"You couldn't live with them, that is, not for any great length of time. The smell would make you sick." CHAPTER XX FAST IN THE ICE "Well, there is one piece of luck," said Barwell Dawson, the next morning. "Our collier is here, so we can take on coal at once, and get away from here inside of three or four days." "Yes, we want to take advantage of the weather while it lasts," answered the captain of the _Ice King_. And the task of transferring the coal began an hour later. Andy and Chet asked for permission to go ashore, and, after word had been sent to the governor of the place, they entered a steam launch in company with Barwell Dawson and Professor Jeffer. The explorer knew what was on Chet's mind, and aided him to find out if the _Northland_ was at Upernivik. "She is here," said Barwell Dawson, after making inquiries. "I will have you taken to her." Chet found Tom Fetjen, a Danish-American, tall and powerful, with a shrewd but kindly face. He listened to the boy's story with interest, and then shrugged his big shoulders. "I no can tell you mooch 'bout dat whaler, _Betsey Andrews_," he said, slowly. "I not know for truf what happen to him. But I hear som't'ing las' year. Two Esquimaux men come to me an' da say dat de whaleboat he got stuck by de ice far up dare." And Tom Fetjen waved his hand northward. "Stuck in the ice?" queried Chet. "Dat is what de Esquimaux men say. Da climb up de ice mountain an' see him ship stuck fast, but go--what you say him?--float, yes, float up dat way," and again the trader pointed northward. "Do you mean that the _Betsey Andrews_ got stuck in some floating ice, and was carried northward?" asked Chet. "Yes, dat is eet. Nobody hear more of de whaleboat." "Where did you hear this?" "Hear him at Etah, las' summer." "How did the Esquimaux know it was the _Betsey Andrews_?" asked Andy. "One Esquimau big chief, got glass to look. He see de cap'n who got de one arm. He try to git to ship, but tumble in water--'most drown heem. Den snowstorm come big an' can't see de ship no more." This was all the trader could tell. He was of the opinion, however, that the whaler had been finally crushed in the ice, and all those aboard had been lost. But Chet would not believe this. He shut his teeth hard and looked at his chum. "I've got to have positive proof before I give up," he said, in a voice that choked with sudden emotion. Although the boys were not aware of it, Pep Loggermore and his crony did their best to follow them around Upernivik, hoping to place them in some position whereby it would be impossible to regain the ship. But, by mere chance, the boys kept out of the sailors' way, and when the coaling was at an end, and the _Ice King_ sailed, they were on the ship. "Let us try it again at Etah," said Loggermore to his crony.