Part 53 (1/2)
”He would not have gone seeking for coal,” said the doctor, ”because there is plenty here”
”I', sir,” said the Norseone to seek for a stone to use with his knife to strike a light There can be no other reason”
”Then he will be back directly,” said the captain ”There, leave them to cook; I am uneasy about him Let's search those places a little farther off We'll take that one, Handsob; you the other, Johannes”
They all then started off as the fire burned up, and spread quite a cloud of black smoke overhead; and the Norseman had barely reached the mouth of the ravine which he was to explore before he stopped and gave a triumphant shout as he waved his hand The others waved their hands in answer, and turned to where he stood, with so carefully around
”His cap!” cried the captain ”What does that round is hard as iron, sir,” he said; ”there is not an i for foot-marks”
”Surely he has not been attacked by wild beasts--bears!” cried Mr Handsob hoarsely
”I thought of that, sir; but there is no sign”
They hailed again and again, but there was no reply save that given by the echoes, and the captain grew more uneasy
”Show me exactly where you found the cap,” he said
The Norseman trotted about fifty yards on beyond the entrance to the ravine he had been set to search, and picked up a piece of slaty coal
”Just here, sir,” he said ”I put this where I found the cap”
”Then he one on in that direction; he would not have coo down there”
”No, sir”
”But why should he have dropped his cap?” said the doctor
”He , sir”
”Or so after hione any farther than this unless there was some reason”
”Of course not,” said the captain testily; ”but what reason could there be?”
”Well, it seeo back to the fire and wait a few htful and silent ”He is far o to him
It seems to be a s What do you say?”
”I say that we'll have a good search down this gully, and see if by any chance he has gone down here You, Johannes, search along over our ht away, and try and be back in half an hour at the fire We will meet you”
The Norseman went off without a word, and the captain and doctor, after a glance in the direction of the fire to see that the others atching theully, which looked as if theat the botto abreast, while the sides ran up at once tohere the ice and snow neverdown to for the stones beneath their feet But though they pressed on, seeking hard for so was seen; so, when the half-hour ell up, they turned their heads in the other direction, vainly trying toevery stone and rift overhead for signs
”I hope Johannes has had better fortune,” said the captain as they neared the entrance
”I hope so; he would be back at the fire long before now,” replied the doctor; but hardly had he spoken when a loud hail ca reply, and hurried their paces
”One hardly likes to shout here,” said the doctor; ”the echoes are so weird and strange, they seem quite to answer you”