steam, and they had such fun with the sailors and the two dogs that they
were quite sorry when the ship once more steamed into port.

And didn't everybody sleep soundly that night in the hotel! I should say
so!




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