“I don’t like it,” objected Helmsworth. “I didn’t know that my arrangement with Mr. Noyes would call for this. First I was to go to Riga; instead, I was sent miles out to sea. When we picked up that floating trunk, I became worried.”
“Forget it, Helmsworth,” rejoined Froman impatiently. “That’s what you are being paid to do.”
“The crew may ask me questions about—”
“All right. Tell them it was an experiment; to learn whether or not a floating object could be located. They had enough trouble finding it and hauling it aboard.”
“All right,” agreed Helmsworth reluctantly. “I shall forget the matter. Except—”
“Except what?”
“You are going to take the trunk ashore.”
“I am not,” returned Froman. “I intend to remove a box that the trunk contains. You can keep the trunk” — he laughed — “for future experiments. It is quite a remarkable object, that trunk, with its watertight construction and its air compartments.”
“And then—”
“I told you to forget the matter,” said Froman. “You are setting forth immediately upon your polar expedition. Mr. Noyes gave you a previous assignment, that is all. You can talk with him when you reach the base. He will be there.”