“It will be very cold there now.”
“Well, the boat is well heated, and we have warm fur clothing on board,” said Frank. “If there is ice on the island, we can travel over it on the boat’s runners, to examine the remains of the mammoth you say you wish to get for the institute you represent.”
“Yes. A gentleman of known veracity saw the body of a huge beast buried on Nova Zembla, and sent word to that effect to the Smithsonian, with directions how to find it. This, of course, is why I was so anxious to go with you, for I have orders to get part of the remains.”
They then went inside.
The barometer showed a height of 2,000 feet.
Below them lay the north Atlantic, and a number of ships were seen dotting the surface in different places.
A constant watch with telescopes was maintained by those on duty for some sign of the Red Eric.
Having reached the British isles the ice ship crossed the North Sea and sailed along the western coast of Norway.
From there she passed over the Barentz Sea at the north of Russia.
Nothing was seen of the whaling ship, and the island of Nova Zembla finally appeared in the distance.