CHAPTER XVIII

SHOOTING WILD GEESE

It was certainly a time of extreme peril, and the boys realized it fully as well as did the men. The steamer was caught in the grip of the big iceberg, and the deck was directly beneath an overhanging portion that might at any time break off and crush the vessel and all on board.

Captain Williamson had run aft to learn what could be done with the propeller, and he had already told the mate to get the sailors out with fenders to save the ship as much as possible from chafing on the side of the berg.

"The loose ice on the other side helps to keep us against the big berg," said Barwell Dawson.

"I have tried to get some pictures, but the big iceberg is too close," came from Professor Jeffer, who was as cool as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

"Well, we're going to get away from it mighty quick,--if we can," answered Mr. Camdal, pointedly. The close quarters did not suit him any better than it suited Mr. Dawson and the boys.

To clear the propeller a man had to be hoisted over the stern in a sling. He carried with him a pickpole, and with this dug out the cake which had become caught in the blades of the propeller.

This work had hardly been accomplished when another grinding sound came from the big iceberg, and a shower of small ice came down on the forecastle, knocking out several lights of glass. Andy was struck on the head and hurled flat.

"Oh, Andy, are you hurt?" cried Chet, in alarm, as he rushed to his chum's assistance.

"Not much, but that was a pretty good crack," was Andy's reply, as he felt his head where a lump was rapidly rising.

"You boys had better go below," said Barwell Dawson. "You can't do anything up here, and you may get a worse dose next time."

But the lads were loath to retire, and so lingered on the deck, but took good care to keep out of the way of the ice that fell a little later.

Finding that the propeller would now work, Captain Williamson gave orders for full speed astern. As soon as the engines started there was more crashing of ice, the small stuff being ground down under the ship, and the ice of the pinnacle breaking off along the shrouds. Everybody on deck had to get out of the way, for the deck took on the appearance of "an ice-house upset," as Chet put it, big chunks of the frozen material lying in all directions.

"Hurrah! we are leaving the big iceberg behind!" cried Andy, a few minutes later, and his words proved true.

"I can see clear water ahead!" called out Professor Jeffer, shortly afterwards, and then he turned, to get the photographs he wanted of the big iceberg.

The report concerning open water was correct, and, having left the vicinity of the big iceberg, Captain Williamson had the steamer steered in something of a big circle. Thus they avoided all but the small ice. The latter, however, thumped and bumped on the bow and sides as strongly as ever, and once there came a shock that threw everybody on the deck headlong.

"I hope that doesn't damage us any," observed Andy, when this new scare was over.

"It may start some of the seams," answered Barwell Dawson, "although the vessel was reënforced to withstand just such knocks."

Inside of an hour the _Ice King_ had passed all the big icebergs and a large portion of the floating cakes. Clear blue water was ahead, for which all on board were thankful.

"I didn't expect this, so far south," said Captain Williamson, after making a tour of the ship, and having had the deck cleaned up. "It is unusual."

"I know it," answered Barwell Dawson. "I am thankful we didn't run into the big iceberg at night."

"Yes, darkness would have made the situation much worse."

"Have we started any of the ship's seams?" asked Dr. Slade.

"Not as far as I have been able to discover."

The boys went to the forecastle to see what damage had been done there, and found the ship's carpenter putting in some new lights of glass. One sailor had received a black eye from a chunk of falling ice, but otherwise little bodily harm had resulted.

"Well, I call that a narrow escape," said Andy, after the excitement was over.

"So do I," responded Chet. "I don't want another such experience."

"You will have to go through harder things than that up north," said Barwell Dawson, who overheard the talk.

"We'll be prepared then," answered Andy. "This wasn't expected."

"I am afraid you boys don't realize what you are up against," went on the hunter and explorer. "We are going to face many perils in the polar regions. If you feel you don't want to go further, you can leave us when we get to Upernivik."

"No! no! we want to see this thing through, perils or no perils," cried Andy, hastily.

"Indeed we do!" added Chet. "I guess you'll find we can stand as much as anybody after we get used to it."

Late that afternoon the steamer came in sight of a large flock of wild geese. Professor Jeffer calculated that there must be thousands of them, and ran for his camera, to take some snap-shots.

"Can't we do a little shooting?" asked Chet, of Mr. Dawson. "They are heading this way."

Permission was granted, and both boys rushed below for shotguns. When they came up, the geese were flying almost directly over the _Ice King_, uttering their strange cries as they did so.

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 superstitious," responded the commander.

The master of the vessel was right--some of his hands were very superstitious--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 nobody 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 ashore 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."

"What about the leaks, Captain?" asked Andy, to change the subject.

"They are pretty bad, but I hope to reach port without serious trouble," was the reply.

But the look on the face of the commander of the _Ice King_ showed that he was greatly worried.