the snow came down heavily.</p> - -<p>But it was a welcome house of refuge -amid peril. Will pushed the door shut and -propped a heavy log lying inside against it.</p> - -<p>As he did so he saw, breaking from the -cover of the forest, a dozen or more wolves.</p> - -<p>“Just in time,” he murmured, relievedly, -as he glanced around at the stout timbers enclosing -the cabin.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">IMPRISONED BY WOLVES.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Tom Dalton could not overcome the terror -he experienced at the near proximity of the -wolves until Will assured him that they were -safe.</p> - -<p>“They can’t break in the door nor reach -the roof.”</p> - -<p>“But we’ll have to stay here all night.”</p> - -<p>“Very probably, Tom, and we’ll make the -best of it and try and keep comfortable.”</p> - -<p>It was a cheerless outlook, however, for -the snow came down through the roofless -top of the cabin the same as if they were out -doors.</p> - -<p>Will adjusted some logs to form a kind of -shelter, however, and then for some time -listened to the noises from the outside.</p> - -<p>The wolves were baying and snarling and -tearing at the logs as if hungry for their expected -prey.</p> - -<p>These sounds died away after a while, the -animals seeming to abandon their assault on -the cabin as useless.</p> - -<p>“They have gone off on a new trail,” said -Will; but half an hour later his theory -seemed to be an incorrect one.</p> - -<p>Far in the distance the baying began -again, came nearer and nearer, and sounded -more vicious in its echoing tones than before.</p> - -<p>“I wonder what it means,” spoke Tom.</p> - -<p>“They seem to be coming to the cabin -again,” said Will. “Why, one of them is -tearing at the logs.”</p> - -<p>A scraping sound emanated from the outside -as Will spoke.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and the wolf is reaching the top. -Oh, Will, we are lost! Look!”</p> - -<p>Over the edge of the roof a dark form -climbed, plainly visible against the sky.</p> - -<p>“It’s no wolf, Tom,” said Will, quickly.</p> - -<p>“What, then?”</p> - -<p>“A man. Don’t you see? Some belated -traveler like ourselves.”</p> - -<p>There was no doubt of Will’s statement, -for the form climbed astride the roof pole, -and, as the howling of the wolves sounded -below him, shook his fist in their direction.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[23]</span></p> - -<p>“Ye varmints,” the boys heard him cry, -“I’ve cheated ye this time; but I guess this is -the only tavern I’ll see to-night.”</p> - -<p>His hat had fallen off in climbing to a -place of safety, but some object in a box was -clasped in one hand.</p> - -<p>Curious, interested at this new phase -in the occurrences of the night, the boys -watched the man silently.</p> - -<p>He kept talking down to the snarling -wolves, seeking vainly to reach him, in a -quaint, complaining tone.</p> - -<p>Then he opened the box, and, to Will’s -amazement, <a href="#Ref_23">drew forth a violin</a>.</p> - -<div id="Ref_23" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i23.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>“Ye didn’t get this, although ye’ve spoiled -the party at the Corners’ tavern,” he shouted -at the wolves. “I’ll give ye some music to -dance to, ye jolly varmints.”</p> - -<p>A jolly old person himself seemed the -refugee, for, without more ado, as if rather -enjoying his strange dilemma than otherwise, -he began playing a quick, merry tune on his -violin.</p> - -<p>“Hello!”</p> - -<p>As the strains of melody died away, Will -shouted the word to the musician.</p> - -<p>The latter started and stared all around -him.</p> - -<p>“Curious,” he muttered; “I knew music -tamed animals, but to make ’em speak! -Why, it’s some one inside the cabin,” he -cried, in surprise, looking down as Will -shouted up to him again. “Who are you?”</p> - -<p>“Two boys driven here by the storm and -the wolves.”</p> - -<p>“Well, well, if this ain’t a night of adventures -my name ain’t Jabez Brown,” muttered -the stranger. “Catch the fiddle, youngsters, -and don’t let it drop, for it’s my bread and -butter. I’m coming down.”</p> - -<p>He lowered the violin and followed it -nimbly, staring curiously at his young companions -in distress.</p> - -<p>His big, honest eyes fairly shone in the -semi-darkness of the hut as he questioned -Will rapidly, and the latter briefly related -the causes leading to their present dilemma.</p> - -<p>In return, the musician informed them -that they were in the vicinity of two isolated -settlements, that he was a schoolmaster and -musician, and that he was on his way to a -place called “the Corners,” to play at a party -at the tavern, when the storm belated him -and the wolves drove him to the old cabin.</p> - -<p>“It ain’t safe to venture out before daylight,” -he said, “for the storm’s heavy and<span class="pagenum">[24]</span> -the wolves are as thick as bees. We’ll build -a fire in the old fireplace yonder and keep -warm, and I’ve got a little lunch in my -pocket here.”</p> - -<p>The bustling old musician, with the help -of the boys, made a slanting cover of the -loose logs in the cabin, and then, with his -knife, cut some kindling from one of them.</p> - -<p>A cheerful fire soon blazed in the fireplace, -warming the chilled denizens of the -hut. The stranger’s lunch was very welcome -to the boys, and his merry stories of -frontier life kept them entertained until -nearly morning.</p> - -<p>At daylight they started over a trackless -waste of snow for the Corners. Here the -boys found some kind-hearted friends of -Brown, who welcomed them to a cozy home -until they could decide as to their future -course.</p> - -<p>A discussion of the situation with Brown -led to an abandonment of the hope of again -joining Mr. Hunter.</p> - -<p>The only settlement they could remember -where a station had been made, they were -informed, was many miles to the west, -through a trackless wilderness.</p> - -<p>“We will have to work our way back to -Watertown,” decided Will, and the ensuing -day an opportunity presented itself to begin -their progress homewards.</p> - -<p>The storekeeper intended driving to a -town some fifty miles distant for goods, and -offered to give them a free ride.</p> - -<p>When they reached the place they learned -that it would be easier for them to reach the -seacoast and then proceed home than to -pass through a less inhabited portion direct -to Watertown.</p> - -<p>Four days after leaving the Corners, by -means of occasional rides from farmers and -others, they reached the city of Portland.</p> - -<p>“We won’t be long in reaching Watertown -now,” said Will, confidently.</p> - -<p>“Why not?” inquired Tom.</p> - -<p>“Because there must be some ships going -that way, and I am acquainted with a good -many of the sailors.”</p> - -<p>The first place he visited was the wharves -of the city. It was just dusk when they -came to a dock where a large ship, which -Will recognized, was moored.</p> - -<p>Tom, less observing than his companion, -had not noticed it particularly.</p> - -<p>“There seems to be only one ship we know -here,” said Will.</p> - -<p>“I haven’t seen any.”</p> - -<p>“Look yonder, then. That one lying nearest -to us runs regularly to Watertown.”</p> - -<p>Tom started as he recognized the craft, -and looked dismayed.</p> - -<p>For it was the Golden Moose.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">STOWAWAYS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Tom Dalton stood grimly silent for a moment -or two regarding the ship before him -as if to satisfy himself that it was indeed -Captain Morris’ ship.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” he said, finally, “it’s the Golden -Moose.”</p> - -<p>“And ready to sail soon, too,” remarked -Will. “Where are you going, Tom?”</p> - -<p>Tom had started to leave the spot.</p> - -<p>“To look for another ship.”</p> - -<p>“What for?”</p> - -<p>“To get back to Watertown, of course.”</p> - -<p>“See here, Tom.”</p> - -<p>“Well.”</p> - -<p>“I doubt if there’s a craft here going to -Watertown.”</p> - -<p>“Then we’ll wait for one,” responded Tom, -gruffly. “You surely ain’t thinking of the -Moose?”</p> - -<p>“I am. Why not? We have friends aboard. -There’s the boatswain.”</p> - -<p>Tom shook his head persistently.</p> - -<p>“It’s no use of talking, Will,” he said. -“I daren’t trust myself in Captain Morris’ -clutches again. He’d kill me, sure.”</p> - -<p>“Nonsense. See here, Tom, the hatches -are fastened down and the Moose probably -sails to-night. It’s only a short voyage.”</p> - -<p>“Well?”</p> - -<p>“There’s a dozen places we could hide -about the ship.”</p> - -<p>“That may be, but—”</p> - -<p>“And Captain Morris may not be aboard -at all. You know he sometimes gives the -mate charge of the ship.”</p> - -<p>“If I thought that, I’d venture, Will, but -I’m really afraid of him.”</p> - -<p>“Once aboard we’ll hide snug and safe -until we reach Watertown and then skip -ashore.”</p> - -<p>Tom’s hesitation gave way under Will’s -arguments, and he said:</p> - -<p>“All right. I’ll sort of sneak around the -ship and see who is aboard.”</p> - -<p>Will waited while Tom approached the -ship.</p> - -<p>The latter was gone about ten minutes.</p> - -<p>“Well?” asked Will, as he returned to the -place where he was.</p> - -<p>“The coast’s clear.”</p> - -<p>“No one aboard?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes; the mate and boatswain and half -a dozen others are in the cabin.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[25]</span></p> - -<p>“And the crew?”</p> - -<p>“I guess they’re ashore.”</p> - -<p>“Did you see Captain Morris?”</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>“Does it look as if they were going to sail -to-night?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; the lanterns are ready for an outward -trip. Come, now’s our time to steal -aboard. They’ve been making a lot of -changes, just as if they were going on a long -voyage.”</p> - -<p>Tom led the way to the ship, and Will followed -him over the rail to the deck.</p> - -<p>“Where shall we hide?” he asked Tom.</p> - -<p>“In the forecastle.”</p> - -<p>“Won’t we be discovered?”</p> - -<p>Tom laughed.</p> - -<p>“You must remember I’m at home on the -Moose,” he said.</p> - -<p>A lamp burned dimly in the forecastle, -and thither Tom led the way. They passed -a row of bunks, and finally came to a trap -door, which he opened.</p> - -<p>“Are we going in there?” inquired Will, -peering into the dark aperture.</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“What is it?”</p> - -<p>“A sort of storage cubby hole, and it’s -warm and cozy.”</p> - -<p>Both boys found themselves ensconced in -a low, boarded apartment. Several old mattresses -afforded a soft couch, and they could -command a full view of the room through -which they passed through the cracks in the -door, which Tom had pulled shut after him.</p> - -<p>They had tramped quite a long distance -that day, and their whispered conversation -soon subsided, and drowsiness overcame -them.</p> - -<p>Will was the first to awake in the morning. -From the motion of the ship he knew that -they were on the ocean. Peering through -the interstices of the trap door he saw several -sailors asleep and others coming from and -going to the deck.</p> - -<p>When Tom awoke they discussed the situation -and decided that by that night or the -next morning they would reach Watertown.</p> - -<p>“I’m getting desperately hungry,” Tom said -more than once, as the long morning glided -away.</p> - -<p>“We can’t get anything to eat here without -revealing ourselves,” replied Will.</p> - -<p>Tom’s fortitude, however, gave out completely -before the day was ended.</p> - -<p>“I can’t stand it, Will,” he ejaculated at -last. “I’m fairly dying of hunger and thirst. -Look, Will, there’s the boatswain.”</p> - -<p>Peering through a crack in the door, Will -saw Jack Marcy enter the place.</p> - -<p>He was alone, and the forecastle was deserted -except for himself.</p> - -<p>“Shall I hail him?” he whispered, inquiringly, -to Tom.</p> - -<p>“Yes, do, Will. He’ll bring us something -to eat and drink and won’t betray us.”</p> - -<p>Will pushed the door of their place of concealment -slightly ajar.</p> - -<p>“Jack!” he uttered in a distinct but subdued -tone.</p> - -<p>The boatswain, who was arranging a bunk, -started, and looked bewilderedly around -him.</p> - -<p>“Here, Jack, it’s Tom Dalton and myself,” -spoke Will, pushing the door clear open.</p> - -<p>Jack Marcy came to the spot and stood -staring in profound amazement at the two -boyish faces peering out at him.</p> - -<p>“Well, well,” was all he could say, in -dumbfounded amazement.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you know us, Jack? It’s Tom Dalton -and Will Bertram.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, I know you, but how on earth -do you come here?” spoke the mystified -boatswain.</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s a long story, Jack. All we’re -thinking of now is getting back to Watertown, -and we want something to eat.”</p> - -<p>“Where?” cried Jack, wildly.</p> - -<p>“To Watertown.”</p> - -<p>The old boatswain shook his head gravely.</p> - -<p>“You’re on the wrong ship, lads. It will -be many a long day before you see Watertown.”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” asked Will, in sudden -alarm.</p> - -<p>“The Moose ain’t going to Watertown at -all.”</p> - -<p>“What! Not going to Watertown?”</p> - -<p>“No; she’s provisioned for a two-months’ -ocean trip.”</p> - -<p>“And Captain Morris——” quavered Tom, -appealingly.</p> - -<p>“Is in command.”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">ON THE OCEAN.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Will Bertram uttered a cry of surprise and -dismay at Jack Marcy’s startling declaration, -while Tom grew pale and frightened.</p> - -<p>“Come out of that place, both of you,” said -the boatswain. “You might hide away for a -day or two, but not for two months. Here, -lads, I’ll find a place where we can talk without -being interrupted.”</p> - -<p>He crossed the forecastle, and, taking a -key from his pocket, unlocked a door, which, -opened, revealed a small apartment with a -little window looking out on the deck.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[26]</span></p> - -<p>Jack relocked the door, and, pointing to -some casks, told the boys to be seated.</p> - -<p>“We’re safe in the spirit room here,” he -said. “Now, then, lads, out with your story, -and let’s hear the worst of it.”</p> - -<p>Tom Dalton was too engrossed in his misery, -as he imagined the blows in store for -him when he met Captain Morris, to say a -word.</p> - -<p>Will briefly related what had occurred -since the episode of Tom’s flight from the -Moose.</p> - -<p>Jack Marcy listened with mouth agape.</p> - -<p>“Well, you boys deserve to get home, for -you’re persevering enough, that’s sure,” -and Jack went on to tell about the change -in the usual sailing route of the ship.</p> - -<p>It seemed that the coast trade had been -light during the late winter months, and Captain -Morris had prepared for a voyage to -Nova Scotia and points farther north.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know what he’ll say when he finds -you’re aboard,” said Jack, dubiously.</p> - -<p>“Don’t let him know; oh, please don’t tell -him,” pleaded Tom, anxiously.</p> - -<p>“We can’t very well hide the truth from -him, lad,” said Jack. “Don’t begin to blubber, -now, and we’ll think of the easiest way -to get you out of this fix. You’re hungry, I -guess; eh, lads?”</p> - -<p>Will assented eagerly.</p> - -<p>“I’ll get you something to eat and drink, -and we’ll think the affair over,” said Jack.</p> - -<p>He left them and returned in a few minutes -with the promised food.</p> - -<p>Then he relocked the door and left his -young charges anxious and suspenseful over -his promised mental consideration of the -case.</p> - -<p>Meantime, events were in progress in the -cabin of the ship, of which the boys were in -entire ignorance, but which materially affected -their welfare.</p> - -<p>Captain Morris and his mate had celebrated -the sailing of the Golden Moose by -drinking very freely, and immediately after -the boatswain’s visit to the boys the captain -had come on deck.</p> - -<p>It had been Jack Marcy’s intention to approach -the Captain on the subject of the -stowaways.</p> - -<p>The Captain’s sullen face and rough manner, -however, deterred him from carrying -his plan into operation. Under the influence -of liquor, Captain Morris was a worse tyrant -than ever, and he made it uncomfortable for -all the men he came in contact with by finding -fault with them or threatening chastisement -for some alleged dereliction of duty.</p> - -<p>Finally his attention was directed to a little -knot of men gathered on the deck, in the centre -of which was a pale and excited sailor, who -was gesticulating violently and pointing to -the forecastle.</p> - -<p>“What’s the row here?” angrily demanded -the Captain, approaching the men. “What -are you loitering around here for?”</p> - -<p>“Ben Allen has seen a spirit, sir,” spoke up -one of the men.</p> - -<p>“What’s this nonsense? Too much rum, I -guess,” gruffly replied Morris.</p> - -<p>“I did see a spirit, Captain, all the same,” -seriously answered the sailor named Ben -Allen.</p> - -<p>“Whose?” inquired the Captain, scoffingly.</p> - -<p>“The old cabin boy’s, Tom Dalton’s.”</p> - -<p>“Where?” he demanded.</p> - -<p>“At the little bull’s-eye glass in the forecastle -spirit room.”</p> - -<p>The man’s manner was so earnest that -Morris looked half convinced.</p> - -<p>Jack Marcy had overheard the conversation, -and looked deeply concerned.</p> - -<p>“It’s all up with the boys if the Captain believes -him,” he muttered.</p> - -<p>He at once discerned what had happened. -Tom Dalton, peering out of the window of -the spirit room, had been seen by the sailor -Allen.</p> - -<p>“Here, Jack Marcy, where’s the key to the -spirit room?”</p> - -<p>“You ain’t going to pay attention to Allen’s -nonsense, are you, captain?” asked Jack, with -assumed carelessness.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I am. Here, you, Allen, we’ll hunt -for this spirit that haunts the ship.”</p> - -<p>He took the key from Jack’s hand and -went forthwith into the forecastle.</p> - -<p>Will and Tom heard the sound of approaching -footsteps, but, little dreaming of what had -transpired on the deck, supposed it was the -boatswain bent on another visit to them, as -the key grated in the lock.</p> - -<p>The door opened.</p> - -<p>Will Bertram stood transfixed, while Tom -Dalton shrank back with a feeble cry of dread.</p> - -<p>For a single moment Captain Morris stood -rooted to the spot, gazing amazedly at the -two boys.</p> - -<p>“I told you, captain, Tom Dalton was there,” -muttered Allen.</p> - -<p>“But no spirit,” cried Captain Morris, his -eyes flashing with malice. “Tom Dalton, -eh? Well, my runaway cabin boy, we’ll now -attend to the whipping you got out of so -nicely at Watertown a month ago.”</p> - -<p>And seizing the terrified Tom he dragged -him triumphantly to the deck of the ship.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum">[27]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">A FRIEND IN NEED.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Land was nowhere in sight, and a chill, -frosty air swept the deck of the Golden -Moose as its captain confronted his crew with -a new surprise.</p> - -<p>He vouchsafed no explanation to them of -his discovery of the boys, nor did he exhibit -at first any curiosity as to how the stowaways -had come aboard.</p> - -<p>It seemed to be enough to him to know -that the former object of his hatred and -spite, Tom Dalton, was once more in his -power.</p> - -<p>Will Bertram had followed the Captain -and Tom to the deck. As Morris flung the -cabin boy with a violent jerk upon a pile of -ropes he growled out, viciously:</p> - -<p>“You stay there until I get the cat-of-nine-tails -ready!”</p> - -<p>Poor Tom crouched and cowered and hid -his face in his hands, uttering moans of despair -and terror.</p> - -<p>Will grew sick at heart as he contemplated -the brutal visage of the half-drunken Morris.</p> - -<p>He summoned all his courage and boldness, -however, and ventured to address him.</p> - -<p>“Captain Morris, can I speak a word to -you?”</p> - -<p>Morris turned with a sneering snarl.</p> - -<p>“Ah, my young friend, how humble we -are! Our tone ain’t quite as defiant as it -was!”</p> - -<p>“I want to speak to you about Tom, sir.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll clip his wings, and yours, too, before -this voyage is ended. You got him to -run away. I told you I’d get even with you, -and you’ll soon find out how well I keep my -word.”</p> - -<p>“Captain Morris,” said Will, earnestly, -“you have no right to abuse that boy, and -you don’t dare to whip me!”</p> - -<p>Captain Morris terminated Will’s appeal -by going below and reappearing a minute -later.</p> - -<p>The dreaded instrument of torture, the -cat-of-nine-tails, was in his grasp.</p> - -<p>His big, brawny hand seized Tom’s jacket -and fairly tore it from his back.</p> - -<p>He did not wait to have his victim tied up, -but began slashing at the poor cabin boy -with fiendish satisfaction in his evil face.</p> - -<p>“Take that, and that. Ah! you squirm, do -you!”</p> - -<p>“You coward!”</p> - -<p>As blow after blow was rained on the -shoulders and body of the screaming Tom, -his companion could not restrain his indignation, -and applied the censuring words to -Morris.</p> - -<p>The latter turned.</p> - -<p>“I’ll see if this ship is to be run by boys -any longer!” he yelled, choking with rage.</p> - -<p>The whip came down across Will’s form -with a violence that fairly took his breath -away.</p> - -<p>He gasped out wildly from the pain inflicted -by the cutting strokes.</p> - -<p>Suddenly there was an interruption. A -hand stronger than that of the Captain -clutched the descending whip.</p> - -<p>“Don’t strike that boy again, Captain Morris!”</p> - -<p>Jack Marcy had stepped forward, and it -was he who now spoke.</p> - -<p>The Captain directed one amazed glance at -him, dumbfounded at the first evidence of -rebellion he had ever seen on board the -Golden Moose.</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” he demanded, red -with anger.</p> - -<p>“You ain’t treating these boys right, Captain; -that’s what I mean,” said Jack, steadily. -“Don’t strike them again.”</p> - -<p>“Stand aside!”</p> - -<p>“I won’t do it, Captain. You ain’t yourself, -or you wouldn’t act this way.”</p> - -<p>The Captain struggled to get his hands -free, but Jack held him firmly.</p> - -<p>“Mutiny!” he roared. “Here,” to the crew, -“seize this man and lock him up below.”</p> - -<p>Not a sailor stirred to interfere or relieve -the Captain from his dilemma.</p> - -<p>“Do you hear me?” raved Morris, finally -wrenching his hands free. “Well, then, I’ll -trounce the whole of you, beginning with -you, my mutinous boatswain!”