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diff --git a/old/63549-0.txt b/old/63549-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d48c78e..0000000 --- a/old/63549-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7514 +0,0 @@ -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/)) - - - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes: - -Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text -enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=). - -Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end. - - * * * * * - -GOLDEN LIBRARY Of choice reading for Boys and Girls. Price 10 cts - -Copyrighted at Washington, D. C., by ALBERT SIBLEY & CO. Entered at the -post-office at New York as second-class mail-matter. - -VOL. I.--NO. 3. NEW YORK. NOV. 1, 1886. - - - - -Under the Polar Star; --OR,-- THE YOUNG EXPLORERS. - - - By DWIGHT WELDON. - - NEW YORK: - ALBERT SIBLEY & CO., - 18 Rose Street. - - 1886. - - * * * * * - -[Illustration] - - * * * * * - - - - -CHAPTER I. THE GOLDEN MOOSE. - - -Chip! chip! - -All day long that same monotonous sound, chip, chip--chip, chip, had -echoed through Solomon Bertram’s work room. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Chip, chip! - -The mallet and chisel moved less deftly now, for the hand that wielded -them was fast growing weary, and the task was almost completed. - -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, and a bright, boyish face intruded itself upon the carpenter’s -solitude. - -“Is the ship’s head done, father?” its possessor asked eagerly, with a -glance at the work bench. - -“Almost, Will. Where have you been, and what does that mean?” - -The boy’s eyes danced with delight and his face flushed excitedly as he -laid several small silver coins on the bench. - -“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!” - -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!” - -“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.” - -“No, no!” - -“Not even when the old tars say I’m a natural sailor and nimble as a -monkey among the rigging?” - -“Not even then, Will. The sea cost me one brave son. I can’t spare the -other.” - -“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.” - -“How, Will?” inquired the interested Mr. Bertram. - -“They were just putting on the spire to the tower, and, ready to -arrange the tackle and climb the ropes, was the steeple Jack.” - -“What’s a steeple Jack?” inquired the mystified old man. - -“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, I offered my services.” - -[Illustration] - -“Oh, Will, always venturesome and running into danger!” spoke a -reproachful voice. - -Will turned and surveyed his mother, who had come unobserved to the -door, with a quizzical smile. - -“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.” - -Old Solomon Bertram shook his head sadly. - -“I shall get no pay for that work, Will,” he said. - -“No pay, when you’ve put a week’s time on it! Why, what do you mean, -father?” - -Mr. Bertram looked anxiously at his wife as if silently questioning -her. She nodded intelligently and withdrew. - -“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.” - -“Don’t worry about that, father,” cried Will, eagerly. “If there are -any clouds we’ll drive them away.” - -Mr. Bertram smiled at Will’s boyish enthusiasm and said: - -“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.” - -“Yes, I remember,” assented Will murmuringly. - -“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!” - -Mr. Bertram stopped his work to wipe away a tear that trickled down his -furrowed cheek. - -“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.” - -“Do you believe him, father?” asked Will, a look of dislike in his face -at the mention of Morris’ name. - -“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.” - -“And he has been here since, hasn’t he, father?” - -“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. - -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. - -“Is that all, father?” he asked after a pause. - -“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.” - -“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?” - -“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.” - -“All right, father,” said Will, cheerily, but he kept thinking of the -strange story he had heard. - -“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!” - -The old man drew back and surveyed his handiwork with some little pride -as he gave it a last finishing touch with a chisel. - -Then he smoothed off the rough edges and lifted it into Will’s arms. - -It was quite a bulky object, but Will professed to be able without -difficulty to convey it to its destination. - -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. - -His young mind was busy forming plans of how he should best secure work -and rescue his parents from the poverty that threatened them. - -“I will put school days and play days aside,” he said, resolutely, “and -begin life in earnest.” - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER II. CAPTAIN STEPHEN MORRIS. - - -“Look out there!” - -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. - -“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. - -“A new figure-head,” explained the latter. “The last one was lost in -the storm.” - -“And a great storm it was, boy. Where are you going--down to the ship?” - -“Yes; I want to find Captain Morris.” - -“Well, you’ll find him in squally temper, I tell you that, but not at -the ship.” - -“Where is he, then?” - -“At the shipping office down the wharf. Come along, lad, I’ll show the -way and help you, if you don’t mind.” - -“It ain’t heavy, Jack,” replied Will, as he trudged along in the -boatswain’s wake. “When does the Moose sail?” - -“To-night, up the coast.” - -“Oh, how I wish I was going!” - -“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.” - -“Tom Dalton?” - -“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.” - -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. - -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 Captain Morris and his clerk and general business -manager, Donald Parker. - -The latter lay at full length on the floor amid a wreck of the office -furniture. - -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. - -[Illustration] - -“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?” - -“Don’t Captain, I didn’t mean anything, sure I didn’t,” pleaded the -prostrate Parker, fearful of a second onslaught. - -“You ungrateful scoundrel!” roared Morris, “I’ve a good mind to send -you to jail, where you belong.” - -“No, no!” cried the affrighted Parker. - -“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.” - -“I don’t like the ocean,” whined Parker. - -“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?” - -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. - -“I’ve brought the moose head, sir.” - -Captain Morris muttered an alarmed interjection under his breath and -sprang to Will’s side. - -“See here, you young Paul Pry, how long have you been sneaking around -here listening to other people’s business?” - -He seized Will’s shoulder in a cruel grasp as he spoke. - -“I don’t sneak around anywhere,” retorted Will in a nettled tone, -smarting under the man’s grip, and wrenching himself free. - -Captain Morris scowled fearfully at the boy. - -“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?” - -“It’s my business to deliver it to you personally.” - -“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!” - -He pushed Will rudely from the threshold and slammed the door in his -face. - -“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.” - -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. - -He delivered the figure-head to the mate and was absorbed for some time -in watching the sailors manipulate the rigging and sails. - -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. - -“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. - -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. - -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. - -“Aha, you’ve run away, have you?” he 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!” - -But the cabin boy only broke into wilder sobs and tears. - -“Get the whip!” ordered Morris of the mate. - -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. - -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. - -“Now, Tom Dalton,” he yelled up into the rigging, “it’s ten lashes if -you take your punishment like a man.” - -“Oh, captain, let me off, please let me off this time,” cried Tom, -frantically. - -“Come down, I tell you.” - -“It will kill me--I can’t stand it.” - -Captain Morris coolly consulted his watch. - -“For every minute you stay up there I’ll give you an extra cut.” - -Amid violent moanings and with streaming eyes, the wretched cabin boy -began to slowly descend to the deck. - -He shrank back as the captain made a vicious grasp for him, and growled -out: - -“Take off your jacket and shirt.” - -“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!” - -He groveled at the captain’s feet, he writhed in an agony of fright and -dread torture. - -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. - -Will Bertram alone, boiling over with indignation, murmured audibly, -with flushed face and flashing eyes: - -“Shame!” - -Captain Morris spurned the suppliant boy with his feet, glowered -defiantly at the sullen faced crew, and then turned fiercely on Will. - -“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. - -“Don’t let him whip me. Save me, save me!” shrieked the tormented boy, -appealing to the silent sailors. - -And then espying Will, he sprang to his side and caught his hand -frantically. - -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. - -One sentence, quickly and impulsively, he whispered into Tom’s ear: - -“Run for it!” - -A suggestion from an outsider, a hope clutched at eagerly, the words -seemed to arouse him to action. - -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. - -“You young jackanapes,” he yelled, advancing with uplifted whip toward -Will, “I’ll teach you to raise a mutiny on my ship.” - -“Captain Morris, don’t you dare to strike me.” - -Erect, defiant, flinching not one whit, the spirited boy faced the -enraged captain. - -“You’ll help my crew to desert, will you? Take that.” - -The whip cut the air, but not so quickly but that Will Bertram evaded -its circling stroke. - -He leaped aside, and seized the first article for defense that came to -hand. - -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. - -Lifting it threateningly aloft on a level with the captain’s form, he -cried out: - -“Don’t you strike me, Captain Morris; I am not your slave, if that poor -boy is.” - -“Drop that!” - -At the captain’s foaming, rage-filled tones Will Bertram did drop it. - -The bucket fell between them. Its contents splattering far and wide, -and trickling over the deck, made the captain retreat summarily. - -In so doing the soft, slimy substance gave him a slippery foothold. He -slid forward with a muttered imprecation and fell. - -Will Bertram experienced a vague alarm as the captain picked himself up. - -From head to foot the soft soap clung to his clothing, while from his -nose and mouth the blood spurted freely. - -“I’ve done it,” muttered Will, apprehensively. “I’d better keep out of -his way now.” - -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. - -“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!” - -Time proved to Will Bertram how cruelly Captain Morris kept his word. - - - - -CHAPTER III. A DARING FEAT. - - -Will Bertram satisfied himself on two points before he relaxed the -rapid pace with which he had left the deck of the Golden Moose. - -The first was to learn that Captain Morris was not following him, and -the next that Tom Dalton had got out of sight. - -“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.” - -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. - -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. - -A moment’s lingering on the outskirts of the throng gave Will an -intelligent hint as to their interest in the spot. - -“It’s up yonder,” a man said, pointing up at the high spire which -crowned the summit of the tower of the structure. - -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. - -“What is it?” he asked. - -“A white osprey.” - -“How did it get there?” - -“Flew against the point, I guess,” replied the man. - -The dying daylight gleaming down the valley showed the bird making -frantic efforts to release itself. - -Its strange, weird cries could be faintly heard from where Will stood. - -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. - -“It’s a fine specimen of a bird,” he remarked. “Is there not some way -of releasing it from its plight?” - -“Yes, climb up and catch it,” responded a pert young man. - -The stranger was not discomfitted at the jeering proposition. - -He calmly took out his pocket book and drew from it a ten dollar bill. - -“Why not?” he asked complacently. “Suppose you try, since you suggest -it. I will willingly give that money for the bird.” - -The crowd laughed. It became the young man’s turn to look embarrassed. - -“You ain’t in earnest,” he said. - -“But I am.” - -“Well, I guess no one in this crowd cares to risk his neck, even for -ten dollars.” - -“Steeple Jack would,” broke in a boy. - -“Where is he?” asked the stranger. - -“Oh, he’s left town after fixing the spire.” - -Will Bertram, an interested listener to all that had been said, stepped -forward impulsively. - -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: - -“Is the offer open to anybody, sir?” - -“Yes.” - -“I’ll earn it. I’ll get the bird for you.” - -“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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Here and there in it were small holes bored, the only means of -sustaining the weight of his body. - -At that dizzy height a misstep or a slip of the hand meant certain -death. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -There was a moment of awful suspense, and eyes strained and wearied by -piercing the enveloping gloom of dusk, grew dimmer. - -For a moment the figure rested at the base of the spire, then it was -drawn a foot or two higher. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -“What is it?” inquired a dozen eager voices. - -“The rope! he has reached the base of the tower! he is safe!” - -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. - -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. - -The rope was not long enough to reach the ground. - -“Drop!” he cried, stretching out his arms. - -One minute later, the centre of a surging, excited throng, Will Bertram -had regained terra firma in safety. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. THE ADVENTURES OF A NIGHT. - - -Will uttered a great sigh of relief as the stranger led him towards the -anxious throng. - -“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.” - -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. - -“Where’s the bird?” demanded the stranger, abruptly. - -“They’re chasing it yonder, still alive.” - -“Yes, but it can’t fly. Here they come with it.” - -Will Bertram took this opportunity, while attention was diverted from -himself, to slip away from the throng. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -“Will! Will!” she cried, in utter amazement, “where did you get this?” - -“Earned it.” - -The incredulous, almost anxious, expression in his mother’s face made -Will hasten his explanation. - -The repast was deferred, as with bated breath and wondering faces his -parents listened to his recital. - -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. - -No chiding words fell from his father’s lips when he had concluded his -narrative. Instead, he said, calmly: - -“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.” - -“He cannot injure you, father, as he threatened?” inquired Will, -anxiously. - -“No, Will, at least not until the next interest note is due, six months -hence, and by that time it looks as if my brave boy intends to have -enough money to settle the claim for good.” - -“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.” - -“And where is Tom Dalton?” inquired Mrs. Bertram. - -“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.” - -“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. - -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. - -Mrs. Bertram looked inquiringly at the well-dressed stranger who stood -revealed on the threshold as she answered the knock. - -“Does Mr. Bertram live here?” he inquired, and then, as she nodded -assent, he continued: “I am looking for Will Bertram.” - -Will recognized the voice and hastened to the door. - -“Oh! it’s the gentleman who wanted the osprey,” he explained. - -“Come in, sir,” spoke Mrs. Bertram, while the husband tendered him a -chair. - -The stranger nodded pleasantly to Will. - -“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?” - -Mrs. Bertram paled concernedly. - -“He is very venturesome,” she said, solicitously. - -“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.” - -Will’s cheek flushed at the honest compliment the stranger bestowed -upon him. - -“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.” - -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. - -“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.” - -Mr. Bertram’s face had grown serious, while Mrs. Bertram’s hand stole -caressingly, anxiously, around that of Will, who sat near her. - -“You want him to go away,--to leave us?” she murmured, tremulously. - -“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----” - -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: - -“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?” - -Mrs. Bertram was mute, but glanced tearfully at Will, and then -inquiringly at her husband. - -Will took their silence as a token of encouragement. - -“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.” - -“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.” - -“Thirty dollars! Oh, father, think what a help it would be!” cried -Will, breathlessly. - -Mr. Hunter arose to his feet, hat in hand. - -“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.” - -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. - -“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.” - -“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. - -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. - -He took up a book and tried to read, but the exciting thoughts that -would come about the expedition distracted his mind completely. - -“I hope they’ll let me go,” he breathed fervently. “It’s even better -than the ocean. Hello, what is that?” - -There had come a quick, metallic tap at the window, and Will fixed his -eyes in its direction. - -“It’s the wind, I guess,” he finally decided. “No, there it is again.” - -Will arose, put on his cap, and, walking to the door, opened it, -stepped outside, and looked searchingly around. - -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. - -Will found his suspicions verified as he approached the shed, and a -disorderly figure stepped from behind the door. - -“Tom?” he queried, peering into the face of the other. - -“Yes, it’s me,” came the low, dogged response. “I hadn’t ought to -bother you, Will, but I’m nigh starved.” - -“Hungry, eh, Tom?” - -“I should say so. Bring me a hunk of bread and meat, and I’ll get out -of town and your way.” - -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. - -“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.” - -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. - -“Well, Tom,” said Will, finally, as the runaway bolted the last morsel -of food with a sigh of intense satisfaction, “what are your plans?” - -“Ain’t got any.” - -“You won’t go back to the Moose?” - -“Not much. Do you think I want to get killed? I tell you, Will, you -don’t know what a brute the captain is.” - -“Won’t they look for you?” - -“Of course they will. They were down the street searching for me -everywhere half an hour ago.” - -“Who?” - -“Captain Morris and two of the sailors in one party, and the mate and -the boatswain in another.” - -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. - -“If I can only keep out of the way until the Golden Moose sails, I -shall be all right,” said Tom, confidently. - -“Keep quiet, Tom; some one is coming,” whispered Will, warningly. - -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. - -“What did I tell you?” quavered Tom, beginning to tremble violently. - -“Keep quiet and listen,” repeated Will, peremptorily. - -At that moment Mrs. Bertram, in answer to the knock, opened the door. - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER V. A BAD PREDICAMENT. - - -The first question asked by the mate of the Golden Moose referred to -Will Bertram, as the watching lad had expected. - -“Is your son at home, Mrs. Bertram?” were his