Part 25 (2/2)

”That being the case,” agreed the Doctor, ”I shall be glad to a.s.sist you by freighting your plane to Point Barrow, and I now release my entire crew to help you in demounting it and bringing it to the submarine.”

As the gobs joined the two young aviators in a wild race across the ice-floes, with Jarvis straining after them, the Major turned a smiling face toward the Doctor, as he remarked:

”As fine a bunch as I ever saw.”

”You're right,” said the Doctor, ”and deserving of a rich reward.”

”Speaking of rewards,” said the Major quickly, ”how about that ten thousand which comes to some of us? I had promised it to my boys, had I won.”

”And I the same,” smiled the Doctor.

”The puzzle is, who's won!”

”Suppose we split, fifty-fifty, and, following our original plan, each give his share to his boys.”

”Splendid! Just the right thing!” exclaimed the Major.

”It's a go!” The Doctor grasped the Major's hand.

And this was the glad news that awaited the men as they returned, some dragging poles, some carrying rolls of canvas, while others urged, pushed and pulled at the dog-team drawing a sled on which was loaded the Liberty motor. To the aviators was to go five thousand dollars; to the jackies, five thousand.

”Nothing of the kind!” exclaimed Bruce indignantly.

”I should say nix!” echoed Barney.

”Why, what could be fairer?” said the Doctor, a puzzled look on his face.

”Why,” Barney declared, feeling sure he was also speaking for his partner; ”we each get two thousand five hundred, and your men who have worked as hard and risked as much, each get a fraction of that sum. I say, nothing doing. Share and share alike, man for man, them's my sentiments. Get out your pencil and see how many times ten goes in ten thousand. A thousand times? A thousand apiece, that's something like!

Enough to have a whale of a good time on, or buy a farm. Pay your money and take your choice. Step up, gents, and try your luck!”

When the gobs realized that this wild harangue meant that the aviators wished to split the whole reward with them, they were at first urgent in protest, and, when this availed them nothing, they went wild with cheers for the true sports of the aviation department.

Of course this all called for another burst of jazz, after which came the work of packing away the parts of the airplane, in which task the gobs showed an enthusiasm which told better than shouts what they thought of the young aviators.

After the stars and stripes had been planted on a high ice-pinnacle, a rather solemn supper was eaten in the lee of a giant ice-cake. Then, with the jazz band playing ”Star Spangled Banner,” the submarine sank and the homeward journey was begun.

A fortunate voyage brought them to Point Barrow in sixty-eight hours.

There the aviators found the supplies they needed, and began at once preparing for the overland trip. The Doctor and the Major decided to proceed down the coast by dog-team to Cape Prince of Wales, where they would catch the first boat in the Spring. The submarine crew were put ”on their own” and instructed to follow down the coast in a safe and leisurely fas.h.i.+on, to report their arrival at the naval station in Seattle.

Bruce and Barney succeeded in rigging out the plane in a very satisfactory manner, and one day in early Spring they again alighted in Timmie's stubble, much to the joy of the entire family. And a few days later they made a landing in the old athletic field of Brandon college, where a very happy girl, who had been watching the plane with a wistful eye, came rus.h.i.+ng out to meet them.

When Bruce pressed into her hand a package, and told her of its contents, tears came to her eyes--tears of joy that her struggles were over, but also tears of thankfulness for the safe return of those who had done so much for her.

The submarine crew arrived in Seattle in due time. There, before they separated for a long leave, which was sure to be followed by honorable discharge, five of them agreed to pool their share of the prize money to charter a craft, preferably a submarine, and go in search of the treasure city of Siberia. There was talk, too, of an attempt to induce Bruce and Barney to join them on the expedition, as an airplane, which could be stowed in the submarine when not in use, would be of inestimable service to them.

Bruce and Barney in due time collected the reward offered for the destruction of the outlaw wireless station.

As for the Major and the Doctor, there is still much speculation in many quarters as to their ident.i.ty. And, as for myself, I am not able to add any information on the subject.

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