The Boy Aviators' Polar Dash; or, Facing Death in the Antarctic

savage creature that had taken refuge from the flames on their frail craft, launched it

it shot beyond its mar

s ready," shouted Ben, "we'v

ness of these small weapons against such a formidable enemy, got

the water was quickly changed to a shrill scream of terror from its huge throat.

" shoute

numbers about the island and were devouring the fugitives right and left. Fully a dozen of the monsters rushed at th

a few seconds after the onslaught the water was crimsoned with the blood of the panther and the boys

ran through them. The boys tried to scare them away by flourishing the branches used as oars, but this, while it scared them at first, soon l

in this latitude, the smoking island gradually drew further and further away. But the sharks still cruised alongside and now and again one bold

a-tigers," said Frank, "more terr

down with great rapidity. Far off the boys coul

uddenly. He had been regarding th

eer?" dema

ight shooting up near the island," he cried,

on the strange ray of white light, the old sailor began dancing a s

ils and keel-haul my main-jibboom, if that ai

one crazy?"

queer light-as you call it-yonder is a ship's

m the burning island and sailed i

act their attent

d shirt, but I'd rather have my life than a whole trunk full o

d up brightly and made a fine illumination, but as the flare died out there was not

ry again,"

st no time in ripping it off. As Frank prepared to light it,

any of them could recover it, it was overboard. The rush of a great body through the

urn his insides

manded Frank. A prolonged scrutiny resulted in yi

they all hung breathless over it, it seemed as if it was g

shirt," c

ed the blazing garment above his head t

ent up from the cas

nal had b

g finger of light in their direction. As the vessel bearing it neared them a bright glow enveloped the figures on

g to excited hails from her bridge. To lower a boat and get them on board once more did not take long, and it was not till late th

boys. Their heads had hardly touched the pillows before they were off in dreamland-a region

d in the vicinity in the hope of finding some trace of the castaways. Her search was kept up until hope had been about abandoned. The sight of the glare of the blazing island had, however, determined her commander to ascertai

nature of the obstruction they had struck, and proved interesting from a scientific point of view. Captain Hazzard told the boys that these

e equator, and had been initiated by being ducked in a huge canvas pool full of salt water placed on the fore deck, the Southern Cross ste

or Sandburr spent his time among the natives collecting memoranda about their habits while the boys roamed at their leisure about the city. They saw a bull fight, a spec

ading to some handsome buildings, they heard terrible cri

e what is the matt

d issued. As they neared it a terrible-looking figure dashed out. Its white duck su

it cried as it ran to

imed Harry, gazing at the crimson-dau

cing about, "it's a woman in that hut. S

ubed the unfortunate professor from head to foot; "good gracious, what a scar

stinging Spanish dish, which is a sort of pepper stew. It took a long time to clean him, during which quite

ard the city in a hired "volante," or native carriage, that had be

I dashed in after it with my net extended. As soon as I rushed in I upset a sort of baby carriage that stood by the door. Two children, who were in it, started howling in a terrible manner. I know a little Spanish and

m laughing at the comical sight the professor presented with his head

Brutus passed a steel

ls proceeded out of the

exclaimed Frank, as the shores grew dim behind

lowered overboard by a line. "I wonder what sort of creatures I can catch in the ice ther

is that?"

g with fur on it like seal,"

," suggested Billy, nud

or gravely; "if you see one

ill," replied

nced that they were off the coast of Patagonia, where the famous giant tribes of aborigines and a kind of ostrich are t

must get into the Polar regions before the winter sets in, and if we

er. Sail had been set on all the masts, as there was a favoring breeze. Suddenly there came a jarring shock

something," shou

said the professor, who di

?" asked Billy with

replied the captain. He gave orders to sound the well

and Ben Stubbs came hurr

d the captain, "are w

rd and the water is pouring