</p> - -<p>He struck at Jack Marcy. The blow was -not repeated.</p> - -<p>Without an indication of anger on his -bronzed face, but with a quick step forward, -the boatswain lifted his fist and deliberately -knocked the Captain down.</p> - -<p>Captain Morris arose to his feet with blood -in his eye.</p> - -<p>“Do you know what you’ve done, you -mutinous scoundrel?” he yelled. “Oh, my -hearty, you’ll pay dearly for this! To the -forecastle! You are no longer an officer on -this ship! As to these boys, put them to -work,” he ordered to the mate; “and give -them plenty of it, and the hardest kind at -that!”</p> - -<p>Jack Marcy walked up to the Captain and -looked him squarely in the eye.</p> - -<p>“Captain Morris,” he said, “you’ve relieved -me of duty on the ship, well and good; but<span class="pagenum">[28]</span> -you leave those boys alone. It ain’t in my -nature to see them abused, and I won’t, and -there ain’t a man here that don’t stand by -me. I’ve sailed with you a long time and -did my duty, but I’m through now. You can -send me home on a passing ship or land me -ashore for mutiny, just as you like. You -and I part company this voyage, and that’s -the end of it.”</p> - -<p>The Captain’s brow darkened.</p> - -<p>“I will have you tried for mutiny!” he -cried. “As to those boys, they’ll work their -passage, I’ll guarantee.”</p> - -<p>Captain Morris did not boast vainly. That -day and for many days following, Will and -Tom were put at the severest drudgery.</p> - -<p>Jack Marcy’s position had been given to -one of the sailors and he himself relieved -from duty.</p> - -<p>Captain Morris did not again exercise any -positive cruelty against the boys, but saw -that they did not idle their time away.</p> - -<p>He and the mate seemed to be continually -holding mysterious conversations, and more -than once the crew discussed the strange -course of the ship.</p> - -<p>“We seem to be ocean bound,” Will overheard -one of them say one day, “with no -definite port in view.”</p> - -<p>“He’s going to touch at Nova Scotia and -points north, I hear,” remarked another -sailor.</p> - -<p>One dark night an event occurred which -threw some light on the Captain’s action.</p> - -<p>Will had been cleaning the lamps in the -forward cabin. The weather had been squally -all day, and had developed into a positive -storm at night.</p> - -<p>More than once the boatswain had come to -the cabin where the captain and mate were, -asking for orders, as the ship seemed in positive -danger.</p> - -<p>The mate went on deck several times, but -would return almost immediately, and he and -the Captain would resume their confidential -talk, drinking freely from a bottle of liquor -on the table, in the inner cabin.</p> - -<p>They paid no attention to Will, who was in -the next compartment to the one they occupied, -but they started and looked up, and Will -himself aroused curiously as a form came -into the cabin and boldly entered on the privacy -of the captain and the mate.</p> - -<p>It was Jack Marcy, and his face was grim -and uncompromising as he faced his superior -officers.</p> - -<p>Captain Morris scowled darkly.</p> - -<p>“What do you want here?” he demanded, -gruffly.</p> - -<p>“I want to talk with you about this ship. -The crew are getting uneasy. They say she -is suffering from stress of weather, and that -the commanding officers are not doing their -duty.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that of your business? You are no -longer an officer on the ship.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe not, Captain Morris, but I happen -to know what the men do not. There’s a -leak in the hold, and you two are plotting to -sink the ship.”</p> - -<p>Captain Morris sprang to his feet wildly.</p> - -<p>“Are you mad, to make such a statement?” -he cried.</p> - -<p>“No,” replied Jack, calmly. “I know what -I’m talking about. When you left Portland -the Golden Moose was heavily insured and -charged with a cargo she never carried. I -accuse you, Captain Morris, and your mate, -with trying to sink the ship in mid-ocean to -get that insurance money!”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE WRECK.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Captain Morris’ face underwent a variety -of startling changes at the bold assertion of -Jack Marcy.</p> - -<p>Will Bertram could see them by the lamplight -through the open door of the inner -cabin, and was amazed at the bold charge the -boatswain had made.</p> - -<p>“Do you know what you are saying?” began -the Captain.</p> - -<p>“Perfectly. The ship is in danger.”</p> - -<p>“We can’t help that.”</p> - -<p>“And aleak.”</p> - -<p>“Then it must be attended to.”</p> - -<p>“You are right, Captain Morris, and if you -and your mate do not immediately set about -repairing your evil work I will tell the crew -all.”</p> - -<p>Morris’ usually red face had grown very -pale.</p> - -<p>“You say there is a leak?” he said, after a -pause.</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“Where?”</p> - -<p>“In the hold, where you and your mate -were two hours since, and where I overheard -your plot to sink the ship and trust to the -long-boat to get ashore.”</p> - -<p>“And you imagine the crew would believe -this story if you told it to them?”</p> - -<p>“I do if I added some further information -I have obtained.”</p> - -<p>“What is that?”</p> - -<p>“The real fate of the crew of the Albatross.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[29]</span></p> - -<p>At these words a horrible pallor crossed -Morris’ face.</p> - -<p>There was a crash, and the light in the -cabin went suddenly out.</p> - -<p>A heavy blow seemed struck, and then the -mate’s voice fell on Will’s hearing:</p> - -<p>“He knows too much, Captain.”</p> - -<p>“For our safety, yes. Ha! what’s that?”</p> - -<p>There was a violent lurch of the ship as -the Captain spoke.</p> - -<p>The next moment he and the mate rushed -past Will to the deck.</p> - -<p>The latter, alarmed at the wild tossing of -the ship, followed them.</p> - -<p>The deck of the <a id="Ref_32a" href="#Ref_32">Golden Moose</a> was a scene -of indescribable confusion.</p> - -<div id="Ref_32" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i32.jpg" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="center"><a href="#Ref_32a">THE GOLDEN MOOSE</a>.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>The skies were of inky blackness, the -sea lashed into a mad fury by a terrific gale.</p> - -<p>It is doubtful if the captain and the mate -anticipated such a tempest, for, as the new -boatswain announced that the ship was becoming -water-logged, both men seemed terribly -frightened.</p> - -<p>Each moment the condition of the ship -became worse. It tossed in the trough of -the sea and then on the crest of the waves.</p> - -<p>Tom Dalton, pale and excited, had reached -Will Bertram’s side, and both clung to a rope -to escape being swept off the deck.</p> - -<p>“We shall all go down,” quavered Tom. -“See, Will, they are pulling off the long-boat.”</p> - -<p>“And Jack Marcy is below. Follow me, -Tom. The captain and mate intend leaving -him behind.”</p> - -<p>Both boys hurried into the cabin. Will -groped his way to the inner compartment.</p> - -<p>It was locked!</p> - -<p>He had no thought now of personal safety, -but, suspenseful for the rescue of their -staunch friend, bade Tom help him.</p> - -<p>Together they endeavored to force the -locked door. Will beat at it with a chair, -kicked at it, flung his body against it.</p> - -<p>The door gave way at last.</p> - -<p>“Jack! Jack!” he cried, groping his way -about blindly in the darkness.</p> - -<p>A lurch of the ship sent him to one side of -the cabin.</p> - -<p>As he fell his hand came in contact with a -prostrate form.</p> - -<p>“It is Jack, and he is insensible,” he murmured, -concernedly. “Tom! Tom!”</p> - -<p>“I’m here, Will.”</p> - -<p>“Hurry on deck.”</p> - -<p>“What for?”</p> - -<p>“To tell the crew that Jack Marcy is lying -here helpless and in peril.”</p> - -<p>“How did he come here?” asked Tom, -curiously.</p> - -<p>“Never mind now. The captain and mate -locked him in. Quick, tell the men.”</p> - -<p>Tom disappeared.</p> - -<p>A minute later he came rushing down -wildly.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Will! Will!” he cried, frantically.</p> - -<p>“What has happened?”</p> - -<p>“We are left behind. The captain and the -crew have left in the long-boat, and have deserted -the ship.”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE WRECK.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Will Bertram was utterly overwhelmed at -the intelligence conveyed by Tom’s announcement -of the condition of affairs on -the deck of the Golden Moose.</p> - -<p>For some moments he did not speak. The -peril of their situation stunned him completely.</p> - -<p>“They could not have been so cowardly, so -inhuman,” he murmured.</p> - -<p>“Maybe the men didn’t miss us in the excitement, -and the Captain wanted to leave us -behind,” remarked Tom.</p> - -<p>Will groped his way to a place where a -lamp was fastened to the wall and lit it.</p> - -<p>Its rays showed the boatswain, insensible -on the floor. Will leaned over him and -shook him gently.</p> - -<p>In a few moments he had the satisfaction -of seeing him move, open his eyes and stare -bewilderedly around him.</p> - -<p>“Why, what’s happened? Oh, I remember—the -captain and the mate. They knocked -me insensible. Where are they?”</p> - -<p>“Gone.”</p> - -<p>“Gone—where?”</p> - -<p>“They locked you in and left the ship in -the long-boat;” and Will related what had -occurred.</p> - -<p>“The scoundrels!” ejaculated the boatswain. -“Stay here, my lads, for the ship’s -tossing at a terrible rate, and it ain’t safe for -you to go on deck.”</p> - -<p>The practiced eye of the old sailor took in -the peculiar position of the ship at a glance.</p> - -<p>One of the masts was broken, and whole -parts of the deck had been swept away. The -forward part of the ship dipped low, as -though disabled, and its course was erratic -and unguided by rudder or sails.</p> - -<p>Amid the darkness there was no sight of -the long-boat.</p> - -<p>“You’re right, lads,” said the old tar, returning -to the cabin. “The ship is deserted -and at the mercy of the storm—and a bad -storm it is.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[30]</span></p> - -<p>As he spoke, a gigantic wave swept over -the deck and into the cabin.</p> - -<p>“We’ll get out of here as soon as we can. -No whimpering, Tom. With common sense -and courage we may be saved yet.”</p> - -<p>Jack ransacked several nooks in the cabin -and brought to view several old coats made -of tarpaulin cloth. In these, as a protection -against the rain and waves, the trio encased -themselves.</p> - -<p>Then the boatswain tied a strong rope -around his waist and bade his fellow-companions -in peril do the same.</p> - -<p>“Now, keep close to me,” he said.</p> - -<p>He climbed to the deck, the boys following -him. It was well that he took the precautions -he did, for the first wave swept Will -and Tom off their feet.</p> - -<p>Jack clung to the wheel, toward which he -with difficulty made his way.</p> - -<p>His companions crouched at his feet, awed -and frightened at the wildness of the storm.</p> - -<p>“The boat may weather the storm yet, leaking -as she is,” remarked Jack.</p> - -<p>“But if not?”</p> - -<p>“Then we must trust to the small boat -those scoundrels have left behind. Hold fast, -lads. A light!”</p> - -<p>Old Jack strained his vision to pierce the -darkness.</p> - -<p>“I certainly saw a light,” he repeated, -anxiously; “there it is ahead, directly in our -course, and bearing down on us.”</p> - -<p>“Is it land?” queried Tom.</p> - -<p>“No; we are hundreds of miles from land.</p> - -<p>“It is probably a ship in distress, like -ourselves. It’s coming nearer, and our -lantern is swept out. Steady, lads, for a -crash is coming.”</p> - -<p>One single speck of light relieved the -gloom of the scene. The excited boys could -make it out coming nearer and nearer.</p> - -<p>It shadowed out dimly the outlines of a -large ship, and then——</p> - -<p>A crash that sent a shock through their -frames sounded above the frightful roar of -the tempest.</p> - -<p>The timbers started beneath their feet; -Jack’s hold was torn from the wheel, and the -trio were flung indiscriminately across the -deck.</p> - -<p>The ship that had collided with them had -passed on or sunk, they knew not which. -Their own desperate situation called for -immediate action.</p> - -<p>“We’re sinking, lads. It’s the boat, now, -or certain death by drowning.”</p> - -<p>But the boat had been swept away. Old -Jack uttered a cry of dismay.</p> - -<p>The water was up to their waists now, and -various movable objects were floating about -as if on the surface of the sea itself.</p> - -<p>“Cling to this, lads,” shouted Jack, as a -wooden grating that had been near the forecastle -drifted before them.</p> - -<p>They obeyed him just in time, for a gigantic -wave enveloped the deck and swept the -ship from beneath them.</p> - -<p>Clinging to the grating they were flung -upon the boiling waters about them.</p> - -<p>“She’s gone down,” they heard Jack’s voice -say. “It is a matter of endurance now.”</p> - -<p>Tom was half fainting with terror, while -Will, chilled and benumbed, blindly, hopelessly -clung to the frail craft.</p> - -<p>At the mercy of the waves, it drifted to -and fro, now on the crest of the waves, now -in the trough of the sea, always half submerged, -the salt sea-water blinding and choking -the three voyagers.</p> - -<p>It was an awful experience for the imperiled -trio. Only the staunch, encouraging -words of Jack Marcy, ringing above the -tempest, kept them from utterly succumbing -to the terrors of their situation.</p> - -<p>At last—it seemed after many hours—the -storm subsided. A calm stole over the wild -waters and faint daylight began to creep over -the scene.</p> - -<p>A dusky gray in the far horizon was succeeded -by a flush of ruddy hue. Darkness -faded at last, and a great golden globe of -fire shone over the dreary scene.</p> - -<p>Far as the eye could reach was water, -unbroken, monotonous.</p> - -<p>The old boatswain’s eye scanned the bleak -expanse searchingly.</p> - -<p>He saw what the boys had not noticed. -His face was eager and hopeful as he fixed -his glance toward the rising sun.</p> - -<p>Then he announced in thrilling tones:</p> - -<p>“A sail!”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE RAFT.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The words of the old boatswain infused -new hope and courage into the drooping -hearts of the two boys.</p> - -<p>They had been enabled, when the waters -grew calm, to creep upon the grating, but -they were so chilled and exhausted that they -were only conscious of suffering and misery.</p> - -<p>Both looked eagerly in the direction where -Jack’s glance was fixed.</p> - -<p>“I don’t see anything, Jack,” said Will.</p> - -<p>“The sun blinds your eyes, lad, and the -salt water makes them weak. It’s a sail, and -it’s drifting this way.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[31]</span></p> - -<p>And a few minutes later the boatswain reported:</p> - -<p>“A raft—two people on it! Do you see it -now?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, plainly!” cried Will, in excited -tones. “Oh, Jack, will they see us?”</p> - -<p>Some distance away, on the surface of the -waters, could plainly be made out a floating -object resembling a raft.</p> - -<p>A single pole with a piece of sail was fixed -upon it, while two forms, apparently human -beings, sat on the raft.</p> - -<p>“It’s bearing our way. Now, then, lads, -yell your loudest.”</p> - -<p>While the boys obeyed the boatswain and -shouted vigorously, Jack broke a bar of the -wooden grating, tied a handkerchief to its -end, and, maintaining a standing position with -difficulty, waved the signal wildly.</p> - -<p>“They see us!” cried Jack, excitedly. -“They are setting the sail to come this way! -Ahoy! ahoy!”</p> - -<p>Amid his excitement, the boatswain nearly -fell into the water. A minute later the raft -came towards them. It touched the side of -the grating, and a hearty voice cried out:</p> - -<p>“Messmates in distress, welcome!”</p> - -<p>The occupants of the raft were two—a boy -and a man. The dress of the latter indicated -him to be a sailor. He was about Jack’s age.</p> - -<p>His companion was a boy, a year or two -older than Will and Tom. His pallor showed -that he had suffered from exposure to the -storm, but his eye brightened as he assisted -the boys to clamber on the raft.</p> - -<p>It was a strong, substantial craft, made of -stout timbers, covered with a gangway top, -and lashed together with stout ropes.</p> - -<p>Old Jack secured the grating to the end of -the raft with a rope, and then turned to the -sailor in charge of it.</p> - -<p>There was a gleam of curiosity in the -eyes of the latter as he surveyed Jack’s -dripping form.</p> - -<p>“Well, mate,” he said, “you seem to have -been cruising on a frail craft?”</p> - -<p>“Since last night, yes.”</p> - -<p>“Shipped from——”</p> - -<p>“Portland, on the Golden Moose, and sunk -in midocean a few hours since. And you?”</p> - -<p>“Hugo Arnold, second mate of the merchantman -Liverpool, bound for Philadelphia, -and went down, disabled in a collision with -an unknown ship.”</p> - -<p>“When?”</p> - -<p>“Last night.”</p> - -<p>A few words of interrogation and reply -showed that the ship which had hastened the -sinking of the Moose was the Liverpool.</p> - -<p>“The crew and the passengers all got off—some -in the long-boats, some on rafts. This -one we fixed up quickly, but three others on -it abandoned us and swam after the boats.”</p> - -<p>“And you’ve been on the water since?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. We saw your signal, and are mighty -glad of company. We took one precaution,” -and the old sailor pointed to a cask and a -box. “Drink and food,” he remarked.</p> - -<p>Never did food have a more welcome taste -to Will and Tom than the hard ship’s biscuit -they were proffered.</p> - -<p>They learned that the Liverpool had come -from Germany with a large cargo, and that -the mate’s companion was a student of a -German university, returning to his home in -Boston.</p> - -<p>His name was Willis Moore, and the boys -soon struck up a genial acquaintanceship.</p> - -<p>The two old sailors indulged in a long confidential -conversation while the boys were -discussing the situation among themselves.</p> - -<p>They were experienced sailors, and their -general knowledge of the ocean enabled -them to very clearly estimate their probable -location.</p> - -<p>“We cannot have floated far out of the -course of ships,” said Jack. “The storm has -gone down, and if we can keep afloat for a few -days we will probably be picked up by some -passing craft.”</p> - -<p>Except for the keen wind, the rescued -Will and Tom did not suffer on the craft. -There was sufficient to eat and drink for -some time, and, after their dreadful experience -on the Moose and the grating, they -were insensible to minor discomforts.</p> - -<p>There was a shade of anxiety cast over the -forlorn group of voyagers as the days and -nights wore on, however.</p> - -<p>For two days passed and there was no indication -of a ship. The sail rudely improvised -was not of much use, and, as they had -lost all accurate bearings, the raft had been -allowed to drift at its will.</p> - -<p>“We’ll set a watch to-night,” said Jack, -that evening. “It looks as if we might have a -storm before evening. Now, Hugo, you -and the boys turn in and I’ll take the lookout -for half the night.”</p> - -<p>It must have been on towards midnight -when Will awoke to feel the rain beating on -his face.</p> - -<p>The wind, too, was blowing, and he aroused -himself as he remembered Jack’s prediction -of the storm, and he noticed a slight ruddy -glow on the waters near the raft.</p> - -<p>He discerned the cause of the strange illumination -as he hurried to where Jack was.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[33]</span></p> - -<p>The boatswain was at the extreme windward -end of the raft. Before him, on the -bottom of the raft, a small fire flashed and -spluttered.</p> - -<p>He had emptied the water out from the -cask, knocked in the head, and then, breaking -up the box that held the biscuits, had built a -fire with the wood inside the cask.</p> - -<p>This he kept feeding continuously with -bits of the wood.</p> - -<p>Will crept to his side and spoke his name.</p> - -<p>The boatswain did not speak until he had -drawn the grating in tow upon the raft, and, -breaking a piece of wood from it, placed it in -the cask.</p> - -<p>“Don’t wake the others up,” said Jack, in -a low, hurried tone, that had a shade of excitement -quite unusual to the old sailor.</p> - -<p>“What is it, Jack,—the cask—the fire?”</p> - -<p>“A light—some ship, sure,” replied the -boatswain, pointing into the darkness.</p> - -<p>“Did you see it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; it comes and goes yonder. I keep -the open end of the cask in that direction, -and if they see the light we may be rescued.”</p> - -<p>“But you’ve thrown away the water, and if -we shouldn’t be seen?”</p> - -<p>“It’s raining. We can get plenty more.”</p> - -<p>Jack kept feeding the fire with broken -pieces of the grating. The open end of the -cask gave the light quite a focus; but Will, -scanning the horizon, could see no indication -of the light Jack claimed to have discovered.</p> - -<p>The cask itself had begun to burn and -would soon fall in and no longer confine the -fire.</p> - -<p>In the glare Jack’s face looked seriously -disappointed.</p> - -<p>“The light I saw is gone, sure. The ship -may have turned so we can’t see it.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe it was a star.”</p> - -<p>“No, no. Ahoy! ahoy! Look, lad; we’re -almost upon them.”</p> - -<p>The wild call of the boatswain aroused the -remaining sleeping occupants of the raft.</p> - -<p>Only a short distance ahead of them a -ship’s light could be seen, and the outlines of -the ship itself made out.</p> - -<p>Evidently Jack had been looking in the -wrong direction for it. He redoubled his -cries and piled the wood on the fire, which, -fanned by the breeze, threatened to set the entire -raft in flames.</p> - -<p>“Ahoy!”</p> - -<p>The responsive call came near at hand. A -yawl, manned by several sailors, drove directly -into the raft.</p> - -<p>Their signal had been heard! They were -rescued!</p> - -<p>Ten minutes later, as the boys and sailors -clambered upon the deck of a stately ship to -which the yawl had conveyed them, they -could see the burning raft, a diminishing -speck of light, in the far distance.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">ON BOARD THE WHALER.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>It did not take long for the excited party -to learn that the ship, which now offered -them a comfortable temporary home, was the -Arctic, Captain John Smith, of Bedford.