There was no use asking the guide any questions or trying to learn how much farther they had to go.  Professor Henderson tried to learn from him if the journey would last much longer, but the Esquimaux only shook his head, pointed in advance, and uttered but one word: 

“Ship!”

They kept on for several hours more.  Their pace was slow, for all of the adventurers, men and boys, were foot-sore and weary.  The guide, however, did not seem to mind it.  Tom and Bill took turns relieving Washington at helping pull the sled.

At last the party came to a long hill of ice.  It was the hardest kind of going to climb to the top, but the Esquimaux inspired hope in all their hearts by showing signs of excitement, while he exclaimed rapidly: 

“Ship!  Ship!  Ship!”

Up the long slope they toiled, almost ready to drop at every step.  Finally they gained the top.  The guide was in the lead.  As he got to the summit he pointed down and gave a joyful cry.

Andy, weary as he was, hurried to his side.  He gazed long and steadfastly in the direction the Esquimaux pointed.

“It’s the Monarch sure enough!” cried the old hunter.  “I can make out the yellow gas bag against the snow bank!  Hurrah!”

“Hurrah!  Hurrah!” yelled Jack, Mark, Bill, Washington and Tom.  Even Professor Henderson joined in, and the Esquimaux added his voice in a queer sort of native cheer that made all of the others smile.

“Now if we could only fly to her we’d be all right,” exclaimed Mark.

The guide was busy overhauling the sled.  He tightened some of the retaining thongs that had become loosened, and then, with guttural cries, he pointed to the vehicle, to the different members of the party and to the long slope that lay before them, and which led down almost to the abandoned airship.

“I believe he means for us to coast down the hill on the sled!” cried Andy.  “That’s a good scheme.  It will beat walking all to pieces!”

Down, down, down the adventurers went, like an arrow shot from a stout bow.  The bone runners of the sled glided over the frozen surface, which was as slippery as glass.

The speed was very swift and the wind caused by the rapid passage cut in their faces so that all had to pull their fur hoods over their heads.  The ice, scraped up by the runners, flew in a shower on either side.

The Esquimaux skillfully steered the sled.  He avoided several hollows and gullies that would have brought disaster, and kept the vehicle on a proper course.  In less than five minutes from the start at the top of the hill they were at the bottom, more than a mile’s distance, and within a quarter of a mile of the airship.

Joy at the discovery of the Monarch lent strength to travel-weary legs.  The refugees hastened on, and soon were at the place where the craft had settled on a bank of ice and snow.

“Back to the Monarch!” shouted Andy.  “I hope the ship is in working order!”