This caused the Explorer to nearly stand on end, and Pomp was tumbled upon his head.
“Golly fo’ glory!” gasped the astounded darky. “What ebber hab happened now? Fo’ de Lor’s sakes, dis chile done beliebe de worl’ am gone to smash!”
The Explorer was pitching and tumbling about violently, and seemed in imminent danger of being totally wrecked.
As soon as he could recover himself, Pomp started for the deck.
As he emerged from the cabin, an astounding sight met his gaze.
Pomp stood with mouth agape and eyes distended.
“Fo’ de good Lor’s sake!” he gasped. “What am all dis?”
All around him and over him was ice, in a great canopy. Hot a sign of the sea or sky was to be had.
The Explorer was in the centre of a vast, high arched ice chamber, resting upon an inclosed lake, the waters of which were subsiding, after a spell of fearful commotion.
The darky was struck dumb.