</p> - -<p>The rescued party were immediately taken -into the captain’s cabin, and for over an hour -questioned as to their past adventures.</p> - -<p>Jack Marcy concealed the fact of Captain -Morris’ plot to sink the Golden Moose with -a grim resolution that, when he once more -reached Portland, the truth should be made -known.</p> - -<p>Inquiry from Captain Smith revealed the -fact that the Arctic was a whaler fully rigged -for a cruise to the far North.</p> - -<p>The castaways were cared for and treated -with kindly consideration, and the next -morning the Captain said to Jack Marcy:</p> - -<p>“We cannot change our course to get you -ashore, boatswain.”</p> - -<p>“We could not expect that, sir.”</p> - -<p>“But should we meet a returning vessel?”</p> - -<p>“’Taint likely at this season of the year.”</p> - -<p>“No, not so early. Still, we make a landing -five days ahead, with favorable weather, and -you can go ashore and wait for a ship going -back.”</p> - -<p>“All right, Captain.”</p> - -<p>“Or, if you and Hugo want to ship with us? -We’re short-handed.”</p> - -<p>Jack considered deeply.</p> - -<p>“There’s the lads, sir.”</p> - -<p>“We might make them useful, and, with a -successful voyage, they might get home almost -as soon as waiting for a ship at our last -landing station.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll think it over, sir,” said Jack. “Meantime, -make us useful around the ship.”</p> - -<p>The boys were delighted with the Arctic, -and the arrangements made for the capture -of whales and the securing of oil fairly fascinated -them.</p> - -<p>Were it not for thoughts of anxious friends -at home Will Bertram would have been glad -to accompany the Arctic on her voyage.</p> - -<p>Circumstances prevented their stopping at -the landing place Captain Smith had spoken -of. A storm drove the ship out of its course, -and without passing a single ship, two weeks -after picking up the sailors and the boys the<span class="pagenum">[34]</span> -captain assigned them to duties on the ship.</p> - -<p>“You’ll have to stay with the Arctic till she -returns, now,” he said, “and you might find -less comfortable quarters.”</p> - -<p>Jack and Hugo were easily provided for, -and the boys were given light duties to perform. -The variety and excitement of the -voyage made time pass pleasantly, and they -resigned themselves to the inevitable when -they learned that their return home was a -matter of the far future.</p> - -<p>“We’ve crossed the line of the whale hunting -grounds, and you may expect to see some -sport,” said old Jack one day.</p> - -<p>His prediction was verified soon afterwards. -The Arctic had been sailing into -lower temperatures, and one morning, after -passing several large masses of ice, was put in -order for a whale catch.</p> - -<p>The boats and harpoons were got ready, -and about noon the man on watch sang out -the cry so familiar to old whalers,</p> - -<p>“Ahoy! There she blows!”</p> - -<p>Immediately the deck was a scene of -action. Two boats were lowered, and the -men piled into them indiscriminately.</p> - -<p>Old Jack had arranged with the Captain -to take part in the capture, and, to Will’s delight, -found a place for him by his side in -one of the boats.</p> - -<p>A mile or more to the south every eye had -noticed a volume of water spurted into the -air, the signal of the location of the whale.</p> - -<p>There was a brisk rivalry between the two -boats to reach the whale first. The monster -they were in pursuit of had disappeared beneath -the surface of the water, but became -visible at times again, and the boats were -rapidly nearing its vicinity.</p> - -<p>The boat Jack and Will were in was commanded -by the mate of the Arctic and soon -gained a lead on the other boat.</p> - -<p>At last they came so near to the whale that -one of the sailors stood, with harpoon poised, -ready to strike at the proper moment.</p> - -<p>Will, watching with profound interest, saw -the harpoon fly forward. It became lodged -in the body of the whale. Then there was a -quick jerk, and the monster disappeared beneath -the waves, the blood from its wound -dyeing the water a bright red.</p> - -<p>The rope attached to the harpoon that had -struck the whale was wound round a stout -reel in the boat, and this began to go out so -rapidly that it seemed as if it would saw itself -in two whenever it touched the edge of -the boat.</p> - -<p>The whale after diving deep came up -again to the surface of the water and began -running at a terrible rate of speed.</p> - -<p>“The reel’s out,” cried a sailor.</p> - -<p>The oars were drawn in now and the boat -abandoned entirely to the caprice of the -whale.</p> - -<p>It was a novel experience for Will—a ride, -with the marine monster as a horse.</p> - -<p>One of the sailors stood by the reel with a -hatchet in his hand, uplifted as if ready to -sever the rope at a moment’s notice.</p> - -<p>“What is he waiting for?” Will inquired of -Jack.</p> - -<p>“You see the rope is all played out?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if the whale should dive the boat -would follow. See there!”</p> - -<p>“Cut loose!”</p> - -<p>This cry came from the mate, who had -been watching the whale’s maneuvers.</p> - -<p>At the same moment the whale disappeared -again.</p> - -<p>The hatchet descended and cut the rope in -two.</p> - -<p>The men resumed their oars and rowed -rapidly towards the spot where the whale had -last been seen.</p> - -<p>A second harpoon, with a smaller reel of -rope, was hastily got ready.</p> - -<p>Suddenly there was a commotion directly -by the side of the boat. The practiced harpooner -flung the harpoon as the whale came -up, and then a scene of indescribable confusion -ensued.</p> - -<p>The whale had struck the boat with its -tail, crushing the boat in which Will sat -and flinging its occupants high in the air.</p> - -<p>Old Jack seized Will as they fell into the -water, and then caught at a floating piece of -the boat.</p> - -<p>The other sailors swam towards the companion -boat, which hurried to the scene of -the disaster and picked up all who were in -the water.</p> - -<p>Half an hour later the Arctic was signalled, -and came to where the whale lay floating on -the water, dead from the wounds it had received.</p> - -<p>The cutting up of the monster and the securing -of the oil was an active and interesting -scene to the boys.</p> - -<p>For nearly two weeks the Arctic cruised in -the vicinity. Several other whales were -sighted, but evaded capture.</p> - -<p>A terrible storm drove them northwards -soon afterwards. During its prevalence the -boys were ordered to remain below.</p> - -<p>At last one morning the tempest subsided, -and the boys came on deck.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[35]</span></p> - -<p>A cry of amazement and delight broke -from their lips.</p> - -<p>The Arctic was sailing onward amid -fields of floating icebergs.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE BREAKING ICE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Far as the eye could reach a scene of bewildering -beauty met the vision of the enchanted -boys.</p> - -<p>To the far south a level field of snow-covered -ice seemed to reach, while on the -east and west were towering walls of ice, between -which an open sheet of water alone -admitted of the onward progress of the ship.</p> - -<p>Except for this glimpse of the sea, everywhere -was ice and snow.</p> - -<p>Will surveyed the scene in mute interest -for some moments. Then he turned to Jack, -who stood by his side.</p> - -<p>“How did we get here?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Drifted, floated and blew, lad,” replied -the old boatswain, sententiously. “The storm -took us along, and we couldn’t help it.”</p> - -<p>“And we are still going north?” remarked -Will.</p> - -<p>“Yes, lad; because the ice has closed -around us behind. Our hope is of striking -the open sea somewhere and getting back to -our old bearings.”</p> - -<p>“And if we don’t, Jack?”</p> - -<p>“Then we’ll have to lay up alongside some -iceberg till the snow melts.”</p> - -<p>That day and the ensuing one the ship -made but little progress, and with difficulty -several times evaded being crushed in the ice.</p> - -<p>The Arctic experienced all the perils of the -frozen deep. Ice floes closing in on it, or the -toppling of some immense iceberg, more -than once threatened the safety of the ship -and the crew.</p> - -<p>An incident of excitement and enjoyment -occurred the third day in the ice fields. A -ship—a whaler—was met, like the Arctic -seeking the open sea, and courtesies were -exchanged, and the monotony of ocean solitude -broken in upon.</p> - -<p>That same night, however, the ships lost -one another. A transient thaw set in, and -the ensuing morning the Arctic was driving -ahead through a narrow water-way, with -temperature that frosted everything on deck -and warned the crew to prepare for an icy -experience.</p> - -<p>The Arctic was well provided with the -necessary clothing to protect its crew from -the cold. Wrapped in thick coats, even to -the boys, they were enabled to face the icy -blast, which each hour grew more intense.</p> - -<p>One morning the ship came to a stop. -During the night the water-way had frozen -up, and they were unable to proceed farther. -Captain Smith made a calculation of the locality, -and announced to the crew that night -that it was probable that they would be compelled -to stay where they were for some time -to come.</p> - -<p>“When the ice melts or breaks we may be -able to reach the open sea again, but for the -present we will go into winter quarters.”</p> - -<p>They cut a course for the ship to the shelter -of a slanting iceberg, and then the deck -was lightly boarded over. The cabins and -forecastle were made snug and warm, and a -monotonous, but not unpleasant, life began -for the ice-imprisoned crew.</p> - -<p>Occasionally an expedition would venture -out in quest of game or to explore the -neighboring country, but the intense cold -made the sailors chary of these wanderings.</p> - -<p>One afternoon an event occurred which led -to serious consequences for the boys.</p> - -<p>The sailors had made a large sled, and a -run across the ice fields in quest of a white -bear that had been seen prowling in the -vicinity, was suggested.</p> - -<p>At Jack Marcy’s solicitation and pledge of -careful guardianship, the three boys were -allowed to join the party.</p> - -<p>“Don’t go far,” the captain had said, as the -party of twelve left the ship. “All last night -I heard distant rumblings, as though the -ice was breaking up around us. It comes -quick when it starts.”</p> - -<p>The party were provided with guns and -other weapons, for use in case either bears or -seals were found, and started off across the -ice, dragging the sled.</p> - -<p>When they reached a spot where the -larger icebergs prevented the free progress of -the sled, the discovery of some bear tracks -caused them to separate.</p> - -<p>It was arranged that Jack, Hugo and the -boys should remain in charge of the sled, -while the seven sailors set off in quest of the -bear.</p> - -<p>Soon, however, the boys grew tired of remaining -in one spot, and, while Jack and -Hugo were engaged in conversation, set off -on a brief exploration on their own account.</p> - -<p>Scaling this and that berg and exploring -the ice caves and sliding on the smooth -plains, they wandered farther than they -thought.</p> - -<p>“We must return, boys,” said Will with a<span class="pagenum">[36]</span> -start, finally. “Why, the sled ain’t in view.”</p> - -<p>“We can find our way back by the snow -marks,” said Tom.</p> - -<p>They retraced their way more slowly than -they had come. As they reached a high -hummock Tom uttered a loud shout.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” inquired Will.</p> - -<p>“The ship.”</p> - -<p>“Can you see the sled?”</p> - -<p>“No; it ain’t in sight. Oh, Will, something -has happened. Look yonder.”</p> - -<p>Will and his companion climbed up to -where Tom was.</p> - -<p>A singular spectacle met the vision of the -trio as they gazed to the east.</p> - -<p>Between them and the open plain over -which they had come was an uneven ridge of -hummocks and icebergs shutting out the immediate -view beyond.</p> - -<p>Far to the east, however, could be seen the -Arctic, and it was upon the ship and the surroundings -that the eyes of the watching boys -were riveted.</p> - -<p>A strange transformation in the icy scene -before them was taking place. A series of -low, crackling sounds were succeeded by loud -echoes like the reports of a cannon.</p> - -<p>Beyond the ship, immense icebergs, the -moment before fixed to the landscape, suddenly -trembled, toppled and fell.</p> - -<p>As they did so, all the eastern expanse -seemed to melt into a white, rushing sea, -moved to and fro in gigantic waves, as if by -a mighty tempest.</p> - -<p>“The ship! She is lost!” cried the appalled -Will.</p> - -<p>The iceberg near which the Arctic was -moored at that moment parted as if cleft in -twain.</p> - -<p>Amid the falling mass of shattered ice and -snow, the ship was temporarily shut out -from view.</p> - -<p>“Look—the sailors!”</p> - -<p>It was Tom who spoke, and, as his companions -followed the direction of his extended -finger, they discerned several forms -hurrying over the ice towards the ship.</p> - -<p>“Jack and Hugo must be still with the -sled,” said Will, anxiously. “Come, boys; -we must find them and endeavor to regain -the ship.”</p> - -<p>They climbed down and hastened over the -uneven ice towards the spot where they had -left the sled.</p> - -<p>Amid their confusion they wandered aimlessly -over the ice, at last coming to the -verge of the level plain they had left.</p> - -<p>A spectacle met their vision which held -them spellbound.</p> - -<p>The plain was no longer a vast field of -ice. Some immense pressure had cracked -its surface into a myriad of fragments. A -white, churning sea, dotted here and there -with whirling icebergs, pulsated at their feet.</p> - -<p>The Arctic and the men they had seen on -the ice had disappeared.</p> - -<p>Far in the distance a wall of icebergs receded -momentarily farther and farther from -view.</p> - -<p>“The Arctic has been borne out of view -beyond the icebergs by the breaking ice,” -murmured Will. “The men must have -reached the ship in safety.”</p> - -<p>Every minute the broken ice receded from -the spot where they stood.</p> - -<p>“We must be on solid ground,” said Will; -“but, oh, boys, what shall we do, left here -without food or arms or even the fuel for a -fire?”</p> - -<p>“What!” cried Tom, apprehensively; “you -do not think we will not reach the ship -again?”</p> - -<p>“How can we?”</p> - -<p>“Will they not return and look for us?”</p> - -<p>“They may be swept hundreds of miles by -the floating ice.”</p> - -<p>Tom Dalton and Willis Moore looked concerned -and despairing.</p> - -<p>“What shall we do?” murmured the latter.</p> - -<p>“First seek for Jack and Hugo, who, like -ourselves, may not have reached the Arctic.”</p> - -<p>The boys started along the edge of the -open waterway.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Willis uttered a quick cry of surprise -and pointed at an object ahead of them.</p> - -<p>“Look,” he said.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” inquired Will, anxiously.</p> - -<p>“The sled we used on the ice.”</p> - -<p>“And broken to pieces. Oh, boys, Jack -and Hugo must have been lost in the breaking -ice!”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">CAST AWAY IN THE COLD.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>For some moments Will, Tom and Willis -stood gazing blankly down at the broken -pieces of the sled and at the bleak and cheerless -scene about them.</p> - -<p>Not until that moment did they realize -fully the loneliness and peril of their position.</p> - -<p>There was no indication of the presence of -any human beings except themselves in the -vicinity.</p> - -<p>The Arctic had either been crushed in the -ice or had drifted away.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[37]</span></p> - -<p>Those of the crew who had been chasing -the bear had sailed with the ship or been lost -in the breaking of the ice.</p> - -<p>Jack and Hugo, there seemed to be no -doubt, had perished in striving to regain the -ship or fly before the advancing sea of ice -and snow.</p> - -<p>They were alone, separated from all of -their kind, cast away in the cold.</p> - -<p>To make their situation more gloomy, -night began to come down, dark and terrible.</p> - -<p>The cold they had not noticed so much in -their previous excitement, but, after standing -still a few moments, they found themselves -chilled to the bone.</p> - -<p>Will Bertram for once had no cheering -words for his companions. He fully comprehended -that their dilemma was an extremely -perilous one.</p> - -<p>Still, he endeavored to regard their situation -as philosophically as possible.</p> - -<p>“We have all been in danger before,” he -said to his companions. “Do not let us -shrink now.”</p> - -<p>“But we have no arms, no food,” said -Willis.</p> - -<p>“Our greatest enemy is the cold. Against -that we may in a measure provide. However, -perhaps the morning may see an entire -change in our position.”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” inquired Tom.</p> - -<p>“The ship may return. We may find Jack -and Hugo. We can only hope. Come, boys, -do not stand still, but gather the broken -pieces of the sled together.”</p> - -<p>“What for?” inquired Tom.</p> - -<p>“To make a fire.”</p> - -<p>Willis started towards the accomplishment -of the task, but Tom, with a despairing sigh, -sank to a large boulder of ice.</p> - -<p>“Get up Tom,” urged Will.</p> - -<p>“But I’m so tired.”</p> - -<p>“We must work if we hope to get through -the night.”</p> - -<p>“And I’m cold and sleepy.”</p> - -<p>“Tom! Tom!” cried Will, aroused to positive -terror at his words; “you must get up -and stir about. That’s just the way people -freeze to death in this temperature. Once -asleep, you are lost.”</p> - -<p>Tom reluctantly arose to his feet and moved -about a little. His feet were unsteady, however, -and he seemed to be sinking into a sort -of torpor.</p> - -<p>Willis Moore brought an armful of the -pieces of the broken sled to a place Will had -selected, where a sort of cave was formed by -the grouping of huge blocks of ice.</p> - -<p>“Get your knife and whittle off some shavings,” -ordered Will.</p> - -<p>His companion set to work at the task allotted, -but made slow progress, affirming that -he had become so chilly he was benumbed -all over.</p> - -<p>Will saw with consternation the same -drowsy apathy steal over him that had overtaken -Tom.</p> - -<p>He himself was beginning to experience a -terrible change in the temperature.</p> - -<p>It was dark now, and the closing day heralded -the coming of intense cold for the -night.</p> - -<p>He piled together the shavings, wet and -ice-clogged, and found a match in his pocket.</p> - -<p>The pile took fire slowly, first the shavings -and then the large pieces of wood.</p> - -<p>He made Willis and Tom sit down within -the shelter of the cave, and almost directly -over the fire.</p> - -<p>“It will blaze up in a minute, boys,” he -said, “and we shall have some heat.”</p> - -<p>“But it won’t last an hour,” remarked Tom, -wearily.</p> - -<p>“That is why you must arouse yourselves; -get thoroughly warmed through and rested.”</p> - -<p>“And then?”</p> - -<p>“We must resolutely fight off sleep through -the night.”</p> - -<p>“How?”</p> - -<p>“By running and walking and keeping the -blood in circulation. Boys, I have read of -people situated just as we are who were almost -comfortable living in the cold region -for years. Our case is not hopeless. With -daybreak we will build an ice hut. We can -surely find something to eat—fish or animal, -and we may be found by Esquimaux.”</p> - -<p>Will’s words encouraged his companions -considerably.</p> - -<p>“But do not droop an eyelid. To sleep -means death!” he concluded, impressively.</p> - -<p>Will piled all the pieces of wood on the -fire. They burned briskly, but he was -amazed to find how little heat they imparted.</p> - -<p>He saw that in a few minutes the dying -cinders would fade out, leaving them even -without a light.</p> - -<p>He had not noticed his companions huddled -together amid the smoke, except to suppose -they, like himself, were trying to gather -all the warmth while the fire lasted.</p> - -<p>To his amazement and dread, as he approached -them and called their names there -was no response.</p> - -<p>He shook them wildly. They sat braced -against each other, their heads bent on their -breast, and slumbering profoundly!</p> - -<p>Will groaned in spirit as he dragged Willis -Moore to his feet.</p> - -<p>He succeeded in arousing him, and finally<span class="pagenum">[38]</span> -got him to comprehend the dangers of their -position.</p> - -<p>Willis groped his way backward and forward -along the ice, leaning against the frozen -wall for support.</p> - -<p>Tom was more difficult to arouse, but Will -almost carried him around to make him -move.</p> - -<p>The fatal somnolence, however, would return -almost immediately. He would get -Willis started, when, looking around, he -would find Tom sunk to the ice again.</p> - -<p>At last he despaired utterly. His exertion -had almost exhausted him. He took off the -heavy coats the boys wore and spread them -on the ice.</p> - -<p>Then he carried Willis and Tom in turn -to them and covered them up in them as -tightly as he could.</p> - -<p>He even took off his own coat and spread -it over his sleeping companions.</p> - -<p>For over half an hour Will kept running -to and fro trying to fight off the intense cold -that had attacked them.</p> - -<p>It was no ordinary battle, and he at last was -forced to own himself vanquished.</p> - -<p>His feet seemed like lead, a strange numbness -stole over his frame, and his senses became -confused.</p> - -<p>“I shall perish if I stay here!” he murmured, -and he had just strength enough to -crawl under the overcoats with his companions.</p> - -<p>The warmth of their bodies, he hoped, -might prevent their freezing.</p> - -<p>He was delighted after a few moments to -find that all sensation of cold had left him.</p> - -<p>Little did he think this the first signal of -danger—the beginning of that lassitude preceding -the sleep of death.</p> - -<p>From beneath the covering he had one last -glimpse of the starry heavens.</p> - -<p>The northern lights flamed in the sky -in rare effulgence and beauty.</p> - -<p>A peaceful calm held all the scene in death-like -stillness.</p> - -<p>Almost overhead glimmered a radiant star -he knew so well as the guide-lamp of the -Arctic mariner.</p> - -<p>His eyes closed. Slumber held the strange -trio, all unconscious of their perils, cast away -on the frozen deep under the Polar star.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE ICE HUT.