It was found that, following the breaking away of of the ice, which had all but sealed the fate of the _Bird of Freedom_, a comparatively easy gradient had been formed about eighty yards to the left of the spot where the sleigh had taken the water. Moreover, the ice appeared of a bluish tint, which meant that it was stronger and not so liable to break as the white ice.
Ranworth, in order to save his arm from additional injury, had taken his place in the cabin of the sleigh when the _Bird of Freedom_ was lowered over the side by means of the derrick.
Leslie and Guy and the four seamen promptly clambered on board, and since there was very little motion, the task of disengaging the span hooks was a simple matter.
Amidst the good wishes of the rest of the _Polarity's_ crew, expressed in the old-fashioned way of giving three rousing cheers, the sleigh gathered speed and steered for the selected landing-place on the glacier.
Although the wind was still blowing freshly from the nor'-west, the _Bird of Freedom_ made rapid progress. Without a hitch she surmounted the glacier and gained the open ground beyond.
An hour later she was passing through the defile in which the mammoth had been discovered. The strong wind had set a considerable portion of the landslide into further motion, with the result that the general slope of the debris was more gradual, while the gigantic frozen mammoth was uncovered as far as the forequarters.
"We'll have those tusks," reiterated Ranworth, "even if we have to make a third journey for them. If, however, we find that the sleigh makes light of her load, we'll stop and get the things on board on the return journey."
Ranworth, of course, could take no manual part in the management of the sleigh. He had to be content to sit at one of the two foremost scuttles, while Guy and the four seamen took turns at the steering-wheel. Leslie, having satisfied himself that the motors were running well, was able to "stand easy," since there seemed no immediate necessity to check their speed.
In exactly four hours from the time of starting from the ship, the _Bird of Freedom_ stopped at Observation Camp.
"All correct, sir," announced O'Donovan. "Faith, I'm far from being fed up with bear steaks yet. Sure, 'tis a fine place to cultivate an appetite. But what has happened to your arm, sir, if I may make so bold as to ax?"