CHAPTER XXV
FROM THE DESERT OF ICE
Small wonder that none had glimpsed the silver hull of the great Nardak!For on the desert of ice, when the search party from the Kravassin madelanding, they found the whole crew of the lost dirigible--but nodirigible. Not at first, anyway. Instead before their eyes lay a vastmound of snow. Within those tons of white drift lay the wreck of theNardak--two engines smashed, and no fuel to run those that were left.
Haggard, bearded men, in whom hope had long been dead, laughed andshouted and prayed when they saw the great ship, and the rescue partyswarming over the ice.
"The impossible! A miracle out of the sky! How are we found?" gasped theworn, emaciated Captain Jan.
"The miracle? Wireless it was," Markovitch the Russian made answer inhis halting, precise English. He whirled Renaud around and thrust himforward. "And this youngster the miracle-man is. With some broken wireand bottles, he called to the world, and the world sent men to therescue."
But miracles were not over, for the wreck of the Nardak was to go out ofthe Arctic under her own power.
Snow was shoveled off the huge hull. The Kravassin's machine shop hadtools and furnaces and fusing power to rehabilitate the dirigible andput her back into the air again. Sufficient fuel was spared from theship's tanks to get the Nardak to Spitzbergen, that strange Arcticisland port where enormous gasoline tanks and lofty aerials of radiotowers mark man's progress in the conquest of the ice country.
From Spitzbergen, the route lay on to Oslo, Norway, where furtherrepairing and refueling were attended to. Then it was off across theNorth Atlantic, headed for the welcoming shores of America!
These adventurers into the mysterious North were bringing back wealth,and a knowledge of where lay Nakaluka, that Arctic lake edged with rockrich in golden gifts. Arctic gold had nearly cost them their lives, butit had led them to witness strange, wild sights. Now that it was nearlyover, Lee Renaud felt thankful for that wonderful experience--and livingto get out again.
Behind them lay a great white land of a frozen world lit by weirdlights, swept by winds of power--a mighty splendor that few humans eversee and live to tell of.
Before them lay Home!
Across the Atlantic in two days! Sighting the shores of America--passingabove the great statue of the Goddess of Liberty, her arm lifted insilent greeting--then on over New York, and landing beyond the city!
Radio, the long arm of mysterious sound that had rescued the Nardak fromthe ice barrens--radio now welcomed her home. Since the time the Nardakhad touched on the shores of civilized Europe, hour by hour, minute byminute, America had kept track of her return.
Bulletins had posted the shops and theaters of the land, "Nardak fourhours away"--"Nardak sighted"--"Nardak coming in!"
Lee Renaud knew from the interest and enthusiasm of those radio callsthat the home country was awaiting her wanderers--but for all that, hewas taken back by the vast crowd that viewed their arrival. As far asthe eye could see, the flying field, the streets, the housetops wereblack with people. Bands were playing. A thunder of shouts greeted thedirigible as she settled on American soil once again.
Young Renaud was among the last to step down from the Nardak's openhatch. A hush fell as he came into sight, and a pathway opened beforehim. Then Captain Bartlot had him by the shoulder, pushing him forward,making him look up to where a triumphal arch loomed right ahead--an archbuilt of flowers, decked with the flags of the nations of the world andset with letters thirty inches high.
Lee Renaud's head swam dizzily as he looked up at those letters:
"Stand by--the Arctic on the air! Greeting to Renaud of the Radio! Helinked the world with his wireless call!"
And America greeted her Renaud. Shouts roared up. People laughed andcried and hurrahed over a bewildered, dark-haired hero, who couldn'tquite take it in that it was he they were shouting over.
Out of the throng, an imposing gentleman fought his way close, graspedLee's hand and burst into hurried speech: "Represent the AmalgamatedRadio Corporation of America--have come a thousand miles to be first onthe ground. Our corporation offers you a million dollars for the rightsto your portable radio--"
"Sir, I'll talk later--please," and Lee pushed forward. Over there,could he believe his eyes? His mother, Great-uncle Gem pounding his caneand waving wildly, Jimmy Bobb in a chair--they had come all the wayhere, just to see him!
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