Part 29 (1/2)
”How does that strike you?” went on Andy, to Mark and Jack, who had joined him. ”The luckiest thing we ever did was to pick up Dirola.”
”To think we should land right among her own people, too!” spoke up Jack. ”It's just like a fairy story.”
”But where in the world did you come from?” asked Andy. ”We thought you were all killed by falling from the s.h.i.+p.”
”Not a bit,” replied Jack, and he told the old hunter what had happened to himself, Mark and the others. In turn Andy related his experiences.
”If only the poor professor comes around all right we'll be in pretty good shape,” finished the old man. ”But I'm afraid he's frozen. I wonder what they were going to do with him.”
”Put him in big hole, where all ice,” broke in Dirola. ”That what we do when the lights s.h.i.+ne. But we no hurt any you now. You all safe. Me save!”
”I guess that was their intention,” muttered Andy. ”They were going to sacrifice him to the G.o.ddess of Ice, I suppose. Well, well, we certainly are having plenty of experiences.”
Many of the natives had now left the cave. Dirola gave an order to one of the big Esquimaux who had remained, and he went off on the run.
”We eat now,” the woman remarked. ”Me plenty hungry too, Professor come back an' eat wid you.”
In a few minutes Professor Henderson, warmly clad, was brought in, leaning on the shoulder of the big man who, a little while before, had been about to sacrifice him. The old inventor was weak, but had suffered no serious harm. His body had been coated with thick oil before the proposed sacrifice, as part of the ceremony, and this had served, in a large measure, to keep the cold out.
He was warmly greeted by his friends, and then they all squatted down on the ice, while in a few minutes a big earthen pot of hot stew was brought in. Dirola ate with them, dipping her fingers in with the others.
”It's the first time I ever ate with a queen,” said Jack with a smile.
”Me sure queen,” said the woman with a laugh. ”Me tell you 'bout it.”
Whereupon she related how she was of the royal house, and had, on the death of her father, ascended to the throne. Then came the visit of the white men, including Andre, whose strange message the adventurers had found. He was driven, with his companions, from the land. Then the Esquimaux of Dirola's tribe had been attacked by others living farther south. A great battle had been fought and the queen and others were taken prisoners. Dirola had been held captive until the advent of the _Monarch_.
She did not know how close she was to her own people and the big sacrificial cave, until she fell into it with the boys and farmers. Then the procession came in and Dirola recognized Professor Henderson as the victim. She at once resolved to declare herself, and did so, showing that beneath the black fur she wore the white robes that none but members of the royal household could don.
The woman also explained how the big cave was used for religious services by her people, who wors.h.i.+ped the northern lights, or magnetic fire that never burned, and she told how they sacrificed to it at times.
”Well, I hope they don't sacrifice any of us,” said the professor. ”I was as near death as I ever care to go. I wonder what has become of my airs.h.i.+p. If we--”
”What's that?” cried Jack, starting up.
”Listen!” came from another.
Far off in the cave sounded a strange, wild, weird chant. Then came the tramp of many feet. A little later a great concourse of people came rus.h.i.+ng into the cave, led by a score of the white-robed men.
”They're coming back after us!” cried Andy. ”Here, take a revolver, Professor, and defend yourself!”
CHAPTER XXV
ADRIFT ON THE ICE
”No shoot! Me save!” exclaimed Dirola, springing in front of Andy. ”You trust me!”
On came the crowd, plainly visible because of the magnetic fire. It came to a halt a short distance in front of the adventurers, while from the ranks of the white-robed ones stepped forth a native. He spoke rapidly to Dirola, who answered him in fierce tones.