CHAPTER II.
The merry month of May had hardly begun when the brave _Valhalla_ steamed away on her perilous cruise to the far and icy north.
Frank, with his two little cousins, had begged leave to go to Hull in order to see the very, very last of the beautiful ship and that best of uncles, Captain Staysail.

Leave had been given by their parents, because "Wherever Frank is," said Mr.Dunlop, "the children are sure to be safe." There had been a good deal of stir and bustle on the very last evening, and many visitors had been to the _Valhalla_, for somehow word had gone out that Professor Peterkin, the great Swedish traveller, was off to find the North Pole! And all believed that he would find it.

Some of the sailors even went so far as to say that he would bring it back with him rigged up as a mast of his ship! But by the time eight bells had rung out all was quiet.

The hands had turned in, and only Tom and two men were left on watch.
"Go forward," said Tom, "and have a cup of coffee and a smoke, and I'll see to the safety of the ship here at the gangway." The men took the young officer at his word, and it was not very long ere their smoke was finished, and they, too, were fast asleep.

Had any other eyes than Tom's been watching the shore, about half an hour afterwards, they must have noticed that something very strange was taking place.
Dark figures could be seen drawing near with stealthy footsteps to the farther end of the gangway.