Part 17 (1/2)

”He must hab got a shock from de dynamo!”

Andy jumped from his bunk and hurried to the engine room. There, as the negro had described, Professor Henderson was lying white and senseless on the floor.

The old hunter stooped over the inventor and felt of his heart.

”He is alive!” he exclaimed. ”His heart beats! We must carry him to a bunk!”

Aided by Was.h.i.+ngton, Andy carried the professor to the sleeping room, where he was made comfortable in one of the beds. The captain was so near death that he could not be seen to breathe, and only the faint flutter of his heart told that life existed.

”We're lost!” cried Was.h.i.+ngton. ”If he dies we'll never get back home again. He is de only one dat knows how to mix de chemicals for de gas!”

This was alarming news. Without the mysterious vapor the s.h.i.+p would not keep afloat long, nor could it be worked back from the desolate land of ice and snow. How much of the gas was left no one knew.

”Did he ever get a shock like this before?” asked the hunter of Was.h.i.+ngton.

”Once, but not so strong.”

”What did you do for him? What medicine did he take?”

”Glory! Glory!” shouted the negro, jumping up and down in his excitement. ”I remembers it now. Wait a second!”

He hurried to the engine room, and came back in a little while with a small bottle.

”Perfessor done say,” he began, ”dat if eber I seed him senselike, when he done gone and got a shock from de 'lectrisit.i.teness, I was to gib him two spoons full ob dis.”

Andy took the bottle, which contained a red liquid. Bill got a spoon from the locker where the dishes were kept. With hands that trembled the old hunter poured out some of the fluid. Then, with Jack's help he forced open the inventor's mouth and put the medicine in.

”I hope it works!” murmured Andy.

He poured out a second spoonful. This was administered to the unconscious man. In a few seconds his face that had been pale showed a little color. His chest expanded as he drew a long breath. Then the old inventor opened his eyes and asked faintly:

”What happened? Where am I?”

”You are all right now,” spoke Andy in a gentle voice. ”You are out of danger I hope, and safe on the _Monarch_.”

”Is the airs.h.i.+p all right?” asked the captain eagerly.

”Yes, and sailing along like a bird,” was the answer. In fact every one had forgotten that the craft was forging ahead, and that all the machinery was working.

A look of relief crossed Professor Henderson's face, and he sat up.

”I remember now,” he said. ”I was adjusting the dynamo, and I touched a live wire. The current was very strong. It is a wonder I was not killed.

But how did you bring me around again?”

”Was.h.i.+ngton happened to remember some medicine you had told him to use in emergencies.”

”Oh, yes: I'm glad I had some on board. It is a remedy for those shocked with electricity. But I must see to the machinery.”

”No, you must not,” said Andy firmly. ”You are too weak to get up yet, and you have a bad burn on your hand.”