This individual was Ben Bolt.
He was astonished to see Frank, but did not recognize him in the fur costume he wore, for the hood covered most of the young man’s face to ward off the cold.
Frank walked from one end of the boat to the other.
Finding a ladder at the side, he made his way up to the deserted ice-covered deck and saw a light in the cabin windows.
From down in the forecastle came the sound of sailors’ voices, and a stream of smoke was pouring up from a funnel in the deck, showing that the whalers had fires going below decks.
He had scarcely observed this when the cabin door was opened.
The captain strode out, muffled up in heavy clothing.
“Hello, thar!” he exclaimed.
“Hello yourself!” replied Frank.
“Whar d’you hail from?”