Page:The white czar; a story of a polar bear (IA whiteczarstoryof00hawk).pdf/172

 passengers successfully transferred to the fishing boat, which reeked with the smell of salt fish.

"Well, well," cried Captain Silas Perkins, as he viewed the sorry-looking men, "you are a rather watersoaked-looking lot. But I guess some hot coffee will make a difference."

"But say captain," he asked, grinning broadly, "you hain't lost a bear, have you? A gol-durned big one."

"A bear!" cried Mr. Adams in astonishment, "I, I, "

"Oh, oh," cried little Oumauk, who had been listening intently, "where is Whitie? I know Whitie is lost."

"Why, yes, I am reminded," replied Mr. Adams. "I had entirely forgotten our prize passenger. Yes, Mr. Captain, perhaps we have lost a bear. What's your item?"

"Fust," said Captain Perkins, "let me ax you a question or two. Did your ship strike another ship, or a berg, or something, and flounder in latitude fifty degrees, eighteen minutes and forty seconds, and longi-