The Arctic Patrol Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

as today.”
    â€œDo you expect us to believe that?” asked Frank.
    Rex Mar made a face. “Believe what you want, but that whale was met on the east shore by a furious dragon, breathing poisoned fire. The dragon was also accompanied by giant worms and snakes, so the whale withdrew.”
    Gummi took up the yarn. “Next he went to the north shore. There he found a huge bird, like a falcon, whose wings touched the mountain on both sides of a fjord. With him were other birds, big and small.”
    â€œAnd they scared the whale?” asked Joe.
    â€œWhat else?” Mar chuckled. “On the west side, the whale was met by a bull, who came snorting and charging into the seas.”
    â€œAll alone?” Joe asked.
    â€œOh no,” said Gummi. “With him were other guardians of the island—the trolls and the hidden people. Naturally he scrammed out of there!”
    Rex Mar scratched his head at the colloquial English which he had not heard before.
    â€œOn the south shore,” Gummi continued, “the whale saw a giant with an iron staff in his hand. This guy was taller than a mountain, and with him were many other giants. Nothing was left on the shore now but sand, glaciers, and heavy seas. So the whale withdrew and reported what he had seen to King Gormsson.”
    â€œDid the king tackle Iceland after that?” Joe asked.
    â€œNot on your life! Today these four creatures are known as the defenders of Iceland.”
    The sea had become so rough by now that the skipper suggested everyone go below. He throttled back the engine and headed into the wind. But suddenly the gale shifted and the Asdis rocked violently.
    Mar’s face was impassive and showed no sign of fear, but Gummi was worried. “I’ve never seen a storm like this before,” he said. He had barely finished speaking when the Asdis pitched forward. The entire crew was thrown to the deck!

CHAPTER XV
    A Bad Break
    WAVES crashed over the deck, nearly swamping the Asdis. The boys battened down the hatches while Rex Mar switched on the pump motor.
    â€œI could do with some of Chet’s seasick pills now!” Frank shouted above the howling gale.
    The little trawler endured the buffeting by the elements for two hours before the storm let up a bit. Then the winds tapered off gradually, giving the crew time for catnaps before dawn lighted up the jagged coastline.
    After a breakfast of cold lamb, bread, and milk, the boys joined Rex Mar at the wheel. “We’ll spell you for a while, sir,” Frank said. “You need some rest.”
    The Icelander accepted the offer, but would not go below. Instead, he stretched out on a bench and fell fast asleep.
    While Frank held the wheel, Gummi read the chart spread out on a table. “X marks the spot where we’re to put ashore,” he said.
    Frank checked the coordinates. “Wow! Look here!” he called to Joe. “This is right near the place where we transferred to the Albert!”
    The sturdy Asdis rode the waves for another hour, then Gummi awakened the skipper. “I think this is where we take her in,” he said.
    The old man stood up stiffly, looked at the map, then peered over the water at the sullen coastline. “ Ja . There’s the inlet.”
    Frank spun the wheel and guided the trawler toward shore. Near the mouth of the stony inlet, Joe exclaimed, “Hey, Frank! A rubber raft!” He reached for the binoculars on a shelf and whipped them to his eyes. “And it has a small outboard!”
    â€œI didn’t see a whale after all!” Frank said.
    Joe moved toward the radio. “Shall I contact Captain Magnusson right now?”
    â€œNo. If Musselman is listening in on our wave length, it would give us away,” Frank replied.
    Mar made the Asdis fast to the makeshift dock in the inlet and said, “Now we will have to wait until the man contacts us.”
    â€œMeantime I’m going to check on that