And yet he was at a loss to know how to remedy the difficulty. There seemed no way but to wait until the storm had passed.
It shut down now blacker than ever. Soon the mist lifted a trifle and the rain fell harder.
Hours passed and they seemed like months. At length Frank could stand it no longer.
“That settles it,” he cried. “We cannot do worse than stay here. Let us make an effort to return.”
“And give up the expedition?” asked Randall.
“Yes; we are obliged to do that. If we can return in safety to the Scorcher that will be all I will ask.”
“I’m with you, Frank,” agreed the geologist. “I think we’ve done our best, and we had better return to the ship. Perhaps we can venture a trip of exploration hither at some other time.”
“It will have to be so,” declared Frank.
“Be me sowl, I’m afther thinkin’ we’ll lose our way in this mist,” said Barney, apprehensively.
“Oh, I think not,” said Randall. “What if we fired signal guns? Perhaps those on board the Scorcher will hear us.”