The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

134 “They thought one enough, I s’pose.” ' “Oh, ’twere given out as how you’d tumbled overboard, and the mate gave the whole crew a turrible raking for letting the dory break loose durin’ the night.” “The beast! ” “Well, go on, sir. What happened ¢ ” Feltnar told him scantily, yet intelli- gently, what had occurred since he leit the Goodcheer up to the day before. He was more careful in speaking of his discovery of the old ship on which they were now sailing; he did not tell all. “ But how did you come to be on that ice yourself?” he added. “Humph, easy answered, sir grunted Bobolink. “Some of us went out on the ice vesterday after seals. The gale come up and the boats went back—without me.” ‘‘ Intentionally ? ” “Tt was that cursed Larry Toole as done it, I believe. He’s been sore on me ever since you left.” “ But where was the bark? Wonder we didn’t see her.” ‘Lord love ye, I was miles an’ miles from that air berg you an’ this craft fell out of. But when I seed I was left behind I just started for shore. We'd been coasting Iceland for two days.” “Any better luck since I left?” asked Feltnar with a smile. “ Mighty little. Guess the men ain’t very well satisfied. But they don’t dare speak up. Both the skipper an’ mate make out they never knew nothin’ about your goin’, an’ them that had a hand in it daresn’t peep.” “They’re a crowd of villains! ” “Dunno *bout that. But they’re off _ there somewhere, an’ I ’spect they may look for me yet. The boys won’t let me be left behind without a kick. Toole ain’t ev rybody yet.” “He seems to run the skipper and the bark.” “ His time’ll come. Ah, sir, what’s that?” Feltnar looked around in the direc- tion of the distant shore. He saw a sail —the sail of a fishing smack which he knew must belong to one of the farmer- fishermen who lived near the Axar Fiord. Jonah was ed THE ARGOSY. Bobolink answered his own question, for he said: “If you’ve got friends ashore lookin’ for you, that’s them. And they'll catch up with us all right. Vl be glad to get into something that can be sailed better ’n this old tub.” ‘Don’t be ungrateful,’ Feltnar told him. “The ‘old tub’ has certainly saved our lives thus far.” “ All right, sir. But down comes the sail. The drag ’ll be easily shifted to the bow, and so keep her straight. There’s one good thing about these double-enders. Don’t matter which way ye pint ’em.” The Iceland boat skimmed down to- ward them swiftly. Feltnar saw only one figure in it, and that, as it drew nearer, he knew. “ kirik! Hi, old man!” he shouted. “Isn't this great luck?” The young Icelander stood up, and evidently was greatly amazed to see Feltnar’s companion. ‘ Who—who is that with you?” he cried, his voice shaking. “ Well, it isn’t your respected ances- tor, or one of his followers—I can as- sure you of that!” the American re- plied, laughing. “ But it’s well-nigh as wonderful. He’ s from the whaling bark I sailed in.’ Then he added hurriedly to Bobo- link: “I haven’t told these people how I came to leave the bark. No use talk- ing about it now.” “Aye, aye, sir!” The little smack rounded to, and, dropping her sail, Eirik grappled to the bigger vessel’s side. Let’s get aboard that eee ene and let this old tub go to blazes!” ex- claimed Bobolink. “ Not on your life—eh, Eirik? ” cried Feltnar. ‘ She’s too valuable to be de- serted.” Bobolink looked astonished, but EHirik nodded. “We must save her,” he said. “I have a pair of long oars here, Mr. Felt- nar, and I think we can beat into a harbor I know just beyond the Axar.” ‘“ Well, if you gents are bound to do it——’ “We certainly are,” interposed Felt- nar. “ Eirik, how did you know the boat had got loose from the ice? ” GORMIGOOO (COL