Luis Senarens

“ It proves more!”
“Well?”
“That gold is one of the common ores of this region.” Frank and Wendel gave a start. Their eyes shone.
How easy it is to arouse the gold fever in the human composition! It is as natural as breathing.
But Frank regained himself.
“That adds to the value of our discovery!” he cried. “At no distant day, doubtless, gold-seekers will forsake Australia and Africa for the Polar mines.”
“Exactly! I have no doubt that rich deposits exist here!”
“Well,” said Frank, “they are of little use to us just now. Ha! What have we here?” ”

“ In a few moments the Scorcher was descending to the next plateau. Here a revelation was accorded the adventurers as Frank had promised.
For there, just beyond the fringe of trees, was indeed visible quite plainly the white ruins of a town.
It was surrounded by a demolished wall of stone, resembling marble. All about this were trees of a pomegranate and mulberry type or species. It was plain that great gardens had once surrounded the town. ”

“ Randall, a bronzed, athletic man of thirty years, but with heaps of experience as a globe-trotter and explorer, winced, but replied lightly:
“Well, I did have a hard time. We lost our ship in Desolation Channel, and were forced to take to an iceberg. If we had had an overland machine like your Electric Scorcher, we could have easily crossed that ice barrier and set foot upon the new continent, the most wonderful part of the globe. But as it was we were carried north into Cape Horn waters on the berg and finally picked up by an Argentine vessel.” ”

“ UP THE FIORD. In an instant all were crowded about the Celt, and interested in his strange discovery.
“Shure, phwereiver did this poor sowl come from?” cried the Celt. “Shure, he must have died here!”
“Golly! did yo’ ebber see de beat ob dat?” cried Pomp, in amazement.
“A human skull!” ejaculated Randall. “How is it, Frank? Is not that proof that these frozen latitudes are inhabited?”
“It is proof that they have been visited before by man,” agreed Frank. “It looks like the skull of a civilized man.”
“And so it is, mates,” cried Wendel. ”

“ And when its end was reached the plain and river extending to the ice-belt lay clear of mist or cloud.
The storm was peculiar to the volcanic region alone. Frank was even enabled to dispense with the searchlight.
A chill wind blew from the north, and the voyagers were obliged to wrap themselves up warmly. The machine ran along the banks of the river.
The spirits of all began to rise. Even the seamen on the Scorcher’s deck were much lighter of spirit.
“If we only find the ship unharmed,” cried Frank, “we will be able to find our way home yet.” ”

“ I may want to ask you some questions.”
“At your service, skipper.”
“Well,” said Randall, triumphantly, “what do you think of it now, Frank?”
“I own that I am much interested.” replied the young inventor. “It is a remarkable tale, and a valuable discovery.”
“So I believe,” cried Randall. “Here is evidence of the existence of a new and undiscovered continent. What better field could a man want?”
“How is it, Wendel?” asked the young inventor, turning to the sailor, “could my Electric Scorcher travel easily through that region?” ”

“ Frank’s face wore a relieved expression.
“Then there is a chance for us,” he cried. “We will do the best we can.”
“Back to the Scorcher!” cried Randall. “We must lose no time. There is snow in the air, and if it comes down before we reach the ship it may spoil all our plans.”
“You are right,” agreed Frank. “Back to the Scorcher!”
Down the slippery ice hummocks they went. They found Mains where they had left him.
The sailor was upon his feet, but he was not deemed strong enough to walk back to the Scorcher. ”

“ But there was another power, and it was felt before the voyagers were half across.
Suddenly the coracle began to wabble and turn. Randall and the sailors pulled harder at the paddles.
But it did no good. The little craft began to rock most violently.
“What in the deuce is the matter?” asked Randall, excitedly. “What ails the boat?”
“I think the waves are rising in the lake,” said Wendel. “Yes, there is really some commotion under us, mates.”
“Right!” cried Frank, as he balanced the coracle. “Keep steady, or we’ll be over.” ”

