“This is evidently a hunting party,” said Mr. Henderson.  “They have been away from their main town or camp for several days, and were on their way back when they saw our airship.  I wonder what they will do with us.”

He was not long left in doubt.  The chief of the Esquimaux approached the adventurers, who, bound with thongs, were sitting on the ice.  He addressed Washington in a strange language, but Washington, with a motion of his head nodded toward Captain Henderson, to indicate that he was the commander of the party.  To the old inventor, therefore, did the native in the white furs speak next.

He made a motion of a person reclining on a sledge and indicated that the captives were to be taken away in that fashion.  Then the chief motioned to his mouth and pretended to chew.

“He seems to want us to take a sleigh ride and get something to eat,” said Mr. Henderson.  “I suppose we might as well go along.”

He nodded an assent to the Esquimaux chief, thinking the sign for that would be understood.  It was, evidently, for the chief nodded back and smiled.

The rude sleds were brought close to the party from the Monarch.  Then the captives were bundled on the vehicles like so many logs of wood, and bound to the runners with hide thongs.  Next a fur robe was thrown over each one, a hole being left for them to breathe, and a dog driver took his position at the front of each sled.

With cracks of the whips and wild shouts the natives started off at a rapid speed.  Then it was the prisoners appreciated the extra fur coverings, for when the vehicles were in motion the keen wind cut like a knife on the little portion of the face left exposed.

A sharp pang of regret struck the professor’s heart as he realized that he was being carried away from his beloved airship, which was left in the hands of the enemy.  They might wreck it he realized, to get the valuable wood and metal in the different parts.  If they did, it would mean that the adventurers would be doomed to remain in the land of perpetual ice and snow forever.

For several hours the journey was continued.  The dogs drawing the sleds never seemed to slacken their speed, but, urged by voice and whip, sped on over ice and snow.

Suddenly a loud cry sounded.  The sleds, as if in obedience to a command, came to a halt.  The captives raised their heads and saw that the whole party had come to a stop.  Several of the Esquimaux began opening bundles and took out pieces of frozen fat meat.  With this they went from team to team among the dogs, and fed the brutes that seemed ravenous from hunger.

The animals provided with a meal, the Esquimaux fed themselves.  It was a primitive feast.  The men simply bit off chunks of fat and blubber and swallowed them almost whole.

“I’m pretty hungry, but I don’t believe I could eat that,” observed Jack.

“Wait until you get a chance,” advised Mark.  “Maybe they are not going to offer us any.  As for me, I am starved enough to tackle most anything.”