As Johnny watched he saw the man leap just as the platform lurched
backward. The two men at the other tower had reversed the motor, but
they were too late.

The next moment the outer tower toppled into the sea; the cable cut the
water with a resounding swish. Johnny saw the Russian leap from ice cake
to ice cake until at last he disappeared behind a giant pile, safe on a
broad field of solid ice.

Hanada sat down. His face was white.

"Gone!" he muttered hoarsely.

"A boat?" suggested Johnny.

"No good. The ice floe's two miles wide, forty miles long and all piled
up. Couldn't find him. He'd never give himself up. But he'll come back."

"How?"

"I don't know, but he'll come. You'll see. He's a devil, that one. But
we'll get him yet."

"And the thousand," suggested Johnny.

Hanada looked at him in disgust. "A thousand dollars! What is that?"

"Is it as bad as that?" Johnny smiled in spite of himself.