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>When the breaking up of the ice occurred -there were three parties who were imperiled -by that occurrence besides the boys.</p> - -<p>Those on board the Arctic had due warning, -and, although the ship was badly shattered, -the crew got it in order to run the dangerous -course the chopping sea opened to it.</p> - -<p>The seven sailors who had left the sled also -saw their danger. They hurried towards the -ship, and not one moment too soon reached -its deck.</p> - -<p>Then, driven rapidly forward, the Arctic -sped on its way, unable to stop and aid those -who had been left behind.</p> - -<p>To the crew of the ship, as to Will Bertram -and his companions, the fate of the two -sailors, Jack and Hugo, was a mystery.</p> - -<p>The old tars, however, had not been caught -in the broken ice, but had reached a place of -safety before extreme peril had come.</p> - -<p>They had been engaged in conversing, and -had not noticed the movements of the party -searching for the bear, nor that the boys had -wandered out of sight.</p> - -<p>Engrossed in discussing some complex marine -question, it was not until the break-up -had reached the ship that they aroused to a -sense of their peril.</p> - -<p>Jack’s first thought was of the missing -members of his party.</p> - -<p>“The boys!” he ejaculated, starting to his -feet and eagerly scanning the scene.</p> - -<p>Like Will and his companions they saw the -ship’s dilemma and the sailors rushing towards -it.</p> - -<p>An instinct of self preservation bade them -believe that they themselves might reach the -Arctic, but the brave old sailors were true to -their duty.</p> - -<p>“The boys have gone beyond the field -here,” said Hugo.</p> - -<p>“We must find them,” replied Jack. -“Quick, mate, let us get the sled out of this!”</p> - -<p>The oncoming ice warned them to act -quickly.</p> - -<p>There was no way, however, to drag the -sled up the ascent to the place where the boys -had gone.</p> - -<p>They kept dragging it along the ice for -quite a distance, hoping to find an opening.</p> - -<p>“It’s no use,” said Jack at last, with an -anxious look at the ice plain. “The break-up -will overtake us in a few moments.”</p> - -<p>“Shall we abandon the sled?” asked Hugo.</p> - -<p>“Yes; but not the things on it. We may -need them yet.”</p> - -<p>A large tarpaulin covered the sled, and -they gathered it and its contents up.</p> - -<p>Among them was an axe.</p> - -<p>Seizing this, Jack began cutting steps in the -icy wall, and then, by means of these, they -gained the upper ice.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[39]</span></p> - -<p>The sled was borne upwards and crushed -to pieces a few minutes later.</p> - -<p>They had escaped certain death, and just -in time.</p> - -<p>Each seizing an end of the tarpaulin, they -started inland, seeking for the boys everywhere.</p> - -<p>Jack was terribly anxious when darkness -came down.</p> - -<p>They shouted themselves hoarse for nearly -an hour, and wandered aimlessly over the -place.</p> - -<p>“We must find them,” remarked Hugo.</p> - -<p>“They will be lost in this terrible cold. -Look, mate.”</p> - -<p>“What is it?”</p> - -<p>“A light.”</p> - -<p>A dull glow, some distance away, met -their vision.</p> - -<p>“It’s the Aurora,” remarked Hugo.</p> - -<p>“Not in the south, mate.”</p> - -<p>“What, then?”</p> - -<p>“Some kind of a fire.”</p> - -<p>They struggled on heroically, tired as they -were, towards the distant light.</p> - -<p>The jagged, irregular ice caused several -detours, and the light had become a vague -reflection when at length they reached the -vicinity of the spot whence it emanated.</p> - -<p>“It was a fire,” said Jack, as, looking beyond -them, he caught sight of some glowing -cinders.</p> - -<p>They dropped the tarpaulin and its contents, -and Jack ran forward.</p> - -<p>A moment later his waiting companion -heard him call:</p> - -<p>“Ahoy, mate, we’ve found them.”</p> - -<p>“The boys?” cried Hugo, dragging the -tarpaulin towards the ice cave.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and asleep.”</p> - -<p>“They are lost, then, in this cold and exposed -to the open air?”</p> - -<p>“No, but they soon would be. To work, -Hugo. They must be awakened.”</p> - -<p>It was a lively scene that ensued. The two -stalwart sailors dragged the boys to and fro, -put on their overcoats, beat their hands and -feet, and finally had them wide awake.</p> - -<p>Jack bathed their hands and faces with alcohol, -a can of which was found in the outfit -of the sled.</p> - -<p>The sight of friends made the boys more -hopeful and courageous, and they listened -with attention to Jack’s directions.</p> - -<p>It was not safe to sleep, he told them, -and managed to keep them moving until -Hugo and he had improvised a warm shelter.</p> - -<p>They took the articles from the tarpaulin -and spread the latter over the entrance to the -ice cave.</p> - -<p>They then cut a round, circular hole in the -ice and pouring some alcohol into it set it on -fire.</p> - -<p>It was remarkable how the brief but fierce -heat of the burning spirits warmed the temperature -of the place.</p> - -<p>The long night was uncomfortable, but old -Jack was quite satisfied when morning came -to find none of them frost-bitten or sick from -the cold.</p> - -<p>His first work of the morning was to take -an inventory of the things from the sled.</p> - -<p>They consisted of the articles the sailors -had taken from the ship in case of exigency, -and consisted of a can of alcohol, two guns, -a hatchet, package of powder, caps and lead -bullets, a package of food, some ropes and -several large knives.</p> - -<p>“These will be valuable to us if we have to -stay here any length of time,” remarked -Jack.</p> - -<p>“You don’t think the Arctic will return, do -you?” inquired Will.</p> - -<p>“It may. Anyway, we seem to be on solid -ground, and, as you observe, the sea is quite -open beyond. We will remain here for a few -days.”</p> - -<p>“And freeze to death, as we came very -nearly doing last night?”</p> - -<p>“No; we must provide for that.”</p> - -<p>“How?”</p> - -<p>“By building a house.”</p> - -<p>“There is no wood,” suggested Tom.</p> - -<p>“We don’t need any.”</p> - -<p>“What will you build the house of then?”</p> - -<p>“Ice and snow, like the Esquimaux.”</p> - -<p>While Jack imparted his plan to his fellow -exiles they helped themselves to what provisions -had been saved from the sled.</p> - -<p>They found enough canned meat and biscuits -to last them for a day or two, and the -food revived them considerably.</p> - -<p>The day was much warmer than the night, -and they did not suffer from the cold to any -extent.</p> - -<p>After breakfast Jack selected a spot where -they could safely build the ice house.</p> - -<p>He secured a firm foundation on the ice, -and then, with the hatchet, began to cut -blocks of ice and shape them as he wished -them.</p> - -<p>It was an interesting day for the boys. -They were so engrossed in watching and -helping Jack and Hugo that when the ice hut -was completed they were amazed to find that -the day had nearly passed.</p> - -<p>The hut was built in circular shape, with a<span class="pagenum">[40]</span> -very small aperture at the top. The cracks -were filled with snow, and water thrown over -it to form a complete casing.</p> - -<p>In front a single block was left open, -which, removed, allowed of entrance to the -hut.</p> - -<p>The boys were compelled to crawl through -this aperture, and found quite a cozy interior, -around which packed-down banks of -snow indicated the couches they were to -lie on.</p> - -<p>The tarpaulin was cut up and distributed -around. Out of a powder flask, with a wick -made of cloth, Jack improvised an alcohol -lamp to afford light.</p> - -<p>After supper the entire party rolled up in -their overcoats. Jack closed the aperture or -door tightly, and then saturated a piece of -cloth with alcohol several times and set it on -fire.</p> - -<p>This heated the air of the hut quite comfortably, -and the experiment was repeated -several times throughout the night.</p> - -<p>The next day Jack gave the boys various -bits of advice tending to show them how to -avoid the cold.</p> - -<p>The provision stock was getting low, and -he and Hugo started out with loaded guns to -find what game they could.</p> - -<p>They returned successful before nightfall. -They had found a large bird resembling a -duck and quite a quantity of a species of -moss.</p> - -<p>“We will fare better to go farther to the interior,” -said Jack that night.</p> - -<p>“And leave this place where the Arctic -may return!” asked Hugo.</p> - -<p>“I have watched the movement of the ice,” -said Jack in reply, “and I believe that the -Arctic, borne before it, will be carried too far -to come back readily. At any rate, we will -take a tramp back from the coast to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>The next morning they packed up their -traps and left the open water behind them.</p> - -<p>The sun was quite warm, and in some -places the snow was melting. At any event, -they scarcely felt the cold.</p> - -<p>The tracks of various animals were observed, -but none seen or captured.</p> - -<p>After traveling for many miles they came -to a broad, open waterway similar to the one -they had left behind.</p> - -<p>“We are on an island,” remarked Jack, -after surveying the country. “Yonder -across the water is probably the mainland. -The question is, shall we decide to remain -here or attempt to cross over to what is undoubtedly -a much larger scope of territory?”</p> - -<p>“How can we do it?” inquired Hugo.</p> - -<p>“We must devise some way. For the night -we will stay here.”</p> - -<p>“And build another ice house?” inquired -Tom.</p> - -<p>“No; we will secure temporary quarters -and make a rough snow house.”</p> - -<p>Ready hands soon constructed a hut. The -weather was much colder than the preceding -night, but with the alcohol and some moss -they managed to pass a comfortable night.</p> - -<p>When they awoke they found a thin sheet -of ice covering the water, evidently an arm -of the sea. Large cakes of ice were held in -the field, and after breakfast Jack imparted -his plan to his companions.</p> - -<p>“We must ferry across on the cakes of ice,” -he said. “The new ice is thin, and can be -broken through easily. It is not more than -half a mile across.”</p> - -<p>Jack selected a large cake of ice near the -shore and they all got on it.</p> - -<p>Then Jack took a rope from the sled and, -attaching the hatchet, flung it to the nearest -large cake of ice, when he would pull on the -rope and slowly progress forward.</p> - -<p>It took several hours to cross the water. -When they at length reached the opposite -shore they saw that the new ice had melted -and the floating cakes were speeding along -to the sea.</p> - -<p>The mainland they believed they had -reached was in character like the island they -had left, a vast field of ice and snow.</p> - -<p>While Hugo and Will were exploring for -a place for a camp for the night the latter became -very much excited as he observed -what seemed to be an ice hut.</p> - -<p>It was covered with the snow of many -storms, but its shape was plainly defined.</p> - -<p>“Is it a hut?” Hugo asked Will, eagerly.</p> - -<p>“Yes, lad, and it has been occupied at some -time or other. Run for Jack. This may -prove an important discovery.”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">ON THE MAINLAND.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Jack Marcy and the remainder of the party -soon joined Hugo, and the old boatswain -surveyed the round heap that had been discovered -with a critical eye.</p> - -<p>“It is an ice hut, sure enough,” he said, -quite excitedly, “but it is probably a long -time since it was used. Let us get to work -at it and see if it is habitable.”</p> - -<p>They scraped off what ice and snow there -was, and then Jack cut a block out of the -side of the structure.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[41]</span></p> - -<p>He crawled into the house and came out -again with a pleased look on his face.</p> - -<p>“We’ll sleep warm to-night,” he said.</p> - -<p>“Why?” asked Will, eagerly.</p> - -<p>“Whoever occupied the hut before left -quite a lot of things behind. Creep in after -me and see.”</p> - -<p>The rest of the party did so, and found -themselves in a hut much larger than the one -they had built on the island.</p> - -<p>Upon the floor was a rudely constructed -lamp, such as is in common use among the -Esquimaux.</p> - -<p>By its side was a pouch or pail made of the -skin of a bear or fox, and containing frozen -chunks of the blubber or fat of some animal.</p> - -<p>The floor of the hut showed a long occupancy -in the past, and was discolored with -grease and bits of meat and fish bones.</p> - -<p>The discovery cheered all of the party, for -it showed that the place had once been visited, -and that they might in time find some native -settlement.</p> - -<p>At any rate the hut was a comfortable shelter -for them.</p> - -<p>Jack directed Hugo, Willis and Tom to get -the hut in order, and he and Will went out -with the guns in search of food.</p> - -<p>They saw some birds and animals, but -could not get near to them.</p> - -<p>Returning after a disappointing tramp, -they made a second discovery that later -proved of the utmost importance.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE ALBATROSS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>They had passed several singular formations -in the snow and ice during their tramp, -and more than once Will supposed he had -discovered another hut.</p> - -<p>Investigation, however, proved the masses -to be of ice or snow, and they abandoned this -line of exploration until, as they came near -the camp, Will made the discovery noted at -the end of the last chapter.</p> - -<p>From several blocks of ice there protruded -an object which made old Jack stare blankly.</p> - -<p>“Why, it’s a piece of wood!” he cried.</p> - -<p>There was no doubt of this fact, as was -proven by a brief investigation. It seemed -to be a part of the boarding of a boat, and had -evidently been placed where it was, not carelessly, -but for a purpose.</p> - -<p>“It’s a landmark,” said Jack.</p> - -<p>“Of what?” inquired Will.</p> - -<p>“Of the same party, probably, that built -the hut we found. You see those blocks of -ice, lad?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Jack.”</p> - -<p>“They were dragged, not thrown here.”</p> - -<p>“For what purpose?”</p> - -<p>“To protect a cache.”</p> - -<p>“What is that, Jack?”</p> - -<p>“It’s a hiding-place for food or the like. -For instance, the men who were here, probably -castaways like ourselves, abandoned -their hut to seek some native settlement or -find a ship. They could not carry all their -stores, and wanted to secure them from animals, -so they buried them in the snow, piled -the ice over it, and then put up this board as -a marking signal of the spot. Should they -return, it would be a supply station for -them.”</p> - -<p>“I understand, Jack; and you think we shall -find something under those blocks of ice?”</p> - -<p>“Undoubtedly, lad.”</p> - -<p>“Let us go to work, then.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” and Jack and his companion -united their strength to remove the solid ice -blocks.</p> - -<p>They found it no easy task, and when they -were displaced came to a foundation of solidly -packed snow.</p> - -<p>The hatchet was used to loosen this. Some -feet below the surface they found a package -encased in the hard, dried skin of some animal -and tied securely with pieces of rope.</p> - -<p>There were a dozen or more of these packages -of various sizes, and at the bottom of the -cache several large planks of wood laid there -to protect the packages in case of a thaw, -when the mass would sink uniformly and not -become scattered.</p> - -<p>“Run to the hut, Will,” said Jack, after -they had lifted out all the contents of the -cache.</p> - -<p>“For Hugo and the boys?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. We have uncovered this stuff now, -and we must remove it.”</p> - -<p>When Will and his excited companions rejoined -Jack they found that he had constructed -a rough drag-sled out of the pieces -of wood. Upon this they piled the packages, -and then, attaching a rope, started with their -treasures for the hut.</p> - -<p>By dark they had all the packages inside -the hut, and were housed for the night.</p> - -<p>Their new shelter proved to be a most -comfortable one, for the house had been carefully -built, and the lamp and blubber they -found imparted both light and heat.</p> - -<p>“How cozy and home-like,” remarked Will, -as Jack set about examining the various -packages.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[42]</span></p> - -<p>They contained a score of delightful surprises, -and indicated clearly that their original -possessors were members of some ship’s -crew and castaways like themselves.</p> - -<p>There were several packages of canned -meats, jellies and biscuits; there was a variety -of clothing, some books, tools and cooking -utensils.</p> - -<p>“A glorious find,” remarked Hugo, enthusiastically; -“we can defy the arctic cold -now.”</p> - -<p>But among all they found there was not an -indication as to the name of the ship whence -these articles had come originally.</p> - -<p>They discovered no clew in this direction -until, in looking over one of the books, Will -came to a roughly written line.</p> - -<p>It had been scrawled on a blank page by a -piece of burned cinder and left unfinished.</p> - -<p>It read:</p> - -<p>“This day abandoned the ship and started -on an exploring tour down Barnell’s Point.”</p> - -<p>Old Jack looked up from tying one of the -packages quite excitedly.</p> - -<p>“What’s that, lad?”</p> - -<p>“A line written in this book.”</p> - -<p>“Read it again.”</p> - -<p>Will did so.</p> - -<p>“You are sure it says Barnell’s Point?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; it is plainly written here. Why, -Jack?”</p> - -<p>There was a peculiar look in the old mariner’s -eye.</p> - -<p>“Because, lad, if this is Barnell’s Point -we’ve made a great discovery for you.”</p> - -<p>“For me?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?”</p> - -<p>“That Barnell’s Point is the place where the -Albatross was crushed to pieces in the ice.”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE WRECKED SHIP.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Will Bertram started violently at old Jack’s -announcement.</p> - -<p>“Are you sure? How do you know?” he -asked tumultuously.</p> - -<p>“That’s what Captain Stephen Morris -said.”</p> - -<p>“That the Albatross was lost at Barnell’s -Point?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“And this is probably that place?”</p> - -<p>“Exactly.”</p> - -<p>“The ship my brother Alan was captain of,” -murmured Will. “Here the unfortunate crew -were all crushed in the ice?”</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>Jack’s last word was explosive and emphatic.</p> - -<p>Will looked at him in surprise.</p> - -<p>“That’s what Captain Morris said.”</p> - -<p>“He said what was false, lad. I happened -to overhear him talking on the Golden -Moose with the mate one day, and it verified -a suspicion I had formed when I noticed -how familiar he was with Donald Parker, his -business manager, at Watertown. I knew -there was some mystery about the loss of the -Albatross.”</p> - -<p>“I never believed Captain Morris’ story,” -cried Will.</p> - -<p>“I determined to watch and wait. When -you heard me in the cabin of the Golden -Moose accuse him of evil work with the Albatross, -you know how guilty he acted.”</p> - -<p>“Then you think my brother was not -killed?”</p> - -<p>“I do.”</p> - -<p>“How did Morris get the men who rescued -him to believe it?”</p> - -<p>“That’s as much a mystery as where his -sudden wealth came from. There was some -wicked work done, for I believe the men who -built this hut were of the crew of the Albatross. -I theorize that they abandoned the -ship for some reason, and this was a station -they made in the search for some native settlement.”</p> - -<p>For a long time the castaways discussed -the matter of the crew of the Albatross.</p> - -<p>Their discovery materially changed their -plans.</p> - -<p>“They seem to have kept near the seacoast,” -said Jack. “I propose that we follow -the same course, for as they have not returned -they may have discovered a settlement.”</p> - -<p>The next morning Jack made a sled of the -wood they had found and packed their baggage -upon it.</p> - -<p>Strong ropes were attached, and they took -turns at pulling it over the snow.</p> - -<p>They kept close to the coast. The first -day out they made no discoveries of any importance, -but just at dark the second day, as -they rounded a high eminence, their eyes -met a scene that startled and delighted them.</p> - -<p>Held in place by the ice, in a slight indentation -in the land, was a ship.</p> - -<p>Will stood transfixed for a moment, and -then one cry of joy rang from his lips.</p> - -<p>“My brother’s ship!” he ejaculated, wildly. -“It is the Albatross!”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">A THRILLING EPISODE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>It was indeed the Albatross, or rather the -dismantled hull of that ship, which the Arctic -castaways had discovered.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[43]</span></p> - -<p>Will and Jack both recognized it at a -glance, although it was encrusted in ice and -covered with snow.</p> - -<p>Its presence here gave the lie to Captain -Stephen Morris’ story, but it intensified the -mystery of his solitary escape.</p> - -<p>It was apparent as they approached the -ship that it had been deserted for a long -time.</p> - -<p>They were compelled to remove a large -quantity of snow from the deck before they -could force a way to the cabin.</p> - -<p>Everything here was in disorder—the hold -almost empty and the forecastle dismal and -badly damaged by a fire that had taken place -there.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Now, however, -Jack was almost positive -that research -would result in the -finding of a native -settlement, and -through this means -a return home.</p> - -<p>Will, too, believing -his brother Alan -alive, was anxious to -pursue their journey.</p> - -<p>They found a -stove in the cabin -and plenty of fuel -to burn, and they -had an abundance -of food.</p> - -<p>“We have been going in a wrong direction,” -said Jack that night. “The party that -left the ship went around to the northeast.”</p> - -<p>“Then we must retrace our way?” asked -Hugo.</p> - -<p>“Yes, by following them as closely as possible -we shall learn their fate or reach the -place of safety they have gained.”</p> - -<p>It was decided to prepare for a long journey.</p> - -<p>Jack built a better sled and selected various -articles of food which he made into compact -packages.