The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Giant of the North, by R.M. Ballantyne
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Title: The Giant of the North
Pokings Round the Pole
Author: R.M. Ballantyne
Release Date: June 7, 2007 [EBook #21733]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIANT OF THE NORTH ***
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
The Giant of the North, or, Pokings Round The Pole, by R.M. Ballantyne.
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Robert Michael Ballantyne was born in 1825 and died in 1894. He was
educated at the Edinburgh Academy, and in 1841 he became a clerk with
the Hudson Bay Company, working at the Red River Settlement in Northen
Canada until 1847, arriving back in Edinburgh in 1848. The letters he
had written home were very amusing in their description of backwoods
life, and his family publishing connections suggested that he should
construct a book based on these letters. Three of his most enduring
books were written over the next decade, "The Young Fur Traders",
"Ungava", "The Hudson Bay Company", and were based on his experiences
with the H.B.C. In this period he also wrote "The Coral island" and
"Martin Rattler", both of these taking place in places never visited by
Ballantyne. Having been chided for small mistakes he made in these
books, he resolved always to visit the places he wrote about. With
these books he became known as a great master of literature intended for
teenagers. He researched the Cornish Mines, the London Fire Brigade,
the Postal Service, the Railways, the laying down of submarine telegraph
cables, the construction of light-houses, the light-ship service, the
life-boat service, South Africa, Norway, the North Sea fishing fleet,
ballooning, deep-sea diving, Algiers, and many more, experiencing the
lives of the men and women in these settings by living with them for
weeks and months at a time, and he lived as they lived.
He was a very true-to-life author, depicting the often squalid scenes he
encountered with great care and attention to detail. His young readers
looked forward eagerly to his next books, and through the 1860s and
1870s there was a flow of books from his pen, sometimes four in a year,
all very good reading. The rate of production diminished in the last
ten or fifteen years of his life, but the quality never failed.
He published over ninety books under his own name, and a few books for
very young children under the pseudonym "Comus".
For today's taste his books are perhaps a little too religious, and what
we would nowadays call "pi". In part that was the way people wrote in
those days, but more important was the fact that in his days at the Red
River Settlement, in the wilds of Canada, he had been a little
dissolute, and he did not want his young readers to be unmindful of how
they ought to behave, as he felt he had been.
Some of his books were quite short, little over 100 pages. These books
formed a series intended for the children of poorer parents, having less
pocket-money. These books are particularly well-written and researched,
because he wanted that readership to get the very best possible for
their money. They were published as six series, three books in each
series.
While Ballantyne had some acqaintance with the Eskimo during his years
with the Hudson Bay Company, this book runs a little into the
fantastical. The head of the family who are the heroes of the book has
the belief that there is a sea of ever-warm water surrounding the North
Pole, and that there are islands there abounding in animal life, and
colonised by the Eskimos. The plan is to visit these islands, and stand
upon the actual North Pole, which they find to be a low eminence near to
the hut of a descendant of a seaman of the original Hudson expedition in
1611.
The story is very well-told, and you find yourself almost believing the
Captain's logic. The tension is maintained right up to the last
chapter, so much so that we do not learn whether the family, who have by
this time all become endeared to us, ever get home to England, and what
the father and mother of the Captain's nephews have to say about their
sons' adventures.
Created as an e-Text by Nick Hodson, August 2003.
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THE GIANT OF THE NORTH, OR, POKINGS ROUND THE POLE, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
CHAPTER ONE.
INTRODUCES OUR HERO AND HIS KINDRED.
The Giant was an Eskimo of the Arctic regions. At the beginning of his
career he was known among his kindred by the name of Skreekinbroot, or
the howler, because he howled oftener and more furiously than any infant
that had ever been born in Arctic land. His proper name, however, was
Chingatok, though his familiars still ventured occasionally to style him
Skreekinbroot.
Now it must not be supposed that our giant was one of those ridiculous
myths of the nursery, with monstrous heads and savage hearts, who live
on human flesh, and finally receive their deserts at the hands of famous
giant-killing Jacks. No! Chingatok was a real man of moderate size--
not more than seven feet two in his sealskin boots--with a lithe,
handsome figure, immense chest and shoulders, a gentle disposition, and
a fine, though flattish countenance, which was sometimes grave with
thought, at other times rippling with fun.
We mention the howling characteristic of his babyhood because it was, in
early life, the only indication of the grand spirit that dwelt within
him--the solitary evidence of the tremendous energy with which he was
endowed. At first he was no bigger than an ordinary infant. He was,
perhaps, a little fatter, but _not_ larger, and there was not an oily
man or woman of the tribe to which he belonged who would have noticed
anything peculiar about him if he had only kept moderately quiet; but
this he would not or could not do. His mouth was his safety-valve. His
spirit seemed to have been born big at once. It was far too large for
his infant body, and could only find relief from the little plump
dwelling in which it was at first enshrined by rushing out at the mouth.
The shrieks of pigs were trifles to the yelling of that Eskimo child's
impatience. The caterwauling of cats was as nothing to the growls of
his disgust. The angry voice of the Polar bear was a mere chirp
compared with the furious howling of his disappointment, and the barking
of a mad walrus was music to the roaring of his wrath.
Every one, except his mother, wished him dead and buried in the centre
of an iceberg or at the bottom of the Polar Sea. His mother--squat,
solid, pleasant-faced, and mild--alone put up with his ways with that
long-suffering endurance which is characteristic of mothers. Nothing
could disturb the serenity of Toolooha. When the young giant, (that was
to be), roared, she fondled him; if that was ineffectual, she gave him a
walrus tusk or a seal's flipper to play with; if that did not suffice,
she handed him a lump of blubber to suck; if that failed, as was
sometimes the case, she gambolled with him on the floor of her snow-hut,
and rubbed his oily visage lovingly over her not less oleaginous
countenance. Need we enlarge on this point? Have not all mothers acted
thus, or similarly, in all times and climes?
From pole to pole a mother's soul
Is tender, strong, and true;
Whether the loved be good or bad--
White, yellow, black, or blue.
But Toolooha's love was wise as well as strong. If all else failed, she
was wont to apply corporal punishment, and whacked her baby with her
tail. Be not shocked, reader. We refer to the tail of her coat, which
was so long that it trailed on the ground, and had a flap at the end
which produced surprising results when properly applied.
But the howling condition of life did not last long.
At the age of five years little Chingatok began to grow unusually fast,
and when he reached the age of seven, the tribe took note of him as a
more than promising youth. Then the grand spirit, which had hitherto
sought to vent itself in yells and murderous assaults on its doting
mother, spent its energies in more noble action. All the little boys of
his size, although much older than himself, began to look up to him as a
champion. None went so boldly into mimic warfare with the walrus and
the bear as Chingatok. No one could make toy sledges out of inferior
and scanty materials so well as he. If any little one wanted a
succourer in distress, Skreekinbroot was the lad to whom he, or she,
turned. If a broken toy had to be mended, Chingatok could do it better
than any other boy. And so it went on until he became a man and a
giant.
When he was merely a big boy--that is, bigger than the largest man of
his tribe--he went out with the other braves to hunt and fish, and
signalised himself by the reckless manner in which he would attack the
polar bear single-handed; but when he reached his full height and
breadth he gave up reckless acts, restrained his tendency to display his
great strength, and became unusually modest and thoughtful, even
pensive, for an Eskimo.
The superiority of Chingatok's mind, as well as his body, soon became
manifest. Even among savages, intellectual power commands respect.
When coupled with physical force it elicits reverence. The young giant
soon became an oracle and a leading man in his tribe. Those who had
wished him dead, and in the centre of an iceberg or at the bottom of the
Polar Sea, came to wish that there were only a few more men like him.
Of course he had one or two enemies. Who has not? There were a few who
envied him his physical powers. There were some who envied him his
moral influence. None envied him his intellectual superiority, for they
did not understand it. There was one who not only envied but hated him.
This was Eemerk, a mean-spirited, narrow-minded fellow, who could not
bear to play what is styled second fiddle.
Eemerk was big enough--over six feet--but he wanted to be bigger. He
was stout enough, but wanted to be stouter. He was influential too, but
wanted to reign supreme. This, of course, was not possible while there
existed a taller, stouter, and cleverer man than himself. Even if
Eemerk had been the equal of Chingatok in all these respects, there
would still have remained one difference of character which would have
rendered equality impossible.
It was this: our young giant was unselfish and modest. Eemerk was
selfish and vain-glorious. When the latter killed a seal he always kept
the tit-bits for himself. Chingatok gave them to his mother, or to any
one else who had a mind to have them. And so in regard to everything.
Chingatok was not a native of the region in which we introduce him to
the reader. He and the tribe, or rather part of the tribe, to which he
belonged, had travelled from the far north; so far north that nobody
knew the name of the land from which they had come. Even Chingatok
himself did not know it. Being unacquainted with geography, he knew no
more about his position on the face of this globe than a field-mouse or
a sparrow.
But the young giant had heard a strange rumour, while in his far-off
country, which had caused his strong intellect to ponder, and his huge
heart to beat high. Tribes who dwelt far to the south of his northern
home had told him that other tribes, still further south, had declared
that the people who dwelt to the south of them had met with a race of
men who came to them over the sea on floating islands; that these
islands had something like trees growing out of them, and wings which
moved about, which folded and expanded somewhat like the wings of the
sea-gull; that these men's faces were whiter than Eskimo faces; that
they wore skins of a much more curious kind than sealskins, and that
they were amazingly clever with their hands, talked a language that no
one could understand, and did many wonderful things that nobody could
comprehend.
A longing, wistful expression used to steal over Chingatok's face as he
gazed at the southern horizon while listening to these strange rumours,
and a very slight smile of incredulity had glimmered on his visage, when
it was told him that one of the floating islands of these Kablunets, or
white men, had been seen with a burning mountain in the middle of it,
which vomited forth smoke and fire, and sometimes uttered a furious
hissing or shrieking sound, not unlike his own voice when he was a
Skreekinbroot.
The giant said little about these and other subjects, but thought
deeply. His mind, as we have said, was far ahead of his time and
condition. Let us listen to some of the disjointed thoughts that
perplexed this man.
"Who made me?" he asked in a low tone, when floating alone one day in
his kayak, or skin canoe, "whence came I? whither go I? What is this
great sea on which I float? that land on which I tread? No sledge, no
spear, no kayak, no snow-hut makes itself! Who made all that which I
behold?"
Chingatok looked around him, but no audible answer came from Nature. He
looked up, but the glorious sun only dazzled his eyes.
"There _must_ be One," he continued in a lower tone, "who made all
things; but who made _Him_? No one? It is impossible! The Maker must
have ever been. _Ever been_!" He repeated this once or twice with a
look of perplexed gravity.
The northern savage had grasped the grand mystery, and, like all true
philosophers savage or civilised who have gone before him, relapsed into
silence.
At last he resolved to travel south, until he should arrive at the
coasts where these strange sights before described were said to have
been seen.
Having made up his mind, Chingatok began his arrangements without delay;
persuaded a few families of his tribe to accompany him, and reached the
north-western shores of Greenland after a long and trying journey by
water and ice.
Here he spent the winter. When spring came, he continued his journey
south, and at last began to look out, with sanguine expectation, for the
floating islands with wings, and the larger island with the burning
mountain on it, about which he had heard.
Of course, on his way south, our giant fell in with some members of the
tribes through whom the rumours that puzzled him had been transmitted to
the far north; and, as he advanced, these rumours took a more definite,
also a more correct, form. In time he came to understand that the
floating islands were gigantic kayaks, or canoes, with masts and sails,
instead of trees and wings. The burning mountain, however, remained an
unmodified mystery, which he was still inclined to disbelieve. But
these more correct views did not in the least abate Chingatok's eager
desire to behold, with his own eyes, the strange men from the unknown
south.
Eemerk formed one of the party who had volunteered to join Chingatok on
this journey. Not that Eemerk was influenced by large-minded views or a
thirst for knowledge, but he could not bear the thought that his rival
should have all the honour of going forth on a long journey of
exploration to the mysterious south, a journey which was sure to be full
of adventure, and the successful accomplishment of which would
unquestionably raise him very much in the estimation of his tribe.
Eemerk had volunteered to go, not as second in command, but as an
independent member of the party--a sort of free-lance. Chingatok did
not quite relish having Eemerk for a companion, but, being a
good-humoured, easy-going fellow, he made no objection to his going.
Eemerk took his wife with him. Chingatok took his mother and little
sister; also a young woman named Tekkona, who was his wife's sister.
These were the only females of the exploring party. Chingatok had left
his wife behind him, because she was not robust at that time; besides,
she was very small--as is usually the case with giants' wives--and he
was remarkably fond of her, and feared to expose her to severe fatigue
and danger.
The completed party of explorers numbered twenty souls, with their
respective bodies, some of which latter were large, some small, but all
strong and healthy. Four of the men were friends of Eemerk, whom he had
induced to join because he knew them to be kindred spirits who would
support him.
"I go to the ice-cliff to look upon the sea," said Chingatok one
morning, drawing himself up to his full height, and unconsciously
brushing some of the lamp-black off the roof of his hut with the hood of
his sealskin coat.
At this point it may be well to explain, once for all, that our giant
did not speak English, and as it is highly improbable that the reader
understands the Eskimo tongue, we will translate as literally as
possible--merely remarking that Chingatok's language, like his mind, was
of a superior cast.
"Why goes my son to the ice-cliff?" asked Toolooha in a slightly
reproachful tone. "Are not the floes nearer? Can he not look on the
great salt lake from the hummocks? The sun has been hot a long time
now. The ice-cliffs are dangerous. Their edges split off every day.
If my son goes often to them, he will one day come tumbling down upon
the floes and be crushed flat, and men will carry him to his mother's
feet like a mass of shapeless blubber."
It is interesting to note how strong a resemblance there is in sentiment
and modes of thought between different members of the human family.
This untutored savage, this Polar giant, replied, in the Eskimo tongue,
words which may be freely translated--"Never fear, mother, I know how to
take care of myself."
Had he been an Englishman, he could not have expressed himself more
naturally. He smiled as he looked down at his stout and genial mother,
while she stooped and drew forth a choice morsel of walrus flesh from
one of her boots. Eskimo ladies wear enormous sealskin boots the whole
length of their legs. The tops of these boots are made extremely wide,
for the purpose of stowing away blubber, or babies, or other odd
articles that might encumber their hands.
Chingatok seemed the personification of savage dignity as he stood
there, leaning on a short walrus spear. Evidently his little mother
doted on him. So did Oblooria, a pretty little girl of about sixteen,
who was his only sister, and the counterpart of her mother, hairy coat
and tail included, only a few sizes smaller.
But Chingatok's dignity was marred somewhat when he went down on his
hands and knees, in order to crawl through the low snow-tunnel which was
the only mode of egress from the snow-hut.
Emerging at the outer end of the tunnel, he stood up, drew the hood of
his sealskin coat over his head, shouldered his spear, and went off with
huge and rapid strides over the frozen billows of the Arctic Sea.
Spring was far advanced at the time of which we write, and the sun shone
not only with dazzling brilliancy, but with intense power on the fields
of ice which still held the ocean in their cold unyielding embrace. The
previous winter had been unusually severe, and the ice showed little or
no sign of breaking up, except at a great distance from land, where the
heaving of the waves had cracked it up into large fields. These were
gradually parting from the main body, and drifting away with
surface-currents to southern waters, there to be liquefied and re-united
to their parent sea.
The particular part of the Greenland coast to which the giant went in
his ramble is marked by tremendous cliffs descending perpendicularly
into the water. These, at one part, are divided by a valley tilled with
a great glacier, which flows from the mountains of the interior with a
steep declivity to the sea, into which it thrusts its tongue, or extreme
end. This mighty river of ice completely fills the valley from side to
side, being more than two miles in width and many hundred feet thick.
It seems as solid and motionless as the rocks that hem it in,
nevertheless the markings on the surface resemble the currents and
eddies of a stream which has been suddenly frozen in the act of flowing,
and if you were to watch it narrowly, day by day, and week by week, you
would perceive, by the changed position of objects on its surface, that
it does actually advance or flow towards the sea. A further proof of
this advance is, that although the tongue is constantly shedding off
large icebergs, it is never much decreased in extent, being pushed out
continuously by the ice which is behind. In fact, it is this pushing
process which causes the end of the tongue to shed its bergs, because,
when the point is thrust into deep water and floats, the motion of the
sea cracks the floating mass off from that pail which is still aground,
and lets it drift away.
Now it was to these ice-cliffs that the somewhat reckless giant betook
himself. Although not well acquainted with that region, or fully alive
to the extent of the danger incurred, his knowledge was sufficient to
render him cautious in the selection of the position which should form
his outlook.
And a magnificent sight indeed presented itself when he took his stand
among the glittering pinnacles. Far as the eye could reach, the sea lay
stretched in the sunshine, calm as a mill-pond, and sparkling with
ice-jewels of every shape and size. An Arctic haze, dry and sunny,
seemed to float over all like golden gauze. Not only was the sun
encircled by a beautiful halo, but also by those lovely lights of the
Arctic regions known as parhelia, or mock-suns. Four of these made no
mean display in emulation of their great original. On the horizon,
refraction caused the ice-floes and bergs to present endless variety of
fantastic forms, and in the immediate foreground--at the giant's feet--
tremendous precipices of ice went sheer down into the deep water, while,
away to the right, where a bay still retained its winter grasp of an
ice-field, could be seen, like white bee-hives, the temporary snow-huts
of these wandering Eskimos.
Well might the eye, as well as the head, of the so-called savage rise
upwards while he pondered the great mystery of the Maker of all! As he
stood on the giddy ledge, rapt in contemplation, an event occurred which
was fitted to deepen the solemnity of his thoughts. Not twenty yards
from the point on which he stood, a great ice-cliff--the size of an
average house--snapped off with a rending crash, and went thundering
down into the deep, which seemed to boil and heave with sentient emotion
as it received the mass, and swallowed it in a turmoil indescribable.
Chingatok sprang from his post and sought a safer but not less lofty
outlook, while the new-born berg, rising from the sea, swayed
majestically to and fro in its new-found cradle.
"It is not understandable," muttered the giant as he took up his new
position and gazed with feelings of awe upon the grand scene. "I wonder
if the pale-faced men in the floating islands think much about these
things. Perhaps they dwell in a land which is still more wonderful than
this, and hunt the walrus and the seal like us. It is said they come
for nothing else but to see our land and find out what is in it. Why
should I not go to see their land? My kayak is large, though it has no
wings. The land may be far off, but am I not strong? They are
pale-faced; perhaps the reason is that they are starved. That must be
so, else they would not leave their home. I might bring some of the
poor creatures to this happy land of ours, where there is always plenty
to eat. They might send messengers for their relations to come and
dwell with us. I will speak to mother about that; she is wise!"
Like a dutiful son, the giant turned on his heel, descended the cliffs,
and went straight home to consult with his mother.
CHAPTER TWO.
UNEXPECTED MEETINGS, ALARMS, AND CONFIDENCES.
"Mother, I have been thinking," said Chingatok, as he crept into his hut
and sat down on a raised bench of moss.
"That is not news, my son; you think much. You are not like other men.
They think little and eat much."
The stout little woman looked up through the smoke of her cooking-lamp
and smiled, but her big son was too much absorbed in his thoughts to
observe her pleasantry, so she continued the cooking of a walrus chop in
silence.
"The Kablunets are not to be seen, mother," resumed Chingatok. "I have
looked for them every day for a long time, and begin to weary. My
thought is now to launch my kayak when we come to open water, load it
with meat, take four spears and more lines than a strong hunter needs
for a whole season; then paddle away south to discover the land of the
Kablunets. They must be poor; they may be starving. I will guide them
to our home, and show them this land of plenty."
He paused abruptly, and looked at his mother with solemn anxiety, for he
was well aware that he had given her food for profound reflection.
We feel tempted here to repeat our remark about the strong resemblance
between different members of the human family, but refrain.
This untutored woman of the Arctic lands met her son's proposition with
the well-known reply of many civilised persons.
"Of what use would it be, my son? No good can come of searching out
these poor lands. You cannot benefit the miserable Kablunets. Perhaps
they are savage and fierce; and you are sure to meet with dangers by the
way. Worse--you may die!"
"Mother," returned Chingatok, "when the white bear stands up with his
claws above my head and his mouth a-gape, does my hand tremble or my
spear fail?"
"No, my son."
"Then why do you speak to me of danger and death?"
Toolooha was not gifted with argumentative powers. She relapsed into
silence and lamp-smoke.
But her son was not to be so easily dissuaded. He adopted a line of
reasoning which never failed.
"Mother," he said, sadly, "it may be that you are right, and I am of too
fearful a spirit to venture far away from you by myself; I will remain
here if you think me a coward."
"Don't say so, Chingatok. You know what I think. Go, if you must go,
but who will hunt for your poor old mother when you are gone?"
This was an appeal which the astute little woman knew to be very
powerful with her son. She buried her head in the smoke again, and left
the question to simmer.
Chingatok was tender-hearted. He said nothing, but, as usual, he
thought much, as he gazed in a contemplative manner at his oily parent,
and there is no saying to what lengths of self-sacrifice he would have
gone if he had not been aroused, and his thoughts scattered to the
winds, by a yell so tremendous that it might well have petrified him on
the spot. But it did nothing of the kind. It only caused him to drop
on his knees, dart through the tunnel like an eel, spring into the open
air like an electrified rabbit from its burrow, and stand up with a look
of blazing interrogation on his huge countenance.
The cry had been uttered by his bosom friend and former playmate
Oolichuk, who came running towards him with frantic gesticulations.
"The Kablunets!" he gasped, "the white-faces have come!--on a floating
island!--alive!--smoking!--it is all true!"
"Where?" demanded our giant, whose face blazed up at once.
"There!" cried Oolichuk, pointing seaward towards the ice-hummocks with
both hands, and glaring up at his friend.
Without another word Chingatok ran off in the direction pointed out,
followed hotly by his friend.
Oolichuk was a large and powerful man, but, his legs were remarkably
short. His pace, compared with that of Chingatok, was as that of a
sparrow to an ostrich. Nevertheless he kept up, for he was agile and
vigorous.
"Have you seen them--have you spoken?" asked the giant, abruptly.
"Yes, all the tribe was there."
"No one killed?"
"No, but terribly frightened; they made me run home to fetch you."
Chingatok increased his speed. So did Oolichuk.
While they run, let us leap a little ahead of them, reader, and see what
had caused all the excitement.
The whole party had gone off that morning, with the exception of
Chingatok and his mother, to spear seals in a neighbouring bay, where
these animals had been discovered in great numbers. Dogs and sledges
had been taken, because a successful hunt was expected, and the ice was
sufficiently firm.
The bay was very large. At its distant southern extremity there rose a
great promontory which jutted far out into the sea. While the men were
busy there making preparations to begin the hunt, Oblooria, Chingatok's
little sister, amused herself by mounting a hummock of ice about thirty
feet high.
When there, she chanced to look towards the promontory. Instantly she
opened her eyes and mouth and uttered a squeal that brought her friends
running to her side.
Oolichuk was the first to reach her. He had no need to ask questions.
Oblooria's gaze directed his, and there, coming round the promontory, he
beheld an object which had never before filled his wondering eyes. It
was, apparently, a monstrous creature with a dark body and towering
wings, and a black thing in its middle, from which were vomited volumes
of smoke.
"Kablunets! white men!" he yelled.
"Kablunets!--huk! huk!" echoed the whole tribe, as they scrambled up the
ice-hill one after another.
And they were right. A vessel of the pale-faces had penetrated these
northern solitudes, and was advancing swiftly before a light breeze
under sail and steam.
Despite the preparation their minds had received, and the fact that they
were out in search of these very people, this sudden appearance of them
filled most of the Eskimos with alarm--some of them with absolute
terror, insomuch that the term "pale-face" became most appropriate to
themselves.
"What shall we do?" exclaimed Akeetolik, one of the men.
"Fly!" cried Ivitchuk, another of the men, whose natural courage was not
high.
"No; let us stay and behold!" said Oolichuk, with a look of contempt at
his timid comrade.
"Yes, stay and see," said Eemerk sternly.
"But they will kill us," faltered the young woman, whom we have already
mentioned by the name of Tekkona.
"No--no one would kill _you_," said Eemerk gallantly; "they would only
carry you off and keep you."
While they conversed with eager, anxious looks, the steam yacht--for
such she was--advanced rapidly, threading her way among the ice-fields
and floes with graceful rapidity and ease, to the unutterable amazement
of the natives. Although her sails were spread to catch the light
breeze, her chief motive power at the time was a screw-propeller.
"Yes, it must be alive," said Oolichuk to Akeetolik, with a look of
solemn awe. "The white men do not paddle. They could not lift paddles
big enough to move such a great oomiak," [see Note 1], "and the wind is
not strong; it could not blow them so fast. See, the oomiak has a
tail--and wags it!"
"Oh! _do_ let us run away!" whispered the trembling Oblooria, as she
took shelter behind Tekkona.
"No, no," said the latter, who was brave as well as pretty, "we need not
fear. Our men will take care of us."
"I wish that Chingatok was here!" whimpered poor little Oblooria,
nestling closer to Tekkona and grasping her tail, "he fears nothing and
nobody."
"Ay," assented Tekkona with a peculiar smile, "and is brave enough to
fight everything and everybody."
"Does Oblooria think that no one can fight but the giant?" whispered
Oolichuk, who stood nearest to the little maid.
He drew a knife made of bone from his boot, where it usually lay
concealed, and flourished it, with a broad grin. The girl laughed,
blushed slightly, and, looking down, toyed with the sleeve of Tekkona's
fur coat.
Meanwhile the yacht drew near to the floe on which our Eskimos were
grouped. The ice was cracked right across, leaving a lane of open water
about ten feet wide between its inner edge and the shore ice. The
Eskimos stood on the land side of this crack, a hundred yards or so from
it. On nearing the floe the strange vessel checked her speed.
"It moves its wings!" exclaimed Eemerk.
"And turns its side to us," said Akeetolik.
"And wags its tail no more," cried Oolichuk.
"Oh! do, _do_ let us run away," gasped Oblooria.
"No, no, we will not run," said Tekkona.
At that moment a white cloud burst from the side of the yacht.
"Hi! hee! huk!" shouted the whole tribe in amazement.
A crash followed which not only rattled like thunder among the
surrounding cliffs, but went like electric fire to the central marrow of
each Eskimo. With a united yell of terror, they leaped three feet into
the air--more or less--turned about, and fled. Tekkona, who was active
as a young deer, herself took the lead; and Oblooria, whose limbs
trembled so that she could hardly run, held on to Oolichuk, who
gallantly dragged her along. The terror was increased by a prolonged
screech from the steam-whistle. It was a wild scramble in sudden panic.
The Eskimos reached their sledges, harnessed their teams, left their
spears on the ice, cracked their whips, which caused the dogs to join in
the yelling chorus, and made for the land at a furious gallop.
But their fear began to evaporate in a few minutes, and Oolichuk was the
first to check his pace.
"Ho! stop," he cried.
Eemerk looked back, saw that they were not pursued, and pulled up. The
others followed suit, and soon the fugitives were seen by those on board
the yacht grouped together and gazing intently at them from the top of
another ice-hummock.
The effect of the cannon-shot on board the yacht itself was somewhat
startling. The gun had been loaded on the other side of the promontory
for the purpose of being fired if Eskimos were not visible on the coast
beyond, in order to attract them from the interior, if they should
chance to be there. When, however, the natives were discovered on the
ice, the gun was, of course, unnecessary, and had been forgotten. It
therefore burst upon the crew with a shock of surprise, and caused the
Captain, who was in the cabin at the moment, to shoot up from the
hatchway like a Jack-in-the-box.
"Who did that?" he demanded, looking round sternly.
The crew, who had been gazing intently at the natives, did not know.
"I really cannot tell, sir," said the chief mate, touching his cap.
Two strapping youths--one about sixteen, the other eighteen--leaned over
the side and paid no regard to the question; but it was obvious, from
the heaving motion of their shoulders, that they were not so much
absorbed in contemplation as they pretended to be.
"Come, Leo, Alf, you know something about this."
The Captain was a large powerful man of about forty, with bushy
iron-grey curls, a huge beard, and an aquiline nose. The two youths
turned to him at once, and Leo, the eldest, said respectfully, "We did
not see it done, uncle, but--but we think--"
"Well, what do you think?"
At that moment a delicate-looking, slender lad, about twelve years of
age, with fair curly hair, and flashing blue eyes, stepped out from
behind the funnel, which had hitherto concealed him, and said boldly,
though blushingly--
"I did it, father."
"Ha! just like you; why did you do it? eh!"
"I can hardly tell, father," said the boy, endeavouring to choke a
laugh, "but the Eskimos looked so funny, and I--I had a box of matches
in my pocket, and--and--I thought a shot would make them look so very
much funnier, and--and--I was right!"
"Well, Benjamin, you may go below, and remain there till further
orders."
When Captain Vane called his son "Benjamin," he was seriously
displeased. At other times he called him Benjy.
"Yes, father," replied the boy, with a very bad grace, and down he went
in a state of rebellious despair, for he was wildly anxious to witness
all that went on.
His despair was abated, however, when, in the course of a few minutes,
the yacht swung round so as to present her stern to the shore, and
remained in that position, enabling him to observe proceedings from the
cabin windows almost as well as if he had been on deck. He was not
aware that his father, knowing his son's nature, and wishing to temper
discipline with mercy, had placed the vessel in that position for his
special benefit!
The difficulty now was, how to attract the natives, and inspire them
with confidence in the good intentions of their visitors. In any case
this would have been a difficult matter, but the firing of that unlucky
gun had increased the difficulty tenfold. When, however, Captain Vane
saw the natives cease their mad flight, and turn to gaze at the vessel,
his hopes revived, and he set about a series of ingenious efforts to
attain his end.
First of all, he sent a boat in charge of his two nephews, Leonard and
Alphonse Vandervell, to set up a small table on the ice, on which were
temptingly arranged various presents, consisting of knives, beads,
looking-glasses, and articles of clothing. Having done this, they
retired, like wary anglers, to watch for a bite. But the fish would not
rise, though they observed the proceedings with profound attention from
the distant hummock. After waiting a couple of hours, the navigators
removed the table and left an Eskimo dog in its place, with a string of
blue beads tied round its neck. But this bait also failed.
"Try something emblematic, uncle," suggested Leonard, the elder of the
brothers before mentioned.
"And get Benjy to manufacture it," said Alphonse.
As Benjy was possessed of the most fertile imagination on board, he was
released from punishment and brought on deck. The result of his effort
of genius was the creation of a huge white calico flag, on which were
painted roughly the figure of a sailor and an Eskimo sitting on an
iceberg, with a kettle of soup between them. On one side were a pair of
hands clasped together; on the other a sprig of heath, the only shrub
that could be seen on the shore.
"Splendid!" exclaimed Leo and Alf in the same breath, as they held the
flag up to view.
"You'll become a Royal Academician if you cultivate your talents,
Benjy," said the Captain, who was proud, as well as fond, of this his
only child.
The boy said nothing, but a pleased expression and a twinkle in his eyes
proved that he was susceptible to flattery, though not carried off his
legs by it.
The banner with the strange device was fixed to a pole which was erected
on an ice-hummock between the ship and the shore, and a bag containing
presents was hung at the foot of it.
Still these Eskimo fish would not bite, though they "rose" at the flag.
Oolichuk's curiosity had become so intense that he could not resist it.
He advanced alone, very warily, and looked at it, but did not dare to
touch it. Soon he was joined by Eemerk and the others. Seeing this,
Captain Vane sent to meet them an interpreter whom he had procured at
one of the Greenland settlements in passing. Just as this man, whose
name was Anders, stepped into the boat alongside, it occurred to the
Eskimos that their leader should be sent for. Oolichuk undertook to
fetch him; he ran back to the sledges, harnessed a small team, and set
off like the wind. Thus it came to pass that Chingatok and his mother
were startled by a yell, as before mentioned.
Meanwhile Anders was put on the ice, and advanced alone and unarmed
towards the canal, or chasm, which separated the parties. He carried a
small white flag and a bag containing presents. Innocent-looking and
defenceless though he was, however, the Eskimos approached him with
hesitating and slow steps, regarding every motion of the interpreter
with suspicion, and frequently stooping to thrust their hands into their
boots, in which they all carried knives.
At last, when within hearing, Anders shouted a peaceful message, and
there was much hallooing and gesticulation among the natives, but
nothing comprehensible came of it. After a time Anders thought he
recognised words of a dialect with which he was acquainted, and to his
satisfaction found that they understood him.
"Kakeite! kakeite!--come on, come on," he cried, holding up the present.
"Nakrie! nakrie!--no, no, go away--you want to kill us," answered the
doubtful natives.
Thereupon Anders protested that nothing was further from his thoughts,
that he was a man and a friend, and had a mother like themselves, and
that he wanted to please them.
At this Eemerk approached to the edge of the canal, and, drawing a knife
from his boot, said, "Go away! I can kill you."
Nothing daunted, Anders said he was not afraid, and taking a good
English knife from his bag threw it across the canal.
Eemerk picked it up, and was so pleased that he exclaimed, "Heigh-yaw!
heigh-yaw!" joyously, and pulled his nose several times. Anders,
understanding this to be a sign of friendship, immediately pulled his
own nose, smiled, and threw several trinkets and articles of clothing to
the other natives, who had by that time drawn together in a group, and
were chattering in great surprise at the things presented. Ivitchuk was
perhaps the most excited among them. He chanced to get hold of a round
hox, in the lid of which was a mirror. On beholding himself looking at
himself, he made such an awful face that he dropt the glass and sprang
backward, tripping up poor Oblooria in the act, and tumbling over her.
This was greeted with a shout of laughter, and Anders, now believing
that friendly relations had been established, went to the boat for a
plank to bridge the chasm. As Leo and Alf assisted him to carry the
plank, the natives again became grave and anxious.
"Stop!" shouted Eemerk, "you want to kill us. What great creature is
that? Does it come from the moon or the sun? Does it eat fire and
smoke?"
"No, it is only a dead thing. It is a wooden house."
"You lie!" cried the polite Eemerk, "it shakes its wings. It vomits
fire and smoke. It has a tail, and wags it."
While speaking he slowly retreated, for the plank was being placed in
position, and the other natives were showing symptoms of an intention to
fly.
Just then a shout was heard landwards. Turning round they saw a
dog-sledge flying over the ice towards them, with Oolichuk flourishing
the long-lashed whip, and the huge form of their leader beside him.
In a few seconds they dashed up, and Chingatok sprang upon the ice.
Without a moment's hesitation he strode towards the plank and crossed
it. Walking up to Anders he pulled his own nose. The interpreter was
not slow to return the salutation, as he looked up at the giant with
surprise, not unmingled with awe. In addition, he grasped his huge
hand, squeezed, and shook it.
Chingatok smiled blandly, and returned the squeeze so as to cause the
interpreter to wince. Then, perceiving at once that he had got
possession of a key to the affections of the strangers, he offered to
shake hands with Leonard and his brother, stooping with regal urbanity
to them as he did so. By this time the Captain and first mate, with
Benjy and several of the crew, were approaching. Instead of exhibiting
fear, Chingatok advanced to meet them, and shook hands all round. He
gazed at Captain Vane with a look of admiration which was not at first
quite accountable, until he laid his hand gently on the Captain's
magnificent beard, and stroked it.
The Captain laughed, and again grasped the hand of the Eskimo. They
both squeezed, but neither could make the other wince, for Captain Vane
was remarkably powerful, though comparatively short of limb.
"Well, you _are_ a good fellow in every way," exclaimed the Captain.
"Heigh, yah!" returned Chingatok, who no doubt meant to be
complimentary, though we confess our inability to translate. It was
obvious that two sympathetic souls had met.
"Come across," shouted Chingatok, turning abruptly to his companions,
who had been gazing at his proceedings in open-mouthed wonder.
The whole tribe at once obeyed the order, and in a few minutes they were
in the seventh heaven of delight and good-will, receiving gifts and
handshakings, each pulling his own nose frequently by way of expressing
satisfaction or friendship, and otherwise exchanging compliments with
the no less amiable and gratified crew of the steam yacht _Whitebear_.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note. The oomiak is the open boat of skin used by Eskimo _women_, and
is capable of holding several persons. The kayak, or man's canoe, holds
only one.
CHAPTER THREE.
SHOWS HOW THE ESKIMOS WERE ENTERTAINED BY THE WHITE MEN.
The _Whitebear_ steam yacht, owned and commanded by Captain Jacob Vane,
had sailed from England, and was bound for the North Pole.
"I'll find it--I'm bound to find it," was the Captain's usual mode of
expressing himself to his intimates on the subject, "if there's a North
Pole in the world at all, and my nephews Leo and Alf will help me.
Leo's a doctor, _almost_, and Alf's a scientific Jack-of-all-trades, so
we can't fail. I'll take my boy Benjy for the benefit of his health,
and see if we don't bring home a chip o' the Pole big enough to set up
beside Cleopatra's Needle on the Thames embankment."
There was tremendous energy in Captain Vane, and indomitable resolution;
but energy and resolution cannot achieve all things. There are other
factors in the life of man which help to mould his destiny.
Short and sad and terrible--ay, we might even say tremendous--was the
_Whitebear's_ wild career.
Up to the time of her meeting with the Eskimos, all had gone well. Fair
weather and favouring winds had blown her across the Atlantic. Sunshine
and success had received her, as it were, in the Arctic regions. The
sea was unusually free of ice. Upernavik, the last of the Greenland
settlements touched at, was reached early in the season, and the native
interpreter Anders secured. The dreaded "middle passage," near the head
of Baffin's Bay, was made in the remarkably short space of fifty hours,
and, passing Cape York into the North Water, they entered Smith's Sound
without having received more than a passing bump--an Arctic kiss as it
were--from the Polar ice.
In Smith's Sound fortune still favoured them. These resolute intending
discoverers of the North Pole passed in succession the various
"farthests" of previous explorers, and the stout brothers Vandervell,
with their cousin Benjy Vane, gazed eagerly over the bulwarks at the
swiftly-passing headlands, while the Captain pointed out the places of
interest, and kept up a running commentary on the brave deeds and high
aspirations of such well-known men as Frobisher, Davis, Hudson, Ross,
Parry, Franklin, Kane, McClure, Rae, McClintock, Hayes, Hall, Nares,
Markham, and all the other heroes of Arctic story.
It was an era in the career of those three youths that stood out bright
and fresh--never to be forgotten--this first burst of the realities of
the Arctic world on minds which had been previously well informed by
books. The climax was reached on the day when the Eskimos of the far
north were met with.
But from that time a change took place in their experience. Fortune
seemed to frown from that memorable day. We say "seemed," because
knitted brows do not always or necessarily indicate what is meant by a
frown.
After the first fears of the Eskimos had been allayed, a party of them
were invited to go on board the ship. They accepted the invitation and
went, headed by Chingatok.
That noble savage required no persuasion. From the first he had shown
himself to be utterly devoid of fear. He felt that the grand craving of
his nature--a thirst for knowledge--was about to be gratified, and that
would have encouraged him to risk anything, even if he had been much
less of a hero than he was.
But if fear had no influence over our giant, the same cannot be said of
his companions. Oolichuk, indeed, was almost as bold, though he
exhibited a considerable amount of caution in his looks and movements;
but Eemerk, and one or two of his friends, betrayed their craven spirits
in frequent startled looks and changing colour. Ivitchuk was a strange
compound of nervousness and courage, while Akeetolik appeared to have
lost the power of expressing every feeling but one--that of blank
amazement. Indeed, surprise at what they saw on board the steam yacht
was the predominant feeling amongst these children of nature. Their
eyebrows seemed to have gone up and fixed themselves in the middle of
their foreheads, and their eyes and mouths to have opened wide
permanently. None of the women accepted the invitation to go aboard
except Tekkona, and Oblooria followed her, not because she was
courageous, but because she seemed to cling to the stronger nature as a
protection from undefined and mysterious dangers.
"Tell them," said Captain Vane to Anders, the Eskimo interpreter, "that
these are the machines that drive the ship along when there is no wind."
He pointed down the hatchway, where the complication of rods and cranks
glistened in the hold.
"Huk!" exclaimed the Eskimos. They sometimes exclaimed Hi! ho! hoy! and
hah! as things were pointed out to them, but did not venture on language
more intelligible at first.
"Let 'em hear the steam-whistle," suggested the mate.
