Bobby Blake in the Frozen North; Or, The Old Eskimo's Last Message

by Frank A. Warner

The latter settled the question himself by saying that, since the storm was letting up a little, he would search the waters about the ship while the boys attended to their business aboard the wreck. He said that seals and walruses had been seen quite often and sometimes in considerable numbers in the vicinity of the wrecked ship, and he would like to get one, if possible.

“He can have his old walrus,” cried Bobby joyfully, when they were at last alone, the great moment at hand. “Come on, fellows, we’ll make hay while the sun shines. If there’s any treasure to be found, it will be a good idea to find it before that old boy gets back.”

They did not waste any time. By the light of the lantern—the ice that encoated the ship made it as dark in the light of morning as it was at twelve o ’clock midnight—they made their way through the vessel, searching cabins as they went, hacking away with an ax they found in one of them at rotting debris that barred their way.

As the moments flew by and they had still found nothing, the boys began to work with almost feverish eagerness. The fact that they must make the most of Mooloo’s absence, drove them on to greater effort. They searched beneath rotting mattresses, through chests of drawers, whose wood fairly fell away beneath their hands.

In a cabin that had evidently belonged to one of the mates of the vessel they found an iron-bound chest, and for a moment thought they had discovered the treasure. But on forcing the lid of the chest they found only rotting clothing, personal effects of the dead man who had once occupied that cabin.

It was uncanny, this breaking into the secrets of the dead ship, and the boys often found themselves listening nervously or glancing over their shoulders into the mystery-filled shadows about them.

They came to the quarters of the men and it did not take them long to make sure there was nothing there. Then on to the hold, where they found nothing but empty boxes or barrels, or barrels containing cans of food rusty and dingy with age.

They were about to give up the search in despair when Bobby spoke suddenly out of the darkness.

“Fellows, I’m going back to the cabin we searched first. There was something queer about it.”

The boys protested that they had searched that cabin thoroughly, that there was nothing there, but Bobby was not listening to them. Carrying the lantern, he was already making his way forward, and they had no choice but to follow him.