First at the North Pole Part 27

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.

"Phew! but it's cold!" added Chet, as he b.u.t.toned his clothing tightly about him.

"Well, boys, how do you like this?" sang out Barwell Dawson, as he noticed them.

"Got into it kind of sudden like, didn't we?" asked Chet.

"I think so, although the captain said last night to expect it."

"Shall we have this all the way up now?" asked Andy.

"Hardly. I think, and so does Captain Williamson, that there is clear water beyond."

The captain was on deck with his gla.s.s, scanning the ocean ahead anxiously. Several large icebergs appeared to be drifting directly toward the steamer, and he gave orders that the course be changed slightly.

"The _Ice King_ won't mind the small ice," said he, "but there is no sense in trying the big bergs, yet. We'll get all we want of that later."

"Right you are, sir," responded Barwell Dawson. "Don't take any chances when they are not necessary."

After watching the ice for a while the boys went below for breakfast. At the table they sat down with Professor Jeffer and Dr. Slade.

"I am going to try to get some photographs of the icebergs," said the professor. "I trust we get close enough to them to get some good views."

"They ought to make good pictures," responded the doctor.

All the while the boys were eating, the small cakes of ice thumped against the sides of the steamer. But this did no damage, although, as the professor explained, there was danger of some ice getting caught in the propeller.

"And we can't afford to have that damaged," he added.

When the boys came on deck again, they saw that the _Ice King_ was much closer to several of the large icebergs. In fact, the steamer appeared to be picking her way through a veritable field of floating ice.

"It is much thicker than the captain expected," said Barwell Dawson, gravely.

"Is there any danger?" asked Andy, quickly.

"There is always danger when so much ice is floating about. But we hope to get through all right."

The lads could readily see that not only Mr. Dawson, but also the captain, mate, and sailors were much concerned. Captain Williamson still had his gla.s.s in use, and was scanning the sea ahead.

"I think we can make it," he said to Mr. Dawson. "But it is going to be a tight squeeze."

"Well, we don't want such a tight squeeze that we get our ribs stove in," answered the explorer.

"Are we going to pa.s.s between the icebergs yonder?" asked Chet.

"We'll have to--to reach the clear sea beyond," answered the captain.

The speed of the steamer had been reduced, and the course again changed.

They were pus.h.i.+ng away from one of the big bergs that seemed to tower up into the sky like some giant of the polar regions.