At last, early one morning, Andy made out a cloud of smoke far off on the water. He drew Chet's attention to it, and then called Olalola. The three watched the cloud draw nearer, and at last the Esquimau began to smile. "Ship," he said. "Ship with fire!"--meaning thereby a steam vessel. The word was soon passed that a ship was in sight, and all gathered to watch the approach of the craft. As it came closer, they saw that it was the _Ice King_, and on the deck stood Captain Williamson and his crew waving them a welcome. The captain had seen them with his spyglass. "Hurrah for the _Ice King_!" cried Chet, and the cheer was given with a will. "This ends our troubles here," added Andy. "Now to get aboard and start for home!" CHAPTER XXX HOME AGAIN It was no easy matter for the _Ice King_ to push, her way through the ice and reach the shore, but at last this was accomplished, and a gangplank was put out, so that our friends could go aboard. "Did you reach the Pole?" were Captain Williamson's words. "We did," answered Barwell Dawson. "But it was a hard journey, I can tell you!" "Good! I mean, I'm glad to know you got to the Pole," went on the captain. He looked over the party. "Look well, too." "We look better than we did a few weeks ago," said Andy. "Then you might have taken us for a lot of starved cats." "Have you been on a trip?" questioned Chet. He saw that the commander of the _Ice King_ was looking at him rather curiously. "Yes, I left here eight days ago, after I had heard of a whaler that had gone to pieces in the ice. Some Esquimaux brought the word, and said that a crew of five white men and one negro were on the shore to the northwestward." "And did you find them?" asked Chet, eagerly. "I did, lad, and I've got news for you." "About my father?" "Aye, Chet." "Was it the _Betsey Andrews_ that went down? Is my father among the men?" "Yes, it was the _Betsey Andrews_ that was caught in the ice. She drifted for months before she got a squeeze that finished her. Then the crew went ashore, and did what they could to save themselves." "But my father--is he--alive?" "Yes,--or he was, the last that was heard of him." "He isn't with the men you found?" "No, they are on board, and you can listen to their story later. After the whaler went to pieces, another vessel came along--a small ship bound for Nova Scotia, the _Evans_, and she took six of the crew with her, and among those was your father." "The _Evans_? What port was she bound for?" "Halifax." "And was my father all right when the _Evans_ sailed?" "Yes, although he had suffered somewhat from exposure, as had all of the crew." The fact that word had at last been obtained of his parent filled Chet's heart with joy. He lost no time in introducing himself to the sailors who had been rescued by Captain Williamson, and from them obtained a full account of the ill-fated trip of the _Betsey Andrews_.