Before the Captain could countermand the order, Benjy had touched the
handle and let off a short, sharp _skirl_. The effect on the natives
was powerful.
They leaped, with a simultaneous yell, at least a foot off the deck,
with the exception of Chingatok, though even he was visibly startled,
while Oblooria seized Tekkona round the waist, and buried her face in
her friend's jacket.
A brief explanation soon restored them to equanimity, and they were
about to pass on to some other object of interest, when both the
steam-whistle and the escape-valve were suddenly opened to their full
extent, and there issued from the engine a hissing yell so prolonged and
deafening that even the Captain's angry shout was not heard.
A yard at least was the leap into the air made by the weakest of the
Eskimos--except our giant, who seemed, however, to shrink into himself,
while he grasped his knife and looked cautiously round, as if to guard
himself from any foe that might appear. Eemerk fairly turned and fled
to the stern of the yacht, over which he would certainly have plunged
had he not been forcibly restrained by two stout seamen. The others,
trembling violently, stood still, because they knew not what to do, and
poor Oblooria fell flat on the deck, catching Tekkona by the tail, and
pulling her down beside her.
"You scoundrel!" exclaimed the Captain, when the din ceased, "I--I--go
down, sir, to--"
"Oh! father, don't be hard on me," pleaded Benjy, with a gleefully
horrified look, "I really could _not_ resist it. The--the temptation
was too strong!"
"The temptation to give you a rope's-ending is almost too strong for
_me_, Benjamin," returned the Captain sternly, but there was a twinkle
in his eye notwithstanding, as he turned to explain to Chingatok that
his son had, by way of jest, allowed part of the mighty Power imprisoned
in the machinery to escape.
The Eskimo received the explanation with dignified gravity, and a faint
smile played on his lips as he glanced approvingly at Benjy, for he
loved a jest, and was keenly alive to a touch of humour.
"What power is imprisoned in the machinery?" asked our Eskimo through
the interpreter.
"What power?" repeated the Captain with a puzzled look, "why, it's
boiling water--steam." Here he tried to give a clear account of the
nature and power and application of steam, but, not being gifted with
capacity for lucid explanation, and the mind of Anders being
unaccustomed to such matters, the result was that the brain of Chingatok
was filled with ideas that were fitted rather to amaze than to instruct
him.
After making the tour of the vessel, the party again passed the engine
hatch. Chingatok touched the interpreter quietly, and said in a low,
grave tone, "Tell Blackbeard," (thus he styled the Captain), "to let the
Power yell again!"
Anders glanced up in the giant's grave countenance with a look of amused
surprise. He understood him, and whispered to the Captain, who smiled
intelligently, and, turning to his son, said--
"Do it again, Benjy. Give it 'em strong."
Never before did that lad obey his father with such joyous alacrity. In
another instant the whistle shrieked, and the escape-valve hissed ten
times more furiously than before. Up went the Eskimo--three feet or
more--as if in convulsions, and away went Eemerk to the stern, over
which he dived, swam to the floe, leaped on his sledge, cracked his
whip, and made for home on the wings of terror. Doubtless an evil
conscience helped his cowardice.
Meanwhile Chingatok laughed, despite his struggles to be grave. This
revealed the trick to some of his quick-witted and humour-loving
companions, who at once burst into loud laughter. Even Oblooria
dismissed her fears and smiled. In this restored condition they were
taken down to the cabin and fed sumptuously.
That night, as Chingatok sat beside his mother, busy with a seal's rib,
he gradually revealed to her the wonders he had seen.
"The white men are very wise, mother."
"So you have said four times, my son."
"But you cannot understand it."
"But my son can make me understand," said Toolooha, helping the amiable
giant to a second rib.
Chingatok gazed at his little mother with a look of solemnity that
evidently perplexed her. She became restless under it, and wiped her
forehead uneasily with the flap at the end of her tail. The youth
seemed about to speak, but he only sighed and addressed himself to the
second rib, over which he continued to gaze while he masticated.
"My thoughts are big, mother," he said, laying down the bare bone.
"That may well be, for so is your head, my son," she replied, gently.
"I know not how to begin, mother."
"Another rib may open your lips, perhaps," suggested the old woman,
softly.
"True; give me one," said Chingatok.
The third rib seemed to have the desired effect, for, while busy with
it, he began to give his parent a graphic account of the yacht and its
crew, and it was really interesting to note how correctly he described
all that he understood of what he had seen. But some of the things he
had partly failed to comprehend, and about these he was vague.
"And they have a--a Power, mother, shut up in a hard thing, so that it
can't get out unless they let it, and it drives the big canoe through
the water. It is very strong--terrible!"
"Is it a devil?" asked Toolooha.
"No, it is not alive. It is dead. It is _that_," he pointed with
emphasis to a pot hanging over the lamp out of which a little steam was
issuing, and looked at his mother with awful solemnity. She returned
the look with something of incredulity.
"Yes, mother, the Power is not a beast. It lives not, yet it drives the
white man's canoe, which is as big as a little iceberg, and it whistles;
it shrieks; it yells!"
A slightly sorrowful look rested for a moment on Toolooha's benign
countenance. It was evident that she suspected her son either of
derangement, or having forsaken the paths of truth. But it passed like
a summer cloud.
"Tell me more," she said, laying her hand affectionately on the huge arm
of Chingatok, who had fallen into a contemplative mood, and, with hands
clasped over one knee, sat gazing upwards.
Before he could reply the heart of Toolooha was made to bound by a
shriek more terrible than she had ever before heard or imagined.
Chingatok caught her by the wrist, held up a finger as if to impose
silence, smiled brightly, and listened.
Again the shriek was repeated with prolonged power.
"Tell me, my son," gasped Toolooha, "is Oblooria--are the people safe?
Why came you to me alone?"
"The little sister and the people are safe. I came alone to prevent
your being taken by surprise. Did I not say that it could shriek and
yell? This is the white man's big canoe."
Dropping the old woman's hand as he spoke, Chingatok darted into the
open air with the agility of a Polar bear, and Toolooha followed with
the speed of an Arctic hare.
CHAPTER FOUR.
A CATASTROPHE AND A BOLD DECISION.
Two days after her arrival at the temporary residence of the northern
Eskimos, the steam yacht _Whitebear_, while close to the shore, was
beset by ice, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.
Everywhere, as far as the eye could reach, the sea was covered with
hummocks and bergs and fields of ice, so closely packed that there was
not a piece of open water to be seen, with the exception of one small
basin a few yards ahead of the lead or lane of water in which the vessel
had been imprisoned.
"No chance of escaping from this, I fear, for a long time," said Alf
Vandervell to his brother, as they stood near the wheel, looking at the
desolate prospect.
"It seems quite hopeless," said Leo, with, however, a look of confidence
that ill accorded with his words.
"I do believe we are frozen in for the winter," said Benjy Vane, coming
up at the moment.
"There speaks ignorance," said the Captain, whose head appeared at the
cabin hatchway. "If any of you had been in these regions before, you
would have learned that nothing is so uncertain as the action of pack
ice. At one time you may be hard and fast, so that you couldn't move an
inch. A few hours after, the set of the currents may loosen the pack,
and open up lanes of water through which you may easily make your
escape. Sometimes it opens up so as to leave almost a clear sea in a
few hours."
"But it is pretty tight packed just now, father, and looks wintry-like,
doesn't it?" said Benjy in a desponding tone.
"Looks! boy, ay, but things are not what they seem hereaway. You saw
four mock-suns round the real one yesterday, didn't you? and the day
before you saw icebergs floating in the air, eh?"
"True, father, but these appearances were deceptive, whereas this ice,
which looks so tightly packed, is a reality."
"That is so, lad, but it is not set fast for the winter, though it looks
like it. Well, doctor," added the Captain, turning towards a tall
cadaverous man who came on deck just then with the air and tread of an
invalid, "how goes it with you? Better, I hope?"
He asked this with kindly interest as he laid his strong hand on the
sick man's shoulder; but the doctor shook his head and smiled sadly.
"It is a great misfortune to an expedition, Captain, when the doctor
himself falls sick," he said, sitting down on the skylight with a sigh.
"Come, come, cheer up, doctor," returned the Captain, heartily, "don't
be cast down; we'll all turn doctors for the occasion, and nurse you
well in spite of yourself."
"I'll keep up all heart, Captain, you may depend on't, as long as two of
my bones will stick together, but--well, to change the subject; what are
you going to do now?"
"Just all that can be done in the circumstances," replied the Captain.
"You see, we cannot advance over ice either with sail or steam, but
there's a basin just ahead which seems a little more secure than that in
which we lie. I'll try to get into it. There is nothing but a neck of
ice between us and it, which I think I could cut by charging in under
full steam, and there seems a faint gleam of something far ahead, which
encourages me. Tell the steward to fetch my glasses, Benjy."
"Butterface!" shouted the boy.
"Yis, massa."
"Fetch the Captain's glasses, please."
"Yis, massa."
A pair of large binoculars were brought up by a huge negro, whose name
was pre-eminently unsuggestive of his appearance.
After a long steady gaze at the horizon, the Captain shut up the glass
with an air of determination, and ordered the engineer to get up full
steam, and the crew to be ready with the ice-poles.
There was a large berg at the extremity of the lakelet of open water
into which Captain Vane wished to break. It was necessary to keep well
out of the way of that berg. The Captain trusted chiefly to his screw,
but got out the ice-poles in case they should be required.
When all the men were stationed, the order was given to go ahead full
steam. The gallant little yacht charged the neck of ice like a living
creature, hit it fair, cut right through, and scattered the fragments
right and left as she sailed majestically into the lakelet beyond. The
shock was severe, but no harm was done, everything on board having been
made as strong as possible, and of the very best material, for a voyage
in ice-laden seas.
An unforeseen event followed, however, which ended in a series of most
terrible catastrophes. The neck of ice through which they had broken
had acted as a check on the pressure of the great body of the floe, and
it was no sooner removed than the heavy mass began to close in with slow
but irresistible power, compelling the little vessel to steam close up
to the iceberg--so close that some of the upper parts actually overhung
the deck.
They were slowly forced into this dangerous position. With breathless
anxiety the Captain and crew watched the apparently gentle, but really
tremendous grinding of the ice against the vessel's side. Even the
youngest on board could realise the danger. No one moved, for nothing
whatever could be done.
"Everything depends, under God, on the ice easing off before we are
crushed," said the Captain.
As he spoke, the timbers of the yacht seemed to groan under the
pressure; then there was a succession of loud cracks, and the vessel was
thrust bodily up the sloping sides of the berg. While in this position,
with the bow high and dry, a mass of ice was forced against the
stern-post, and the screw-propeller was snapped off as if it had been
made of glass.
Poor Captain Vane's heart sank as if he had received his death-blow, for
he knew that the yacht was now, even in the event of escaping, reduced
to an ordinary vessel dependent on its sails. The shock seemed to have
shaken the berg itself, for at that moment a crashing sound was heard
overhead. The terror-stricken crew looked up, and for one moment a
pinnacle like a church spire was seen to flash through the air right
above them. It fell with an indescribable roar close alongside,
deluging the decks with water. There was a momentary sigh of relief,
which, however, was chased away by a succession of falling masses,
varying from a pound to a ton in weight, which came down on the deck
like cannon-shots, breaking the topmasts, and cutting to pieces much of
the rigging. Strange to say, none of the men were seriously injured,
though many received bruises more or less severe.
During this brief but thrilling period, the brothers Vandervell and
Benjy Vane crouched close together beside the port bulwarks, partially
screened from the falling ice by the mizzen shrouds. The Captain stood
on the quarter-deck, quite exposed, and apparently unconscious of
danger, the picture of despair.
"It can't last long," sighed poor Benjy, looking solemnly up at the vast
mass of the bluish-white berg, which hung above them as if ready to
fall.
Presently the pressure ceased, then the ice eased off, and in a few
minutes the _Whitebear_ slid back into the sea, a pitiable wreck! Now
had come the time for action.
"Out poles, my lads, and shove her off the berg!" was the sharp order.
Every one strained as if for life at the ice-poles, and slowly forced
the yacht away from the dreaded berg. It mattered not that they were
forcing her towards a rocky shore. Any fate would be better than being
crushed under a mountain of ice.
But the danger was not yet past. No sooner had they cleared the berg,
and escaped from that form of destruction, than the ice began again to
close in, and this time the vessel was "nipped" with such severity, that
some of her principal timbers gave way. Finally, her back was broken,
and the bottom forced in.
"So," exclaimed the Captain, with a look of profound grief, "our voyage
in the _Whitebear_, lads, has come to an end. All that we can do now is
to get the boats and provisions, and as much of the cargo as we can,
safe on the ice. And sharp's the word, for when the floes ease off, the
poor little yacht will certainly go to the bottom."
"No, massa," said the negro steward, stepping on deck at that moment,
"we can't go to de bottom, cause we's dare a-ready!"
"What d'ye mean, Butterface?"
"Jus' what me say," replied the steward, with a look of calm
resignation. "I's bin b'low, an' seed de rocks stickin' troo de bottom.
Der's one de size ob a jolly-boat's bow comed right troo my pantry, an'
knock all de crockery to smash, an' de best teapot, he's so flat he
wouldn't know hisself in a lookin'-glass."
It turned out to be as Butterface said. The pack had actually thrust
the little vessel on a shoal, which extended out from the headland off
which the catastrophe occurred, and there was therefore no fear of her
sinking.
"Well, we've reason to be thankful for that, at all events," said the
Captain, with an attempt to look cheerful; "come, lads, let's to work.
Whatever our future course is to be, our first business is to get the
boats and cargo out of danger."
With tremendous energy--because action brought relief to their
overstrained feelings--the crew of the ill-fated yacht set to work to
haul the boats upon the grounded ice. The tide was falling, so that a
great part of the most valuable part of the cargo was placed in security
before the rising tide interrupted the work.
This was fortunate, for, when the water reached a certain point the ice
began to move, and the poor little vessel was so twisted about that they
dared not venture on board of her.
That night--if we may call it night in a region where the sun never
quite went down--the party encamped on the north-western coast of
Greenland, in the lee of a huge cliff just beyond which the tongue of a
mighty glacier dipped into the sea. For convenience the party divided
into two, with a blazing fire for each, round which the castaways
circled, conversing in subdued, sad tones while supper was being
prepared.
It was a solemn occasion, and a scene of indescribable grandeur, with
the almost eternal glacier of Greenland--the great Humboldt glacier--
shedding its bergs into the dark blue sea, the waters of which had by
that time been partially cleared to the northward. On the left was the
weird pack and its thousand grotesque forms, with the wreck in its iron
grasp; on the right the perpendicular cliffs, and the bright sky over
all, with the smoke of the campfires rising into it from the foreground.
"Now, my friends," said Captain Vane to the crew when assembled after
supper, "I am no longer your commander, for my vessel is a wreck, but as
I suppose you still regard me as your leader, I assemble you here for
the purpose of considering our position, and deciding on what is best to
be done."
Here the Captain said, among other things, it was his opinion that the
_Whitebear_ was damaged beyond the possibility of repair, that their
only chance of escape lay in the boats, and that the distance between
the place on which they stood and Upernavik, although great, was not
beyond the reach of resolute men.
"Before going further, or expressing a decided opinion," he added, "I
would hear what the officers have to say on this subject. Let the first
mate speak."
"It's my opinion," said the mate, "that there's only one thing to be
done, namely, to start for home as soon and as fast as we can. We have
good boats, plenty of provisions, and are all stout and healthy,
excepting our doctor, whom we will take good care of, and expect to do
no rough work."
"Thanks, mate," said the doctor with a laugh, "I think that, at all
events, I shall keep well enough to physic you if you get ill."
"Are you willing to take charge of the party in the event of my deciding
to remain here?" asked the Captain of the mate.
"Certainly, sir," he replied, with a look of slight surprise. "You know
I am quite able to do so. The second mate, too, is as able as I am.
For that matter, most of the men, I think, would find little difficulty
in navigating a boat to Upernavik."
"That is well," returned the Captain, "because I do not intend to return
with you."
"Not return!" exclaimed the doctor; "surely you don't mean to winter
here."
"No, not here, but further north," replied the Captain, with a smile
which most of the party returned, for they thought he was jesting.
Benjy Vane, however, did not think so. A gleeful look of triumph caused
his face, as it were, to sparkle, and he said, eagerly--
"We'll winter at the North Pole, father, eh?"
This was greeted with a general laugh.
"But seriously, uncle, what do you mean to do?" asked Leonard
Vandervell, who, with his brother, was not unhopeful that the Captain
meditated something desperate.
"Benjy is not far off the mark. I intend to winter at the Pole, or as
near to it as I can manage to get."
"My dear Captain Vane," said the doctor, with an anxious look, "you
cannot really mean what you say. You must be jesting, or mad."
"Well, as to madness," returned the Captain with a peculiar smile, "you
ought to know best, for it's a perquisite of your cloth to pronounce
people mad or sane, though some of yourselves are as mad as the worst of
us; but in regard to jesting, nothing, I assure you, is further from my
mind. Listen!"
He rose from the box which had formed his seat, and looked earnestly
round on his men. As he stood there, erect, tall, square, powerful,
with legs firmly planted, and apart, as if to guard against a lurch of
his ship, with his bronzed face flushed, and his dark eye flashing, they
all understood that their leader's mind was made up, and that what he
had resolved upon, he would certainly attempt to carry out.
"Listen," he repeated; "it was my purpose on leaving England, as you all
know, to sail north as far as the ice would let me; to winter where we
should stick fast, and organise an over-ice, or overland journey to the
Pole with all the appliances of recent scientific discovery, and all the
advantages of knowledge acquired by former explorers. It has pleased
God to destroy my ship, but my life and my hopes are spared. So are my
stores and scientific instruments. I intend, therefore, to carry out my
original purpose. I believe that former explorers have erred in some
points of their procedure. These errors I shall steer clear of. Former
travellers have ignored some facts, and despised some appliances. These
facts I will recognise; these appliances I will utilise. With a steam
yacht, you, my friends, who have shown so much enthusiasm and courage up
to this point, would have been of the utmost service to me. As a party
in boats, or on foot, you would only hamper my movements. I mean to
prosecute this enterprise almost alone. I shall join myself to the
Eskimos."
He paused at this point as if in meditation. Benjy, whose eyes and
mouth had been gradually opening to their widest, almost gasped with
astonishment as he glanced at his cousins, whose expressive countenances
were somewhat similarly affected.
"I have had some long talks," continued the Captain, "with that big
Eskimo Chingatok, through our interpreter, and from what he says I
believe my chances of success are considerable. I am all the more
confirmed in this resolution because of the readiness and ability of my
first mate to guide you out of the Arctic regions, and your willingness
to trust him. Anders has agreed to go with me as interpreter, and now,
all I want is one other man, because--"
"Put me down, father," cried Benjy, in a burst of excitement--"_I'm_
your man."
"Hush, lad," said the Captain with a little smile, "of course I shall
take you with me and also your two cousins, but I want one other man to
complete the party--but he must be a heartily willing man. Who will
volunteer?"
There was silence for a few moments. It was broken by the doctor.
"I for one won't volunteer," he said, "for I'm too much shaken by this
troublesome illness to think of such an expedition. If I were well it
might be otherwise, but perhaps some of the others will offer."
"You can't expect me to do so," said the mate, "for I've got to guide
our party home, as agreed on; besides, under any circumstances, I would
not join you, for it is simple madness. You'll forgive me, Captain. I
mean no disrespect, but I have sailed many years to these seas, and I
know from experience that what you propose is beyond the power of man to
accomplish."
"Experience!" repeated the Captain, quickly. "Has your experience
extended further north than this point?"
"No, sir, I have not been further north than this--nobody has. It is
beyond the utmost limit yet reached, so far as I know."
"Well, then, you cannot speak from _experience_ about what I propose,"
said the Captain, turning away. "Come, lads, I have no wish to
constrain you, I merely give one of you the chance."
Still no one came forward. Every man of the crew of the _Whitebear_ had
had more or less personal acquaintance with arctic travel and danger.
They would have followed Captain Vane anywhere in the yacht, but
evidently they had no taste for what he was about to undertake.
At last one stepped to the front. It was Butterface, the steward. This
intensely black negro was a bulky, powerful man, with a modest spirit
and a strange disbelief in his own capacities, though, in truth, these
were very considerable. He came forward, stooping slightly, and rubbing
his hands in a deprecating manner.
"'Scuse me, massa Capting. P'r'aps it bery presumsheeous in dis yer
chile for to speak afore his betters, but as no oder man 'pears to want
to volunteer, I's willin' to go in an' win. Ob course I ain't a man--
on'y a nigger, but I's a willin' nigger, an' kin do a few small tings--
cook de grub, wash up de cups an' sarsers, pull a oar, clean yer boots,
fight de Eskimos if you wants me to, an' ginrally to scrimmage around
a'most anything. Moreover, I eats no more dan a babby--'sep wen I's
hungry--an' I'll foller you, massa, troo tick and tin--to de Nort Pole,
or de Sout Pole, or de East Pole, or de West Pole--or any oder pole
wotsomediver--all de same to Butterface, s'long's you'll let 'im stick
by you."
The crew could not help giving the negro a cheer as he finished this
loyal speech, and the Captain, although he would have preferred one of
the other men, gladly accepted his services.
A few days later the boats were ready and provisioned; adieus were said,
hats and handkerchiefs waved, and soon after Captain Vane and his son
and two nephews, with Anders and Butterface, were left to fight their
battles alone, on the margin of an unexplored, mysterious Polar sea.
CHAPTER FIVE.
LEFT TO THEIR FATE.
There are times, probably, in all conditions of life, when men feel a
species of desolate sadness creeping over their spirits, which they find
it hard to shake off or subdue. Such a time arrived to our Arctic
adventurers the night after they had parted from the crew of the wrecked
_Whitebear_. Nearly everything around, and much within, them was
calculated to foster that feeling.
They were seated on the rocky point on the extremity of which their
yacht had been driven. Behind them were the deep ravines, broad
valleys, black beetling cliffs, grand mountains, stupendous glaciers,
and dreary desolation of Greenland. To right and left, and in front of
them, lay the chaotic ice-pack of the Arctic sea, with lanes and pools
of water visible here and there like lines and spots of ink. Icebergs
innumerable rose against the sky, which at the time was entirely covered
with grey and gloomy clouds. Gusts of wind swept over the frozen waste
now and then, as if a squall which had recently passed, were sighing at
the thought of leaving anything undestroyed behind it. When we add to
this, that the wanderers were thinking of the comrades who had just left
them--the last link, as it were, with the civilised world from which
they were self-exiled, of the unknown dangers and difficulties that lay
before them, and of the all but forlorn hope they had undertaken, there
need be little wonder that for some time they all looked rather grave,
and were disposed to silence.
But life is made up of opposites, light and shade, hard and soft, hot
and cold, sweet and sour, for the purpose, no doubt, of placing man
between two moral battledores so as to drive the weak and erring
shuttlecock of his will right and left, and thus keep it in the middle
course of rectitude. No sooner had our adventurers sunk to the
profoundest depths of gloom, than the battledore of brighter influences
began to play upon them. It did not, however, achieve the end at once.
"I'm in the lowest, bluest, dreariest, grumpiest, and most utterly
miserable state of mind I ever was in in all my life," said poor little
Benjy Vane, thrusting his hands into his pockets, sitting down on a
rock, and gazing round on the waste wilderness, which had only just
ceased howling, the very personification of despair.
"So's I, massa," said Butterface, looking up from a compound of wet coal
and driftwood which he had been vainly trying to coax into a flame for
cooking purposes; "I's most 'orribly miserable!"
There was a beaming grin on the negro's visage that gave the lie direct
to his words.
"That's always the way with you, Benjy," said the Captain, "either
bubblin' over with jollity an' mischief, or down in the deepest blues."
"Blues! father," cried the boy, "don't talk of blues--it's the blacks
I'm in, the very blackest of blacks."
"Ha! jus' like me," muttered Butterface, sticking out his thick lips at
the unwilling fire, and giving a blow that any grampus might have
envied.
The result was that a column of almost solid smoke, which had been for
some time rising thicker and thicker from the coals, burst into a bright
flame. This was the first of the sweet influences before referred to.
"Mind your wool, Flatnose," cried Benjy, as the negro drew quickly back.
It may be remarked here that the mysterious bond of sympathy which
united the spirits of Benjy Vane and the black steward found expression
in kindly respect on the part of the man, and in various eccentric
courses on the part of the boy--among others, in a habit of patting him
on the back, and giving him a choice selection of impromptu names, such
as Black-mug, Yellow-eyes, Square-jaws, and the like.
"What have you got in the kettle?" asked Leo Vandervell, who came up
with some dry driftwood at the moment.
"Bubble-um-squeak," replied the cook.
"What sort o' squeak is that?" asked Leo, as he bent his tall strong
frame over the fire to investigate the contents of the kettle.
"What am it, massa? Why, it am a bit o' salt pork, an' a bit o' dat
bear you shooted troo de nose yes'rday, an' a junk o' walrus, an' two
puffins, an' some injin corn, a leetil pepper, an' a leetil salt."
"Good, that sounds well," said Leo. "I'll go fetch you some more
driftwood, for it'll take a deal of boiling, that will, to make it
eatable."
The driftwood referred to was merely some pieces of the yacht which had
been cast ashore by the hurly-burly of ice and water that had occurred
during the last tide. No other species of driftwood was to be found on
that coast, for the neighbouring region was utterly destitute of trees.
"Where has Alf gone to?" asked the Captain, as Leo was moving away.
"Oh, he's looking for plants and shells, as usual," answered Leo, with a
smile. "You know his heart is set upon these things."
"He'll have to set his heart on helping wi' the cargo after supper,"
said the Captain, drawing a small notebook and pencil from his pocket.
A few more of the sweet and reviving influences of life now began to
circle round the wanderers. Among them was the savoury odour that arose
from the pot of bubble-um-squeak, also the improved appearance of the
sky.
It was night, almost midnight, nevertheless the sun was blazing in the
heavens, and as the storm-clouds had rolled away like a dark curtain,
his cheering rays were by that time gilding the icebergs, and rendering
the land-cliffs ruddily. The travellers had enjoyed perpetual daylight
for several weeks already, and at that high latitude they could count on
many more to come. By the time supper was ready, the depressing
influences were gone, and the spirits of all had recovered their wonted
tone. Indeed it was not to the discredit of the party that they were so
much cast down on that occasion, for the parting, perhaps for ever, from
the friends with whom they had hitherto voyaged, had much more to do
with their sadness than surrounding circumstances or future trials.
"What plan do you intend to follow out, uncle?" asked Alphonse
Vandervell, as they sat at supper that night round the kettle.
"That depends on many things, lad," replied the Captain, laying down his
spoon, and leaning his back against a convenient rock. "If the ice
moves off, I shall adopt one course; if it holds fast I shall try
another. Then, if you insist on gathering and carrying along with you
such pocket-loads of specimens, plants, rocks, etcetera, as you've
brought in this evening, I'll have to build a sort of Noah's ark, or
omnibus on sledge-runners, to carry them."
"And suppose I don't insist on carrying these things, what then?"
"Well," replied the Captain, "in that case I would--well, let me see--a
little more of the bubble, Benjy."
"Wouldn't you rather some of the squeak?" asked the boy.
"Both, lad, both--some of everything. Well, as I was saying--and you've
a right to know what's running in my head, seeing that you have to help
me carry out the plans--I'll give you a rough notion of 'em."
The Captain became more serious as he explained his plans. "The
Eskimos, you know," he continued, "have gone by what I may call the
shore ice, two days' journey in advance of this spot, taking our dogs
along with them. It was my intention to have proceeded to the same
point in our yacht, and there, if the sea was open, to have taken on
board that magnificent Eskimo giant, Chingatok, with his family, and
steered away due north. In the event of the pack being impassable, I
had intended to have laid the yacht up in some safe harbour; hunted and
fished until we had a stock of dried and salted provisions, enough to
last us two years, and then to have started northward in sledges, under
the guidance of Chingatok, with a few picked men, leaving the rest and
the yacht in charge of the mate. The wreck of the _Whitebear_ has,
however, forced me to modify these plans. I shall now secure as much of
our cargo as we have been able to save, and leave it here _en cache_--"
"What sort of cash is that, father?" asked Benjy.
"You are the best linguist among us, Leo, tell him," said the Captain,
turning to his nephew.
"`_En cache_' is French for `in hiding,'" returned Leo, with a laugh.
"Why do you speak French to Englishmen, father?" said Benjy in a
pathetic tone, but with a pert look.
"'Cause the expression is a common one on this side the Atlantic, lad,
and you ought to know it. Now, don't interrupt me again. Well, having
placed the cargo in security," ("_En cache_," muttered Benjy with a
glance at Butterface.) "I shall rig up the sledges brought from England,
load them with what we require, and follow up the Eskimos. You're sure,
Anders, that you understood Chingatok's description of the place?"
The interpreter declared that he was quite sure.
"After that," resumed the Captain, "I'll act according to the
information the said Eskimos can give me. D'ye know, I have a strong
suspicion that our Arctic giant Chingatok is a philosopher, if I may
judge from one or two questions he put and observations he made when we
first met. He says he has come from a fine country which lies far--very
far--to the north of this; so far that I feel quite interested and
hopeful about it. I expect to have more talk with him soon on the
subject. A little more o' the bubble, lad; really, Butterface, your
powers in the way of cookery are wonderful."
"Chingatok seems to me quite a remarkable fellow for an Eskimo,"
observed Leo, scraping the bottom of the kettle with his spoon, and
looking inquiringly into it. "I, too, had some talk with him--through
Anders--when we first met, and from what he said I can't help thinking
that he has come from the remote north solely on a voyage of discovery
into what must be to him the unknown regions of the south. Evidently he
has an inquiring mind."
"Much like yourself, Leo, to judge from the way you peer into that
kettle," said Benjy; "please don't scrape the bottom out of it. There's
not much tin to mend it with, you know, in these regions."
"Brass will do quite as well," retorted Leo, "and there can be no lack
of that while you are here."
"Come now, Benjy," said Alf, "that insolent remark should put you on
your mettle."
"So it does, but I won't open my lips, because I feel that I should
speak ironically if I were to reply," returned the boy, gazing dreamily
into the quiet countenance of the steward. "What are _you_ thinking of,
you lump of charcoal?"
"Me, massa? me tink dere 'pears to be room for more wittles inside ob
me; but as all de grub's eated up, p'r'aps it would be as well to be
goin' an' tacklin' suffin' else now."
"You're right, Butterface," cried the Captain, rousing himself from a
reverie. "What say you, comrades? Shall we turn in an' have a nap?
It's past midnight."
"I'm not inclined for sleep," said Alf, looking up from some of the
botanical specimens he had collected.
"No more am I," said Leo, lifting up his arms and stretching his
stalwart frame, which, notwithstanding his youth, had already developed
to almost the full proportions of a powerful man.
"I vote that we sit up all night," said Benjy, "the sun does it, and why
shouldn't we?"
"Well, I've no objection," rejoined the Captain, "but we must work if we
don't sleep--so, come along."
Setting the example, Captain Vane began to shoulder the bags and boxes
which lay scattered around with the energy of an enthusiastic railway
porter. The other members of the party were not a whit behind him in
diligence and energy. Even Benjy, delicate-looking though he was, did
the work of an average man, besides enlivening the proceedings with
snatches of song and a flow of small talk of a humorous and slightly
insolent nature.
CHAPTER SIX.
FUTURE PLANS DISCUSSED AND DECIDED.
Away to the northward of the spot where the _Whitebear_ had been wrecked
there stretched a point of land far out into the Arctic Ocean. It was
about thirty miles distant, and loomed hugely bluff and grand against
the brilliant sky, as if it were the forefront of the northern world.
No civilised eyes had ever beheld that land before. Captain Vane knew
that, because it lay in latitude 83 north, which was a little beyond the
furthest point yet reached by Arctic navigators. He therefore named it
Cape Newhope. Benjy thought that it should have been named
Butterface-beak, because the steward had been the first to observe it,
but his father thought otherwise.
About three miles to the northward of this point of land the Eskimos
were encamped. According to arrangement with the white men they had
gone there, as we have said, in charge of the dogs brought by Captain
Vane from Upernavik, as these animals, it was thought, stood much in
need of exercise.
Here the natives had found and taken possession of a number of deserted
Eskimo huts.
These rude buildings were the abodes to which the good people migrated
when summer heat became so great as to render their snow-huts sloppily
disagreeable.
In one of the huts sat Chingatok, his arms resting on his knees, his
huge hands clasped, and his intelligent eyes fixed dreamily on the
lamp-flame, over which his culinary mother was bending in busy
sincerity. There were many points of character in which this remarkable
mother and son resembled each other. Both were earnest--intensely so--
and each was enthusiastically eager about small matters as well as
great. In short, they both possessed great though uncultivated minds.
The hut they occupied was in some respects as remarkable as themselves.
It measured about six feet in height and ten in diameter. The walls
were made of flattish stones, moss, and the bones of seals, whales,
narwhals, and other Arctic creatures. The stones were laid so that each
overlapped the one below it, a very little inwards, and thus the walls
approached each other gradually as they rose from the foundation; the
top being finally closed by slabs of slate-stone. Similar stones
covered the floor--one half of which floor was raised a foot or so above
the other, and this raised half served for a seat by day as well as a
couch by night. On it were spread a thick layer of dried moss, and
several seal, dog, and bear skins. Smaller elevations in the corners
near the entrance served for seats. The door was a curtain of sealskin.
Above it was a small window, glazed, so to speak, with strips of
semi-transparent dried intestines sewed together.
Toolooha's cooking-lamp was made of soapstone, formed like a clam-shell,
and about eight inches in diameter; the fuel was seal-oil, and the wick
was of moss. It smoked considerably, but Eskimos are smoke-proof. The
pot above it, suspended from the roof, was also made of soapstone.
Sealskins hung about the walls drying; oily mittens, socks and boots
were suspended about on pegs and racks of rib-bones. Lumps of blubber
hung and lay about miscellaneously. Odours, not savoury, were therefore
prevalent--but Eskimos are smell-proof.
"Mother," said the giant, raising his eyes from the flame to his
parent's smoke-encircled visage, "they are a most wonderful people,
these Kablunets. Blackbeard is a great man--a grand man--but I think he
is--"
Chingatok paused, shook his head, and touched his forehead with a look
of significance worthy of a white man.
"Why think you so, my son?" asked the old woman, sneezing, as a denser
cloud than usual went up her nose.
"Because he has come here to search for _nothing_."
"Nothing, my son?"
"Yes--at least that is what he tried to explain to me. Perhaps the
interpreter could not explain. He is not a smart man, that interpreter.
He resembles a walrus with his brain scooped out. He spoke much, but I
could not understand."
"Could not understand?" repeated Toolooha, with an incredulous look,
"let not Chingatok say so. Is there _anything_ that passes the lips of
man which he cannot understand?"
"Truly, mother, I once thought there was not," replied the giant, with a
modest look, "but I am mistaken. The Kablunets make me stare and feel
foolish."
"But it is not possible to search for _nothing_," urged Toolooha.
"So I said," replied her son, "but Blackbeard only laughed at me."
"Did he?" cried the mother, with a much relieved expression, "then let
your mind rest, my son, for Blackbeard must be a fool if he laughed at
_you_."
"Blackbeard is no fool," replied Chingatok.
"Has he not come to search for new lands _here_, as you went to search
for them _there_?" asked Toolooha, pointing alternately north and south.
"No--if I have understood him. Perhaps the brainless walrus translated
his words wrongly."
"Is the thing he searches for something to eat?"
"Something to drink or wear?"
"No, I tell you. It is _nothing_! Yet he gives it a name. He calls it
_Nort Pole_!"
Perhaps it is needless to remind the reader that Chingatok and his
mother conversed in their native tongue, which we have rendered as
literally as possible, and that the last two words were his broken
English for "North Pole!"
"Nort Pole!" repeated Toolooha once or twice contemplatively. "Well, he
may search for nothing if he will, but that he cannot find."
"Nay, mother," returned the giant with a soft smile, "if he will search
for nothing he is sure to find it!"
Chingatok sighed, for his mother did not see the joke.
"Blackbeard," he continued with a grave, puzzled manner, "said that this
world on which we stand floats in the air like a bird, and spins round!"
"Then Blackbeard is a liar," said Toolooha quietly, though without a
thought of being rude. She merely meant what she said, and said what
she meant, being a naturally candid woman.
"That may be so, mother, but I think not."
"How can the world float without wings?" demanded the old woman
indignantly. "If it spinned should we not feel the spinning, and grow
giddy?"
"And Blackbeard says," continued the giant, regardless of the questions
propounded, "that it spins round upon this _Nort Pole_, which he says is
not a real thing, but only nothing. I asked Blackbeard--How can a world
spin upon nothing?"
"And what said he to that?" demanded Toolooha quickly.
"He only laughed. They all laughed when the brainless walrus put my
question. There is one little boy--the son I think of Blackbeard--who
laughed more than all the rest. He lay down on the ice to laugh, and
rolled about as if he had the bowel-twist."
"That son of Blackbeard must be a fool more than his father," said
Toolooha, casting a look of indignation at her innocent kettle.
"Perhaps; but he is not like his father," returned Chingatok meekly.
"There are two other chiefs among the Kablunets who seem to me fine men.
They are very young and wise. They have learned a little of our tongue
from the Brainless One, and asked me some questions about the rocks, and
the moss, and the flowers. They are tall and strong. One of them is
very grave and seems to think much, like myself. He also spoke of this
Nothing--this Nort Pole. They are all mad, I think, about that thing--
that Nothing!"
The conversation was interrupted at this point by the sudden entrance of
the giant's little sister with the news that the Kablunets were observed
coming round the great cape, dragging a sledge.
"Is not the big oomiak with them?" asked her brother, rising quickly.
"No, we see no oomiak--no wings--no fire," answered Oblooria, "only six
men dragging a sledge."
Chingatok went out immediately, and Oblooria was about to follow when
her mother recalled her.
"Come here, little one. There is a bit of blubber for you to suck.
Tell me, saw you any sign of madness in these white men when they were
talking with your brother about this--this--Nort Pole."
"No, mother, no," answered Oblooria thoughtfully, "I saw not madness.
They laughed much, it is true--but not more than Oolichuk laughs
sometimes. Yes--I think again! There was one who seems mad--the small
boy, whom brother thinks to be the son of Blackbeard--Benjay, they call
him."
"Hah! I thought so," exclaimed Toolooha, evidently pleased at her
penetration on this point. "Go, child, I cannot quit the lamp. Bring
me news of what they say and do."
Oblooria obeyed with alacrity, bolting her strip of half-cooked blubber
as she ran; her mother meanwhile gave her undivided attention to the
duties of the lamp.
The white men and all the members of the Eskimo band were standing by
the sledge engaged in earnest conversation when the little girl came
forward. Captain Vane was speaking.
"Yes, Chingatok," he said, looking up at the tall savage, who stood
erect in frame but with bent head and his hands clasped before him, like
a modest chief, which in truth he was. "Yes, if you will guide me to
your home in the northern lands, I will pay you well--for I have much
iron and wood and such things as I think you wish for and value, and you
shall also have my best thanks and gratitude. The latter may not indeed
be worth much, but, nevertheless, you could not purchase it with all the
wealth of the Polar regions."
Chingatok looked with penetrating gaze at Anders while he translated,
and, considering the nature of the communication, the so-called
Brainless One proved himself a better man than the giant gave him credit
for.
"Does Blackbeard," asked Chingatok, after a few seconds' thought,
"expect to find this Nothing--this Nort Pole, in my country?"
"Well, I cannot exactly say that I do," replied the Captain; "you see,
I'm not quite sure, from what you tell me, where your country is. It
may not reach to the Pole, but it is enough for me that it lies in that
direction, and that you tell me there is much open water there. Men of
my nation have been in these regions before now, and some of them have
said that the Polar Sea is open, others that it is covered always with
ice so thick that it never melts. Some have said it is a `sea of
ancient ice' so rough that no man can travel over it, and that it is not
possible to reach the North Pole. I don't agree with that. I had been
led to expect to fall in with this sea of ancient ice before I had got
thus far, but it is not to be found. The sea indeed is partly blocked
with ordinary ice, but there is nothing to be seen of this vast
collection of mighty blocks, some of them thirty feet high--this wild
chaos of ice which so effectually stopped some of those who went before
me."
This speech put such brains as the Brainless One possessed to a severe
test, and, after all, he failed to convey its full meaning to Chingatok,
who, however, promptly replied to such portions as he understood.
