In the fifty miles of circuitous sailing among the ice fields the electric gun did valiant service.
In due time the Pearl emerged into the open sea. She met fearful weather for the first week.
But she steadily and stanchly fought her way northward, inch by inch it seemed, until at length she was in Cape Horn seas.
The rest was easy.
A week later she was in Montevideo harbor. Here a fresh crew was shipped and a new captain procured.
Then she proceeded to Rio and took on a cargo of coffee, so that her homeward cruise might not be unprofitable.
In due time she reached New York. Captain Ward’s wife was inconsolable over his loss. The ship was sold and the sum given to her.
Frank also paid to her again the sum of the charter, which was a provision against want, and some recompense for her terrible loss. But nobody could deny but that Ward himself was solely to blame.
The seamen survivors of the party scattered when New York was reached. Jack Wendel returned to his seashore home, and Randall went on to Readestown with Frank and Barney and Pomp.
Needless to say they were glad to get home.