“ The Scorcher traveled along the wall for several days. But there was no break which would allow the machine to cross it.
“Well, I’m beat,” muttered the young inventor at last. “This beats all the puzzles I ever attempted.”
“It’s a mighty curious part of the world, mates,” declared Wendel.
“I agree with you,” said Frank, “but there must be some explanation of the mystery.” ”

“ Frank looked interested.
“Then you really believe that there is an inhabited and undiscovered continent beyond that ice barrier?” he asked.
“Why, I have old Jack Wendel’s word for it.”
“A sailor’s word is good except when connected with a story. The telling of a yarn is ample license for stretching the imagination.” ”

“ If I had half your resource and inventive faculty I would be a king among men.”
“Pshaw!” said Frank, testily. “Don’t talk nonsense!”
Over the ice-heap the young inventor went with the wires. Then he brought out small dynamite cartridges and placed one at the end of each wire. It was now that Randall clearly saw his purpose.
“Will not the explosion injure the machine?” he asked.
“It is not sufficient in quantity,” replied Frank. “If it was in a mass it might, but such small charges will only shake the ice to powder. Once we can clear it away from the wheels we are all right.” ”

“ A WONDERFUL TALE. “So you think the earth has been thoroughly explored, and that there is no such thing as an undiscovered continent, do you?” asked Percy Randall, as he lit a cigar and seated himself comfortably in a chair in the office of Frank Reade, Jr., for a social chat.
The young inventor, who hardly needs an introduction to the reader, so well is he known the world over, turned from his desk and regarded his visitor with a quizzical smile. ”

“ A STARTLING DISCOVERY. No one doubted for a moment that the forms scrambling over the crater’s side were really the Polar natives.
Frank picked up his rifle and cried:
“Come on, boys. Let’s have a look at those chaps.”
“Shall we go armed?” asked Randall.
“Of course. Men who have the nerve to confine white visitors in underground vaults to die of starvation are certainly men to be strongly dealt with.”
So Randall and Barney followed Frank up the mountain.
Pomp and the sailor remained to guard the Scorcher. ”

“ But Barney hung to his hobby and announced his intention of taking a swim whenever the Scorcher should have reached the right locality. Pomp did the same.
The intense gloom which prevailed over the ice region for some strange reason did not seem to exist here. A peculiar, bright light, which seemed like a reflection from the zenith, made the Polar Continent quite light.
For a time our adventurers regarded the panorama below them. Then Frank started the Scorcher down the mountain slopes to a series of plateaus just below. ”

“ A groan went up simultaneously.
“Confound the luck!” cried Randall. “The fiends are after us! What is the next best thing we can do, Frank?”
“There is, fortunately a way out of the difficulty,” said the young inventor.
At this the faces of all brightened.
“As we are upon snow,” continued Frank, “wheels are not a prime necessity. I think we can rig up a temporary sledge to go under the forward part of the machine and yet go ahead.”
A cheer arose at this.
It was fortunate that the power of the Scorcher was connected with the hind wheels, where the driving cogs were placed. ”

“ Synonymous with certain actions of yonder volcano, this beautiful land of promise is flooded to the brim.”
Frank gazed keenly at Randall. He had not given him credit for so much penetration.
“And that is why this country has been abandoned?”
“Just so! It is easy to see how the people could tell when danger threatened. The eruptions of the volcano are doubtless periodical. The Polar people knew just when to abandon the valley.” ”

“ The result was that the party was soon scrambling down the mountain side and rapidly approaching the Scorcher, for the firing every moment grew more distinct.
Suddenly a dull glow was seen through the mist. Frank gave a cry of joy.
“That is the searchlight,” he cried. “We shall soon be there!” ”

“ And now Frank unfolded his plan.
“Do you see those big pines?” he said. “Well, in them lies our chance. If we can hew down enough of them to make a raft to float the Scorcher I believe there is a chance for us!”
For a moment there was silence.
Then all gave a loud cheer.
“We’ll do it!” cried Randall. “Give us some axes. Come, boys! It is for our lives we are working!” ”

