CHAPTER XXI
LOST IN THE SNOW
Once more the wind blew with hurricane force. On board the Monarch
Washington and Professor Henderson were tossed to the ceiling again.
Then the ship righted herself.
"De boys! De boys!" cried Washington, suddenly thinking of them. "Dey hab falled off!"
"Great Scott! So they have!" exclaimed the inventor. "That is, unless they grabbed something as we went over!"
"An de Sesquitomexico woman, too!" cried the colored man, meaning
Dirola.
"I guess she went with the others," said the professor. "We must take a look as soon as it is safe."
Then came a strong gust of wind that hurled the ship forward. When it had subsided Washington and the old inventor ventured outside. The boys were nowhere to be seen.
"They are lost!" cried Andy, who had crawled to the bow of the ship after the captain and Washington.
For a little while longer the airship sailed along easily, the wind no more rushing with such force. Then, all at once the craft settled down until, with a jerk, it came to rest on a big snow bank.
"We's landed!" exclaimed Washington. "We's hit de ole north pole at last. Now I'll see what sort ob a stick it is!"
"We've landed sure enough," remarked the professor, "but I'm afraid we are not at the north pole. However, in view of all that has happened, I suppose we had better stop here for a while. Some of the machinery is wrecked by the overturning of the ship, but I guess we can fix it. I only wish I knew where the boys and the two men were."
"Don't forget Dirola," spoke up Andy. "We owe a good deal to her."
It stopped snowing about half an hour after the Monarch had found lodgement on the edge of a bank of ice. From the deck and windows of the craft nothing could be seen but a big expanse of white. It was a cold, lifeless world to which the ship had brought what remained of her crew and owner.
The engine room of the Monarch was once more a sorry sight, and Washington and the inventor worked like a dozen men in restoring order. They soon had things in ship-shape, but one of the motors would require considerable repairing before it would run again. However, it was not the most important one, and the craft could run without it, though only at half speed.
Suddenly, there came from without a chorus of shouts.
"What's that?" cried the professor.
"Sounded like some one calling," ventured Andy.
"It am de boys and Tom and Bill come back to overjoy us," said
Washington.
The shouts grew louder. Andy glanced from a cabin window.
"The Esquimaux! The Esquimaux!" he exclaimed. "Here they are after us again! They'll carry us back to the ice cave and eat us alive this time!"
"These are not the same ones!" cried the professor. "We are hundreds of miles from the ice cave."
"Then these are the ones the mysterious message was about," said Andy, "and we had better be on our guard!"
"Perhaps these are Dirola's friends," ventured Amos Henderson. "If they are I wish we had her here to intercede for us."
There came a rattling against the sides of the airship. It sounded like a storm of hail.
"They are firing arrows at us!" yelled Andy. "That doesn't look very friendly."
"Wait until I go out and speak to them," suggested the professor. "They will respect my gray, hairs."
He went outside. The ship was surrounded by hundreds of little men, all dressed in thick furs. At the sight of the ship's commander they gave a loud yell.
"I wisht I'd neber done come to de north pole!" groaned Washington. He
grabbed up a rifle and followed Andy outside. At the sight of them the
Esquimaux set up louder yells, and shot another shower of arrows.
Fortunately none of the missiles struck the white men.
"Stop firing!" said the professor, raising his hand. "We mean you no harm!"
His answer was a wilder burst of yells.
"Fire over their heads! Maybe that will teach them a little respect," spoke Andy.
He and Washington discharged their guns several times in rapid succession. With frightened yells the men in furs fell flat on their faces.
"We've scared them!" cried Andy.
But he reckoned without his host, for in an instant the Esquimaux had leaped to their feet and were rushing toward the ship.
"Here they come!" shouted the hunter. "Shoot to kill, Washington! Look out for yourself, Professor!"
"Don't kill them!" yelled Amos Henderson. "They are too many for us, and our only hope is to try peaceful means!"
But Washington aimed his rifle straight in the faces of the advancing men of the snow country and pulled the trigger rapidly. Half a dozen sharp reports rang out, and several Esquimaux fell on the ice, which became red with their blood. However, the negro's aim was not good, and the wounds were only in arms or legs of the natives.
This served to check their ardor for a while, and the advance was halted while the wounded were carried back. But the Esquimaux were only made more angry by the resistance. They came on again with wild cries and, though Andy, Washington and the professor fought with all their strength, clubbing their guns and cracking several of the savages over the head, they were finally overpowered.
From one who seemed to be a leader of the natives several sharp orders came. The others listened and then, lifting the three prisoners, who had been securely bound, they hurried with them from the deck of the ship.
"We's ketched agin!" cried Washington. "They'll eat us shuah dis time!
Land ob Goshen! How I does wish I'd neber come heah!"
There was little time for protest, reflection or anything else. Once the Esquimaux had secured their prisoners they lost no time in hastening away. The airship did not seem to interest them. Hoisting the three men on shoulders, the natives fairly ran along over the ice.
"I wish they'd bring up a sled," said Andy. "It would be easier than this style. The breath is 'most jolted out of me."
As if in answer to his desire, the party of Esquimaux soon came upon a little camp. There were several ice huts, and a number of sleds, while the yelping of scores of dogs could be heard on every side. In a few minutes, after a short talk among the natives, the captives were tossed, none too gently, all on one big sled, a dog team was hitched fast, and a driver started them off across the field of ice.
"Good-bye to de ole Monarch!" cried Washington. "No mo' good meals in yo'! Landy! Landy! I wisht I had some dynamite to blow dese heathen up!"
"Hush!" cried Andy. "I've got three revolvers in my pockets. I'll slip you one if I can get my arms free, but don't fire until I give the word. We'll have to save our shots."
"We seem to be having nothing but bad luck," said Professor Henderson. "I am afraid it is all up with us this time. Those poor boys, and Bill and Tom! I wish I knew what had become of them!"
"Same here!" remarked Andy.
Then the captives became silent, filled with their sad thoughts and worry over their predicament. On and on went the sledge over the ice, into the unknown. Mile after mile was covered. Then the driver of the prisoners, as well as the one in charge of three sleds that followed, halted the dogs. All the natives talked rapidly together, pointing this way and that.
"They've missed the path!" exclaimed Andy. "We are lost in this land of snow!"