CHAPTER XXV

IN THE NICK OF TIME

Joe and Jimmy made for the wireless room, while behind them came the larger of the two polar bears, the other apparently having been injured in the fall.

The boys were running at full speed, but the deck was slippery with ice, and again and again they almost lost their footing. It seemed to them as if they were in a nightmare.

Behind them, they could hear the heavy padding of the brute’s feet, running with surprising speed for so heavy and clumsy a creature. Once Joe ventured to glance behind him, and the sight of the huge monster with his slavering jaws and fiery eyes bearing down upon them lent wings to his feet.

They heard startled shouts behind them, and knew that others had noted the sudden invasion of the ship by the terrors of the North. But any help that might come from that quarter would be too late to do them any good. Their fate would be decided in a few seconds more. A death more terrible than that threatened by the iceberg itself was close at their heels. They must depend upon their own fleetness for safety.

Before them loomed the open door of the wireless room. If they could once get within its friendly shelter and slide to the heavy door, they would be safe.

But the bear was gaining fast. The sound of that horrid padding grew more distinct. The boys could hear the growls of the pursuer, all his savage instincts aroused in the fury of the chase. A moment more, and his hot breath would be on their necks, his massive paw upraised to slay.

They were running now as they had never run before, their breath coming in quick gasps, their lungs strained almost to bursting.

They were within twenty feet of the door and safety when Jimmy slipped on a piece of ice and fell headlong.

Joe checked himself and rushed to Jimmy’s side to help him to his feet. But before he could get him up, the bear had reached them and reared himself on his hind legs to seize them.

Hector had been running along with them, taking good care to keep out of the bear’s reach, and barking furiously. He was devotedly attached to Jimmy, and when he saw his master down, his affection and loyalty dominated his natural fear. As the bear upreared itself, Hector rushed in from behind and savagely bit one of his hind legs.

The polar bear, startled by this sudden onslaught, roared furiously and turned to face this new enemy. And in that moment of respite, Jimmy, with Joe’s help, regained his feet and together they raced into the wireless room, with Hector close after them.

Bob and Herb, who had been drawn to the door by the dog’s barking, slid the heavy door shut. And they were just in time, for the next moment the bear hurled himself against it with demoniac fury.

But the stout door held, and the baffled brute, balked of his prey, lumbered around the cabin, seeking some other entrance and emitting roars of rage and disappointment.

Joe and Jimmy, gasping, but with infinite relief in their hearts, knowing that they were safe, sank down on the floor of the radio room and tried to regain their breath. Bob and Herb hovered around, shaken to the depths by the narrow escape of their comrades.

“I’m—all—in!” panted Jimmy, as soon as he could speak.

“And no wonder, old boy,” said Bob, sympathetically. “You’ve never been so near death as you were at that moment.”

“It was Hector that saved my life,” said Jimmy, as he caressed the head of the dog, who barked proudly as though he understood.

A volley of shots rang out from the deck, followed by the fall of a heavy object.

“I guess they’ve got the bear,” said Bob.

“Who so nearly got me,” Jimmy finished.

Bob slid the door open a couple of inches and looked around. What he saw prompted him to open it to its full extent.

“Come out and take a look at them, fellows,” he called. “The _Meteor’s_ men have bagged them both.”

They joined the group that stood around the monsters, now forever beyond the power of inflicting injury. They were formidable beasts, and even in death retained their looks of sullen ferocity.

“Must have been brought down on a berg from the Arctic,” surmised Lieutenant Mayhew, who had directed the party that had slain the monsters. “It happens that way sometimes. These are as big as any I have ever seen. I suppose it was as much of a surprise to them as it was to us, when they found themselves aboard the ship.”

“I’d like to have one of the skins as a memento,” ventured Jimmy.

“Same here,” echoed Joe.

“I guess that can be arranged,” replied the lieutenant. “You can speak to the captain about it, when he has time to think of anything but the ship.”

That time did not come for many hours thereafter, for the captain still had his hands full in looking after the safety of his vessel. She was still in most imminent peril. Any hour, any moment, might be her last.

The Radio Boys, dismissing from their thoughts for a time the encounter with the bear, worked steadily at the key, relieving each other from time to time, sending and receiving messages and urging hurry on the several vessels within their range that were coming to their assistance.

