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It had long been a question whether Lady Clare should make the journey with them; for Captain Carstens maintained that so high-bred an animal would be very sensitive to climatic changes and might even die on the way.
Then the Lieutenant called the dignified native to his side again, and once more the toll of the boxes was taken and a slip passed over to the officer. This done, the men went back into the hold again and began unloading small boxes, evidently containing tinned provisions. "There," whispered Ben, "those are the goods Lieutenant Carstens took on board at the Chinese port."
"I want a few words with you in private," was the reply. "I protest!" shouted the Lieutenant. "Best speak here," was the decision of the captain. At this moment the senator's son made his appearance on the Tusk with a steel box under his arm. He advanced quickly to the group and passed the box to Lieutenant Carstens.
"Then," Ned said, grimly, "if the Manhattan doesn't get within speaking distance of the gunboat very soon there will be a couple of funerals on this island." "I am afraid you are right," said Ben. "If I could do anything for you I would, but " "Stop that clatter there!" shouted Carstens, pointing the end of his pencil toward Ned.
A great pile of boxes lay in the sandy beach, and these the Lieutenant counted over for the second time. Then he beckoned to a dignified looking native and went over the ranks of boxes with him. "Is it correct?" asked Carstens. The other nodded and passed a slip of paper to the officer. "Yokohama exchange," Ned heard him say.
That was why, he thought, he had been ordered by Major John Ross to remain at Manila until instructions could be received from Washington. He understood that Carstens might murder him there at will and so close his mouth forever.
While the Belgica was trying her hardest to get out of the ice, another vessel was making equally strenuous efforts to get in. This was the Southern Cross, the ship of the English expedition, under the leadership of Carstens Borchgrevink. This expedition's field of work lay on the opposite side of the Pole, in Ross's footsteps.
"When Carstens hears that the Manhattan got away he will be red-headed, and will order the trial to proceed at once. I'll see what I can do with some of the men I know well, but the chances are that I'll only get myself into trouble without doing you any good." "All you can do," Ned said, "is to delay the trial, and the execution, if it comes to that."
If you will look through Keene's pockets again you will find drafts in payment for them." "Where did you get the guns?" demanded the Captain. "Stole them from the government!" was the reply. "We caused them to be loaded on board at Manila, before Carstens went aboard. He never knew they were in the hold.
It was nominally a promotion, but Captain Carstens was ill pleased with it, and even had some thought of resigning rather than give up his delightful city life, and move far northward into the region of cod and herring.
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