Part 27 (1/2)

In a few hours the _Ice King_ was out on the broad Atlantic. The long swells made the steamer roll a good deal, and soon the two boys felt this in their legs, and then in their stomachs. Each looked at the other in a woe-begone manner.

”What's the matter?” asked Andy.

”Nothing,” returned Chet, manfully striving to overcome a feeling he could not subdue. ”What's the matter with you?”

”Nothing much, only--I--I feel sort of crawly inside.”

”You're seasick, Andy!”

”How about yourself?” retorted Andy, and he made a movement toward the side of the steamer.

”I guess I--I am--with--you!” gasped Chet, and also ran for the rail.

After that, the two chums lost all interest in living for several hours.

They felt as miserable as a person with a dose of seasickness can feel.

They remained on deck for a while, and then sought the seclusion of their stateroom. Here Dr. Slade came to their a.s.sistance.

”Two more down, eh?” said the physician, with a little smile. ”Well, I'll do what I can to fix you up,” and he brought forth his medicine case.

”Wh--who else is sick?” asked Andy. In seasickness, ”misery loves company” every time.

”Mr. Camdal and Ben Haven, the first mate.”

”The first mate?” queried Chet, between his groans. ”Do sailors get sick?”

”Some of them do. I know the captain of an ocean liner who has crossed the Atlantic forty or fifty times. He told me confidentially that he is sick about every third or fourth voyage. It's just the condition his stomach happens to be in.”

”Then it isn't so--so babyish after all,” said Chet, and that gave him a grain of comfort.

The doctor did what little he could for the two lads, and by noon the next day they felt quite like themselves. Let me add, that during the remainder of the voyage they were not seasick again.

Although well weighted by her heavy cargo, and by the extra planking on her sides, and extra bracings inside, the _Ice King_ made good time on her trip. It was summer, yet as the vessel turned northward it became colder daily, and soon the boys were glad enough to take Barwell Dawson's advice and don heavier underwear. Then, as it grew still colder, they put on thicker outer garments also.

”I think we'll see some icebergs soon,” announced Captain Williamson, one evening. ”I can feel 'em in the air,” and he threw back his head to take in a deep breath. Many old sailors who have been in northern waters affirm that they can often ”smell” icebergs before the bergs can be seen.

The boys retired as usual that night, and slept soundly until about five o'clock in the morning, when a tremendous thump on the vessel's side aroused them and threw Chet sprawling on the floor.

”For goodness' sake! what's that!” gasped the lad, as he scrambled up.

Before Andy could speak there came another tremendous thump, which added to their alarm. A series of smaller thumps followed. On deck they heard Captain Williamson giving a series of rapid-fire orders.

”I think I know what's up!” cried Andy, at last, as he donned his clothing with all possible speed. ”We've struck some floating ice.”

”That must be it,” answered Chet, and he, too, began to dress with dispatch.

When the youths reached the deck, a cry of astonishment burst from their lips. It seemed as if during the night the _Ice King_ had entered another world. On all sides were large and small cakes of floating ice, and in the distance half a dozen big icebergs loomed up.

”Looks as if we were getting to the North Pole fast,” remarked Andy, grimly.