The mammoth’s bones did not interfere with the Ranger’s work, whether she was in the sea, on the ice, or in the air, as she was calculated to carry a much greater weight.
Barney and Pomp were so delighted over their escape from the pass that they got out the fiddle and the banjo and struck up a lively melody as the ice ship sped along.
The cyclone had left a broad trail where it swept over the ice, tumbling great blocks here and there, sending the loose snow up in great drifts and sweeping the ice perfectly clean.
“Had the Ranger been caught in its grip,” said Frank, “there would by this time have been nothing left of her.”
“Then it’s lucky we ran into that cul-de-sac,” answered Vaneyke.
“Very likely to avoid the whalers in the strait.”
“You think he must have had an object in so doing?”
“It is my impression that he yet has the shanghaied boy on his craft, and did not want the other whalers to know it. In a lonely, desolate place like the bay is where the Red Eric lies, he can put the unlucky boy out of the way, and no one will be the wiser. Don’t you see the point?”
At this moment a fine big reindeer bounded into view from behind a mass of icy blocks.
The beast cast a frightened glance of its big soft eyes at the boat, and wheeling around, it sped away.
The professor grasped the spokes, put on more speed, and Frank took a rifle and went out on deck.
The deer was speeding over the ice like the wind, and the ice boat rushed after it furiously.
A loud buzz arose from the wheels and a crackling from under the big steel runners.
Fast as the deer was going, the animal was no match for the ice ship, and it gradually bore down upon the creature.
“The deer is going in a long curve,” said the doctor.
“Can’t you cut across the curve and head it off?” asked Frank.
“Yes. That will bring us nearer the sea coast.”
“Go ahead, then. I want to get in range.”
The deer was heading for the coast; but, for some reason, was describing a sort of semi-circle.
Dr. Vaneyke, instead of steering along in the animal’s tracks, now took a short cut with the boat.
Only half the distance to the shore was covered when Frank raised his rifle and fired.
The deer bounded up in the air and fell dead.
“Hurrah! You’ve dropped him!” cried the professor.