“And luckier yet the Ruby was up here,” added Captain Edwards.
“Seems to me the whole trip’s been lucky—no matter what happened,” said Tom.
“Even with the cat,” laughed Jim.
“Gosh, where is she?” cried Tom. “I’d forgotten all about her and her kittens.”
“Lef’ her an’ t’others behin’,” said Cap’n Pem. “Ye didn’t think we could be a-totin’ a passel o’ cats ’long o’ us on that there sledge trip, did ye? Jes the same, I reckon I got ter take back what I said erbout her. Mebbe times has changed an’ cats is lucky now’days, what with injines an’ bumb lances an’ perlice a-puttin’ down mut’nies an’ all sech new-fangled contraptions.”
“Hurrah, you do admit it!” cried Jim. “If we keep on we’ll knock all your superstitions to pieces.”
But Cap’n Pem had not waited to hear.
A few minutes later, the Ruby rounded a jutting cape and there, before them, was the well-known cove with the Narwhal, forsaken and deserted, looming above the cakes of ice.
“Why, why—Gosh! She’s afloat!” cried Tom, hardly able to believe his eyes.
“Holy mackerel, she is!” agreed Mr. Kemp.