Part 22 (1/2)

But fast as the escaping ones went, the pursuers seemed to come faster.

Now they were so close that they could be seen brandis.h.i.+ng their spears, bows and arrows. Their shouts, too, were borne forward on the cold wind.

At last the adventurers were at the side of the airs.h.i.+p. Hastily they dismounted from their sleds turning the dogs loose. The Esquimaux in pursuit were about half a mile to the rear and would soon be upon them.

”Quick, Dirola! Into the s.h.i.+p with you!” called Andy. ”We'll take you with us if we go at all!”

”We must mend the tear first!” exclaimed the professor, scrambling up the icy slope toward the cabin of the _Monarch_ in a fas.h.i.+on that would have done credit to a much younger man. ”Andy, you and the boys, with Tom and Bill, hold the enemy at bay until Was.h.i.+ngton and I get the s.h.i.+p in readiness for a start!”

”All right!” cried Andy, now in his element. ”I'll make those Esquimaux wish they had let us alone!”

Dirola had disappeared inside the cabin. In a few minutes the professor and Was.h.i.+ngton were hard at work setting the machinery in motion.

First, after having seen that none of the apparatus was disarranged, Amos Henderson started the gas generating machine. Next, leaving Was.h.i.+ngton in charge of this and the engine room, the inventor prepared a big patch with some cement on it. This he gave to Mark, who quickly found the place where the old patch had come off the silk bag, and covered the opening. Already the bag was beginning to swell with the gas.

But now with loud yells the Esquimaux came rus.h.i.+ng up. Leaping off their sleds, they began throwing their spears and shooting their arrows.

CHAPTER XVIII

NORTHWARD ONCE MORE

”Repel boarders!” sung out Andy. ”Where are the guns?”

”Here!” shouted Tom, handing out the rifles fully loaded.

The old hunter seized a weapon, as did Bill, Jack, and Mark. Tom also leveled his gun at the savages.

Bang! Crack! Bang! went the guns. It was like a skirmish in battle. As Andy directed, each one fired low.

So heavy a fusillade as the adventurers were able to fire had its effect. Many of the Esquimaux fell, none badly hurt, but disabled so they could not attack. Still the main body advanced up the slope with angry cries, determined to capture the airs.h.i.+p and regain their captives.

The s.h.i.+p now began to quiver through its whole length. Larger and larger distended the gas bag. Then, with a motion as of a great bird arising from where it had been fastened to the earth, the _Monarch_ arose slowly in the air. A cry of astonishment burst from the Esquimaux. Some who had hold of the rail retained their grip until they felt themselves lifted up. Then they let go suddenly and dropped to the ice.

”We're off!” cried Andy. He aimed a blow at a native who was still clinging to the s.h.i.+p and endeavoring to spear the old hunter. Andy missed his blow, just as the native let fly his spear, which pierced the hunter in the arm.

With a yell of rage, the native let go and fell. Andy sank back on the deck of the s.h.i.+p sorely wounded. The s.h.i.+p soared aloft. The next instant the propeller started revolving and the _Monarch_ pa.s.sed off over the heads of the savages.

”Is any one hurt?” asked the professor, coming from the engine room.

”Andy was struck by a spear!” exclaimed Jack.

At the inventor's suggestion they carried the old hunter into the cabin, and laid him on one of the bunks.

”You take the steering wheel,” said Amos Henderson to Jack. ”Was.h.i.+ngton will run the engines for a while and Mark and I will see to Andy. Bill and Tom, you can get something to eat; and turn on the heating stoves; it is cold here.”

Soon everyone on board was busily engaged. The professor bandaged Andy's arm, which contained a severe though not fatal wound. In a little while the hunter awoke from the stupor into which the pain had thrown him.

”Fire!” he cried.

”There is no need,” said the professor soothingly. ”We are safe now.”