First at the North Pole Part 29

It did not take Andy and Chet long to get into action, and both shotguns spoke up at almost the same time. Each youth fired twice in rapid succession. The geese were so thick they could not help but strike some of them, and three came fluttering down on the deck of the vessel.

"Not a bad haul," was Barwell Dawson's comment. "Now you can have roast goose stuffed with onions for tomorrow's dinner."

"And we'll invite all hands to join us," answered Chet, gaily. "I guess there will be enough to go around."

"I don't know about this shooting birds from the ship," said Captain Williamson, in a low voice. "Some of the sailors don't believe in that sort of thing. They think it brings bad luck."

"What do you think?" asked Chet.

"Oh, I am not superst.i.tious," responded the commander.

The master of the vessel was right--some of his hands were very superst.i.tious--and these deplored the killing of the geese, and refused to touch any of the meat when it was cooked.

"We'll have trouble, see if we don't," said one sailor.

"Maybe it will sink us," said another, with a serious shake of his head.

Then they muttered among themselves, and cast ugly glances at Andy and Chet.

"Too bad," whispered Chet to his chum. "If I had known the sailors would take it so seriously, I'd not have shot those geese."

"Oh, the affair will soon blow over," was Andy's answer. But his surmise did not prove correct.

In the morning the boys heard that the _Ice King_ had sprung several leaks. The captain had had the well-hole sounded, and had ordered the pumps started.

"The icebergs and the floating cakes did it," said Barwell Dawson. "I was hopeful we would escape, but it seems not."

"What are you going to do?" asked Andy.

"I don't know yet--we'll see how bad the leaks are."

The ship's carpenter was below, examining the seams, and now Captain Williamson and Barwell Dawson joined him. A thorough examination was effected, and when the party came on deck again they were talking earnestly.

"It's pretty bad, I guess," said Andy to Chet.

A consultation took place in the cabin, between the captain and the explorer, and at the conclusion the course of the vessel was changed.

"Instead of heading for Upernivik we are going to put in at Holstenborg for repairs," explained Barwell Dawson to Professor Jeffer and the others. "I am sorry for the delay, but it cannot be helped. The ice must have hit us harder than we thought."

"Well, the delay won't worry me," answered the scientist, calmly. "It will give me a chance to see something of another part of Greenland."

"Where is Holstenborg?" questioned Chet.

"It is on the western coast of Greenland, about four hundred and fifty miles below Upernivik. It is not much of a place, but Captain Williamson thinks it would be unwise to attempt to reach Upernivik in our present condition."

"Well, I don't care if we do land further down the coast," said Chet, thinking that here would be another chance to make inquiries concerning the lost whaler.

It soon became whispered around that the _Ice King_ was leaking badly.

Some of the hands took the matter calmly, but others were excited.

"It's because those geese were shot," cried one sailor. "It was wrong to do it, and I said so."

"Those boys ought to be heaved overboard," said another.

"Right you are," answered the tar who had first found fault.

Some of this talk presently reached the ears of Ben Haven, the mate, and watching his chance, he came up to where Chet and Andy were standing amidships.

"I want to tell you lads something," said he in a low voice.

"What is it?" asked Chet.

"If I were you boys, I'd not walk forward for the present," went on Ben Haven. "Some of the sailors are down on you for killing those geese.

Better keep out of their way until we reach port--which will be tomorrow morning."

"Why, do you think they'd try to--to harm us?" asked Chet.

"They might--if matters get worse with the ship. Some sailors are awfully headstrong when they get frightened."

Chet and Andy promised to heed the warning, although both were inclined to laugh at it. They kept away from the forecastle, and it was not until after supper that one of the sailors came near them. It was then reported that the steamer was leaking worse than before, and the pumps were kept going constantly.

"You boys are responsible for this," said the sailor. He was a tall, thin individual, who rejoiced in the name of Pep Loggermore.

"What do you mean?" demanded Chet, stiffly.

"You know well enough what I mean," growled the tar. "If we go to the bottom, there won't be n.o.body to blame but you!"

"That's nonsense," broke in Andy. "The ice started the ship's seams--we had nothing to do with it."

"You shot them geese, and----"

"Oh, that's foolishness!" cried Chet. "We don't want to hear it. A man with sense ought to know better than to talk that way."

"I know what I am talking about," grumbled Pep Loggermore.

"You go on about your business," said Andy, sharply.

Loggermore was about to argue some more, when Captain Williamson put in an appearance. He slouched off, but when out of sight, turned and shook his fist at the youths.

"I ain't going to sail with no such fellers as you," he muttered to himself. "And I don't think the other men will want to sail with you, either. If we ever get ash.o.r.e alive, we'll see to it that you two fools don't come aboard again!"

"What did that fellow want of you?" demanded the captain, of the chums.

"Oh, it wasn't much," answered Andy, evasively. He did not want to get Loggermore into trouble.

"Did he threaten you?"

"He didn't like it, because we shot the geese," said Chet.

"What tomfoolery!" muttered the captain. "Well, if he bothers you again, let me know, and I'll teach him to mind his own business."