The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 131: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

IN FROZEN P * Now come in again,” said Feltnar. He led the way to the coffer which he had forced open. The Icelander looked upon the treasure with flaming eyes and could not speak. “Old man,” Feltnar said, forgetting their former difference, “‘ we’re pretty rich. Didn’t I tell you I had something better than that walrus to show you? ” “Tt is a fortune!” gasped Hirik. “Well, that’s according to what you call a fortune. It’s worth a tidy little sum—melted down. We’ll have enough to pay us for taking it home,” and he laughed. “ We!” exclaimed Eirik. “Of course. You're going to help me, aren’t you? I couldn’t do it alone. We'll share even whatever we find aboard the old hulk, eh?” “Mr. Feltnar ”? “Now, that’s all right. I’ve been the cause of some trouble to you and your folks this summer, and you've been very kind to me. We'll forget our little row to-day, eh?” Eirik choked. “You forget too easily, Mr. Felt- nar.” . “Oh, I never bear hard feelings long,” declared the American, laugh- “And this ought to make any man feel too happy to quarrel. Besides, I really believe this is the old duffer Thorhall told us about—that ancestor of yours. And if so, some of this wealth ought naturally to fall into the hands of his heirs and assigns.” __ “Tt is a dream!” muttered Eirik, shaking his head. “Well, it’s a very realistic one, if it is. Now what do you think we’d better do? Bring up the sledge and pack the chest ashore? ” “My sledge isn’t strong enough to carry that weight, sir. I shall have to go ashore for the bigger one.” “That’s too bad.” “Tl take a load of the walrus blub- ber home, so that no bear or fox will de- stroy it. Dll return before night with the larger sledge. We'll camp here and go back in the morning, if it isn’t star- light.” “Lord! I’d hate to stay in this boat over night ”—and Feltnar shuddered. “All right. VU hang about here and FETTERS. 127 wait for you. What shall we do with that body?” ‘* Bury it in one of the holes yonder in the ice.” “Good! Come along and give me a lift. That will give me something to do while you are gone. I’ll tear down the ice from the walls to cover it.” ‘Lhey hoisted the heavy body over the rail and dragged it along the ice to one of the deepest cavities in the base of ‘the mountain. They thrust it in here, and while Feltnar ran back to the ship for the great ax he had observed in the cabin, Eirik hurried away toward his sledge and dogs. | Feltnar found the weapon quite all he wanted to swing, but he managed to tumble down before the mouth of the cave a great heap of ice, which the sun would be long in melting, he thought. It was only in the middle of the day that the warmth would reach this ra- vine, anyway. : He could hear the cataracts falling from the summit of the berg now, but all about him the ice had ceased melt- ing and was seemingly as firm as ever. There were great cracks in the berg directly over the Viking ship; but they were’ old cracks. The black ice was seamed like an old man’s face. Remembering that he would have several hours to wait alone, he walked back to the spot where he and Hirik had killed the walrus. The Icelander had already disap- peared with his sledge; but Feltnar found the can of tea which they had brought, and with this, and a sack of the seal blubber for fuel, he returned to the berg and again climbed aboard the ancient vessel. | He built a tiny fire on the deck, fed it with blubber, and warmed the tea. | This put heart into him, and he deter- mined to examine further the contents of the boat. Twisting a wick out of his hand- kerchief, he found the steel cap which lay on the floor, and made shift to ob-~ tain a light from the blubber. He set the table on its heavy carved legs (they had once been fastened to the floor, but the fastenings gave way when the door fell in), and placed the improvised lamp upon it. COMRRIC LOO YY \ SS COL