"What Blackbeard calls the sea of old ice does exist," he said; "I have
seen it. No man could travel on it, only the birds can cross it. But
ice is not land. It changes place. It is here to-day; it is there
to-morrow. Next day it is gone. We cannot tell where it goes to or
when it will come back. The _very_ old ice comes back again and again.
It is slow to become like your Nort Pole--nothing. But it melts at last
and more comes in its place--growing old slowly and vanishing slowly.
It is full of wonder--like the stars; like the jumping flames; like the
sun and moon, which we cannot understand."
Chingatok paused and looked upwards with a solemn expression. His mind
had wandered into its favourite channels, and for the moment he forgot
the main subject of conversation, while the white men regarded him with
some surprise, his comrades with feelings of interest not unmingled with
awe.
"But," he continued, "I know where the sea of ancient ice-blocks is just
now. I came past it in my kayak, and can guide you to it by the same
way."
"That is just what I want, Chingatok," said the Captain with a joyful
look, "only aid me in this matter, and I will reward you well. I've
already told you that my ship is wrecked, and that the crew, except
those you see here, have left me; but I have saved all the cargo and
buried it in a place of security with the exception of those things
which I need for my expedition. One half of these things are on this
sledge,--the other half on a sledge left behind and ready packed near
the wreck. Now, I want you to send men to fetch that sledge here."
"That shall be done," said Chingatok. "Thanks, thanks, my good fellow,"
returned the Captain, "and we must set about it at once, for the summer
is advancing, and you know as well as I do that the hot season is but a
short one in these regions."
"A moment more shall not be lost," said the giant.
He turned to Oolichuk, who had been leaning on a short spear, and gazing
open-mouthed, eyed, and eared, during the foregoing conversation, and
said a few words to him and to the other Eskimos in a low tone.
Oolichuk merely nodded his head, said "Yah!" or something similarly
significant, shouldered his spear and went off in the direction of the
Cape of Newhope, followed by nearly all the men of the party.
"Stay, not quite so fast," cried Captain Vane.
"Stop!" shouted Chingatok.
Oolichuk and his men paused.
"One of us had better go with them," said the Captain, "to show the
place where the sledge has been left."
"I will go, uncle, if you'll allow me," said Leo Vandervell.
"Oh! let me go too, father," pleaded Benjy, "I'm not a bit tired; do."
"You may both go. Take a rifle with you, Leo. There's no saying what
you may meet on the way."
In half-an-hour the party under Oolichuk had reached the extremity of
the cape, and Captain Vane observed that his volatile son mounted to the
top of an ice-block to wave a farewell. He looked like a black speck,
or a crow, in the far distance. Another moment, and the speck had
disappeared among the hummocks of the ice-locked sea.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED AND FACED.
They had not quite doubled the Cape of Newhope, and were about to round
the point which concealed the spot that had been named Wreck Bay, when
they suddenly found themselves face to face with a Polar bear!
Bruin was evidently out for an evening stroll, for he seemed to have
nothing particular to do.
Surprise lit up alike the countenances of the men and the visage of the
bear. It was an unexpected meeting on both sides. The distance between
them was not more than thirty feet. Leo was the only one of the party
who carried a rifle. More than once during the voyage had Leo seen and
shot a bear. The sight was not new to him, but never before had he come
so suddenly, or so very close, upon this king of the Arctic Seas. He
chanced at the time to be walking a few yards in advance of the party in
company with Oolichuk and Benjy.
The three stopped, stared, and stood as if petrified.
For one moment, then they uttered a united and half involuntary roar.
Right royally did that bear accept the challenge. It rose, according to
custom, on its hind legs, and immediately began that slow, but deadly
war-dance with which the race is wont to preface an attack, while its
upper lip curled in apparent derision, exposing its terrible fangs.
Leo recovered self-possession instantly. The rifle leaped to his
shoulder, the centre of the bear's breast was covered, and the trigger
pulled.
Only a snap resulted. Leo had forgotten to load! Benjy gasped with
anxiety. Oolichuk, who had held himself back with a sparkling smile of
expectation at the prospect of seeing the Kablunet use his
thunder-weapon, looked surprised and disappointed, but went into action
promptly with his spear, accompanied by Akeetolik. Leo's rifle, being a
breech-loader, was quickly re-charged, but as the rest of the party
stood leaning on their spears with the evident intention of merely
watching the combat, the youth resolved to hold his hand, despite
Benjy's earnest recommendation to put one ball between the bear's eyes,
and the other into his stomach.
It was but a brief though decisive battle. Those Eskimos were well used
to such warfare.
Running towards the animal with levelled spears, the two men separated
on coming close, so that Bruin was forced to a state of indecision as to
which enemy he would assail first. Akeetolik settled the point for him
by giving him a prick on the right side, thus, as it were, drawing the
enemy's fire on himself. The bear turned towards him with a fierce
growl, and in so doing, exposed his left side to attack. Oolichuk was
not slow to seize the opportunity. He leaped close up, and drove his
spear deep into the animal's heart--killing it on the spot.
Next day the party returned to the Eskimo camp with the sledge-load of
goods, and the bear on the top.
While steaks of the same were being prepared by Toolooha, Captain Vane
and his new allies were busy discussing the details of the advance.
"I know that the difficulties will be great," he said, in reply to a
remark from the interpreter, "but I mean to face and overcome them."
"Ah!" exclaimed Alf, who was rather fond of poetry:--
"To dare unknown dangers in a noble cause,
Despite an adverse Nature and her tiresome Laws."
"Just so, Alf, my boy, stick at nothing; never give in; victory or
death, that's my way of expressing the same sentiment. But there's one
thing that I must impress once more upon you all--namely, that each man
must reduce his kit to the very lowest point of size and weight. No
extras allowed."
"What, not even a box of paper collars?" asked Benjy.
"Not one, my boy, but you may take a strait-waistcoat in your box if you
choose, for you'll be sure to need it."
"Oh! father," returned the boy, remonstratively, "you are severe.
However, I will take one, if you agree to leave your woollen comforter
behind. You won't need that, you see, as long as I am with you."
"Of course," said Alf, "you will allow us to carry small libraries with
us?"
"Certainly not, my lad, only one book each, and that must be a small
one."
"The only book I possess is my Bible," said Leo, "and that won't take up
much room, for it's an uncommonly small one."
"If I only had my Robinson Crusoe here," cried Benjy, "I'd take it, for
there's enough of adventure in that book to carry a man over half the
world."
"Ay," said Alf, "and enough of mind to carry him over the other half.
For my part, if we must be content with one book each, I shall take
Buzzby's poems."
"Oh! horrible!" cried Benjy, "why, he's no better than a maudlin',
dawdlin', drawlin', caterwaulin'--"
"Come, Benjy, don't be insolent; he's second only to Tennyson. Just
listen to this _morceau_ by Buzzby. It is an Ode to Courage--
"`High! hot! hillarious compound of--'"
"Stop! stop! man, don't begin when we're in the middle of our plans,"
interrupted Benjy, "let us hear what book Butterface means to take."
"I not take no book, massa, only take my flute. Music is wot's de
matter wid me. Dat is de ting what hab charms to soove de savage
beast."
"I wouldn't advise you try to soothe a Polar bear with it," said Leo,
"unless you have a rifle handy."
"Yes--and especially an unloaded one, which is very effective against
Polar bears," put in the Captain, with a sly look. "Ah, Leo, I could
hardly have believed it of you--and you the sportsman of our party, too;
our chief huntsman. Oh, fie!"
"Come, uncle, don't be too hard on that little mistake," said Leo, with
a slight blush, for he was really annoyed by the unsportsmanlike
oversight hinted at; "but pray, may I ask," he added, turning sharply on
the Captain, "what is inside of these three enormous boxes of yours
which take up so much space on the sledges?"
"You may ask, Leo, but you may not expect an answer. That is my secret,
and I mean to keep it as a sort of stimulus to your spirits when the
hardships of the way begin to tell on you. Ask Chingatok, Anders,"
continued the Captain, turning to the interpreter, "if he thinks we have
enough provisions collected for the journey. I wish to start
immediately."
"We have enough," answered Chingatok, who had been sitting a silent, but
deeply interested observer--so to speak--of the foregoing conversation.
"Tell him, then, to arrange with his party, and be prepared to set out
by noon to-morrow."
That night, by the light of the midnight sun, the Eskimos sat round
their kettles of bear-chops, and went into the _pros_ and _cons_ of the
proposed expedition. Some were enthusiastically in favour of casting in
their lot with the white men, others were decidedly against it, and a
few were undecided. Among the latter was Akeetolik.
"These ignorant men," said that bold savage, "are foolish and useless.
They cannot kill bears. The one named Lo, (thus was Leonard's name
reduced to its lowest denomination), is big enough, and looks very fine,
but when he sees bear he only stares, makes a little click with his
thunder-weapon, and looks stupid."
"Blackbeard explained that," said Oolichuk; "Lo made some mistake."
"That may be so," retorted Akeetolik, "but if you and me had not been
there, the _bear_ would not make a mistake."
"I will not go with these Kablunets," said Eemerk with a frown, "they
are only savages. They are not taught. No doubt they had a wonderful
boat, but they have not been able to keep their boat. They cannot kill
bears; perhaps they cannot kill seals or walruses, and they ask us to
help them to travel--to show them the way! They can do nothing. They
must be led like children. My advice is to kill them all, since they
are so useless, and take their goods."
This speech was received with marks of decided approval by those of the
party who were in the habit of siding with Eemerk, but the rest were
silent. In a few moments Chingatok said, in a low, quiet, but
impressive tone: "The Kablunets are not foolish or ignorant. They are
wise--far beyond the wisdom of the Eskimos. It is Eemerk who is like a
walrus without brains. He thinks that his little mind is outside of
everything, and so he has not eyes to perceive that he is ignorant as
well as foolish, and that other men are wise."
This was the severest rebuke that the good-natured Chingatok had yet
administered to Eemerk, but the latter, foolish though he was, had
wisdom enough not to resent it openly. He sat in moody silence, with
his eyes fixed on the ground.
Of course Oolichuk was decidedly in favour of joining the white men, and
so was Ivitchuk, who soon brought round his hesitating friend Akeetolik,
and several of the others. Oblooria, being timid, would gladly have
sided with Eemerk, but she hated the man, and, besides, would in any
case have cast in her lot with her mother and brother, even if free to
do otherwise.
The fair Tekkona, whose courage and faith were naturally strong, had
only one idea, and that was to follow cheerfully wherever Chingatok led;
but she was very modest, and gave no opinion. She merely remarked: "The
Kablunets are handsome men, and seem good."
As for Toolooha, she had enough to do to attend to the serious duties of
the lamp, and always left the settlement of less important matters to
the men.
"You and yours are free to do what you please," said Chingatok to
Eemerk, when the discussion drew to a close. "I go with the white men
to-morrow."
"What says Oblooria?" whispered Oolichuk when the rest of the party were
listening to Eemerk's reply.
"Oblooria goes with her brother and mother," answered that young lady,
toying coquettishly with her sealskin tail.
Oolichuk's good-humoured visage beamed with satisfaction, and his flat
nose curled up--as much as it was possible for such a feature to curl--
with contempt, as he glanced at Eemerk and said--
"I have heard many tales from Anders--the white man's mouthpiece--since
we met. He tells me the white men are very brave and fond of running
into danger for nothing but fun. Those who do not like the fun of
danger should join Eemerk. Those who are fond of fun and danger should
come with our great chief Chingatok--huk! Let us divide."
Without more palaver the band divided, and it was found that only eight
sided with Eemerk. All the rest cast in their lot with our giant, after
which this Arctic House of Commons adjourned, and its members went to
rest.
A few days after that, Captain Vane and his Eskimo allies, having left
the camp with Eemerk and his friends far behind them, came suddenly one
fine morning on a barrier which threatened effectually to arrest their
further progress northward. This was nothing less than that tremendous
sea of "ancient ice" which had baffled previous navigators and sledging
parties.
"Chaos! absolute chaos!" exclaimed Alf Vandervell, who was first to
recover from the shock of surprise, not to say consternation, with which
the party beheld the scene on turning a high cape.
"It looks bad," said Captain Vane, gravely, "but things often look worse
at a first glance than they really are."
"I hope it may be so in this case," said Leo, in a low tone.
"Good-bye to the North Pole!" said Benjy, with a look of despondency so
deep that the rest of the party laughed in spite of themselves.
The truth was that poor Benjy had suffered much during the sledge
journey which they had begun, for although he rode, like the rest of
them, on one of the Eskimo sledges, the ice over which they had
travelled along shore had been sufficiently rugged to necessitate
constant getting off and on, as well as much scrambling over hummocks
and broken ice. We have already said that Benjy was not very robust,
though courageous and full of spirit, so that he was prone to leap from
the deepest depths of despair to the highest heights of hope at a
moment's notice--or _vice versa_. Not having become inured to
ice-travel, he was naturally much cast down when the chaos
above-mentioned met his gaze.
"Strange," said the Captain, after a long silent look at the barrier,
"strange that we should find it here. The experience of former
travellers placed it considerably to the south and west of this."
"But you know," said Leo, "Chingatok told us that the old ice drifts
about just as the more recently formed does. Who knows but we may find
the end of it not far off, and perhaps may reach open water beyond,
where we can make skin canoes, and launch forth on a voyage of
discovery."
"I vote that we climb the cliffs and try to see over the top of this
horrid ice-jumble," said Benjy.
"Not a bad suggestion, lad. Let us do so. We will encamp here, Anders.
Let all the people have a good feed, and tell Chingatok to follow us.
You will come along with him."
A few hours later, and the Captain, Leo, Alf, Benjy, Chingatok, and the
interpreter stood on the extreme summit of the promontory which they had
named Cape Chaos, and from which they had a splendid bird's-eye view of
the whole region.
It was indeed a tremendous and never-to-be-forgotten scene.
As far as the eye could reach, the ocean was covered with ice heaped
together in some places in the wildest confusion, and so firmly wedged
in appearance that it seemed as if it had lain there in a solid mass
from the first day of creation. Elsewhere the ice was more level and
less compact. In the midst of this rugged scene, hundreds of giant
icebergs rose conspicuously above the rest, towering upwards in every
shape and of all sizes, from which the bright sun was flashed back in
rich variety of form, from the sharp gleam that trickled down an edge of
ice to the refulgent blaze on a glassy face which almost rivalled the
sun himself in brilliancy. These icebergs, extending as they did to the
horizon, where they mingled with and were lost in the pearl-grey sky,
gave an impression of vast illimitable perspective. Although no sign of
an open sea was at first observed, there was no lack of water to enliven
the scene, for here and there, and everywhere, were pools and ponds, and
even lakes of goodly size, which had been formed on the surface by the
melting ice. In these the picturesque masses were faithfully reflected,
and over them vast flocks of gulls, eider-ducks, puffins, and other
wild-fowl of the north, disported themselves in garrulous felicity.
On the edge of the rocky precipice, from which they had a bird's-eye
view of the scene, our discoverers stood silent for some time, absorbed
in contemplation, with feelings of mingled awe and wonder. Then
exclamations of surprise and admiration broke forth.
"The wonderful works of God!" said the Captain, in a tone of profound
reverence.
"Beautiful, beyond belief!" murmured Alf.
"But it seems an effectual check to our advance," said the practical
Leo, who, however, was by no means insensible to the extreme beauty of
the scene.
"Not effectual, lad; not effectual," returned the Captain, stretching
out his hand and turning to the interpreter; "look, Anders, d'ye see
nothing on the horizon away to the nor'ard? Isn't that a bit of
water-sky over there?"
"Ya," replied the interpreter, gazing intently, "there be watter-sky
over there. Ya. But not possobubble for go there. Ice too big an'
brokkin up."
"Ask Chingatok what he thinks," returned the Captain.
Chingatok's opinion was that the water-sky indicated the open sea. He
knew that sea well--had often paddled over it, and his own country lay
in it.
"But how ever did he cross that ice?" asked the Captain; "what says he
to that, Anders?"
"I did not cross it," answered the Eskimo, through Anders. "When I came
here with my party the ice was not there; it was far off yonder."
He pointed to the eastward.
"Just so," returned the Captain, with a satisfied nod, "that confirms my
opinion. You see, boys, that the coast here trends off to the East'ard
in a very decided manner. Now, if that was only the shore of a bay, and
the land again ran off to the nor'ard, it would not be possible for such
a sea of ice to have come from _that_ direction. I therefore conclude
that we are standing on the most northern cape of Greenland; that
Greenland itself is a huge island, unconnected with the Polar lands;
that we are now on the shores of the great Polar basin, in which,
somewhere not very far from the Pole itself, lies the home of our friend
Chingatok--at least so I judge from what he has said. Moreover, I feel
sure that the water-sky we see over there indicates the commencement of
that `open sea' which, I hold, in common with many learned men, lies
around the North Pole, and which I am determined to float upon before
many days go by."
"We'd better spread our wings then, father, and be off at once," said
Benjy; "for it's quite certain that we'll never manage to scramble over
that ice-jumble with sledges."
"Nevertheless, I will try, Benjy."
"But how, uncle?" asked Leo.
"Ay, how?" repeated Alf, "_that_ is the question."
"Come, come, Alf, let Shakespeare alone," said the pert Benjy, "if you
_must_ quote, confine yourself to Buzzby."
"Nay, Benjy, be not so severe. It was but a slip. Besides, our leader
has not forbidden our carrying a whole library in our heads, so long as
we take only one book in our pockets. But, uncle, you have not yet told
us how you intend to cross that amazing barrier which Benjy has
appropriately styled an ice-jumble."
"How, boy?" returned the Captain, who had been gazing eagerly in all
directions while they talked, "it is impossible for me to say how. All
that I can speak of with certainty as to our future movements is, that
the road by which we have come to the top of this cliff will lead us to
the bottom again, where Toolooha is preparing for us an excellent supper
of bear-steaks and tea. One step at a time, lads, is my motto; when
that is taken we shall see clearly how and where to take the next."
A sound sleep was the step which the whole party took after that which
led to the bear-steaks. Then Captain Vane arose, ordered the dogs to be
harnessed to the sledges, and, laying his course due north, steered
straight out upon the sea of ancient ice.
CHAPTER EIGHT.
DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS INCREASE, AND THE CAPTAIN EXPOUNDS HIS VIEWS.
The first part of the journey over the rugged ice was not so difficult
as had been anticipated, because they found a number of openings--narrow
lanes, as it were--winding between the masses, most of which were wide
enough to permit of the passage of the sledges; and when they chanced to
come on a gap that was too narrow, they easily widened it with their
hatchets and ice-chisels.
There was, however, some danger connected with this process, for some of
the mighty blocks of ice amongst which they moved were piled in such
positions that it only required a few choppings at their base to bring
them down in ruins on their heads. One instance of this kind sufficed
to warn them effectually.
Captain Vane's dog-sledge was leading the way at the time. Leo drove
it, for by that time the Eskimos had taught him how to use the
short-handled whip with the lash full fifteen feet long, and Leo was an
apt pupil in every athletic and manly exercise. Beside him sat the
Captain, Alf, Benjy, and Butterface--the black visage of the latter
absolutely shining with delight at the novelty of the situation. Behind
came the sledge of Chingatok, which, besides being laden with bear-rugs,
sealskins, junks of meat, and a host of indescribable Eskimo implements,
carried himself and the precious persons of Toolooha and Tekkona. Next
came the sledge of the laughter-loving Oolichuk, with the timid Oblooria
and another woman. Then followed the sledges of Ivitchuk and Akeetolik,
laden with the rest of the Eskimo women and goods, and last of all came
Captain Vane's two English-made sledges, heavily-laden with the goods
and provisions of the explorers. These latter sledges, although made in
England, had been constructed on the principle of the native sledge,
namely, with the parts fastened by means of walrus-sinew lashings
instead of nails, which last would have snapped like glass in the winter
frosts of the Polar regions, besides being incapable of standing the
twistings and shocks of ice-travel.
All the dogs being fresh, and the floor of the lanes not too rough, the
strangely-assorted party trotted merrily along, causing the echoes among
the great ice-blocks, spires, and obelisks, to ring to the music of
their chatting, and the cracks of their powerful whips. Suddenly, a
shout at the front, and an abrupt pull up, brought the whole column to a
halt. The Captain's dogs had broken into a gallop. On turning suddenly
round a spur of a glacier about as big as Saint Paul's Cathedral, they
went swish into a shallow pond which had been formed on the ice. It was
not deep, but there was sufficient water in it to send a deluge of spray
over the travellers.
A burst of laughter greeted the incident as they sprang off the sledge,
and waded to the dry ice a few yards ahead.
"No damage done," exclaimed the Captain, as he assisted the dogs to haul
the sledge out of the water.
"No damage!" repeated Benjy, with a rueful look, "why, I'm soaked from
top to toe!"
"Yes, you've got the worst of it," said Leo, with a laugh; "that comes
of being forward, Benjy. You would insist on sitting in front."
"Well, it is some comfort," retorted Benjy, squeezing the water from his
garments, "that _Alf_ is as wet as myself, for that gives us an
opportunity of sympathising with each other. Eh, _Alf_? Does Buzzby
offer no consolatory remarks for such an occasion as this?"
"O yes," replied Alf; "in his beautiful poem on Melancholy, sixth canto,
Buzzby says:--
"`When trouble, like a curtain spread,
Obscures the clouded brain,
And worries on the weary head
Descend like soaking rain--
Lift up th'umbrella of the heart,
Stride manfully along;
Defy depression's dreary dart,
And shout in gleeful song.'"
"Come, Alf, clap on to this tow-rope, an' stop your nonsense," said
Captain Vane, who was not in a poetical frame of mind just then.
"Dat is mos' boosiful potry!" exclaimed Butterface, with an immense
display of eyes and teeth, as he lent a willing hand to haul out the
sledge. "Mos' boosiful. But he's rader a strong rem'dy, massa, don'
you tink? Not bery easy to git up a gleefoo' shout when one's down in
de mout' bery bad, eh!"
Alf's reply was checked by the necessity for remounting the sledge and
resuming the journey. Those in rear avoided the pond by going round it.
"The weather's warm, anyhow, and that's a comfort," remarked Benjy, as
he settled down in his wet garments. "We can't freeze in summer, you
know, and--"
He stopped abruptly, for it became apparent just then that the opening
close ahead of them was too narrow for the sledge to pass. It was
narrowed by a buttress, or projection, of the cathedral-berg, which
jutted up close to a vast obelisk of ice about forty feet high, if not
higher.
"Nothing for it, boys, but to cut through," said the Captain, jumping
out, and seizing an axe, as the sledge was jammed between the masses.
The dogs lay down to rest and pant while the men were at work.
"It's cut an' come again in dem regins," muttered the negro steward,
also seizing an axe, and attacking the base of the obelisk.
A sudden cry of alarm from the whole party caused him to desist and look
up. He echoed the cry and sprang back swiftly, for the huge mass of ice
having been just on the balance, one slash at its base had destroyed the
equilibrium, and it was leaning slowly over with a deep grinding sound.
A moment later the motion was swift, and it fell with a terrible crash,
bursting into a thousand fragments, scattering lumps and glittering
morsels far and wide, and causing the whole ice-field to tremble. The
concussion overturned several other masses, which had been in the same
nicely-balanced condition, some near at hand, others out of sight,
though within earshot, and, for a moment, the travellers felt as if the
surrounding pack were disrupting everywhere and falling into utter ruin,
but in a few seconds the sounds ceased, and again all was quiet.
Fortunately, the obelisk which had been overturned fell towards the
north--away from the party; but although it thus narrowly missed
crushing them all in one icy tomb, it blocked up their path so
completely that the remainder of that day had to be spent in cutting a
passage through it.
Need we say that, after this, they were careful how they used their axes
and ice-chisels?
Soon after the occurrence of this incident, the labyrinths among the ice
became more broken, tortuous, and bewildering. At last they ceased
altogether, and the travellers were compelled to take an almost straight
course right over everything, for blocks, masses, and drifts on a
gigantic scale were heaved up in such dire confusion, that nothing
having the faintest resemblance to a track or passage could be found.
"It's hard work, this," remarked the Captain to Leo one evening, seating
himself on a mass of ice which he had just chopped from an obstruction,
and wiping the perspiration from his brow.
"Hard, indeed," said Leo, sitting down beside him, "I fear it begins to
tell upon poor Benjy. You should really order him to rest more than he
does, uncle."
A grim smile of satisfaction played for a minute on the Captain's rugged
face, as he glanced at his son, who, a short distance ahead, was hacking
at the ice with a pick-axe, in company with Alf and Butterface and the
Eskimo men.
"It'll do him good, lad," replied the Captain. "Hard work is just what
my Benjy needs. He's not very stout, to be sure, but there is nothing
wrong with his constitution, and he's got plenty of spirit."
This was indeed true. Benjy had too much spirit for his somewhat
slender frame, but his father, being a herculean man, did not quite
perceive that what was good for himself might be too much for his son.
Captain Vane was, however, the reverse of a harsh man. He pondered what
Leo had said, and soon afterwards went up to his son.
"Benjy, my lad."
"Yes, father," said the boy, dropping the head of his pick-axe on the
ice, resting his hands on the haft, and looking up with a flushed
countenance.
"You should rest a bit now and then, Benjy. You'll knock yourself up if
you don't."
"Rest a bit, father! Why, I've just had a rest, and I'm not tired--that
is, not very. Ain't it fun, father? And the ice cuts up so easily, and
flies about so splendidly--see here."
With flashing eyes our little hero raised his pick and drove it into the
ice at which he had been working, with all his force, so that a great
rent was made, and a mass the size of a dressing-table sprang from the
side of a berg, and, falling down, burst into a shower of sparkling
gems. But this was not all. To Benjy's intense delight, a mass of many
tons in weight was loosened by the fall of the smaller lump, and rolled
down with a thunderous roar, causing Butterface, who was too near it, to
jump out of the way with an amount of agility that threw the whole party
into fits of laughter.
"What d'ye think o' that, father?"
"I think it's somewhat dangerous," answered the Captain, recovering his
gravity and re-shouldering his axe. "However, as long as you enjoy the
work, it can't hurt you, so go ahead, my boy; it'll be a long time
before you cut away too much o' the Polar ice!"
Reaching a slightly open space beyond this point, the dogs were
harnessed, and the party advanced for a mile or so, when they came to
another obstruction worse than that which they had previously passed.
"There's a deal of ice-rubbish in these regions," remarked Benjy, eyeing
the wildly heaped masses with a grave face, and heaving a deep sigh.
"Yes, Massa Benjy, bery too much altogidder," said Butterface, echoing
the sigh.
"Come, we won't cut through this," cried Captain Vane in a cheery voice;
"we'll try to go over it. There is a considerable drift of old snow
that seems to offer a sort of track. What says Chingatok?"
The easy-going Eskimo said that it would be as well to go over it as
through it, perhaps better!
So, over it they went, but they soon began to wish they had tried any
other plan, for the snow-track quickly came to an end, and then the
difficulty of passing even the empty sledges from one ice mass to
another was very great, while the process of carrying forward the goods
on the shoulders of the men was exceedingly laborious. The poor dogs,
too, were constantly falling between masses, and dragging each other
down, so that they gave more trouble at last than they were worth.
In all these trying circumstances, the Eskimo women were almost as
useful as the men. Indeed they would have been quite as useful if they
had been as strong, and they bore the fatigues and trials of the journey
with the placid good humour, and apparent, if not real, humility of
their race.
At last, one afternoon, our discoverers came suddenly to the edge of
this great barrier of ancient ice, and beheld, from an elevated plateau
to which they had climbed, a scene which was calculated to rouse in
their breasts feelings at once of admiration and despair, for there,
stretching away below them for several miles, lay a sea of comparatively
level ice, and beyond it a chain of stupendous glaciers, which presented
an apparently impassable barrier--a huge continuous wall of ice that
seemed to rise into the very sky.
This chain bore all the evidences of being very old ice--compared to
which that of the so-called "ancient sea" was absolutely juvenile. On
the ice-plain, which was apparently illimitable to the right and left,
were hundreds of pools of water in which the icebergs, the golden
clouds, the sun, and the blue sky were reflected, and on the surface of
which myriads of Arctic wild-fowl were sporting about, making the air
vocal with their plaintive cries, and ruffling the glassy surfaces of
the lakes with their dipping wings. The heads of seals were also
observed here and there.
"These will stop us at last," said Alf, pointing to the bergs with a
profound sigh.
"No, they won't," remarked the Captain quietly. "_Nothing_ will stop
us!"
"That's true, anyhow, uncle," returned Alf; "for if it be, as Chingatok
thinks, that we are in search of nothing, of course when we find
nothing, nothing will stop us!"
"Why, Alf," said Leo, "I wonder that you, who are usually in an
enthusiastic and poetical frame of mind, should be depressed by distant
difficulties, instead of admiring such a splendid sight of birds and
beasts enjoying themselves in what I may style an Arctic heaven. You
should take example by Benjy."
That youth did indeed afford a bright example of rapt enthusiasm just
then, for, standing a little apart by himself, he gazed at the scene
with flushed face, open mouth, and glittering eyes, in speechless
delight.
"Ask Chingatok if he ever saw this range before," said the Captain to
Anders, on recovering from his first feeling of surprise.
No, Chingatok had never seen it, except, indeed, the tops of the bergs--
at sea, in the far distance--but he had often heard of it from some of
his countrymen, who, like himself, were fond of exploring. But that sea
of ice was not there, he said, when he had passed on his journey
southward. It had drifted there, since that time, from the great sea.
"Ah! the great sea that he speaks of is just what we must find and cross
over," muttered the Captain to himself.
"But how are we to cross over it, uncle?" asked Leo.
The Captain replied with one of his quiet glances. His followers had
long become accustomed to this silent method of declining to reply, and
forbore to press the subject.
"Come now, boys, get ready to descend to the plain. We'll have to do it
with caution."
There was, indeed, ground for caution. We have said that they had
climbed to an elevated plateau on one of the small bergs which formed
the outside margin of the rugged ice. The side of this berg was a steep
slope of hard snow, so steep that they thought it unwise to attempt the
descent by what in Switzerland is termed glissading.
"We'll have to zig-zag down, I think," continued the Captain, settling
himself on his sledge; but the Captain's dogs thought otherwise. Under
a sudden impulse of reckless free-will, the whole team, giving vent to a
howl of mingled glee and fear, dashed down the slope at full gallop. Of
course they were overtaken in a few seconds by the sledge, which not
only ran into them, but sent them sprawling on their backs right and
left. Then it met a slight obstruction, and itself upset, sending
Captain Vane and his companions, with its other contents, into the midst
of the struggling dogs. With momentarily increasing speed this
avalanche of mixed dead and living matter went sliding, hurtling,
swinging, shouting, struggling, and yelling to the bottom. Fortunately,
there was no obstruction there, else had destruction been inevitable.
The slope merged gradually into the level plain, over which the
avalanche swept for a considerable distance before the momentum of their
flight was expended.
When at length they stopped, and disentangled themselves from the knot
into which the traces had tied them, it was found that no one was
materially hurt. Looking up at the height down which they had come,
they beheld the Eskimos standing at the top with outstretched arms in
the attitude of men who glare in speechless horror. But these did not
stand thus long. Descending by a more circuitous route, they soon
rejoined the Captain's party, and then, as the night was far advanced,
they encamped on the edge of the ice-plain, on a part that was bathed in
the beams of the ever-circling sun.
That night at supper Captain Vane was unusually thoughtful and silent.
"You're not losing heart, are you, uncle?" asked Leo, during a pause.
"No, lad, certainly not," replied the Captain, dreamily.
"You've not been bumped very badly in the tumble, father, have you?"
asked Benjy with an anxious look.
"Bumped? no; what makes you think so?"
"Because you're gazing at Toolooha's lamp as if you saw a ghost in it."
"Well, perhaps I do see a ghost there," returned the Captain with an
effort to rouse his attention to things going on around him. "I see the
ghost of things to come. I am looking through Toolooha's lamp into
futurity."
"And what does futurity look like?" asked Alf. "Bright or dark?"
"Black--black as me," muttered Butterface, as he approached and laid
fresh viands before the party.
It ought to be told that Butterface had suffered rather severely in the
recent glissade on the snow-slope, which will account for the gloomy
view he took of the future at that time.
"Listen," said the Captain, with a look of sudden earnestness; "as it is
highly probable that a day or two more will decide the question of our
success or failure, I think it right to reveal to you more fully my
thoughts, my plans, and the prospects that lie before us. You all know
very well that there is much difference of opinion about the condition
of the sea around the North Pole. Some think it must be cumbered with
eternal ice, others that it is comparatively free from ice, and that it
enjoys a somewhat milder climate than those parts of the Arctic regions
with which we have hitherto been doing battle. I hold entirely with the
latter view--with those who believe in an open Polar basin. I won't
weary you with the grounds of my belief in detail, but here are a few of
my reasons--
"It is an admitted fact that there is constant circulation of the water
in the ocean. That wise and painstaking philosopher, Maury, of the US
navy, has proved to my mind that this grand circulation of the sea-water
round the world is the cause of all the oceanic streams, hot and cold,
with which we have been so long acquainted.
"This circulation is a necessity as well as a fact. At the Equator the
water is extremely warm and salt, besides lime-laden, in consequence of
excessive evaporation. At the Poles it is extremely cold and fresh.
Mixing is therefore a necessity. The hot salt-waters of the Equator
flow to the Poles to get freshened and cooled. Those of the Poles flow
to the Equator to get salted, limed, and warmed. They do this
continuously in two grand currents, north and south, all round the
world. But the land comes in as a disturbing element; it diverts the
water into streams variously modified in force and direction, and the
streams also change places variously, sometimes the hot currents
travelling north as under-currents with the cold currents above,
sometimes the reverse. One branch of the current comes from the Equator
round the Cape of Good Hope, turns up the west coast of Africa, and is
deflected into the Gulf of Mexico, round which it sweeps, and then
shoots across the Atlantic to England and Norway. It is known as our
Gulf Stream.
"Now, the equatorial warm and salt current enters Baffin's Bay as a
submarine current, while the cold and comparatively fresh waters of the
Polar regions descend as a surface-current, bearing the great ice-fields
of the Arctic seas to the southward. One thing that goes far to prove
this, is the fact that the enormous icebergs thrown off from the
northern glaciers have been frequently seen by navigators travelling
northward, right _against_ the current flowing south. These huge
ice-mountains, floating as they do with seven or eight parts of their
bulk beneath the surface, are carried thus forcibly up stream by the
under-current until their bases are worn off by the warm waters below,
thus allowing the upper current to gain the mastery, and hurry them
south again to their final dissolution in the Atlantic.
"Now, lads," continued the Captain, with the air of a man who propounds
a self-evident proposition; "is it not clear that if the warm waters of
the south flow into the Polar basin as an _under_ current, they must
come up _somewhere_, to take the place of the cold waters that are for
ever flowing away from the Pole to the Equator? Can anything be clearer
than that--except the nose on Benjy's face? Well then, that being so,
the waters round the Pole _must_ be comparatively warm waters, and also,
comparatively, free from ice, so that if we could only manage to cross
this ice-barrier and get into them, we might sail right away to the
North Pole."
"But, father," said Benjy, "since you have taken the liberty to trifle
with my nose, I feel entitled to remark that we can't sail in waters,
either hot or cold, without a ship."
"That's true, boy," rejoined the Captain. "However," he added, with a
half-humorous curl of his black moustache, "you know I'm not given to
stick at trifles. Time will show. Meanwhile I am strongly of opinion
that this is the last ice-barrier we shall meet with on our way to the
Pole."
"Is there not some tradition of a mild climate in the furthest north
among the Eskimos?" asked Alf.
"Of course there is. It has long been known that the Greenland Eskimos
have a tradition of an island in an iceless sea, lying away in the far
north, where there are many musk-oxen, and, from what I have been told
by our friend Chingatok, I am disposed to think that he and his kindred
inhabit this island, or group of islands, in the Polar basin--not far,
perhaps, from the Pole itself. He says there are musk-oxen there. But
there is another creature, and a much bigger one than any Eskimo, bigger
even than Chingatok, who bears his testimony to an open Polar sea,
namely, the Greenland whale. It has been ascertained that the `right'
whale does not, and cannot, enter the tropical regions of the Ocean.
They are to him as a sea of fire, a wall of adamant, so that it is
impossible for him to swim south, double Cape Horn, and proceed to the
North Pacific; yet the very same kind of whale found in Baffin's Bay is
found at Behring Straits. Now, the question is, how did he get there?"
"Was born there, no doubt," answered Benjy, "and had no occasion to make
such a long voyage!"
"Ah! my boy, but we have the strongest evidence that he was _not_ born
there, for you must know that some whalers have a habit of marking their
harpoons with date and name of ship; and as we have been told by that
good and true man Dr Scoresby, there have been several instances where
whales have been captured near Behring Straits with harpoons in them
bearing the stamp of ships that were known to cruise on the Baffin's Bay
side of America. Moreover, in one or two instances a very short time
had elapsed between the date of harpooning on the Atlantic and capturing
on the Pacific side. These facts prove, at all events, a `North-west
Passage' for whales, and, as whales cannot travel far under ice without
breathing, they also tend to prove an open Polar sea.
"Another argument in favour of this basin is the migration of birds to
the northward at certain seasons. Birds do not migrate to frozen
regions, and such migrations northward have been observed by those who,
like ourselves, have reached the highest latitudes.
"Captain Nares of the _Alert_, in May 1876, when only a little to the
southward of this, saw ptarmigan flying in pairs to the north-west,
seeking for better feeding-grounds. Ducks and geese also passed
northward early in June, indicating plainly the existence of suitable
feeding-grounds in the undiscovered and mysterious North.
"We have now passed beyond the point reached by Captain Nares. My last
observation placed us in parallel 84 degrees 40 minutes, the highest
that has yet been reached by civilised man."
"The highest, uncle?" interrupted Leo. "Yes--the highest. Scoresby
reached 81 degrees 50 minutes in 1806, Parry 82 degrees 45 minutes in
1827--with sledges. That unfortunate and heroic American, Captain Hall,
ran his vessel, the _Polaris_, in the shortest space of time on record,
up to latitude 82 degrees 16 minutes. Captain Nares reached a higher
latitude than had previously been attained by ships, and Captain
Markham, of Captain Nares' expedition, travelled over this very `sea of
ancient ice' with sledges to latitude 83 degrees 20.4 minutes--about 400
miles from the Pole, and the highest yet reached, as I have said. So,
you see, we have beaten them all! Moreover, I strongly incline to the
belief that the open Polar Sea lies just beyond that range of huge
icebergs which we see before us."
The Captain rose as he spoke, and pointed to the gigantic chain, behind
one of which the sun was just about to dip, causing its jagged peaks to
glow as with intense fire.
"But how are we ever to pass that barrier, uncle?" asked Alf, who was by
nature the least sanguine of the party in regard to overcoming
difficulties of a geographical nature, although by far the most
enthusiastic in the effort to acquire knowledge.
"You shall see, to-morrow," answered the Captain; "at present we must
turn in and rest. See, the Eskimos have already set us the example."
CHAPTER NINE.
THE CAPTAIN MAKES A STUPENDOUS EFFORT. DISAPPOINTMENTS AND DISCOVERIES.
Next morning the ice-plain was crossed at a swinging gallop. Indeed,
the dogs were so fresh and frisky after a good rest and a hearty meal
that they ran away more than once, and it became a matter of extreme
difficulty to check them. At last the great chain was reached, and the
party came to an abrupt halt at the base of one of the largest of the
bergs. Captain Vane gazed up at it as Napoleon the First may be
supposed to have gazed at the Alps he had resolved to scale and cross.
The resemblance to alpine scenery was not confined to mere form--such as
towering peaks and mighty precipices--for there were lakelets and ponds
here and there up among the crystal heights, from which rivulets
trickled, streams brawled, and cataracts thundered.
It was evident, however, that the old giant that frowned on them was
verging towards dissolution, for he was honey-combed in all directions.
"Impossible to scale that," said Alf, with a solemn look.
Even Leo's sanguine temperament was dashed for a moment. "We dare not
attempt to cut through it," he said, "for masses are falling about here
and there in a very dangerous fashion."
As he spoke, a tall spire was seen to slip from its position, topple
over, and go crashing down into a dark blue gulf of ice below it.
"No chance of success _now_," said Benjamin Vane, gloomily.
