Marline did not reply, but with a pale and agitated countenance stood looking down upon the dead body at his feet.
“Hasn’t it occurred to you, Stump,” he said at length, “that this animal may have been the cause of the disappearance of—”
“Sure enough!” interrupted the shipkeeper, starting, “and singular it is, that the idea didn’t get into my head before. Depend upon it, that creatur’ is at the bottom of the whole thing. But God help her!” he suddenly added, shuddering, “it can’t be that—that—”
“I understand what you would say,” broke forth the harpooner; “but you may set your mind at ease upon that score. Alice has not been devoured by the bear, for if she had been the animal would not have attacked us so soon afterward.”
“Ay, ay!” cried Stump, brightening up, “I didn’t think of that. It’s as you say—the bear didn’t eat the poor gal. I ought to have known it by his being so lean, for he couldn’t o’ swallowed such a plump lass as she is, without showing it. No—no. She saw the ravenous creatur’ and she’s gone and hid herself somewhere and is afraid to come out. We’ll find her in the morning, lad, depend upon it!”
The two men made their way back to the block of ice upon which the ark was situated, where they remained, sleepless and watchful, until the gray dawn began to creep into the mist. Then they moved off to continue the search. But they had not gone far when Stump suddenly uttered a loud cry, while his eyes—fixed upon some particular point—gleamed with a peculiar expression.
“What is it? What do you see?” cried Marline.
“It’s gone, now!” cried Stump; “it’s gone, sure enough; and more’s the wonder. It’s a miracle—a parfect miracle; for my eyes didn’t deceive me; I’m sure of that!”
“For God’s sake, tell me; what was it?”
“It was that little golden harpoon—the gift that the captain gave to Miss Alice!”