"I am afraid so," the Major smiled a bit wanly. "Guess our plane is at last beyond repair."
"But I say," ejaculated Barney, "you can stow the remains of our plane somewhere below, can't you?"
"Why—er—yes," smiled the Doctor. "We've considerable space now, since using the fuel and food. But why freight the junk? What's the grand idea?"
"I think we can get a bunch of sled-timber and canvas from the whalers at
Point Barrow and rig her up again."
"Why? You'll be welcome to come with us all the way."
"Bruce here, and I," began Barney, and Bruce grinned at the mention of his name, "have a very special mission that takes us cross-country rather than by water. Much as we should like to accept your kind invitation, our mission makes the other route imperative, if it is at all possible to take it."
He told them the story of La Vaune, of Timmie and the ancient pay-roll.
"That being the case," agreed the Doctor, "I shall be glad to assist you by freighting your plane to Point Barrow, and I now release my entire crew to help you in demounting it and bringing it to the submarine."
As the gobs joined the two young aviators in a wild race across the ice-floes, with Jarvis straining after them, the Major turned a smiling face toward the Doctor, as he remarked:
"As fine a bunch as I ever saw."