words. - -“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.” - -“Where to?” - -“I do not know. Maybe to visit some neighbor’s boy. Was it anything -particular, sir?” - -“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.” - -“Oh, I am certain he does not know where he is,” Mrs. Bertram hastened -to say. - -“Trust a keen-witted boy like him for that,” incredulously remarked the -mate. - -“At least he has been busy or at home since he was at the ship this -afternoon.” - -“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.” - -The watching boys did not move until the two sailors were well out of -sight. Tom was crying bitterly. - -“Be a man, Tom,” urged Will, encouragingly. “What are you crying about?” - -“Because they hunt me down so, and will be sure to catch me. -Everybody’s against me.” - -“Well I ain’t, Tom. Now, instead of mourning uselessly, put your wits -together and decide what you’re going to do.” - -“I don’t know,” responded Tom, hopelessly. - -“Is there not some acquaintance you could stay with to-night?” - -“I ain’t got any friends.” - -Will pondered deeply for a moment or two. Finally he said: - -“Look here, Tom; I think I know a place where you could go.” - -“Where?” - -“You know the old mill down the river?” - -“Yes. I’ve been there lots of times.” - -“Well, I suggest that you hide there for to-night.” - -“They’ll never think of searching for me there. I’ll go, Will, if we -can get there without being seen.” - -“Come along, then.” - -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. - -“Won’t I see you to-morrow?” inquired Tom, lugubriously, somewhat -depressed at being left to his own resources. - -“I expect not.” - -“Are you going away?” - -“I may, Tom,” and Will told of Mr. Hunter’s offer. - -Tom’s face grew animated and his eyes flashed eagerly as Will -enthusiastically referred to the plans of the expedition. - -“Oh, if I could only go with you!” he ejaculated. - -“I don’t know that I am going myself, Tom.” - -“Oh, Will!” - -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. - -“What’s the matter, Tom?” inquired Will. - -“Look yonder. There is the Captain and two of his men.” - -Will grew a little excited as he glanced in the direction his -affrighted companion had indicated. - -“It’s them, sure enough, Tom. Now don’t get frightened, but walk fast.” - -He hoped to evade the scrutiny of the trio, who were some distance -away, by getting out of their range of vision. - -A shout behind him, however, told him that their identity was -suspected, and he saw the three men break into a run. - -Will followed their example, urging his companion to do the same, and -directing the way to the old ruined mill, the outline of which was -visible a short distance ahead of them. - -They gained on their pursuers, and, reaching the mill itself, observed -with satisfaction that their pursuers were almost invisible in the -darkness. - -“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.” - -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. - -As he did so Tom uttered a frightened cry. - -“Some one’s here,” he whispered. - -Some one certainly was there, for at that moment a flashing light in -one corner of the place showed dimly its entire interior. - -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. - -“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.” - -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. - -“Now we’ll sit down and wait,” he said, and both boys slid to the floor. - -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. - -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: - -“They’ve traced us here, and have got a light and are looking for us!” - -Will Bertram placed his eye to an interstice in the floor to ascertain -what was going on below. - -He arose suddenly to his feet with a startled cry. - -“Quick, Tom, open the trap door and get the ladder down!” - -“What for?” - -“It is no light below, but a fire!” - -“A fire?” echoed Tom, wildly. - -“Yes; quick, I say; the trap! the ladder!” - -Will himself was compelled to lift the trap door, for Tom was paralyzed -with terror and utter helplessness in their dilemma. - -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. - -“Oh, Will! what shall we do?” - -“Keep cool and get out of this,” replied Will, bravely. “Stay where you -are for a minute.” - -He flung the trap shut and groped his way to the window. - -It was now an open aperture, but, as he well knew, looked down upon a -deep pit by the side of the structure. - -“There used to be some ladder steps nailed to the side of the -building,” he said, as he leaned out of the window. - -He peered searchingly forth, and with his hand felt for the means of -escape he had described. - -A murmur of concern swept his lips as he made a thrilling discovery. - -The ladder steps were gone! - - - - -CHAPTER VI. THE FIRE. - - -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. - -Had not the pit yawned far below the ground surface Will would have -trusted to a flying jump in the darkness. - -Tom Dalton, utterly overwhelmed, sat huddled together on the floor -quaking with terror. - -The encroaching fire showed through the cracks so plainly now that they -could see each other’s face. - -Already the fire was burning the floor beneath them. They could not -descend. - -“We must climb higher,” said Will, forming a quick resolution. “There -is the old stairs yonder. Follow me, Tom.” - -The cabin boy obeyed Will’s order mutely, and they found themselves in -a large loft at the top story of the building. - -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. - -They might reach the attic or the roof, but that only made their -dilemma worse. - -At last, after a rapid inspection, he lit a match and surveyed -critically an aperture in the side of the building. - -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. - -“Oh! what shall we do?” moaned Tom, despairingly. - -“Get out of this when it comes to the worst.” - -“How?” - -“By jumping from the window.” - -“And kill ourselves by the fall!” cried Tom. “Can’t we call for help?” - -“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.” - -“What is it, Will?” - -“In the corner yonder there’s an old shute leading to the river.” - -“What’s a shute?” - -“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.” - -“You don’t mean to slide down it?” - -“Yes, I do. It’s our only chance of escape.” - -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. - -“I’ll go first,” said Will. “You’ll follow.” - -“I’m afraid, Will.” - -“Then we’re lost, for the fire--hear that!” - -“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. - -It was high time for action. Will climbed over the extending top of the -shute and lowered himself into it. - -Clinging to the edge he gave Tom a warning word: - -“Don’t delay a moment in following me.” - -“I won’t.” - -“Here goes, then!” - -Will Bertram experienced a strange sensation as, relaxing his grasp, he -shot vertically downwards. - -His breath seemed taken away, and his hands, sweeping the bottom of the -shute seemed to gather a thousand little slivers. - -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. - -Splash! - -A second echoing plunge followed his own, and in the radiating -illumination he made out a struggling figure in the water. - -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. - -“Tom! Tom! this way!” called Will, cautiously. - -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. - -“He’s probably afraid the captain will catch him,” theorized Will. “At -all events, he’s safe.” - -Will shook the water from his clothes and made a wide detour of the -burning. - -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. - -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. - -“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. - -“Is that you, Will?” Mrs. Bertram called from her chamber. - -“Yes, mother.” - -“Where have you been?” - -“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. - -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. - -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. - -His curiosity impelled him to proceed a little distance down the -street, whence a view of the harbor could be obtained. - -He was familiar enough with the various craft at anchorage to miss the -trim sails and masts of Captain Morris’ ship. - -The Golden Moose had sailed during the night; but where was poor Tom -Dalton, the runaway? - - - - -CHAPTER VII. STRANGE COMPANIONS. - - -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. - -“Well, my son, your mother and I have talked over the matter of your -going away,” said Mr. Bertram. - -Will looked suspenseful. - -“We have decided, since your heart seems so set upon it, to let you do -as you please.” - -“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.” - -He promised his mother to indulge in no reckless or dangerous exploits, -and to evade companionship with any evil persons he might meet. - -Then, while his mother was making up a package of his clothes, Will -went to the hotel. - -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. - -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. - -Little did either dream of the long, weary months destined to intervene -ere they again clasped hands. - -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. - -Youth does not cherish sadness, and his exuberant spirits regarded -the parting with his parents tenderly rather than with forebodings of -distress. - -“Well, my boy, all ready?” asked Mr. Hunter, as he welcomed Will. - -“Yes, sir.” - -“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?” - -Will expressed himself eminently satisfied with this arrangement, and -the two set out at a brisk gait. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Will Bertram was amazed to find that there were nearly twenty wagons -and as many men. - -Mr. Hunter noticed his surprise. - -“Are you going to use all those wagons?” inquired Will. - -“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.” - -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. - -They showed him the four living vehicles, as they were called, stout, -boarded wagons, with heavy wheels and a stove and bunks inside, 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Mr. Hunter ordered an immediate start. There were several extra horses, -and he and Will rode two of them ahead of the train. - -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. - -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. - -Suddenly, at one of the wagons, where a man was taking some feed for -the horses, there was a quick commotion. - -“Hello! Mr. Hunter,” he cried, “here’s a discovery.” - -“What is it?” inquired Mr. Hunter, coming to the wagon, Will pressing -close to his side. - -Amid a mass of straw was a form, which kicked vigorously as the man -endeavored to drag it from the wagon. - -“A stowaway!” cried the man. - -“True enough,” replied Mr. Hunter. “Pull him out, and let us have a -look at him.” - -“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. - -The man drew its possessor out of the wagon, and wheeled him around to -the camp-fire. - -Mr. Hunter stared amusedly at the form thus revealed. - -An amazed ejaculation swept Will Bertram’s lips as he recognized him. - -“Why, its Tom Dalton!” he cried, breathlessly. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. ON THE MARCH. - - -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: - -“You know this boy?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Who is he?” - -“Tom Dalton. He is from Watertown, but how he came here is more than I -can tell.” - -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. - -“Come to the fire and warm yourself, and get something to eat,” said -Mr. Hunter, in a kindly tone, to the friendless runaway. - -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. - -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. - -Mr. Hunter himself, however, took Tom in hand and drew from him the -story of his escapade. - -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. - -Tom remembered all Will had told him about the proposed expedition, -recalling even the location of the meeting place. - -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. - -“And what do you expect I’m going to do with you?” inquired Mr. Hunter. - -“Let me work for you, sir,” responded Tom, promptly. - -“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. - -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, made the time pass rapidly to Will and Tom. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -At any rate, the caravan was divided, and minute instructions given for -the future. Then the main party struck off into the wilderness. - -The flakes began to fall thick and heavy as darkness came down. Mr. -Hunter expressed his satisfaction at this. - -“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.” - -No camp-fire was built that night, the men huddling around their stoves -in the living wagons. - -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. - -“The snow’s getting terribly deep and blinding,” he said, “and, as I -came up to the horses, I’m sure I heard and saw a wolf.” - -[Illustration] - -“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. - -“Yes, sir.” - -“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.” - -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. - -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. - -His practiced eyes passed by no marks in the snow, and whenever he came -to a series of tracks he examined them closely. - -“Plenty of small animals,” he remarked; “and an occasional fox and -wolf.” - -“What is this?” inquired Will. - -He pointed to a deep, heavy furrow in the snow, which looked as if some -object had been dragged over its surface. - -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. - -It led direct to a dark ravine, and terminated at a cave-like aperture -in a mound covered with stunted trees. - -Here Mr. Hunter paused. - -“You’ve made quite a discovery, Will,” he said. - -“Is it an animal, sir?” - -“Yes. Its footmarks are obscured by the object it seems to have been -dragging along by its mouth.” - -“And you think it’s in the cave there?” - -“Undoubtedly.” - -“What is it--a wolf or fox?” - -“No, a bear.” - -The announcement excited both boys tremendously. - -“Let’s catch him,” cried Tom. - -Mr. Hunter smiled. - -“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.” - -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. - -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. - -They stood before the entrance to the cave late in the afternoon -regarding the set trap curiously. - -“Do you see?” remarked Will, pointing to it. - -“What?” inquired Tom. - -“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.” - -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. - -Will left Tom at the place and announced his intention of going around -the mound. - -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. - -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. - -“I believe I’ll have a look into the place,” murmured Will. - -He parted the brushes and found a large aperture looking down into -complete darkness. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Bruised and startled, he scrambled to his feet. - -At that moment a terrific roar echoed through the darkness and gloom of -the cave. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. LOST. - - -Will Bertram discovered two things as he thrilled to a realization of -his true position. - -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. - -Its eyes, like two sparks of yellow fire, glared fixedly upon him, -while its low grumblings told that its rage was fully aroused. - -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. - -Springing forward, the animal brought its huge foot across the -intruder’s arm, tearing the sleeve of his coat into shreds. - -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. - -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. - -Will gave a quick glance behind him, but instantly abandoned all -thoughts of escaping by the way he had come. - -The aperture was at the end of a slanting decline and several feet -above his head. - -To climb up that would consume time, and bruin, more agile than he, -would certainly overtake him ere he had accomplished the exit. - -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. - -The cave narrowed as it came to this spot, and this passage way was -almost completely filled by the bear’s enormous body. - -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. - -Bruin roared with pain and rage and showed his horrible fangs, but -retreated slowly. - -“If I could only drive him to the open air,” murmured Will, -tumultuously. - -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. - -The latter could see open daylight beyond. A few feet more and he -believed he could rush past the bear in safety. - -With a last, desperate movement he flung the burning torch square at -the head of the bear. - -The animal crouched back, and then turned with a frightful howl. - -A sudden, clicking snap echoed on the air, and the bear seemed -struggling and floundering in a strange way. - -“The trap!” cried Will, wildly. - -His excited words expressed the bear’s dilemma. Bruin, enraged and -retreating, had walked into the very snare he had before avoided. - -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. - -With a shout of relief and joy, Will darted past the imprisoned bear -and into the open air. - -He found Tom Dalton standing staring at the bear in open-mouthed -wonderment. - -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. - -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. - -Will entertained his companion with a vivid account of his adventure. - -“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.” - -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. - -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. - -Some chloroform on a sponge robbed bruin of his natural fierceness, and -he was finally safely caged. - -The ensuing morning a fox and a wolf were found, with other smaller -animals, in the traps, set in various places around the camp. - -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. - -It was an exciting and interesting tramp for the two boys. The ensuing -three weeks were the busiest ones they had ever known. - -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. - -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. - -When they were traveling it would sometimes be entire days ere they -would come across a settlement, or even a house. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Provided with ropes and snares, Will and Tom reached the spot they had -in view, and for over an hour wandered about the place. - -At last, some distance away, they made out several large birds circling -about a rocky point of land. - -Will suggested that they visit the spot, and this took them still -farther away from the camp. - -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. - -“Why, Will, it’s getting dark!” suddenly exclaimed Tom. - -They abandoned their efforts at catching the birds and descended to the -level plain beneath. - -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. - -However, he finally decided upon what he supposed to be the direction -in which the camp lay, and they started forward on their way. - -Darkness came on, and, although they had progressed several miles, they -were more bewildered than ever concerning their real whereabouts. - -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. - -It was so with Will and Tom. It must have been nearly morning before -they came to a halt. - -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. - -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. - -“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.” - -“Yes, Will.” - -“Well, I thought it was, but I’ve changed my mind.” - -“You said the opening here looked like one near our last camping place.” - -“I was mistaken.” - -“Then you don’t think we’ll reach camp to-night?” - -“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!” - - - - -CHAPTER X. IN THE WILDERNESS. - - -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. - -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. - -“We may have wandered miles from the camp, and Mr. Hunter may be -looking for us in an entirely different direction,” said Will, -seriously. - -“Can’t we reach some town or settlement?” inquired Tom, hopefully. - -“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.” - -In the far distance trees were visible, and the boys, keeping them in -view, trudged wearily onwards. - -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. - -They reached a scattering woods finally. Seeking a place to camp for -the night, Tom startled his companion with a welcome discovery. - -It was the track of horses’ feet and wagon wheels along the edge of the -timber, and they were quite fresh. - -“Some vehicle has passed here lately, sure,” said Will, quite excitedly. - -“Let us follow up the tracks,--they may lead to some town,” suggested -Tom. - -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. - -Darkness coming down showed a dreary waste of snow lying before them -far as the eye could reach. - -“We had better find a camp for the night,” said Will. - -They devoted some time to searching for a convenient spot. The snow had -become heavy and blinding, and penetrated even the timber. - -“We’ll find a clump of screening bushes somewhere,” said Will, and they -kept on through the woods. - -At a little opening they paused, wet, chilled and discouraged. - -Suddenly Will started. - -“Hark!” he said, impressively. - -Tom bent his ear to catch an ominous noise echoing strangely through -the silent woods. - -A distant baying sound was borne upon the breeze, becoming augmented in -volume and nearness as they listened. - -“What is it, Will?” inquired Tom, in awe-stricken tones. - -“Wolves.” - -Tom’s face grew pale and his hands began trembling violently. - -“Oh, Will, what shall we do if they come here?” - -“They probably will come here, but we won’t let them catch us just yet.” - -“What shall we do?” - -“Build a fire and climb the highest tree we can find.” - -Will began at once to gather leaves and wood, but paused with a cry of -delight. - -“Come this way quick, Tom. Do you see yonder?” - -“In the opening?” - -“Yes. It’s a house. Run, Tom, for the wolves are coming nearer.” - -The baying sound seemed directly in the timber as they dashed across -the snowy waste. - -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. - -The single door was open. Through the roofless top the snow came down -heavily. - -But it was a welcome house of refuge amid peril. Will pushed the door -shut and propped a heavy log lying inside against it. - -As he did so he saw, breaking from the cover of the forest, a dozen or -more wolves. - -“Just in time,” he murmured, relievedly, as he glanced around at the -stout timbers enclosing the cabin. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. IMPRISONED BY WOLVES. - - -Tom Dalton could not overcome the terror he experienced at the near -proximity of the wolves until Will assured him that they were safe. - -“They can’t break in the door nor reach the roof.” - -“But we’ll have to stay here all night.” - -“Very probably, Tom, and we’ll make the best of it and try and keep -comfortable.” - -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. - -Will adjusted some logs to form a kind of shelter, however, and then -for some time listened to the noises from the outside. - -The wolves were baying and snarling and tearing at the logs as if -hungry for their expected prey. - -These sounds died away after a while, the animals seeming to abandon -their assault on the cabin as useless. - -“They have gone off on a new trail,” said Will; but half an hour later -his theory seemed to be an incorrect one. - -Far in the distance the baying began again, came nearer and nearer, and -sounded more vicious in its echoing tones than before. - -“I wonder what it means,” spoke Tom. - -“They seem to be coming to the cabin again,” said Will. “Why, one of -them is tearing at the logs.” - -A scraping sound emanated from the outside as Will spoke. - -“Yes, and the wolf is reaching the top. Oh, Will, we are lost! Look!” - -Over the edge of the roof a dark form climbed, plainly visible against -the sky. - -“It’s no wolf, Tom,” said Will, quickly. - -“What, then?” - -“A man. Don’t you see? Some belated traveler like ourselves.” - -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. - -“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.” - -His hat had fallen off in climbing to a place of safety, but some -object in a box was clasped in one hand. - -Curious, interested at this new phase in the occurrences of the night, -the boys watched the man silently. - -He kept talking down to the snarling wolves, seeking vainly to reach -him, in a quaint, complaining tone. - -Then he opened the box, and, to Will’s amazement, drew forth a violin. - -[Illustration] - -“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.” - -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. - -“Hello!” - -As the strains of melody died away, Will shouted the word to the -musician. - -The latter started and stared all around him. - -“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?” - -“Two boys driven here by the storm and the wolves.” - -“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.” - -He lowered the violin and followed it nimbly, staring curiously at his -young companions in distress. - -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. - -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. - -“It ain’t safe to venture out before daylight,” he said, “for the -storm’s heavy and 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.” - -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. - -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. - -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. - -A discussion of the situation with Brown led to an abandonment of the -hope of again joining Mr. Hunter. - -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. - -“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. - -The storekeeper intended driving to a town some fifty miles distant for -goods, and offered to give them a free ride. - -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. - -Four days after leaving the Corners, by means of occasional rides from -farmers and others, they reached the city of Portland. - -“We won’t be long in reaching Watertown now,” said Will, confidently. - -“Why not?” inquired Tom. - -“Because there must be some ships going that way, and I am acquainted -with a good many of the sailors.” - -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. - -Tom, less observing than his companion, had not noticed it particularly. - -“There seems to be only one ship we know here,” said Will. - -“I haven’t seen any.” - -“Look yonder, then. That one lying nearest to us runs regularly to -Watertown.” - -Tom started as he recognized the craft, and looked dismayed. - -For it was the Golden Moose. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. STOWAWAYS. - - -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. - -“Yes,” he said, finally, “it’s the Golden Moose.” - -“And ready to sail soon, too,” remarked Will. “Where are you going, -Tom?” - -Tom had started to leave the spot. - -“To look for another ship.” - -“What for?” - -“To get back to Watertown, of course.” - -“See here, Tom.” - -“Well.” - -“I doubt if there’s a craft here going to Watertown.” - -“Then we’ll wait for one,” responded Tom, gruffly. “You surely ain’t -thinking of the Moose?” - -“I am. Why not? We have friends aboard. There’s the boatswain.” - -Tom shook his head persistently. - -“It’s no use of talking, Will,” he said. “I daren’t trust myself in -Captain Morris’ clutches again. He’d kill me, sure.” - -“Nonsense. See here, Tom, the hatches are fastened down and the Moose -probably sails to-night. It’s only a short voyage.” - -“Well?” - -“There’s a dozen places we could hide about the ship.” - -“That may be, but--” - -“And Captain Morris may not be aboard at all. You know he sometimes -gives the mate charge of the ship.” - -“If I thought that, I’d venture, Will, but I’m really afraid of him.” - -“Once aboard we’ll hide snug and safe until we reach Watertown and then -skip ashore.” - -Tom’s hesitation gave way under Will’s arguments, and he said: - -“All right. I’ll sort of sneak around the ship and see who is aboard.” - -Will waited while Tom approached the ship. - -The latter was gone about ten minutes. - -“Well?” asked Will, as he returned to the place where he was. - -“The coast’s clear.” - -“No one aboard?” - -“Oh, yes; the mate and boatswain and half a dozen others are in the -cabin.” - -“And the crew?” - -“I guess they’re ashore.” - -“Did you see Captain Morris?” - -“No.” - -“Does it look as if they were going to sail to-night?” - -“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.” - -Tom led the way to the ship, and Will followed him over the rail to the -deck. - -“Where shall we hide?” he asked Tom. - -“In the forecastle.” - -“Won’t we be discovered?” - -Tom laughed. - -“You must remember I’m at home on the Moose,” he said. - -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. - -“Are we going in there?” inquired Will, peering into the dark aperture. - -“Yes.” - -“What is it?” - -“A sort of storage cubby hole, and it’s warm and cozy.” - -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. - -They had tramped quite a long distance that day, and their whispered -conversation soon subsided, and drowsiness overcame them. - -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. - -When Tom awoke they discussed the situation and decided that by that -night or the next morning they would reach Watertown. - -“I’m getting desperately hungry,” Tom said more than once, as the long -morning glided away. - -“We can’t get anything to eat here without revealing ourselves,” -replied Will. - -Tom’s fortitude, however, gave out completely before the day was ended. - -“I can’t stand it, Will,” he ejaculated at last. “I’m fairly dying of -hunger and thirst. Look, Will, there’s the boatswain.” - -Peering through a crack in the door, Will saw Jack Marcy enter the -place. - -He was alone, and the forecastle was deserted except for himself. - -“Shall I hail him?” he whispered, inquiringly, to Tom. - -“Yes, do, Will. He’ll bring us something to eat and drink and won’t -betray us.” - -Will pushed the door of their place of concealment slightly ajar. - -“Jack!” he uttered in a distinct but subdued tone. - -The boatswain, who was arranging a bunk, started, and looked -bewilderedly around him. - -“Here, Jack, it’s Tom Dalton and myself,” spoke Will, pushing the door -clear open. - -Jack Marcy came to the spot and stood staring in profound amazement at -the two boyish faces peering out at him. - -“Well, well,” was all he could say, in dumbfounded amazement. - -“Don’t you know us, Jack? It’s Tom Dalton and Will Bertram.” - -“Yes, yes, I know you, but how on earth do you come here?” spoke the -mystified boatswain. - -“Oh, that’s a long story, Jack. All we’re thinking of now is getting -back to Watertown, and we want something to eat.” - -“Where?” cried Jack, wildly. - -“To Watertown.” - -The old boatswain shook his head gravely. - -“You’re on the wrong ship, lads. It will be many a long day before you -see Watertown.” - -“What do you mean?” asked Will, in sudden alarm. - -“The Moose ain’t going to Watertown at all.” - -“What! Not going to Watertown?” - -“No; she’s provisioned for a two-months’ ocean trip.” - -“And Captain Morris----” quavered Tom, appealingly. - -“Is in command.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. ON THE OCEAN. - - -Will Bertram uttered a cry of surprise and dismay at Jack Marcy’s -startling declaration, while Tom grew pale and frightened. - -“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.” - -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. - -Jack relocked the door, and, pointing to some casks, told the boys to -be seated. - -“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.” - -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. - -Will briefly related what had occurred since the episode of Tom’s -flight from the Moose. - -Jack Marcy listened with mouth agape. - -“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. - -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. - -“I don’t know what he’ll say when he finds you’re aboard,” said Jack, -dubiously. - -“Don’t let him know; oh, please don’t tell him,” pleaded Tom, anxiously. - -“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?” - -Will assented eagerly. - -“I’ll get you something to eat and drink, and we’ll think the affair -over,” said Jack. - -He left them and returned in a few minutes with the promised food. - -Then he relocked the door and left his young charges anxious and -suspenseful over his promised mental consideration of the case. - -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. - -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. - -It had been Jack Marcy’s intention to approach the Captain on the -subject of the stowaways. - -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. - -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. - -“What’s the row here?” angrily demanded the Captain, approaching the -men. “What are you loitering around here for?” - -“Ben Allen has seen a spirit, sir,” spoke up one of the men. - -“What’s this nonsense? Too much rum, I guess,” gruffly replied Morris. - -“I did see a spirit, Captain, all the same,” seriously answered the -sailor named Ben Allen. - -“Whose?” inquired the Captain, scoffingly. - -“The old cabin boy’s, Tom Dalton’s.” - -“Where?” he demanded. - -“At the little bull’s-eye glass in the forecastle spirit room.” - -The man’s manner was so earnest that Morris looked half convinced. - -Jack Marcy had overheard the conversation, and looked deeply concerned. - -“It’s all up with the boys if the Captain believes him,” he muttered. - -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. - -“Here, Jack Marcy, where’s the key to the spirit room?” - -“You ain’t going to pay attention to Allen’s nonsense, are you, -captain?” asked Jack, with assumed carelessness. - -“Yes, I am. Here, you, Allen, we’ll hunt for this spirit that haunts -the ship.” - -He took the key from Jack’s hand and went forthwith into the forecastle. - -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. - -The door opened. - -Will Bertram stood transfixed, while Tom Dalton shrank back with a -feeble cry of dread. - -For a single moment Captain Morris stood rooted to the spot, gazing -amazedly at the two boys. - -“I told you, captain, Tom Dalton was there,” muttered Allen. - -“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.” - -And seizing the terrified Tom he dragged him triumphantly to the deck -of the ship. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. A FRIEND IN NEED. - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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: - -“You stay there until I get the cat-of-nine-tails ready!” - -Poor Tom crouched and cowered and hid his face in his hands, uttering -moans of despair and terror. - -Will grew sick at heart as he contemplated the brutal visage of the -half-drunken Morris. - -He summoned all his courage and boldness, however, and ventured to -address him. - -“Captain Morris, can I speak a word to you?” - -Morris turned with a sneering snarl. - -“Ah, my young friend, how humble we are! Our tone ain’t quite as -defiant as it was!” - -“I want to speak to you about Tom, sir.” - -“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.” - -“Captain Morris,” said Will, earnestly, “you have no right to abuse -that boy, and you don’t dare to whip me!” - -Captain Morris terminated Will’s appeal by going below and reappearing -a minute later. - -The dreaded instrument of torture, the cat-of-nine-tails, was in his -grasp. - -His big, brawny hand seized Tom’s jacket and fairly tore it from his -back. - -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. - -“Take that, and that. Ah! you squirm, do you!” - -“You coward!” - -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. - -The latter turned. - -“I’ll see if this ship is to be run by boys any longer!” he yelled, -choking with rage. - -The whip came down across Will’s form with a violence that fairly took -his breath away. - -He gasped out wildly from the pain inflicted by the cutting strokes. - -Suddenly there was an interruption. A hand stronger than that of the -Captain clutched the descending whip. - -“Don’t strike that boy again, Captain Morris!” - -Jack Marcy had stepped forward, and it was he who now spoke. - -The Captain directed one amazed glance at him, dumbfounded at the first -evidence of rebellion he had ever seen on board the Golden Moose. - -“What do you mean?” he demanded, red with anger. - -“You ain’t treating these boys right, Captain; that’s what I mean,” -said Jack, steadily. “Don’t strike them again.” - -“Stand aside!” - -“I won’t do it, Captain. You ain’t yourself, or you wouldn’t act this -way.” - -The Captain struggled to get his hands free, but Jack held him firmly. - -“Mutiny!” he roared. “Here,” to the crew, “seize this man and lock him -up below.” - -Not a sailor stirred to interfere or relieve the Captain from his -dilemma. - -“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!” - -He struck at Jack Marcy. The blow was not repeated. - -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. - -Captain Morris arose to his feet with blood in his eye. - -“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!” - -Jack Marcy walked up to the Captain and looked him squarely in the eye. - -“Captain Morris,” he said, “you’ve relieved me of duty on the ship, -well and good; but 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.” - -The Captain’s brow darkened. - -“I will have you tried for mutiny!” he cried. “As to those boys, -they’ll work their passage, I’ll guarantee.” - -Captain Morris did not boast vainly. That day and for many days -following, Will and Tom were put at the severest drudgery. - -Jack Marcy’s position had been given to one of the sailors and he -himself relieved from duty. - -Captain Morris did not again exercise any positive cruelty against the -boys, but saw that they did not idle their time away. - -He and the mate seemed to be continually holding mysterious -conversations, and more than once the crew discussed the strange course -of the ship. - -“We seem to be ocean bound,” Will overheard one of them say one day, -“with no definite port in view.” - -“He’s going to touch at Nova Scotia and points north, I hear,” remarked -another sailor. - -One dark night an event occurred which threw some light on the -Captain’s action. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -It was Jack Marcy, and his face was grim and uncompromising as he faced -his superior officers. - -Captain Morris scowled darkly. - -“What do you want here?” he demanded, gruffly. - -“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.” - -“What’s that of your business? You are no longer an officer on the -ship.” - -“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.” - -Captain Morris sprang to his feet wildly. - -“Are you mad, to make such a statement?” he cried. - -“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!” - - - - -CHAPTER XV. THE WRECK. - - -Captain Morris’ face underwent a variety of startling changes at the -bold assertion of Jack Marcy. - -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. - -“Do you know what you are saying?” began the Captain. - -“Perfectly. The ship is in danger.” - -“We can’t help that.” - -“And aleak.” - -“Then it must be attended to.” - -“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.” - -Morris’ usually red face had grown very pale. - -“You say there is a leak?” he said, after a pause. - -“Yes.” - -“Where?” - -“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.” - -“And you imagine the crew would believe this story if you told it to -them?” - -“I do if I added some further information I have obtained.” - -“What is that?” - -“The real fate of the crew of the Albatross.” - -At these words a horrible pallor crossed Morris’ face. - -There was a crash, and the light in the cabin went suddenly out. - -A heavy blow seemed struck, and then the mate’s voice fell on Will’s -hearing: - -“He knows too much, Captain.” - -“For our safety, yes. Ha! what’s that?” - -There was a violent lurch of the ship as the Captain spoke. - -The next moment he and the mate rushed past Will to the deck. - -The latter, alarmed at the wild tossing of the ship, followed them. - -The deck of the Golden Moose was a scene of indescribable confusion. - -[Illustration: THE GOLDEN MOOSE.] - -The skies were of inky blackness, the sea lashed into a mad fury by a -terrific gale. - -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. - -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. - -Tom Dalton, pale and excited, had reached Will Bertram’s side, and both -clung to a rope to escape being swept off the deck. - -“We shall all go down,” quavered Tom. “See, Will, they are pulling off -the long-boat.” - -“And Jack Marcy is below. Follow me, Tom. The captain and mate intend -leaving him behind.” - -Both boys hurried into the cabin. Will groped his way to the inner -compartment. - -It was locked! - -He had no thought now of personal safety, but, suspenseful for the -rescue of their staunch friend, bade Tom help him. - -Together they endeavored to force the locked door. Will beat at it with -a chair, kicked at it, flung his body against it. - -The door gave way at last. - -“Jack! Jack!” he cried, groping his way about blindly in the darkness. - -A lurch of the ship sent him to one side of the cabin. - -As he fell his hand came in contact with a prostrate form. - -“It is Jack, and he is insensible,” he murmured, concernedly. “Tom! -Tom!” - -“I’m here, Will.” - -“Hurry on deck.” - -“What for?” - -“To tell the crew that Jack Marcy is lying here helpless and in peril.” - -“How did he come here?” asked Tom, curiously. - -“Never mind now. The captain and mate locked him in. Quick, tell the -men.” - -Tom disappeared. - -A minute later he came rushing down wildly. - -“Oh, Will! Will!” he cried, frantically. - -“What has happened?” - -“We are left behind. The captain and the crew have left in the -long-boat, and have deserted the ship.