"None wotsomediver," muttered Butterface, his broad black visage
absolutely elongated by sympathetic despair. For, you must know, as far
as his own feelings were concerned, sympathy alone influenced him.
Personally, he was supremely indifferent about reaching the North Pole.
In fact he did not believe in it at all, and made no scruple of saying
so, when asked, but he seldom volunteered his opinion, being an
extremely modest and polite man.
During these desponding remarks Captain Vane did not seem to be much
depressed.
"Anders," he said, turning abruptly to the interpreter, "ask Chingatok
what he thinks. Can we pass this barrier, and, if not, what would he
advise us to do?"
It was observed that the other Eskimos drew near with anxious looks to
hear the opinion of their chief.
Toolooha and Tekkona, however, seemed quite devoid of anxiety. They
evidently had perfect confidence in the giant, and poor little Oblooria
glanced up in the face of her friend as if to gather consolation from
her looks.
Chingatok, after a short pause, said:--
"The ice-mountains cannot be passed. The white men have not wings; they
cannot fly. They must return to land, and travel for many days to the
open water near the far-off land--there."
He pointed direct to the northward.
Captain Vane made no reply. He merely turned and gave orders that the
lashings of one of the large sledges which conveyed the baggage should
be cast loose. Selecting a box from this, he opened it, and took
therefrom a small instrument made partly of brass, partly of glass, and
partly of wood.
"You have often wondered, Benjy," he said, "what I meant to do with this
electrical machine. You shall soon see. Help me to arrange it, boy,
and do you, Leo, uncoil part of this copper wire. Here, Alf, carry this
little box to the foot of the berg, and lay it in front of yon blue
cavern."
"Which? That one close to the waterfall or--"
"No, the big cavern, just under the most solid part of the berg--the one
that seems to grow bluer and bluer until it becomes quite black in its
heart. And have a care, Alf. The box you carry is dangerous. Don't
let it fall. Lay it down gently, and come back at once. Anders," he
added, turning round, "let all the people go back with dogs and sledges
for a quarter of a mile."
There was something so peremptory and abrupt in their leader's manner
that no one thought of asking him a question, though all were filled
with surprise and curiosity as to what he meant to do.
"Come here, Leo," he said, after his orders had been obeyed. "Hold this
coil, and pay it out as I walk to the berg with the end in my hand."
The coil was one of extremely fine copper wire. Leo let it run as the
Captain walked off. A minute or two later he was seen to enter the dark
blue cavern and disappear.
"My dear dad is reckless," exclaimed Benjy, in some anxiety, "what if
the roof o' that cave should fall in. There are bits of ice dropping
about everywhere. What _can_ he be going to do?"
As he spoke, the Captain issued from the cave, and walked smartly
towards them.
"Now then, it's all right," he said, "give me the coil, Leo, and come
back, all of you. Fetch the machine, Alf."
In a few minutes the whole party had retired a considerable distance
from the huge berg, the Captain uncoiling the wire as he went.
"Surely you're not going to try to blow it up piecemeal?" said Leo.
"No, lad, I'm not going to do that, or anything so slow," returned the
Captain, stopping and arranging the instrument.
"But if the box contains gunpowder," persisted Leo, "there's not enough
to--"
"It contains dynamite," said the Captain, affixing the coil to the
machine, and giving it a sharp turn.
If a volcano had suddenly opened fire under the iceberg the effect could
not have been more tremendous. Thunder itself is not more deep than was
the crash which reverberated among the ice-cliffs. Smoke burst in a
huge volume from the heart of the berg. Masses, fragments, domes, and
pinnacles were hurled into the air, and fell back to mingle with the
blue precipices that tumbled, slid, or plunged in horrible confusion.
Only a portion, indeed, of the mighty mass had been actually disrupted,
but the shock to the surrounding ice was so shattering that the entire
berg subsided.
"Stu-pendous!" exclaimed Alf, with a look of awe-stricken wonder.
Benjy, after venting his feelings in a shriek of joyful surprise, seemed
to be struck dumb. Anders and Butterface stood still,--speechless. As
for the Eskimos, they turned with one hideous yell, and fled from the
spot like maniacs--excepting Chingatok, who, although startled, stood
his ground in an attitude expressive of superlative surprise.
"So,--it has not disappointed me," remarked the Captain, when the
hideous din had ceased, "dynamite is indeed a powerful agent when
properly applied: immeasurably more effective than powder."
"But it seems to me," said Leo, beginning to recover himself, "that
although you have brought the berg down you have not rendered it much
more passable."
"That's true, lad," answered the Captain with a somewhat rueful
expression. "It does seem a lumpy sort of heap after all; but there may
be found some practicable bits when we examine it more closely. Come,
we'll go see."
On closer inspection it was found that the ruined berg still presented
an absolutely insurmountable obstacle to the explorers, who, being
finally compelled to admit that even dynamite had failed, left the place
in search of a natural opening.
Travelling along the chain for a considerable time, in the hope of
succeeding, they came at last to a succession of comparatively level
floes, which conducted them to the extreme northern end of the chain,
and there they found that the floes continued onwards in an unbroken
plain to what appeared to be the open sea.
"That is a water-sky, for certain," exclaimed Captain Vane, eagerly, on
the evening when this discovery was made. "The open ocean cannot now be
far off."
"There's a very dark cloud there, father," said Benjy, who, as we have
before said, possessed the keenest sight of the party.
"A cloud, boy! where? Um--Yes, I see something--"
"It is land," said Chingatok, in a low voice.
"Land!" exclaimed the Captain, "are you sure?"
"Yes, I know it well. I passed it on my journey here. We left our
canoes and oomiaks there, and took to sledges because the floes were
unbroken. But these ice-mountains were not here at that time. They
have come down since we passed from the great sea."
"There!" said the Captain, turning to Leo with a look of triumph, "he
still speaks of the great sea! If these bergs came from it, we _must_
have reached it, lad."
"But the land puzzles me," said Leo. "Can it be part of Greenland?"
"Scarcely, for Greenland lies far to the east'ard, and the latest
discoveries made on the north of that land show that the coast turns
still more decidedly east--tending to the conclusion that Greenland is
an island. This land, therefore, must be entirely new land--an island--
a continent perhaps."
"But it may be a cape, father," interposed Benjy. "You know that capes
have a queer way of sticking out suddenly from land, just as men's noses
stick out from their faces."
"True, Benjy, true, but your simile is not perfect, for men's noses
don't always stick out from their faces--witness the nose of Butterface,
which, you know, is well aft of his lips and chin. However, this _may_
be Greenland's nose--who knows? We shall go and find out ere long.
Come, use your whip, Leo. Ho! Chingatok, tell your hairy kinsmen to
clap on all sail and make for the land."
"Hold on, uncle!" cried Alf, "I think I see a splendid specimen of--"
The crack of Leo's whip, and the yelping of the team, drowned the rest
of the sentence, and Alf was whirled away from his splendid specimen,
(whatever it was), for ever!
"It is a piece of great good fortune," said the Captain, as they swept
along over the hard and level snow, "that the Eskimos have left their
boats on this land, for now I shall have two strings to my bow."
"What is the other string?" asked Leo, as he administered a flip to the
flank of a lazy dog.
"Ah, that remains to be seen, lad," replied the Captain.
"Why, what a tyrant you are, uncle!" exclaimed Alf, who had recovered
from his disappointment about the splendid specimen. "You won't tell us
anything, almost. Who ever before heard of the men of an expedition to
the North Pole being kept in ignorance of the means by which they were
to get there?"
The Captain's reply was only a twinkle of the eye.
"Father wants to fill you with bliss, Alf," said Benjy, "according to
your own notions of that sort of thing."
"What do you mean, Ben?"
"Why, have we not all heard you often quote the words:--`Where ignorance
is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.'"
"Hear, hear! That's it, Benjy," said the Captain, with a nod and a
short laugh, while his son assumed the satisfied gravity of look
appropriate to one who has made a hit; "I won't decrease his bliss by
removing his ignorance yet awhile."
"Hain't Buzzby got nuffin' to say on that 'ere pint?" whispered
Butterface to Benjy, who sat just in front of him.
"Ah! to be sure. I say, Alf," said the boy with an earnest look,
"hasn't your favourite author got something to say about the bliss of
ignorance? I'm almost sure I heard you muttering something in your
dreams on that subject the other day."
"Of course he has. He has a long poem on that subject. Here is a bit
of it."
Alf, whose memory was good, immediately recited the following:
"How sweet is ignorance! How soothing to the mind,
To search for treasures in the brain, and nothing find!
Consider. When the memory is richly stored,
How apt the victim of redundant knowledge to be bored!
When Nothing fills the chambers of the heart and brain,
Then negative enjoyment comes with pleasures in her train!
Descending on the clods of sense like summer rain.
"Knowledge, 'tis said, gives power, and so it often does;
Knowledge makes sorrow, too, around our pillows buzz.
In debt I am, with little cash; I know it--and am sad.
Of course, if I were ignorant of this--how glad!
A loving friend, whom once I knew in glowing health,
Has broken down, and also, somehow, lost his wealth.
How sad the knowledge makes me! Better far
In ignorance to live, than hear of things that jar,
And think of things that are not,--not of things that are.
"`If ignorance is bliss,' the poet saith--why `if?'
Why doubt a fact so clearly proven, stubborn, stiff?
The heavy griefs and burdens of the world around,
The hideous tyranny by which mankind is ground,
The earthquake, tempest, rush of war, and wail of woe,
Are all as though they were not--if I do not know!
Wrapped in my robe of ignorance, what _can_ I miss?
Am I not saved from all--and more than all--of this?
Do I not revel in a regal realm of bliss?"
"Bravo! Buzzby," cried the Captain, "but, I say, Alf, don't it seem to
smack rather too much of selfishness?"
"Of course it does, uncle. I do not think Buzzby always sound in
principle, and, like many poets, he is sometimes confused in his logic."
"You're right, Benjy, the land is clear enough now," remarked the
Captain, whose interest in Buzzby was not profound, and whose feelings
towards logic bordered on the contemptuous, as is often the case with
half-educated men, and, strange to say, sometimes with highly-educated
men, as well as with the totally ignorant--so true is it that extremes
meet!
In the course of a couple of hours the sledges drew near to the island,
which proved to be a large but comparatively low one, rising not more
than a hundred feet in any part. It was barren and ragged, with patches
of reindeer moss growing in some parts, and dwarf willows in others.
Myriads of sea-birds made it their home, and these received the invaders
with clamorous cries, as if they knew that white men were a dangerous
novelty, and objected to the innovation.
Despite their remonstrances, the party landed, and the Eskimos hurried
over the rocks to that part of the island where they had left their
kayaks and women's boats in charge of a party of natives who were
resident on the island at the time they passed, and from whom they had
borrowed the dogs and sledges with which they had travelled south.
Meanwhile the white men took to rambling; Leo to shoot wild-fowl for
supper, Alf to search for "specimens," and Benjy to scramble among the
rocks in search of anything that might "turn up." Butterface assisted
the latter in his explorations. While the rest were thus engaged, the
Captain extemporised a flag-staff out of two spears lashed together with
a small block at the top for the purpose of running up a flag, and
formally taking possession of the island when they should re-assemble.
This done, he wrote a brief outline of his recent doings, which he
inserted in a ginger-beer bottle brought for that very purpose. Then he
assisted Anders in making the encampment and preparing supper.
The two were yet in the midst of the latter operation when a shout was
heard in the distance. Looking in the direction whence it came they saw
Chingatok striding over the rocks towards them with unusual haste. He
was followed by the other Eskimos, who came forward gesticulating
violently.
"My countrymen have left the island," said Chingatok when he came up.
"And taken the kayaks with them?" asked Captain Vane anxiously.
"Every one," replied the giant.
This was depressing news to the Captain, who had counted much on making
use of the Eskimo canoes in the event of his own appliances failing.
"Where have they gone, think you?" he asked.
"Tell Blackbeard," replied Chingatok, turning to Anders, "that no one
knows. Since they went away the lanes of open water have closed, and
the ice is solid everywhere."
"But where the kayak and the oomiak cannot float the sledge may go,"
said the Captain.
"That is true; tell the pale chief he is wise, yet he knows not all
things. Let him think. When he comes to the great open sea what will
he do without canoes?"
"Huk!" exclaimed Oolichuk, with that look and tone which intimated his
belief that the pale chief had received a "clincher."
The chattering of the other Eskimos ceased for a moment or two as they
awaited eagerly the Captain's answer, but the Captain disappointed them.
He merely said, "Well, we shall see. I may not know all things,
Chingatok, nevertheless I know a deal more than you can guess at. Come
now, let's have supper, Anders; we can't wait for the wanderers."
As he spoke, three of the wanderers came into camp, namely Leo, Benjy,
and Butterface.
"What's come of Alf?" asked the Captain.
Neither Leo nor Benjy had seen him since they parted, a quarter of an
hour after starting, and both had expected to find him in camp, but
Butterface had seen him.
"Sawd him runnin'," said the sable steward, "runnin' like a mad kangaroo
arter a smallish brute like a mouse. Nebber sawd nuffin' like Massa Alf
for runnin'."
"Well, we can't wait for him," said the Captain, "I want to take
possession of the island before supper. What shall we call it?"
"Disappointment Isle," said Leo, "seeing that the Eskimos have failed
us."
"No--I won't be ungrateful," returned the Captain, "considering the
successes already achieved."
"Call it Content Isle, then," suggested Benjy.
"But I am not content with partial success. Come, Butterface, haven't
you got a suggestion to make."
The negro shook his woolly head. "No," he said, "I's 'orrible stoopid.
Nebber could get nuffin' to come out o' my brain--sep w'en it's knocked
out by accident. You's hard to please, massa. S'pose you mix de two,--
dis'pintment an' content,--an' call 'im Half-an'-half Island."
"Home is in sight now," said Chingatok, who had taken no interest in the
above discussion, as it was carried on in English. "A few days more and
we should be there if we only had our kayaks."
"There's the name," exclaimed the Captain eagerly when this was
translated, "`Home-in-sight,' that will do."
Rising quickly, he bent a Union Jack to the halyards of his primitive
flag-staff, ran it up, and in the name of Queen Victoria took possession
of _Home-in-sight Island_. After having given three hearty British
cheers, in which the Eskimos tried to join, with but partial success,
they buried the ginger-beer bottle under a heap of stones, a wooden
cross was fixed on the top of the cairn, and then the party sat down to
supper, while the Captain made a careful note of the latitude and
longitude, which he had previously ascertained. This latest addition to
Her Majesty's dominions was put down by him in latitude 85 degrees 32
minutes, or about 288 geographical miles from the North Pole.
CHAPTER TEN.
A SKETCHER IN IMMINENT DANGER. DIFFICULTIES INCREASE, AND ARE OVERCOME
AS USUAL.
The first night on Home-in-sight Island was not so undisturbed as might
have been expected. The noisy gulls did indeed go to sleep at their
proper bed-time, which, by the way, they must have ascertained by
instinct, for the sun could be no certain guide, seeing that he shone
all night as well as all day, and it would be too much to expect that
gulls had sufficient powers of observation to note the great luminary's
exact relation to the horizon. Polar bears, like the Eskimo, had
forsaken the spot. All nature, indeed, animate and inanimate, favoured
the idea of repose when the explorers lay down to sleep on a mossy couch
that was quite as soft as a feather bed, and much more springy.
The cause of disturbance was the prolonged absence of Alf Vandervell.
That enthusiastic naturalist's failure to appear at supper was nothing
uncommon. His non-appearance when they lay down did indeed cause some
surprise, but little or no anxiety, and they all dropped into a sound
sleep which lasted till considerably beyond midnight. Then the Captain
awoke with a feeling of uneasiness, started up on one elbow, yawned, and
gazed dreamily around. The sun, which had just kissed his hand to the
disappointed horizon and begun to re-ascend the sky, blinded the Captain
with his beams, but did not prevent him from observing that Alf's place
was still vacant.
"Very odd," he muttered, "Alf didn't use to--to--w'at's 'is name in--
this--way--"
The Captain's head dropped, his elbow relaxed, and he returned to the
land of Nod for another half-hour.
Again he awoke with a start, and sat upright.
"This'll never do," he exclaimed, with a fierce yawn, "something _must_
be wrong. Ho! Benjy!"
"Umph!" replied the boy, who, though personally light, was a heavy
sleeper.
"Rouse up, Ben, Alf's not come back. Where did you leave him?"
"Don' know, Burrerface saw 'im las'--." Benjy dropped off with a sigh,
but was re-aroused by a rough shake from his father, who lay close to
him.
"Come, Ben, stir up Butterface! We must go look for Alf."
Butterface lay on the other side of Benjy, who, only half alive to what
he was doing, raised his hand and let it fall heavily on the negro's
nose, by way of stirring him up.
"Hallo! massa Benjamin! You's dreamin' drefful strong dis mornin'."
"Yer up, ol' ebony!" groaned the boy.
In a few minutes the whole camp was roused; sleep was quickly banished
by anxiety about the missing one; guns and rifles were loaded, and a
regular search-expedition was hastily organised. They started off in
groups in different directions, leaving the Eskimo women in charge of
the camp.
The Captain headed one party, Chingatok another, and Leo with Benjy a
third, while a few of the natives went off independently, in couples or
alone.
"I was sure Alf would get into trouble," said Benjy, as he trotted
beside Leo, who strode over the ground in anxious haste. "That way he
has of getting so absorbed in things that he forgets where he is, won't
make him a good explorer."
"Not so sure of that, Ben," returned Leo; "he can discover things that
men who are less absorbed, like you, might fail to note. Let us go
round this hillock on separate sides. We might pass him if we went
together. Keep your eyes open as you go. He may have stumbled over one
of those low precipices and broken a leg. Keep your ears cocked also,
and give a shout now and then."
We have said that the island was a low one, nevertheless it was
extremely rugged, with little ridges and hollows everywhere, like
miniature hills and valleys. Through one of these latter Benjy hurried,
glancing from side to side as he went, like a red Indian on the
war-path--which character, indeed, he thought of, and tried to imitate.
The little vale did not, however, as Leo had imagined, lead round the
hillock. It diverged gradually to the right, and ascended towards the
higher parts of the island. The path was so obstructed by rocks and
boulders which had evidently been at one time under the pressure of ice,
that the boy could not see far in any direction, except by mounting one
of these. He had not gone far when, on turning the corner of a cliff
which opened up another gorge to view, he beheld a sight which caused
him to open mouth and eyes to their widest.
For there, seated on an eminence, with his back to a low precipice, not
more than three or four hundred yards off, sat the missing explorer,
with book on knees and pencil in hand--sketching; and there, seated on
the top of the precipice, looking over the edge at the artist, skulked a
huge Polar bear, taking as it were, a surreptitious lesson in drawing!
The bear, probably supposing Alf to be a wandering seal, had dogged him
to that position just as Benjy Vane discovered him, and then, finding
the precipice too high for a leap perhaps, or doubting the character of
his intended victim, he had paused in uncertainty on the edge.
The boy's first impulse was to utter a shout of warning, for he had no
gun wherewith to shoot the brute, but fear lest that might precipitate
an attack restrained him. Benjy, however, was quick-witted. He saw
that the leap was probably too much even for a Polar bear, and that the
nature of the ground would necessitate a detour before it could get at
the artist. These and other thoughts passed through his brain like the
lightning flash, and he was on the point of turning to run back and give
the alarm to Leo, when a rattling of stones occurred behind him--just
beyond the point of rocks round which he had turned. In the tension of
his excited nerves he felt as if he had suddenly become red hot. Could
this be another bear? If so, what was he to do, whither to fly? A
moment more would settle the question, for the rattle of stones
continued as the steps advanced. The boy felt the hair rising on his
head. Round came the unknown monster in the form of--a man!
"Ah, Benjy, I--"
But the appearance of Benjy's countenance caused Leo to stop abruptly,
both in walk and talk. He had found out his mistake about sending the
boy round the hillock, and, turning back, had followed him.
"Ah! look there," said Benjy, pointing at the _tableau vivant_ on the
hill-top.
Leo's ready rifle leaped from his shoulder to his left palm, and a grim
smile played on his lips, for long service in a volunteer corps had made
him a good judge of distance as well as a sure and deadly shot.
"Stand back, Benjy, behind this boulder," he whispered. "I'll lean on
it to make more certain."
He was deliberately arranging the rifle while speaking, but never for
one instant took his eye off the bear, which still stood motionless,
with one paw raised, as if petrified with amazement at what it saw. As
for Alf, he went on intently with his work, lifting and lowering his
eyes continuously, putting in bold dashes here, or tender touches there;
holding out the book occasionally at arm's length to regard his work,
with head first on one side, then on the other, and, in short, going
through all those graceful and familiar little evolutions of artistic
procedure which arouse one's home feelings so powerfully everywhere--
even in the Arctic regions! Little did the artist know who was his
uninvited pupil on that sunny summer night!
With one knee resting on a rock, and his rifle on the boulder, Leo took
a steady, somewhat lengthened aim, and fired. The result was
stupendous! Not only did the shot reverberate with crashing echoes
among surrounding cliffs and boulders, but a dying howl from the bear
burst over the island, like the thunder of a heavy gun, and went booming
over the frozen sea. No wonder that the horrified Alf leapt nearly his
own height into the air and scattered his drawing-materials right and
left like chaff. He threw up his arms, and wheeled frantically round
just in time to receive the murdered bear into his very bosom! They
rolled down a small slope together, and then, falling apart, lay prone
and apparently dead upon the ground.
You may be sure that Leo soon had his brother's head on his knee, and
was calling to him in an agony of fear, quite regardless of the fact
that the bear lay at his elbow, giving a few terrific kicks as its huge
life oozed out through a bullet-hole in its heart, while Benjy, half
weeping with sympathy, half laughing with glee, ran to a neighbouring
pool to fetch water in his cap.
A little of the refreshing liquid dashed on his face and poured down his
throat soon restored Alf, who had only been stunned by the fall.
"What induced you to keep on sketching all night?" asked Leo, after the
first explanations were over.
"All night?" repeated Alf in surprise, "have I been away all night?
What time is it?"
"Three o'clock in the morning at the very least," said Leo. "The sun is
pretty high, as you might have seen if you had looked at it."
"But he never looked at it," said Benjy, whose eyes were not yet quite
dry, "he never looks at anything, or thinks of anything, when he goes
sketching."
"Surely you must allow that at least I look at and think of my work,"
said Alf, rising from the ground and sitting down on the rock from which
he had been so rudely roused; "but you are half right, Benjy. The sun
was at my back, you see, hid from me by the cliff over which the bear
tumbled, and I had no thoughts for time, or eyes for nature, except the
portion I was busy with--by the way, where is it?"
"What, your sketch?"
"Ay, and the colours. I wouldn't lose these for a sight of the Pole
itself. Look for them, Ben, my boy, I still feel somewhat giddy."
In a few minutes the sketch and drawing-materials were collected,
undamaged, and the three returned to camp, Alf leaning on Leo's arm. On
the way thither they met the Captain's party, and afterwards the band
led by Chingatok. The latter was mightily amused by the adventure, and
continued for a considerable time afterwards to upheave his huge
shoulders with suppressed laughter.
When the whole party was re-assembled the hour was so late, and they had
all been so thoroughly excited, that no one felt inclined to sleep
again. It was resolved, therefore, at once to commence the operations
of a new day. Butterface was set to prepare coffee, and the Eskimos
began breakfast with strips of raw blubber, while steaks of Leo's bear
were being cooked.
Meanwhile Chingatok expressed a wish to see the drawing which had so
nearly cost the artist his life.
Alf was delighted to exhibit and explain it.
For some time the giant gazed at it in silence. Then he rested his
forehead in his huge hand as if in meditation.
It was truly a clever sketch of a surpassingly lovely scene. In the
foreground was part of the island with its pearl-grey rocks, red-brown
earth, and green mosses, in the midst of which lay a calm pool, like the
island's eye looking up to heaven and reflecting the bright
indescribable blue of the midnight sky. Further on was a mass of cold
grey rocks. Beyond lay the northern ice-pack, which extended in chaotic
confusion away to the distant horizon, but the chaos was somewhat
relieved by the presence of lakelets which shone here and there over its
surface like shields of glittering azure and burnished gold.
"Ask him what he thinks of it," said Leo to Anders, a little surprised
at Chingatok's prolonged silence.
"I cannot speak," answered the giant, "my mind is bursting and my heart
is full. With my finger I have drawn faces on the snow. I have seen
men put wonderful things on flat rocks with a piece of stone, but
this!--this is my country made little. It looks as if I could walk in
it, yet it is flat!"
"The giant is rather complimentary," laughed Benjy, when this was
translated; "to my eye your sketch is little better than a daub."
"It is a daub that causes me much anxiety," said the Captain, who now
looked at the drawing for the first time. "D'you mean to tell me, Alf,
that you've been true to nature when you sketched that pack?"
"As true as I could make it, uncle."
"I'll answer for its truth," said Leo, "and so will Benjy, for we both
saw the view from the top of the island, though we paid little heed to
it, being too much occupied with Alf and the bear at the time. The pack
is even more rugged than he has drawn it, and it extends quite unbroken
to the horizon."
The Captain's usually hopeful expression forsook him for a little as he
commented on his bad fortune.
"The season advances, you see," he said, "and it's never very long at
the best. I had hoped we were done with this troublesome `sea of
ancient ice,' but it seems to turn up everywhere, and from past
experience we know that the crossing of it is slow work, as well as
hard. However, we mustn't lose heart. `Nebber say die,' as Butterface
is fond of remarking."
"Yis, Massa, nebber say die, but allers say `lib, to de top ob your
bent.' Dems my 'pinions w'en dey's wanted. Also `go a-hid.' Dat's a
grand sent'ment--was borned 'mong de Yankees, an' I stoled it w'en I
left ole Virginny."
"What says Chingatok?" asked the Captain of the Eskimo, who was still
seated with the sketch on his knees in profound meditation.
"Blackbeard has trouble before him," answered the uncompromising giant,
without removing his eyes from the paper. "There," he said, pointing to
the pack, "you have three days' hard work. After that three days' easy
and swift work. After that no more go on. Must come back."
"He speaks in riddles, Anders. What does he mean by the three days of
hard work coming to an end?"
"I mean," said Chingatok, "that the ice was loose when I came to this
island. It is now closed. The white men must toil, toil, toil--very
slow over the ice for three days, then they will come to smooth ice,
where the dogs may run for three days. Then they will come to another
island, like this one, on the far-off side of which there is no ice--
nothing but sea, sea, sea. Our kayaks are gone," continued the giant,
sadly, "we must come back and travel many days before we find things to
make new ones."
While he was speaking, Captain Vane's face brightened up.
"Are you sure of what you say, Chingatok?"
"Chingatok is sure," replied the Eskimo quietly.
"Then we'll conquer our difficulties after all. Come, boys, let's waste
no more time in idle talk, but harness the dogs, and be off at once."
Of course the party had to travel round the island, for there was
neither ice nor snow on it. When the other side was reached the real
difficulties of the journey were fully realised. During the whole of
that day and the next they were almost continuously engaged in dragging
the sledges over masses of ice, some of which rose to thirty feet above
the general level. If the reader will try to imagine a very small ant
or beetle dragging its property over a newly macadamised road, he will
have a faint conception of the nature of the work. To some extent the
dogs were a hindrance rather than a help, especially when passing over
broken fragments, for they were always tumbling into holes and cracks,
out of which they had to be dragged, and were much given to venting
their ill-humour on each other, sometimes going in for a free fight, in
the course of which they tied their traces into indescribable knots, and
drove their Eskimo masters furious. On such occasions the whips--both
lash and handle--were applied with unsparing vigour until the creatures
were cowed.
Danger, also, as well as toil, was encountered during the journey. On
the evening of the second day the sledge driven by Oolichuk diverged a
little from the line of march towards what seemed an easier passage over
the hummocks. They had just gained the top of an ice-block, which,
unknown to the driver, overhung its base. When the dogs reached the
edge of the mass, it suddenly gave way. Down went the team with a
united howl of despair. Their weight jerked the sledge forward, another
mass of the ice gave way, and over went the whole affair. In the fall
the lashings broke, and Oolichuk, with several of his kindred, including
poor little Oblooria, went down in a shower of skins, packages, bags,
and Eskimo cooking utensils.
Fortunately, they dropped on a slope of ice which broke their fall, and,
as it were, shunted them all safely, though violently, to the lower
level of the pack.
Beyond a few scratches and bruises, no evil resulted from this accident
to these hardy natives of the north.
That night they all encamped, as on the previous night, in the midst of
the pack, spreading their skins and furs on the flattest ice they could
find, and keeping as far from overhanging lumps as possible.
"What does Blackbeard mean by coming here?" asked Chingatok of Anders,
as they lay side by side, gazing up at the blue sky awaiting sleep. "We
cannot swim over the sea, and we have no boats."
"I don't know," answered the interpreter. "Our chief is a wonderful
man. He does things that seem to be all wrong, but they turn out mostly
to be all right."
"Does he ever speak of a Great Spirit?" asked the giant in a solemn
tone.
"Not to me," replied the other, "but I hear him sometimes speaking to
his little boy about his God."
"Then he must know his God," returned Chingatok. "Has he seen him--
spoken to him?"
Anders was a good deal surprised as well as puzzled by the questions put
by his new friend. His extremely commonplace mind had never been
exercised by such ideas. "I never asked him about that," he said, "and
he never told me. Perhaps he will tell you if you ask him."
The interpreter turned on his side with a sigh and went to sleep. The
giant lay on his back gazing long and steadily with a wistful look at
the unbroken vault of sky, whose vast profundity seemed to thrust him
mercilessly back. As he gazed, a little cloud, light as a puff of
eider-down, and golden as the sun from which its lustre came, floated
into the range of his vision. He smiled, for the thought that light may
suddenly arise when all around seems blank gave his inquiring spirit
rest, and he soon joined the slumbering band who lay upon the ice around
him.
According to Chingatok's prophecy, on the third day the fagged and weary
discoverers surmounted their first difficulty, and came upon
comparatively smooth ice, the surface of which resembled hard-trodden
snow, and was sufficiently free from obstructing lumps to admit of rapid
sledge travelling. It was late when they reached it, but as they could
now all sit on the sledges and leave the hard work to the dogs, the
leader resolved to continue the advance without resting.
"It's time enough to stop when we're stopped," he remarked to Leo, while
making preparations to start. "We will sleep at the first obstruction
we meet with, if it's a sufficiently troublesome one. See that the
things are well lashed on all the sledges, Alf. Remember that I hold
you responsible for lost articles."
"And what am I responsible for, father?" asked Benjy with a pert look.
"For keeping out of mischief, Ben. That's the most I can expect of
you."
"You are only a sort of negative blessing to us, you see, Benjy," said
Alf, as he stooped to tighten a rope. "It's not so much what you do, as
what you don't do, that rejoices us."
"I'm glad of that," retorted the boy, arranging himself comfortably on
his father's sledge, "because I won't do anything at all for some hours
to come, which ought to fill you all with perfect felicity. Awake me,
Leo, if we chance to upset."
"Now then, all ready?" cried the Captain. "Off you go, then--clap on
all sail!"
Crack went the mighty whips, howl went the dogs, and the sledges were
soon skimming over the sea at the rate of ten miles an hour. Of course
they did not keep that pace up very long. It became necessary to rest
at times, also, to give the dogs a little food. When this latter
process had been completed, the teams became so lively that they tried
to runaway.
"Let them run," said the Captain to Leo.
"And help them on," added Benjy.
Leo took the advice of both, applied the lash, and increased the speed
so much that the sledge swung from side to side on the smooth places,
sometimes catching on a lump of ice, and all but throwing out its
occupants. The Eskimos entered into the spirit of their leaders. They
also plied their lashes, and, being more dexterous than Leo, soon
converted the journey into a race, in which Chingatok--his giant arm
flourishing an appropriately huge whip--was rapidly coming to the front
when a tremendous shout in the rear caused them to pull up. Looking
back, Alf's sledge was seen inverted and mixed, as it were, with the
team, while Alf himself and his Eskimo friends were sprawling around on
the ice. No damage was done to life or limb, but a sledge-runner had
been partially broken, and could not be mended,--so said Oolichuk--in
less than an hour.
"This, then," said the Captain, "is our first obstruction, so here we
will make our beds for the night."
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
ANOTHER ISLAND DISCOVERED--THE ENGLISHMEN AND ESKIMOS ALIKE ARE
ASTONISHED IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.
As Chingatok had predicted, on the sixth day from Home-in-sight Island
the party came to another island, where the great pack abruptly
terminated. It was not large, probably ten or twelve miles in length,
from the Eskimo account, but the ends of it could not be seen from the
spot where they landed. At that point it was only two miles wide, and
on the opposite side its shores were laved by an open sea, which was
quite free from ice, with the exception of a few scattered floes and
bergs--a sea whose waves fell in slow regular cadence on a pebbly beach,
and whose horizon was an unbroken line barely distinguishable from the
sky.
Close to it a few black rocks showed above the water, around which great
numbers of gulls, puffins, and other sea-birds disported themselves in
clamorous joy; sometimes flying to the shore as if to have a look at the
newcomers, and then sheering off with a scream--it might be a laugh--to
tell their comrades what they had seen.
"Here, then, at last, is the open Polar Sea," said Captain Vane, after
the first long silent gaze of joy and admiration. "I have no doubt of
it whatever. And now we shall proceed, I hope without interruption, to
the Pole!"
"Of course you do not intend that we should swim there, do you, uncle?"
said Leo.
"Of course not, my boy. In those big cases, which have cost us so much
labour to bring here, I have three large and stout india-rubber boats--"
"Ha! I guessed as much," exclaimed Alf.
"No doubt," returned the Captain, "but you did not guess all."
"I hope not," said Leo, "for to say truth I don't much relish the idea
of rowing over an unknown sea an unknown distance at the rate of three
or four miles an hour. I hope you have a patent steam-engine that will
drive us along somewhat faster."
"No, lad, no, I have no such steam-engine or any other miraculous
contrivance that sets the laws of nature at defiance, and appears only
in nursery tales. This expedition has been undertaken on no haphazard
or insane plan. It was all cut and dry before we left Old England, and
it is much simpler than you suppose."
"What, then, is to be your motive power, if not oars or sails--which
last would not work well, I fear, in an india-rubber boat?" asked Leo.
"Kites," replied the Captain.
"Kites!" repeated both Alf and Leo in surprise.
"Not paper ones, surely," said Benjy, in a tone of disappointment, not
unmingled with contempt.
"No, Ben, not paper ones," said the Captain, "but you shall see. Let
the boxes be unlashed and carried into yonder cave. I'll unpack them
presently. Meanwhile, Anders, I want you to interpret for me. Go, tell
Chingatok I wish to have a talk with him."
While the brothers went to obey their leader's order, and Benjy to
superintend the pitching of the camp, Captain Vane walked along the
shore with Anders and the giant.
"Are you sure, Chingatok, that there is no more ice in this sea?" asked
the Captain.
"No more great packs; only a little here and there, and a few
ice-mountains," answered the Eskimo.
"And no more islands?"
"No more islands till you come to the land where I and my people dwell.
There are more islands beyond that with people on them--people who are
not friendly to us."
"How far off, now, is your land from this island?" continued the
Captain, with a grave nod to Leo, who joined them at the moment.
"About three days with a kayak."
The Captain pondered for a few minutes.
"Leo," he said, "the observation which I took yesterday enables me to
place this island in latitude 86 degrees 40 minutes. I judge that a
kayak may travel at the rate of three miles an hour, which, making
allowance for sleep and rests, gives the distance of this island from
Chingatok's native land approximately at about 100 miles, so that the
home of this giant and his tribe is actually in the near neighbourhood
of the Pole itself. If this be so, we may consider that our success,
wind, weather, etcetera, permitting, is absolutely certain."
The Captain spoke in the deep earnest tones of one under the influence
of powerful but suppressed enthusiasm.
"Now then, Leo," he continued, "we will go and take formal possession of
this new discovery. What shall we call it? Good Hope is too familiar
as a cape."
"Why not Great Hope?" asked Leo.
"Good! That will do well."
So Captain Vane took possession of Great Hope Island; having fixed its
position in latitude 86 degrees 40 minutes north, and longitude 60
degrees west.
After that he proceeded to open the cases which had so long been objects
of interest to his own party, and objects of intense curiosity to the
Eskimos, who crowded round the entrance of the shallow cavern with eager
looks, while their leader went to work with hammer and chisel on the
copper fastenings.
"Wugh! Huk! hi! hosh! ho!" were something like the exclamations uttered
by the Eskimos when the lid of the first case flew up and revealed only
a mass of brown paper wrappings.
It was interesting to observe the utter self-oblivion of these children
of nature! Of course the eyes and mouths of all opened wider and wider
while the work went on. We can understand this, for it is
characteristic of the simple in all nations, but it was not so easy to
understand why shoulders should slowly rise and elbows be slightly bent,
and the ten fingers gradually expand like claws. Anxiety might account
for the way in which some of them softly lifted one foot and then the
other; but why did little Oblooria raise her left foot by imperceptible
degrees, and remain poised upon the other as if she were a bird, except
on the supposition that she was unconsciously imitating Tekkona, who was
doing the same thing?
It was interesting, also, to note the slight substratum of consciousness
that displayed itself in Oolichuk, who, while regarding the Captain in
glaring expectancy, put his arm, inadvertently as it were, round
Oblooria's waist--also the complete absence of consciousness in the
latter, who was so engrossed with the Captain, that she did not appear
to feel the touch of Oolichuk! These little peculiarities, however,
although extremely interesting, were not observed by any of the actors
on that occasion--except, perhaps, by Benjy, who, being sharp-witted,
had a knack of seeing round a corner at times!
When the contents of the case were turned out, they proved to consist of
several coils of rope, and a large square bundle. The uncording of the
latter intensified the expectation of the Eskimo to boiling point, and
when the brown paper was removed, and a roll of something with a
strange, not to say bad, smell was displayed, they boiled over in a
series of exclamations to which the former "huks" and "hos" were mere
child's play. But when the roll was unrolled, and assumed a flat shape
not unlike the skin of a huge walrus, they gave a shout. Then, when the
Captain, opening a smaller package, displayed a pair of bellows like a
concertina, they gave a gasp. When he applied these to a hole in the
flat object, and caused it slowly to swell, they uttered a roar, and
when, finally, they saw the flat thing transformed into a goodly-sized
boat, they absolutely squealed with delight, and began to caper about in
childlike joy.
In this manner, three cases were opened, and three boats produced. Then
the Magician, who went about his work in perfect silence, with a knowing
smile on his lips, opened several longish boxes, which Leo had guessed
to be filled with fishing-rods or spare rifles, but which, it turned
out, contained oars for the india-rubber boats. After that, the Captain
opened another large case, which roused the surprise of his white
followers as much as that of the natives.
"It looks like one of mother's silk dresses," remarked Benjy, as the new
wonder was dragged forth.
"Too voluminous for that," said Alf.
"A balloon!" exclaimed Leo.
"No, boys, it's only a kite," said the Captain, unfolding it. "I
confess it does not look very like one, but its appearance will change
by and by."
And its appearance did change remarkably as it was opened out and put
together.
The construction of this kite was peculiar. In the first place, it was
square in form, or, rather, diamond-shaped, and its size, when fully
distended, was eighteen feet by fourteen.
"The simplicity of it, you see," said the Captain, as he put it
together, "is its great recommendation."
He ceased to speak for a few moments, while engaged with a troublesome
joint, and Benjy took advantage of the pause to express a hope that
simplicity was not its _greatest_ recommendation, because he had never
heard of any one attempting to reach the Pole on the strength of
simplicity.
Without noticing this remark, the Captain went on--
"You see it would be troublesome to carry distending sticks of great
length, because they would be in the way, and apt to get broken. Each
stick, therefore, has a joint in the middle like that of a fishing-rod.
There are four such sticks, fastened to, or radiating from, a strong
steel central hinge, so that they can be folded together, or opened out
into the form of a cross. A small but very strong cross of bamboo fits
on the machine, behind the central hinge, and locks it in a distended
position, after the silk has been placed on it. Strong cords run round
the outer edges of the silk, and there are loops at the corners to
attach it to the distenders. Thus, you see, the kite can be put up, or
folded into a portable form like an umbrella, though not of course as
quickly, nor yet as easily, owing to its great size."
While he was speaking, the Captain was busily putting the several parts
of the kite together.
