“But,” exclaimed Frank, in sheer amazement, “what on earth impelled you all to leave the ship?”
“Gold, sir.”
“Gold?”
“Yes, sir; Captain Ward thought you were down here after a great treasure, sir, and wanted to claim a share.”
This was a revelation to Frank, and the others, too.
For a moment he was speechless.
“Well,” he said, finally, “that is the worst fool’s trick I ever heard of. You say he left the ship to the mercy of the ice?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And he went down into the valley?”
“Yes, sir; all went down there except me and my three friends here; we stayed back.”