Every man who was not on duty in the control or engine rooms was at the windows or stationed in the observation cockpits atop the dirigible, straining ahead for some glimpse of the Neptune and its marooned crew.
Static had been bad all morning but Bert kept up an incessant call for Harry. It was an hour after crossing the Greenwich meridian when he received his first answer and his wild whoop of joy brought Andy into the radio room on the run.
“I’m talking with Harry now,” cried Bert. “He says to hurry. The pack ice is breaking up and the Neptune may be lost at any minute.”
“Tell them to get out of the tin tub and get onto the ice where they’ll be safer,” replied Andy. “We’ll be there within another hour.”
“Two members of the crew are sick,” replied Bert.
“Then they’ll have to fix up some kind of shelter on the ice,” said Andy.
“And Harry says it looks like a norther is coming up,” added the radio operator.
“Tell him we’re coming at full speed. Have him keep his set going and use your radio compass in guiding us to him.”
Bert agreed and Andy hastened back to the control room.
“Bert’s just talked with Harry,” he told Serge, “and Harry says it looks like a bad storm is brewing. We’ll put on full speed and pick them up just as soon as possible.”