“Charlie,” cried Walt, “come down off there. I hate your giving yourself side. I hate science as much as I hate lawyers’ musty old parchments. Climb down off your high horse. The sunlit surface of the sea is good enough for me; the earth’s crust is strong enough to walk on, and I don’t want to go down in under, nor back to the realms of millions of years ago. Are you aware we are going to have young seal’s liver and bacon for luncheon?”
Nick and Nora came bounding up at this moment. Collie wasn’t far behind, with his bright eyes and bonnie wise face, and next moment the whole five were united in a daft and delightful game of romps.
And the liver and bacon were excellent.
CHAPTER IV
THE CAMP—SLEDGING ON THE TABLELAND
Yes, everybody was busy. From the captains themselves down to Jack and Gill, the Shetland ponies, and the little mongrel seal that the boys had made a pet of.
The Eskimo dogs had got their summer clothes on; the Eskimos themselves, especially Slap-dash, were very lively. The bears wanted to go on prowl at once. Gruff, Grumpey, Growley, and Meg were excited by the shimmer of the snow. It reminded them of their dear native land.
Sheelah and Taffy were exceedingly gay and droll. But they were useful. When they had some lessons in cooking, Sheelah excelled the cook, and Dr. Wright turned Taffy into a really good and practical nurse.
The ships were just as one at present. But a camp was being formed on shore in a ravine betwixt two hills to the north of Mount Murchison, so the forces would soon be divided.
A whole month was to be spent in this camp making preparations for the grand dash into the interior.
This was imperative; both Curtis and Dr. Wright insisted on it.