Part 14 (2/2)

Despite the unsightly black lenses, Lund appeared so absolutely prepared and, in a different way, fully as confident as Carlsen. A certain audacious a.s.surance seemed to ooze out of him, to permeate his neighborhood, and a measure of it extended to Rainey.

”We'll sight Makus.h.i.+n first,” muttered Lund, as if to himself.

”Makus.h.i.+n?”

”Volcano, fifty-seven hundred feet high. Much ice in sight?”

Rainey described the horizon.

”All fresh-water ice,” said Lund. ”An' melting.”

”Melting? It must be way below freezing,” said Rainey. Lund chuckled.

”This ain't cold, matey. Wait till we git _north_. Never saw it lower than five above in Unalaska in my life. It's the rainiest spot in the U. S. A. Rains two days out of three, reg'lar. This ice is comin' out of the strait. Sure sign it's breakin' up. The winter freeze ain't due for six weeks yet.”

Carlsen, before he went below, had sent a man into the fore-spreaders, and now he shouted, cupping his hands and sounding his news as if it had been a call to arms.

”_Land-ho!_”

”What is it?” called Rainey back.

”High peak, sir. Dead ahead! Clouds on it, or smoke.”

He came sliding down the halyards to the deck as Lund said: ”That'll be Makus.h.i.+n. Now the fun'll commence.”

From below the sailors off watch came up on deck, and the hunters, the latter wiping their mouths, fresh from their interrupted breakfast, all crowding forward to get a glimpse of the land. Rainey kept on the course, heading for the far-off volcano. Minutes pa.s.sed before Carlsen came on deck. He had not hurried his meal.

”I'll take her over, Rainey,” he said briefly.

Rainey and Lund were barely seated before the heeling of the schooner and the scuffle of feet told of Lund's prophesied change of course.

Rainey looked at the telltale compa.s.s above his head.

”Heading due west,” he told Lund.

”West it is,” said the giant. ”More coffee, Tamada. Fill your belly, Rainey. Get a good meal while the eatin' is good.”

Although it was Hansen's watch below, Rainey found him at the wheel instead of the seaman he had left there. Carlsen came up to him smiling.

”Better let Hansen have the deck, Mr. Rainey,” he said. ”We're going to have a conference in the cabin at four bells, and I'd like you to be present.”

”All right, sir,” Rainey answered, getting a thrill at this first actual intimation of the meeting. Hansen, it seemed, was not to be one of the representatives of the seamen. And Carlsen had been smart enough to forestall Lund's demand for Rainey by taking some of the wind out of the giant's sails and doing the unexpected. Unless the hunters had suggested that Rainey be present. But that was hardly likely, considering that he was to be left out of the deal.

”In just what capacity are you callin' this conference?” Lund asked, when Carlsen notified him in turn. ”The skipper ain't dead is he?”

”I represent the captain, Lund,” replied the doctor. ”He entirely approves of what I am about to suggest to you and the men. In fact I have his signature to a doc.u.ment that I hope you will sign also. It will be greatly to your interest to do so. I am in present charge of the _Karluk_.”

”You ain't a reg'lar member of this expedition,” objected Lund stolidly.

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