And all through those tense hours, every one was conscious that at any moment the two giant icebergs at the side, coming together, might clip the vessel into shreds as with a pair of shears.

The first ray of hope came when the fog began to lift. While this revealed more clearly their dreadful peril, it also showed them a channel by which they might back out and reach the open sea.

With infinite caution, the engines began to reverse. But the _Meteor_ had barely begun to respond when a shout arose.

“The berg is toppling!”

All eyes were turned aloft. The top of the berg on the starboard side was swaying. The hearts of the spectators almost stood still as they watched.

In what direction would it fall?

If it fell toward them, the cruise of the _Meteor_ ended then and there and everybody on board was doomed to a watery grave.

As though to torture them with suspense, the peak kept rocking like a pendulum. Then with a stupendous roar, it broke off and plunged into the sea on the further side.

There was quick and seamanlike work for the next few minutes, and then a great cheer arose as the noble vessel threaded its way through the threatening bergs and reached the open sea. The ice had been robbed of its prey!

Late that evening, Captain Springer, his face cleared of all anxiety and alight with its usual genial smile, paused at the door of the wireless room where the boys were rejoicing over their deliverance.

“I can never thank you boys enough for the manful way you helped us in this crisis,” he said. “Your work has been beyond all praise.”

“We only did our duty,” said Bob, modestly, “but it’s mighty good to have you feel that way. I’ve sent out those messages you directed, telling the vessels that were coming to help us that we’re all right.”

“Good!” commended the captain. “Now you can send another to the Hydrographic Office, asking them to send out another steamer in our place, as we are compelled to make for Halifax for repairs.”

“Does that mean that we are going directly home?” asked Joe, eagerly.

“As fast as the ship can carry us,” replied the captain. “We can make port all right under our own power, but the vessel has been so damaged by the ice that it needs thorough repairs and overhauling.”

He left them, and there was a perfect hubbub of delight among the Radio Boys. Now they would be able to get in touch with their parents, and receive the answers to the questions that had been burdening their hearts so long.

They had to travel at reduced speed, owing to the _Meteor’s_ damaged condition, and it was the third day afterward that they reached Halifax.

The first thing the Radio Boys did after they had set foot on shore was to rush to the telegraph office. They sent long messages home, announcing their safe return to port and asking for all particulars of the fire.

The boys were on tenterhooks while they waited for the answers, which they longed for so eagerly, and yet which, in a sense, they dreaded for what they might contain.

What a weight was lifted from their hearts when the answers came! They were full of love and urgent with entreaties for them to hurry home. As regarded the fire, it had been a severe one, but had not materially affected the families of the Radio Boys. The Laytons and the Fenningtons had escaped unscathed. Dr. Atwood’s garage had been burned, and part of the Plummer home had been damaged. But nobody had been hurt, and as the property losses were fully covered by insurance, there was nothing to lessen the joy of the boys in their homecoming. And that joy was deepened by a statement in Mr. Layton’s message that Mr. Strong had been rescued, though his boat was picked up many hours later than any of the others. He had suffered no serious injury. Nor had Bob’s watch, which Mr. Layton took especial pains to mention, as he knew how highly his son prized it, been hurt.

The boys danced about the telegraph office and fairly hugged each other in the exuberance of their relief and delight, while the operator, who knew the reason, smiled in sympathy.

“Glory hallelujah!” shouted Bob.

“They’re safe!” exulted Joe, while Jimmy and Herb were incoherent in their raptures.

When they had gotten themselves under control, they set to work on their packing. They had to attend to the expressing of the polar bear skins, which the captain had given them, one to be retained by Joe and the other by Jimmy, as souvenirs of their narrow escape. And Jimmy took a good deal of time and care in arranging for Hector to be taken along in the baggage car, with an ample provision of food for the journey.

It was a hilarious group of Radio Boys that finally took the train for home, after cordial partings from Captain Springer, his lieutenants, Ensign Porter, Johnson, Marston, Maxwell and their other friends among the crew of the _Meteor_.

“And now for home again!” exulted Jimmy.

“And God’s country!” added Herb.

“And with whole skins,” laughed Joe.

“After the most exciting time of our lives,” summed up Bob. “We’ll never forget those weeks on the Iceberg Patrol!”

THE END