Sorrowfully the three explorers now returned to the airship. But before they reached it they were confronted with new and startling incidents.
The Dart was half buried in the snow at the foot of the big berg. As Frank and his companions came in sight of the Dart they paused.
Clambering over the deck were a number of fur-clad forms.
At first the explorers thought them human beings, but a closer glance showed that they were huge white bears.
Six of the monsters were boarding the airship in the coolest possible manner.
“Great heavens!” exclaimed Professor Gaston. “What does that mean, Frank?”
“It looks as if the bears had taken possession of our property,” declared the young inventor.
“Can they do any harm?”
“Certainly. We must tackle them at once.”
The prospect of tackling the six monsters was by no means a pleasant one.