“They may be our equals,” said Frank. “We have as yet no means of proving the contrary.”
“That is very true.”
There were some obstruction in the street of the Polar city, but the Scorcher managed to pick its way along without great difficulty.
Not until the central part of the city was reached did the machine stop. Then Frank stepped out on deck, and cried:
“Well, friends, here we are. We have accomplished the great feat of crossing the Antarctic barrier and invading the Polar Continent. We have discovered a ruined town, and evidence that this was once an inhabited region, though now abandoned. Let us, therefore, set foot on Polar soil and devote some time to exploration.”
Cheers followed this declaration, and all leaped over the rail.
There was little need of guarding the Scorcher, for no living foe was in the vicinity. Barney and Pomp began a frolic on the green turf, while Frank, with Randall and the sailor, began the exploration.
They scrambled over the ruins of the building, and were impressed with the fact that their architecture had been of a tasty kind.
“These people were not savages,” declared Frank. “They understood the arts. Look!”
He picked up an object which all saw at once was a helmet or head-dress. It was basinet shaped, and of a strange kind of bronze-like metal.