But the voice of Mooloo roused them to the need for action.
“Snow harder all time,” said the Eskimo. “No stop to-night—maybe not to-morrow. Inside ship, snow no get us. Let’s go! Hump yourselves!”
At this unexpected bit of slang the boys had all they could do to keep their faces straight. Probably picked it up from the expressive vocabulary of some stray trader or other and was proud to show his knowledge of the English language!
“Right—let’s go,” agreed Bobby and, feeling with his feet for the companionway steps, slowly let himself through the opening.
It was as dark as pitch, and although Bobby struck a match, the feeble ray did little to dispel the darkness.
At last he felt firm ground beneath his feet and called out to the boys to come ahead. They obeyed, and a moment later all of them, including Mooloo, were gathered at the foot of the steps.
Mooloo directed Bobby to strike a match and throw its light on the oilskin-covered package which he had never allowed to get out of his sight, and after a moment of fumbling with the cord that bound it, the Eskimo drew forth an oil lamp.
It took him only a moment to fill it and light it, and when this was accomplished and the rays of the lamp illuminated their faces, the boys thought that never had light looked so good to them before.
“Where are you going?” Fred asked of Bobby, as the latter began climbing the companionway steps toward the open hatch.
“Going to put the lid on,” Bobby explained cheerfully. “When that’s done we’ll be as snug as bugs in a rug.”