</p> - -<p>They were two days on the ship when -some startling incidents occurred to hasten -their journey from the place.</p> - -<p>Tracks of various animals had been seen in -the snow, and the boys had been allowed to -visit the shore.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>It was the ensuing morning that he and -Tom, visiting the vicinity, to their delight -<a href="#Ref_43">saw some kind of an animal struggling in the -trap</a> they had set.</p> - -<div id="Ref_43" class="figleft"> -<img src="images/i43.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>As they drew nearer Tom exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“A fox, Will!”</p> - -<p>They got near enough to observe it closely.</p> - -<p>It proved to be an animal of a strange -color, with bushy tail and thickly furred feet, -even to the soles.</p> - -<p>Will made a slip-knot on a rope they carried -and flung it over the fox’s head.</p> - -<p>He pulled at the animal while Tom released -it from the trap.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>The fox had disappeared, carrying the -rope away.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>At the same moment an immense white object -loomed up before his vision.</p> - -<p>It was a white polar bear, and with eyes -fixed on Will it was advancing straight towards -him.</p> - -<p>Will turned pale and began to retreat<span class="pagenum">[44]</span> -slowly. He could hear Tom’s cry die out in -the distance, and knew that he was deserted.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Still it kept following him, and he could -not run.</p> - -<p>He grew terrified as he came to an abrupt -halt.</p> - -<p>The path he had been following was -blocked by a projecting mass of ice.</p> - -<p>He must either retrace his way or leap -down a steep incline at the risk of his life.</p> - -<p>The bear, after floundering around for -some moments, glared at him fiercely.</p> - -<p>It kept advancing in a cautious, stealthy -manner.</p> - -<p>“I am lost,” murmured the imperilled lad, -in a tone of utter despair.</p> - -<p>Just then he saw a dark object drop directly -behind the bear from the ledge above.</p> - -<p>It was Jack.</p> - -<p>He held in his hand the hatchet, and Will -saw him creep behind the bear until he had -reached the animal.</p> - -<p>The bear seemed about to spring upon -Will when Jack lifted the hatchet.</p> - -<p>Its sharp edge came down on the hind foot -of the animal with terrific force, almost severing -it from its body.</p> - -<p>At the same moment a gun was fired from -the upper ledge, doubtless in the hands of -Hugo.</p> - -<p>The bear turned with a horrible howl, and -then, making a red track in the snow after it, -fell down the steep incline.</p> - -<p>It seems that Tom had alarmed Jack and -Hugo at the ship in time to come to Will’s -rescue.</p> - -<p>Will reached the ledge again with Jack’s -help, and the little party hurried down to the -ravine where the bear lay.</p> - -<p>They found the animal dead. The shot -from the gun and the blow from the hatchet -had killed him.</p> - -<p>The bear was a monster, and Jack set -about removing its skin, which froze hard -before they reached the ship with it.</p> - -<p>That night they had fresh bear steaks for -supper.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Fire! Fire!” he cried, wildly; “the ship -is on fire!”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE YOUNG EXPLORERS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Tom’s carelessness with a lamp had precipitated -a catastrophe, and the Albatross -was soon enveloped in flames.</p> - -<p>It was fortunate that the stores ready for -the journey were outside on the sled, else the -loss would have been a serious one.</p> - -<p>The fire showed how frail the stability of -Arctic home life was to those unused to it. -Had they depended on the ship as a shelter, -the present disaster would have made them -entirely homeless.</p> - -<p>They, however, were thinking of the expedition -down the coast which had preceded -them.</p> - -<p>“We are well equipped,” said Jack, “and -cannot starve or freeze if we take proper care -of ourselves.”</p> - -<p>“Will you follow the coast to the ice -hut?” asked Will.</p> - -<p>“We may as well, and thence still keep -along the shore.”</p> - -<p>The sled was easily moved along the snow, -and when one of the boys got very tired he -was allowed a brief ride.</p> - -<p>The second night after leaving the Albatross -they camped in the ice house they had -discovered the day they crossed to the main -land.</p> - -<p>From this spot they followed the water-way -surrounding the island they had been -cast away on originally.</p> - -<p>Sometimes the route was irregular and difficult, -but they made a steady progress.</p> - -<p>They discovered no further trace of the -party from the Albatross for nearly a week.</p> - -<p>During that time they were compelled to -build a temporary shelter each night. They -suffered little from the cold now, as they had -become used to it in a measure, and the -weather was considerably milder than when -they first left the Arctic.</p> - -<p>At last, they one day came to what had -evidently been an ice hut. It was now in -ruins, but it showed they were on the right -route.</p> - -<p>Beyond this the coast-line was so irregular -that a detour was made, and Jack decided -that the party preceding them had done the -same.</p> - -<p>They regained the coast, not wishing to go -too far into the interior, but found it more -difficult of traversing as they progressed.</p> - -<p>One day the boys discovered <a id="Ref_45a" href="#Ref_45">several seals -disporting themselves on the ice</a>, and an hour -was devoted to attempting a capture, but -without effect.</p> - -<div id="Ref_45" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i45.jpg" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="center"><a href="#Ref_45a">THE SEALS</a>.</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[46]</span></p> - -<p>Finally the rocky character of the coast -became uniform, and they found they could -not keep to the shore and take the sled with -them.</p> - -<p>Jack decided to leave the ocean and make -a venture of crossing the plains lying back -from the sea, at least for a day or two, to see -if some new traces of the Albatross party -might not be found.</p> - -<p>They found the temperature considerably -lower as they progressed to the interior, and -the second day of their journey was so cold -that they made a snow hut and did not travel -at all that day.</p> - -<p>The days, too, were becoming much shorter, -and when there was little sunlight seemed to -merge into a hazy twilight early in the afternoon.</p> - -<p>For two weeks they continued on their -way, meeting with no traces of previous occupancy -of the vicinity.</p> - -<p>Jack and Hugo looked serious and concerned -over the situation, and discussed it -continually.</p> - -<p>“We have left the coast,” the former said, -“and cannot find it again. But we are progressing -blindly, and possibly further and -further away from any settlement.”</p> - -<p>“We can’t help it, mate,” rejoined Hugo.</p> - -<p>“Maybe not,” said Jack, “but there’s some -kind of a great change in the weather coming.”</p> - -<p>“Colder, you mean?”</p> - -<p>“Probably.”</p> - -<p>“Well, let us provide for it.”</p> - -<p>“I think it best. Here’s my plan: You see -the high ridge of land and ice yonder?”</p> - -<p>“You mean about twenty miles to the -north?”</p> - -<p>“Nearer fifty.”</p> - -<p>“Well, Jack?”</p> - -<p>“That either marks the boundary of the -land or looks over some new country. We’ll -go there.”</p> - -<p>“And then?”</p> - -<p>“See what a view shows. If we’re going -to go into temporary quarters and wait for -something to develop it is better to be near -the protection of the cliffs than on the open -plain.”</p> - -<p>It took three days to accomplish the journey -to the bold, jagged headland Jack had -discovered.</p> - -<p>It was so cold when they reached it that -all their energies were set in action to provide -for the rigors of the night.</p> - -<p>A strong ice hut was constructed, and they -were content to crowd around the blubber -lamp for warmth and be thankful they had -a shelter.</p> - -<p>The next morning Jack announced that he -would scale the icy cliffs and take a view of -their location.</p> - -<p>He allowed Will and Tom to accompany -him. It took several hours to scale the -slippery headland.</p> - -<p>At its top a wide scope of scenery met -their view.</p> - -<p>They could look back for miles over the -vast plain they had traversed.</p> - -<p>Beyond was what resembled an immense -lake, terminating many miles distant in the -boldly-defined shores of some new land.</p> - -<p>It was frozen over, but its surface here and -there was marked with huge chasms where -the ice had cracked.</p> - -<p>As they stood viewing the desolate scene -Will’s keen eyes discerned some moving objects -on the frozen plain.</p> - -<p>“Look, Jack!” he said. “What is that? -Wolves—foxes?”</p> - -<p>Jack strained his vision to the utmost.</p> - -<p>Then he uttered an ejaculation of excitement.</p> - -<p>“It’s no wolves or foxes, lad,” he said.</p> - -<p>“What then?”</p> - -<p>“Dogs—a sled and an Esquimaux driver, as -sure as my name is Jack Marcy.”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE SNOW STORM.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The longer the intensely absorbed and excited -Jack and the boys gazed at the distant -object that had attracted their attention the -more distinct did it become.</p> - -<p>“It is certainly a sled, and it is coming this -way!” exclaimed Will.</p> - -<p>“Yes, we must try and reach the plain,” -said Jack.</p> - -<p>He was about to descend as they had come, -for the only way to carry out his plan was to -go around some distance to where the cliffs -were lower, when he paused.</p> - -<p>The moving objects on the snow seemed -suddenly to blend into a confused mass.</p> - -<p>The sled and its driver mysteriously disappeared -from view, while the dogs were flung -in the air and then seemed to stand stationary.</p> - -<p>“What has happened?” asked Tom, breathlessly.</p> - -<p>“A break in the ice. The sled and its unfortunate -driver have gone down. Oh, if we -were near enough to give him help!”</p> - -<p>Jack waited no longer, and they hurried<span class="pagenum">[47]</span> -down to the ice house much faster than they -had ascended the cliff.</p> - -<p>Jack hurriedly related to Hugo what had -occurred, and explained how they might -scale the cliff farther down the shore and get -out on the ice beyond.</p> - -<p>“The boys will stay here,” he said. “Do -not leave the hut till we return, Will.”</p> - -<p>The two sailors took each a gun and started -out on their hurried errand.</p> - -<p>Time passed drearily to the trio they had -left behind them. Tom and Willis wished to -go up to the cliffs to see the lake, but Will -reminded them of Jack’s injunction.</p> - -<p>It was well they followed it, for shortly -afterwards a wild wind swept over the spot -and a furious snow storm set in.</p> - -<p>As darkness came down, and there were no -signs of the return of Jack and Hugo, Will -became alarmed.</p> - -<p>He pushed aside the door, or block of ice, -that filled the entrance to the hut and crawled -out finally.</p> - -<p>The snow was deep and blinding, and he -became terrified as he realized the difficulty -the sailors would have in finding the hut.</p> - -<p>He imparted his apprehensions to his companions.</p> - -<p>“They may be out on the lake yet,” he -said.</p> - -<p>“Can we not signal them?” inquired Tom.</p> - -<p>“How?” asked Will.</p> - -<p>“A light—a fire.”</p> - -<p>Will reflected deeply. Then he decided on -a course that might be of some utility in -guiding Jack and Hugo to the hut.</p> - -<p>He ordered Tom to wrap himself up closely -and take the blubber lamp outside the hut.</p> - -<p>He was to keep feeding it freely, so as to -make as much flame as possible and shade it -from the wind and snow.</p> - -<p>Will himself had ventured on an exploit -that was fraught with peril.</p> - -<p>“You remain here with the light as long as -you can stand the cold,” he said.</p> - -<p>“You think Jack and Hugo are this side of -the cliffs?”</p> - -<p>“Possibly. If so, they will be guided by -the light.”</p> - -<p>“And you, Will?”</p> - -<p>“I am going to scale the cliffs.”</p> - -<p>Tom uttered a cry of dismay.</p> - -<p>“In this terrible storm?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Tom.”</p> - -<p>Will began the slow and difficult ascent.</p> - -<p>A dozen times he slipped and fell, but he -finally had the satisfaction of reaching the -summit of the rocks overlooking the frozen -lake.</p> - -<p>He had brought the can of alcohol and -some pieces of cloth with him.</p> - -<p>Saturating the latter with the alcohol, he -set them afire and waved them to and fro.</p> - -<p>This he kept up until all the alcohol was -exhausted except what was left in the lamp -Jack had improvised from the powder flask.</p> - -<p>Lighting the wick, he shaded the feeble -light with pieces of ice and set its flame towards -the lake.</p> - -<p>“They may not be able to see it,” he soliloquized; -“but I have done all I could for -them.”</p> - -<p>He was chilled and wearied long before he -reached the hut again.</p> - -<p>Tom had been forced to retreat into the -hut, well-nigh frozen.</p> - -<p>He welcomed Will’s safe return with delight.</p> - -<p>“Jack and Hugo have made a snow house -somewhere,” he said; and with this theory -they were forced to be content.</p> - -<p>With the first dawn of day the boys were -awake and outside.</p> - -<p>They looked vainly for some trace of the -two sailors until they heard a loud series of -yelps.</p> - -<p>They ran through the deep snow as best -they could towards the spot whence these -sounds emanated.</p> - -<p>Half a dozen dogs, such as they had often -heard Jack and Hugo describe as the faithful -servants of the Esquimaux, were gamboling -in the snow under the partial shelter of -an overhanging ledge of ice.</p> - -<p>They were secured together by long strings -made of dried skin of some animal, the end -of which was secured around a huge boulder -of ice.</p> - -<p>As they were gazing, curious and interested, -two forms pushed aside a bank of -snow, and, from a cave-like aperture, the two -sailors came into view.</p> - -<p>“Jack!—Hugo!” cried the boys, delightedly.</p> - -<p>“Yes, lads; and snug and safe. We found -the snow a warm bed for the night.”</p> - -<p>Will explained how they had endeavored -to signal them; then he pointed to the dogs.</p> - -<p>Jack looked sad.</p> - -<p>“It’s a sorrowful story, lad. The man who -drove them and the sled went down in a fissure -in the ice.”</p> - -<p>“And you couldn’t save him?”</p> - -<p>“No. When we reached the place the ice -had closed and the dogs had broken loose.”</p> - -<p>“How did you bring them here?”</p> - -<p>“They followed us. They’re gentle as kittens. -Had the Esquimaux lived, and had we<span class="pagenum">[48]</span> -overtaken him, he might have led us at once -to a settlement.”</p> - -<p>“And maybe to the very one the crew of -the Albatross and my brother Alan have -reached,” said Will, hopefully.</p> - -<p>“Possibly, lad. However, it shows there -are natives near here.”</p> - -<p>“And you will search for them?”</p> - -<p>“The dogs will find them.”</p> - -<p>“How?”</p> - -<p>“We will make a new sled and start them -over the frozen lake. They will probably -start direct for the nearest Esquimaux village.”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE ATTACK.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Hurrah!”</p> - -<p>Amid the excitement of a most momentous -episode in the Arctic experience of the young -castaways, this excited cry burst from their -lips.</p> - -<p>They forgot all the sorrows and perils of -the past in the exhilarating delight of the -hour.</p> - -<p>Jack Marcy had made a long, narrow sled by -reconstructing the old one brought from the -ship and placing most of their stores on this, -and, seating themselves one behind the other, -they started on a wild journey over the ice.</p> - -<p>They had crossed over the cliffs, and as the -long whip in Jack’s hands cracked, the -trained animals attached to the sled started -on their journey.</p> - -<p>By noon the sled had reached the opposite -shores of the lake.</p> - -<p>Jack allowed the dogs to take their own -course, believing their natural sagacity would -lead them right.</p> - -<p>In this he was not in error. Towards evening -the animals began to yell joyfully.</p> - -<p>As they rounded a slight elevation in the -ground the voyagers knew that they were -near human habitation.</p> - -<p>Beyond they could see several ice huts, and -<a href="#Ref_02">four Esquimaux boys near at hand were engaged -in playing a popular American game -with bone clubs and a ball</a>.</p> - -<p>The youngsters stared wonderingly at the -strangers, and then scampered off towards -the ice huts.</p> - -<p>Towards these Jack directed the sled. By -the time they had reached them quite a throng -of natives were gathered to greet them.</p> - -<p>The leader, a large, closely-muffled man, -looked suspiciously at Jack and his party -and extended his hand, murmuring some unintelligible -words.</p> - -<p>He also spoke to some of those around -him, and these began busily unloading the -sled and carrying the parcels to an ice hut.</p> - -<p>When they had completed the transfer the -leader motioned for them to follow him, and -led them into the rude home his hospitality -placed at their disposal.</p> - -<p>Jack made several efforts to converse with -the man by signs and words, but the latter -could not comprehend them.</p> - -<p>He accepted, however, several of the packages -as presents, and himself and two others -finally brought their guests a large bowl filled -with smoking grease and chunks of fat.</p> - -<p>It was an unsavory dish for the boys, hungry -as they were, but they ate some in order -that they might not offend their hosts.</p> - -<p>The leader left his two companions in the -hut, who stared steadily at the strangers with -big, owl-like eyes, but were silent.</p> - -<p>“They evidently consider us friends, but -don’t know how to express it,” remarked -Jack.</p> - -<p>A few moments later, however, an episode -occurred which somewhat changed their confident -opinion.</p> - -<p>The leader re-entered the hut with an ominous -face.</p> - -<p>He spoke a few words to his companions, -who arose and departed silently.</p> - -<p>Then he sat down by Jack and uttered a -single word.</p> - -<p>It sounded like “Kaoka.”</p> - -<p>Jack looked puzzled.</p> - -<p>The Esquimaux imitated the actions of a -driver on a sled.</p> - -<p>“He means the man we saw drowned,” -suggested Hugo.</p> - -<p>Jack made a motion as of ice opening and -closing.</p> - -<p>He then went through the pantomime of a -man drowning.</p> - -<p>The Esquimaux looked fixedly at him for a -moment or two, and then shook his head solemnly.</p> - -<p>He arose without another word and left -the hut.</p> - -<p>“What does that mean?” inquired Hugo.</p> - -<p>“It means that he don’t believe us.”</p> - -<p>This was soon verified.</p> - -<p>The little party were preparing to sleep -when a loud thud sounded on the outside of -the hut.</p> - -<p>It was followed by others, as if large projectiles -were being flung against the hut.</p> - -<p>Then a huge block in the side was dashed -in, almost striking one of the boys.</p> - -<p>A second block fell—the hut seemed -crumbling into ruins.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[49]</span></p> - -<p>Jack caught a glimpse of a dozen or more -of the Esquimaux.</p> - -<p>They were shouting and gesticulating -wildly, and were armed with large clubs and -solid chunks of ice.</p> - -<p>“We will be crushed to death!” he cried. -“Hand me the gun, Hugo.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t shoot, Jack!”</p> - -<p>“We must, or they will kill us. It is our -only means of self protection to frighten -them away.”</p> - -<p>“They are terribly angry.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; they think we killed the owner of -the dogs and stole the animals.”</p> - -<p>“Look out!”</p> - -<p>As Hugo uttered the warning a shower of -ice fell over the ruined hut.</p> - -<p>Jack raised the gun and fired.</p> - -<p>The yells of the Esquimaux mingled with -the deafening explosion.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">FOUND AT LAST.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>That the Esquimaux were enraged, and believing -that their companion had been murdered, -were determined to avenge his death, -there could be no doubt.</p> - -<p>They had retreated when the gun was fired, -and Jack said, quickly:</p> - -<p>“Climb out of here as soon as you can. We -must fly.”</p> - -<p>“But won’t they listen to reason?” demurred -Hugo.</p> - -<p>“They can’t understand us. See yonder, -Hugo, is a sled and some dogs. Get the boys -there.”</p> - -<p>“You intend to take them away?”</p> - -<p>“I intend to escape as best we may before -the Esquimaux return to the attack,” replied -Jack, determinedly.</p> - -<p>As the natives made a forward movement -the gun was again fired, and had the effect of -checking their advance.</p> - -<p>They had some difficulty in urging the -dogs away from the camp, but once started -the sled flew over the snowy expanse.</p> - -<p>They were not followed by the Esquimaux, -who were, doubtless, affrighted at the guns.</p> - -<p>After several hours Jack ordered a halt, -and they found a shelter for the night, resuming -their journey the next day.</p> - -<p>Several times on their way they passed ice -huts and other evidences of the passage of -recent travelers, such as broken sleds and -scraps of food.</p> - -<p>At nightfall, two days later, they came to -a settlement.</p> - -<p>Beyond it was the open sea.</p> - -<p>Anchored near the coast was a large ship.</p> - -<p>Snow huts and several rude frame houses -were also visible.</p> - -<p>The first man they met as the sled stopped -was a white man.</p> - -<p>He welcomed them cordially, and for the -first time since leaving home they entered a -house resembling those they had been used to -live in.</p> - -<p>The man explained that the place was a -whaling station known to most ships in the -trade.</p> - -<p>The settlement had numerous Esquimaux -among its population, and several of these -and members of the crew of the ship at anchor -soon gathered in the depot building, as -it was called, to survey with curiosity the escaped -castaways.</p> - -<p>Jack related the story of their adventures. -In its narration he several times spoke of the -Albatross and its crew.</p> - -<p>When he had concluded the man who had -welcomed him turned to Will.</p> - -<p>“And this is Captain Bertram’s brother, -eh?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” replied Jack.</p> - -<p>“Do you know my brother, sir?” queried -Will, anxiously.</p> - -<p>“We parted company a week ago.”</p> - -<p>“Then he is alive and well?”