“It’s the star!” gasped Saunders. “My God, the star!”
“It flashed there suddenly,” echoed Saxe. “The sky cleared shortly after you turned in and we were star gaping when that thing burst into view like a meteor.”
I knew it wasn’t a star, but kept quiet. To air opinions is the worst policy. I never make a noise unless invited.
We examined the great light through the telescope.
Saunders, disappointed and perplexed, at last admitted it was not a star, and he’d be d——d if he could make out what it was.
Through the telescope the “star” had curious-shaped shadows surrounding it, which served to puzzle us more.
Saxe. said it looked like the search-light of the lost Propellier.
Sheldon snickered, and suggested it was a signal from the Relief Expedition. The Pole was still to be discovered, and we were lost wandering around our own side of the earth.
Sporty old Saxe. nodded approval.
“Quite right,” he replied. “I agree with you. That light up there is a signal of some sort, possibly of searchers. But we’ve crossed the Pole all right, yet of late I’ve been thinking if we could discover a new route it would be wise to turn back. Earth and the moon are similarly degenerating—we have discovered the dead portion of our globe. As provisions are giving out it occurs to me the situation is becoming embarrassing.”