nd there, an island.
Should they be so fortunate as to drift upon one of these, they might be
saved.

Hurriedly climbing down from his perilous perch, he hastened to inform
Jarvis of their position.

"Blind my eyes!" exclaimed Jarvis. "Wot don't 'appen to us ain't worth
'appenin'."

Then Dave told him of his hope that there might be an island ahead.

"I 'opes so," said Jarvis, as he seized a glass and rushed outside to scan
the broken surface of the sea.

In the meantime, the balloon was sinking rapidly. It was only a matter of
time until the cabin would bump upon an ice-pile. Then it was doubtful if
even the quickest action could save their lives.

They brought the stranger, who was now able to sit up and stare about him,
to the outer deck. He gazed down at the swaying, flying landscape and was
badly frightened when he discovered that they were in midair, but Dave
reassured him, while Jarvis brought sleeping-bags and boxes of food to a
position by the rail.

"If the worst 'appens, we'll at least h'eat and sleep on the floe until it
'eaps up an' buries us," he grumbled.

"Land ahead!" exclaimed Dave suddenly, throwing down his glasses and
rushing inside the cabin. He was out again in a moment, bearing on his
shoulder a coil of steel cable, and dragging a heavy land anchor after
him.

"We may be able to save the old boat yet," he yelled excitedly. "Jarvis,
bring out the rope ladder."

Jarvis hastened inside and reappeared almost immediately with the ladder.

"It's an island," said Dave, "and, as far as I can judge, we're only two
or three hundred feet from its surface when we get above it. We'll throw
over the anchor and if it catches somewhere, we'll go down the ladder. In
time the balloon will lose gas enough to bring her to earth."

"You 'ave a good 'ead, me lad," approved Jarvis. "'Ere's 'opin' it 'appens
that way!"

It did happen that way, and, in due course of time, the three men found
themselves on the brow of a low plateau which seemed as deserted as the
pyramids of Egypt, and quite as barren of life.

"One thing's sure," said Dave. "We've got to get the gas back into that
old cloth tank and catch a fair wind, or get that engine to working, if we
don't wish to starve."

"Aye," said Jarvis.

"There's a strange pile of rocks up on the ledge there. I'm going for a
look at it," said Dave.

He returned in a few moments, mingled excitement and amusement on his
face.

"Jarvis," he smiled happily