He hastened from the turret, and going out on deck, made his way out to the end of the long bowsprit.
Barney caught hold of the refractory sail just as the Ranger ran into the icy pass, and secured it where it belonged.
He then started to make his way back to the deck, when one of the forward runners struck against an icy hummock.
It made the ship bounce, and flung Barney from his perch.
The Irishman gave a yell and landed upon his back upon the ice.
He barely had time to roll aside when the grinding runners flew by within an inch of his body, for Frank had seen what had befallen him, and swiftly steered the Ranger aside.
Had the steel blade hit the Irishman, it would have cut him in two, for the weight of the boat was considerable, as it was very large.
“Be heavens! I’ve broke me neck!” roared Barney.
“Man oberboa’d!” shouted Pomp, seeing the mishap. “Man oberboa’d!”
The coon rushed out on the deck, and when the Ranger passed Barney, he scrambled to his feet.
Frank had to keep her going a few moments, though, for there was a bend around which she was dashing.
As he started to rush around the bend after her a huge brown bear darted out from behind an icy projection in front of him.
Before the startled Irishman could stop himself, he struck the beast, fell over it and landed on the ice again.
The bear uttered a savage growl, and turned upon Barney.
He wanted to run after the Ranger again, but could not do so, as the bear was between him and the boat.
Seeing the ugly brute coming for him, he clapped his hand to his belt in search of a weapon to defend himself.
A cold chill went over him upon finding this out.
He realized that he could not do anything with the beast now, and taking to his heels, ran away, hotly pursued by the animal.
None of the Ranger’s crew had seen what had befallen Barney, as the bend in the pass hid him from their view.
Frank, therefore, did not hasten to stop the ice ship’s wheels, and to his surprise he found her flying down the side of a steep hill.
To stop her now with the brake was almost an utter impossibility, for the wheels were apt to trip her up.
He, therefore, raised them, and let the boat go on her runners.
She gathered speed every moment, as the hill was steep, and was soon roaring down like a locomotive.