</p> - -<p>“He was at last accounts. He has gone -about fifty miles down the coast.”</p> - -<p>“What for?”</p> - -<p>“To find a ship to return home in. There -was none here then.”</p> - -<p>“And her crew?”</p> - -<p>“Are with him.”</p> - -<p>The information made Will excited and -anxious, and he asked the man a score of -questions about the Albatross.</p> - -<p>Jack, Hugo and the boys held a consultation -that evening as to the best course for -them to pursue.</p> - -<p>The ship at anchor sailed in a few days for -the whaling grounds, and both Jack and -Hugo could have found positions among the -crew.</p> - -<p>The chances of finding ships returning -home at the next station induced them to determine -to go thither.</p> - -<p>There Will might find his brother, and the -ensuing morning two Esquimaux agreed to -drive them to their intended destination on -their sleds.</p> - -<p>They came upon a ship in the ice before -they reached the settlement, and were witnesses -to the <a id="Ref_50a" href="#Ref_50">burial in the frozen deep of two -sailors</a> who had died on shipboard.</p> - -<p>The lonely procession on the ice, the<span class="pagenum">[51]</span> -strange lunar phenomena in the sky and the -silence of the scene impressed them all with -its solemnity.</p> - -<div id="Ref_50" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i50.jpg" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="center"><a href="#Ref_50a">AN ARCTIC FUNERAL</a>.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>From the sailors they learned that several -ships were intending to sail soon from the -next station, and they traveled all that night, -reaching the whaling depot at daylight.</p> - -<p>Will Bertram could scarcely contain himself -when the sled stopped.</p> - -<p>A casual inquiry had revealed the fact that -the crew of the Albatross were at the main -building in the settlement, and Will rushed -thither.</p> - -<p>A room crowded with bunks showed a -dozen or more men just arising from sleep.</p> - -<p>Will’s heart in his mouth, he cried out, -eagerly:</p> - -<p>“Captain Bertram!”</p> - -<p>“Here!” replied a hearty voice.</p> - -<p>Will dashed precipitately forward.</p> - -<p>“Oh! Alan! My brother, my brother! I -have found you at last.”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">CAPTAIN ALAN BERTRAM.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>It was Alan Bertram, his long-lost brother, -bronzed and bearded and changed, but the -same kindly eyes beamed down on the happy -Will, and the same hearty voice welcomed -him.</p> - -<p>“Will!” ejaculated the amazed Alan.</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, it is I, and you are alive whom -we thought dead.”</p> - -<p>Captain Bertram acted like a man stunned -by an unexpected blow. He sank to a bunk—Will -never releasing his grasp on his hand—and -could only stare blankly at Will for -some moments.</p> - -<p>“How did you come here? It seems like -a dream.”</p> - -<p>“It is no dream, but a reality,” cried Will. -“I have been seeking you for a long time. -We have followed you step by step from the -wreck of the Albatross.”</p> - -<p>The sailors had crowded around them, interested -and spellbound at the strange meeting.</p> - -<p>They listened intently as, at Alan’s request, -Will began the story of his adventures.</p> - -<p>As he told of Captain Stephen Morris -more than one excited and angry ejaculation -interrupted him.</p> - -<p>“The scoundrel!”</p> - -<p>“He knew we were alive!”</p> - -<p>These and similar expressions broke from -the sailors.</p> - -<p>At last Will concluded his story.</p> - -<p>As he did so Jack, Hugo and the boys entered -the room.</p> - -<p>A cheery welcome greeted the trusty old -sailors who had so faithfully guarded their -young charges.</p> - -<p>A noisy scene ensued when the sailors discussed -the actions of Captain Morris, whom -they had believed to be dead.</p> - -<p>An inquiry from Jack led to Captain Bertram -telling his story.</p> - -<p>It seems that the Albatross had made a -most successful voyage.</p> - -<p>The ship had captured several whales, had -a hold full of oil, and was returning, homeward -bound, when adverse winds bore it -into the storm area.</p> - -<p>The Albatross was driven north and cast -upon the Arctic coast.</p> - -<p>The icebergs threatened to crush the ship, -and the captain, believing they were not far -out of the course of ships, determined to attempt -to save the cargo.</p> - -<p>The barrels of oil were therefore landed -and piled away in a nook near the coast.</p> - -<p>The next day the ice broke, carrying the -Albatross some distance.</p> - -<p>The ship was wrecked, but not so badly -but that it afforded a temporary home for the -crew.</p> - -<p>They remained on the ship all through the -rigorous winter, and then started to find a -settlement.</p> - -<p>On the way Stephen Morris, in scaling an -ice cliff, fell into the sea.</p> - -<p>They searched for him, but could not find -him, and, giving him up for drowned, proceeded -on their way.</p> - -<p>They built the ice huts the castaways had -seen, and at last came upon a wandering tribe -of Esquimaux.</p> - -<p>With them they lived for some months. -They told them of the whale-oil deposit, and -several of them and the crew visited the spot.</p> - -<p>They returned, amazed and disappointed.</p> - -<p>The barrels of oil had disappeared. Either -they had been found by some ship or, the ice -melting, had floated them into the sea.</p> - -<p>For many months the Albatross crew remained -with the tribe, finally finding their -way to the whaling station.</p> - -<p>Within a day or two Captain Bertram said -they would sail for home on a whaler.</p> - -<p>This was his story, briefly told.</p> - -<p>“And you wonder where the oil went to, -Captain?” he asked, with a curious look on -his face.</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“And you wonder how Stephen Morris got -rich?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[52]</span></p> - -<p>“Ah! Then you suspect—”</p> - -<p>“That he is a villain and a robber.”</p> - -<p>“You have a theory?”</p> - -<p>“A very plausible one.”</p> - -<p>“What is it?”</p> - -<p>“He was not drowned at all.”</p> - -<p>“That seems certain.”</p> - -<p>“In some way he escaped. He found himself -alone, and he remained around the ship. -One day, I theorise, a ship came along.”</p> - -<p>“That’s possible.”</p> - -<p>“He was seen and taken aboard. They did -not see the wreck of the Albatross.”</p> - -<p>“Well?”</p> - -<p>“He made up a false story about it being -crushed in the ice and all aboard lost.”</p> - -<p>“What for?”</p> - -<p>“Because he wanted no witnesses against -his crime.”</p> - -<p>“What crime?”</p> - -<p>“Robbery! He and the captain of the ship -seized the oil as legally theirs and divided on -it when they got into port.”</p> - -<p>“The villain!”</p> - -<p>“That he is, and he let you take the chances -of perishing in the cold to carry out his -plot.”</p> - -<p>This seemed very plausible, and when Jack -told of the sinking of the Golden Moose their -rage knew no bounds.</p> - -<p>“We’ll have him punished when we return,” -they affirmed.</p> - -<p>A bountiful breakfast was prepared for the -castaways, and they and the crew of the Albatross -were a happy party all that day.</p> - -<p>Towards noon Captain Bertram led Will to -a point some distance away where a ship was -anchored.</p> - -<p>“You see the ice is beginning to break and -float for good,” he said. “We will sail as -soon as the channel is open; probably to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>When they returned to the depot he ordered -the men to get their traps packed -ready for conveying them to the ship.</p> - -<p>They comprised, mostly, relics of their -Arctic experience, and the white bear-skin -Jack’s party had secured was not forgotten.</p> - -<p>Captain Bertram got a sled ready and asked -Will to aid him.</p> - -<p>“I haven’t much baggage,” he said, “but I -have one article that I have clung to through -all my adventures.”</p> - -<p>Under one of the bunks he pointed to a -barrel. It was secured in a piece of sail -cloth, and bore the captain’s name.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked Will, curiously.</p> - -<p>“Our fortune,” was Captain Bertram’s mysterious -reply.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“Our fortune?” repeated Will, in vague -wonderment.</p> - -<p>“Yes, Will,” replied Alan, looking around -to see that they were not observed. “That -cask contains valuable property. No matter -what just now. I brought it from the ship -to here, heavy as it is, and it has been a -source of mystery to the crew all along. I -had reasons for not telling them its contents, -but if we succeed in getting it safely home -we will be rich, and they shall not be forgotten. -Some one is coming,” and the appearance -of a sailor interrupted the conversation.</p> - -<p>The barrel was conveyed to the ship, and -Captain Bertram, having some business to -discuss with the captain of the ship, Will decided -to return to the settlement.</p> - -<p>He did not go as they had come, by land, -but in an adventurous spirit set out to cross -on the ice, which was broken up and already -floating.</p> - -<p>Leaping from cake to cake, he enjoyed the -sport until he found himself on a large piece -which, when he came to leave it, had floated -several feet from any other piece.</p> - -<p>“It will float against some of them again,” -he murmured, but to his consternation he observed -that the entire mass was floating rapidly -seawards.</p> - -<p>He had reason for apprehension now, for -he was fast getting in open water.</p> - -<p>He could not venture to swim with his -heavy clothing on, and besides the ice, if it -came together, would crush him.</p> - -<p>His face paled as he saw that no one was -in sight on land, and that the ice was moving -in a swift current.</p> - -<p>“I am lost!” he cried, wildly. “Oh! why -did I foolishly venture on the ice?”</p> - -<p>But it was too late to remedy his error, -and he could only hope he might drift to -some floe.</p> - -<p>Darkness came down over the scene. The -shore had disappeared. He was afloat on a -cake of ice in the open sea!</p> - -<p>The horrors of that night poor Will never -forgot. At the very verge of a swift journey -home with his recovered brother, the cup of -happiness seemed dashed from his lips.</p> - -<p>In his awful peril eternity loomed -before him, and, after an hour of fervent -prayer, he resigned himself to his fate.</p> - -<p>In wandering over the piece of ice he -slipped and fell. The contact with a jagged -edge stunned him, and he knew no more.</p> - -<p>When he awakened to consciousness he<span class="pagenum">[53]</span> -was lying in a warm, cozy bunk, a grizzled -old sailor bending over him.</p> - -<p>His head was bandaged and he was weak -and feverish.</p> - -<p>“Well, lad, you’ve come back to life at -last, it seems,” spoke a gruff, but kindly -voice.</p> - -<p>“Where am I?”</p> - -<p>“On board the whaler Penguin.”</p> - -<p>“How did I come here?”</p> - -<p>“Picked up on a floating cake of ice.”</p> - -<p>“When—last night?”</p> - -<p>The sailor laughed.</p> - -<p>“No, indeed. A week ago.”</p> - -<p>“And I have been here since?”</p> - -<p>“Under the surgeon’s care, yes.”</p> - -<p>“Then I must have been injured?”</p> - -<p>“You had an ugly cut in the head, and -you’ve been delirious since.”</p> - -<p>Will thought of his brother Alan with -anxiety as he contemplated his grief when -he found him gone.</p> - -<p>He consoled himself with the thought, -however, that Captain Bertram would soon -sail for home.</p> - -<p>The Penguin made a rapid voyage.</p> - -<p>One bright morning the ship anchored at -Portland.</p> - -<p>The captain provided Will with sufficient -money to reach home.</p> - -<p>Hence he had sailed a stowaway months -previous.</p> - -<p>He had returned as poor as he went away, -but his experience had been of a character -likely to benefit him in after years.</p> - -<p>He proceeded within twenty miles of -Watertown by rail.</p> - -<p>A coach took him to Princeton, ten miles -nearer.</p> - -<p>Here, just at dusk, he entered a little store -to purchase something to eat, and was -emerging a minute later, when he started -and then stood dumbfounded.</p> - -<p>A man walking briskly had stopped as -abruptly as himself.</p> - -<p>“Will Bertram!” cried the man, wildly. -“What does this mean? How came you -here?”</p> - -<p>It was Captain Stephen Morris!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">NEW PERILS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>The street was dark and deserted except -where the two persons so strangely met stood -staring at each other.</p> - -<p>Will’s first impulse was to fly under the -influence of the old terror he felt of Captain -Morris.</p> - -<p>The latter, however, recovering partly -from his surprise, suddenly seized him by -the arm.</p> - -<p>“Come with me,” was all he said, in a -choked, unnatural tone.</p> - -<p>“I won’t!”</p> - -<p>Will struggled to get free, but Morris held -him in a tight clasp.</p> - -<p>“You keep quiet, if you’re wise,” said Morris, -menacingly. “I don’t want to hurt you.”</p> - -<p>“What do you want of me?”</p> - -<p>“To talk to you.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t want to talk with you. Let me -go, Captain Morris.”</p> - -<p>But Morris held tightly to him, and almost -dragged him along.</p> - -<p>At a retired spot on the confines of the -village was a tavern.</p> - -<p>Will knew of it as a place of unsavory -reputation, it being a low drinking den.</p> - -<p>“I won’t go to that place with you,” he appealed, -holding back.</p> - -<p>“Well, you will.”</p> - -<p>Will struggled and shouted for help, but -the Captain only laughed at him.</p> - -<p>“They are my friends yonder,” he said, -“and your obstinacy won’t help you.”</p> - -<p>Will was compelled to accompany him -through the narrow entrance to the living -rooms of the tavern.</p> - -<p>A man, evidently the landlord, came to the -door, but at a glance from Morris retired.</p> - -<p>The latter entered a room that was dark, -except where the light showed from a transom -looking into an adjoining room.</p> - -<p>From that apartment sounds of drinking -and dispute arose.</p> - -<p>The air was foul with tobacco smoke and -the fumes of liquor.</p> - -<p>Captain Morris flung Will into a chair and -confronted him.</p> - -<p>“Now then,” he said, “I have a few questions -to ask you.”</p> - -<p>Will was silent.</p> - -<p>“And I expect you to answer them,” he supplemented.</p> - -<p>“And then I can go?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“Very well. What is it?”</p> - -<p>“How did you escape from drowning on -the Golden Moose?”</p> - -<p>“After you left us to sink—” began Will, -but the captain interrupted him, impatiently.</p> - -<p>“After I left you to sink?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“I did nothing of the kind.”</p> - -<p>“You certainly put off in the long boat.”</p> - -<p>“The waves carried us away from the -ship.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[54]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, that was it?” remarked Will, incredulously.</p> - -<p>“Exactly. We tried to get back to the -ship and couldn’t do it.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” resumed Will, “when we found -the boat gone, Jack and Tom and I—”</p> - -<p>Captain Morris started.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Jack escaped, too.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, we floated away on a grating and -were rescued by a raft.”</p> - -<p>“And where is Jack now?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know.”</p> - -<p>“Did he come back with you?”</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>Captain Morris looked mystified.</p> - -<p>Will was determined not to tell what he -knew concerning the remainder of his adventures.</p> - -<p>“Where did you separate with Jack?” Morris -asked.</p> - -<p>“Oh, that was after we reached land.”</p> - -<p>“Where?”</p> - -<p>“Up around Barnell’s Point.”</p> - -<p>At hearing these words Captain Morris -sprang to his feet.</p> - -<p>“What!” he almost shrieked out.</p> - -<p>“Around Barnell’s Point.”</p> - -<p>His hand trembled as he seized Will’s arm -in a fierce grasp.</p> - -<p>“See here, boy,” he quavered, “what are -you hiding from me?”</p> - -<p>“What should I hide?”</p> - -<p>“What do you know about Barnell’s -Point?”</p> - -<p>“All. I was there.”</p> - -<p>“With Jack?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“How did you get there?”</p> - -<p>“We were wrecked.”</p> - -<p>“And how did you leave there?”</p> - -<p>“Part of the way on a sled.”</p> - -<p>“A sled?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Captain Morris, a sled made of part -of the timbers of the Albatross.”</p> - -<p><a href="#Ref_55">As Will uttered these words Captain Morris -fell to a chair</a>.</p> - -<p>A groan of apprehension passed his lips.</p> - -<p>In hoarse, stricken tones Will heard him -murmur:</p> - -<p>“They have discovered all! I am lost—ruined!”</p> - -<div id="Ref_55" class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i55.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">ON THE YACHT.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>For fully two minutes there was a lapse -of dead silence, broken only by the commotion -in the outside bar-room.</p> - -<p>Will sat watching Morris in the half light -of the apartment with the keenest satisfaction.</p> - -<p>He realized that the latter was tormented -over what he knew from Will’s disclosures -to be the wreck of all his evil schemes.</p> - -<p>For if the true story of the Albatross was -known, and his attempt to wreck the Golden -Moose made public he might lose both his -fortune and his liberty.</p> - -<p>It was not Will’s intention to reveal the -entire truth to him, however.</p> - -<p>He was, in fact, now sorry that he had -warned him to the extent he had.</p> - -<p>Finally the captain said:</p> - -<p>“You say you don’t know where Jack -Marcy is?”</p> - -<p>“Not positively.”</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“Because I got separated from him and the -others.”</p> - -<p>“What others?”</p> - -<p>“Castaways who were with us.”</p> - -<p>“Well?”</p> - -<p>“And I floated out to sea on a cake of ice.”</p> - -<p>“And was picked up?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and brought to Portland. Now then, -Captain Morris, I’ve answered your questions -and I wish to go.”</p> - -<p>“To tell people all about the Albatross?”</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“It will show my former story to have been -a lie.”</p> - -<p>“Well, ain’t it one?”</p> - -<p>“Maybe. You’re a dangerous enemy to -my interests, and for self-protection I think -I’ll keep you here a few days.”</p> - -<p>“No, you won’t.”</p> - -<p>Will had made a dash for the door.</p> - -<p>Before Morris could interrupt him he had -opened it and sprang into the next apartment.</p> - -<p>As he did so, and attempted to rush past -the men who were there, one of them put his -feet out.</p> - -<p>As Will stumbled over and fell to the floor -he recognized him.</p> - -<p>It was Donald Parker, the manager and -confidant of Captain Morris.</p> - -<p>He seemed to understand that Will was -trying to escape.</p> - -<p>“Stop that boy!” yelled Morris from the -next room.</p> - -<p>Parker sprang to the door and blocked -Will’s exit.</p> - -<p>The latter turned to three men seated -drinking and smoking.</p> - -<p>“They are trying to keep me here against -my will!” he cried.</p> - -<p>At that moment Captain Morris entered the -room.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[55]</span></p> - -<p>With a single blow of his fist he knocked -Will to the floor.</p> - -<p>“You’ve killed him, captain,” spoke Parker, -concernedly.</p> - -<p>“Nonsense, he’s only stunned. See here, -men, you all know me?”</p> - -<p>“Very well, captain,” chimed in the denizens -of the bar-room.</p> - -<p>“I’m your friend, and we’re working for -mutual interests.”</p> - -<p>“In the smuggling trade; eh, captain?” -laughed one of the men.</p> - -<p>“Never mind. This boy may ruin all our -plans.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t let him.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t intend to. I intend to keep him a -close prisoner for a few days, and no one -must know of his being here. You understand, -Jones?” he said, turning to the landlord.</p> - -<p>“You get me my liquor too cheap to have -me meddle with your business,” replied the -tavern-keeper.</p> - -<p>“Now boys,” continued Morris, “we must -get him out of here.”</p> - -<p>“When?”</p> - -<p>“At once.”</p> - -<p>“Where are you going to take him to?”</p> - -<p>“To the old yacht.”</p> - -<p>“Anchored near Watertown?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“How are we going to get him there?”</p> - -<p>“One of you secure a horse and wagon at -once.”</p> - -<p>Parker started out to fill Morris’ order.</p> - -<p>“When we get to the yacht I’ll explain -this affair to you,” said the captain to the -men.</p> - -<p>Half an hour later Morris, Parker and the -three men, who were evidently familiar associates, -left the bar-room.</p> - -<p>The captain exhorted the landlord to keep -silent about Will, which he agreed to do.</p> - -<p>Will was placed, still insensible from Morris’ -cowardly blow, in a wagon.</p> - -<p>An hour or two later it stopped at a point -on the coast near Watertown.</p> - -<p>Here a large yacht was moored.</p> - -<p>Will was placed in a compartment behind -the little cabin of the yacht, in a rude bunk, -still insensible.</p> - -<p>The horse and wagon were sent back to -Princeton with one of the men, who was engaged -to return as soon as possible.</p> - -<p>It was about midnight when Will awoke.</p> - -<p>He had a dull pain in his head, and he -could not at first comprehend his situation.</p> - -<p>A small glass bull’s-eye looked out on the -water, and through the cracks in the door he -could see a light.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[56]</span></p> - -<p>He then decided that he was on a boat of -some kind.</p> - -<p>He peered through the cracks of the door, -and uttered a sigh of dismay.</p> - -<p>For he was still in the power of his enemy.</p> - -<p>Captain Morris and his four associates -were seated at a table drinking.</p> - -<p>Parker was saying:</p> - -<p>“The boy sleeps a long time, Captain. -Maybe he’ll never wake up.”</p> - -<p>“It might be the best thing for us if he -never did,” was Morris’ brutal reply. “Now, -then, mates, let me explain to you my scheme, -and why this boy’s appearance bids fair to -spoil it for us.”</p> - -<p>Will came nearer to the door and prepared -to listen to some startling revelations.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">IMPRISONED.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>“When the Golden Moose sunk in mid-ocean,” -were Captain Morris’ first words, “I -believed that Jack Marcy, the boatswain, -went down with the ship.”