As he concluded, he laid the machine on its face, locked it with the
little bamboo cross, and then held it up in triumph, to the delight of
his white observers, and the blank astonishment of the Eskimos. We say
blank, because, unlike the boat, the nature of which they understood
before it had been quite inflated, this machine was to them an absolute
mystery, and seemed to be of no use at all.
Their opinion of it was not improved when a sudden puff of wind blew it
flat on the ground, causing the Captain to fall on the top of it.
"It's a little awkward in handling," he growled, unlocking the
centre-cross. "Hold the points down, lads, till I drag it into the
umbrella form. There; it's all safe now. The truth is,
unmanageableness when in hand is the only fault of my kite. Once in the
air, it's as tractable as a lamb; getting it up is the chief difficulty,
but that is not too great to be overcome."
"Besides, you know, nothing's perfect in this world, father," said
Benjy, with a wink at Butterface, who, having acute risible tendencies,
exploded. Some of the Eskimos, whose sympathies were strong, joined in
the laugh by way of relief to their feelings.
When the Captain had wound a strap round the closed kite, to restrain
its volatile nature, he opened another large case which contained
several reels of strong cord, somewhat resembling log-lines, but with
this peculiarity, that, alongside of each thick cord there ran a thin
red line of twine, connected with though not bound to the other by means
of little loops or rings of twine fixed about six feet apart throughout
its entire length.
"These are the cords to fly the kites," said the Captain, taking up one
of the reels, which was as large as a man's hat. "You see I have three
sets of silk in that box, and six sets of reels and sticks, besides a
few spare pieces of the latter, so that we can afford to suffer a little
damage. Now, the use of this peculiar sort of double line will be clear
when in action, but I may as well explain it. The end of this stout
line is to be made fast to the band which you saw on the kite, and the
end of this thin red line to the top of its upright stick. You remember
well enough how independent ordinary kites are. You cannot cause them
to descend except by hauling them in by main force, and you cannot
moderate their pull. This kite of mine is capable of exerting a pull
equal to six horses, with a sufficiently strong wind. So, you see, it
would be impossible for a dozen men to hold it without some check on its
power. This check is supplied by the thin red line, which is made of
the strongest silk. By pulling it gently you bend the head of the kite
forward, so that it ceases to present a flat surface to the wind, which
flies off it more or less at the tail. By pulling still more on the red
line, the traction-power is still further reduced, and, with a good
pull, the kite can be made to present its head altogether to the wind,
and thus to lie flat on it, when, of course, it will descend slowly to
the ground, waving from side to side, like a dropped sheet of paper."
"Are you going to try it, father?" asked Benjy eagerly.
The Captain looked up at the clouds with a critical glance. "There's
hardly enough of wind to-day, boy. Nevertheless we will try."
In a very short time the kite was again extended, the centre locked, the
thick cord fixed to a loop in the band, and the thin cord to the head of
the main stick. While this was being done, the corners were held down
by Leo, Benjy, Anders, and Butterface.
"How about a tail, father?" asked Benjy, with sudden animation.
"Ha! I forgot the tail. I've got several tails. It's well you
reminded me."
"It is indeed," responded the boy, "for I remember well that when my
kites lost their tails they used to whirl wildly about until they dashed
their heads on the ground. This kite would be little better than a mad
elephant without its tail!"
A short tail, made of the strongest cat-gut, was now fixed to the lower
extremity of the kite. It had a bag at the end, to be weighted with
stones as required.
"Now, then, Alf, do you carry the reel away fifty yards or so, and pay
out the line as you go. Make a dozen of the Eskimos hold on with you
till I come and regulate the pull. I must remain here to set it off."
Alf did as he was ordered. When he was far enough out, the Captain and
Leo raised the aerial monster with caution, grasping it by the
shoulders, while Benjy held on to the tail. Their great care was to
keep it flat, so that it presented nothing but its thin head to the
wind, but this was a difficulty, for it kept fluttering as if anxious to
get away, catching a slant of wind underneath now and then, which caused
both Leo and the Captain to stagger.
"Don't hold down the tail, Benjy," cried the Captain, looking anxiously
over his shoulder.
Unfortunately Ben did not hear the "don't." Not only did he hold on
with increased vigour, but he gave the tail an energetic pull downwards.
The result was that the wind got fairly underneath, and the head was
jerked upward. Leo, fearing to tear the silk, let go, and the Captain
was thrown violently off. Benjy alone stood to his guns--or to his
tail--with loyal heroism for a moment, but when he felt himself lifted
off the ground a few inches, a feeling of horror seized him. He let go,
and came down with a whack.
Free at last, the huge kite shot upwards like a rocket, and a terrible
howl from the Eskimo showed that all was not right at their end of the
line. The truth was that none of them were impressed with the
importance of the duty required of them. The sudden strain jerked the
line out of the hands of some, and threw others to the ground, and Alf,
who had for greater security taken a turn of the line round his right
arm, was dragged forward at full racing speed. Indeed he was beginning
to take those tremendous bounds called "giant strides," which were sure
to terminate in his being dragged along the ground.
Captain Vane saw the danger, and was equal to the occasion. There was
little time for thought or action. Another moment and Alf would be off
the beach into the sea.
"Let go! Alf; let go!" cried Leo, in an agony of alarm.
"No, no! hold on!" shouted the Captain.
Poor Alf could not help holding on. The turns of the line round his arm
held him fast.
Another moment, and he was abreast of the Captain who sprang at him as
he passed like a leopard on his prey and held on. But the pace was
little checked with this additional weight. It was beyond the Captain's
running powers, and both he and Alf would have been thrown violently to
the ground had it not happened that they had reached the water, into
which they plunged with a tremendous splash. They were dragged through
it, however, only for a few seconds, for by that time the Captain had
succeeded in getting hold of the red line and pulling it separately.
The result was immediate and satisfactory. The head of the kite was
thrown forward, acting somewhat as a sail does when a ship is thrown
into the wind, and the two unfortunates came to an anchor in four feet
of water.
"We must not let it into the water, Alf," gasped the Captain, clearing
the water from his eyes.
"How can we prevent it?" spluttered Alf, shaking the wet hair off his
face.
"Ease your fingers a bit. There; hold on." As he spoke the Captain
gave a slight pull on the regulating line. The kite at once caught the
wind and soared, giving the two operators an awful tug, which nearly
overturned them again.
"Too much," growled the Captain. "You see it takes some experience to
regulate the excitable thing properly. There, now, haul away for the
shore."
By this time they were joined by Leo and Chingatok, who ran into the
water and aided them in dragging the refractory machine ashore.
"That's a vigorous beginning, father," remarked Benjy as they came to
land.
"It is, my boy. Go and fetch me dry clothes while we haul in the kite
and make her snug."
"When do you mean to start?" asked Leo, as he coiled away the slack of
the line on the reel.
"The first steady fair wind that blows from the south," answered the
Captain, "but we must have one or two experimental trials of the kites
and boats together, before we set out on the real voyage."
"It's a capital idea," returned Leo enthusiastically. "There's a sort
of neck-or-nothing dash about it that quite suits me. But, uncle, what
of the Eskimos? The three boats won't carry the half of them."
"I know that, lad, and shall get over the difficulty by leaving some of
them behind. Chingatok says they are quite able to take care of
themselves; can easily regain the Greenland shore, find their canoes, or
make new ones, and return to their own land if they choose."
"But, uncle," said Alf, who was by no means as reckless as his brother,
"don't you think it's rather risky to go off into an unknown sea in open
boats, for no one knows how long, to go no one knows exactly where?"
"Why, Alf," returned the Captain with a laugh, "if you were as stupid
about your scientific pursuits as you are about geographical affairs,
you would not be worth your salt. A sea's a sea, isn't it, whether
known or unknown, and the laws that affect all seas are pretty much
alike. Of course it is risky. So is going on a forlorn hope. So is
shooting with a set of fellows who don't know how to manage their guns.
So is getting on a horse, for it may kick you off or run away. So is
eating fish, for you may choke yourself. Everything, almost, is more or
less risky. You _must_ risk something if you'd discover the North Pole,
which has baffled adventurers from the days of Adam till now. And you
are wrong in saying that we shall go off for no one knows how long. The
distance from this island to the Pole is pretty nearly 200 miles. If
our kites carry us along at the rate of ten miles an hour, we shall
cover the distance in 20 hours. If we have calms or contrary winds we
may take 20 days. If storms come, we have not much to fear, for the
weather is warm,--so, too,--is the water. Then, our boats are
lifeboats--they cannot sink. As to not knowing where exactly we are
going, why, man, we're going to the North Pole. Everybody knows where
that is, and we are going to the home of Chingatok, which cannot be very
far from it."
"There, Alf, I hope you are sufficiently answered," said Leo, as he
undid the locking-gear of the kite, which by that time lay prone on its
face, as peaceful as a lamb.
The next three days were spent in flying the other kites, tying them on
the boats, acquiring experience, and making preparations for the voyage.
It was found that, with a moderate breeze, the kites towed the boats at
the rate of ten miles an hour, which was beyond the most sanguine hopes
of the Captain. Of course they could not beat to windward with them,
but they could sail with a considerable slant, and they prevented the
boats, while thus advancing, from making much leeway by means of deep
_leeboards_, such as are used even at the present day by Dutch ships.
"But I can't understand," said Benjy, after several trials had been
made, "why you should not have fitted sails to the boats, instead of
kites."
"Because a sail only a quarter the size of a kite would upset the boat,"
said the Captain, "and one small enough to suit it would be little
better than a pair of oars. This kite system is like fitting a gigantic
sail to a lilliputian boat, d'ye see?"
"I see, father. But I wish it had been a balloon. It would have been
greater fun to have gone to the Pole in a balloon!"
"A balloon will never go there, nor anywhere else, Benjy, except where
the wind carries it, for a balloon cannot be steered. It's impossible
in the nature of things--as much so as that dream of the visionary,
perpetual motion."
On the fourth day after their arrival at Great Hope Island the wind blew
strong and steady from the south, and the explorers prepared to start.
The Eskimos had been told that they were to remain behind and shift for
themselves--a piece of news which did not seem to affect them at all,
one way or other. Those who were selected to go with the explorers were
perfectly willing to do so. Chingatok, of course, was particularly
ready. So were his corpulent mother and Tekkona and Oblooria; so also
were Oolichuk, Ivitchuk, and Akeetolik.
It was a splendid sunny afternoon when the kites were finally flown and
attached to the three boats which were commanded respectively by the
Captain Leo, and Alf. These three sat at the bow of each boat
manipulating the regulators, and keeping the kites fluttering, while the
goods and provisions were put on board. Then the Eskimo women and crews
stepped in, and the stern ropes were cast loose.
"Let go the check-strings!" shouted the Captain.
This was done. The huge kites began to strain at once, and the
india-rubber boats went rushing out to sea, leaving the remainder of the
Eskimo band speechless on the shore. They stood there motionless, with
open mouths and eyes, the very embodiment of unbelieving wonder, till
the boats had disappeared on the horizon.
CHAPTER TWELVE.
THE OPEN POLAR BASIN AT LAST! ALF WASHES HIMSELF IN IT.
Who can imagine or describe the feelings of Captain Vane and his young
relatives on finding themselves sweeping at such a magnificent rate over
the great Polar basin?--that mysterious sea, which some believe to be a
sea of thick-ribbed ice, and others suppose to be no sea at all, but dry
land covered with eternal snows. One theorist even goes the length of
saying that the region immediately around the Pole is absolutely nothing
at all!--only empty space caused by the whirling of the earth,--a space
which extends through its centre from pole to pole!
Much amusement did the Captain derive from the contemplation of these
theories as he crossed over the grand and boundless ocean, and chatted
pleasantly with his son, or Chingatok, or Toolooha, who formed the crew
of his little boat.
The party consisted of thirteen, all told. These were distributed as
follows:--
In the Captain's boat were the three just mentioned.
In Leo's boat were Butterface, Oolichuk, and Oblooria. How it came to
pass that Oolichuk and Oblooria were put into the same boat no one
seemed to know, or indeed to care, except Oolichuk himself, who, to
judge from the expression of his fat face, was much pleased. As for
Oblooria, her mild visage always betokened contentment or resignation--
save when overshadowed by timidity.
In Alf's boat were Anders, Ivitchuk, Akeetolik, and Tekkona. The
interpreter had been given to Alf because he was not quite so muscular
or energetic as the Captain or his brother, while Anders was eminently
strong and practical. The Eskimo women counted as men, being as expert
with oar and paddle as they, and very nearly as strong as most ordinary
men.
What added to the romance of the first day's experience was the fact
that, a few hours after they started, a dead calm settled down over the
sea, which soon became like a great sheet of undulating glass, in which
the rich, white clouds, the clear sky, and the boats with their crews,
were reflected as in a moving, oily mirror; yet, strange to say, the
kites kept steady, and the pace of ten or twelve miles an hour did not
abate for a considerable time. This, of course, was owing to the fact
that there was a continuous current blowing northward in the higher
regions of the atmosphere. The sun, meantime, glowed overhead with four
mock-suns around him, nevertheless the heat was not oppressive, partly
because the voyagers were sitting at rest, and partly because a slight
current of cool air, the creation of their own progress, fanned their
cheeks. Still further to add to the charm, flocks of sea-birds circling
in the air or dipping in the water, a berg or two floating in the
distance, a porpoise showing its back fin now and then, a seal or a
walrus coming up to stare in surprise and going down to meditate,
perhaps in wonder, with an occasional puff from a lazy whale,--all this
tended to prevent monotony, and gave life to the lovely scene.
"Is it not the most glorious and altogether astonishing state of things
you ever heard or dreamed of, father?" asked Benjy, breaking a prolonged
silence.
"Out o' sight, my boy, out o' sight," replied the Captain. "Never heard
nor saw nor dreamed of anything like it before."
"P'raps it _is_ a dream!" said Benjy, with a slightly distressed look.
"How are we ever to know that we're _not_ dreaming?"
The boy finished his question with a sharp cry and leaped up.
"Steady, boy, steady! Have a care, or you'll upset the boat," said the
Captain.
"What did you do _that_ for, father?"
"What, my boy?"
"Pinch me so hard! Surely you didn't do it on purpose?"
"Indeed I did, Ben," replied the Captain with a laugh. "You asked how
you were to know you were not dreaming. If you had been dreaming that
would have wakened you--wouldn't it?"
"I dare say it would, father," returned the boy, resuming his seat, "but
I'm convinced now. Don't do it again, please. I wish I knew what
Chingatok thinks of it. Try to ask him, father. I'm sure you've had
considerable experience in his lingo by this time."
Benjy referred here, not only to the numerous conversations which his
father had of late carried on with the giant through the interpreter,
but to the fact that, having been a whaler in years past, Captain Vane
had previously picked up a smattering of various Eskimo dialects. Up to
that day he had conversed entirely through the medium of Anders, but as
that useful man was now in Alf's boat, the Captain was left to his own
resources, and got on much better than he had expected.
Chingatok turned his eyes from the horizon on which they had been fixed,
and looked dreamily at the Captain when asked what he was thinking
about.
"I have been thinking," said he, "of home, _my_ home over there." He
lifted his huge right arm and pointed to the north. "And I have been
thinking," he continued, "that there must be another home up there." He
raised his hand and pointed to the sky.
"Why do you think so?" asked the Captain in some surprise.
"Because it is so beautiful, so wonderful, so full of light and peace,"
replied the Eskimo. "Sometimes the clouds, and the wind, and the rain,
come and cover it; but they pass away, and there it is, just the same,
always calm, and bright, and beautiful. Could such a place have been
made for nothing? Is there no one up there? not even the Maker of it?
and if there is, does he stay there alone? Men and women die, but
surely there is something in us that does not die. If there is no
spirit in us that lives, of what use was it to make us at all? I think
we shall have a home up there."
Chingatok had again turned his eyes to the horizon, and spoke the
concluding words as if he were thinking aloud. The Captain looked at
him earnestly for some time in silence.
"You are right, Chingatok," he said at length, or at least attempted to
say as best he could--"you are right. My religion teaches me that we
have spirits; that God--your God and mine--dwells up there in what we
call heaven, and that His people shall dwell with him after death."
"His people!" repeated the Eskimo with a perplexed look. "Are some men
his people and some not?"
"Undoubtedly," replied the Captain, "men who obey a chief's commands are
_his_ men--his friends. Those who refuse to obey, and do every kind of
wickedness, are _not_ his friends, but his enemies. God has given us
free-wills, and we may reject him--we may choose to be his enemies."
It must not be supposed that Captain Vane expressed himself thus
clearly, but the above is the substance of what he attempted by many a
strange and complicated sentence to convey. That he had made his
meaning to some extent plain, was proved by Chingatok's reply.
"But I do not know God's commands; how then can I obey them?"
"You may not know them by book," replied the Captain promptly; "for you
have no books, but there is such a thing as the commands or law of God
written in the heart, and it strikes me, Chingatok, that you both know
and obey more of your Maker's laws than many men who have His word."
To this the Eskimo made no answer, for he did not rightly understand it,
and as the Captain found extreme difficulty in expressing his meaning on
such questions, he was quite willing to drop the conversation.
Nevertheless his respect for Chingatok was immensely increased from that
day forward.
He tried to explain what had been said to Benjy, and as that youth's
mind was of an inquiring turn he listened with great interest, but at
last was forced to confess that it was too deep for him. Thereafter he
fell into a mood of unusual silence, and pondered the matter for a long
time.
Awaking from his reverie at last, he said, abruptly, "How's her head,
father?"
"Due north, Benjy."
He pulled out a pocket-compass about the size of an ordinary watch,
which instrument it was his habit to guard with the most anxious care.
"North!" repeated the boy, glancing at the instrument with a look of
surprise, "why, we're steering almost due east!"
"Ah! Ben, that comes of your judging from appearances without
knowledge, not an uncommon state of mind in man and boy, to say nothing
of woman. Don't you know what variation of the compass is?"
"No, father."
"What! have you been so long at sea with me and never heard yet about
the magnetic pole?"
"Never a word, father. It seems to me that poles are multiplying as we
get further north."
"Oh, Benjy, for shame--fie! fie!"
"Maybe if you had told me about it I might have had less to be shamed
of, and you too, father."
"That's true, Benjy. That's true. You're a sharp boy for your age.
But don't be disrespectful to your father, Ben; no good can ever come o'
that. Whatever you are, be respectful to your old father. Come, I'll
tell you about it now."
It will have been observed by this time that little Benjamin Vane was
somewhat free in his converse with his father, but it must not therefore
be supposed that he was really insolent. All his freedom of speech was
vented in good humour, and the Captain knew that. There was, indeed, a
powerful bond not only of affection but of sympathy between the little
delicate boy and the big strong man. They thoroughly understood each
other, and between those who understand each other there may be much
freedom without offence, as everybody knows.
"You must understand," began the Captain, "that although the needle of
the mariner's compass is said to point to the north with its head and to
the south with its tail, it does not do so exactly, because the magnetic
poles do not coincide exactly with the geographical poles. There are
two magnetic poles just as there are two geographical poles, one in the
southern hemisphere, the other in the northern. D'ye understand!"
"Clear as daylight, father."
"Well, Benjy, the famous Arctic discoverer, Sir James Ross, in 1832,
discovered that the northern magnetic pole was situated in the island of
Boothia Felix, in latitude 70 degrees 5 seconds and longitude 96 degrees
46 seconds West. It was discovered by means of an instrument called the
dipping needle, which is just a magnetised needle made for dipping
perpendicularly instead of going round horizontally like the mariner's
compass. A graduated arc is fitted to it so that the amount of dip at
any place on the earth's surface can be ascertained. At the magnetic
equator there is no dip at all, because the needle being equally distant
from the north and south magnetic poles, remains horizontal. As you
travel north the needle dips more and more until it reaches the region
of the north magnetic pole when it is almost perpendicular--pointing
straight down.
"Now, it is only on a very few places of the earth's surface that the
horizontal needle points to the true north and south, and its deviation
from the _earth's_ pole in its determination to point to the _magnetic_
pole is called the variation of the compass. This variation is greater
or less of course at different places, and must be allowed for in
estimating one's exact course. In our present explorations we have got
so far beyond the beaten track of travel that greater allowance than
usual has to be made. In fact we have got considerably to the north of
the magnetic pole. At the same time we are a good way to the east'ard
of it, so that when I see the compass with its letter N pointing to what
I know to be the magnetic north, I take our geographical position into
account and steer almost due east by _compass_, for the purpose of
advancing due north. D'ye see?"
"I'm not so sure that I do, father. It seems to me something like the
Irishman's pig which you pull one way when you want him to go another.
However, I'll take your word for it."
"That's right, my boy; when a man can't understand, he must act on
faith, if he _can_, for there's no forcing our beliefs, you know.
Anyhow he must be content to follow till he does understand; always
supposing that he can trust his leader."
"I'm out of my depths altogether now, father. P'r'aps we'd better
change the subject. What d'ye say to try a race with Leo? His boat
seems to be overhauling us."
"No, no, Ben; no racing. Let us advance into the great unknown north
with suitable solemnity."
"We appear to sail rather better than you do, uncle," shouted Leo, as
his boat drew near.
"That's because you're not so heavily-laden," replied the Captain,
looking back; "you haven't got giants aboard, you see; moreover there's
one o' you rather light-headed."
"Hallo! uncle; evil communications, eh? You'd better change Benjy for
Oblooria. She's quite quiet, and never jokes. I say, may I go ahead of
you?"
"No, lad, you mayn't. Take a reef in your regulator, and drop into your
proper place."
Obedient to orders, Leo pulled the regulator or check-string until the
kite's position was altered so as to present less resistance to the
wind, and dropped astern of the _Faith_, which was the name given by
Benjy to his father's boat, the other two being named respectively the
_Hope_ and the _Charity_.
The prosperous advance did not, however, last very long. Towards
evening the three kites suddenly, and without any previous warning,
began to dive, soar, flutter, and tumble about in a manner that would
have been highly diverting if it had not been dangerous. This no doubt
was the effect of various counter-currents of air into which they had
flown. The order was at once given to haul on the regulators and coil
up the towing lines. It was promptly obeyed, but before a few fathoms
had been coiled in, the kites again became as steady as before, with
this change, however, that they travelled in a north-westerly direction.
The value of the leeboards now became apparent.
These were hinged down the middle so as to fold and become small enough
to stow in the bottom of each boat when not in use. When unfolded and
hung over the side, they presented a surface of resistance to the water
much greater than that of an ordinary boat's keel, so that very little
leeway indeed was made. By means of the steering-oar Captain Vane kept
his boat advancing straight northward, while the kite was puffing in a
north-westerly direction. The kite was thus compelled by the boat also
to travel due north, though of course it did so in a sidelong manner.
Thus far the advance continued prosperously, the pace being but little
checked and the course unaltered, but when, an hour or two later, the
wind again shifted so as to carry the kites further to the west, the
pace became much slower, and the leeway, or drift to leeward,
considerable. Ultimately the wind blew straight to the west, and the
boats ceased to advance. "This won't do, uncle," said Leo, who was
close astern of the _Faith_, "I'm drifting bodily to leeward, and making
no headway at all."
"Down with the tops,--I mean, the kites," shouted the Captain. "Pass
the word to Alf."
Accordingly, the kites were reeled in, the regulators being so pulled
and eased off that they were kept just fluttering without tugging during
the operation. When, however, they passed out of the wind-stratum into
the region of calm which still prevailed immediately above the sea, the
kites descended in an alarming manner, swaying to and fro with
occasional wild swoops, which rendered it necessary to haul in on the
lines and reel up with the utmost speed.
Captain Vane was very successful in this rather difficult operation.
While he hauled in the line Benjy reeled it up with exemplary speed, and
the kite was finally made to descend on the boat like a cloud. When
secured the locking-cross was removed, the distending-rods were folded
inwards, the restraining, or what we may term the waist-band was
applied, and the whole affair was changed into a gigantic Mrs Gamp
umbrella. Being placed in the bow of the boat, projecting over the
water, it formed a not ungraceful though peculiar bowsprit, and was well
out of the way.
Leo and Butterface were equally successful, but poor Alf was not so
fortunate. The too eager pursuit of knowledge was the cause of Alf's
failure as has often been the case with others! He took on himself, as
chief of his boat, the difficult and responsible task of hauling in the
line,--which involved also the occasional and judicious manipulation of
the regulating cord, when a sudden puff of wind should tend to send the
kite soaring upwards with six or eight horse-power into the sky. To
Ivitchuk was assigned the easy task of gathering in the "slack" and
holding on to Alf if a sudden jerk should threaten to pull him
overboard. Anders reeled up.
Just as the kite was passing out of the windy region above into the calm
region below Alf beheld floating near the boat a beautiful, and to him
entirely new, species of marine creature of the jelly-fish kind. With a
wild desire to possess it he leaned over the boat's edge to the
uttermost and stretched out his left hand, while with his right he held
on to the kite! Need we say that the kite assisted him?--assisted him
overboard altogether, and sent him with a heavy plunge into the sea!
Ivitchuk dropped his line and stretched out both arms towards the spot
where the "Kablunet" had gone down. Akeetolik roared. Anders howled,
and dropped his reel. Left to itself, the kite, with characteristic
indecision, made an awful swoop towards the North Pole with its right
shoulder. Changing its mind, it then made a stupendous rush with its
left to the south-east. Losing presence of mind it suddenly tossed up
its tail, and, coming down head foremost, went with fatal facility into
the deep sea.
When Alf rose and was dragged panting into the boat, his first glance
was upwards,--but not in thankfulness for his preservation!
"Gone!" he groaned, rising to his feet.
But the kite was not gone. The word had barely left his lips when it
rose half its length out of the water, and then fell, in melancholy
inaptitude for further mischief, flat upon the sea.
"Anything damaged?" asked the Captain, as he and Leo rowed their boats
towards the _Charity_.
"Nothing," replied Alf with a guilty look, "the stick and things seem to
be all right, but it has got _awfully_ wet."
"No matter," said the Captain, laughing at Alf's forlorn look, "the sun
will soon dry it. So long as nothing is broken or torn, we'll get on
very well. But now, boys, we must go to work with oars. There must be
no flagging in this dash for the Pole. It's a neck-or-nothing business.
Now, mark my orders. Although we've got four oars apiece, we must only
work two at a time. I know that young bloods like you are prone to go
straining yourselves at first, an' then bein' fit for nothing
afterwards. We must keep it up steadily. Two in each boat will pull at
a time for one hour, while the other two rest or sleep, and so on, shift
about; till another breeze springs up. Don't fold it up tight, Alf.
Leave it pretty slack till it is dry, and then put on its belt."
"Don't you think we might have supper before taking to the oars?"
suggested Leo.
"I second that motion," cried Benjy.
"And I support it," said Alf.
"Very good, get out the prog; an' we'll lay ourselves alongside, three
abreast, as Nelson did at the Battle o' the Nile," said the Captain.
Their food was simple but sufficient. Pemmican--a solid greasy
nutricious compound--was the foundation. Hard biscuit, chocolate, and
sugar formed the superstructure. In default of fire, these articles
could be eaten cold, but while their supply of spirits of wine lasted, a
patent Vesuvian of the most complete and almost miraculous nature could
provide a hot meal in ten minutes. Of fresh water they had a two-weeks'
supply in casks, but this was economised by means of excellent water
procured from a pond in a passing berg--from which also a lump of clear
ice had been hewn, wrapped in a blanket, and carried into the Captain's
boat as a supply of fresh water in solid form.
Laying the oars across the boats to keep them together, they floated
thus pleasantly on the glassy sea, bathed in midnight sunshine. And
while they feasted in comfort inexpressible--to the surprise, no doubt,
of surrounding gulls and puffins--Benjamin Vane once again gave
utterance to the opinion that it was the most glorious and altogether
astonishing state of things that he had ever heard or dreamed of since
the world began!
CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
A GALE AND A NARROW ESCAPE.
This is a world of alternations. We need not turn aside to prove that.
The calm with which the voyage of our discoverers began lasted about
four days and nights, during which period they advanced sometimes slowly
under oars, sometimes more or less rapidly under kites--if we may so
express it--according to the state of the wind.
And, during all that time the discipline of two and two--at watch, or at
sleep, if not at work--was rigidly kept up. For none knew better than
Captain Vane the benefit of discipline, and the demoralising effect of
its absence, especially in trying circumstances. It is but just to add
that he had no difficulty in enforcing his laws. It is right also to
state that the women were not required to conform, even although they
were accustomed to hard labour and willing to work as much as required.
In all three boats the bow was set apart as the women's quarters, and
when Toolooha, Oblooria or Tekkona showed symptoms of a desire to go to
sleep--(there was no retiring for the night in these latitudes)--a
blanket stretched on two oars cut their quarters off from those of the
men, and maintained the dignity of the sex.
But soon the serene aspect of nature changed. Grey clouds overspread
the hitherto sunny sky. Gusts of wind came sweeping over the sea from
time to time, and signs of coming storm became so evident that the
Captain gave orders to make all snug and prepare for dirty weather.
"You see, lads," he said, when the three boats were abreast, and the
kites had been furled, "we don't know what may happen to us now. Nobody
in the world has had any experience of these latitudes. It may come on
to blow twenty-ton Armstrongs instead of great guns, for all we know to
the contrary. The lightning may be sheet and fork mixed instead of
separate for any light we've got on the subject, and it may rain whales
and walruses instead of cats and dogs; so it behoves us to be ready."
"That's true, father," said Benjy, "but it matters little to me, for
I've made my will. Only I forgot to leave the top with the broken peg
and the rusty penknife to Rumty Swillpipe; so if you survive me and get
home on a whale's back--or otherwise--you'll know what to do."
"This is not a time for jesting, Ben," said Alf rather seriously.
"Did I say it was?" inquired Ben, with a surprised look.
Alf deigned no reply, and Butterface laughed, while he and the others
set about executing the Captain's orders.
The arrangements made in these india-rubber boats for bad weather were
very simple and complete. After the lading in each had been snugly
arranged, so as to present as flat a surface on the top as possible, a
waterproof sheet was drawn over all, and its edges made fast to the
sides of the boat, by means of tags and loops which were easily fastened
and detached. As each sheet overhung its boat, any water that might
fall upon it was at once run off. This, of course, was merely put on to
protect the cargo and any one who chose to take shelter under it. The
boat being filled with air required no such sheet, because if filled to
overflowing it would still have floated. All round this sheet ran a
strong cord for the crew, who sat outside of it as on a raft, to lay
hold of if the waves should threaten to wash them off. There were also
various other ropes attached to it for the same purpose, and loops of
rope served for rowlocks.
When all had been arranged, those whose duty it was to rest leaned
comfortably against the lumps caused by inequalities of the cargo, while
the others took to their oars.
"It's coming!" cried Benjy, about half-an-hour after all had been
prepared.
And unquestionably it _was_ coming. The boy's quick eyes had detected a
line on the southern horizon, which became gradually broader and darker
as it rose until it covered the heavens. At the same time the indigo
ripple caused by a rushing mighty wind crept steadily over the sea. As
it neared the boats the white crests of breaking waves were seen
gleaming sharply in the midst of the dark blue.
"Clap the women under hatches," shouted the Captain, with more good
sense than refinement.
Benjy, Butterface, and Anders at the word lifted a corner of their
respective sheets. Obedient Toolooha, Oblooria, and Tekkona bent their
meek heads and disappeared: The sheets were refastened, and the men,
taking their places, held on to the cords or life-lines. It was an
anxious moment. No one could guess how the boats would behave under the
approaching trial.
"Oars out," cried the Captain, "we must run before it."
A hiss, which had been gradually increasing as the squall drew near,
broke into a kind of roar, and wind and waves rushed upon them as the
men bent their backs to the oars with all their might.
It was soon found that the boats had so little hold of the water that
the wind and oars combined carried them forward so fast as to decrease
considerably the danger of being whelmed by a falling wave. These waves
increased every moment in size, and their crests were so broken and cut
off by the gale that the three boats, instead of appearing as they had
hitherto done the only solid objects in the scene, were almost lost to
sight in the chaos of black waves and driving foam. Although they tried
their best to keep close together they failed, and each soon became
ignorant of the position of the others. The last that they saw of Alf's
boat was in the hollow between two seas like a vanishing cormorant or a
northern diver. Leo was visible some time longer. He was wielding the
steering-oar in an attitude of vigorous caution, while his Eskimos were
pulling as if for their lives. An enormous wave rose behind them,
curled over their heads and appeared ready to overwhelm them, but the
sturdy rowers sent the boat forward, and the broken crest passed under
them. The next billow was still larger. Taken up though he was with
his own boat the Captain found time to glance at them with horror.
"They're gone!" he cried, as the top of the billow fell, and nothing was
seen save the heads of the four men like dark spots on the foam. The
boat had in truth been overwhelmed and sunk, but, like a true lifeboat
it rose to the surface like a cork the instant the weight of water was
removed, and her crew, who had held on to the life-lines and oars, were
still safe.
"Well done the little _Hope_!" cried the Captain, while Benjy gave vent
to his feelings in a cheer, which was evidently heard by Leo, for he was
seen to wave his hand in reply. Next moment another wave hid the _Hope_
from view, and it was seen no more at that time.
"I feel easier now, Benjy, thank God, after _that_. Alf is a fair
steersman, and our boats are evidently able to stand rough usage."
Benjy made no reply. He was rubbing the water out of his eyes, and
anxiously looking through the thick air in the hope of seeing Leo's boat
again. The poor boy was grave enough now. When the might and majesty
of the Creator are manifested in the storm and the raging sea, the
merely humorous fancies of man are apt to be held in check.
The Captain's boat went rushing thus wildly onwards, still, fortunately,
in the right direction; and for some hours there was no decrease in the
force of the gale. Then, instead of abating, as might have been
expected, it suddenly increased to such an extent that speedy
destruction appeared to be inevitable.
"No sort o' craft could live long in _this_," muttered the Captain, as
if to himself rather than to his son, who sat with a firm expression on
his somewhat pale countenance, looking wistfully towards the northern
horizon. Perhaps he was wondering whether it was worth while to risk so
much for such an end. Suddenly he shaded his eyes with his hand and
gazed intently.
"Land!" he exclaimed in a low eager tone.
"Whereaway, boy? Ay, so there is something there. What say you,
Chingatok? Is it land?"
The giant, who, during all this time, had calmly plied a pair of oars
with strength equal almost to that of four men, looked over his shoulder
without, however, relaxing his efforts.
"No," he said, turning round again, "it is an ice-hill."
"A berg!" exclaimed the Captain. "We will make for it. Tie your
handkerchief, Benjy, to the end of an oar and hold it up. It will serve
as a guide to our comrades."
In a wonderfully short space of time the berg which Benjy had seen as a
mere speck on the horizon rose sharp, rugged, and white against the
black sky. It was a very large one--so large that it had no visible
motion, but seemed as firm as a rock, while the billows of the Arctic
Ocean broke in thunder on its glassy shore.
"We'll get shelter behind it, Ben, my boy," said the Captain, "hold the
oar well up, and don't let the rag clap round the blade. Shake it out
so. God grant that they may see it."
"Amen," ejaculated Benjy to the prayer with heartfelt intensity.
There was danger as well as safety in the near vicinity to this berg,
for many of its pinnacles seemed ready to fall, and there was always the
possibility of a mass being broken off under water, which might destroy
the equilibrium of the whole berg, and cause it to revolve with awfully
destructive power.
However, there was one favourable point--the base was broad, and the
ice-cliffs that bordered the sea were not high.
In a few more minutes the western end of the berg was passed. Its last
cape was rounded, and the _Faith_ was swept by the united efforts of
Chingatok, Benjy, and Toolooha, (who _would_ not remain under cover),
into the comparatively still water on the lee, or northern side of the
berg.
"Hurrah!" shouted Benjy in a tone that was too energetic and peculiar to
have been called forth by the mere fact of his own escape from danger.
Captain Vane looked in the direction indicated by the boy's glistening
eyes--glistening with the salt tears of joy as well as with salt sea
spray--and there beheld the other two boats coming dancing in like wild
things on the crests of the heaving waves. They had seen the signal of
the handkerchief, understood and followed it, and, in a few minutes
more, were under the lee of the ice-cliffs, thanking God and
congratulating each other on their deliverance.
A sheltered cove was soon found, far enough removed from cliffs and
pinnacles to insure moderate safety. Into this they ran, and there they
spent the night, serenaded by the roaring gale, and lullabied by the
crash of falling spires and the groans of rending ice.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
RECORDS A WONDERFUL APPARITION BUT A FURIOUS NIGHT.
When the storm had passed, a profound calm once more settled down on the
face of nature, as if the elements had been utterly exhausted by the
conflict. Once more the sea became like a sheet of undulating glass, in
which clouds and sun and boats were reflected vividly, and once again
our voyagers found themselves advancing towards the north, abreast of
each other, and rowing sociably together at the rate of about four miles
an hour.
When advancing under oars they went thus abreast so as to converse
freely, but when proceeding under kites they kept in single file, so as
to give scope for swerving, in the event of sudden change of wind, and
to prevent the risk of the entanglement of lines.
"What is that?" exclaimed Benjy, pointing suddenly to an object ahead
which appeared at regular intervals on the surface of the water.
"A whale, I think," said Leo.
"A whale usually spouts on coming up, doesn't it?" said Alf.
Chingatok uttered an unpronounceable Eskimo word which did not throw
light on the subject.
"What is it, Anders?" shouted the Captain.
"What you say?" asked the interpreter from Alf's boat, which was on the
other side of the _Hope_.
"If these squawkin' things would hold their noise, you'd hear better,"
growled the Captain before repeating the question.
His uncourteous remark had reference to a cloud of gulls which circled
round and followed the boats with remonstrative cries and astonished
looks.
"It's beast," shouted Anders, "not knows his name in Ingliss."
"Humph! a man with half an eye might see it is `beast,'" retorted the
Captain in an undertone.
As he spoke, the "beast" changed its course and bore down upon them. As
it drew near the Englishmen became excited, for the size of the creature
seemed beyond anything they had yet seen. Strange to say, the Eskimos
looked at it with their wonted gaze of calm indifference.
"It's the great sea-serpent at last," said Benjy, with something like
awe on his countenance.
"It does look uncommon like it," replied the Captain, with a perplexed
expression on his rugged visage. "Get out the rifles, lad! It's as
well to be ready. D'ye know what it is, Chingatok?"
Again the giant uttered the unpronounceable name, while Benjy got out
the fire-arms with eager haste.
"Load 'em all, Ben, load 'em all, an' cram the Winchester to the
muzzle," said the Captain. "There's no sayin' what we may have to
encounter; though I _have_ heard of a gigantic bit of seaweed bein'
mistaken for the great sea-serpent before now."
"That may be, father," said Benjy, with increasing excitement, "but
nobody ever saw a bit of seaweed swim with the activity of a gigantic
eel like _that_. Why, I have counted its coils as they rise and sink,
and I'm quite sure it's a hundred and fifty yards long if it's an inch."
Those in the other boats were following the Captain's example,--getting
out and charging the fire-arms,--and truly there seemed some ground for
their alarm, for the creature, which approached at a rapid rate,
appeared most formidable. Yet, strange to say, the Eskimos paid little
attention to it, and seemed more taken up with the excitement of the
white men.
When the creature had approached to within a quarter of a mile, it
diverged a little to the left, and passed the boats at the distance of a
few hundred yards. Then Captain Vane burst into a sudden laugh, and
shouted:--
"Grampuses!"
"What?" cried Leo.
"Grampuses!" repeated the Captain. "Why, it's only a shoal of grampuses
following each other in single file, that we've mistaken for one
creature!"
Never before was man or boy smitten with heavier disappointment than was
poor Benjy Vane on that trying occasion.
"Why, what's wrong with you, Benjy?" asked his father, as he looked at
his woeful countenance.
"To think," said the poor boy, slowly, "that I've come all the way to
the North Pole for _this_! Why I've believed in the great sea-serpent
since ever I could think, I've seen pictures of it twisting its coils
round three-masted ships, and goin' over the ocean with a mane like a
lion, and its head fifty feet out o' the water! Oh! it's too bad, I'd
have given my ears to have seen the great sea-serpent."
"There wouldn't have been much of you left, Benjy, if you had given
_them_."
"Well, well," continued the boy, not noticing his father's remark, "it's
some comfort to know that I've all _but_ seen the great sea-serpent."
It is some comfort to us, reader, to be able to record the fact that
Benjy Vane was not doomed to total disappointment on that memorable day,
for, on the same evening, the voyagers had an encounter with walruses
which more than made up for the previous misfortune.