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. THE WRECK. - - -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. - -For some moments he did not speak. The peril of their situation stunned -him completely. - -“They could not have been so cowardly, so inhuman,” he murmured. - -“Maybe the men didn’t miss us in the excitement, and the Captain wanted -to leave us behind,” remarked Tom. - -Will groped his way to a place where a lamp was fastened to the wall -and lit it. - -Its rays showed the boatswain, insensible on the floor. Will leaned -over him and shook him gently. - -In a few moments he had the satisfaction of seeing him move, open his -eyes and stare bewilderedly around him. - -“Why, what’s happened? Oh, I remember--the captain and the mate. They -knocked me insensible. Where are they?” - -“Gone.” - -“Gone--where?” - -“They locked you in and left the ship in the long-boat;” and Will -related what had occurred. - -“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.” - -The practiced eye of the old sailor took in the peculiar position of -the ship at a glance. - -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. - -Amid the darkness there was no sight of the long-boat. - -“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.” - -As he spoke, a gigantic wave swept over the deck and into the cabin. - -“We’ll get out of here as soon as we can. No whimpering, Tom. With -common sense and courage we may be saved yet.” - -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. - -Then the boatswain tied a strong rope around his waist and bade his -fellow-companions in peril do the same. - -“Now, keep close to me,” he said. - -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. - -Jack clung to the wheel, toward which he with difficulty made his way. - -His companions crouched at his feet, awed and frightened at the -wildness of the storm. - -“The boat may weather the storm yet, leaking as she is,” remarked Jack. - -“But if not?” - -“Then we must trust to the small boat those scoundrels have left -behind. Hold fast, lads. A light!” - -Old Jack strained his vision to pierce the darkness. - -“I certainly saw a light,” he repeated, anxiously; “there it is ahead, -directly in our course, and bearing down on us.” - -“Is it land?” queried Tom. - -“No; we are hundreds of miles from land. - -“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.” - -One single speck of light relieved the gloom of the scene. The excited -boys could make it out coming nearer and nearer. - -It shadowed out dimly the outlines of a large ship, and then---- - -A crash that sent a shock through their frames sounded above the -frightful roar of the tempest. - -The timbers started beneath their feet; Jack’s hold was torn from the -wheel, and the trio were flung indiscriminately across the deck. - -The ship that had collided with them had passed on or sunk, they knew -not which. Their own desperate situation called for immediate action. - -“We’re sinking, lads. It’s the boat, now, or certain death by drowning.” - -But the boat had been swept away. Old Jack uttered a cry of dismay. - -The water was up to their waists now, and various movable objects were -floating about as if on the surface of the sea itself. - -“Cling to this, lads,” shouted Jack, as a wooden grating that had been -near the forecastle drifted before them. - -They obeyed him just in time, for a gigantic wave enveloped the deck -and swept the ship from beneath them. - -Clinging to the grating they were flung upon the boiling waters about -them. - -“She’s gone down,” they heard Jack’s voice say. “It is a matter of -endurance now.” - -Tom was half fainting with terror, while Will, chilled and benumbed, -blindly, hopelessly clung to the frail craft. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Far as the eye could reach was water, unbroken, monotonous. - -The old boatswain’s eye scanned the bleak expanse searchingly. - -He saw what the boys had not noticed. His face was eager and hopeful as -he fixed his glance toward the rising sun. - -Then he announced in thrilling tones: - -“A sail!” - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. THE RAFT. - - -The words of the old boatswain infused new hope and courage into the -drooping hearts of the two boys. - -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. - -Both looked eagerly in the direction where Jack’s glance was fixed. - -“I don’t see anything, Jack,” said Will. - -“The sun blinds your eyes, lad, and the salt water makes them weak. -It’s a sail, and it’s drifting this way.” - -And a few minutes later the boatswain reported: - -“A raft--two people on it! Do you see it now?” - -“Yes, plainly!” cried Will, in excited tones. “Oh, Jack, will they see -us?” - -Some distance away, on the surface of the waters, could plainly be made -out a floating object resembling a raft. - -A single pole with a piece of sail was fixed upon it, while two forms, -apparently human beings, sat on the raft. - -“It’s bearing our way. Now, then, lads, yell your loudest.” - -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. - -“They see us!” cried Jack, excitedly. “They are setting the sail to -come this way! Ahoy! ahoy!” - -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: - -“Messmates in distress, welcome!” - -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. - -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. - -It was a strong, substantial craft, made of stout timbers, covered with -a gangway top, and lashed together with stout ropes. - -Old Jack secured the grating to the end of the raft with a rope, and -then turned to the sailor in charge of it. - -There was a gleam of curiosity in the eyes of the latter as he surveyed -Jack’s dripping form. - -“Well, mate,” he said, “you seem to have been cruising on a frail -craft?” - -“Since last night, yes.” - -“Shipped from----” - -“Portland, on the Golden Moose, and sunk in midocean a few hours since. -And you?” - -“Hugo Arnold, second mate of the merchantman Liverpool, bound for -Philadelphia, and went down, disabled in a collision with an unknown -ship.” - -“When?” - -“Last night.” - -A few words of interrogation and reply showed that the ship which had -hastened the sinking of the Moose was the Liverpool. - -“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.” - -“And you’ve been on the water since?” - -“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. - -Never did food have a more welcome taste to Will and Tom than the hard -ship’s biscuit they were proffered. - -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. - -His name was Willis Moore, and the boys soon struck up a genial -acquaintanceship. - -The two old sailors indulged in a long confidential conversation while -the boys were discussing the situation among themselves. - -They were experienced sailors, and their general knowledge of the ocean -enabled them to very clearly estimate their probable location. - -“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.” - -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. - -There was a shade of anxiety cast over the forlorn group of voyagers as -the days and nights wore on, however. - -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. - -“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.” - -It must have been on towards midnight when Will awoke to feel the rain -beating on his face. - -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. - -He discerned the cause of the strange illumination as he hurried to -where Jack was. - -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. - -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. - -This he kept feeding continuously with bits of the wood. - -Will crept to his side and spoke his name. - -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. - -“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. - -“What is it, Jack,--the cask--the fire?” - -“A light--some ship, sure,” replied the boatswain, pointing into the -darkness. - -“Did you see it?” - -“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.” - -“But you’ve thrown away the water, and if we shouldn’t be seen?” - -“It’s raining. We can get plenty more.” - -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. - -The cask itself had begun to burn and would soon fall in and no longer -confine the fire. - -In the glare Jack’s face looked seriously disappointed. - -“The light I saw is gone, sure. The ship may have turned so we can’t -see it.” - -“Maybe it was a star.” - -“No, no. Ahoy! ahoy! Look, lad; we’re almost upon them.” - -The wild call of the boatswain aroused the remaining sleeping occupants -of the raft. - -Only a short distance ahead of them a ship’s light could be seen, and -the outlines of the ship itself made out. - -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. - -“Ahoy!” - -The responsive call came near at hand. A yawl, manned by several -sailors, drove directly into the raft. - -Their signal had been heard! They were rescued! - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. ON BOARD THE WHALER. - - -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. - -The rescued party were immediately taken into the captain’s cabin, and -for over an hour questioned as to their past adventures. - -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. - -Inquiry from Captain Smith revealed the fact that the Arctic was a -whaler fully rigged for a cruise to the far North. - -The castaways were cared for and treated with kindly consideration, and -the next morning the Captain said to Jack Marcy: - -“We cannot change our course to get you ashore, boatswain.” - -“We could not expect that, sir.” - -“But should we meet a returning vessel?” - -“’Taint likely at this season of the year.” - -“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.” - -“All right, Captain.” - -“Or, if you and Hugo want to ship with us? We’re short-handed.” - -Jack considered deeply. - -“There’s the lads, sir.” - -“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.” - -“I’ll think it over, sir,” said Jack. “Meantime, make us useful around -the ship.” - -The boys were delighted with the Arctic, and the arrangements made for -the capture of whales and the securing of oil fairly fascinated them. - -Were it not for thoughts of anxious friends at home Will Bertram would -have been glad to accompany the Arctic on her voyage. - -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 captain assigned them to duties on the ship. - -“You’ll have to stay with the Arctic till she returns, now,” he said, -“and you might find less comfortable quarters.” - -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. - -“We’ve crossed the line of the whale hunting grounds, and you may -expect to see some sport,” said old Jack one day. - -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. - -The boats and harpoons were got ready, and about noon the man on watch -sang out the cry so familiar to old whalers, - -“Ahoy! There she blows!” - -Immediately the deck was a scene of action. Two boats were lowered, and -the men piled into them indiscriminately. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -The boat Jack and Will were in was commanded by the mate of the Arctic -and soon gained a lead on the other boat. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -The whale after diving deep came up again to the surface of the water -and began running at a terrible rate of speed. - -“The reel’s out,” cried a sailor. - -The oars were drawn in now and the boat abandoned entirely to the -caprice of the whale. - -It was a novel experience for Will--a ride, with the marine monster as -a horse. - -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. - -“What is he waiting for?” Will inquired of Jack. - -“You see the rope is all played out?” - -“Yes.” - -“Well, if the whale should dive the boat would follow. See there!” - -“Cut loose!” - -This cry came from the mate, who had been watching the whale’s -maneuvers. - -At the same moment the whale disappeared again. - -The hatchet descended and cut the rope in two. - -The men resumed their oars and rowed rapidly towards the spot where the -whale had last been seen. - -A second harpoon, with a smaller reel of rope, was hastily got ready. - -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. - -The whale had struck the boat with its tail, crushing the boat in which -Will sat and flinging its occupants high in the air. - -Old Jack seized Will as they fell into the water, and then caught at a -floating piece of the boat. - -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. - -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. - -The cutting up of the monster and the securing of the oil was an active -and interesting scene to the boys. - -For nearly two weeks the Arctic cruised in the vicinity. Several other -whales were sighted, but evaded capture. - -A terrible storm drove them northwards soon afterwards. During its -prevalence the boys were ordered to remain below. - -At last one morning the tempest subsided, and the boys came on deck. - -A cry of amazement and delight broke from their lips. - -The Arctic was sailing onward amid fields of floating icebergs. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. THE BREAKING ICE. - - -Far as the eye could reach a scene of bewildering beauty met the vision -of the enchanted boys. - -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. - -Except for this glimpse of the sea, everywhere was ice and snow. - -Will surveyed the scene in mute interest for some moments. Then he -turned to Jack, who stood by his side. - -“How did we get here?” he asked. - -“Drifted, floated and blew, lad,” replied the old boatswain, -sententiously. “The storm took us along, and we couldn’t help it.” - -“And we are still going north?” remarked Will. - -“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.” - -“And if we don’t, Jack?” - -“Then we’ll have to lay up alongside some iceberg till the snow melts.” - -That day and the ensuing one the ship made but little progress, and -with difficulty several times evaded being crushed in the ice. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -“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.” - -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. - -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. - -One afternoon an event occurred which led to serious consequences for -the boys. - -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. - -At Jack Marcy’s solicitation and pledge of careful guardianship, the -three boys were allowed to join the party. - -“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.” - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Scaling this and that berg and exploring the ice caves and sliding on -the smooth plains, they wandered farther than they thought. - -“We must return, boys,” said Will with a start, finally. “Why, the -sled ain’t in view.” - -“We can find our way back by the snow marks,” said Tom. - -They retraced their way more slowly than they had come. As they reached -a high hummock Tom uttered a loud shout. - -“What is it?” inquired Will. - -“The ship.” - -“Can you see the sled?” - -“No; it ain’t in sight. Oh, Will, something has happened. Look yonder.” - -Will and his companion climbed up to where Tom was. - -A singular spectacle met the vision of the trio as they gazed to the -east. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Beyond the ship, immense icebergs, the moment before fixed to the -landscape, suddenly trembled, toppled and fell. - -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. - -“The ship! She is lost!” cried the appalled Will. - -The iceberg near which the Arctic was moored at that moment parted as -if cleft in twain. - -Amid the falling mass of shattered ice and snow, the ship was -temporarily shut out from view. - -“Look--the sailors!” - -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. - -“Jack and Hugo must be still with the sled,” said Will, anxiously. -“Come, boys; we must find them and endeavor to regain the ship.” - -They climbed down and hastened over the uneven ice towards the spot -where they had left the sled. - -Amid their confusion they wandered aimlessly over the ice, at last -coming to the verge of the level plain they had left. - -A spectacle met their vision which held them spellbound. - -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. - -The Arctic and the men they had seen on the ice had disappeared. - -Far in the distance a wall of icebergs receded momentarily farther and -farther from view. - -“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.” - -Every minute the broken ice receded from the spot where they stood. - -“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?” - -“What!” cried Tom, apprehensively; “you do not think we will not reach -the ship again?” - -“How can we?” - -“Will they not return and look for us?” - -“They may be swept hundreds of miles by the floating ice.” - -Tom Dalton and Willis Moore looked concerned and despairing. - -“What shall we do?” murmured the latter. - -“First seek for Jack and Hugo, who, like ourselves, may not have -reached the Arctic.” - -The boys started along the edge of the open waterway. - -Suddenly Willis uttered a quick cry of surprise and pointed at an -object ahead of them. - -“Look,” he said. - -“What is it?” inquired Will, anxiously. - -“The sled we used on the ice.” - -“And broken to pieces. Oh, boys, Jack and Hugo must have been lost in -the breaking ice!” - - - - -CHAPTER XX. CAST AWAY IN THE COLD. - - -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. - -Not until that moment did they realize fully the loneliness and peril -of their position. - -There was no indication of the presence of any human beings except -themselves in the vicinity. - -The Arctic had either been crushed in the ice or had drifted away. - -Those of the crew who had been chasing the bear had sailed with the -ship or been lost in the breaking of the ice. - -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. - -They were alone, separated from all of their kind, cast away in the -cold. - -To make their situation more gloomy, night began to come down, dark and -terrible. - -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. - -Will Bertram for once had no cheering words for his companions. He -fully comprehended that their dilemma was an extremely perilous one. - -Still, he endeavored to regard their situation as philosophically as -possible. - -“We have all been in danger before,” he said to his companions. “Do not -let us shrink now.” - -“But we have no arms, no food,” said Willis. - -“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.” - -“What do you mean?” inquired Tom. - -“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.” - -“What for?” inquired Tom. - -“To make a fire.” - -Willis started towards the accomplishment of the task, but Tom, with a -despairing sigh, sank to a large boulder of ice. - -“Get up Tom,” urged Will. - -“But I’m so tired.” - -“We must work if we hope to get through the night.” - -“And I’m cold and sleepy.” - -“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.” - -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. - -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. - -“Get your knife and whittle off some shavings,” ordered Will. - -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. - -Will saw with consternation the same drowsy apathy steal over him that -had overtaken Tom. - -He himself was beginning to experience a terrible change in the -temperature. - -It was dark now, and the closing day heralded the coming of intense -cold for the night. - -He piled together the shavings, wet and ice-clogged, and found a match -in his pocket. - -The pile took fire slowly, first the shavings and then the large pieces -of wood. - -He made Willis and Tom sit down within the shelter of the cave, and -almost directly over the fire. - -“It will blaze up in a minute, boys,” he said, “and we shall have some -heat.” - -“But it won’t last an hour,” remarked Tom, wearily. - -“That is why you must arouse yourselves; get thoroughly warmed through -and rested.” - -“And then?” - -“We must resolutely fight off sleep through the night.” - -“How?” - -“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.” - -Will’s words encouraged his companions considerably. - -“But do not droop an eyelid. To sleep means death!” he concluded, -impressively. - -Will piled all the pieces of wood on the fire. They burned briskly, but -he was amazed to find how little heat they imparted. - -He saw that in a few minutes the dying cinders would fade out, leaving -them even without a light. - -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. - -To his amazement and dread, as he approached them and called their -names there was no response. - -He shook them wildly. They sat braced against each other, their heads -bent on their breast, and slumbering profoundly! - -Will groaned in spirit as he dragged Willis Moore to his feet. - -He succeeded in arousing him, and finally got him to comprehend the -dangers of their position. - -Willis groped his way backward and forward along the ice, leaning -against the frozen wall for support. - -Tom was more difficult to arouse, but Will almost carried him around to -make him move. - -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. - -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. - -Then he carried Willis and Tom in turn to them and covered them up in -them as tightly as he could. - -He even took off his own coat and spread it over his sleeping -companions. - -For over half an hour Will kept running to and fro trying to fight off -the intense cold that had attacked them. - -It was no ordinary battle, and he at last was forced to own himself -vanquished. - -His feet seemed like lead, a strange numbness stole over his frame, and -his senses became confused. - -“I shall perish if I stay here!” he murmured, and he had just strength -enough to crawl under the overcoats with his companions. - -The warmth of their bodies, he hoped, might prevent their freezing. - -He was delighted after a few moments to find that all sensation of cold -had left him. - -Little did he think this the first signal of danger--the beginning of -that lassitude preceding the sleep of death. - -From beneath the covering he had one last glimpse of the starry heavens. - -The northern lights flamed in the sky in rare effulgence and beauty. - -A peaceful calm held all the scene in death-like stillness. - -Almost overhead glimmered a radiant star he knew so well as the -guide-lamp of the Arctic mariner. - -His eyes closed. Slumber held the strange trio, all unconscious of -their perils, cast away on the frozen deep under the Polar star. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. THE ICE HUT. - - -When the breaking up of the ice occurred there were three parties who -were imperiled by that occurrence besides the boys. - -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. - -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. - -Then, driven rapidly forward, the Arctic sped on its way, unable to -stop and aid those who had been left behind. - -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. - -The old tars, however, had not been caught in the broken ice, but had -reached a place of safety before extreme peril had come. - -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. - -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. - -Jack’s first thought was of the missing members of his party. - -“The boys!” he ejaculated, starting to his feet and eagerly scanning -the scene. - -Like Will and his companions they saw the ship’s dilemma and the -sailors rushing towards it. - -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. - -“The boys have gone beyond the field here,” said Hugo. - -“We must find them,” replied Jack. “Quick, mate, let us get the sled -out of this!” - -The oncoming ice warned them to act quickly. - -There was no way, however, to drag the sled up the ascent to the place -where the boys had gone. - -They kept dragging it along the ice for quite a distance, hoping to -find an opening. - -“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.” - -“Shall we abandon the sled?” asked Hugo. - -“Yes; but not the things on it. We may need them yet.” - -A large tarpaulin covered the sled, and they gathered it and its -contents up. - -Among them was an axe. - -Seizing this, Jack began cutting steps in the icy wall, and then, by -means of these, they gained the upper ice. - -The sled was borne upwards and crushed to pieces a few minutes later. - -They had escaped certain death, and just in time. - -Each seizing an end of the tarpaulin, they started inland, seeking for -the boys everywhere. - -Jack was terribly anxious when darkness came down. - -They shouted themselves hoarse for nearly an hour, and wandered -aimlessly over the place. - -“We must find them,” remarked Hugo. - -“They will be lost in this terrible cold. Look, mate.” - -“What is it?” - -“A light.” - -A dull glow, some distance away, met their vision. - -“It’s the Aurora,” remarked Hugo. - -“Not in the south, mate.” - -“What, then?” - -“Some kind of a fire.” - -They struggled on heroically, tired as they were, towards the distant -light. - -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. - -“It was a fire,” said Jack, as, looking beyond them, he caught sight of -some glowing cinders. - -They dropped the tarpaulin and its contents, and Jack ran forward. - -A moment later his waiting companion heard him call: - -“Ahoy, mate, we’ve found them.” - -“The boys?” cried Hugo, dragging the tarpaulin towards the ice cave. - -“Yes, and asleep.” - -“They are lost, then, in this cold and exposed to the open air?” - -“No, but they soon would be. To work, Hugo. They must be awakened.” - -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. - -Jack bathed their hands and faces with alcohol, a can of which was -found in the outfit of the sled. - -The sight of friends made the boys more hopeful and courageous, and -they listened with attention to Jack’s directions. - -It was not safe to sleep, he told them, and managed to keep them moving -until Hugo and he had improvised a warm shelter. - -They took the articles from the tarpaulin and spread the latter over -the entrance to the ice cave. - -They then cut a round, circular hole in the ice and pouring some -alcohol into it set it on fire. - -It was remarkable how the brief but fierce heat of the burning spirits -warmed the temperature of the place. - -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. - -His first work of the morning was to take an inventory of the things -from the sled. - -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. - -“These will be valuable to us if we have to stay here any length of -time,” remarked Jack. - -“You don’t think the Arctic will return, do you?” inquired Will. - -“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.” - -“And freeze to death, as we came very nearly doing last night?” - -“No; we must provide for that.” - -“How?” - -“By building a house.” - -“There is no wood,” suggested Tom. - -“We don’t need any.” - -“What will you build the house of then?” - -“Ice and snow, like the Esquimaux.” - -While Jack imparted his plan to his fellow exiles they helped -themselves to what provisions had been saved from the sled. - -They found enough canned meat and biscuits to last them for a day or -two, and the food revived them considerably. - -The day was much warmer than the night, and they did not suffer from -the cold to any extent. - -After breakfast Jack selected a spot where they could safely build the -ice house. - -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. - -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. - -The hut was built in circular shape, with a very small aperture at the -top. The cracks were filled with snow, and water thrown over it to form -a complete casing. - -In front a single block was left open, which, removed, allowed of -entrance to the hut. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -This heated the air of the hut quite comfortably, and the experiment -was repeated several times throughout the night. - -The next day Jack gave the boys various bits of advice tending to show -them how to avoid the cold. - -The provision stock was getting low, and he and Hugo started out with -loaded guns to find what game they could. - -They returned successful before nightfall. They had found a large bird -resembling a duck and quite a quantity of a species of moss. - -“We will fare better to go farther to the interior,” said Jack that -night. - -“And leave this place where the Arctic may return!” asked Hugo. - -“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.” - -The next morning they packed up their traps and left the open water -behind them. - -The sun was quite warm, and in some places the snow was melting. At any -event, they scarcely felt the cold. - -The tracks of various animals were observed, but none seen or captured. - -After traveling for many miles they came to a broad, open waterway -similar to the one they had left behind. - -“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?” - -“How can we do it?” inquired Hugo. - -“We must devise some way. For the night we will stay here.” - -“And build another ice house?” inquired Tom. - -“No; we will secure temporary quarters and make a rough snow house.” - -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. - -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. - -“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.” - -Jack selected a large cake of ice near the shore and they all got on it. - -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. - -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. - -The mainland they believed they had reached was in character like the -island they had left, a vast field of ice and snow. - -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. - -It was covered with the snow of many storms, but its shape was plainly -defined. - -“Is it a hut?” Hugo asked Will, eagerly. - -“Yes, lad, and it has been occupied at some time or other. Run for -Jack. This may prove an important discovery.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. ON THE MAINLAND. - - -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. - -“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.” - -They scraped off what ice and snow there was, and then Jack cut a block -out of the side of the structure. - -He crawled into the house and came out again with a pleased look on his -face. - -“We’ll sleep warm to-night,” he said. - -“Why?” asked Will, eagerly. - -“Whoever occupied the hut before left quite a lot of things behind. -Creep in after me and see.” - -The rest of the party did so, and found themselves in a hut much larger -than the one they had built on the island. - -Upon the floor was a rudely constructed lamp, such as is in common use -among the Esquimaux. - -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. - -The floor of the hut showed a long occupancy in the past, and was -discolored with grease and bits of meat and fish bones. - -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. - -At any rate the hut was a comfortable shelter for them. - -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. - -They saw some birds and animals, but could not get near to them. - -Returning after a disappointing tramp, they made a second discovery -that later proved of the utmost importance. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. THE ALBATROSS. - - -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. - -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. - -From several blocks of ice there protruded an object which made old -Jack stare blankly. - -“Why, it’s a piece of wood!” he cried. - -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. - -“It’s a landmark,” said Jack. - -“Of what?” inquired Will. - -“Of the same party, probably, that built the hut we found. You see -those blocks of ice, lad?” - -“Yes, Jack.” - -“They were dragged, not thrown here.” - -“For what purpose?” - -“To protect a cache.” - -“What is that, Jack?” - -“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.” - -“I understand, Jack; and you think we shall find something under those -blocks of ice?” - -“Undoubtedly, lad.” - -“Let us go to work, then.” - -“All right,” and Jack and his companion united their strength to remove -the solid ice blocks. - -They found it no easy task, and when they were displaced came to a -foundation of solidly packed snow. - -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. - -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. - -“Run to the hut, Will,” said Jack, after they had lifted out all the -contents of the cache. - -“For Hugo and the boys?” - -“Yes. We have uncovered this stuff now, and we must remove it.” - -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. - -By dark they had all the packages inside the hut, and were housed for -the night. - -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. - -“How cozy and home-like,” remarked Will, as Jack set about examining -the various packages. - -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. - -There were several packages of canned meats, jellies and biscuits; -there was a variety of clothing, some books, tools and cooking utensils. - -“A glorious find,” remarked Hugo, enthusiastically; “we can defy the -arctic cold now.” - -But among all they found there was not an indication as to the name of -the ship whence these articles had come originally. - -They discovered no clew in this direction until, in looking over one of -the books, Will came to a roughly written line. - -It had been scrawled on a blank page by a piece of burned cinder and -left unfinished. - -It read: - -“This day abandoned the ship and started on an exploring tour down -Barnell’s Point.” - -Old Jack looked up from tying one of the packages quite excitedly. - -“What’s that, lad?” - -“A line written in this book.” - -“Read it again.” - -Will did so. - -“You are sure it says Barnell’s Point?” - -“Yes; it is plainly written here. Why, Jack?” - -There was a peculiar look in the old mariner’s eye. - -“Because, lad, if this is Barnell’s Point we’ve made a great discovery -for you.” - -“For me?” - -“Yes.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“That Barnell’s Point is the place where the Albatross was crushed to -pieces in the ice.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. THE WRECKED SHIP. - - -Will Bertram started violently at old Jack’s announcement. - -“Are you sure? How do you know?” he asked tumultuously. - -“That’s what Captain Stephen Morris said.” - -“That the Albatross was lost at Barnell’s Point?” - -“Yes.” - -“And this is probably that place?” - -“Exactly.” - -“The ship my brother Alan was captain of,” murmured Will. “Here the -unfortunate crew were all crushed in the ice?” - -“No.” - -Jack’s last word was explosive and emphatic. - -Will looked at him in surprise. - -“That’s what Captain Morris said.” - -“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.” - -“I never believed Captain Morris’ story,” cried Will. - -“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.” - -“Then you think my brother was not killed?” - -“I do.” - -“How did Morris get the men who rescued him to believe it?” - -“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.” - -For a long time the castaways discussed the matter of the crew of the -Albatross. - -Their discovery materially changed their plans. - -“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.” - -The next morning Jack made a sled of the wood they had found and packed -their baggage upon it. - -Strong ropes were attached, and they took turns at pulling it over the -snow. - -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. - -Held in place by the ice, in a slight indentation in the land, was a -ship. - -Will stood transfixed for a moment, and then one cry of joy rang from -his lips. - -“My brother’s ship!” he ejaculated, wildly. “It is the Albatross!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. A THRILLING EPISODE. - - -It was indeed the Albatross, or rather the dismantled hull of that -ship, which the Arctic castaways had discovered. - -Will and Jack both recognized it at a glance, although it was encrusted -in ice and covered with snow. - -Its presence here gave the lie to Captain Stephen Morris’ story, but it -intensified the mystery of his solitary escape. - -It was apparent as they approached the ship that it had been deserted -for a long time. - -They were compelled to remove a large quantity of snow from the deck -before they could force a way to the cabin. - -Everything here was in disorder--the hold almost empty and the -forecastle dismal and badly damaged by a fire that had taken place -there. - -A few days previous the little party would have been delighted at -the discovery of a warm home and the various articles of utility and -comfort with which the cabin abounded. - -Now, however, Jack was almost positive that research would result in -the finding of a native settlement, and through this means a return -home. - -Will, too, believing his brother Alan alive, was anxious to pursue -their journey. - -They found a stove in the cabin and plenty of fuel to burn, and they -had an abundance of food. - -“We have been going in a wrong direction,” said Jack that night. “The -party that left the ship went around to the northeast.” - -“Then we must retrace our way?” asked Hugo. - -“Yes, by following them as closely as possible we shall learn their -fate or reach the place of safety they have gained.” - -It was decided to prepare for a long journey. - -Jack built a better sled and selected various articles of food which he -made into compact packages. - -They were two days on the ship when some startling incidents occurred -to hasten their journey from the place. - -Tracks of various animals had been seen in the snow, and the boys had -been allowed to visit the shore. - -Will had constructed a trap out of two iron hoops found in the hold of -the ship, and had set it at a spot where these tracks in the snow were -most numerous. - -It was the ensuing morning that he and Tom, visiting the vicinity, to -their delight saw some kind of an animal struggling in the trap they -had set. - -[Illustration] - -As they drew nearer Tom exclaimed: - -“A fox, Will!” - -They got near enough to observe it closely. - -It proved to be an animal of a strange color, with bushy tail and -thickly furred feet, even to the soles. - -Will made a slip-knot on a rope they carried and flung it over the -fox’s head. - -He pulled at the animal while Tom released it from the trap. - -The first movement of the fox was to start on a run. Will held on to -the rope, slipped, fell and went clear over an icy ledge ten feet below. - -The fox had disappeared, carrying the rope away. - -Will was half disposed to laugh. He looked up to see how he would -regain the ledge, when he heard Tom utter a frightened cry. - -At the same moment an immense white object loomed up before his vision. - -It was a white polar bear, and with eyes fixed on Will it was advancing -straight towards him. - -Will turned pale and began to retreat slowly. He could hear Tom’s cry -die out in the distance, and knew that he was deserted. - -Will found that he had one advantage over the bear. The place where he -was had a narrow path leading towards the sea, was deep with snow, and -the bear made but slow progress. - -Still it kept following him, and he could not run. - -He grew terrified as he came to an abrupt halt. - -The path he had been following was blocked by a projecting mass of ice. - -He must either retrace his way or leap down a steep incline at the risk -of his life. - -The bear, after floundering around for some moments, glared at him -fiercely. - -It kept advancing in a cautious, stealthy manner. - -“I am lost,” murmured the imperilled lad, in a tone of utter despair. - -Just then he saw a dark object drop directly behind the bear from the -ledge above. - -It was Jack. - -He held in his hand the hatchet, and Will saw him creep behind the bear -until he had reached the animal. - -The bear seemed about to spring upon Will when Jack lifted the hatchet. - -Its sharp edge came down on the hind foot of the animal with terrific -force, almost severing it from its body. - -At the same moment a gun was fired from the upper ledge, doubtless in -the hands of Hugo. - -The bear turned with a horrible howl, and then, making a red track in -the snow after it, fell down the steep incline. - -It seems that Tom had alarmed Jack and Hugo at the ship in time to come -to Will’s rescue. - -Will reached the ledge again with Jack’s help, and the little party -hurried down to the ravine where the bear lay. - -They found the animal dead. The shot from the gun and the blow from the -hatchet had killed him. - -The bear was a monster, and Jack set about removing its skin, which -froze hard before they reached the ship with it. - -That night they had fresh bear steaks for supper. - -The next morning they were arranging the sled, ready to depart, with -the bear skin covering the articles carried, when Tom came rushing from -the cabin, where he had remained. - -“Fire! Fire!” he cried, wildly; “the ship is on fire!