</p> - -<p>“Did he know of your plot, captain?” inquired -Parker.</p> - -<p>“He suspected it. I returned to Portland -and filed my claim for the insurance money.”</p> - -<p>“Ship and cargo?”</p> - -<p>“Exactly, although there was no cargo except -a few empty casks and boxes labeled -merchandise. As I said, I supposed Marcy -and Will Bertram and Tom Dalton were -drowned.”</p> - -<p>“And they ain’t?” inquired one of the -sailors.</p> - -<p>“No. This boy returns and says they are -still in the Arctic regions. If so, we are -safe.”</p> - -<p>“But they are alive?”</p> - -<p>“True; but I only want to keep the boy -quiet a week and Marcy away, and our plans -will be completed.”</p> - -<p>“You mean the insurance money?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. That will be paid over soon. I have -converted all my other property into money, -and we will leave Watertown before the -truth is known. This boy also spoke of the -Albatross. When I returned I reported that -ship lost with all on board but myself. Instead, -I had made a bargain with the captain, -who rescued me, to seize the oil the -Albatross had stored away, and we divided -the profits.”</p> - -<p>“You’re in a bad box, captain, if the truth -gets out.”</p> - -<p>“It mustn’t. This boy must be kept a close -prisoner until the insurance money is collected.”</p> - -<p>Will was horrified at the cool villainy displayed -by Morris. He only hoped that ere -his evil schemes were put into operation some -of the crew of the Albatross would return to -Watertown.</p> - -<p>Captain Morris visited him the next morning -and endeavored to induce him to tell -more of Jack and his whereabouts.</p> - -<p>Will, however, refused to do so.</p> - -<p>“You’ll stay here till you do,” said Morris.</p> - -<p>“I’d stay here even if I did,” replied Will, -boldly. “You are sailing in deep waters, -Captain Morris, and you will yet regret all -your crimes and my detention here.”</p> - -<p>His meals were brought to him regularly.</p> - -<p>Twice he endeavored to force the door -leading to the cabin, but was unsuccessful.</p> - -<p>The glass bull’s-eye might be easily removed, -but he could not creep through the -aperture.</p> - -<p>Besides, there was always some one of the -crew in the cabin or on deck.</p> - -<p>The yacht, which was moored at a rocky -and isolated portion of the coast, remained -there for some days.</p> - -<p>One morning the captain came into the -cabin, where Parker was seated, with an excited -face.</p> - -<p>“Any news, captain?” inquired the latter.</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“About the insurance money?”</p> - -<p>“Exactly. A letter from Portland.”</p> - -<p>“They will pay it?”</p> - -<p>“On demand.”</p> - -<p>“Then we sail?”</p> - -<p>“This afternoon.”</p> - -<p>Parker pointed to Will’s prison.</p> - -<p>“What about the boy?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“We’ll take him with us until the affair is -settled.”</p> - -<p>That afternoon the men made ready to -start on their voyage up the coast.</p> - -<p>Will’s heart sank as he realized that he was -again leaving the vicinity of home.</p> - -<p>He had tried to patiently suffer his forced -imprisonment, but he grew sad and tearful -as he thought of his parents, and all his happy -anticipations of meeting them dashed rudely -to the ground.</p> - -<p>The yacht started on its voyage, and, skirting -the coast, crossed the harbor channel at -Watertown.</p> - -<p>Will, through the little window, could discern -in the near distance many familiar land-marks.</p> - -<p>As the yacht started on its course northward -a stately ship passed up the harbor.</p> - -<p>The yacht barely cleared its bows.</p> - -<p>Will, looking back, started, regarded the<span class="pagenum">[57]</span> -ship closely, caught sight of several persons -on the deck and uttered a wild ejaculation of -surprise and delight.</p> - -<p>Then, seizing a heavy piece of wood broken -from the hunk, he struck desperately at the -window.</p> - -<p>The glass bull’s-eye was shattered into a -myriad of fragments.</p> - -<p>And, pressing his pale and excited face to -the opening, Will Bertram cried wildly in -the direction of the passing ship:</p> - -<p>“Help! Help! Help!”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE RESCUED CASTAWAYS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>While Will Bertram was passing through -strange and varied adventures the friends he -had left behind him at the whaling station -were mourning him as lost.</p> - -<p>Captain Bertram missed him when he returned -to the settlement, and search was at -once instituted.</p> - -<p>He learned that Will had not returned by -land. He must, therefore, have attempted to -cross on the ice.</p> - -<p>The field had broken up and floated to sea, -and it was believed that Will had been carried -away in this manner.</p> - -<p>A small boat searched along the coast, but -after a long quest no trace was found of the -missing boy.</p> - -<p>“He has been drowned,” decided Captain -Bertram at last.</p> - -<p>“Don’t say that, captain,” said old Jack, -hopefully. “He may have been picked up -by some ship.”</p> - -<p>The next day the captain and crew of the -Albatross set sail on the whaler for home. -Jack, Hugo and Tom accompanied them.</p> - -<p>They made a rapid and uneventful voyage.</p> - -<p>Captain Bertram was continually under the -gloom of his bereavement.</p> - -<p>“Poor Will,” he would say; “what will the -old folks say when they learn he is lost?”</p> - -<p>“Cheer up, captain,” said Jack. “Will ain’t -the boy to give up easily, and had a dozen -chances for escape. He may be home before -we are.”</p> - -<p>As the ship neared home the action of -Captain Morris was discussed.</p> - -<p>“He shall be arrested at once,” said Captain -Bertram, sternly. “It is his wickedness that -caused all our troubles.”</p> - -<p>“We must give him no warning,” said Jack, -“or he will escape.”</p> - -<p>One morning the ship started down the -coast for Watertown.</p> - -<p>The crew were excited and anxious to -reach their native land once more.</p> - -<p>As the ship sailed into the harbor channel -they passed a small yawl, outward bound.</p> - -<p>Jack watched the little craft intently.</p> - -<p>There were four men visible on deck, three -of whom were strangers to him.</p> - -<p>The fourth, however, he recognized at a -glance.</p> - -<p>“Look there, captain!” he cried to Alan.</p> - -<p>“Who is it?”</p> - -<p>“Donald Parker, Captain Morris’ right-hand -man!”</p> - -<p>“Then Morris himself may be on board?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; see, he is there, just coming out of -the cabin!”</p> - -<p>If Jack had had his way the ship would have -stopped the yacht, so anxious was he to see -Morris apprehended for his many crimes.</p> - -<p>The yacht crossed the bows of the ship.</p> - -<p>Jack, following it with his glance, saw a -strange sight at its stern.</p> - -<p>The glass bull’s-eye in the rear of the cabin -was suddenly broken out.</p> - -<p>A white face appeared at the opening, and -a voice cried loudly for help.</p> - -<p>“Captain! Captain! Look there!” shouted -Jack.</p> - -<p>He was almost frantic with amazement and -excitement.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked Alan.</p> - -<p>“Will, your brother!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, it cannot be; Jack—Jack are you -sure?”</p> - -<p>“I am positive I saw him. Now he is -gone. Quick, get one of the boats out; we -must overtake them. Some new villainy is -afloat!”</p> - -<p>Will had disappeared from the window.</p> - -<p>His cries had been heard by Morris, who -had instantly rushed below.</p> - -<p>He burst into the compartment where Will -was, wild with rage.</p> - -<p>He dragged him away from the window -and locked him in a dark part of the hold.</p> - -<p>Just then Parker came rushing to where -he was.</p> - -<p>“We’re in a bad box, captain,” he said.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?”</p> - -<p>“The boy’s cries.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I heard them and stopped him.”</p> - -<p>“Too late.”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?”</p> - -<p>“The men on the ship we passed heard -him.”</p> - -<p>“What of it?”</p> - -<p>“It’s a whaler.”</p> - -<p>“Well?”</p> - -<p>“Homeward bound.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[58]</span></p> - -<p>“They won’t pay any attention to the boy.”</p> - -<p>“They will, and have, for he had friends on -board.”</p> - -<p>Morris started violently.</p> - -<p>“Friends,” he repeated, a vague suspicion -of the truth entering his mind.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and one of them was Jack Marcy.”</p> - -<p>Morris turned pale and hastened to the -deck, followed by Parker.</p> - -<p>One glance in the direction of the whaler -revealed the true state of affairs.</p> - -<p>He saw several men letting down a yawl. -Two of them he recognized—Alan Bertram -and Jack Marcy!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">AT PORTLAND.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>When Jack Marcy saw Will Bertram’s face -at the window in the boat he instantly comprehended, -as he had said, that some new -villainy was afloat.</p> - -<p>It was enough for him to know that he was -a prisoner and in Captain Morris’ power.</p> - -<p>He acted on a quick impulse as he saw -movements on board the yacht which indicated -that its crew were about to proceed -rapidly.</p> - -<p>Rushing to the captain of the ship which -had brought them home, he asked, hurriedly: -“Can we have a boat, captain?”</p> - -<p>“What for?”</p> - -<p>“To follow that yacht. The man we came -back here to arrest is upon it, and a friend of -ours is a prisoner aboard.”</p> - -<p>A boat was instantly lowered, and Jack, -Alan, and several sailors sprang to the oars.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile this action had been discerned -from the yacht.</p> - -<p>“They are coming on board, captain,” said -Parker to Morris.</p> - -<p>“We won’t let them.”</p> - -<p>“Shall we crowd sail?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“We can soon outrun them,” and Parker -gave the necessary orders to his assistants. -They soon left the yawl behind.</p> - -<p>They saw their disappointed pursuers -abandon the chase and return to the ship.</p> - -<p>“We’re safe, captain,” said Parker, triumphantly.</p> - -<p>“For a time, yes.”</p> - -<p>“They will follow us later, you think?”</p> - -<p>“Of course. They have seen the boy.”</p> - -<p>“You are sure of it?”</p> - -<p>“Didn’t he shout to them? We must act -quickly in what we do, Parker.”</p> - -<p>“What is your plan?”</p> - -<p>“To run to Portland.”</p> - -<p>“They may follow us in a faster ship.”</p> - -<p>“We have too great a start of them, and -they may not suspect we are going there.”</p> - -<p>“You intend to collect the insurance -money?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“And then?”</p> - -<p>“Land the boy and sail to some distant -port.”</p> - -<p>All that afternoon and night the yacht -sailed before a swift breeze.</p> - -<p>The next day about noon the craft landed -at the wharf at Portland.</p> - -<p>There had been no indications of a pursuing -ship.</p> - -<p>“I will return soon,” said Captain Morris.</p> - -<p>He had taken the papers about the lost -Moose with him, and his intention was to -visit the office of the company in which the -ship was insured.</p> - -<p>He had nearly reached his destination -when he drew back in the shelter of a doorway.</p> - -<p>Just entering the building where the insurance -company was located were three -men.</p> - -<p>Two of them he recognized as Jack Marcy -and Alan Bertram.</p> - -<p>The other he assumed to be a detective.</p> - -<p>“They have suspected all,” he murmured, -in deep chagrin, “and have hurried here by -rail to prevent my collecting the money. -There’s nothing left but flight now.”</p> - -<p>He hurriedly returned to the yacht.</p> - -<p>Parker stood conversing with a stranger, -and his face was ominous of some new complicating -disaster to their cherished plans.</p> - -<p>“Are you Captain Morris?” asked the -stranger.</p> - -<p>“Yes. Get ready to sail, Parker.”</p> - -<p>“Not just yet, captain,” said the stranger, -coolly.</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?”</p> - -<p>“I have orders to keep the yacht and crew -here for further orders.”</p> - -<p>“Who from?”</p> - -<p>“The chief of police.”</p> - -<p>Morris’ face fell.</p> - -<p>“I don’t understand,” he stammered.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes you do, captain,” replied the -stranger. “I’m a detective, and your scheme -to collect money for a ship you sunk is -known.”</p> - -<p>Morris stood dumbfounded for a moment -or two.</p> - -<p>There was a dangerous gleam in his eye as -he asked the stranger:</p> - -<p>“I am under arrest, then?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[59]</span></p> - -<p>“Well, yes. That’s about it. Some officers -will be here shortly.”</p> - -<p>“The charge is a false one,” ventured Morris.</p> - -<p>“The two men who came from Watertown -an hour since and went with a detective to -the office of the insurance company and sent -me here to watch for the yacht, don’t seem to -think so.”</p> - -<p>“They have no proofs.”</p> - -<p>“They have evidence enough to demand -your arrest. Then there is the proof the -boy furnished.”</p> - -<p>“What boy?”</p> - -<p>“The one you have locked up in the hold -of the yacht.”</p> - -<p>Captain Morris looked utterly crestfallen.</p> - -<p>“What proof?” he stammered out.</p> - -<p>“He seemed to have dropped a rough penciled -letter telling of your intention of coming -here, from the cabin window. It was -picked up by his brother and his companion.”</p> - -<p>Captain Morris was in a desperate strait.</p> - -<p>The evidence against him was overwhelming, -and he realized would certainly send him -to prison.</p> - -<p>He acted promptly in his dilemma.</p> - -<p>Suddenly, seizing an iron bar lying near at -hand, he dealt the detective a heavy blow.</p> - -<p>The latter sank insensible to the deck.</p> - -<p>“Fling him on the wharf,” ordered Morris, -excitedly, “and set sail for the open sea at -once.”</p> - -<p>Ten minutes later, when other officers -came to the place, they found their fellow-officer -just recovering from the effects of -Captain Morris’ stunning blow and the yacht -gone.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII">CHAPTER XXXVII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">WILL’S ESCAPE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Will Bertram, locked in the cabin apartment, -could only imagine what was going on -outside from the movements of the yacht -and of its crew.</p> - -<p>There was a little port-hole in the place -where he was, but it did not admit of his -looking out to any advantage.</p> - -<p>He knew that the yacht had reached its -destination, but when, an hour later, it again -set sail his heart sank at the uncertainty of -his situation.</p> - -<p>Once he tried the door of the place. It -was locked, but he found he could easily -burst it open.</p> - -<p>To do this and have his escape discovered, -however, would only be to subject himself to -renewed abuse at the hands of Captain -Morris.</p> - -<p>He could look into the cabin through a little -window, and here he stationed himself.</p> - -<p>“I will try to escape to-night,” he decided -mentally, and he waited patiently for night -to come.</p> - -<p>The cabin was not visited for several hours -after the yacht reached and left Portland.</p> - -<p>At last, however, the boat came to a stop. -A few minutes later Captain Morris and Parker -came into the cabin.</p> - -<p>“Are we going to stay here for the night?” -the latter asked.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” replied Morris.</p> - -<p>“Do you think it safe?”</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“We cannot have traveled over forty -miles.”</p> - -<p>“But this is an unfrequented part of the -coast. We will decide what to do by the -morning. That boy has spoiled all our -plans.”</p> - -<p>“Then you have given up all idea of the insurance -money?”</p> - -<p>“I shall be glad if we get free and can get -enough from the sale of the yacht to take us -to some distant place.”</p> - -<p>“You have the money from the sale of your -property at Watertown?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, all but the Bertram mortgage. I ordered -my lawyer to foreclose and sell old -Bertram out. I’m glad I did now,” remarked -Morris, with malignant satisfaction expressed -on his evil features.</p> - -<p>“You’ll never get it.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll have the pleasure of knowing that -I’ve paid off this boy for making all this -trouble.”</p> - -<p>Parker looked avariciously at the well-filled -pocket-book that Morris exhibited as -he looked over some papers it contained.</p> - -<p>At that moment one of the crew came -below.</p> - -<p>“Well?” said Morris, interrogatively.</p> - -<p>“We’re moored for the night.”</p> - -<p>“All right. Tell the others to watch for an -hour or two.”</p> - -<p>“All right, captain.”</p> - -<p>The sailor returned to the deck, but soon -reappeared.</p> - -<p>Morris ordered him to bring them some -liquor from a cupboard.</p> - -<p>The man did so, and placed a bottle before -Morris.</p> - -<p>“Not that one,” said the latter.</p> - -<p>“Why not, captain?”</p> - -<p>“Because it’s drugged. We used that to -dose the revenue officers in our last smuggling -expedition.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[60]</span></p> - -<p>The sailor brought out another bottle, and -the trio sat down and began drinking freely.</p> - -<p>“We’ll look around the deck and all come -below and have a game of cards, I guess,” -remarked Morris, finally.</p> - -<p>The next moment the cabin was deserted.</p> - -<p>Will Bertram had been an interested listener -and witness to all that had occurred.</p> - -<p>A wild notion to secure liberty came into -his mind as he recalled the episode of the -two bottles of liquor.</p> - -<p>He determined on a bold plan to render -himself master of the yacht.</p> - -<p>Without much effort he broke open the -door and gained the cabin.</p> - -<p>Going to the cupboard, he took the bottle -Morris had said contained the drug and -mixed the greater portion of it with the liquor -on the table.</p> - -<p>He regained his covert just as Morris and -the men re-entered the cabin.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes the party were engaged -in playing games with a greasy pack of cards -and drinking the drugged liquor.</p> - -<p>Will noticed that Parker drank less heavily -than his companions, and that he watched the -captain narrowly.</p> - -<p>An hour later the game was played slowly -and the men seemed to become drowsy.</p> - -<p>The drugged liquor had done its work. -Will was in a fever of anxiety as he noticed -that Parker alone seemed to resist the effects -of the drug.</p> - -<p>Even he, as he observed that all of his companions -slumbered deeply, with difficulty -arose to his feet.</p> - -<p>He came over to where Morris sat and then -seemed to reflect.</p> - -<p>“The pocket-book contains a fortune for -me,” he muttered, “and if I stay with Morris -I’ll be sure to get into trouble. I declare I’m -feeling dizzy and sleepy; I’ll wait and take -the pocket-book l-a-t-e-r.”</p> - -<p>He sank to a chair as he spoke. His eyelids -drooped. He was asleep.</p> - -<p>Will waited only a single moment. He -pushed open the door and crept into the cabin -past the sleeping men and to the deck of the -yacht.</p> - -<p>“Free!” he cried, delightedly. “I am out -of Captain Morris’ power at last.”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII">CHAPTER XXXVIII.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">ON THE YACHT.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Will’s first impulse as he regained his freedom -was to fly instantly from the boat, which -an enforced imprisonment had made hateful -to him.</p> - -<p>He paused, however, as he remembered the -issues at stake.</p> - -<p>“When Captain Morris regains consciousness -he will fly with his associates. The -money, too!” cried Will. “Does it not belong -to the Albatross, for he robbed the ship of its -cargo?”</p> - -<p>But what could he do with four men, even -if asleep and harmless for the time being? -He might bind them, but alone he could not -manage the yacht.</p> - -<p>He scanned the landscape searchingly. A -long distance away gleamed a light to the far -interior, probably that of some isolated farm -house.</p> - -<p>Will determined to go thither, and let developments -guide his future movements.</p> - -<p>It took him over half an hour to reach the -place where the light he had seen was located.</p> - -<p>It proved to be as he had supposed—a farm -house. He knocked at the door, and an old -man met him.</p> - -<p>Will was somewhat incoherent and excited -at first as he told his story in brief.</p> - -<p>The old farmer was almost incredulous -when Will exposed the villainy of Morris -and his associates.</p> - -<p>“And you want some help in getting the -yacht back to Portland and putting these -scoundrels in jail, eh?” he remarked. “Well, -I’ll help you.”</p> - -<p>He called his two sons, and they were soon -on their way to the yacht.</p> - -<p>When they arrived they found Morris and -the others still insensible.</p> - -<p>The farmer secured some stout ropes and -tied them securely.</p> - -<p>Then, with his sons, he manned the yacht, -and, Will deciding that two of them could -take it to Portland, left one of his sons to -complete the voyage.</p> - -<p>They estimated the direction and location -of their intended destination, and Will knew -enough about a ship to sail the yacht.</p> - -<p>It was morning when the boat reached -Portland.</p> - -<p>It had required all the attention of Will -and the farmer’s son to manage the yacht, -and they had not paid any attention to their -prisoners.</p> - -<p>The boat safely landed, however, a loud -series of cries from the cabin caused Will to -go below.</p> - -<p>Captain Morris, red in the face and wild -with rage, glared at him and endeavored -vainly to break his bonds.</p> - -<p>“Is this your work?” he raved.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[61]</span></p> - -<p>“Yes, Captain Morris. The tables are -turned now, and you are my prisoner.”</p> - -<p>Parker, who was also awake, groaned audibly.</p> - -<p>“Where are we?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“At Portland, and you will soon be in jail.”</p> - -<p>Captain Morris chafed in silence for some -time. Finally he said:</p> - -<p>“See here, boy.”</p> - -<p>“Well, Captain Morris?”</p> - -<p>“Who’s on deck with you?”</p> - -<p>“A man who won’t let you get loose. So -don’t try any tricks.”</p> - -<p>“Do you want to be rich?”</p> - -<p>“Not with your money.”</p> - -<p>“Listen. Release us and I’ll give you a -thousand dollars.”</p> - -<p>Will laughed.