Tommy Twister’s Discovery 277

well that they did, for the ice close to the
boat was actually beginning to boil, and
the heat was spreading out at a great rate.
Having called on Mrs. Bear and been in-
troduced to the cubs, Tommy and Billy left
a present of buns and jam, and proceeded
once more on their way.

“T’ll see you through—the Pole’s only a
step from here—just a cockstride, as the
saying is,” said the bear.

They got along easily enough, the heat
from the jam having penetrated the wood
so thoroughly that the ark was quite hot,
and Tommy and Billy were glad to sit on
the roof in their shirts and pants. The
bear preferred to walk a little way in front
on the solid ice.

Then they came to the highest range of
mountains any one ever saw: the Himalayas
would have looked like a pebble on the side
of them.

“The Pole’s the other side of them,” said
the bear.

‘All right,” said Tommy.  ‘ Stand clear,
old un!”