When the storm had passed, a profound calm once more settled down on the face of nature, as if the elements had been utterly exhausted by the conflict. Once more the sea became like a sheet of undulating glass, in which clouds and sun and boats were reflected vividly, and once again our voyagers found themselves advancing towards the north, abreast of each other, and rowing sociably together at the rate of about four miles an hour.

 

When advancing under oars they went thus abreast so as to converse freely, but when proceeding under kites they kept in single file, so as to give scope for swerving, in the event of sudden change of wind, and to prevent the risk of the entanglement of lines.

 

“What is that?” exclaimed Benjy, pointing suddenly to an object ahead which appeared at regular intervals on the surface of the water.

 

“A whale, I think,” said Leo.

 

“A whale usually spouts on coming up, doesn’t it?” said Alf.

 

Chingatok uttered an unpronounceable Eskimo word which did not throw light on the subject.

 

“What is it, Anders?” shouted the Captain.

 

“What you say?” asked the interpreter from Alf’s boat, which was on the other side of the Hope.

 

“If these squawkin’ things would hold their noise, you’d hear better,” growled the Captain before repeating the question.

 

His uncourteous remark had reference to a cloud of gulls which circled round and followed the boats with remonstrative cries and astonished looks.

 

“It’s beast,” shouted Anders, “not knows his name in Ingliss.”

 

“Humph! a man with half an eye might see it is ‘beast,’” retorted the Captain in an undertone.

 

As he spoke, the “beast” changed its course and bore down upon them. As it drew near the Englishmen became excited, for the size of the creature seemed beyond anything they had yet seen. Strange to say, the Eskimos looked at it with their wonted gaze of calm indifference.

 

“It’s the great sea-serpent at last,” said Benjy, with something like awe on his countenance.

 

“It does look uncommon like it,” replied the Captain, with a perplexed expression on his rugged visage. “Get out the rifles, lad! It’s as well to be ready. D’ye know what it is, Chingatok?”

 

Again the giant uttered the unpronounceable name, while Benjy got out the fire-arms with eager haste.

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