Radio Boys in the Secret Service; Or, Cast Away on an Iceberg

by J. W. Duffield

On the next night a watch was kept for a different reason from that which inspired the first. The fear that Gunseyt would attempt another invasion of the Eskimo quarters had vanished. No one any longer had appetite for dog steak inasmuch as plenty of fish was on hand. But there was imminent danger of the iceberg’s breaking in numerous places, and it was deemed wise to be constantly on the alert lest the occupants of the cave be drowned there like rats in a trap.

All day a strong north wind had blown, driving the mass of ice as well as many others in the neighborhood, rapidly southward. In the night the wind grew stronger and the waves higher. Every now and then could be heard the splash of tons of ice breaking off and plunging into the sea. But the equilibrium of the berg was not disturbed, and morning dawned, with the inhabitants of the ice-island still safe.

As the day advanced the temperature continued to rise, the ice melted more and more, and greater pieces fell and more thunderous splashes were heard. However, the stairway in the ice was not seriously impaired, so that they were able to maintain their lofty lookout without interruption or inconvenience.

Three or four miles off to the northwest they saw and heard the breaking up of an iceberg half the size of the one on which they had taken refuge. It seemed to split in two right in the middle, while the reports of its explosion sounded like a naval battle. Occasional inspection was made of the faring of the Eskimos, but they proved as fortunate as the larger party in escaping injury from the falling ice. Meanwhile the fishing continued with fairly good success, so that the food question gave them only secondary concern.

About noon of their fourth day on the iceberg it was decided that the cave must be abandoned, and those who were inside were called out and warned against returning. The discussion convinced them also that they must leave the “shore” area and climb to a loftier position, as the falling ice rendered the “beach” a place of much danger. Several huge pieces had struck so near to some of the men that they narrowly escaped serious injury or death.

Accordingly the entire party sought greater safety on the upper landing of the big stairway. Their fish, of which they had nearly a hundred, were removed to this spot, also such fuel as they had been able to conserve from all sources.

The camp of the Eskimos seemed to be fairly safe, for there were no great overhanging projections threatening to fall and crush them. Over the entrance of the other “grotto,” however, there was a huge bluff, or “forehead,” that frowned threateningly, and it was principally to escape this, when it should fall, that the migration aloft was made.

An hour after they moved upward, the “forehead” fell with a ponderous crash. Hundreds of tons of ice were let loose, and so great was the mass and the gap left in its place, that Guy expected the berg to shift its center of gravity and roll over at once. He braced himself for the expected, but the expected did not come. The area and the front of the cave itself were demolished.

The women did not scream. Their recent experience had almost deprived them of acute sensibility. No one suffered from cold now; but 50 degrees below zero could hardly have made them more numb than did the seeming certainty of their fate.

The question of the advisability of their taking to the water at once, with their life jackets around them, was discussed, but nobody argued strongly in favor of the proposition. Such a move, all were agreed, must be a last resort for the preservation of their lives. In the water the chance of their being spied and picked up by a passing vessel must be very small. From a high point on the iceberg they could keep a much better lookout and also fly a flag of distress. This they decided was their best hope, although now desperately slim.