All hands surrounded the flying machine as soon as she landed, and one of the captains pressed forward and cried:
“We’ve captured the whole crew of the Red Eric for you, and searched their craft, but hang me if we can find the boy aboard!”
“For the very good reason that I’ve got him,” answered Frank.
Frank called the boy out, and while standing at the side of the Ranger, Walter told the whalers his pitiful story.
It incensed them against Captain Bolt, and by the time the boy had finished his recital, many a threat was muttered against the rascally captain.
“Let’s hang the villain at the yardarm of his craft!” said one.
“Don’t use violence,” remonstrated Frank.
“Such is my intention. I owe the rascal a debt of vengeance for once having shot me, and on another occasion inciting his men to try to murder me.”
“Well, your plan’s a good one. We’ll put him in your hands?”
“The first mate’s a good man, and can manage her.”
“Bring him to me, then, and I’ll lock him up aboard here.”
Several of the sailors were dispatched aboard the Red Eric in a boat.
When they returned, they not only had the captain with them, but he was shackled hand and foot.
He cast a baleful glance at Walter Grey when he saw him with Frank’s party, and snarled, in ugly tones:
“Yes; and you know what to expect now,” said the boy.
“For shanghaiing this boy and attempting to kill him,” said the inventor, “you can be sentenced to a long term in prison.”
“Are yer goin’ ter take me off o’ my ship?”
“Yes; and you’ll go back a prisoner with me.”
This announcement started the captain swearing furiously, and to put an end to it Frank had him confined aboard the Ranger, where he was no longer heard.
A severe lecture was given to his crew, and they were told to clear out of the strait with the Red Eric.
Frank and his friends remained at the station several days.
The mechanism of the flying machine was accordingly well overhauled, and when everything was in readiness for departure, our friends took leave of the whalers.
Going aboard the Ranger, her gyroscopes were put in motion, and she soared up into the frozen sky.
A favoring breeze was encountered, the canvas was shaken out, and under the additional speed thus imparted, she quickly left cold Nova Zembla out of sight.