While Will Bertram was passing through strange and varied adventures the friends he had left behind him at the whaling station were mourning him as lost.
Captain Bertram missed him when he returned to the settlement, and search was at once instituted.
He learned that Will had not returned by land. He must, therefore, have attempted to cross on the ice.
The field had broken up and floated to sea, and it was believed that Will had been carried away in this manner.
A small boat searched along the coast, but after a long quest no trace was found of the missing boy.
“He has been drowned,” decided Captain Bertram at last.
“Don’t say that, captain,” said old Jack, hopefully. “He may have been picked up by some ship.”
The next day the captain and crew of the Albatross set sail on the whaler for home. Jack, Hugo and Tom accompanied them.
Captain Bertram was continually under the gloom of his bereavement.
“Poor Will,” he would say; “what will the old folks say when they learn he is lost?”
“Cheer up, captain,” said Jack. “Will ain’t the boy to give up easily, and had a dozen chances for escape. He may be home before we are.”
As the ship neared home the action of Captain Morris was discussed.
“He shall be arrested at once,” said Captain Bertram, sternly. “It is his wickedness that caused all our troubles.”
“We must give him no warning,” said Jack, “or he will escape.”
One morning the ship started down the coast for Watertown.
The crew were excited and anxious to reach their native land once more.
As the ship sailed into the harbor channel they passed a small yawl, outward bound.
There were four men visible on deck, three of whom were strangers to him.
The fourth, however, he recognized at a glance.
“Donald Parker, Captain Morris’ right-hand man!”
“Yes; see, he is there, just coming out of the cabin!”
If Jack had had his way the ship would have stopped the yacht, so anxious was he to see Morris apprehended for his many crimes.
Jack, following it with his glance, saw a strange sight at its stern.
The glass bull’s-eye in the rear of the cabin was suddenly broken out.
A white face appeared at the opening, and a voice cried loudly for help.
“Captain! Captain! Look there!” shouted Jack.
He was almost frantic with amazement and excitement.