It happened thus:--
The three boats were proceeding abreast, slowly but steadily over the
still calm sea, when their attention was attracted by a sudden and
tremendous splash or upheaval of water, just off what the Captain styled
his "port bow." At the same moment the head of a walrus appeared on the
surface like a gigantic black bladder. It seemed to be as large as the
head of a small elephant, and its ivory tusks were not less than two
feet long. There was a square bluntness about the creature's head, and
a savage look about its little bloodshot eyes, which gave to it a very
hideous aspect. Its bristling moustache, each hair of which was six
inches long, and as thick as a crow quill, dripped with brine, and it
raised itself high out of the water, turning its head from side to side
with a rapidity and litheness of action that one would not have expected
in an animal so unwieldy. Evidently it was looking eagerly for
something.
Catching sight of the three boats, it seemed to have found what it
looked for, and made straight at them. Leo quietly got ready his
Winchester repeater, a rifle which, as the reader probably knows, can
discharge a dozen or more shots in rapid succession; the cartridges
being contained in a case resembling a thick ram-rod under the barrel,
from which they are thrust almost instantaneously into their places.
But before the creature gained the boats, a second great upheaval of
water took place, and another walrus appeared. This was the real enemy
of whom he had been in quest. Both were bulls of the largest and most
ferocious description. No sooner did they behold each other, than, with
a roar, something betwixt a bark and a bellow, they collided, and a
furious fight began. The sea was churned into foam around them as they
rolled, reared, spurned, and drove their tusks into each other's skulls
and shoulders.
The boats lay quietly by, their occupants looking on with interest. The
Eskimos were particularly excited, but no one spoke or acted. They all
seemed fascinated by the fight.
Soon one and another and another walrus-head came up out of the sea, and
then it was understood that a number of cow walruses had come to witness
the combat! But the human audience paid little regard to these, so much
were they engrossed by the chief actors.
It might have been thought, from the position of their tusks, which are
simply an enlargement and prolongation of the canine teeth, that these
combatants could only strike with them in a downward direction, but this
was not so. On the contrary, they turned their thick necks with so much
ease and rapidity that they could strike in all directions with equal
force, and numerous were the wounds inflicted on either side, as the
blood-red foam soon testified.
We have said that the human spectators of the scene remained inactive,
but, at the first pause, the Captain said he thought they might as well
put a stop to the fight, and advised Leo to give one of them a shot.
"We'll not be the worse for a fresh steak," he added to Benjy, as Leo
was taking aim.
The effect of the shot was very unexpected. One of the bulls was hit,
but evidently not in a deadly manner, for the motion of the boat had
disturbed Leo's aim. Each combatant turned with a look of wild surprise
at the interruptor, and, as not unfrequently happens in cases of
interference with fights, both made a furious rush at him. At the same
moment, all the cows seemed to be smitten with pugnacity, and joined in
the attack. There was barely time to get ready, when the furious
animals were upon them. Guns and rifles were pointed, axes and spears
grasped, and oars gripped. Even the women seized each a spear, and
stood on the defensive. A simultaneous volley checked the enemy for a
moment, and sent one of the cows to the bottom; but with a furious
bellow they charged again.
The great anxiety of the defenders was to prevent the monsters from
getting close to the boats, so as to hook on to them with their tusks,
which would probably have overturned them, or penetrated the inflated
sides. In either case, destruction would have been inevitable, and it
was only by the active use of oar, axe, and spear that this was
prevented.
Twice did one of the bulls charge the Captain's boat, and on both
occasions he was met by the tremendous might of Chingatok, who planted
the end of an oar on his blunt nose, and thrust him off. On each
occasion, also, he received a shot from the double barrel of Benjy, who
fired the first time into his open mouth, and the second time into his
eye, but an angry cough from the one, and a wink from the other showed
that he did not mind it much. Meantime the Captain, with the Winchester
repeater, was endeavouring--but vainly, owing to the motions of the
giant, and the swaying of the boat--to get a shot at the beast, while
Toolooha, with an axe, was coquetting with a somewhat timid cow near the
stern.
At last an opportunity offered. Captain Vane poured half a dozen balls
as quick as he could fire into the head of the bull, which immediately
sank.
Not less vigorously did the occupants of the other boats receive the
charge. Leo, being more active than the Captain, as well as more expert
with his repeater, slew his male opponent in shorter time, and with less
expenditure of ammunition. Butterface, too, gained much credit by the
prompt manner in which he split the skull of one animal with an axe.
Even Oblooria, the timid, rose to the occasion, and displayed
unlooked-for heroism. With a barbed seal-spear she stood up and invited
a baby walrus to come on--by looks, not by words. The baby accepted the
invitation--perhaps, being a pugnacious baby, it was coming on at any
rate--and Oblooria gave it a vigorous dab on the nose. It resented the
insult by shaking its head fiercely, and endeavouring to back off, but
the barb had sunk into the wound and held on. Oblooria also held on.
Oolichuk, having just driven off a cow walrus, happened to observe the
situation, and held on to Oblooria. The baby walrus was secured, and,
almost as soon as the old bull was slain, had a line attached to it, and
was made fast to the stern.
"Well done, little girl!" exclaimed Oolichuk in admiration, "you're
almost as good as a man."
Among civilised people this might have been deemed a doubtful
compliment, but it was not so in Eskimo-land. The little maid was
evidently much pleased, and the title of the Timid One, which Oolichuk
was wont to give her when in a specially endearing frame of mind, was
changed for the Brave One from that day. In a few more minutes the last
charge of the enemy was repulsed, and those of them that remained alive
dived back to that native home into which the slain had already sunk.
Thus ended that notable fight with walruses.
After consummating the victory with three cheers and congratulating each
other, the conquerors proceeded to examine into the extent of damage
received. It was found that, beyond a few scratches, the _Faith_ and
the _Hope_ had escaped scathless, but the _Charity_ had suffered
considerably. Besides a bad rip in the upper part of the gunwale, a
small hole had been poked in her side below water, and her air-chamber
was filling rapidly.
"Come here, quick, uncle," cried Alf, in consternation, when he
discovered this.
To his surprise the Captain was not so much alarmed as he had expected.
"It won't sink you, Alf, so keep your mind easy," he said, while
examining the injury. "You see I took care to have the boats made in
compartments. It will only make you go lop-sided like a lame duck till
I can repair the damage."
"Repair it, uncle! how can--"
"Never mind just now, hand out a blanket, quick; I'll explain after; we
must undergird her and keep out as much water as we can."
This operation was soon accomplished. The blanket was passed under the
boat and made fast. By pressing against the injured part it checked the
inflow of water. Then the cargo was shifted, and part of it was
transferred to the other boats, and soon they were advancing as
pleasantly, though not as quickly as before, while the Captain explained
that he had brought a solution of gutta-percha for the express purpose
of repairing damages to the boats, but that it was impossible to use it
until they could disembark either on land or on an iceberg.
"We'll come to another berg ere long, no doubt, shan't we, Chingatok?"
he asked.
The Eskimo shook his head and said he thought not, but there was a small
rocky islet not far from where they were, though it lay somewhat out of
their course.
On hearing this the Captain changed his course immediately, and rowed in
the direction pointed out.
"There's wind enough up there, Benjy," remarked his father, looking up
to the sky, where the higher clouds were seen rapidly passing the lower
strata to the northward, "but how to get the kites set up in a dead calm
is more than I can tell."
"There is a way out of the difficulty, father," said Benjy, pointing
behind them.
He referred to a slight breeze which was ruffling the sea into what are
called cat's paws far astern.
"Right boy, right. Prepare to hoist your tops'ls, lads," shouted the
Captain.
In a few minutes the kites were expanded and the tow-lines attached.
When the light breeze came up they all soared, heavily, it is true, but
majestically, into the sky. Soon reaching the upper regions, they
caught the steady breeze there, and towed the boats along at the rate of
eight or ten miles an hour.
In two hours they sighted the islet which Chingatok had mentioned, and,
soon afterwards, had landed and taken possession of it, in the usual
manner, under the name of Refuge Island.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
DISCOURSES OF DEEP THINGS.
The islet, or rock, for it was little more, which the explorers had
reached, was low and extremely barren. Nevertheless it had on it a
large colony of sea-fowl, which received the strangers with their wonted
clamour of indignation--if not of welcome.
As it was near noon at the time, the Captain and Leo went with their
sextants to the highest part of the island to ascertain its position;
the Eskimos set about making an encampment, unloading the boats,
etcetera, and Alf, with hammer and botanical box, set off on a short
ramble along the coast, accompanied by Benjy and Butterface.
Sometimes these three kept together and chatted, at other times they
separated a little, each attracted by some object of interest, or
following the lead, it might have been, of wayward fancy. But they
never lost sight of each other, and, after a couple of hours, converged,
as if by tacit consent, until they met and sat down to rest on a ledge
of rock.
"Well, I _do_ like this sort o' thing," remarked Benjy, as he wiped his
heated brow. "There is something to me so pleasant and peaceful about a
low rocky shore with the sun blazing overhead and the great sea
stretching out flat and white in a dead calm with just ripple enough to
let you know it is all alive and hearty--only resting, like a
good-humoured and sleepy giant."
"Why, Ben, I declare you are becoming poetical," said Alf with a smile;
"your conceptions correspond with those of Buzzby, who writes:--
"`Great Ocean, slumb'ring in majestic calm,
Lies like a mighty--a mighty--'
"I--I fear I've forgotten. Let me see:--
"`Great Ocean, slumb'ring in majestic calm,
Lies like a mighty--'"
"Giant in a dwalm," suggested Benjy.
"We'll change the subject," said Alf, opening his botanical box and
taking out several specimens of plants and rocks. "See, here are some
bits of rock of a kind that are quite new to me."
"What's de use ob dem?" inquired Butterface with a look of earnest
simplicity.
"The use?" said Benjy, taking on himself to reply; "why, you flat-nosed
grampus, don't you know that these bits of rock are made for the express
purpose of being carried home, identified, classified, labelled, stuck
up in a museum, and stared at by wondering ignoramuses, who care nothing
whatever about them, and know less. Geologists are constantly going
about the world with their little hammers keeping up the supply."
"Yes, Butterface," said Alf, "Benjy is partly correct; such specimens
will be treated as he describes, and be stared at in blank stupidity by
hundreds of fellows like himself, but they will also be examined and
understood by geologists, who from their profound knowledge of the plans
which our Creator seems to have had in arranging the materials of the
earth, are able to point out many interesting and useful facts which are
not visible to the naked and unscientific eye, such, for instance, as
the localities where coal and other precious things may be found."
"Kin dey tell whar' gold is to be found, massa Alf?"
"O yes, they can tell that."
"Den it's dis yer chile as wishes," said Butterface with a sigh, "dat he
was a jollygist."
"Oh! Butterface, you're a jolly goose at all events," said Benjy;
"wouldn't it be fun to go and discover a gold mine, and dig up as much
as would keep us in happy idleness all the rest of our lives? But I
say, Alf, have you nothing better than geological specimens in your
box--no grubological specimens, eh?"
Alf replied by producing from his box a paper parcel which contained
some of the required specimens in the shape of biscuit and pemmican.
"Capital! Well, you are a good fellow, Alf. Let us make a table-cloth
of the paper--now, you undisciplined black, don't glare so at the
victuals, else you'll grow too hungry for a moderate supply."
When the trio were in the full swing of vigorous feeding, the negro
paused, with his mouth full, to ask Alf what would be the use of the
North Pole when it was discovered.
"Make matches or firewood of it," said Benjy just as he was about to
stop up his impudent mouth with a lump of pemmican.
"Truly, of what use the Pole itself may be--supposing it to exist in the
form of a thing," said Alf, "I cannot tell, but it has already been of
great use in creating expeditions to the Polar regions. You know well
enough, Butterface, for you've been round the Capes of Good Hope and
Horn often enough, what a long long voyage it is to the eastern seas, on
the other side of the world, and what a saving of time and expense it
would be if we could find a shorter route to those regions, from which
so many of our necessaries and luxuries come. Now, if we could only
discover an open sea in the Arctic regions which would allow our ships
to sail in a straight line from England across the North Pole to
Behring's Straits, the voyage to the East would be reduced to only about
5000 miles, and we should be able to reach Japan in three or four weeks.
Just think what an advantage that would be to commerce!"
"Tea at twopence a pound an' sugar to match--not to mention molasses and
baccy, you ignorant nigger!" said Benjy;--"pass the biscuits."
"An' now, massa Alf," said Butterface with an eager look, "we's
diskivered dis open sea--eh!"
"Well, it seems as if we had."
"But what good will it do us," argued Benjy, becoming more earnest in
the discussion, "if it's all surrounded by a ring of ice such as we have
passed over on sledges."
"If," repeated Alf, "in that `if' lies the whole question. No doubt
Enterprise has fought heroically for centuries to overleap this supposed
ring of ice, and science has stood expectant on the edge, looking
eagerly for the day when human perseverance shall reveal the secrets of
the Far North. It is true, also, that _we_ at last appear to have
penetrated into the great unknown, but who shall say that the so-called
ice-ring has been fully examined? Our explorations have been hitherto
confined to one or two parts of it. We may yet find an ever-open
entrance to this open Polar sea, and our ships may yet be seen sailing
regularly to and fro over the North Pole."
"Just so," said Benjy, "a North Pole steam line once a month to Japan
and back--first class accommodation for second class fares. Walrus and
white bear parties dropped on the way at the Pole Star Hotel, an easy
trip from the Pole itself, which may be made in Eskimo cabs in summer
and reindeer sleighs in winter. Return tickets available for six
months--touching at China, India, Nova Zembla, Kamtschatka, and Iceland.
Splendid view of Hecla and the great Mer de Glace of Greenland--fogs
permitting.--Don't eat so much, Butterface, else bu'stin' will surely be
your doom."
"Your picture is perhaps a little overdrawn, Ben," rejoined Alf with a
smile.
"So would the ancients have said," retorted Benjy, "if you had
prophesied that in the nineteenth century our steamers would pass
through the Straits of Hercules, up the Mediterranean, and over the land
to India; or that our cousins' steam cars would go rattling across the
great prairies of America, through the vast forests, over and under the
Rocky Mountains from the States to California, in seven days; or that
the telephone or electric light should ever come into being."
"Well, you see, Butterface," said Alf, "there is a great deal to be said
in favour of Arctic exploration, even at the present day, and despite
all the rebuffs that we have received. Sir Edward Sabine, one of the
greatest Arctic authorities, says of the route from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, that it is the greatest geographical achievement which can be
attempted, and that it will be the crowning enterprise of those Arctic
researches in which England has hitherto had the pre-eminence. Why,
Butterface," continued Alf, warming with his subject, while the
enthusiastic negro listened as it were with every feature of his
expressive face, and even the volatile Benjy became attentive, "why,
there is no telling what might be the advantages that would arise from
systematic exploration of these unknown regions, which cover a space of
not less than two million, five hundred thousand square miles. It would
advance the science of hydrography, and help to solve some of the
difficult problems connected with Equatorial and Polar currents. It
would enable us, it is said, by a series of pendulum observations at or
near the Pole, to render essential service to the science of geology, to
form a mathematical theory of the physical condition of the earth, and
to ascertain its exact conformation. It would probably throw light on
the wonderful phenomena of magnetism and atmospheric electricity and the
mysterious Aurora Borealis--to say nothing of the flora of these regions
and the animal life on the land and in the sea."
"Why, Alf," exclaimed Benjy in surprise, "I had no idea you were so
deeply learned on these subjects."
"Deeply learned!" echoed Alf with a laugh, "why, I have only a
smattering of them. Just knowledge enough to enable me in some small
degree to appreciate the vast amount of knowledge which I have yet to
acquire. Why do you look perplexed, Butterface?"
"'Cause, massa, you's too deep for me altogidder. My brain no big
'nough to hold it all."
"And your skull's too thick to let it through to the little blob of
brain that you do possess," said Benjy with a kindly-contemptuous look
at his sable friend. "Oh! flatnose, you're a terrible thick-head."
"You's right dere, massa," replied the negro, with a gratified smile at
what he deemed a compliment. "You should ha' seed me dat time when I
was leetle boy down in Ole Virginny, whar dey riz me, when my gran'moder
she foun' me stickin' my fist in de molasses-jar an' lickin' it off.
She swarmed at me an' fetch me one kick, she did, an' sent me slap troo
a pannel ob de loft door, an' tumbled me down de back stair, whar I
felled over de edge an' landed on de top ob a tar barrel w'ich my head
run into. I got on my legs, I did, wiv difficulty, an' runned away
never a bit de worse--not even a headache--only it was tree months afore
I got dat tar rightly out o' my wool. Yes, my head's t'ick _'nough_."
While Butterface was speaking, Leo and the Captain were seen
approaching, and the three rose to meet them. There was a grave
solemnity in the Captain's look which alarmed them.
"Nothing wrong I hope, uncle?" said Alf.
"Wrong! no, lad, there's nothing wrong. On the contrary, everything is
right. Why, where do you think we have got to?"
"A hundred and fifty miles from the Pole," said Alf.
"Less, less," said Leo, with an excited look.
"We are not more," said the Captain slowly, as he took off his hat and
wiped his brow, "not more than a hundred and forty miles from it."
"Then we could be there in three days or sooner, with a good breeze,"
cried Benjy, whose enthusiasm was aroused.
"Ay, Ben, if there was nothing in the way; but it's quite clear from
what Chingatok says, that we are drawing near to his native land, which
cannot be more than fifty miles distant, if so much. You remember he
has told us his home is one of a group of islands, some of which are
large and some small; some mountainous and others flat and swampy,
affording food and shelter to myriads of wild-fowl; so, you see, after
we get there our progress northward through such a country, without
roads or vehicles, won't be at the rate of ten miles an hour by any
means."
"Besides," added Leo, "it would not be polite to Chingatok's countrymen
if we were to leave them immediately after arriving. Perhaps they would
not let us go, so I fear that we shan't gain the end of our journey yet
a while, but that does not matter much, for we're sure to make it out at
last."
"What makes the matter more uncertain," resumed the Captain, as they
sauntered back to camp, "is the fact that this northern archipelago is
peopled by different tribes of Eskimos, some of whom are of a warlike
spirit and frequently give the others trouble. However, Chingatok says
we shall have no difficulty in reaching this Nothing--as he will insist
on styling the Pole, ever since I explained to him that it was not a
real but an imaginary point."
"I wonder how Anders ever got him to understand what an imaginary point
is," said Benjy.
"That has puzzled me too," returned the Captain, "but he did get it
screwed into him somehow, and the result is--Nothing!"
"Out of nothing nothing comes," remarked Leo, as the giant suddenly
appeared from behind a rock, "but assuredly _nothing_ can beat Chingatok
in size or magnificence, which is more than anything else can."
The Eskimo had been searching for the absentees to announce that dinner
was ready, and that Toolooha was impatient to begin; they all therefore
quickened their pace, and soon after came within scent of the savoury
mess which had been prepared for them by the giant's squat but amiable
mother.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
ARRIVAL IN POLOELAND.
Fortune, which had hitherto proved favourable to our brave explorers,
did not desert them at the eleventh hour.
Soon after their arrival at Refuge Island a fair wind sprang up from the
south, and when the _Charity_ had been carefully patched and repaired,
the kites were sent up and the voyage was continued. That day and night
they spent again upon the boundless sea, for the island was soon left
out of sight behind them, though the wind was not very fresh.
Towards morning it fell calm altogether, obliging them to haul down the
kites and take to the oars.
"It can't be far off now, Chingatok," said the Captain, who became
rather impatient as the end drew near.
"Not far," was the brief reply.
"Land ho!" shouted Benjy, about half-an-hour after that.
But Benjy was forced to admit that anxiety had caused him to take an
iceberg on the horizon for land.
"Well, anyhow you must admit," said Benjy, on approaching the berg,
"that it's big enough for a fellow to mistake it for a mountain. I
wonder what it's doing here without any brothers or sisters to keep it
company."
"Under-currents brought it here, lad," said the Captain. "You see, such
a monster as that must go very deep down, and the warm under-current has
not yet melted away enough of his base to permit the surface-current to
carry him south like the smaller members of his family. He is still
travelling north, but that won't last long. He'll soon become small
enough to put about and go the other way. I never saw a bigger fellow
than that, Benjy. Hayes, the American, mentions one which he measured,
about 315 feet high, and nearly a mile long. It had been grounded for
two years. He calculated that there must have been seven times as much
of it below water as there was above, so that it was stranded in nearly
half-a-mile depth of water. This berg cannot be far short of that one
in size."
"Hm! probably then his little brothers and sisters are being now crushed
to bits in Baffin's Bay," said Benjy.
"Not unlikely, Ben, if they've not already been melted in the Atlantic,
which will be this one's fate at last--sooner or later."
From a pool on this berg they obtained a supply of pure fresh water.
When our explorers did at last sight the land it came upon them
unexpectedly, in the form of an island so low that they were quite close
before observing it. The number of gulls hovering above it might have
suggested its presence, but as these birds frequently hover in large
flocks over shoals of small fish, little attention was paid to them.
"Is this your native land, Chingatok?" asked the Captain, quickly.
"No, it is over there," said the Eskimo, pointing to the distant
horizon; "this is the first of the islands."
As they gazed they perceived a mountain-shaped cloud so faint and far
away that it had almost escaped observation. Advancing slowly, this
cloud was seen to take definite form and colour.
"I _knew_ it was!" said Benjy, "but was afraid of making another
mistake."
Had the boy or his father looked attentively at the giant just then,
they would have seen that his colour deepened, his eyes glittered, and
his great chest heaved a little more than was its wont, as he looked
over his shoulder while labouring at the oars. Perhaps we should have
said played with the oars, for they were mere toys in his grasp.
Chingatok's little mother also was evidently affected by the sight of
home. But the Captain and his son saw it not--they were too much
occupied with their own thoughts and feelings. To the Englishmen the
sight of land roused only one great all-engrossing thought--the North
Pole! which, despite the absurdity of the idea, _would_ present itself
in the form of an upright post of terrific magnitude--a worthy
axle-tree, as it were, for the world to revolve upon. To the big Eskimo
land presented itself in the form of a palatial stone edifice measuring
fifteen feet by twelve, with a dear pretty little wife choking herself
in the smoke of a cooking-lamp, and a darling little boy choking himself
with a mass of walrus blubber. Thus the same object, when presented to
different minds, suggested ideas that were:
"Diverse as calm from thunder,
Wide as the poles asunder."
It was midnight when the boats drew near to land. The island in which
stood the giant's humble home seemed to Captain Vane not more than eight
or ten miles in extent, and rose to a moderate height--apparently about
five or six hundred feet. It was picturesque in form and composed of
rugged rocks, the marks on which, and the innumerable boulders
everywhere, showed that at some remote period of the world's history, it
had been subjected to the influence of glacial action. No glacier was
visible now, however--only, on the rocky summit lay a patch or two of
the last winter's snow-drift, which was too deep for the summer sun to
melt away. From this storehouse of water gushed numerous tiny rivulets
which brawled cheerily rather than noisily among the rocks, watering the
rich green mosses and grasses which abounded in patches everywhere, and
giving life to countless wild-flowers and berries which decked and
enriched the land.
Just off the island--which by a strange coincidence the inhabitants had
named Poloe--there were hundreds of other islets of every shape and
size, but nearly all of them low, and many flat and swampy--the
breeding-grounds of myriads of waterfowl. There were lakelets in many
of these isles, in the midst of which were still more diminutive islets,
whose moss-covered rocks and fringing sedges were reflected in the
crystal water. Under a cliff on the main island stood the Eskimo
village, a collection of stone huts, bathed in the slanting light of the
midnight sun.
But no sound issued from these huts or from the neighbouring islands.
It was the period of rest for man and bird. Air, earth, and water were
locked in profound silence and repose.
"We've got to Paradise at last, father," was the first sound that broke
the silence, if we except the gentle dip of the oars and the rippling
water on the bow.
"Looks like it, Benjy," replied the Captain.
A wakeful dog on shore was the first to scent the coming strangers. He
gave vent to a low growl. It was the keynote to the canine choir, which
immediately sent up a howl of discord. Forthwith from every hut there
leaped armed men, anxious women, and terrified children, which latter
rushed towards the cliffs or took refuge among the rocks.
"Hallo! Chingatok, your relations are not to be taken by surprise,"
said the Captain--or something to that effect--in Eskimo.
The giant shook his head somewhat gravely.
"They must be at war," he said.
"At war! whom with?"
"With the Neerdoowulls," replied Chingatok with a frown. "They are
always giving us trouble."
"Not badly named, father," said Benjy; "one would almost think they must
be of Scotch extraction."
At that moment the natives--who had been gesticulating wildly and
brandishing spears and bone knives with expressions of fury that denoted
a strong desire on their part to carve out the hearts and transfix the
livers of the newcomers--suddenly gave vent to a shout of surprise,
which was succeeded by a scream of joy. Chingatok had stood up in the
boat and been recognised. The giant's dog--an appropriately large one--
had been the first to observe him, and expressed its feelings by wagging
its tail to such an extent that its hind legs had difficulty in keeping
the ground.
Immediately on landing, the party was surrounded by a clamorous crew,
who, to do them justice, took very little notice of the strangers, so
overjoyed were they at the return of their big countryman.
Soon a little pleasant though flattish-faced woman pushed through the
crowd and seized the giant. This was his wife Pingasuk, or Pretty One.
She was _petite_--not much larger than Oblooria the timid. The better
to get at her, Chingatok went down on his knees, seized her by the
shoulders, and rubbed her nose against his so vigorously that the
smaller nose bid fair to come off altogether. He had to stoop still
lower when a stout urchin of about five years of age came up behind him
and tried to reach his face.
"Meltik!" exclaimed the giant, rubbing noses gently for fear of damaging
him, "you are stout and fat, my son, you have been eating much blubber--
good."
At that moment Chingatok's eyes fell on an object which had hitherto
escaped his observation. It was a little round yellow head in his
wife's hood, with a pair of small black eyes which stared at him in
blank surprise. He made a snatch at it and drew forth--a naked baby!
"Our girlie," said the wife, with a pleased but anxious look; "don't
squeeze. She is very young and tender--like a baby seal."
The glad father tried to fold the creature to his bosom; nearly dropped
it in his excess of tender caution; thrust it hastily back into his
wife's hood, and rose to give a respectful greeting to an aged man with
a scrubby white beard, who came forward at the moment.
"Who are these, my son?" asked the old man, pointing to the Englishmen,
who, standing in a group with amused expressions, watched the meeting
above described.
"These are the Kablunets, father. I met them, as I expected, in the
far-off land. The poor creatures were wandering about in a great kayak,
which they have lost, searching for _nothing_!"
"Searching for nothing! my son, that cannot be. It is not possible to
search for nothing--at least it is not possible to find it."
"But that is what they come here for," persisted Chingatok; "they call
it the Nort Pole."
"And what is the Nort Pole, my son?"
"It is nothing, father."
The old man looked at his stately son with something of anxiety mingled
with his surprise.
"Has Chingatok become a fool, like the Kablunets, since he left home?"
he asked in a low voice.
"Chingatok is not sure," replied the giant, gravely. "He has seen so
much to puzzle him since he went away, that he sometimes feels foolish."
The old Eskimo looked steadily at his son for a few moments, and shook
his head.
"I will speak to these men--these foolish men," he said. "Do they
understand our language?"
"Some of them understand and speak a little, father, but they have with
them one named Unders, who interprets. Come here, Unders."
Anders promptly stepped to the front and interpreted, while the old
Eskimo put Captain Vane through an examination of uncommon length and
severity. At the close of it he shook his head with profound gravity,
and turned again to his son.
"You have indeed brought to us a set of fools, Chingatok. Your voyage
to the far-off lands has not been very successful. These men want
something that they do not understand; that they could not see if it was
before them; that they cannot describe when they talk about it, and that
they could not lay hold of if they had it."
"Yes, father," sighed Chingatok, "it is as I told you--nothing; only the
Nort Pole--a mere name."
A new light seemed to break in on Chingatok as he said this, for he
added quickly, "But, father, a name is _something_--my name, Chingatok,
is something, yet it is nothing. You cannot see it, you do not lay hold
of it, yet it is there."
"Toohoo! my son, that is so, no doubt, but your name describes _you_,
and you are something. No one ever goes to a far-off land to search for
a _name_. If this Nort Pole is only a name and not a _thing_, how can
it _be_?" exclaimed the old man, turning on his heel and marching off in
a paroxysm of metaphysical disgust.
He appeared to change his mind, however, for, turning abruptly back, he
said to Anders, "Tell these strangers that I am glad to see them; that a
house and food shall be given to them, and that they are welcome to
Poloe. Perhaps their land--the far-off land--is a poor one; they may
not have enough to eat. If so, they may stay in this rich land of mine
to hunt and fish as long as they please. But tell them that the Eskimos
love wise men, and do not care for foolishness. They must not talk any
more about this search after nothing--this Nort Pole--this nonsense--
huk!"
Having delivered himself of these sentiments with much dignity, the old
man again turned on his heel with a regal wave of the hand, and marched
up to his hut.
"That must be the King of Poloe," whispered Captain Vane to Leo,
endeavouring to suppress a smile at the concluding caution, as they
followed Anders and one of the natives to the hut set apart for them.
The Captain was only half right. Amalatok was indeed the chief of the
island, but the respect and deference shown to him by the tribe were
owing more to the man's age and personal worth, than to his rank. He
had succeeded his father as chief of the tribe, and, during a long life,
had led his people in council, at the hunt, and in war, with consummate
ability and success. Although old, he still held the reins of power,
chiefly because his eldest son and rightful successor--Chingatok's elder
brother--was a weak-minded man of little capacity and somewhat malignant
disposition. If our giant had been his eldest, he would have resigned
cheerfully long ago. As it was, he did not see his way to change the
customs of the land, though he could not tell when, or by whom, or under
what circumstances, the order of succession had been established.
Probably, like many other antiquated customs, it had been originally the
result of despotism on the part of men in power, and of stupid
acquiescence on the part of an unthinking people.
On reaching his hut the old chief sat down, and, leaning carelessly
against the wall, he toyed with a bit of walrus rib, as an Englishman
might with a pair of nut-crackers at dessert.
"Why did you bring these barbarians here?"
"I did not bring them, father, they brought me," said the son with a
deprecating glance.
"Huk!" exclaimed the chief, after which he added, "hum!"
It was evident that he had received new light, and was meditating
thereon.
"My son," continued Amalatok, "these Kablunets seem to be stout-bodied
fellows; can they fight--are they brave?"
"They are brave, father, very brave. Even the little one, whom they
call Bunjay, is brave--also, he is funny. I have never seen the
Kablunets fight with men, but they fight well with the bear and the
walrus and the ice. They are not such fools as you seem to think.
True, about this nothing--this Nort Pole--they are quite mad, but in
other matters they are very wise and knowing, as you shall see before
long."
"Good, good," remarked the old chief, flinging the walrus rib at an
intrusive dog with signal success, "I am glad to hear you say that,
because I may want their help."
Amalatok showed one symptom of true greatness--a readiness to divest
himself of prejudice.
"For what do you require their help, father?" asked Chingatok.
Instead of answering, the old chief wrenched off another walrus rib from
its native backbone, and began to gnaw it growlingly, as if it were his
enemy and he a dog.
"My father is disturbed in his mind," said the giant in a sympathising
tone.
Even a less observant man than Chingatok might have seen that the old
chief was not only disturbed in mind, but also in body, for his features
twitched convulsively, and his face grew red as he thought of his
wrongs.
"Listen," said Amalatok, flinging the rib at another intrusive dog,
again with success, and laying his hand impressively on his son's arm.
"My enemy, Grabantak--that bellowing walrus, that sly seal, that
empty-skulled puffin, that porpoise, cormorant, narwhal--s-s-sus!"
The old man set his teeth and hissed.
"Well, my father?"
"It is not well, my son. It is all ill. That marrowless bear is
stirring up his people, and there is no doubt that we shall soon be
again engaged in a bloody--a _useless_ war."
"What is it all about, father?"
"About!--about nothing."
"Huk! about Nort Pole--nothing," murmured Chingatok--his thoughts
diverted by the word.
"No, it is worse than Nort Pole, worse than nothing," returned the chief
sternly; "it is a small island--very small--so small that a seal would
not have it for a breathing-place. Nothing on it; no moss, no grass.
Birds won't stay there--only fly over it and wink with contempt. Yet
Grabantak says he must have it--it is within the bounds of _his_ land!"
"Well, let him have it, if it be so worthless," said Chingatok, mildly.
"Let him have it!" shouted the chief, starting up with such violence as
to overturn the cooking-lamp--to which he paid no regard whatever--and
striding about the small hut savagely, "no, never! I will fight him to
the last gasp; kill all his men; slay his women; drown his children;
level his huts; burn up his meat--"
Amalatok paused and glared, apparently uncertain about the propriety of
wasting good meat. The pause gave his wrath time to cool.
"At all events," he continued, sitting down again and wrenching off
another rib, "we must call a council and have a talk, for we may expect
him soon. When you arrived we took you for our enemies."
"And you were ready for us," said Chingatok, with an approving smile.
"Huk!" returned the chief with a responsive nod. "Go, Chingatok, call a
council of my braves for to--night, and see that these miserable
starving Kablunets have enough of blubber wherewith to stuff
themselves."
Our giant did not deem it worth while to explain to his rather petulant
father that the Englishmen were the reverse of starving, but he felt the
importance of raising them in the old chief's opinion without delay, and
took measures accordingly.
"Blackbeard," he said, entering the Captain's hut and sitting down with
a troubled air, "my father does not think much of you. Tell him that,
Unders."
"I understand you well enough, Chingatok; go on, and let me know why the
old man does not think well of me."
"He thinks you are a fool," returned the plain spoken Eskimo.
"H'm! I'm not altogether surprised at that, lad. I've sometimes
thought so myself. Well, I suppose you've come to give me some good
advice to make me wiser--eh! Chingatok?"
"Yes, that is what I come for. Do what I tell you, and my father will
begin to think you wise."
"Ah, yes, the old story," remarked Benjy, who was an amused listener--
for his father translated in a low tone for the benefit of his
companions as the conversation proceeded--"the same here as everywhere--
Do as I tell you and all will be well!"
"Hold your tongue, Ben," whispered Alf.
"Well, what am I to do?" asked the Captain.
"Invite my father to a feast," said Chingatok eagerly, "and me too, and
my mother too; also my wife, and some of the braves with their wives.
And you must give us biskit an'--what do you call that brown stuff?"
"Coffee," suggested the Captain.
"Yes, cuffy, also tee, and shoogre, and seal st- ate--what?"
"Steak--eh?"
"Yes, stik, and cook them all in the strange lamp. You must ask us to
see the feast cooked, and then we will eat it."
It will be observed that when Chingatok interpolated English words in
his discourse his pronunciation was not perfect.
"Well, you are the coolest fellow I've met with for many a day! To
order a feast, invite yourself to it, name the rest of the company, as
well as the victuals, and insist on seeing the cooking of the same,"
said the Captain in English; then, in Eskimo,--"Well, Chingatok, I will
do as you wish. When would you like supper?"
"Now," replied the giant, with decision.
"You hear, Butterface," said the Captain when he had translated, "go to
work and get your pots and pans ready. See that you put your best foot
foremost. It will be a turning-point, this feast, I see."
Need we say that the feast was a great success? The wives, highly
pleased at the attention paid them by the strangers, were won over at
once. The whole party, when assembled in the hut, watched with the most
indescribable astonishment the proceedings of the negro--himself a
living miracle--as he manipulated a machine which, in separate
compartments, cooked steaks and boiled tea, coffee, or anything else, by
means of a spirit lamp in a few minutes. On first tasting the hot
liquids they looked at each other suspiciously; then as the sugar
tickled their palates, they smiled, tilted their pannikins, drained them
to the dregs, and asked for more!
The feast lasted long, and was highly appreciated. When the company
retired--which did not happen until the Captain declared he had nothing
more to give them, and turned the cooking apparatus upside down to prove
what he said--there was not a man or woman among them who did not hold
and even loudly assert that the Kablunets were wise men.
After the feast the council of war was held and the strangers were
allowed to be present. There was a great deal of talk--probably some of
it was not much to the point, but there was no interruption or
undignified confusion. There was a peace-party, of course, and a
war-party, but the latter prevailed. It too often does so in human
affairs. Chingatok was understood to favour the peace-party, but as his
sire was on the other side, respect kept him tongue-tied.
"These Eskimos reverence age and are respectful to women," whispered Leo
to Alf, "so we may not call them savages."
The old chief spoke last, summing up the arguments, as it were, on both
sides, and giving his reasons for favouring war.
"The island is of no use," he said; "it is not worth a seal's nose, yet
Grabantak wishes to tear it from us--us who have possessed it since the
forgotten times. Why is this? because he wishes to insult us," ("huk!"
from the audience). "Shall we submit to insult? shall we sit down like
frightened birds and see the black-livered cormorant steal what is ours?
shall the courage of the Poloes be questioned by all the surrounding
tribes? Never! while we have knives in our boots and spears in our
hands. We will fight till we conquer or till we are all dead--till our
wives are husbandless and our children fatherless, and all our stores of
meat and oil are gone!" ("huk! huk!") "Then shall it be said by
surrounding tribes, `Behold! how brave were the Poloes! they died and
left their wives and little children to perish, or mourn in slavery,
rather than submit to insult!'"
The "huks" that greeted the conclusion of the speech were so loud and
numerous that the unfortunate peace-makers were forced to hide their
diminished heads.
Thus did Amalatok resolve to go to war for "worse than Nort Pole--for
nothing"--rather than submit to insult! (See Note 1.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1. It may not be inappropriate here to point out that Eskimo
savages are sometimes equalled, if not surpassed, in this respect, by
civilised and even Christian nations.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
THE EFFECT OF PERSUASION ON DIVERSE CHARACTERS.
The warlike tendencies of Grabantak, the northern savage, had the effect
of compelling Captain Vane and his party to delay for a considerable
time their efforts to reach the Pole. This was all the more distressing
that they had by that time approached so very near to it. A carefully
made observation placed the island of Poloe in latitude 88 degrees 30
minutes 10 seconds, about 90 geographical, or 104 English statute miles
from the Pole.
There was no help for it, however. To have ventured on Grabantak's
territory while war was impending would have been to court destruction.
Captain Vane saw therefore that the only way of advancing his own cause
was to promote peace between the tribes. With a view to this he sought
an interview with the old chief Amalatok.
"Why do you wish to go to war?" he asked.
"I do not wish to go to war," answered the chief, frowning fiercely.
"Why do you go then?" said the Captain in a soothing tone, for he was
very anxious not to rouse the chief's anger; but he was unsuccessful,
for the question seemed to set the old man on fire. He started up,
grinding his teeth and striding about his hut, knocking over pots, oil
cans, and cooking-lamps somewhat like that famous bull which got into a
china shop. Finding the space too small for him he suddenly dropped on
his knees, crept through the low entrance, sprang up, and began to
stride about more comfortably.
The open air calmed him a little. He ceased to grind his teeth, and
stopping in front of the Captain, who had followed him, said in a low
growl, "Do you think I will submit to insult?"
"Some men have occasionally done so with advantage," answered the
Captain.
"Kablunets may do so, Eskimos _never_!" returned the old man, resuming
his hurried walk to and fro, and the grinding of his teeth again.
"If Amalatok were to kill all his enemies--all the men, women and
children," said the Captain, raising a fierce gleam of satisfaction in
the old man's face at the mere suggestion, "and if he were to knock down
all their huts, and burn up all their kayaks and oomiaks, the insult
would still remain, because an insult can only be wiped out by one's
enemy confessing his sin and repenting."
For a few seconds Amalatok stood silent; his eyes fixed on the ground as
if he were puzzled.
"The white man is right," he said at length, "but if I killed them all I
should be avenged."
"Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord," leaped naturally to the Captain's
mind; but, reflecting that the man before him was a heathen who would
not admit the value of the quotation, he paused a moment or two.
"And what," he then said, "if Grabantak should kill Amalatok and all his
men, and carry away the women and children into slavery, would the
insult be wiped out in that case? Would it not rather be deepened?"
"True, it would; but then we should all be dead--we should not care."
"The _men_ would all be dead, truly," returned the Captain, "but perhaps
the women and children left behind might care. They would also suffer."
"Go, go," said the Eskimo chief, losing temper as he lost ground in the
argument; "what can Kablunets know about such matters? You tell me you
are men of peace; that your religion is a religion of peace. Of course,
then, you understand nothing about war. Go, I have been insulted, and I
_must_ fight."