“ Frank and Randall placed Mains on the ice at one side and then drew Barney up.
The Celt came up as lively as a cricket.
“Shure, it’s hard to spile a bad egg, or to kill an Oirishman!” he cried. “It’s sorry I am fer the other man. Phwat will we do wid him, Misther Frank?”
Frank hardly knew what to say to this question. But Mains answered it himself.
“Don’t worry about me, mates! Go on up to the summit, an’ I’ll wait here till ye come back.”
“Will yez?” cried Barney.
“I will: only keep an eye out for ice-holes. I hope ye’ll sight the ship, for it’s sick to death I am of this region.” ”

“ I believe it is a question of life or death with us.
“Life if we get away on that ship before the rigorous winter sets in. Death if we have to remain here nearly nine months until the northern channels open again.
“We are not bred to this climate. We could not stand the rigorous cold. We would perish. It is only the question of the Scorcher, and I have decided what to do.
“We will abandon the machine.”
There was a profound silence. Then Frank resumed:
“Life is of paramount importance. We will transport such of the Scorcher’s effects us we can, and start at once for the Pearl.” ”

“ We have accomplished the great feat of crossing the Antarctic barrier and invading the Polar Continent. We have discovered a ruined town, and evidence that this was once an inhabited region, though now abandoned. Let us, therefore, set foot on Polar soil and devote some time to exploration.”
Cheers followed this declaration, and all leaped over the rail.
There was little need of guarding the Scorcher, for no living foe was in the vicinity. Barney and Pomp began a frolic on the green turf, while Frank, with Randall and the sailor, began the exploration. ”

“ I reckon that is his skull.”
“The mystery explained,” cried Randall, “but where is the rest of the body?”
“That question is readily answered,” replied Frank. “The constant shifting of the ice may have disintegrated the body and distributed parts of it everywhere. Lively now, and let’s get the machine clear. Time is valuable.”
Ten minutes later the Scorcher glided out of its bed of ice and crossed the high line of ice-blocks to the smooth icefield beyond.
“All aboard!” cried Frank.
The rest of the way to the coast was easy traveling. Then the mouth of the fiord was entered. ”

“ The sun had not been seen above the horizon since entering the fiord, and there were times when it became almost necessary to use the searchlight.
But they had soon covered most of the distance to the volcanic hills. As they drew nearer, they were compelled to leave the river, as the ice melted and huge stretches of open water appeared.
But fortunately the surface of the ground was such that they had little trouble in making their way along, until finally long, level tracts of green slopes lay between them and the volcano.
An eruption was in progress, and the spectacle was a grand one. ”

“ This was large enough to admit the body of a man. Barney flashed his lantern rays into it.
The sight which he beheld gave him a chill.
A small apartment hewed out of the solid rock was seen. Its walls were damp and moldy, but what transfixed the two explorers with horror was the fact that the place was a literal charnel house.
There, exposed to their view, were four human skeletons. They were in various positions against the crumbling wall. ”

“ With this, Frank called the others up and told them the truth. It caused them some surprise, but Wendel said:
“Well, mates, all of our family were seafaring men, and all have found a grave in the sea but me. I don’t expect to be an exception.”
“Bejabers, the naygur an’ mesilf are good swimmers! Eh, naygur!”
“Yo, kin bet we is, I’sh!”
“Very good!” said Frank, with a laugh. “Then we need fear nothing. Yet I believe we had better turn the machine head on to the wind and trig the wheels well.” ”

“ At length the adventurers went aboard the Scorcher and all was ready for the start. The ice-shoes had been fitted to the wheels, which were in turn rigged with chains.
Under each wheel was a sharp cog arrangement which struck into the ice and thus propelled the Scorcher over the smooth surface or the clinging snow. And thus the start was made.
Frank and his companions had shaken hands with the captain, and the young inventor said:
“I suppose you will soon be on your way to Montevideo, Mr. Ward. You will need to make haste to avoid getting shut up in the ice-pack for the coming winter.” ”