Chapter 8 A TALK OF IMPORTANCE

The cabin for which the little party was headed was one owned by a man named Upham Jeffer. This man was something of a hermit and scientist, and rarely showed himself in the settlements of that vicinity. But on two occasions Chet had done Professor Jeffer a good turn, and he was, therefore, hoping they would get a cordial reception.

But just now, the main question was, Could they reach the Jeffer place? The boys had the way fairly well fixed in their heads, but walking was hard and treacherous. On the level, the snow was at least a foot deep, while they ran the risk of going down in deep hollows filled by the wind.

"Anyway, I'm glad the wind is on our backs," said Andy, as they trudged along. "If it was in our faces it would be awful."

"You must take frequent rests," came from Barwell Dawson. "There is no use in exhausting yourselves by hurrying."

When about one-quarter of the distance had been covered, they rested, and then Chet and Andy exchanged loads. They had now some rough ground to cover, and of a sudden Andy went down in a hollow, taking the man he was carrying with him.

"Be careful!" cried Chet, in alarm.

Andy and Mr. Dawson rolled over and over, and landed in snow up to their necks. Fortunately the fall was a soft one, or both might have been seriously injured.

Chet threw down his load, and aided the pair to get out of the hollow. Andy came out with a neck full of snow, and his coat half off his back.

"Say, I don't want any more of that!" he panted, digging the snow from one ear.

In a few minutes they went on again, Chet with the outfit taking the lead. Progress was slow, and all were glad to rest when the top of a small rise was gained.

"There is the Jeffer cabin," said Chet, pointing it out.

"I don't see any smoke," added Andy. "What shall we do if Professor Jeffer isn't at home?"

"Oh, I don't think he's away," answered his chum. "But even so, I guess he'll let us use the place-in such a snow as this."

"We can pay him for the accommodations," put in Barwell Dawson. "I'll take care of that."

It was nearly noon when they gained the cabin, rather a large structure, set in a grove of pines, and on the edge of a brook that was now covered with snow and ice. Chet, who was in advance, knocked loudly on the door.

At first there was no answer. Then a low voice asked who was there.

"It is I, Chet Greene, Professor."

"Oh! Come in-if you can get the door open."

Chet tried the door-to find it bolted. Then he heard a movement within, and the barrier was opened.

"Oh, I thought you were alone," said the man within. He was tall and thin, and wore a heavy beard and big spectacles.

"No, Professor Jeffer. This is my friend, Andy Graham, and this is a gentleman who fell over Moose Ridge cliff and got hurt. Can we bring him in?"

"Why, yes, certainly, of course!" cried Upham Jeffer. "Hurt, eh? Where?"

"He has a bruised ankle, and some cuts on his head."

"I see. Well, bring him in, and what remedies I have on hand shall be at his service. I'm a bit sick myself-been making some experiments with nitrogen that didn't agree with me. You see, I reasoned out that if nitrogen could be dissolved by means of--"

"Where can I place the gentleman?" broke in Chet, who knew Upham Jeffer's weakness for going off into scientific discussions.

"Oh, yes, of course, I forgot. Why, place him anywhere. Make yourselves at home." The old scientist looked around rather helplessly. "There is my medicine closet. Use whatever you can find there."

He was really a fine old man, but so wrapped up in his scientific experiments that he paid little attention to the world at large, or what was going on around him. He was very learned, but apt to be forgetful to the last degree. He lived alone, and it was reported that he had a goodly sum in the bank. Certainly he never seemed to want for funds, although his mode of living was far from extravagant.

Barwell Dawson was placed in an easy-chair in the living apartment, and the professor busied himself in getting out some medicine and a liniment which he said would do much good.

"Shall I start up the fire?" asked Andy, who saw that the blaze had been allowed to die down.

"Why, yes, of course! I forgot all about the fire," answered Upham Jeffer. "You see, when I get interested in my experiments, I usually--" And then he stopped talking, being busy measuring some medicine in a glass.

Andy stirred up the fire, and brought in some wood from a pile in a near-by shed. In the meantime Chet introduced Barwell Dawson to the old scientist.

"Why, I know you, sir!" cried Mr. Dawson, as he looked closely at the professor. "Weren't you once up north-with the Welber Exploring Expedition?"

"Why, yes, of course!" answered Professor Jeffer. "And you-it seems to me your face looks familiar. Why, yes, I have it now! You were up there at the same time, on a hunting trip."

"You've struck it. I am glad to meet you again, Professor Jeffer."

"I have forgotten your name, Mr.--"

"Dawson-Barwell Dawson."

"Ah, yes, of course! I remember it well now! Strange how I should forget. But you know I am so wrapped up in my experiments that I-but let us stop talking and attend to this ankle of yours. We'll wash it well with hot water, and pour on this liniment, and the swelling will soon go down. You see, the curative qualities of witch hazel, when combined with wintergreen and--" And then the professor stopped and went to work.

