They searched for him, but could not find him, and, giving him up for drowned, proceeded on their way.
They built the ice huts the castaways had seen, and at last came upon a wandering tribe of Esquimaux.
With them they lived for some months. They told them of the whale-oil deposit, and several of them and the crew visited the spot.
They returned, amazed and disappointed.
The barrels of oil had disappeared. Either they had been found by some ship or, the ice melting, had floated them into the sea.
For many months the Albatross crew remained with the tribe, finally finding their way to the whaling station.
Within a day or two Captain Bertram said they would sail for home on a whaler.
This was his story, briefly told.
“And you wonder where the oil went to, Captain?” he asked, with a curious look on his face.
“Yes.”