Seeing that it would be fruitless talking to the old chief while he was
in this frame of mind, Captain Vane left him and returned to his own
hut, where he found Chingatok and Leo engaged in earnest conversation--
Alf and Benjy being silent listeners.
"I'm glad you've come, uncle," said Leo, making room for him on the turf
seat, "because Chingatok and I are discussing the subject of war; and--"
"A strange coincidence," interrupted the Captain. "I have just been
discussing the same subject with old Amalatok. I hope that in showing
the evils of war you are coming better speed with the son than I did
with the father."
"As to that," said Leo, "I have no difficulty in showing Chingatok the
evils of war. He sees them clearly enough already. The trouble I have
with him is to explain the Bible on that subject. You see he has got a
very troublesome inquiring sort of mind, and ever since I have told him
that the Bible is the Word of God he won't listen to my explanations
about anything. He said to me in the quietest way possible, just now,
`Why do you give me _your_ reasons when you tell me the Great Spirit has
given His? I want to know what _He_ says.' Well, now, you know, it is
puzzling to be brought to book like that, and I doubt if Anders
translates well. You understand and speak the language, uncle, better
than he does, I think, so I want you to help me."
"I'll try, Leo, though I am ashamed to say I am not so well read in the
Word myself as I ought to be. What does Chingatok want to know?"
"He wants to _reconcile_ things, of course. That is always the way.
Now I told him that the Great Spirit is good, and does not wish men to
go to war, and that He has written for us a law, namely, that we should
`live peaceably with all men.' Chingatok liked this very much, but then
I had told him before, that the Great Spirit had told His ancient people
the Jews to go and fight His enemies, and take possession of their
lands. Now he regards this as a contradiction. He says--How can a man
live peaceably with all men, and at the same time go to war with some
men, kill them, and take their lands?"
"Ah! Leo, my boy, your difficulty in answering the Eskimo lies in your
own _partial_ quotation of Scripture," said the Captain. Then, turning
to Chingatok, he added, "My young friend did not give you the whole
law--only part of it. The word is written thus:--`if it be _possible_,
as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.' Some times it is
_not_ possible, Chingatok; then we must fight. But the law says keep
from fighting `_as much as you can_.' Mind that, Chingatok, and if you
are ever induced to go to war for the sake of a little island--for the
sake of a little insult,--don't flatter yourself that you are keeping
out of it as much as lieth in you."
"Good, good," said the giant, earnestly; "Blackbeard's words are wise."
"As to the people of God in the long past," continued the Captain, "God
told them to go to war, so they went; but that does not authorise men to
go to war at their own bidding. What is right in the Great Father of
all may be very wrong in the children. God kills men every day, and we
do not blame Him, but if man kills his fellow we hunt him down as a
murderer. In the long past time the Great Father spoke to His children
by His wise and holy men, and sometimes He saw fit to tell them to
fight. With His reasons we have nothing to do. Now, the Great Father
speaks to us by His Book. In it He tells us to live in peace with all
men--if _possible_."
"Good," said the giant with an approving nod, though a perplexed
expression still lingered on his face. "But the Great Father has never
before spoken to me by His Book--never at all to my forefathers."
"He may, however, have spoken by His Spirit within you, Chingatok, I
cannot tell," returned the Captain with a meditative air. "You have
desires for peace and a tendency to forgive. This could not be the work
of the spirit of evil. It must have been that of the Good Spirit."
This seemed to break upon the Eskimo as a new light, and he relapsed
into silence as he thought of the wonderful idea that within his breast
the Great Spirit might have been working in time past although he knew
it not. Then he thought of the many times he had in the past resisted
what he had hitherto only thought of as good feelings; and the sudden
perception that at such times he had been resisting the Father of all
impressed him for the first time with a sensation of guiltiness. It was
some time before the need of a Saviour from sin entered into his mind,
but the ice had been broken, and at last, through Leo's Bible, as read
by him and explained by Captain Vane, Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness,
rose upon his soul and sent in the light for which he had thirsted so
long.
But, as we have said, this effect was not immediate, and he remained in
a state of uncertainty and sadness while the warlike councils and
preparations went on.
Meanwhile Captain Vane set himself earnestly to work to hit on some plan
by which, if possible, to turn the feeling of the Eskimo community in
favour of peace. At first he thought of going alone and unarmed, with
Anders as interpreter, to the land of Grabantak to dissuade that savage
potentate from attacking the Poloes, but the Eskimos pointed out that
the danger of this plan was so great that he might as well kill himself
at once. His own party, also, objected to it so strongly that he gave
it up, and resolved in the meantime to strengthen his position and
increase his influence with the natives among whom his lot was cast, by
some exhibitions of the powers with which science and art had invested
him.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
THE CAPTAIN ELECTRIFIES AS WELL AS SURPRISES HIS NEW FRIENDS.
It will be remembered that the party of Englishmen arrived at Poloeland
under oars, and although the india-rubber boats had been gazed at, and
gently touched, with intense wonder by the natives, they had not yet
seen the process of disinflation, or the expansion of the kites.
Of course, Chingatok and their other Eskimo fellow-travellers had given
their friends graphic descriptions of everything, but this only served
to whet the desire to see the wonderful oomiaks in action. Several
times, during the first few days, the old chief had expressed a wish to
see the Kablunets go through the water in their boats, but as the calm
still prevailed, and the Captain knew his influence over the natives
would depend very much on the effect with which his various proceedings
were carried out, he put him off with the assurance that when the proper
time for action came, he would let him know.
One night a gentle breeze sprang up and blew directly off shore. As it
seemed likely to last, the Captain waited till the whole community was
asleep, and then quietly roused his son.
"Lend a hand here, Ben," he whispered, "and make no noise."
Benjy arose and followed his father in a very sleepy frame of mind.
They went to the place where the india-rubber boats lay, close behind
the Englishmen's hut, and, unscrewing the brass heads that closed the
air-holes, began to press out the air.
"That's it, Ben, but don't squeeze too hard, lest the hissing should
rouse some of 'em."
"What'r 'ee doin' this for--ee--yaou?" asked Benjy, yawning.
"You'll see that to-morrow, lad."
"Hum! goin' t'squeeze'm all?"
"Yes, all three, and put 'em in their boxes."
The conversation flagged at this point, and the rest of the operation
was performed in silence.
Next morning, after breakfast, seeing that the breeze still held, the
Captain sent a formal message to Amalatok, that he was prepared to
exhibit his oomiaks.
The news spread like wild-fire, and the entire community soon
assembled--to the number of several hundreds--in front of the
Englishmen's hut, where the Captain was seen calmly seated on a
packing-case, with a solemn expression on his face. The rest of his
party had been warned to behave with dignity. Even Benjy's round face
was drawn into something of an oval, and Butterface made such superhuman
attempts to appear grave, that the rest of the party almost broke down
at the sight of him.
Great was the surprise among the natives when they perceived that the
three oomiaks had disappeared.
"My friends," said the Captain, rising, "I will now show you the manner
in which we Englishmen use our oomiaks."
A soft sigh of expectation ran through the group of eager natives, as
they pressed round their chief and Chingatok who stood looking on in
dignified silence, while the Captain and his companions went to work.
Many of the women occupied a little eminence close at hand, whence they
could see over the heads of the men, and some of the younger women and
children clambered to the top of the hut, the better to witness the
great sight.
Numerous and characteristic were the sighs, "huks," grunts, growls, and
other exclamations; all of which were in keeping with the more or less
intense glaring of eyes, and opening of mouths, and slight bending of
knees and elbows, and spreading of fingers, and raising of hands, as the
operators slowly unrolled the india-rubber mass, attached the bellows,
gradually inflated the first boat, fixed the thwarts and stretchers,
and, as it were, constructed a perfect oomiak in little more than ten
minutes.
Then there was a shout of delight when the Captain and Leo, one at the
bow, the other at the stern, lifted the boat as if it had been a
feather, and, carrying it down the beach, placed it gently in the sea.
But the excitement culminated when Chingatok, stepping lightly into it,
sat down on the seat, seized the little oars, and rowed away.
We should have said, attempted to row away, for, though he rowed
lustily, the boat did not move, owing to Anders, who, like Eskimos in
general, dearly loved a practical joke. Holding fast by the tail-line a
few seconds, he suddenly let go, and the boat shot away, while Anders,
throwing a handful of water after it, said, "Go off, bad boy, and don't
come back; we can do without you." A roar of laughter burst forth.
Some of the small boys and girls leaped into the air with delight,
causing the tails of the latter to wriggle behind them.
The Captain gave them plenty of time to blow off the steam of surprise.
When they had calmed down considerably, he proceeded to open out and
arrange one of the kites.
Of course this threw them back into the open-eyed and mouthed, and
finger-spreading condition, and, if possible, called forth more surprise
than before. When the kite soared into the sky, they shouted; when it
was being attached to the bow of the boat, they held their breath with
expectation, many of them standing on one leg; and when at last the
boat, with four persons in it, shot away to sea at the rate of eight or
ten miles an hour, they roared with ecstasy; accompanying the yells with
contortions of frame and visage which were so indescribable that we
gladly leave it all to the reader's imagination.
There can be no doubt of the fact that the Captain placed himself and
his countrymen that day on a pedestal from which there was no fear of
their being afterwards dislodged.
"Did not I tell you," said Chingatok to his sire that night, in the
privacy of his hut, "that the Kablunets are great men?"
"You did, my son. Chingatok is wise, and his father is a fool!"
No doubt the northern savage meant this self-condemning speech to be
understood much in the same way in which it is understood by civilised
people.
"When the oomiak swelled I thought it was going to burst," added the
chief.
"So did I, when I first saw it," said Chingatok. Father and son paused
a few minutes. They usually did so between each sentence. Evidently
they pondered what they said.
"Have these men got wives?" asked the chief.
"The old one has, and Bunjay is his son. The other ones--no. The black
man may have a wife: I know not, but I should think that no woman would
have him."
"What made him black?"
"I know not."
"Was he always black?"
"The Kablunets say he was--from so big."
Chingatok measured off the half of his left hand by way of explaining
how big.
"Is he black under the clothes?"
"Yes; black all over."
Again the couple paused.
"It is strange," said the old man, shaking his head. "Perhaps he was
made black because his father was wicked."
"Not so," returned the young giant. "I have heard him say his father
was a very good man."
"Strange," repeated the chief, with a solemn look, "he is very ugly--
worse than a walrus. Tell me, my son, where do the Kablunets live? Do
they hunt the walrus or the seal?"
"Blackbeard has told me much, father, that I do not understand. His
people do not hunt much--only a very few of them do."
"Wah! they are lazy! The few hunt to keep the rest in meat, I suppose."
"No, father, that is not the way. The few hunt for fun. The great many
spend their time in changing one thing for another. They seem to be
never satisfied--always changing, changing--every day, and all day.
Getting and giving, and never satisfied."
"Poor things!" said the chief.
"And they have no walruses, no white bears, no whales, nothing!" added
the son.
"Miserables! Perhaps that is why they come here to search for
_nothing_!"
"But, father, if they have got nothing at home, why come here to search
for it?"
"What do they eat?" asked Amalatok, quickly, as if he were afraid of
recurring to the puzzling question that had once already taken him out
of his mental depth.
"They eat all sorts of things. Many of them eat things that are nasty--
things that grow out of the ground; things that are very hot and burn
the tongue; things that are poison and make them ill. They eat fish
too, like us, and other people bring them their meat in great oomiaks
from far-off lands. They seem to be so poor that they cannot find
enough in their own country to feed themselves."
"Wretched creatures!" said the old man, pitifully. "Yes, and they drink
too. Drink waters so hot and so terrible that they burn their mouths
and their insides, and so they go mad."
"Did I not say that they were fools?" said Amalatok, indignantly.
"But the strangest thing of all," continued Chingatok, lowering his
voice, and looking at his sire in a species of wonder, "is that they
fill their mouths with smoke!"
"What? Eat smoke?" said Amalatok in amazement.
"No, they spit it out."
"Did Blackbeard tell you that?"
"Yes."
"Then Blackbeard is a liar!"
Chingatok did not appear to be shocked by the old man's plain speaking,
but he did not agree with him.
"No, father," said he, after a pause. "Blackbeard is not a liar. He is
good and wise, and speaks the truth. I have seen the Kablunets do it
myself. In the big oomiak that they lost, some of the men did it, so--
puff, pull, puff, puff--is it not funny?"
Both father and son burst into laughter at this, and then, becoming
suddenly grave, remained staring at the smoke of their cooking-lamp,
silently meditating on these things.
While thus engaged, a man entered the low doorway in the only possible
manner, on hands and knees, and, rising, displayed the face of Anders.
"Blackbeard sends a message to the great old chief," said the
interpreter. "He wishes him to pay the Kablunets a visit. He has
something to show to the great old chief."
"Tell him I come," said the chief, with a toss of the head which meant,
"be off!"
"I wonder," said Amalatok slowly, as Anders crept out, "whether
Blackbeard means to show us some of his wisdom or some of his
foolishness. The white men appear to have much of both."
"Let us go see," said Chingatok.
They went, and found the Captain seated in front of the door of his hut
with his friends round him--all except Benjy, who was absent. They were
very grave, as usual, desiring to be impressive.
"Chief," began the Captain, in that solemn tone in which ghosts are
supposed to address mankind, "I wish to show you that I can make the
stoutest and most obstinate warrior of Poloeland tremble and jump
without touching him."
"That is not very difficult," said the old man, who had still a lurking
dislike to acknowledge the Englishmen his superiors. "I can make any
one of them tremble and jump by throwing a spear at him."
A slight titter from the assembly testified to the success of this
reply.
"But," rejoined the Captain, with deepening solemnity, "I will do it
without throwing a spear."
"So will I, by suddenly howling at him in the dark," said Amalatok.
At this his men laughed outright.
"But I will not howl or move," said the Captain.
"That will be clever," returned the chief, solemnised in spite of
himself. "Let Blackbeard proceed."
"Order one of your braves to stand before me on that piece of flat
skin," said the Captain.
Amalatok looked round, and, observing a huge ungainly man with a
cod-fishy expression of face, who seemed to shrink from notoriety,
ordered him to step forward. The man did so with obvious trepidation,
but he dared not refuse. The Captain fixed his eyes on him sternly,
and, in a low growling voice, muttered in English: "Now, Benjy, give it
a good turn."
Cod-fishiness vanished as if by magic, and, with a look of wild horror,
the man sprang into the air, tumbled on his back, rose up, and ran away!
It is difficult to say whether surprise or amusement predominated among
the spectators. Many of them laughed heartily, while the Captain, still
as grave as a judge, said in a low growling tone as if speaking to
himself:--
"Not quite so stiff, Benjy, not quite so stiff. Be more gentle next
time. Don't do it all at once, boy; jerk it, Benjy, a turn or so at a
time."
It is perhaps needless to inform the reader that the Captain was
practising on the Eskimos with his electrical machine, and that Benjy
was secretly turning the handle inside the hut. The machine was
connected, by means of wires, with the piece of skin on which the
patients stood. These wires had been laid underground, not, indeed, in
the darkness, but, during the secrecy and silence of the previous night.
After witnessing the effect on the first warrior, no other brave seemed
inclined to venture on the skin, and the women, who enjoyed the fun
greatly, were beginning to taunt them with cowardice, when Oolichuk
strode forward. He believed intensely, and justifiably, in his own
courage. No man, he felt quite sure, had the power to stare _him_ into
a nervous condition--not even the fiercest of the Kablunets. Let
Blackbeard try, and do his worst!
Animated by these stern and self-reliant sentiments, he stepped upon the
mat.
Benjy, being quick in apprehension, perceived his previous error, and
proceeded this time with caution. He gave the handle of the machine a
gentle half-turn and stopped, peeping through a crevice in the wall to
observe the effect.
"Ha! ha! ho! ho!--hi! huk!" laughed Oolichuk, as a tickling sensation
thrilled through all his nervous system. The laugh was irresistibly
echoed by the assembled community.
Benjy waited a few seconds, and then gave the handle another and
slightly stronger turn.
The laugh this time was longer and more ferocious, while the gallant
Eskimo drew himself together, determined to resist the strange and
subtle influence; at the same time frowning defiance at the Captain, who
never for a moment took his coal-black eye off him!
Again Benjy turned the handle gently. He evidently possessed something
of the ancient Inquisitor spirit, and gloated over the pains of his
victim! The result was that Oolichuk not only quivered from head to
foot, but gave a little jump and anything but a little yell. Benjy's
powers of self-restraint were by that time exhausted. He sent the
handle round with a whirr and Oolichuk, tumbling backwards off the mat,
rent the air with a shriek of demoniac laughter.
Of course the delight of the Eskimos--especially of the children--was
beyond all bounds, and eager were the efforts made to induce another
warrior to go upon the mysterious mat, but not one would venture. They
would rather have faced their natural enemy, the great Grabantak,
unarmed, any day!
In this difficulty an idea occurred to Amalatok. Seizing a huge dog by
the neck he dragged it to the mat, and bade it lie down. The dog
crouched and looked sheepishly round. Next moment he was in the air
wriggling. Then he came to the ground, over which he rushed with a
prolonged howl, and disappeared among the rocks on the hill side.
It is said that that poor dog was never again seen, but Benjy asserts
most positively that, a week afterwards, he saw it sneaking into the
village with its tail very much between its legs, and an expression of
the deepest humility on its countenance.
"You'd better give them a taste of dynamite, father," said Benjy that
evening, as they all sat round their supper-kettle.
"No, no, boy. It is bad policy to fire off all your ammunition in a
hurry. We'll give it 'em bit by bit."
"Just so, impress them by degrees," said Alf.
"De fust warrior was nigh bu'sted by degrees," said Butterface, with a
broad grin, as he stirred the kettle. "You gib it 'im a'most too
strong, Massa Benjee."
"Blackbeard must be the bad spirit," remarked Amalatok to his son that
same night as they held converse together--according to custom--before
going to bed.
"The bad spirit is _never_ kind or good," replied Chingatok, after a
pause.
"No," said the old man, "never."
"But Blackbeard is always good and kind," returned the giant.
This argument seemed unanswerable. At all events the old man did not
answer it, but sat frowning at the cooking-lamp under the influence of
intense thought.
After a prolonged meditation--during the course of which father and son
each consumed the tit-bits of a walrus rib and a seal's flipper--
Chingatok remarked that the white men were totally beyond his
comprehension. To which, after another pause, his father replied that
he could not understand them at all.
Then, retiring to their respective couches, they calmly went to
sleep--"perchance to dream!"
CHAPTER NINETEEN.
A SHOOTING TRIP TO PARADISE ISLE, AND FURTHER DISPLAY OF THE CAPTAIN'S
CONTRIVANCES.
While our explorers were thus reduced to a state of forced inaction as
regarded the main object of their expedition, they did not by any means
waste their time in idleness. On the contrary, each of the party went
zealously to work in the way that was most suitable to his inclination.
After going over the main island of Poloe as a united party, and
ascertaining its size, productions, and general features, the Captain
told them they might now do as they pleased. For his part he meant to
spend a good deal of his time in taking notes and observations,
questioning the chief men as to the lands lying to the northward,
repairing and improving the hut, and helping the natives miscellaneously
so as to gain their regard.
Of course Leo spent much of his time with his rifle, for the natives
were not such expert hunters but that occasionally they were badly off
for food. Of course, also, Alf shouldered his botanical box and sallied
forth hammer in hand, to "break stones," as Butterface put it. Benjy
sometimes followed Alf--more frequently Leo, and always carried his
father's double-barrelled shot-gun. He preferred that, because his
powers with the rifle were not yet developed. Sometimes he went with
Toolooha, or Tekkona, or Oblooria, in one of the native oomiaks to fish.
At other times he practised paddling in the native kayak, so that he
might accompany Chingatok on his excursions to the neighbouring islands
after seals and wild-fowl.
In the excursions by water Leo preferred one of the india-rubber boats--
partly because he was strong and could row it easily, and partly because
it was capable of holding more game than the kayak.
These expeditions to the outlying islands were particularly delightful.
There was something so peaceful, yet so wild, so romantic and so strange
about the region, that the young men felt as if they had passed into a
new world altogether. It is scarcely surprising that they should feel
thus, when it is remembered that profound calms usually prevailed at
that season, causing the sea to appear like another heaven below them;
that the sun never went down, but circled round and round the horizon--
dipping, indeed, a little more and more towards it each night, but not
yet disappearing; that myriads of wild birds filled the air with
plaintive cries; that whales, and sea-unicorns, and walruses sported
around; that icebergs were only numerous enough to give a certain
strangeness of aspect to the scene--a strangeness which was increased by
the frequent appearance of arctic phenomena, such as several mock-suns
rivalling the real one, and objects being enveloped in a golden haze, or
turned upside down by changes in atmospheric temperature.
"No wonder that arctic voyagers are always hankering after the far
north," said Leo to Benjy, one magnificent morning, as they rowed
towards the outlying islands over the golden sea.
Captain Vane was with them that morning, and it was easy to see that the
Captain was in a peculiar frame of mind. A certain twinkle in his eyes
and an occasional smile, apparently at nothing, showed that his
thoughts, whatever they might be, were busy.
Now, it cannot have failed by this time to strike the intelligent
reader, that Captain Vane was a man given to mystery, and rather fond of
taking by surprise not only Eskimos but his own companions. On the
bright morning referred to he took with him in the boat a small flat
box, or packing-case, measuring about three feet square, and not more
than four inches deep.
As they drew near to Leo's favourite sporting-ground,--a long flat
island with several small lakes on it which were bordered by tall reeds
and sedges, where myriads of ducks, geese, gulls, plover, puffins, and
other birds revelled in abject felicity,--Benjy asked his father what he
had got in the box.
"I've got somethin' in it, Benjy,--somethin'."
"Why, daddy," returned the boy with a laugh, "if I were an absolute
lunatic you could not treat me with greater contempt. Do you suppose I
am so weak as to imagine that you would bring a packing-case all the way
from England to the North Pole with nothing in it?"
"You're a funny boy, Benjy," said the Captain, regarding his son with a
placid look.
"You're a funny father, daddy," answered the son with a shake of the
head; "and it's fortunate for you that I'm good as well as funny, else
I'd give you some trouble."
"You've got a good opinion of yourself, Ben, anyhow," said Leo, looking
over his shoulder as he rowed. "Just change the subject and make
yourself useful. Jump into the bow and have the boat-hook ready; the
water shoals rather fast here, and I don't want to risk scraping a hole
in our little craft."
The island they were approaching formed part of the extensive
archipelago of which Poloe was the main or central island. Paradise
Isle, as Leo had named it, lay about two miles from Poloe. The boat
soon touched its shingly beach, but before it could scrape thereon its
occupants stepped into the water and carefully carried it on shore.
"Now, Benjy, hand me the rifle and cartridges," said Leo, after the boat
was placed in the shadow of a low bank, "and fetch the game-bag. What!
you don't intend to carry the packing-case, uncle, do you?"
"I think I'd better do it," answered the Captain, lifting the case by
its cord in a careless way; "it might take a fancy to have a swim on its
own account, you know. Come along, the birds are growing impatient,
don't you see?"
With a short laugh, Leo shouldered his rifle, and marched towards the
first of a chain of little lakes, followed by Benjy with the game-bag,
and the Captain with the case.
Soon a splendid grey wild-goose was seen swimming at a considerable
distance beyond the reeds.
"There's your chance, now, Leo," said the Captain. But Leo shook his
head. "No use," he said; "if I were to shoot that one I'd never be able
to get it; the mud is too deep for wading, and the reeds too thick for
swimming amongst. It's a pity to kill birds that we cannot get hold of,
so, you see, I must walk along the margin of the lake until I see a bird
in a good position to be got at, and then pot him."
"But isn't that slow work, lad?" asked the Captain.
"It might be slow if I missed often or wounded my birds," replied Leo,
"but I don't often miss."
The youth might with truth have said he never missed, for his eye was as
true and his hand as sure as that of any Leatherstocking or Robin Hood
that ever lived.
"Why don't you launch the boat on the lake?" asked the Captain.
"Because I don't like to run the risk of damaging it by hauling it about
among mud and sticks and overland. Besides, that would be a cumbersome
way of hunting. I prefer to tramp about the margin as you see, and just
take what comes in my way. There are plenty of birds, and I seldom walk
far without getting a goodish--hist! There's one!"
As he spoke another large grey goose was seen stretching its long neck
amongst the reeds at a distance of about two hundred yards. The crack
of the rifle was followed by the instant death of the goose. At the
same moment several companions of the bird rose trumpeting into the air
amid a cloud of other birds. Again the rifle's crack was heard, and one
of the geese on the wing dropped beside its comrade.
As Leo carried his repeating rifle, he might easily have shot another,
but he refrained, as the bird would have been too far out to be easily
picked up.
"Now, Benjy, are you to go in, or am I?" asked the sportsman with a sly
look.
"Oh! I suppose _I_ must," said the boy with an affectation of being
martyred, though, in truth, nothing charmed him so much as to act the
part of a water-dog.
A few seconds more, and he was stripped, for his garments consisted only
of shirt and trousers. But it was more than a few seconds before he
returned to land, swimming on his back and trailing a goose by the neck
with each hand, for the reeds were thick and the mud softish, and the
second bird had been further out than he expected.
"It's glorious fun," said Benjy, panting vehemently as he pulled on his
clothes.
"It's gloriously knocked up you'll be before long at that rate," said
the Captain.
"Oh! but, uncle," said Leo, quickly, "you must not suppose that I give
him all the hard work. We share it between us, you know. Benjy
sometimes shoots and then I do the retrieving. You've no idea how good
a shot he is becoming."
"Indeed, let me see you do it, my boy. D'ye see that goose over there?"
"What, the one near the middle of the lake, about four hundred yards
off?"
"Ay, Benjy, I want that goose. You shoot it, my boy."
"But you'll never be able to get it, uncle," said Leo.
"Benjy, I want that goose. You shoot it." There was no disobeying this
peremptory command. Leo handed the rifle to the boy.
"Down on one knee, Ben, Hythe position, my boy," said the Captain, in
the tone of a disciplinarian. Benjy obeyed, took a long steady aim, and
fired.
"Bravo!" shouted the Captain as the bird turned breast up. "There's
that goose's brother comin' to see what's the matter with him; just cook
_his_ goose too, Benjy."
The boy aimed again, fired, and missed.
"Again!" cried the Captain, "look sharp!"
Again the boy fired, and this time wounded the bird as it was rising on
the wing.
Although wounded, the goose was quite able to swim, and made rapidly
towards the reeds on the other side.
"What! am I to lose that goose?" cried the Captain indignantly.
Leo seized the rifle. Almost without taking time to aim, he fired and
shot the bird dead.
"There," said he, laughing, "but I suspect it is a lost goose after all.
It will be hard work to get either of these birds, uncle. However,
I'll try."
Leo was proceeding to strip when the Captain forbade him.
"Don't trouble yourself, lad," he said, "I'll go for them myself."
"You, uncle?"
"Ay, me. D'ye suppose that nobody can swim but you and Benjy? Here,
help me to open this box."
In silent wonder and expectation Leo and Benjy did as they were bid.
When the mysterious packing-case was opened, there was displayed to view
a mass of waterproof material. Tumbling this out and unrolling it, the
Captain displayed a pair of trousers and boots in one piece attached to
something like an oval life-buoy. Thrusting his legs down into the
trousers and boots, he drew the buoy--which was covered with
india-rubber cloth--up to his waist and fixed it there. Then, putting
the end of an india-rubber tube to his mouth, he began to blow, and the
buoy round his waist began to extend until it took the form of an oval.
"Now, boys," said the Captain, with profound gravity, "I'm about ready
to go to sea. Here, you observe, is a pair o' pants that won't let in
water. At the feet you'll notice two flaps which expand when driven
backward, and collapse when moved forward. These are propellers--human
web-feet--to enable me to walk ahead, d'ye see? and here are two small
paddles with a joint which I can fix together--so--and thus make one
double-bladed paddle of 'em, about four feet long. It will help the
feet, you understand, but I'm not dependent on it, for I can walk
without the paddles at the rate of two or three miles an hour."
As he spoke Captain Vane walked quietly into the water, to the wild
delight of Benjy, and the amazement of his nephew.
When he was about waist-deep the buoy floated him. Continuing to walk,
though his feet no longer touched ground, he was enabled by the
propellers to move on. When he had got out a hundred yards or so, he
turned round, took off his hat, and shouted--"land ho!"
"Ship ahoy!" shrieked Benjy, in an ecstasy.
"Mind your weather eye!" shouted the Captain, resuming his walk with a
facetious swagger, while, with the paddles, he increased his speed.
Soon after, he returned to land with the two geese.
"Well now, daddy," said his son, while he and Leo examined the dress
with minute interest, "I wish you'd make a clean breast of it, and let
us know how many more surprises and contrivances of this sort you've got
in store for us."
"I fear this is the last one, Benjy, though there's no end to the
applications of these contrivances. You'd better apply this one to
yourself now, and see how you get on in it."
Of course Benjy was more than willing, though, as he remarked, the dress
was far too big for him.
"Never mind that, my boy. A tight fit ain't needful, and nobody will
find fault with the cut in these regions."
"Where ever did you get it, father?" asked the boy, as the fastenings
were being secured round him.
"I got it from an ingenious friend, who says he's goin' to bring it out
soon. Mayhap it's in the shops of old England by this time. There,
now, off you go, but don't be too risky, Ben. Keep her full, and mind
your helm." (See Note.)
Thus encouraged, the eager boy waded into the water, but, in his haste,
tripped and fell, sending a volume of water over himself. He rose,
however, without difficulty, and, proceeding with greater caution, soon
walked off into deep water. Here he paddled about in a state of
exuberant glee. The dress kept him perfectly dry, although he splashed
the water about in reckless fashion, and did not return to land till
quite exhausted.
Benjamin Vane from that day devoted himself to that machine. He became
so enamoured of the "water-tramp," as he styled it--not knowing its
proper name at the time--that he went about the lakelets in it
continually, sometimes fishing, at other times shooting. He even
ventured a short distance out to sea in it, to the amazement of the
Eskimos, the orbits of whose eyes were being decidedly enlarged, Benjy
said, and their eyebrows permanently raised, by the constant succession
of astonishment-fits into which they were thrown from day to day by
their white visitors.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note. Lest it should be supposed that the "pedomotive" here described
is the mere creature of the author's brain, it may be well to state that
he has seen it in the establishment of the patentees, Messrs. Thornton
and Company of Edinburgh.
CHAPTER TWENTY.
BENJY'S ENJOYMENTS INTERRUPTED, AND POLOELAND OVERWHELMED WITH A
CATASTROPHE.
One pleasant morning, towards the end of summer, Benjamin Vane went out
with his gun in the water-tramp on the large lake of Paradise Isle.
Leo and he had reached the isle in one of the india-rubber boats. They
had taken Anders with them to carry their game, and little Oblooria to
prepare their dinner while they were away shooting; for they disliked
the delay of personal attention to cooking when they were ravenous!
After landing Benjy, and seeing him busy getting himself into the
aquatic dress, Leo said he would pull off to a group of walruses, which
were sporting about off shore, and shoot one. Provisions of fowl and
fish were plentiful enough just then at the Eskimo village, but he knew
that walrus beef was greatly prized by the natives, and none of the huge
creatures had been killed for some weeks past.
About this time the threatened war with the northern Eskimos had
unfortunately commenced.
The insatiable Grabantak had made a descent on one of Amalatok's smaller
islands, killed the warriors, and carried off the women and children,
with everything else he could lay hands on. Of course Amalatok made
reprisals; attacked a small island belonging to Grabantak, and did as
much general mischief as he could. The paltry islet about which the war
began was not worthy either of attack or defence!
Then Amalatok, burning with the righteous indignation of the man who did
not begin the quarrel, got up a grand muster of his forces, and went
with a great fleet of kayaks to attack Grabantak in his strongholds.
But Grabantak's strongholds were remarkably strong. A good deal of
killing was done, and some destruction of property accomplished, but
that did not effect the conquest of the great northern Savage. Neither
did it prove either party to be right or wrong! Grabantak retired to
impregnable fastnesses, and Amalatok returned to Poloeland "covered with
glory,"--some of his followers also covered with wounds, a few of which
had fallen to his own share. The success, however, was not decided. On
the whole, the result was rather disappointing, but Amalatok was brave
and high-spirited, as some people would say. _He_ was not going to give
in; not he! He would fight as long as a man was left to back him, and
bring Grabantak to his knees--or die! Either event would, of course,
have been of immense advantage to both nations. He ground his teeth and
glared when he announced this determination, and also shook his fist,
but a sharp twinge of pain in one of his unhealed wounds caused him to
cease frowning abruptly.
There was a sound, too, in the air, which caused him to sit down and
reflect. It was a mixed and half-stifled sound, as if of women groaning
and little children wailing. Some of his braves, of course, had fallen
in the recent conflicts--fallen honourably with their faces to the foe.
Their young widows and their little ones mourned them, and refused to be
comforted, because they were not. It was highly unpatriotic, no doubt,
but natural.
Amalatok had asked the white men to join him in the fight, but they had
refused. They would help him to defend his country, if attacked, they
said, but they would not go out to war. Amalatok had once threatened
Blackbeard if he refused to go, but Blackbeard had smiled, and
threatened to retaliate by making him "jump!" Whereupon the old chief
became suddenly meek.
This, then, was the state of affairs when Benjy and Leo went shooting,
on the morning to which we have referred.
But who can hope to describe, with adequate force, the joyful feelings
of Benjamin Vane as he moved slily about the lakelets of Paradise Isle
in the water-tramp? The novelty of the situation was so great. The
surrounding circumstances were so peculiar. The prolonged calms of the
circumpolar basin, at that period of the year, were so new to one
accustomed to the variable skies of England; the perpetual sunshine, the
absence of any necessity to consider time, in a land from which night
seemed to have finally fled; the glassy repose of lake and sea, so
suggestive of peace; the cheery bustle of animal life, so suggestive of
pleasure--all these influences together filled the boy's breast with a
strong romantic joy which was far too powerful to seek or find relief in
those boisterous leaps and shouts which were his usual safety-valves.
Although not much given to serious thought, except when conversing with
his father, Benjy became meditative as he moved quietly about at the
edge of the reeds, and began to wonder whether the paradise above
_could_ exceed this paradise below!
Events occurred that day which proved to him that the sublunary paradise
was, at least, woefully uncertain in its nature.
"Now, just keep still, will you, for one moment," muttered Benjy,
advancing cautiously through the outer margin of reeds, among the stems
of which he peered earnestly while he cocked his gun.
The individual to whom he spoke made no reply, because it was a goose--
would that it were thus with all geese! It was a grey goose of the
largest size. It had caught a glimpse of the new and strange creature
that was paddling about its home, and was wisely making for the shelter
of a spot where the reeds were more dense, and where Benjy would not
have dared to follow. For, it must be remembered that our young
sportsman was sunk to his waist in water, and that the reeds rose high
over his head, so that if once lost in the heart of them, he might have
found it extremely difficult to find his way out again.
Anxious not to lose his chance, he gave vent to a loud shout. This had
the effect of setting up innumerable flocks of wild-fowl, which,
although unseen, had been lurking listeners to the strange though gentle
sound of the water-tramp. Among them rose the grey goose with one or
two unexpected comrades.
Benjy had not at that time acquired the power of self-restraint
necessary to good shooting. He fired hastily, and missed with the first
barrel. Discharging the second in hotter haste, he missed again, but
brought down one of the comrades by accident. This was sufficiently
gratifying. Picking it up, he placed it on the boat-buoy in front of
him to balance several ducks which already lay on the part in rear. He
might have carried a dozen geese on his novel hunting-dress, if there
had been room for them, for its floating power was sufficient to have
borne up himself, and at least four, if not five, men.
Pursuing his way cautiously and gently, by means of the webbed feet
alone, the young sportsman moved about like a sly water-spirit among the
reeds, sometimes addressing a few pleasant words, such as, "how d'ye do,
old boy," or, "don't alarm yourself, my tulip," to a water-hen or a
coot, or some such bird which crossed his path, but was unworthy of his
shot; at other times stopping to gaze contemplatively through the reed
stems, or to float and rest in placid enjoyment, while he tried to
imagine himself in a forest of water-trees.
Everywhere the feathered tribes first gazed at him in mute surprise;
then hurried, with every variety of squeak, and quack, and fluttering
wing, from his frightful presence.
Suddenly he came in sight of a bird so large that his heart gave a
violent leap, and the gun went almost of its own accord to his shoulder,
but the creature disappeared among the reeds before he could take aim.
Another opening, however, again revealed it fully to view! It was a
swan--a hyperborean wild swan!
Just as he made this discovery, the great bird, having observed Benjy,
spread its enormous wings and made off with an amazing splutter.
Bang! went Benjy's gun, both barrels in quick succession, and down fell
the swan quite dead, with its head in the water and its feet pointing to
the sky.
"What a feast the Eskimos will have to-night!" was Benjy's first thought
as he tramped vehemently towards his prize.
But his overflowing joy was rudely checked, for, having laid his gun
down in front of him, for the purpose of using the paddle with both
hands, it slipped to one side, tilted up, and, disappearing like an
arrow in the lake, went to the bottom.
The sinking of Benjy's heart was not less complete. He had the presence
of mind, however, to seize the reeds near him and check his progress at
the exact spot. Leaning over the side of his little craft, he beheld
his weapon quivering, as it were, at the bottom, in about eight feet of
water. What was to be done? The energetic youth was not long in making
up his mind on that point. He would dive for it. But diving in the
water-tramp was out of the question. Knowing that it was all but
impossible to make his way to the shore through the reeds, he resolved
to reach the opposite shore, which was in some places free from
vegetation. Seizing one of the reeds, he forced it down, and tied it
into a knot to mark the spot where his loss had happened. He treated
several more reeds in this way till he gained the open water outside,
thus marking his path. Then he paddled across the lake, landed,
undressed, and swam out again, pushing the empty dress before him,
intending to use it as a resting-place.
On reaching the spot, he dived with a degree of vigour and agility
worthy of a duck, but found it hard to reach the bottom, as he was not
much accustomed to diving. For the same reason he found it difficult to
open his eyes under water, so as to look for the gun. While trying to
do so, a desperate desire to breathe caused him to leap to the surface,
where he found that he had struggled somewhat away from the exact spot.
After a few minutes' rest, he took a long breath and again went down;
but found, to his dismay, that in his first dive he had disturbed the
mud, and thus made the water thick. Groping about rendered it thicker,
and he came to the surface the second time with feelings approaching to
despair. Besides which, his powers were being rapidly exhausted.
But Benjy was full of pluck as well as perseverance. Feeling that he
could not hold out much longer, he resolved to make the next attempt
with more care--a resolve, it may be remarked, which it would have been
better to have made at first.
He swam to the knotted reed, considered well the position he had
occupied when his loss occurred, took an aim at a definite spot with his
head, and went down. The result was that his hands grasped the stock of
the gun the moment they reached the bottom.
Inflated with joy he leaped with it to the surface like a bladder; laid
it carefully on the water-dress, and pushing the latter before him soon
succeeded in getting hold of the dead swan. The bird was too heavy to
be lifted on the float, he therefore grasped its neck with his teeth,
and thus, heavily weighted, made for the shore.
It will not surprise the reader to be told that Benjy felt hungry as
well as tired after these achievements, and this induced him to look
anxiously for Leo, and to wonder why the smoke of Oblooria's
cooking-lamp was not to be seen anywhere.
The engrossing nature of the events just described had prevented our
little hero from observing that a smart breeze had sprung up, and that
heavy clouds had begun to drive across the hitherto blue sky, while
appearances of a very squally nature were gathering on the windward
horizon. Moreover, while engaged in paddling among the reeds he had not
felt the breeze.
It was while taking off the water-tramp that he became fully alive to
these facts.
"That's it," he muttered to himself. "They've been caught by this
breeze and been delayed by having had to pull against it, or perhaps the
walruses gave them more trouble than they expected."
Appeasing his appetite as well as he could with this reflection, he left
the water-tramp on the ground, with the dripping gun beside it, and
hurried to the highest part of the island. Although not much of an
elevation, it enabled him to see all round, and a feeling of anxiety
filled his breast as he observed that the once glassy sea was ruffled to
the colour of indigo, while wavelets flecked it everywhere, and no boat
was visible!
