Part 26 (1/2)

Anxiously the boy waited for dawn, while his mother wept in silence, thinking of her beloved husband.

Would they save him?

At the first signs of morning Bob was up and ready for the search.

Captain Sumner and Jack were not far behind.

The _Dart_ proceeded slowly toward land.

Satisfied that the savages had left the vicinity, the party went ash.o.r.e, and once more proceeded toward the cave of ice.

A light snow had fallen, and all former tracks had been obliterated.

In vain they looked about for some trace of the Svlachkys.

”Let us go on an exploring tour,” suggested the captain, seeing how badly Bob felt.

They started off first for the far end of the cavern.

They had gone scarcely a dozen rods when the captain called a halt.

”Someone is coming!” he whispered.

A crunching of snow and ice was now plainly to be heard.

The party ran for shelter behind a series of ice humps and waited.

Suddenly a man clad in furs dashed by them, running at top speed.

”Father!”

At that strange cry the man stopped as though shot.

”Who calls?” he asked, but instead of replying, Bob rushed from his hiding place.

”My son! What does this mean? How came you here?”

”We came in search of you, father,” replied Bob. Father and son embraced warmly. Then Captain Cromwell turned swiftly.

”We must fly! The Svlachkys are coming! I just escaped from them.”

He had just uttered the words when the crowd of strange people came down upon them.

The leader started to throw a sharp spear at Captain Cromwell, when Bob rushed in and, with one well-directed blow of his gun, laid the man on his back.