Inside of half an hour Barwell Dawson's hurts had all been attended to, and he felt much better. The cuts on his head had stopped bleeding, and he insisted upon having the bandages removed.

"I'm not such a baby as you think," he said. "I'll be all right by tomorrow, watch and see. All I want is a good smoke to cure me," and he lit his briar-root pipe.

"I'll be glad to hear it," answered Andy.

"Nevertheless, don't imagine that I don't appreciate what you two lads have done for me," went on Mr. Dawson, earnestly. "It was a fine thing to do, and I'll not forget it in a hurry."

It had begun to snow again, and all three were glad that they had exchanged the temporary shelter in the woods for the large and comfortable cabin of the old professor. The cabin was well furnished, and on the walls hung horns and skins of various wild animals. There were a good-sized table and some chairs, and in one corner stood a bookcase with a hundred volumes or more. Opening out of the living room were a kitchen and two bedrooms. It was in the kitchen that Professor Jeffer had been conducting the experiments which had made him ill. A powerful odor filled the air of the apartment, and to get rid of it, Chet opened a window for a while.

"I should have had something open when I tried the experiment," said the professor. "But I became so interested that I forgot. If you hadn't come when you did, I don't know what would have happened."

"You want to be careful in the future, Professor," said Barwell Dawson. "Science cannot afford to lose a man like you." And this latter remark tickled the old scientist very much. He was really quite learned, and he was glad to have it known.

"If this snow keeps on, we'll have to stay here all night," said Andy to Chet.

"You are welcome to remain as long as the storm lasts," answered Professor Jeffer, who overheard the remark. "I have a well-filled larder, and with what you have brought we can get along very well."

"We have a moose about a mile from here-if only we could bring him here," said Chet.

"I'm afraid your game will have to wait. If you went for it now, you'd surely get lost. It is snowing furiously."

What the professor said about the storm was true. The snow was accompanied by a high wind, which whistled loudly around the cabin. All of the party were glad enough to gather in front of the big open fireplace, for that was the one spot that was thoroughly warm.

As they sat around, Chet told in detail his story of the moose, and then the boys listened while Barwell Dawson and Professor Jeffer related some things that had happened to them when they had met in the far north.

"I should like exceedingly to take another trip to the polar regions," said the professor. "The other trip was too short for me. I did not gain half the knowledge I desired."

"I am going up there again," answered Barwell Dawson, quietly.

"Ah, indeed! When?"

"As soon as my ship is ready for me."

"Your ship? Are you equipping a ship?" demanded Professor Jeffer, while the boys listened in astonishment.

"I am. I have not said much about it as yet, for I did not want to excite public comment. But I am fitting out a ship for polar exploration." And Barwell Dawson smiled quietly, as if fitting out such an expedition were an everyday occurrence.

"Why, really, you-you astonish me!" cried the professor. "This is most extraordinary, sir. Are you, may I ask, fitting out this ship yourself?"

"I am footing the bill, yes."

"It will cost a large amount of money."

"I guess I can afford it. I am fairly well-to-do, and last year an uncle died and left me several hundred thousand dollars."

"I see-very good." Professor Jeffer rubbed his hands together. "It is a grand thing to be able to gratify one's wish in this manner. Now, I have a little money, but not enough to fit out such an expedition as you mention. Still, I'd like very much to go north again."

"Could you stand the trip?"

"Me? Why, sir, I am as strong as iron,-you can ask Captain Welber about it. I withstood the cold and the hardships long after some of the others succumbed. I am a little weak just now-the effects of that foolhardy experiment,-but by tomorrow I'll be as well and strong as ever. Why, sir, I can tramp twenty or thirty miles a day with ease, and I can go forty-eight hours without food if it is necessary."

"Are you anything of a hunter?"

"Yes. Since I came to Maine I have done considerable shooting."

"Indeed he has," broke in Chet. "I've been with him, and I know of three first-class shots that he made."

"Any one who is to go with me must be a good shot, and must be able to withstand great hardships," pursued Barwell Dawson.

"How long do you expect to be gone?" asked Professor Jeffer, with increased interest.

"I don't know exactly-perhaps two years."

"Two years-in the land of ice and snow!" cried Andy. "That's a pretty long trip."

"Yes, but I have planned to do a great deal," answered Barwell Dawson. "As I stated before, I don't want to say too much about it yet, for if I do, I'll have all sorts of curiosity seekers at my heels. If some folks knew what I had in mind to do, they'd be crazy to be taken along."

"Well, I presume I am one of the crazy ones," returned Professor Jeffer.

"With you, Professor, it is different. You have been to the far north, and know what to expect,-and besides, you are learned, and your knowledge might prove valuable."

"Ah! then you will agree that I shall go?" demanded the scientist, eagerly.

"That depends. I have not told you all yet. I am going to the far north to hunt, but I am likewise going for something else-something of greater importance."

"And that is?" asked the professor, while the boys listened in wonder.

"I am going to try to reach the North Pole."