the thermometer is dow

ce under us to supply t

nventor as he glanced at an instrument

aster than the inventor calculated. A glance downward sho

ice, ice and snow, piled in fantastic he

astily made a f

t whether we are over the land or sea I cannot tell. At any

ining cabin, when there was a sudden settling o

e matter?"

istering needle of the instrument for telling the height att

traption has dispropor

What shall I

apor before it goes to the bag! The cold has contracted the gas in the h

s machine in operation. He seem

k!" he called.

rried to Washington's help, but it seemed that nothing could be

r afloat!" the p

ashington were working furiously. The boys, old

jolt. The airship

everything or we'll go to smash! We must set to w

suffered no injury. She rested on an even keel and there was still enough lifting power in the gas containe

head out of the warm engine room. "De atmospheric conditions am such dat

o cold for your blood," spok

' to de utmost circumspection

hington had not yet donned these garments. The colored man ran back i

thstand the rigors of the arctic regions. In a little while Washington was wa

and or sea?"

. "However, it doesn't make much difference. We are pretty far north.

help?" a

nderstand every piece of machinery. If we need any help we will cal

't used to stayin' cramped up in a ship like I have been. I'd

bear or a walrus," suggested Mr. Henderson. "So

fter a hasty breakfast, with the two boys and the two helpers as companions, al

very side there was nothing but the cold whiteness-a coldness and a whiteness that was lik

rse whisper, coming to a halt and pointin

yelled Mark. "He's

cried Bill. "This is n

o

e get a shot!" ple

ifference between their shaggy coats and the surrounding snow and ice. Andy knee

ot!" cri

. Andy quickly cocked the gun again, thinking it had missed fire. Again the

y!" he cried. "I hav

bear!" yelled Mark. "

arm Bill and Tom had turned to flee. Andy, swinging his gun by the muzzle, and loosening a long hunting knife in his bel

dy. "I'll tackle the b

eave you!" yelled Jac

y aim he fired several shots, but his aim was poor. One bullet struck the bear

ay and coming on at a rapid pace ov

lled Andy. "Do you bo

so his foot slipped and he came down heavily on the i

from his red jaws, and with every appearance of

killed!" y

ad a gun!" g

sappeared from sight as if the frozen earth had opened and swallowed him up. At the same time the bear, that

Mark looked at each othe

" inquired Mark, in

look! there are spots of blood ove

wn they felt themselves going. Faster and faster they slipped. They gazed with frightened e

we going?"

ny rate we're getting a good coast!" He

. For a moment they were so startled and shaken up that they cou

n every side. Above glittered a tiny patch

e we?" as

an' the bear!" e

ld Andy. At his feet was the polar bear, dead,

ace is this?

ke a big ice cave,"

t," spoke up Jack, and ga

my boy," answ