</p> - -<p>“You haven’t got it to give me.”</p> - -<p>“I have ten times that amount in my pocket -book.”</p> - -<p>“It ain’t yours.”</p> - -<p>“Whose, then?”</p> - -<p>“It was stolen from the owners of the Albatross.”</p> - -<p>Morris scowled deeply at Will’s words.</p> - -<p>“They’ll have to prove it’s theirs,” he cried, -“and I’ll risk their getting it. I have one -satisfaction. Your family will be turned out -of their home before another week.”</p> - -<p>Will was silent and abruptly left the cabin.</p> - -<p>He had confidence enough in his own ability -and that of his brother Alan to make -some arrangement for adjusting the matter -of the mortgage.</p> - -<p>Going up on the deck he instructed his assistant -to keep a close watch over the prisoners.</p> - -<p>“Are you going away?” asked the latter.</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“Where?”</p> - -<p>“For the police.”</p> - -<p>“You are going to have these men arrested?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. I shall return shortly.”</p> - -<p>Will went to the police station and asked -for the officer in charge.</p> - -<p>A few words of inquiry revealed the fact -that Captain Bertram and Jack Marcy were -expected at the station that morning.</p> - -<p>“Do you know where they are stopping?” -inquired Will.</p> - -<p>The officer named a hotel near by.</p> - -<p>Will hastened there at once. Just as he -was crossing the vestibule he saw two familiar -forms.</p> - -<p>“Alan—Jack!” he cried, as he rushed to -where they were.</p> - -<p>“Will!” cried Alan, in delighted tones. -“You are free? You have escaped?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, last night.”</p> - -<p>“And Captain Morris?”</p> - -<p>“He and his crew are prisoners on board -the yacht.”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX">CHAPTER XXXIX.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">THE PRISONERS.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>For several minutes Will Bertram was kept -busy answering his brother’s rapid questions. -He told Alan of all that had occurred, and -the latter expressed the keenest satisfaction -at the result of Will’s shrewdness and patience.</p> - -<p>“We sent a ship in pursuit of the yacht -after it left Portland,” he explained to Will.</p> - -<p>“Are you going to the boat?” asked Jack.</p> - -<p>“No; to the police station first.”</p> - -<p>Here the officer in charge was made acquainted -with all the recent facts of the case.</p> - -<p>A detail of men were sent with Captain -Bertram and his friends.</p> - -<p>When they arrived at the yacht Morris and -his companions were handcuffed and brought -on deck.</p> - -<p>The former did not speak a word, but glared -in silence at Alan.</p> - -<p>He knew that he was foiled in all his evil -plans, and his heart was filled with hatred -toward those he had wronged.</p> - -<p>Captain Bertram dismissed Will’s assistant, -the farmer’s son, with a moneyed reward for -his aid.</p> - -<p>The yacht was taken in charge by the police, -who at once marched their prisoners to -the station.</p> - -<p>Here Morris was searched. To Will’s -amazement the most persistent quest failed -to reveal Captain Morris’ well-filled pocket-book.</p> - -<p>He now wished he had taken it when the -opportunity had presented itself.</p> - -<p>Morris’ eyes gleamed with satisfaction as -Will said to Alan:</p> - -<p>“He had a pocket-book containing money -he openly boasted was indirectly the proceeds -of the oil he stole from the Albatross.”</p> - -<p>“You won’t find it, either,” cried Morris, -malignantly.</p> - -<p>They were forced to remain in the dark as -to its mysterious disappearance, and Morris -and his accomplices were taken to the cells -of the station.</p> - -<p>From the station Captain Bertram, Jack -and Will repaired for the office of the insurance -company.</p> - -<p>Here Alan consulted with the officers, who -decided to prosecute Morris for sinking the -Golden Moose and attempting to collect the -insurance money fraudulently.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[62]</span></p> - -<p>They advised Captain Bertram to at once -begin a civil suit for the recovery of the -amount Morris had received from the stolen -whale oil.</p> - -<p>He told him he could seize on the yacht -until the case was tried in court.</p> - -<p>They made a last visit to the police station -before leaving Portland.</p> - -<p>The officer then informed Captain Bertram -that one of the prisoners wished to see him.</p> - -<p>“Which one?” asked Alan.</p> - -<p>“The man they call Parker. He seems -very uneasy and has been upbraiding Morris -for getting him into trouble. Will you see -him?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>Parker was brought from the cells, and -asked to see Alan alone.</p> - -<p>They were shown into a private room.</p> - -<p>“Well, what is it?” inquired Alan.</p> - -<p>“I wanted to say that I had nothing to do -with all Captain Morris’ schemes.”</p> - -<p>“You were in his confidence all the time,” -replied Alan.</p> - -<p>“That may be, but I didn’t help sink the -ship. I have a proposition to make to you.”</p> - -<p>“What is it?”</p> - -<p>“If you won’t prosecute I’ll tell all about -the Captain’s schemes.”</p> - -<p>“I know them already.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you who the Captain is he -divided with on the oil, and you can make -him pay it back.”</p> - -<p>Alan was silent.</p> - -<p>“I’ll also tell you where Morris hid his -pocket book.”</p> - -<p>“I can’t agree to compromise a crime,” said -Alan, “but if you try to repair your wrong I -will try to make your punishment as light as -possible.”</p> - -<p>“All right, Captain. I hope you will. I -never would have stayed with Morris, only -he knew I had been in jail and threatened to -have me arrested again.”</p> - -<p>“And the pocket book?”</p> - -<p>“Here it is. Morris handed it to me while -the officers were not looking.”</p> - -<p>Alan left the pocket book with the police, -and that night he and Will and Jack started -homeward bound for Watertown.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XL">CHAPTER XL.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">ALAN’S FORTUNE.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>It was a happy family party that gathered -around the humble fireside of Solomon Bertram -the day following the occurrences described -in the last chapter.</p> - -<p>Will Bertram never forgot the tearful, delighted -welcome he received when his father -and mother folded him in their arms with -grateful hearts as one from the dead.</p> - -<p>Willis and Tom and Hugo were also there, -and, when the first raptures of welcome had -subsided, the boys retired to a corner and -talked over their past adventures, while the -older people discussed the more momentous -issues of the hour.</p> - -<p>It was towards evening when an interruption -to the harmony of the happy reunion -occurred.</p> - -<p>A knock at the door was followed by the -entrance of a man the Bertrams knew very -well.</p> - -<p>It was Captain Morris’ lawyer, Mr. Rowe. -He nodded to the occupants of the room and -then addressed himself to Mr. Bertram.</p> - -<p>“I wished to see you privately, Mr. Bertram,” -he said.</p> - -<p>“You can speak out,” replied Will’s father. -“It’s about the mortgage, I suppose?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. Captain Morris has ordered me to -proceed in the matter.”</p> - -<p>“In what way?”</p> - -<p>“The last interest note is past due.”</p> - -<p>“If you would wait a few days I might be -able to pay it.”</p> - -<p>“I can’t wait, Mr. Bertram. Captain Morris’ -orders were definite.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Bertram looked anxious and troubled.</p> - -<p>Alan stepped forward abruptly.</p> - -<p>“How much is it?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“The interest note—”</p> - -<p>“No; the entire amount of this mortgage.”</p> - -<p>The lawyer looked surprised, but named -the amount.</p> - -<p>“I will pay it,” said Alan.</p> - -<p>“You?” cried Mr. Bertram, amazedly.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” and Captain Bertram drew from his -pocket a large wallet.</p> - -<p>It was filled to repletion with bills of large -denomination.</p> - -<p>“Alan! Alan!” cried Mrs. Bertram, “where -did you get all that money?”</p> - -<p>“It’s mine, honestly earned. Never fear, -mother,” replied Alan, a proud smile on his -lips. “Now, Mr. Rowe, there’s your money, -and that pays the mortgage.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Rowe muttered something about being -sorry he had to act so harshly, but it was -Morris’ orders.</p> - -<p>Then he handed the papers to Alan and -left the house.</p> - -<p>Tears of joy stood in Mr. Bertram’s eyes as -he clasped his son’s hand.</p> - -<p>“You have saved us from homelessness in -our old age, but what does this mystery of the -money mean, you who lost all in the Albatross?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">[63]</span></p> - -<p>Alan smiled mysteriously, while old -Jack chuckled serenely.</p> - -<p>“It’s quite a story,” said Captain Bertram.</p> - -<p>“Tell it, Alan,” cried Will, curiously.</p> - -<p>“We are no longer poor. This pocket-book -contains ten times the amount of -the mortgage, and it is all ours.”</p> - -<p>The boys crowded around Alan.</p> - -<p>“How did you come by the money, -Alan?” asked Mrs. Bertram.</p> - -<p>“It can be told in a single word.”</p> - -<p>“What is that?” asked Will, excitedly.</p> - -<p>“Ambergris.”</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XLI">CHAPTER XLI.<br /> -<span class="cheaderfont">CONCLUSION.</span></h2> -</div> - - -<p>Will stared curiously at his brother as -he pronounced the mystical word “ambergris.”</p> - -<p>“I won’t keep you in the dark speculating -over what I mean,” said Alan. -“Ambergris is a substance found in -whales in very rare instances and only -under certain conditions. It is used in -the manufacture of cologne as the base -to hold the perfume, and is almost worth -its weight in gold.”</p> - -<p>“And how did you find it?” asked the -interested Mr. Bertram.</p> - -<p>“It was during the cruise of the Albatross. -We had came to anchor, and I was -strolling down the shore with two members -of the crew, when we came across a -dead whale. To make a long story short, -we examined it and suspected the presence -of ambergris. We found enough to -fill a cask.”</p> - -<p>“And it was valuable, you say?” inquired -Mrs. Bertram.</p> - -<p>“Yes, indeed. We obtained a cask and -brought it on board the ship. We did -not tell the crew of it. In all our wanderings -I clung to that ambergris, and on -our way to Watertown left it at Portland.”</p> - -<p>“You sold it?” asked Will.</p> - -<p>“Yes, for many thousands of dollars. I -divided the money with the crew of the -Albatross. The remainder is mine.”</p> - -<p>The faces of Mr. and Mrs. Bertram -beamed with joy at the good fortune of -their son.</p> - -<p>Within a week affairs had resumed -their wonted serenity with the Bertram -family.</p> - -<p>Alan and Jack were compelled to visit -Portland to attend the preliminary trial -of Captain Morris.</p> - -<p>It was expected that Will’s evidence -would be required in the case, but Jack -Marcy’s testimony was sufficient.</p> - -<p>One evening they returned, and Will -was informed that the case against Morris -had been decided.</p> - -<p>“He was found guilty of scuttling the -ship,” Jack told him.</p> - -<p>“What did they do with him?” asked -Will.</p> - -<p>“He was sent to the penitentiary for a -long term of years.”</p> - -<p>“And Parker?”</p> - -<p>“He was released upon giving his testimony -against Morris. The mate of the -Golden Moose had disappeared. The -three sailors were given light terms of -imprisonment.”</p> - -<p>“And our suit for the stolen whale-oil -was decided in our favor. Morris agreed -to give us the money he had and the -yacht to prevent being prosecuted for -imprisoning you.”</p> - -<p>The people of Watertown soon saw a -change in the circumstances of the Bertram -family, and Alan, who was a favorite -generally, was met everywhere with -friendly consideration.</p> - -<p>The yacht Captain Morris had transferred -to him was put in better order, and -for a time Will and Jack ran it down the -coast, doing a prosperous business.</p> - -<p>Hugo, with a generous present from -Captain Bertram, went off on another -sea voyage.</p> - -<p>Willis returned home, and Tom was -taken into service on the yacht.</p> - -<p>Captain Bertram himself purchased a -warehouse in Watertown and entered -business on his own account.</p> - -<p>One day as Will entered the office he -found there his old employer, the menagerie -agent, Mr. Hunter.</p> - -<p>“I was passing through Watertown -and wanted to see you once more,” said -Mr. Hunter. “You left us abruptly up -in the woods.”</p> - -<p>Will explained how he and Tom were -lost, and told of his succeeding adventures.</p> - -<p>“I never earned the salary you paid me -in advance, Mr. Hunter,” he said.</p> - -<p>“We won’t quarrel about that, Will,” -was the hearty reply.</p> - -<p>Will offered the polar bear’s skin to Mr. -Hunter for his menagerie, but the latter -said:</p> - -<p>“No, no, Will. That is a memento of -your Arctic experience you must keep.”</p> - -<p>A year after his return from his eventful<span class="pagenum">[64]</span> -voyage to the frozen north Will Bertram -was owner of the yacht he and Jack had -sailed for his brother.</p> - -<p>Later he left this business to enter the -warehouse.</p> - -<p>With industry and perseverance as their -motto, Alan and Will Bertram soon attained -a commercial success, and as partners became -representative men in the community.</p> - -<p>When Will thought of his life as a castaway -it was with pleasure, for that experience -had developed many manly qualities.</p> - -<p>He shuddered as he thought of the evil -course and the punishment of Captain Morris.</p> - -<p>His brief imprisonment in Morris’ yacht -had shown him the true hideousness of -crime, and from its contact he always shrank -in after years.</p> - -<p>Whenever Hugo came to Watertown he was -a welcome guest at the house of the Bertrams.</p> - -<p>Willis visited his old companions in exile -very frequently, and Jack and Tom, the latter -grown to a self-reliant, earnest man, and Will -often met with him to talk over their past experiences -together.</p> - -<p>Mr. and Mrs. Bertram found their declining -years the happiest of their life.</p> - -<p>Blessed with a competency, they passed a -life of happiness and comfort, proud of the -sons who cherished their love as a precious -boon.</p> - -<p>The polar bear skin is still a trophy in -Will’s room in the new Bertram mansion.</p> - -<p>Often he relates how it came into his possession -to visitors.</p> - -<p>And whenever he recites the sufferings -himself and his companions endured in the -far north he gratefully remembers the kind -providence which brought them safely -through all their perils.</p> - -<p>Looking back over the years, that adventurous -experience in the Arctic zone is as -fresh as if an occurrence of yesterday.</p> - -<p>It is like a fairy picture in his memory—the -days when he and Willis and Tom were -young explorers <span class="smcap">Under the Polar Star</span>.</p> - -<p class="center p1">THE END.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="nobreak center xxlargefont">THE GOLDEN LIBRARY.</p> -</div> - -<p class="dropcap">The press, the pulpit, the parents, and the general public cry out for bright, pure, and attractive -reading for boys and girls. Juvenile literature of the demoralizing kind only has heretofore been -sold on the news-stands at cheap prices. The <span class="smcap">Golden Library</span> comes to the rescue of a long-suffering -community. Its pages are full of interest, its stories are original, full of life and brave endeavor for -the right. It is not a goody-goody Sunday-school series. It will not cater to cant, hypocrisy, or vileness -of any kind. It is for the right, the bright, the pure, the honest, first, last, and all the time. It has no -other mission than to supplant the bad with <em>something good</em> that shall be equally as attractive to the -young of both sexes and of all conditions. Examine it and read it. The publishers believe it is just -the thing, and intend that it shall make a brave fight for recognition on its <em>merits</em>. Give us a good -word, <em>if we deserve</em> it, whenever you can.</p> - -<p class="center xlargefont" style="margin-bottom:-0.5em">CATALOGUE.</p> - -<div class="boxitems"> -<p class="numberitem1"><b>1</b> <b>ONE CENT CAPITAL</b>; or, A Young Clerk’s Adventures. By Archie Van.</p> -<p class="numberitem1"><b>2</b> <b>HONOR BRIGHT</b>; or, The Young Surveyor of Green River. By Henry L. Black.</p> -<p class="numberitem1"><b>3</b> <b>UNDER THE POLAR STAR</b>; or, The Young Explorers. By Dwight Weldon.</p> -<p class="numberitem1"><b>4</b> <b>BOUND TO WIN</b>; or, Jack o’ Lantern, the Ferry Boy. By Dwight Weldon.</p> -<p class="numberitem1"><b>5</b> <b>TWENTY CRUSOES</b>; or, The Grammar School Castaways. By Henry L. Black.</p> -<p class="numberitem1"><b>6</b> <b>BAREFOOTED BEN</b>; or, The Boy who Built a Railroad. By author of “Honor Bright.”</p> -<p class="numberitem1"><b>7</b> <b>TRUE TO HIS COLORS</b>; or, Bert Noble, the Young Reporter. By Henry L. Black.</p> -<p class="numberitem1"><b>8</b> <b>WORKING HIS WAY</b>; or, The Brookville Boys’ Club. By Dwight Weldon.</p> -<p class="numberitem1"><b>9</b> <b>CLEAR GRIT</b>; or, A Young Emigrant’s Adventures. By Archie Van.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>10</b> <b>CLEAR THE WAY</b>; or, The Boys of Bear Hollow. By John Gordon.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>11</b> <b>SENT ADRIFT</b>; or, Around the World on Eighty Cents. By Henry A. Wheeler.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>12</b> <b>WHEEL AND WHISTLE</b>; or, The Young Pilot of Lake Linden. By Archie Van.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>13</b> <b>TRUE AS STEEL</b>; or, The Anvil-Boy of Bessemer Forge. By Henry L. Black.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>14</b> <b>LINK AND LEVER</b>; or, The Boy Railroader of Rushville. By John Gordon.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>15</b> <b>TWO BRAVE BOYS</b>; or, The Mystery of the Great North Woods. By Dwight Weldon.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>16</b> <b>ROUGH AND READY</b>; or, A Young Hero in Tatters. By Henry A. Wheeler.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>17</b> <b>CAMP AND CANOE</b>; or, Cruise of the Red Jackets in Florida. By St. George Rathborne.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>18</b> <b>BLOWING A BUBBLE</b>; or, The Bardstown Boys’ Stock Company. By Captain Castleton.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>19</b> <b>FIGHTING TO WIN</b>; or, The Crusoe Boys of Treasure Island. By John Gordon.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>20</b> <b>PURE PLUCK</b>; or, A Telegraph-Boy’s Adventures. By Dwight Weldon.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>21</b> <b>OUT WEST</b>; or, The Pioneer Boys of Sun Prairie. By Henry A. Wheeler.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>22</b> <b>AFLOAT WITH A CIRCUS</b>; or, The Diamond-Seekers of Natal. By Henry L. Black.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>23</b> <b>TRIED AND TRUE</b>; or, The Locksmith Boy of Frankford. By Archie Van.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>24</b> <b>MAIL-BAG AND MONEY</b>; or, The Boy Postmaster of Brimfield. By Captain Castleton.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>25</b> <b>UP NORTH</b>; or, Making a Man of Himself. By John Gordon.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>26</b> <b>BOY MILLIONAIRE</b>; or, The Lost Mine of the Sierra Madre. By Henry A. Wheeler.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>27</b> <b>RIFLE AND ROD</b>; or, A Cruise Down the Lake. By J. M. Merrill.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>28</b> <b>BRIGHT AND EARLY</b>; or, The Boy Who Became a Detective. By John Tulkinghorn.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>29</b> <b>ALWAYS ON DECK</b>; or, Making a Start in Life. By Archie Van.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>30</b> <b>WESTWARD HO!</b> or, The Cabin in the Clearing. By Henry L. Black.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>31</b> <b>ALL ABOARD!</b> or, The Rival Boat-Clubs. By Weldon J. Cobb.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>32</b> <b>UP IN A BALLOON</b>; or, The Gas Well of Mont Clare. By Captain Castleton.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>33</b> <b>TOM BERKLEY’S LUCK</b>; or, A Brave Boy’s Fight for Fortune. By Weldon J. Cobb.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>34</b> <b>THE BOY MILL-OWNER</b>; or, Doing His Level Best. By J. M. Merrill.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>35</b> <b>HIS OWN MASTER</b>; or, Young Samson of the Iron Mills. By Henry A. Wheeler.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>36</b> <b>PLUCKY NAT</b>; or, A Bright Boy’s Adventures in Texas. By George Henry Morse.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>37</b> <b>BEN BLY’S BIRTHRIGHT</b>; or, The Boy Farmer of Fox Valley. By John Tulkinghorn.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>38</b> <b>DICK FARLEY’S GRIT</b>; or, A Diamond in the Rough. By Dwight Weldon.</p> -<p class="numberitem2"><b>39</b> <b>ALMOST A MAN</b>; or, The Boy Pilot of the Mississippi. By Captain Castleton.</p> -</div> - -<p>☞ The <span class="smcap">Golden Library</span> is published semi-monthly, and is for sale by all newsdealers, or will -be sent by mail, prepaid, on receipt of the price: Subscription, $2.25 a year; single copy, 10 cents.</p> - -<p class="center" style="line-height:1.5"> -Address<br /> -<span class="xlargefont">Albert Sibley & Co.,</span><br /> -Publishers,<br /> -<span class="largefont">No. 18 Rose St., New York.</span><br /> -</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="transnote"> -<h2 id="TN_end" style="margin-top: 0em">Transcriber’s Notes:</h2> - -<p>Illustrations have been moved to paragraph breaks near where they are -mentioned.</p> - -<p>Punctuation has been made consistent.</p> - -<p>Variations in spelling and hyphenation were retained as they appear in -the original publication, except that obvious typographical errors -have been corrected.</p></div></div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Under the Polar Star, by Dwight Weldon - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE POLAR STAR *** - -***** This file should be named 63549-h.htm or 63549-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/5/4/63549/ - -Produced by Demian Katz, Craig Kirkwood, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net -(Images courtesy of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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