Boy Aviators Polar Dash | Page 7

he
was imprudent enough to take such heavy doses of the drug that the

policeman picked him up, for a lot of papers were found on him. They
are meaningless to me, but perhaps you can throw some light on them."
"The papers, we believe, are the property of Captain Hazzard, the head
of the government's South Polar expedition," exclaimed Frank, whose
suspicions had rapidly become convictions at the sight of the Jap. "We
have no right to examine into their contents, but I suppose there would
be no harm in our looking at them to make sure. I can then notify the
Captain."
"You are friends of his?"
"We are attached to the expedition," replied Frank, "but I must ask you
not to mention it, as I do not know but we are breaking our promise of
secrecy even in such an important matter as this."
"You can depend that I shall not violate your confidence," promised Dr.
McGuire.
It was the matter of few moments only to secure the papers from the
court clerk. There was quite a bundle of them, some of them sealed.
Apparently the thief, elated over his success in stealing them, had
indulged himself in his beloved drug before he had even taken the
trouble to examine fully into his finds. One paper, however, had been
opened and seemed to be, as Frank could not help noticing, a sort of
document containing "General Orders" to the expedition.
It consisted of several closely typewritten pages, and on the first one
Frank lit on the magic words,--"--AND CONCERNING THE SHIP OF
OLAF, THE VIKING ROVER, YOU WILL PROCEED ACROSS
THE BARRIER, USING ALL DISCRETION, AS A RIVAL NATION
HAS ALSO SOME INKLING OF THE PRESENCE OF THE
LONG-LOST VESSEL AND,--"
Though the boy would have given a good deal to do so he felt that he
could not honorably read more. He resolutely, therefore, closed the
paper and restored it to its place in the mass of other documents. There
was, of course, no question that the papers were the property of Captain

Hazzard, and that the Jap had stolen them. The latter was therefore
sentenced to spend the next six weeks on Blackwell's Island, by the
expiration of which time the Southern Cross would be well on her
voyage toward The Great Barrier.
As the boys left the court, having been told that Captain Hazzard's
papers would be sealed and restored him when he called for them and
made a formal demand for their delivery, they were deep in excited
talk.
"Well, if this doesn't beat all," exclaimed Frank, "we always seem to be
getting snarled up with those chaps. You remember what a tussle they
gave us in the Everglades."
"Not likely to forget it," was the brief rejoinder from Harry.
"I'll never forget winging that submarine of Captain Bellman's," put in
Billy.
"Well, boys, exciting as our experiences were down there, I think that
we are on the verge of adventures and perils that will make them look
insignificant," exclaimed Frank.
"Don't," groaned Billy.
"Don't what?"
"Don't talk that way. Here am I a contented reporter working hard and
hoping that some day my opportunity will come and I shall be a great
writer or statesman or something and then you throw me off my base
by talking about adventure," was the indignant response.
"Upon my word, Billy Barnes, I think you are hinting that you would
like to come along."
"Well, would that be so very curious. Oh cracky! If I only could get a
chance."
"You think you could get a leave of absence?"

"Two of 'em. But what's the use," Billy broke off with a groan,
"Captain Hazzard wouldn't have me and that's all there is to it. No, I'll
be stuck here in New York while you fellows are shooting Polar
bears--oh, I forgot, there aren't any,--well, anyhow, while you're having
a fine time,--just my luck."
"If you aren't the most contrary chap," laughed Frank. "Here a short
time ago you never even dreamed of coming and now you talk as if
you'd been expecting to go right along, and had been meanly deprived
of your rights."
"I wonder if the Captain----," hesitated Harry.
"Would take Billy along?" Frank finished for him, "well, we will do
this much. We have got to go over to the Erie Basin now and tell
Captain Hazzard about the recovery of his papers. Billy can come along
if he wants and we will state his case for him, it will take three boys to
manage that sledge anyway," went on Frank, warming up to the new
plan. "I think we can promise you to fix it somehow, Billy."
"You think you can," burst out the delighted reporter, "oh, Frank, if you
do, I'll--I'll make you famous.