"Where's the Bear?"
"Heaven only knows! Seagraves, her captain, told me in Frisco that he had an entire ocean to guard. There's the Russian coast and the Kotzebue and Norton Sound."
"That other cruiser?"
"She's helping him out. Likely there's an expedition cast away in the Arctic. The Kadik was reported crushed. The cruiser may have gone through to pick up the survivors."
"Then Marr will succeed?" Stirling hinged himself upward and stared at Eagan.
"Looks that way." Eagan closed his fists and turned from the porthole. "Looks bad," he continued with hard eyes. "At that, Stirling, we've three or four hours yet. Much can happen in that time. The Bear may swing around St. Paul."
"Have you made no plans? The Commission must know that you are on this ship. They will be waiting for word from you."
Eagan smiled despite his doubts. "We're two," he said. "They don't suspect me, and I have a plan. I shall land at the rookeries and try to reach the guard. If I fail, then you can spike the ship in some manner till the Bear is reached by wireless."
Stirling raised his wrists and eyed the handcuffs.
"They're tight," he suggested. "Suppose you let them out a notch. Then, whatever happens to you during the raid, I'll be on deck and active. Who was it threw that belaying pin?"