So they hopped on, sitting one behind the other, Sweetclover in the middle, and waving good-bye to Wak Wak, they soon were gliding over the ice at a great clip. [Illustration] CHAPTER XXI Over the ice they went like lightning, drawn by the pack-dog, Speed. "I don't know of any name that would be better for him," said Sweetclover. "He goes as swiftly as the Condor did, do you remember?" Kernel Cob did remember, but he didn't want Sweetclover to think any more about the past for, thought he: "If she remembers the Condor she will remember the Villain, and the first thing you know we will be swimming in her tears and I can't stand crying. It makes me very angry." So he drew her attention to the scenery, although there was precious little of that, only ice. "I wonder where we are," said Jackie Tar, and he looked at his compass. "Whoa," he cried excitedly, and Speed came to a stop and sat down on the ice. "Here we are," said Jackie Tar. "Here?" asked Kernel Cob. "Where?" "The North Pole," said Jackie Tar. "I don't see any pole," said Kernel Cob, and Jackie Tar laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks and fell off in little icicles. "You didn't suppose there really was a pole, did you?" "Of course," said Kernel Cob. "I thought everyone knew that there wasn't a real pole here," answered Jackie. "Then what do you call it a pole for?" asked Kernel Cob. "I don't know," said Jackie Tar, "only I know there isn't a pole. It's just called that." "I don't believe you've found it at all," said Kernel Cob. "Oh yes," said Jackie Tar, "of that you may be sure for my compass tells me that this is the top of the world." "Well," said Kernel Cob, "that's the silliest thing I ever heard, for I thought we would see a great pole sticking high in the air." And they got off their sled and walked about. "Why did you want to come here?" asked Speed. "You see," explained Kernel Cob, "we are looking for Jackie and Peggs' motheranfather, and once when we were in India a Hoodoo ..." "A Hindoo you mean," corrected Jackie Tar. "A Hindoo," said Kernel Cob, "showed us on a crystal ball a picture of them in the snow, digging for gold. So we thought if we got to the North Pole we would find them." "Nobody comes to the North Pole to dig gold," said Speed. "Why not?" asked Sweetclover. "Because there isn't any gold here," said the dog. "There isn't?" asked Sweetclover. "No," answered Speed. "This is a funny world," said Kernel Cob, "the North Pole isn't a pole at all, and after we get here there isn't any gold mine. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that I wasn't alive." "The nearest gold mine that I ever heard of in these parts," said Speed, "is in the Yukon." "Where's that?" asked Kernel Cob. "In Alaska," answered Speed. "Is that far?" asked Sweetclover. "Yes, it's a great distance from here, but if you like I'll take you there." "You're very kind," said Sweetclover. "It's a pleasure to do for people who are so good," said Speed.