Ferratoni meantime was fishing up the telephone, and after a brief examination passed it with gentle courtesy over to me.
“I do not need it, you know,” he said.
I took it eagerly, though I did not quite gather his meaning. The little bell was already ringing violently. I called hastily into the transmitter:
“Hello! hello! down there! All well up here. All safe and bound for the South Pole.”
Edith Gale’s voice came back joyously.
“Oh, Nicholas! Oh, I was so frightened!”
“Don’t worry a bit. We’re a little ahead of schedule time, but we’re off all right, and have got a clear track.”
There was a brief pause, during which I imagined Miss Gale might be collecting herself after her excitement, and perhaps communicating the news to the others. Then her voice came again, somewhat more calmly.
“Oh, are you sure you’re all right, and how’s Daddy?”
“Supplied with sandwiches, and at peace with all mankind.”