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. THE YOUNG EXPLORERS. - - -Tom’s carelessness with a lamp had precipitated a catastrophe, and the -Albatross was soon enveloped in flames. - -It was fortunate that the stores ready for the journey were outside on -the sled, else the loss would have been a serious one. - -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. - -They, however, were thinking of the expedition down the coast which had -preceded them. - -“We are well equipped,” said Jack, “and cannot starve or freeze if we -take proper care of ourselves.” - -“Will you follow the coast to the ice hut?” asked Will. - -“We may as well, and thence still keep along the shore.” - -The sled was easily moved along the snow, and when one of the boys got -very tired he was allowed a brief ride. - -The second night after leaving the Albatross they camped in the ice -house they had discovered the day they crossed to the main land. - -From this spot they followed the water-way surrounding the island they -had been cast away on originally. - -Sometimes the route was irregular and difficult, but they made a steady -progress. - -They discovered no further trace of the party from the Albatross for -nearly a week. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -They regained the coast, not wishing to go too far into the interior, -but found it more difficult of traversing as they progressed. - -One day the boys discovered several seals disporting themselves on -the ice, and an hour was devoted to attempting a capture, but without -effect. - -[Illustration: THE SEALS.] - -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. - -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. - -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. - -The days, too, were becoming much shorter, and when there was little -sunlight seemed to merge into a hazy twilight early in the afternoon. - -For two weeks they continued on their way, meeting with no traces of -previous occupancy of the vicinity. - -Jack and Hugo looked serious and concerned over the situation, and -discussed it continually. - -“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.” - -“We can’t help it, mate,” rejoined Hugo. - -“Maybe not,” said Jack, “but there’s some kind of a great change in the -weather coming.” - -“Colder, you mean?” - -“Probably.” - -“Well, let us provide for it.” - -“I think it best. Here’s my plan: You see the high ridge of land and -ice yonder?” - -“You mean about twenty miles to the north?” - -“Nearer fifty.” - -“Well, Jack?” - -“That either marks the boundary of the land or looks over some new -country. We’ll go there.” - -“And then?” - -“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.” - -It took three days to accomplish the journey to the bold, jagged -headland Jack had discovered. - -It was so cold when they reached it that all their energies were set in -action to provide for the rigors of the night. - -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. - -The next morning Jack announced that he would scale the icy cliffs and -take a view of their location. - -He allowed Will and Tom to accompany him. It took several hours to -scale the slippery headland. - -At its top a wide scope of scenery met their view. - -They could look back for miles over the vast plain they had traversed. - -Beyond was what resembled an immense lake, terminating many miles -distant in the boldly-defined shores of some new land. - -It was frozen over, but its surface here and there was marked with huge -chasms where the ice had cracked. - -As they stood viewing the desolate scene Will’s keen eyes discerned -some moving objects on the frozen plain. - -“Look, Jack!” he said. “What is that? Wolves--foxes?” - -Jack strained his vision to the utmost. - -Then he uttered an ejaculation of excitement. - -“It’s no wolves or foxes, lad,” he said. - -“What then?” - -“Dogs--a sled and an Esquimaux driver, as sure as my name is Jack -Marcy.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. THE SNOW STORM. - - -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. - -“It is certainly a sled, and it is coming this way!” exclaimed Will. - -“Yes, we must try and reach the plain,” said Jack. - -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. - -The moving objects on the snow seemed suddenly to blend into a confused -mass. - -The sled and its driver mysteriously disappeared from view, while the -dogs were flung in the air and then seemed to stand stationary. - -“What has happened?” asked Tom, breathlessly. - -“A break in the ice. The sled and its unfortunate driver have gone -down. Oh, if we were near enough to give him help!” - -Jack waited no longer, and they hurried down to the ice house much -faster than they had ascended the cliff. - -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. - -“The boys will stay here,” he said. “Do not leave the hut till we -return, Will.” - -The two sailors took each a gun and started out on their hurried errand. - -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. - -It was well they followed it, for shortly afterwards a wild wind swept -over the spot and a furious snow storm set in. - -As darkness came down, and there were no signs of the return of Jack -and Hugo, Will became alarmed. - -He pushed aside the door, or block of ice, that filled the entrance to -the hut and crawled out finally. - -The snow was deep and blinding, and he became terrified as he realized -the difficulty the sailors would have in finding the hut. - -He imparted his apprehensions to his companions. - -“They may be out on the lake yet,” he said. - -“Can we not signal them?” inquired Tom. - -“How?” asked Will. - -“A light--a fire.” - -Will reflected deeply. Then he decided on a course that might be of -some utility in guiding Jack and Hugo to the hut. - -He ordered Tom to wrap himself up closely and take the blubber lamp -outside the hut. - -He was to keep feeding it freely, so as to make as much flame as -possible and shade it from the wind and snow. - -Will himself had ventured on an exploit that was fraught with peril. - -“You remain here with the light as long as you can stand the cold,” he -said. - -“You think Jack and Hugo are this side of the cliffs?” - -“Possibly. If so, they will be guided by the light.” - -“And you, Will?” - -“I am going to scale the cliffs.” - -Tom uttered a cry of dismay. - -“In this terrible storm?” - -“Yes, Tom.” - -Will began the slow and difficult ascent. - -A dozen times he slipped and fell, but he finally had the satisfaction -of reaching the summit of the rocks overlooking the frozen lake. - -He had brought the can of alcohol and some pieces of cloth with him. - -Saturating the latter with the alcohol, he set them afire and waved -them to and fro. - -This he kept up until all the alcohol was exhausted except what was -left in the lamp Jack had improvised from the powder flask. - -Lighting the wick, he shaded the feeble light with pieces of ice and -set its flame towards the lake. - -“They may not be able to see it,” he soliloquized; “but I have done all -I could for them.” - -He was chilled and wearied long before he reached the hut again. - -Tom had been forced to retreat into the hut, well-nigh frozen. - -He welcomed Will’s safe return with delight. - -“Jack and Hugo have made a snow house somewhere,” he said; and with -this theory they were forced to be content. - -With the first dawn of day the boys were awake and outside. - -They looked vainly for some trace of the two sailors until they heard a -loud series of yelps. - -They ran through the deep snow as best they could towards the spot -whence these sounds emanated. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -“Jack!--Hugo!” cried the boys, delightedly. - -“Yes, lads; and snug and safe. We found the snow a warm bed for the -night.” - -Will explained how they had endeavored to signal them; then he pointed -to the dogs. - -Jack looked sad. - -“It’s a sorrowful story, lad. The man who drove them and the sled went -down in a fissure in the ice.” - -“And you couldn’t save him?” - -“No. When we reached the place the ice had closed and the dogs had -broken loose.” - -“How did you bring them here?” - -“They followed us. They’re gentle as kittens. Had the Esquimaux -lived, and had we overtaken him, he might have led us at once to a -settlement.” - -“And maybe to the very one the crew of the Albatross and my brother -Alan have reached,” said Will, hopefully. - -“Possibly, lad. However, it shows there are natives near here.” - -“And you will search for them?” - -“The dogs will find them.” - -“How?” - -“We will make a new sled and start them over the frozen lake. They will -probably start direct for the nearest Esquimaux village.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. THE ATTACK. - - -“Hurrah!” - -Amid the excitement of a most momentous episode in the Arctic -experience of the young castaways, this excited cry burst from their -lips. - -They forgot all the sorrows and perils of the past in the exhilarating -delight of the hour. - -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. - -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. - -By noon the sled had reached the opposite shores of the lake. - -Jack allowed the dogs to take their own course, believing their natural -sagacity would lead them right. - -In this he was not in error. Towards evening the animals began to yell -joyfully. - -As they rounded a slight elevation in the ground the voyagers knew that -they were near human habitation. - -Beyond they could see several ice huts, and four Esquimaux boys near at -hand were engaged in playing a popular American game with bone clubs -and a ball. - -The youngsters stared wonderingly at the strangers, and then scampered -off towards the ice huts. - -Towards these Jack directed the sled. By the time they had reached them -quite a throng of natives were gathered to greet them. - -The leader, a large, closely-muffled man, looked suspiciously at Jack -and his party and extended his hand, murmuring some unintelligible -words. - -He also spoke to some of those around him, and these began busily -unloading the sled and carrying the parcels to an ice hut. - -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. - -Jack made several efforts to converse with the man by signs and words, -but the latter could not comprehend them. - -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. - -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. - -The leader left his two companions in the hut, who stared steadily at -the strangers with big, owl-like eyes, but were silent. - -“They evidently consider us friends, but don’t know how to express it,” -remarked Jack. - -A few moments later, however, an episode occurred which somewhat -changed their confident opinion. - -The leader re-entered the hut with an ominous face. - -He spoke a few words to his companions, who arose and departed silently. - -Then he sat down by Jack and uttered a single word. - -It sounded like “Kaoka.” - -Jack looked puzzled. - -The Esquimaux imitated the actions of a driver on a sled. - -“He means the man we saw drowned,” suggested Hugo. - -Jack made a motion as of ice opening and closing. - -He then went through the pantomime of a man drowning. - -The Esquimaux looked fixedly at him for a moment or two, and then shook -his head solemnly. - -He arose without another word and left the hut. - -“What does that mean?” inquired Hugo. - -“It means that he don’t believe us.” - -This was soon verified. - -The little party were preparing to sleep when a loud thud sounded on -the outside of the hut. - -It was followed by others, as if large projectiles were being flung -against the hut. - -Then a huge block in the side was dashed in, almost striking one of the -boys. - -A second block fell--the hut seemed crumbling into ruins. - -Jack caught a glimpse of a dozen or more of the Esquimaux. - -They were shouting and gesticulating wildly, and were armed with large -clubs and solid chunks of ice. - -“We will be crushed to death!” he cried. “Hand me the gun, Hugo.” - -“Don’t shoot, Jack!” - -“We must, or they will kill us. It is our only means of self protection -to frighten them away.” - -“They are terribly angry.” - -“Yes; they think we killed the owner of the dogs and stole the animals.” - -“Look out!” - -As Hugo uttered the warning a shower of ice fell over the ruined hut. - -Jack raised the gun and fired. - -The yells of the Esquimaux mingled with the deafening explosion. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. FOUND AT LAST. - - -That the Esquimaux were enraged, and believing that their companion had -been murdered, were determined to avenge his death, there could be no -doubt. - -They had retreated when the gun was fired, and Jack said, quickly: - -“Climb out of here as soon as you can. We must fly.” - -“But won’t they listen to reason?” demurred Hugo. - -“They can’t understand us. See yonder, Hugo, is a sled and some dogs. -Get the boys there.” - -“You intend to take them away?” - -“I intend to escape as best we may before the Esquimaux return to the -attack,” replied Jack, determinedly. - -As the natives made a forward movement the gun was again fired, and had -the effect of checking their advance. - -They had some difficulty in urging the dogs away from the camp, but -once started the sled flew over the snowy expanse. - -They were not followed by the Esquimaux, who were, doubtless, -affrighted at the guns. - -After several hours Jack ordered a halt, and they found a shelter for -the night, resuming their journey the next day. - -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. - -At nightfall, two days later, they came to a settlement. - -Beyond it was the open sea. - -Anchored near the coast was a large ship. - -Snow huts and several rude frame houses were also visible. - -The first man they met as the sled stopped was a white man. - -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. - -The man explained that the place was a whaling station known to most -ships in the trade. - -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. - -Jack related the story of their adventures. In its narration he several -times spoke of the Albatross and its crew. - -When he had concluded the man who had welcomed him turned to Will. - -“And this is Captain Bertram’s brother, eh?” - -“Yes,” replied Jack. - -“Do you know my brother, sir?” queried Will, anxiously. - -“We parted company a week ago.” - -“Then he is alive and well?” - -“He was at last accounts. He has gone about fifty miles down the coast.” - -“What for?” - -“To find a ship to return home in. There was none here then.” - -“And her crew?” - -“Are with him.” - -The information made Will excited and anxious, and he asked the man a -score of questions about the Albatross. - -Jack, Hugo and the boys held a consultation that evening as to the best -course for them to pursue. - -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. - -The chances of finding ships returning home at the next station induced -them to determine to go thither. - -There Will might find his brother, and the ensuing morning two -Esquimaux agreed to drive them to their intended destination on their -sleds. - -They came upon a ship in the ice before they reached the settlement, -and were witnesses to the burial in the frozen deep of two sailors who -had died on shipboard. - -The lonely procession on the ice, the strange lunar phenomena in the -sky and the silence of the scene impressed them all with its solemnity. - -[Illustration: AN ARCTIC FUNERAL.] - -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. - -Will Bertram could scarcely contain himself when the sled stopped. - -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. - -A room crowded with bunks showed a dozen or more men just arising from -sleep. - -Will’s heart in his mouth, he cried out, eagerly: - -“Captain Bertram!” - -“Here!” replied a hearty voice. - -Will dashed precipitately forward. - -“Oh! Alan! My brother, my brother! I have found you at last.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXX. CAPTAIN ALAN BERTRAM. - - -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. - -“Will!” ejaculated the amazed Alan. - -“Yes, yes, it is I, and you are alive whom we thought dead.” - -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. - -“How did you come here? It seems like a dream.” - -“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.” - -The sailors had crowded around them, interested and spellbound at the -strange meeting. - -They listened intently as, at Alan’s request, Will began the story of -his adventures. - -As he told of Captain Stephen Morris more than one excited and angry -ejaculation interrupted him. - -“The scoundrel!” - -“He knew we were alive!” - -These and similar expressions broke from the sailors. - -At last Will concluded his story. - -As he did so Jack, Hugo and the boys entered the room. - -A cheery welcome greeted the trusty old sailors who had so faithfully -guarded their young charges. - -A noisy scene ensued when the sailors discussed the actions of Captain -Morris, whom they had believed to be dead. - -An inquiry from Jack led to Captain Bertram telling his story. - -It seems that the Albatross had made a most successful voyage. - -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. - -The Albatross was driven north and cast upon the Arctic coast. - -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. - -The barrels of oil were therefore landed and piled away in a nook near -the coast. - -The next day the ice broke, carrying the Albatross some distance. - -The ship was wrecked, but not so badly but that it afforded a temporary -home for the crew. - -They remained on the ship all through the rigorous winter, and then -started to find a settlement. - -On the way Stephen Morris, in scaling an ice cliff, fell into the sea. - -They searched for him, but could not find him, and, giving him up for -drowned, proceeded on their way. - -They built the ice huts the castaways had seen, and at last came upon a -wandering tribe of Esquimaux. - -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. - -They returned, amazed and disappointed. - -The barrels of oil had disappeared. Either they had been found by some -ship or, the ice melting, had floated them into the sea. - -For many months the Albatross crew remained with the tribe, finally -finding their way to the whaling station. - -Within a day or two Captain Bertram said they would sail for home on a -whaler. - -This was his story, briefly told. - -“And you wonder where the oil went to, Captain?” he asked, with a -curious look on his face. - -“Yes.” - -“And you wonder how Stephen Morris got rich?” - -“Ah! Then you suspect--” - -“That he is a villain and a robber.” - -“You have a theory?” - -“A very plausible one.” - -“What is it?” - -“He was not drowned at all.” - -“That seems certain.” - -“In some way he escaped. He found himself alone, and he remained around -the ship. One day, I theorise, a ship came along.” - -“That’s possible.” - -“He was seen and taken aboard. They did not see the wreck of the -Albatross.” - -“Well?” - -“He made up a false story about it being crushed in the ice and all -aboard lost.” - -“What for?” - -“Because he wanted no witnesses against his crime.” - -“What crime?” - -“Robbery! He and the captain of the ship seized the oil as legally -theirs and divided on it when they got into port.” - -“The villain!” - -“That he is, and he let you take the chances of perishing in the cold -to carry out his plot.” - -This seemed very plausible, and when Jack told of the sinking of the -Golden Moose their rage knew no bounds. - -“We’ll have him punished when we return,” they affirmed. - -A bountiful breakfast was prepared for the castaways, and they and the -crew of the Albatross were a happy party all that day. - -Towards noon Captain Bertram led Will to a point some distance away -where a ship was anchored. - -“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.” - -When they returned to the depot he ordered the men to get their traps -packed ready for conveying them to the ship. - -They comprised, mostly, relics of their Arctic experience, and the -white bear-skin Jack’s party had secured was not forgotten. - -Captain Bertram got a sled ready and asked Will to aid him. - -“I haven’t much baggage,” he said, “but I have one article that I have -clung to through all my adventures.” - -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. - -“What is it?” asked Will, curiously. - -“Our fortune,” was Captain Bertram’s mysterious reply. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI. A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. - - -“Our fortune?” repeated Will, in vague wonderment. - -“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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -“It will float against some of them again,” he murmured, but to his -consternation he observed that the entire mass was floating rapidly -seawards. - -He had reason for apprehension now, for he was fast getting in open -water. - -He could not venture to swim with his heavy clothing on, and besides -the ice, if it came together, would crush him. - -His face paled as he saw that no one was in sight on land, and that the -ice was moving in a swift current. - -“I am lost!” he cried, wildly. “Oh! why did I foolishly venture on the -ice?” - -But it was too late to remedy his error, and he could only hope he -might drift to some floe. - -Darkness came down over the scene. The shore had disappeared. He was -afloat on a cake of ice in the open sea! - -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. - -In his awful peril eternity loomed before him, and, after an hour of -fervent prayer, he resigned himself to his fate. - -In wandering over the piece of ice he slipped and fell. The contact -with a jagged edge stunned him, and he knew no more. - -When he awakened to consciousness he was lying in a warm, cozy bunk, a -grizzled old sailor bending over him. - -His head was bandaged and he was weak and feverish. - -“Well, lad, you’ve come back to life at last, it seems,” spoke a gruff, -but kindly voice. - -“Where am I?” - -“On board the whaler Penguin.” - -“How did I come here?” - -“Picked up on a floating cake of ice.” - -“When--last night?” - -The sailor laughed. - -“No, indeed. A week ago.” - -“And I have been here since?” - -“Under the surgeon’s care, yes.” - -“Then I must have been injured?” - -“You had an ugly cut in the head, and you’ve been delirious since.” - -Will thought of his brother Alan with anxiety as he contemplated his -grief when he found him gone. - -He consoled himself with the thought, however, that Captain Bertram -would soon sail for home. - -The Penguin made a rapid voyage. - -One bright morning the ship anchored at Portland. - -The captain provided Will with sufficient money to reach home. - -Hence he had sailed a stowaway months previous. - -He had returned as poor as he went away, but his experience had been of -a character likely to benefit him in after years. - -He proceeded within twenty miles of Watertown by rail. - -A coach took him to Princeton, ten miles nearer. - -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. - -A man walking briskly had stopped as abruptly as himself. - -“Will Bertram!” cried the man, wildly. “What does this mean? How came -you here?” - -It was Captain Stephen Morris! - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII. NEW PERILS. - - -The street was dark and deserted except where the two persons so -strangely met stood staring at each other. - -Will’s first impulse was to fly under the influence of the old terror -he felt of Captain Morris. - -The latter, however, recovering partly from his surprise, suddenly -seized him by the arm. - -“Come with me,” was all he said, in a choked, unnatural tone. - -“I won’t!” - -Will struggled to get free, but Morris held him in a tight clasp. - -“You keep quiet, if you’re wise,” said Morris, menacingly. “I don’t -want to hurt you.” - -“What do you want of me?” - -“To talk to you.” - -“I don’t want to talk with you. Let me go, Captain Morris.” - -But Morris held tightly to him, and almost dragged him along. - -At a retired spot on the confines of the village was a tavern. - -Will knew of it as a place of unsavory reputation, it being a low -drinking den. - -“I won’t go to that place with you,” he appealed, holding back. - -“Well, you will.” - -Will struggled and shouted for help, but the Captain only laughed at -him. - -“They are my friends yonder,” he said, “and your obstinacy won’t help -you.” - -Will was compelled to accompany him through the narrow entrance to the -living rooms of the tavern. - -A man, evidently the landlord, came to the door, but at a glance from -Morris retired. - -The latter entered a room that was dark, except where the light showed -from a transom looking into an adjoining room. - -From that apartment sounds of drinking and dispute arose. - -The air was foul with tobacco smoke and the fumes of liquor. - -Captain Morris flung Will into a chair and confronted him. - -“Now then,” he said, “I have a few questions to ask you.” - -Will was silent. - -“And I expect you to answer them,” he supplemented. - -“And then I can go?” - -“Yes.” - -“Very well. What is it?” - -“How did you escape from drowning on the Golden Moose?” - -“After you left us to sink--” began Will, but the captain interrupted -him, impatiently. - -“After I left you to sink?” - -“Yes.” - -“I did nothing of the kind.” - -“You certainly put off in the long boat.” - -“The waves carried us away from the ship.” - -“Oh, that was it?” remarked Will, incredulously. - -“Exactly. We tried to get back to the ship and couldn’t do it.” - -“Well,” resumed Will, “when we found the boat gone, Jack and Tom and -I--” - -Captain Morris started. - -“Oh, Jack escaped, too.” - -“Yes, we floated away on a grating and were rescued by a raft.” - -“And where is Jack now?” - -“I don’t know.” - -“Did he come back with you?” - -“No.” - -Captain Morris looked mystified. - -Will was determined not to tell what he knew concerning the remainder -of his adventures. - -“Where did you separate with Jack?” Morris asked. - -“Oh, that was after we reached land.” - -“Where?” - -“Up around Barnell’s Point.” - -At hearing these words Captain Morris sprang to his feet. - -“What!” he almost shrieked out. - -“Around Barnell’s Point.” - -His hand trembled as he seized Will’s arm in a fierce grasp. - -“See here, boy,” he quavered, “what are you hiding from me?” - -“What should I hide?” - -“What do you know about Barnell’s Point?” - -“All. I was there.” - -“With Jack?” - -“Yes.” - -“How did you get there?” - -“We were wrecked.” - -“And how did you leave there?” - -“Part of the way on a sled.” - -“A sled?” - -“Yes, Captain Morris, a sled made of part of the timbers of the -Albatross.” - -As Will uttered these words Captain Morris fell to a chair. - -A groan of apprehension passed his lips. - -In hoarse, stricken tones Will heard him murmur: - -“They have discovered all! I am lost--ruined!” - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII. ON THE YACHT. - - -For fully two minutes there was a lapse of dead silence, broken only by -the commotion in the outside bar-room. - -Will sat watching Morris in the half light of the apartment with the -keenest satisfaction. - -He realized that the latter was tormented over what he knew from Will’s -disclosures to be the wreck of all his evil schemes. - -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. - -It was not Will’s intention to reveal the entire truth to him, however. - -He was, in fact, now sorry that he had warned him to the extent he had. - -Finally the captain said: - -“You say you don’t know where Jack Marcy is?” - -“Not positively.” - -“Why not?” - -“Because I got separated from him and the others.” - -“What others?” - -“Castaways who were with us.” - -“Well?” - -“And I floated out to sea on a cake of ice.” - -“And was picked up?” - -“Yes, and brought to Portland. Now then, Captain Morris, I’ve answered -your questions and I wish to go.” - -“To tell people all about the Albatross?” - -“Why not?” - -“It will show my former story to have been a lie.” - -“Well, ain’t it one?” - -“Maybe. You’re a dangerous enemy to my interests, and for -self-protection I think I’ll keep you here a few days.” - -“No, you won’t.” - -Will had made a dash for the door. - -Before Morris could interrupt him he had opened it and sprang into the -next apartment. - -As he did so, and attempted to rush past the men who were there, one of -them put his feet out. - -As Will stumbled over and fell to the floor he recognized him. - -It was Donald Parker, the manager and confidant of Captain Morris. - -He seemed to understand that Will was trying to escape. - -“Stop that boy!” yelled Morris from the next room. - -Parker sprang to the door and blocked Will’s exit. - -The latter turned to three men seated drinking and smoking. - -“They are trying to keep me here against my will!” he cried. - -At that moment Captain Morris entered the room. - -With a single blow of his fist he knocked Will to the floor. - -“You’ve killed him, captain,” spoke Parker, concernedly. - -“Nonsense, he’s only stunned. See here, men, you all know me?” - -“Very well, captain,” chimed in the denizens of the bar-room. - -“I’m your friend, and we’re working for mutual interests.” - -“In the smuggling trade; eh, captain?” laughed one of the men. - -“Never mind. This boy may ruin all our plans.” - -“Don’t let him.” - -“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. - -“You get me my liquor too cheap to have me meddle with your business,” -replied the tavern-keeper. - -“Now boys,” continued Morris, “we must get him out of here.” - -“When?” - -“At once.” - -“Where are you going to take him to?” - -“To the old yacht.” - -“Anchored near Watertown?” - -“Yes.” - -“How are we going to get him there?” - -“One of you secure a horse and wagon at once.” - -Parker started out to fill Morris’ order. - -“When we get to the yacht I’ll explain this affair to you,” said the -captain to the men. - -Half an hour later Morris, Parker and the three men, who were evidently -familiar associates, left the bar-room. - -The captain exhorted the landlord to keep silent about Will, which he -agreed to do. - -Will was placed, still insensible from Morris’ cowardly blow, in a -wagon. - -An hour or two later it stopped at a point on the coast near Watertown. - -Here a large yacht was moored. - -Will was placed in a compartment behind the little cabin of the yacht, -in a rude bunk, still insensible. - -The horse and wagon were sent back to Princeton with one of the men, -who was engaged to return as soon as possible. - -It was about midnight when Will awoke. - -He had a dull pain in his head, and he could not at first comprehend -his situation. - -A small glass bull’s-eye looked out on the water, and through the -cracks in the door he could see a light. - -He then decided that he was on a boat of some kind. - -He peered through the cracks of the door, and uttered a sigh of dismay. - -For he was still in the power of his enemy. - -Captain Morris and his four associates were seated at a table drinking. - -Parker was saying: - -“The boy sleeps a long time, Captain. Maybe he’ll never wake up.” - -“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.” - -Will came nearer to the door and prepared to listen to some startling -revelations. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV. IMPRISONED. - - -“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.” - -“Did he know of your plot, captain?” inquired Parker. - -“He suspected it. I returned to Portland and filed my claim for the -insurance money.” - -“Ship and cargo?” - -“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.” - -“And they ain’t?” inquired one of the sailors. - -“No. This boy returns and says they are still in the Arctic regions. If -so, we are safe.” - -“But they are alive?” - -“True; but I only want to keep the boy quiet a week and Marcy away, and -our plans will be completed.” - -“You mean the insurance money?” - -“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.” - -“You’re in a bad box, captain, if the truth gets out.” - -“It mustn’t. This boy must be kept a close prisoner until the insurance -money is collected.” - -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. - -Captain Morris visited him the next morning and endeavored to induce -him to tell more of Jack and his whereabouts. - -Will, however, refused to do so. - -“You’ll stay here till you do,” said Morris. - -“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.” - -His meals were brought to him regularly. - -Twice he endeavored to force the door leading to the cabin, but was -unsuccessful. - -The glass bull’s-eye might be easily removed, but he could not creep -through the aperture. - -Besides, there was always some one of the crew in the cabin or on deck. - -The yacht, which was moored at a rocky and isolated portion of the -coast, remained there for some days. - -One morning the captain came into the cabin, where Parker was seated, -with an excited face. - -“Any news, captain?” inquired the latter. - -“Yes.” - -“About the insurance money?” - -“Exactly. A letter from Portland.” - -“They will pay it?” - -“On demand.” - -“Then we sail?” - -“This afternoon.” - -Parker pointed to Will’s prison. - -“What about the boy?” he asked. - -“We’ll take him with us until the affair is settled.” - -That afternoon the men made ready to start on their voyage up the coast. - -Will’s heart sank as he realized that he was again leaving the vicinity -of home. - -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. - -The yacht started on its voyage, and, skirting the coast, crossed the -harbor channel at Watertown. - -Will, through the little window, could discern in the near distance -many familiar land-marks. - -As the yacht started on its course northward a stately ship passed up -the harbor. - -The yacht barely cleared its bows. - -Will, looking back, started, regarded the ship closely, caught sight -of several persons on the deck and uttered a wild ejaculation of -surprise and delight. - -Then, seizing a heavy piece of wood broken from the hunk, he struck -desperately at the window. - -The glass bull’s-eye was shattered into a myriad of fragments. - -And, pressing his pale and excited face to the opening, Will Bertram -cried wildly in the direction of the passing ship: - -“Help! Help! Help!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXV. THE RESCUED CASTAWAYS. - - -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. - -Captain Bertram missed him when he returned to the settlement, and -search was at once instituted. - -He learned that Will had not returned by land. He must, therefore, have -attempted to cross on the ice. - -The field had broken up and floated to sea, and it was believed that -Will had been carried away in this manner. - -A small boat searched along the coast, but after a long quest no trace -was found of the missing boy. - -“He has been drowned,” decided Captain Bertram at last. - -“Don’t say that, captain,” said old Jack, hopefully. “He may have been -picked up by some ship.” - -The next day the captain and crew of the Albatross set sail on the -whaler for home. Jack, Hugo and Tom accompanied them. - -They made a rapid and uneventful voyage. - -Captain Bertram was continually under the gloom of his bereavement. - -“Poor Will,” he would say; “what will the old folks say when they learn -he is lost?” - -“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.” - -As the ship neared home the action of Captain Morris was discussed. - -“He shall be arrested at once,” said Captain Bertram, sternly. “It is -his wickedness that caused all our troubles.” - -“We must give him no warning,” said Jack, “or he will escape.” - -One morning the ship started down the coast for Watertown. - -The crew were excited and anxious to reach their native land once more. - -As the ship sailed into the harbor channel they passed a small yawl, -outward bound. - -Jack watched the little craft intently. - -There were four men visible on deck, three of whom were strangers to -him. - -The fourth, however, he recognized at a glance. - -“Look there, captain!” he cried to Alan. - -“Who is it?” - -“Donald Parker, Captain Morris’ right-hand man!” - -“Then Morris himself may be on board?” - -“Yes; see, he is there, just coming out of the cabin!” - -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. - -The yacht crossed the bows of the ship. - -Jack, following it with his glance, saw a strange sight at its stern. - -The glass bull’s-eye in the rear of the cabin was suddenly broken out. - -A white face appeared at the opening, and a voice cried loudly for help. - -“Captain! Captain! Look there!” shouted Jack. - -He was almost frantic with amazement and excitement. - -“What is it?” asked Alan. - -“Will, your brother!” - -“Oh, it cannot be; Jack--Jack are you sure?” - -“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!” - -Will had disappeared from the window. - -His cries had been heard by Morris, who had instantly rushed below. - -He burst into the compartment where Will was, wild with rage. - -He dragged him away from the window and locked him in a dark part of -the hold. - -Just then Parker came rushing to where he was. - -“We’re in a bad box, captain,” he said. - -“What’s the matter?” - -“The boy’s cries.” - -“Yes, I heard them and stopped him.” - -“Too late.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“The men on the ship we passed heard him.” - -“What of it?” - -“It’s a whaler.” - -“Well?” - -“Homeward bound.” - -“They won’t pay any attention to the boy.” - -“They will, and have, for he had friends on board.” - -Morris started violently. - -“Friends,” he repeated, a vague suspicion of the truth entering his -mind. - -“Yes, and one of them was Jack Marcy.” - -Morris turned pale and hastened to the deck, followed by Parker. - -One glance in the direction of the whaler revealed the true state of -affairs. - -He saw several men letting down a yawl. Two of them he recognized--Alan -Bertram and Jack Marcy! - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVI. AT PORTLAND. - - -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. - -It was enough for him to know that he was a prisoner and in Captain -Morris’ power. - -He acted on a quick impulse as he saw movements on board the yacht -which indicated that its crew were about to proceed rapidly. - -Rushing to the captain of the ship which had brought them home, he -asked, hurriedly: “Can we have a boat, captain?” - -“What for?” - -“To follow that yacht. The man we came back here to arrest is upon it, -and a friend of ours is a prisoner aboard.” - -A boat was instantly lowered, and Jack, Alan, and several sailors -sprang to the oars. - -Meanwhile this action had been discerned from the yacht. - -“They are coming on board, captain,” said Parker to Morris. - -“We won’t let them.” - -“Shall we crowd sail?” - -“Yes.” - -“We can soon outrun them,” and Parker gave the necessary orders to his -assistants. They soon left the yawl behind. - -They saw their disappointed pursuers abandon the chase and return to -the ship. - -“We’re safe, captain,” said Parker, triumphantly. - -“For a time, yes.” - -“They will follow us later, you think?” - -“Of course. They have seen the boy.” - -“You are sure of it?” - -“Didn’t he shout to them? We must act quickly in what we do, Parker.” - -“What is your plan?” - -“To run to Portland.” - -“They may follow us in a faster ship.” - -“We have too great a start of them, and they may not suspect we are -going there.” - -“You intend to collect the insurance money?” - -“Yes.” - -“And then?” - -“Land the boy and sail to some distant port.” - -All that afternoon and night the yacht sailed before a swift breeze. - -The next day about noon the craft landed at the wharf at Portland. - -There had been no indications of a pursuing ship. - -“I will return soon,” said Captain Morris. - -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. - -He had nearly reached his destination when he drew back in the shelter -of a doorway. - -Just entering the building where the insurance company was located were -three men. - -Two of them he recognized as Jack Marcy and Alan Bertram. - -The other he assumed to be a detective. - -“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.” - -He hurriedly returned to the yacht. - -Parker stood conversing with a stranger, and his face was ominous of -some new complicating disaster to their cherished plans. - -“Are you Captain Morris?” asked the stranger. - -“Yes. Get ready to sail, Parker.” - -“Not just yet, captain,” said the stranger, coolly. - -“What do you mean?” - -“I have orders to keep the yacht and crew here for further orders.” - -“Who from?” - -“The chief of police.” - -Morris’ face fell. - -“I don’t understand,” he stammered. - -“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.” - -Morris stood dumbfounded for a moment or two. - -There was a dangerous gleam in his eye as he asked the stranger: - -“I am under arrest, then?” - -“Well, yes. That’s about it. Some officers will be here shortly.” - -“The charge is a false one,” ventured Morris. - -“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.” - -“They have no proofs.” - -“They have evidence enough to demand your arrest. Then there is the -proof the boy furnished.” - -“What boy?” - -“The one you have locked up in the hold of the yacht.” - -Captain Morris looked utterly crestfallen. - -“What proof?” he stammered out. - -“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.” - -Captain Morris was in a desperate strait. - -The evidence against him was overwhelming, and he realized would -certainly send him to prison. - -He acted promptly in his dilemma. - -Suddenly, seizing an iron bar lying near at hand, he dealt the -detective a heavy blow. - -The latter sank insensible to the deck. - -“Fling him on the wharf,” ordered Morris, excitedly, “and set sail for -the open sea at once.” - -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. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVII. WILL’S ESCAPE. - - -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. - -There was a little port-hole in the place where he was, but it did not -admit of his looking out to any advantage. - -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. - -Once he tried the door of the place. It was locked, but he found he -could easily burst it open. - -To do this and have his escape discovered, however, would only be to -subject himself to renewed abuse at the hands of Captain Morris. - -He could look into the cabin through a little window, and here he -stationed himself. - -“I will try to escape to-night,” he decided mentally, and he waited -patiently for night to come. - -The cabin was not visited for several hours after the yacht reached and -left Portland. - -At last, however, the boat came to a stop. A few minutes later Captain -Morris and Parker came into the cabin. - -“Are we going to stay here for the night?” the latter asked. - -“Yes,” replied Morris. - -“Do you think it safe?” - -“Why not?” - -“We cannot have traveled over forty miles.” - -“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.” - -“Then you have given up all idea of the insurance money?” - -“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.” - -“You have the money from the sale of your property at Watertown?” - -“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. - -“You’ll never get it.” - -“I’ll have the pleasure of knowing that I’ve paid off this boy for -making all this trouble.” - -Parker looked avariciously at the well-filled pocket-book that Morris -exhibited as he looked over some papers it contained. - -At that moment one of the crew came below. - -“Well?” said Morris, interrogatively. - -“We’re moored for the night.” - -“All right. Tell the others to watch for an hour or two.” - -“All right, captain.” - -The sailor returned to the deck, but soon reappeared. - -Morris ordered him to bring them some liquor from a cupboard. - -The man did so, and placed a bottle before Morris. - -“Not that one,” said the latter. - -“Why not, captain?” - -“Because it’s drugged. We used that to dose the revenue officers in our -last smuggling expedition.” - -The sailor brought out another bottle, and the trio sat down and began -drinking freely. - -“We’ll look around the deck and all come below and have a game of -cards, I guess,” remarked Morris, finally. - -The next moment the cabin was deserted. - -Will Bertram had been an interested listener and witness to all that -had occurred. - -A wild notion to secure liberty came into his mind as he recalled the -episode of the two bottles of liquor. - -He determined on a bold plan to render himself master of the yacht. - -Without much effort he broke open the door and gained the cabin. - -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. - -He regained his covert just as Morris and the men re-entered the cabin. - -In a few minutes the party were engaged in playing games with a greasy -pack of cards and drinking the drugged liquor. - -Will noticed that Parker drank less heavily than his companions, and -that he watched the captain narrowly. - -An hour later the game was played slowly and the men seemed to become -drowsy. - -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. - -Even he, as he observed that all of his companions slumbered deeply, -with difficulty arose to his feet. - -He came over to where Morris sat and then seemed to reflect. - -“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.” - -He sank to a chair as he spoke. His eyelids drooped. He was asleep. - -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. - -“Free!” he cried, delightedly. “I am out of Captain Morris’ power at -last.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVIII. ON THE YACHT. - - -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. - -He paused, however, as he remembered the issues at stake. - -“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?” - -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. - -He scanned the landscape searchingly. A long distance away gleamed a -light to the far interior, probably that of some isolated farm house. - -Will determined to go thither, and let developments guide his future -movements. - -It took him over half an hour to reach the place where the light he had -seen was located. - -It proved to be as he had supposed--a farm house. He knocked at the -door, and an old man met him. - -Will was somewhat incoherent and excited at first as he told his story -in brief. - -The old farmer was almost incredulous when Will exposed the villainy of -Morris and his associates. - -“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.” - -He called his two sons, and they were soon on their way to the yacht. - -When they arrived they found Morris and the others still insensible. - -The farmer secured some stout ropes and tied them securely. - -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. - -They estimated the direction and location of their intended -destination, and Will knew enough about a ship to sail the yacht. - -It was morning when the boat reached Portland. - -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. - -The boat safely landed, however, a loud series of cries from the cabin -caused Will to go below. - -Captain Morris, red in the face and wild with rage, glared at him and -endeavored vainly to break his bonds. - -“Is this your work?” he raved. - -“Yes, Captain Morris. The tables are turned now, and you are my -prisoner.” - -Parker, who was also awake, groaned audibly. - -“Where are we?” he asked. - -“At Portland, and you will soon be in jail.” - -Captain Morris chafed in silence for some time. Finally he said: - -“See here, boy.” - -“Well, Captain Morris?” - -“Who’s on deck with you?” - -“A man who won’t let you get loose. So don’t try any tricks.” - -“Do you want to be rich?” - -“Not with your money.” - -“Listen. Release us and I’ll give you a thousand dollars.” - -Will laughed. - -“You haven’t got it to give me.” - -“I have ten times that amount in my pocket book.” - -“It ain’t yours.” - -“Whose, then?” - -“It was stolen from the owners of the Albatross.” - -Morris scowled deeply at Will’s words. - -“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.” - -Will was silent and abruptly left the cabin. - -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. - -Going up on the deck he instructed his assistant to keep a close watch -over the prisoners. - -“Are you going away?” asked the latter. - -“Yes.” - -“Where?” - -“For the police.” - -“You are going to have these men arrested?” - -“Yes. I shall return shortly.” - -Will went to the police station and asked for the officer in charge. - -A few words of inquiry revealed the fact that Captain Bertram and Jack -Marcy were expected at the station that morning. - -“Do you know where they are stopping?” inquired Will. - -The officer named a hotel near by. - -Will hastened there at once. Just as he was crossing the vestibule he -saw two familiar forms. - -“Alan--Jack!” he cried, as he rushed to where they were. - -“Will!” cried Alan, in delighted tones. “You are free? You have -escaped?” - -“Yes, last night.” - -“And Captain Morris?” - -“He and his crew are prisoners on board the yacht.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIX. THE PRISONERS. - - -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. - -“We sent a ship in pursuit of the yacht after it left Portland,” he -explained to Will. - -“Are you going to the boat?” asked Jack. - -“No; to the police station first.” - -Here the officer in charge was made acquainted with all the recent -facts of the case. - -A detail of men were sent with Captain Bertram and his friends. - -When they arrived at the yacht Morris and his companions were -handcuffed and brought on deck. - -The former did not speak a word, but glared in silence at Alan. - -He knew that he was foiled in all his evil plans, and his heart was -filled with hatred toward those he had wronged. - -Captain Bertram dismissed Will’s assistant, the farmer’s son, with a -moneyed reward for his aid. - -The yacht was taken in charge by the police, who at once marched their -prisoners to the station. - -Here Morris was searched. To Will’s amazement the most persistent quest -failed to reveal Captain Morris’ well-filled pocket-book. - -He now wished he had taken it when the opportunity had presented itself. - -Morris’ eyes gleamed with satisfaction as Will said to Alan: - -“He had a pocket-book containing money he openly boasted was indirectly -the proceeds of the oil he stole from the Albatross.” - -“You won’t find it, either,” cried Morris, malignantly. - -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. - -From the station Captain Bertram, Jack and Will repaired for the office -of the insurance company. - -Here Alan consulted with the officers, who decided to prosecute Morris -for sinking the Golden Moose and attempting to collect the insurance -money fraudulently. - -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. - -He told him he could seize on the yacht until the case was tried in -court. - -They made a last visit to the police station before leaving Portland. - -The officer then informed Captain Bertram that one of the prisoners -wished to see him. - -“Which one?” asked Alan. - -“The man they call Parker. He seems very uneasy and has been upbraiding -Morris for getting him into trouble. Will you see him?” - -“Yes.” - -Parker was brought from the cells, and asked to see Alan alone. - -They were shown into a private room. - -“Well, what is it?” inquired Alan. - -“I wanted to say that I had nothing to do with all Captain Morris’ -schemes.” - -“You were in his confidence all the time,” replied Alan. - -“That may be, but I didn’t help sink the ship. I have a proposition to -make to you.” - -“What is it?” - -“If you won’t prosecute I’ll tell all about the Captain’s schemes.” - -“I know them already.” - -“I’ll tell you who the Captain is he divided with on the oil, and you -can make him pay it back.” - -Alan was silent. - -“I’ll also tell you where Morris hid his pocket book.” - -“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.” - -“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.” - -“And the pocket book?” - -“Here it is. Morris handed it to me while the officers were not -looking.” - -Alan left the pocket book with the police, and that night he and Will -and Jack started homeward bound for Watertown. - - - - -CHAPTER XL. ALAN’S FORTUNE. - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -It was towards evening when an interruption to the harmony of the happy -reunion occurred. - -A knock at the door was followed by the entrance of a man the Bertrams -knew very well. - -It was Captain Morris’ lawyer, Mr. Rowe. He nodded to the occupants of -the room and then addressed himself to Mr. Bertram. - -“I wished to see you privately, Mr. Bertram,” he said. - -“You can speak out,” replied Will’s father. “It’s about the mortgage, I -suppose?” - -“Yes. Captain Morris has ordered me to proceed in the matter.” - -“In what way?” - -“The last interest note is past due.” - -“If you would wait a few days I might be able to pay it.” - -“I can’t wait, Mr. Bertram. Captain Morris’ orders were definite.” - -Mr. Bertram looked anxious and troubled. - -Alan stepped forward abruptly. - -“How much is it?” he asked. - -“The interest note--” - -“No; the entire amount of this mortgage.” - -The lawyer looked surprised, but named the amount. - -“I will pay it,” said Alan. - -“You?” cried Mr. Bertram, amazedly. - -“Yes,” and Captain Bertram drew from his pocket a large wallet. - -It was filled to repletion with bills of large denomination. - -“Alan! Alan!” cried Mrs. Bertram, “where did you get all that money?” - -“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.” - -Mr. Rowe muttered something about being sorry he had to act so harshly, -but it was Morris’ orders. - -Then he handed the papers to Alan and left the house. - -Tears of joy stood in Mr. Bertram’s eyes as he clasped his son’s hand. - -“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?” - -Alan smiled mysteriously, while old Jack chuckled serenely. - -“It’s quite a story,” said Captain Bertram. - -“Tell it, Alan,” cried Will, curiously. - -“We are no longer poor. This pocket-book contains ten times the amount -of the mortgage, and it is all ours.” - -The boys crowded around Alan. - -“How did you come by the money, Alan?” asked Mrs. Bertram. - -“It can be told in a single word.” - -“What is that?” asked Will, excitedly. - -“Ambergris.” - - - - -CHAPTER XLI. CONCLUSION. - - -Will stared curiously at his brother as he pronounced the mystical word -“ambergris.” - -“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.” - -“And how did you find it?” asked the interested Mr. Bertram. - -“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.” - -“And it was valuable, you say?” inquired Mrs. Bertram. - -“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.” - -“You sold it?” asked Will. - -“Yes, for many thousands of dollars. I divided the money with the crew -of the Albatross. The remainder is mine.” - -The faces of Mr. and Mrs. Bertram beamed with joy at the good fortune -of their son. - -Within a week affairs had resumed their wonted serenity with the -Bertram family. - -Alan and Jack were compelled to visit Portland to attend the -preliminary trial of Captain Morris. - -It was expected that Will’s evidence would be required in the case, but -Jack Marcy’s testimony was sufficient. - -One evening they returned, and Will was informed that the case against -Morris had been decided. - -“He was found guilty of scuttling the ship,” Jack told him. - -“What did they do with him?” asked Will. - -“He was sent to the penitentiary for a long term of years.” - -“And Parker?” - -“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.” - -“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.” - -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. - -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. - -Hugo, with a generous present from Captain Bertram, went off on another -sea voyage. - -Willis returned home, and Tom was taken into service on the yacht. - -Captain Bertram himself purchased a warehouse in Watertown and entered -business on his own account. - -One day as Will entered the office he found there his old employer, the -menagerie agent, Mr. Hunter. - -“I was passing through Watertown and wanted to see you once more,” said -Mr. Hunter. “You left us abruptly up in the woods.” - -Will explained how he and Tom were lost, and told of his succeeding -adventures. - -“I never earned the salary you paid me in advance, Mr. Hunter,” he said. - -“We won’t quarrel about that, Will,” was the hearty reply. - -Will offered the polar bear’s skin to Mr. Hunter for his menagerie, but -the latter said: - -“No, no, Will. That is a memento of your Arctic experience you must -keep.” - -A year after his return from his eventful voyage to the frozen north -Will Bertram was owner of the yacht he and Jack had sailed for his -brother. - -Later he left this business to enter the warehouse. - -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. - -When Will thought of his life as a castaway it was with pleasure, for -that experience had developed many manly qualities. - -He shuddered as he thought of the evil course and the punishment of -Captain Morris. - -His brief imprisonment in Morris’ yacht had shown him the true -hideousness of crime, and from its contact he always shrank in after -years. - -Whenever Hugo came to Watertown he was a welcome guest at the house of -the Bertrams. - -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. - -Mr. and Mrs. Bertram found their declining years the happiest of their -life. - -Blessed with a competency, they passed a life of happiness and comfort, -proud of the sons who cherished their love as a precious boon. - -The polar bear skin is still a trophy in Will’s room in the new Bertram -mansion. - -Often he relates how it came into his possession to visitors. - -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. - -Looking back over the years, that adventurous experience in the Arctic -zone is as fresh as if an occurrence of yesterday. - -It is like a fairy picture in his memory--the days when he and Willis -and Tom were young explorers UNDER THE POLAR STAR. - -THE END. - - * * * * * - -THE GOLDEN LIBRARY. - -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 GOLDEN LIBRARY 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 _something good_ 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 -_merits_. Give us a good word, _if we deserve_ it, whenever you can. - -CATALOGUE. - - =1= =ONE CENT CAPITAL=; or, A Young Clerk’s Adventures. By Archie - Van. - =2= =HONOR BRIGHT=; or, The Young Surveyor of Green River. By Henry - L. Black. - =3= =UNDER THE POLAR STAR=; or, The Young Explorers. By Dwight - Weldon. - =4= =BOUND TO WIN=; or, Jack o’ Lantern, the Ferry Boy. By Dwight - Weldon. - =5= =TWENTY CRUSOES=; or, The Grammar School Castaways. By Henry L. - Black. - =6= =BAREFOOTED BEN=; or, The Boy who Built a Railroad. By author of - “Honor Bright.” - =7= =TRUE TO HIS COLORS=; or, Bert Noble, the Young Reporter. By - Henry L. Black. - =8= =WORKING HIS WAY=; or, The Brookville Boys’ Club. By Dwight - Weldon. - =9= =CLEAR GRIT=; or, A Young Emigrant’s Adventures. By Archie Van. - =10= =CLEAR THE WAY=; or, The Boys of Bear Hollow. By John Gordon. - =11= =SENT ADRIFT=; or, Around the World on Eighty Cents. By Henry A. - Wheeler. - =12= =WHEEL AND WHISTLE=; or, The Young Pilot of Lake Linden. By - Archie Van. - =13= =TRUE AS STEEL=; or, The Anvil-Boy of Bessemer Forge. By Henry L. - Black. - =14= =LINK AND LEVER=; or, The Boy Railroader of Rushville. By John - Gordon. - =15= =TWO BRAVE BOYS=; or, The Mystery of the Great North Woods. By - Dwight Weldon. - =16= =ROUGH AND READY=; or, A Young Hero in Tatters. By Henry A. - Wheeler. - =17= =CAMP AND CANOE=; or, Cruise of the Red Jackets in Florida. By - St. George Rathborne. - =18= =BLOWING A BUBBLE=; or, The Bardstown Boys’ Stock Company. By - Captain Castleton. - =19= =FIGHTING TO WIN=; or, The Crusoe Boys of Treasure Island. By - John Gordon. - =20= =PURE PLUCK=; or, A Telegraph-Boy’s Adventures. By Dwight - Weldon. - =21= =OUT WEST=; or, The Pioneer Boys of Sun Prairie. By Henry A. - Wheeler. - =22= =AFLOAT WITH A CIRCUS=; or, The Diamond-Seekers of Natal. By - Henry L. Black. - =23= =TRIED AND TRUE=; or, The Locksmith Boy of Frankford. By Archie - Van. - =24= =MAIL-BAG AND MONEY=; or, The Boy Postmaster of Brimfield. By - Captain Castleton. - =25= =UP NORTH=; or, Making a Man of Himself. By John Gordon. - =26= =BOY MILLIONAIRE=; or, The Lost Mine of the Sierra Madre. By - Henry A. Wheeler. - =27= =RIFLE AND ROD=; or, A Cruise Down the Lake. By J. M. Merrill. - =28= =BRIGHT AND EARLY=; or, The Boy Who Became a Detective. By John - Tulkinghorn. - =29= =ALWAYS ON DECK=; or, Making a Start in Life. By Archie Van. - =30= =WESTWARD HO!= or, The Cabin in the Clearing. By Henry L. Black. - =31= =ALL ABOARD!= or, The Rival Boat-Clubs. By Weldon J. Cobb. - =32= =UP IN A BALLOON=; or, The Gas Well of Mont Clare. By Captain - Castleton. - =33= =TOM BERKLEY’S LUCK=; or, A Brave Boy’s Fight for Fortune. By - Weldon J. Cobb. - =34= =THE BOY MILL-OWNER=; or, Doing His Level Best. By J. M. Merrill. - =35= =HIS OWN MASTER=; or, Young Samson of the Iron Mills. By Henry A. - Wheeler. - =36= =PLUCKY NAT=; or, A Bright Boy’s Adventures in Texas. By George - Henry Morse. - =37= =BEN BLY’S BIRTHRIGHT=; or, The Boy Farmer of Fox Valley. By John - Tulkinghorn. - =38= =DICK FARLEY’S GRIT=; or, A Diamond in the Rough. By Dwight - Weldon. - =39= =ALMOST A MAN=; or, The Boy Pilot of the Mississippi. By Captain - Castleton. - -☞ The GOLDEN LIBRARY 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. - - Address - - Albert Sibley & Co., - Publishers, - No. 18 Rose St., New York. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber’s Notes: - -Illustrations have been moved to paragraph breaks near where they are -mentioned. - -Punctuation has been made consistent. - -Variations in spelling and hyphenation were retained as they appear in -the original publication, except that obvious typographical errors have -been corrected. - - - - - -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 63549-0.txt or 63549-0.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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