"They may have got behind some of the islands," he thought, and
continued his look-out for some time, with growing anxiety and
impatience, however, because the breeze was by that time freshening to a
gale.
When an hour had passed away the poor boy became thoroughly alarmed.
"Can anything have happened to the boat?" he said to himself. "The
india-rubber is easily cut. Perhaps they may have been blown out to
sea!"
This latter thought caused an involuntary shudder. Looking round, he
observed that the depression of the sun towards the horizon indicated
that night had set in.
"This will never do," he suddenly exclaimed aloud. "Leo will be lost.
I _must_ risk it!"
Turning as he spoke, he ran back to the spot where he had left the
water-dress, which he immediately put on. Then, leaving gun and game on
the beach, he boldly entered the sea, and struck out with feet and
paddle for Poloeland.
Although sorely buffeted by the rising waves, and several times
overwhelmed, his waterproof costume proved well able to bear him up, and
with comparatively little fatigue he reached the land in less than two
hours. Without waiting to take the dress off, he ran up to the Eskimo
village and gave the alarm.
While these events were going on among the islets, Captain Vane and
Alphonse Vandervell had been far otherwise engaged.
"Come, Alf," said the Captain, that same morning, after Leo and
his party had started on their expedition, "let you and me
go off on a scientific excursion,--on what we may style a
botanico-geologico-meteorological survey."
"With all my heart, uncle, and let us take Butterface with us, and
Oolichuk."
"Ay, lad, and Ivitchuk and Akeetolik too, and Chingatok if you will, for
I've fixed on a spot whereon to pitch an observatory, and we must set to
work on it without further delay. Indeed I would have got it into
working order long ago if it had not been for my hope that the cessation
of this miserable war would have enabled us to get nearer the North Pole
this summer."
The party soon started for the highest peak of the island of Poloe--or
Poloeland, as Alf preferred to call it. Oolichuk carried on his broad
shoulders one of those mysterious cases out of which the Captain was so
fond of taking machines wherewith to astonish the natives.
Indeed it was plain to see that the natives who accompanied them on this
occasion expected some sort of surprise, despite the Captain's earnest
assurance that there was nothing in the box except a few meteorological
instruments. How the Captain translated to the Eskimos the word
meteorological we have never been able to ascertain. His own
explanation is that he did it in a roundabout manner which they failed
to comprehend, and which he himself could not elucidate.
On the way up the hill, Alf made several interesting discoveries of
plants which were quite new to him.
"Ho! stop, I say, uncle," he exclaimed for the twentieth time that day,
as he picked up some object of interest.
"What now, lad?" said the Captain, stopping and wiping his heated brow.
"Here is another specimen of these petrifactions--look!"
"He means a vegetable o' some sort turned to stone, Chingatok,"
explained the Captain, as he examined the specimen with an interested
though unscientific eye.
"You remember, uncle, the explanation I gave you some time ago," said
the enthusiastic Alf, "about Professor Heer of Zurich, who came to the
conclusion that primeval forests once existed in these now treeless
Arctic regions, from the fossils of oak, elm, pine, and maple leaves
discovered there. Well, I found a fossil of a plane leaf the other
day,--not a very good one, to be sure--and now, here is a splendid
specimen of a petrified oak-leaf. Don't you trace it quite plainly?"
"Well, lad," returned the Captain, frowning at the specimen, "I do
believe you're right. There does seem to be the mark of a leaf there,
and there is some ground for your theory that this land may have been
once covered with trees, though it's hard to believe that when we look
at it."
"An evidence, uncle, that we should not be too ready to judge by
appearances," said Alf, as they resumed their upward march.
The top gained, a space was quickly selected and cleared, and a simple
hut of flat stones begun, while the Captain unpacked his box. It
contained a barometer, a maximum and minimum self-registering
thermometer, wet and dry bulb, also a black bulb thermometer, a
one-eighth-inch rain-gauge, and several other instruments.
"I have another box of similar instruments, Alf, down below," said the
Captain, as he laid them carefully out, "and I hope, by comparing the
results obtained up here with those obtained at the level of the sea, to
carry home a series of notes which will be of considerable value to
science."
When the Captain had finished laying them out, the Eskimos retired to a
little distance, and regarded them for some minutes with anxious
expectancy; but, as the strange things did not burst, or go up like
sky-rockets, they soon returned with a somewhat disappointed look to
their hut-building.
The work was quickly completed, for Eskimos are expert builders in their
way, and the instruments had been carefully set up under shelter when
the first symptoms of the storm began.
"I hope the sportsmen have returned," said the Captain, looking gravely
round the horizon.
"No doubt they have," said Alf, preparing to descend the mountain. "Leo
is not naturally reckless, and if he were, the cautious Anders would be
a drag on him."
An hour later they regained the Eskimo village, just as Benjy came
running, in a state of dripping consternation, from the sea.
Need it be said that an instant and vigorous search was instituted? Not
only did a band of the stoutest warriors, headed by Chingatok, set off
in a fleet of kayaks, but the Captain and his companions started without
delay in the two remaining india-rubber boats, and, flying their kites,
despite the risk of doing so in a gale, went away in eager haste over
the foaming billows.
After exerting themselves to the uttermost, they failed to discover the
slightest trace of the lost boat. The storm passed quickly, and a calm
succeeded, enabling them to prosecute the search more effectively with
oar and paddle, but with no better result.
Day after day passed, and still no member of the band--Englishman or
Eskimo--would relax his efforts, or admit that hope was sinking. But
they had to admit it at last, and, after three weeks of unremitting
toil, they were compelled to give up in absolute despair. The most
sanguine was driven to the terrible conclusion that Leo, Anders, and
timid little Oblooria were lost.
It was an awful blow. What cared Alf or the Captain now for discovery,
or scientific investigation! The poor negro, who had never at any time
cared for plants, rocks, or Poles, was sunk in the profoundest depths of
sorrow. Benjy's gay spirit was utterly broken. Oolichuk's hearty laugh
was silenced, and a cloud of settled melancholy descended over the
entire village of Poloe.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
FATE OF THE LOST ONES.
Leo, Anders, and timid little Oblooria, however, were not lost! Their
case was bad enough, but it had not quite come to that.
On parting from Benjy, as described in the last chapter, these three
went after a walrus, which coquetted with them instead of attacking, and
drew them a considerable distance away from the island. This would have
been a matter of trifling import if the weather had remained calm, but,
as we have seen, a sudden and violent gale arose.
When the coming squall was first observed the boat was far to leeward of
Paradise Isle, and as that island happened to be one of the most
northerly of the group over which Amalatok ruled, they were thus far to
leeward of any land with the exception of a solitary sugar-loaf rock
near the horizon. Still Leo and his companions were not impressed with
any sense of danger. They had been so long accustomed to calms, and to
moving about in the india-rubber boats by means of paddles with perfect
ease and security, that they had half forgotten the force of wind.
Besides, the walrus was still playing with them provokingly--keeping
just out of rifle-shot as if he had studied fire-arms and knew their
range exactly.
"The rascal!" exclaimed Leo at last, losing patience, "he will never let
us come an inch nearer."
"Try 'im once more," said Anders, who was a keen sportsman, "push him,
paddle strong. Ho! Oblooria, paddle hard and queek."
Although the interpreter, being in a facetious mood, addressed Oblooria
in English, she quite understood his significant gestures, and bent to
her work with a degree of energy and power quite surprising in one
apparently so fragile. Leo also used his oars, (for they had both oars
and paddles), with such good-will that the boat skimmed over the Arctic
sea like a northern diver, and the distance between them and the walrus
was perceptibly lessened.
"I don't like the looks o' the southern sky," said Leo, regarding the
horizon with knitted brows.
"Hims black 'nough--any'ow," said Anders.
"Hold. I'll have a farewell shot at the brute, and give up the chase,"
said Leo, laying down the oars and grasping his rifle.
The ball seemed to take effect, for the walrus dived immediately with a
violent splutter, and was seen no more.
By this time the squall was hissing towards them so fast that the
hunters, giving up all thought of the walrus, turned at once and made
for the land, but land by that time lay far off on the southern horizon
with a dark foam-flecked sea between it and them.
"There's no fear of the boat, Oblooria," said Leo, glancing over his
shoulder at the girl, who sat crouching to meet the first burst of the
coming storm, "but you must hold on tight to the life-lines."
There was no need to caution Anders. That worthy was already on his
knees embracing a thwart--his teeth clenched as he gazed over the bow.
On it came like a whirlwind of the tropics, and rushed right over the
low round gunwale of the boat, sweeping loose articles overboard, and
carrying her bodily to leeward. Leo had taken a turn of the life-lines
round both thighs, and held manfully to his oars. These, after stooping
to the first rush of wind and water, he plied with all his might, and
was ably seconded by Oblooria as well as by the interpreter, but a very
few minutes of effort sufficed to convince them that they laboured in
vain. They did not even "hold their own," as sailors have it, but
drifted slowly, yet steadily, to the north.
"It's impossible to make head against _this_," said Leo, suddenly
ceasing his efforts, "and I count it a piece of good fortune, for which
we cannot be too thankful, that there is still land to leeward of us."
He pointed to the sugar-loaf rock before mentioned, towards which they
were now rapidly drifting.
"Nothing to eat dere. Nothing to drink," said Anders, gloomily.
"Oh! that won't matter much. A squall like this can't last long. We
shall soon be able to start again for home, no doubt. I say, Anders,
what are these creatures off the point there? They seem too large and
black for sea-birds, and not the shape of seals or walruses."
The interpreter gazed earnestly at the objects in question for some
moments without answering. The rock which they were quickly nearing was
rugged, barren, and steep on its southern face, against which the waves
were by that time dashing with extreme violence, so that landing there
would have been an impossibility. On its lee or northern side, however
they might count on quiet water.
"We have nothing to fear," said Leo, observing that Oblooria was much
agitated; "tell her so, Anders; we are sure to find a sheltered creek of
some sort on the other side."
"I fear not the rocks or storm," replied the Eskimo girl to Anders. "It
is Grabantak, the chief of Flatland, that I fear."
"Grabantak!" exclaimed Anders and Leo in the same breath.
"Grabantak is coming with his men!"
Poor little Oblooria, whose face had paled while her whole frame
trembled, pointed towards the dark objects which had already attracted
their attention. They were by that time near enough to be
distinguished, and as they came, one after another, round the western
point of Sugar-loaf rock, it was all too evident that the girl was
right, and that the fleet of kayaks was probably bearing the northern
savage and his men to attack the inhabitants of Poloe.
Leo's first impulse was to seize his repeating rifle and fill its
cartridge-chamber quite full. It may be well to observe here that the
cartridges, being carried in a tight waterproof case, had not been
affected by the seas which had so recently overwhelmed them.
"What's de use?" asked Anders, in an unusually sulky tone, as he watched
the youth's action. "Two men not can fight all de mans of Flatland."
"No, but I can pick off a dozen of them, one after another, with my good
rifle, and then the rest will fly. Grabantak will fall first, and his
best men after him."
This was no idle boast on the part of Leo. He knew that he could
accomplish what he threatened long before the Eskimos could get within
spear-throwing distance of his boat.
"No use," repeated Anders, firmly, still shaking his head in a sulky
manner. "When you's bullets be done, more an' more inimies come on.
Then dey kill you, an' me, an' Oblooria."
Leo laid down his weapon. The resolve to die fighting to the last was
the result of a mere impulse of animal courage. Second thoughts cooled
him, and the reference to Oblooria's fate decided him.
"You are right, Anders. If by fighting to the death I could save
Oblooria, it would be my duty as well as my pleasure to fight; but I see
that I haven't the ghost of a chance against such a host as is
approaching, and it would be simply revengeful to send as many as I can
into the next world before going there myself. Besides, it would
exasperate the savages, and make them harder on the poor girl."
In saying this Leo was rather arguing out the point with himself than
talking to the interpreter, who did not indeed understand much of what
he said. Having made up his mind how to act, Leo stowed his precious
rifle and ammunition in a small bag placed for that purpose under one of
the thwarts, and, resuming the oars, prepared to meet his fate, whatever
it should be, peacefully and unarmed.
While thus drifting in silence before the gale, the thought suddenly
occurred to Leo, "How strange it is that I, who am a Christian--in name
at least--should feel as if it were absurd to pray for God's help at
such a time as this! Surely He who made me and these Eskimos is capable
of guarding us? The very least we can do is to ask Him to guide us!"
The youth was surprised at the thought. It had flashed upon him like a
ray of light. It was not the first time that he had been in even more
imminent danger than the present, yet he had never before thought of the
necessity of asking help from God, as if He were really present and able
as well as willing to succour. Before the thought had passed he acted
on it. He had no time for formal prayer. He looked up! It was prayer
without words. In a few minutes more the boat was surrounded by the
fleet of kayaks. There were hundreds of these tiny vessels of the
north, each with its solitary occupant, using his double-bladed paddle
vigorously.
Need we say that the strangers were at first gazed on with speechless
wonder? and that the Eskimos kept for some time hovering round them at a
respectful distance, as if uncertain how to act, but with their
war-spears ready? All the time the whole party drifted before the gale
towards the island-rock.
"Anders," said Leo, while the natives remained in this state of
indecision, "my mind is made up as to our course of action. We will
offer no resistance whatever to these fellows. We must be absolutely
submissive, unless, indeed, they attempt to ill-treat Oblooria, in which
case of course we will defend her. Do you hear?"
This was said with such quiet decision, and the concluding question was
put in such a tone, that the interpreter replied, "Yis, sar," promptly.
As Leo made no sign of any kind, but continued to guide the boat
steadily with the oars, as if his sole anxiety was to round the western
point of the island and get into a place of shelter, the natives turned
their kayaks and advanced along with him. Naturally they fell into the
position of an escort--a part of the fleet paddling on each side of the
captives, (for such they now were), while the rest brought up the rear.
"What ails Oblooria, Anders?" asked Leo in a low tone.
"What is the matter?" asked the interpreter, turning to the girl, who,
ever since the approach of the Eskimos, had crouched like a bundle in
the bottom of the boat with her face buried in her hands. "There is no
fear. Grabantak is a man, not a bear. He will not eat you."
"Grabantak knows me," answered the poor girl, without lifting her head;
"he came to Poloe once, before the war, and wanted me to be the wife of
his son. I want not his son. I want Oolichuk!"
The simplicity and candour of this confession caused Leo to laugh in
spite of himself, while poor little Oblooria, who thought it no laughing
matter, burst into tears.
Of course the men of Flatland kept their eyes fixed in wide amazement on
Leo, as they paddled along, and this sudden laugh of his impressed them
deeply, being apparently without a cause, coupled as it was with an air
of absolute indifference to his probable fate, and to the presence of so
many foes. Even the ruthless land-hungerer, Grabantak, was solemnised.
In a few minutes the whole party swept round the point of rocks, and
proceeded towards the land over the comparatively quiet waters of a
little bay which lay under the lee of the Sugar-loaf rock.
During the brief period that had been afforded for thought, Leo had been
intently making his plans. He now proceeded to carry them out.
"Hand me the trinket-bundle," he said to Anders.
The interpreter searched in a waterproof pouch in the stern of the boat,
and produced a small bundle of such trinkets as are known to be valued
by savages. It had been placed and was always kept there by Captain
Vane, to be ready for emergencies.
"They will be sure to take everything from us at any rate," remarked
Leo, as he divided the trinkets into two separate bundles, "so I shall
take the wind out of their sails by giving everything up at once with a
good grace."
The Grabantaks, if we may so style them, drew near, as the fleet
approached the shore, with increasing curiosity. When land was reached
they leaped out of their kayaks and crowded round the strangers. It is
probable that they would have seized them and their possessions at this
point, but the tall strapping figure of Leo, and his quiet manner,
overawed them. They held back while the india-rubber boat was being
carried by Leo and Anders to a position of safety.
Poor Oblooria walked beside them with her head bowed down, shrinking as
much as possible out of sight. Everybody was so taken up with the
strange white man that no one took any notice of her.
No sooner was the boat laid down than Leo taking one of the bundles of
trinkets stepped up to Grabantak, whom he easily distinguished by his
air of superiority and the deference paid him by his followers.
Pulling his own nose by way of a friendly token, Leo smiled benignantly
in the chief's face, and opened the bundle before him.
It is needless to say that delight mingled with the surprise that had
hitherto blazed on the visage of Grabantak.
"Come here, Anders, and bring the other bundle with you. Tell this
warrior that I am very glad to meet with him."
"Great and unconquerable warrior," began the interpreter, in the dialect
which he had found was understood, by the men of Poloe, "we have come
from far-off lands to bring you gifts--"
"Anders," said Leo, whose knowledge of the Eskimo tongue was sufficient,
by that time, to enable him in a measure to follow the drift of a
speech, "Anders, if you don't tell him _exactly_ what I say I'll kick
you into the sea!"
As Anders stood on a rock close to the water's edge, and Leo looked
unusually stern, he thereafter rendered faithfully what the latter told
him to say. The speech was something to the following effect:--
"I am one of a small band of white men who have come here to search out
the land. We do not want the land. We only want to see it. We have
plenty of land of our own in the far south. We have been staying with
the great chief Amalatok in Poloeland."
At the mention of his enemy's name the countenance of Grabantak
darkened. Without noticing this, Leo went on:--
"When I was out hunting with my man and a woman, the wind arose and blew
us hither. We claim your hospitality, and hope you will help us to get
back again to Poloeland. If you do so we will reward you well, for
white men are powerful and rich. See, here are gifts for Grabantak, and
for his wife."
This latter remark was a sort of inspiration. Leo had observed, while
Anders was speaking, that a stout cheerful-faced woman had been pushing
aside the men and gradually edging her way toward the Eskimo chief with
the air of a privileged person. That he had hit the mark was obvious,
for Grabantak turned with a bland smile, and hit his wife a facetious
and rather heavy slap on the shoulder. She was evidently accustomed to
such treatment, and did not wince.
Taking from his bundle a gorgeous smoking-cap richly ornamented with
brilliant beads, Leo coolly crowned the chief with it. Grabantak drew
himself up and tried to look majestic, but a certain twitching of his
face, and sparkle in his eyes, betrayed a tendency to laugh with
delight. Fortunately, there was another cap of exactly the same pattern
in the bundle, which Leo instantly placed on the head of the wife--whose
name he afterwards learned was Merkut.
The chief's assumed dignity vanished at this. With that childlike
hilarity peculiar to the Eskimo race, he laughed outright, and then,
seizing the cap from Merkut's head, put it above his own to the
amusement of his grinning followers.
Leo then selected a glittering clasp-knife with two blades, which the
chief seized eagerly. It was evidently a great prize--too serious a
gift to be lightly laughed at. Then a comb was presented to the wife,
and a string of gay beads, and a pair of scissors. Of course the uses
of combs and scissors had he explained, and deep was the interest
manifested during the explanation, and utter the forgetfulness of the
whole party for the time being in regard to everything else in the
world--Oblooria included, who sat unnoticed on the rocks with her face
still buried in her hands.
When Grabantak's possessions were so numerous that the hood of his coat,
and the tops of his wife's boots were nearly filled with them, he became
generous, and, prince-like, (having more than he knew what to do with),
began to distribute things to his followers.
Among these followers was a tall and stalwart son of his own, to whom he
was rather stern, and not very liberal. Perhaps the chief wished to
train him with Spartan ideas of self-denial. Perhaps he wanted his
followers to note his impartiality. Merkut did not, however, act on the
same principles, for she quietly passed a number of valuable articles
over to her dear son Koyatuk, unobserved by his stern father.
Things had gone on thus pleasantly for some time; the novelty of the
gifts, and the interest in their explanation having apparently rendered
these people forgetful of the fact that they might take them all at
once; when a sudden change in the state of affairs was wrought by the
utterance of one word.
"We must not," said Leo to Anders, looking at his follower over the
heads of the Eskimos, "forget poor little Oblooria."
"Oblooria!" roared Grabantak with a start, as if he had been
electrified.
"Oblooria!" echoed Koyatuk, glaring round.
"Oblooria!" gasped the entire band.
Another moment and Grabantak, bursting through the crowd, leaped towards
the crouching girl and raised her face. Recognising her he uttered a
yell which probably was meant for a cheer.
Hurrying the frightened girl into the circle through which he had
broken, the chief presented her to his son, and, with an air worthy of a
civilised courtier, said:--
"Your _wife_, Koyatuk--your Oblooria!--Looria!"
He went over the last syllables several times, as if he doubted his
senses, and feared it was too good news to be true.
This formal introduction was greeted by the chief's followers with a
series of wild shouts and other demonstrations of extreme joy.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
A FIGHT IN DEFENCE OF WOMAN, AND RIFLE-SHOOTING EXTRAORDINARY.
When the excitement had somewhat abated, Leo stepped to the side of
Oblooria, and laying his hand on her shoulder said firmly, through
Anders:--
"Pardon me, Grabantak, this girl is _not_ the wife of Koyatuk; she is my
_sister_!"
The chief frowned, clenched his teeth, and grasped a spear--
"When did Kablunet men begin to have Eskimo sisters?"
"When they took all distressed women under their protection," returned
Leo promptly. "Every woman who needs my help is my sister," he added
with a look of self-sufficiency which he was far from feeling.
This new doctrine obviously puzzled the chief, who frowned, smiled, and
looked at the ground, as if in meditation. It seemed to afford great
comfort to Oblooria, who nestled closer to her champion. As for
Koyatuk, he treated the matter with an air of mingled surprise and
scorn, but dutifully awaited his father's pleasure.
Koyatuk was physically a fine specimen of a savage, but his spirit was
not equal to his body. Like his father he was over six feet high, and
firmly knit, being of both larger and stronger build than Leo, whom he
now regarded, and of course hated, as his rival--a contemptible one, no
doubt; still--a rival.
The warriors watched their chief in breathless suspense. To them it was
a thoroughly new and interesting situation. That a white stranger, tall
and active, but slender and very young, should dare single-handed to
defy not only their chief, but, as it were, the entire tribe, including
the royal family, was a state of things in regard to which their
previous lives afforded no parallel. They could not understand it at
all, and stood, as it were, in eager, open-mouthed, and one-legged
expectation.
At last Grabantak looked up, as if smitten by a new idea, and spoke--
"Can Kablunet men fight?" he asked.
"They love peace better than war," answered Leo, "but when they see
cause to fight they can do so."
Turning immediately to his son, Grabantak said with a grim smile--
"Behold your wife, take her!"
Koyatuk advanced. Leo placed Oblooria behind him, and, being unarmed,
threw himself into a pugilistic posture of defence. The young Eskimo
laid one of his strong hands on the Englishman's shoulder, intending to
thrust him aside violently. Leo was naturally of a tender disposition.
He shrank from dealing a violent blow to one who had not the remotest
idea of what was coming, or how to defend himself from the human fist
when used as a battering-ram.
But Leo chanced to be, in a sense, doubly armed. During one of his
holiday rambles in England he had visited Cornwall, and there had
learned that celebrated "throw" which consists in making your haunch a
fulcrum, your right arm a lever, and your adversary a shuttlecock. He
suddenly grasped his foe round the waist with one arm. Next moment the
Grabantaks saw what the most imaginative among them had never till then
conceived of--Koyatuk's soles turned to the sky, and his head pointing
to the ground! The moment following, he lay flat on his back looking
upwards blankly.
The huk! hi! ho! hooroos! that followed may be conceived, but cannot be
described. Some of the men burst into laughter, for anything ludicrous
is irresistible to an Eskimo of the very far north. A few were
petrified. Others there were who resented this indignity to the
heir-apparent, and flourished their spears in a threatening manner.
These last Grabantak quieted with a look. The incident undoubtedly
surprised that stern parent, but also afforded him some amusement. He
said it was an insult that must be avenged. Oddly enough he made use of
an expression which sounded curiously familiar to Leo's ears, as
translated by Anders. "The insult," said Grabantak, "could only be
_washed out in blood_!"
Strange, that simple savages of the far north should hold to that
ridiculous doctrine. We had imagined that it was confined entirely to
those further south, whose minds have been more or less warped by
civilised usage.
A ring was immediately formed, and poor Leo now saw that the matter was
becoming serious. He was on the eve of fighting an enforced duel in
Oblooria's service.
While the savages were preparing the lists, and Koyatuk, having
recovered, was engaged in converse with his father, Leo whispered to
Anders--
"Perhaps Oblooria has no objection to be the wife of this man?"
But the poor girl had very strong objections. She was, moreover, so
emphatic in her expressions of horror, and cast on her champion such a
look of entreaty, that he would have been more than mortal had he
refused her. It was very perplexing. The idea of killing, or being
killed, in such a cause was very repulsive. He tried to reason with
Grabantak about the sin of injuring a defenceless woman, and the
abstract right of females in general to have some say in the selection
of their husbands, but Grabantak was inexorable.
"Is the Kablunet afraid?" he asked, with a glance of scornful surprise.
"Does he _look_ afraid?" returned Leo, quietly.
Koyatuk now stepped into the middle of the ring of warriors, with a
short spear in his right hand, and half-a-dozen spare ones in his left,
whereby Leo perceived that the battle before him was not meant to be a
mere "exchange of shots," for the "satisfaction of honour." There was
evidently no humbug about these Eskimos.
Two men mounted guard over Anders and Oblooria, who, however, were
allowed to remain inside the ring to witness the combat. A warrior now
advanced to Leo and presented him with a small bundle of spears. He
took them almost mechanically, thanked the giver, and laid them down at
his feet without selecting one. Then he stood up, and, crossing his
arms on his breast, gazed full at his opponent, who made a hideous face
at him and flourished his spear.
It was quite evident that the Eskimos were perplexed by the white
youth's conduct, and knew not what to make of it. The truth is that
poor Leo was almost beside himself with conflicting emotions and
uncertainty as to what he ought to do. Despite all that had taken
place, he found it almost impossible to persuade himself that he was
actually about to engage in mortal combat. He had not a vestige of
angry feeling in his heart against the man whom he was expected to fight
with to the death, and the extraordinary nature of the complex faces
that Koyatuk was making at him tended to foster the delusion that the
whole thing was a farce--or a dream.
Then the knowledge that he could burst through the ring, get hold of his
rifle, and sell his life dearly, or, perhaps, cause the whole savage
tribe to fly in terror, was a sore temptation to him. All this, coupled
with the necessity for taking instant and vigorous action of some sort,
was enough to drive an older head distracted. It did drive the blood
violently to the youth's face, but, by a powerful effort of
self-restraint, he continued to stand perfectly still, like a living
statue, facing the Eskimo.
At last Koyatuk became tired of making useless faces at his rival.
Suddenly poising his spear, he launched it.
Had Leo's eye been less quick, or his limbs less active, that spear had
laid him low for ever. He had barely time to spring aside, when the
weapon passed between his side and his left arm, grazing the latter
slightly, and drawing blood which trickled to the ends of his fingers.
There could be no further doubt now about the nature of the fight.
Catching up a spear from the bundle at his feet he was just in time to
receive the Eskimo, who sprang in on him with the intention of coming at
once to close quarters. His rush was very furious; probably with a view
to make it decisive. But the agile Leo was equal to the occasion.
Bending suddenly so low as to be quite under his opponent's desperate
thrust, he struck out his right leg firmly. Koyatuk tripped over it,
and ploughed the land for some yards with his hands, head, and knees.
Considerably staggered in mind and body by the fall, he sprang up with a
roar, and turned to renew the attack. Leo was ready. The Eskimo, by
that time mad with pain, humiliation, and rage, exercised no caution in
his assault. He rushed at his rival like a mad bull. Our Englishman
saw his opportunity. Dropping his own spear he guarded the thrust of
his adversary's with his right arm, while, with his left fist, he
planted a solid blow on Koyatuk's forehead. The right fist followed the
left like the lightning flash, and alighted on Koyatuk's nose, which,
flat by nature, was rendered flatter still by art. Indeed it would be
the weakest flattery to assert that he had any nose at all after
receiving that blow. It was reduced to the shape of a small pancake,
from the two holes in which there instantly spouted a stream of blood so
copious that it drenched alike its owner and his rival.
After giving him this double salute, Leo stepped quickly aside to let
him tumble forward, heels over head, which he did with the only
half-checked impetuosity of his onset, and lay prone upon the ground.
"There, Anders," said the victor, turning round as he pointed to his
prostrate foe, "surely Grabantak's son has got enough of blood now to
wipe out all the insults he ever received, or is likely to receive, from
me."
Grabantak appeared to agree to this view of the case. That he saw and
relished the jest was obvious, for he burst into an uproarious fit of
laughter, in which his amiable warriors joined him, and, advancing to
Leo, gave him a hearty slap of approval on the shoulder. At the same
time he cast a look of amused scorn on his fallen son, who was being
attended to by Merkut.
It may be observed here that Merkut was the only woman of the tribe
allowed to go on this war-expedition. Being the chief's wife, she had
been allowed to do as she pleased, and it was her pleasure to accompany
the party and to travel like the warriors in a kayak, which she managed
as well as the best of them.
Grabantak now ordered his men to encamp, and feed till the gale should
abate. Then, calling Leo and the interpreter aside, he questioned them
closely as to the condition of the Poloese and the numbers of the white
men who had recently joined them.
Of course Leo made Anders give him a graphic account of the preparations
made by his enemies to receive him, in the hope that he might be induced
to give up his intentions, but he had mistaken the spirit of the Eskimo,
who merely showed his teeth, frowned, laughed in a diabolic manner, and
flourished his spear during the recital of Amalatok's warlike
arrangements. He wound up by saying that he was rejoiced to learn all
that, because it would be all the more to his credit to make his enemy
go down on his knees, lick the dust, crawl in his presence, and
otherwise humble himself.
"But tell him, Anders," said Leo, earnestly, "that my white brothers,
though few in number, are very strong and brave. They have weapons too
which kill far off and make a dreadful noise."
Grabantak laughed contemptuously at this.
"Does the Kablunet," he asked, "think I am afraid to die--afraid of a
noise? does he think that none but white men can kill far off?"
As he spoke he suddenly hurled his spear at a gull, which, with many
others, was perched on a cliff about thirty yards off, and transfixed
it.
"Go to the boat, Anders, and fetch my rifle," said Leo in a low tone.
When the rifle was brought a crowd of Eskimos came with it. They had
been closely observing their chief and the stranger during the
conference, but remained at a respectful distance until they saw
something unusual going on.
"Tell the chief," said Leo, "to look at that peak with the solitary gull
standing on it."
He pointed to a detached cone of rock upwards of two hundred yards
distant.
When the attention of the whole party was concentrated on the bird in
question, Leo took a steady aim and fired.
Need we say that the effect of the shot was wonderful? not only did the
braves utter a united yell and give a simultaneous jump, but several of
the less brave among them bolted behind rocks, or tumbled in attempting
to do so, while myriads of sea-fowl, which clustered among the cliffs,
sprang from their perches and went screaming into the air. At the same
time echoes innumerable, which had lain dormant since creation, or at
best had given but sleepy response to the bark of walruses and the cry
of gulls, took up the shot in lively haste and sent it to and fro from
cliff to crag in bewildering continuation.
"Wonderful!" exclaimed Grabantak in open-mouthed amazement, when he
beheld the shot gull tumbling from its lofty perch, "Do it again."
Leo did it again--all the more readily that another gull, unwarned by
its predecessor's fate, flew to the conical rock at the moment, and
perched itself on the same peak. It fell, as before, and the echoes
were again awakened, while the sea-birds cawed and screamed more
violently than ever.
The timid ones among the braves, having recovered from their first
shock, stood fast this time, but trembled much and glared horribly. The
chief, who was made of sterner stuff than many of his followers; did not
move, though his face flushed crimson with suppressed emotion. As to
the sea-birds, curiosity seemed to have overcome fear, for they came
circling and wheeling overhead in clouds so dense that they almost
darkened the sky--many of them swooping close past the Eskimos and then
shearing off and up with wild cries.
An idea suddenly flashed into Leo's head. Pointing his rifle upwards he
began and continued a rapid fire until all the bullets in it, (ten or
twelve), were expended. The result was as he had expected. Travelling
through such a dense mass of birds, each ball pierced we know not how
many, until it absolutely rained dead and wounded gulls on the heads of
the natives, while the rocks sent forth a roar of echoes equal to a
continuous fire of musketry. It was stupendous! Nothing like it had
occurred in the Polar regions since the world first became a little
flattened at the poles! Nothing like it will happen again until the
conjunction of a series of similar circumstances occurs. The timid
braves lost heart again and dived like the coneys into holes and corners
of the rocks. Others stood still with chattering teeth. Even Grabantak
wavered for a moment. But it was only for a moment. Recovering himself
he uttered a mighty shout; then he yelled; then he howled; then he
slapped his breast and thighs; then he seized a smallish brave near him
by the neck and hurled him into the sea. Having relieved his feelings
thus he burst into a fit of laughter such as has never been equalled by
the wildest maniac either before or since.
Suddenly he calmed, stepped up to Leo, and wrenched the rifle from his
grasp.
"I will do that!" he cried, and held the weapon out at arms-length in
front of his face with both hands; but there was no answering shot.
"Why does it not bark?" he demanded, turning to Leo sternly.
"It will only bark at my bidding," said Leo, with a significant smile.
"Bid it, then," said the chief in a peremptory tone, still holding the
rifle out.
"You must treat it in the right way, otherwise it will not bark. I will
show you."
Having been shown how to pull the trigger, the chief tried again, but a
sharp click was the only reply. Grabantak having expected a shot, he
nervously dropped the rifle, but Leo was prepared, and caught it.
"You must not be afraid of it; it cannot work properly if you are
afraid. See, look there," he added, pointing to the conical rock on
which another infatuated gull had perched himself.
Grabantak looked earnestly. His timid braves began to creep out of
their holes, and directed their eyes to the same spot. While their
attention was occupied Leo managed to slip a fresh cartridge into the
rifle unobserved.
"Now," said he, handing the rifle to the chief, "try again."
Grabantak, who was not quite pleased at the hint about his being afraid,
seized the rifle and held it out as before. Resolved to maintain his
reputation for coolness, he said to his followers in imitation of Leo:--
"Do you see that gull?"
"Huk!" replied the warriors, with eager looks.
Leo thought of correcting his manner of taking aim, but, reflecting that
the result would be a miss in any case, he refrained.
Grabantak raised the rifle slowly, as its owner had done, and frowned
along the barrel. In doing so, he drew it back until the butt almost
touched his face. Then he fired. There was a repetition of previous
results with some differences. The gull flew away from the rock unhurt;
one of the braves received the bullet in his thigh and ran off shrieking
with agony, while the chief received a blow from the rifle on the nose
which all but incorporated that feature with his cheeks, and drew from
his eyes the first tears he had ever shed since babyhood.
That night Grabantak sat for hours staring in moody silence at the sea,
tenderly caressing his injured nose, and meditating, no doubt, on things
past, present, and to come.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.
LEO VISITS FLATLAND AND SEES AS WELL AS HEARS MUCH TO INTEREST HIM
THERE.
The result of Grabantak's meditation was that, considering the nature
and wonderful weapons of the men by whom Amalatok had been reinforced,
he thought it advisable to return to his own land, which was not far
distant, for the purpose of adding to the force with which he meant to
subjugate the men of Poloe.
"We are unconquerable," he said, while conversing on the situation with
Teyma, his first lieutenant, or prime minister; "everybody knows that we
are invincible. It is well-known that neither white men, nor yellow
men,--no, nor black men, nor blue men,--can overcome the Flatlanders.
We must keep up our name. It will not do to let the ancient belief die
down, that one Flatlander is equal to three men of Poloe, or any other
land."
"The Poloe men laugh in their boots when they hear us boast in this
way," said Teyma gently.
We draw attention to the curious resemblance in this phrase to our more
civilised "laughing in the sleeve," while we point out that the prime
minister, although of necessity a man of war, was by nature a man of
peace. Indeed his name, Teyma, which signifies peace, had been given
him because of his pacific tendencies.
"What! would you not have me defend the Flatland name?" demanded
Grabantak, fiercely.
"No, I would have you defend only the Flatland property," replied the
blunt minister.
"And is not Puiroe my property?" growled Grabantak, referring to the
barren rock which was the cause of war.
"So is _that_ your property," said Teyma, picking up a stone, "and yet I
treat it thus!" (He tossed it contemptuously into the sea.) "Is that
worth Flatlander blood? would you kill me for _that_? shall Eskimo wives
and mothers weep, and children mourn and starve for a useless rock in
the sea."
"You always thwart me, Teyma," said Grabantak, trying to suppress a
burst of wrath, which he was well aware his fearless minister did not
mind in the least. "It is true this island is not worth the shake of a
puffin's tail; but if we allow the Poloe men to take it--"
"To keep it," mildly suggested Teyma, "they have long had it."
"Well, to keep it, if you will," continued the chief testily; "will not
other tribes say that the old name of the Flatlanders is dead, that the
war-spirit is gone, that they may come and attack us when they please;
for we cannot defend our property, and they will try to make us slaves?
What! shall Flatlanders become slaves? no never, never, _never_!" cried
Grabantak, furiously, though unconsciously quoting the chorus of a
well-known song.
"No, _never_," re-echoed Teyma with an emphatic nod, "yet there are many
steps between fighting for a useless rock, and being made slaves."
"Well then," cried Grabantak, replying to the first part of his
lieutenant's remark and ignoring the second, "we must fight to prove our
courage. As to losing many of our best men, of course we cannot help
that. Then we must kill, burn, and destroy right and left in Poloeland,
to prove our power. After that we will show the greatness of our
forbearance by letting our enemies alone. Perhaps we may even
condescend to ask them to become our friends. What an honour that would
be to them, and, doubtless, what a joy!"
"Grabantak," said Teyma with a look and tone of solemnity which
invariably overawed his chief, and made him uncomfortable, "you have
lived a good many years now. Did you ever make a friend of an enemy by
beating him?"
"Of course not," said the other with a gesture of impatience.
"Grabantak, you had a father."
"Yes," said the chief, with solemn respect.
"And _he_ had a father."
"True."
"And he, too, had a father."
"Well, I suppose he had."
"Of course he had. All fathers have had fathers back and back into the
mysterious Longtime. If not, where did our tales and stories come from?
There are many stories told by fathers to sons, and fathers to sons,
till they have all come down to us, and what do these stories teach us?
that all fighting is bad, except what _must_ be. Even what _must_ be is
bad--only, it is better than some things that are worse. Loss of life,
loss of country, loss of freedom to hunt, and eat, and sleep, are worse.
We must fight for these--but to fight for a bare rock, for a name, for
a coast, for a fancy, it is foolish! and when you have got your rock,
and recovered your name, and pleased your fancy, do the brave young men
that are dead return? Do the maidens that weep rejoice? Do the mothers
that pine revive? Of what use have been all the wars of Flatland from
Longtime till now? Can you restore the mountain-heaps of kayaks, and
oomiaks, and spears, and walrus-lines, from the smoke into which they
vanished! Can you recall the great rivers of whale-oil from the sea
into which they have been poured, or the blood of men from the earth
that swallowed it? Is not war _always_ loss, loss, loss, and _never_
gain? Why cannot we live at peace with those who will, and fight only
with those who insist on war."
"Go, Teyma, stop your mouth with blubber," said the chief, rising; "I am
weary of you. I tell you, Amalatok shall die; Puiroe shall be mine.
The tribes shall all learn to tremble at the name of Grabantak and to
respect the men of Flatland."
"Ay, and to love them too, I suppose," added Teyma with a facetious
sneer.
"Boo!" replied his chief, bringing the conversation to an abrupt close
by walking away.
In accordance with their chief's resolve, the Grabantak band embarked in
their kayaks next morning, the gale having moderated, and with the
intention of obtaining reinforcements, paddled back to Flatland, which
they reached in a couple of days.
On the voyage Leo confined himself strictly to the oars and paddles,
being unwilling to let the Eskimos into the secret of the kite, until he
could do so with effect, either in the way of adding to their respect
for the white man and his contrivances, or of making his escape.
Now, as has been said or hinted, although Grabantak's son, Koyatuk, was
a stout and tall man, he was not gifted with much brain. He possessed
even less of that substance than his father, whose energy and power of
muscle, coupled with indomitable obstinacy, enabled him to hold the
reins of government which were his by hereditary right. Besides being a
fearless man, Grabantak was respected as a good leader in war. But
Koyatuk had neither the energy of his father, nor his determination. He
was vacillating and lazy, as well as selfish. Hence he was not a
favourite, and when, after landing at Flatland, he endeavoured to renew
his claim to Oblooria, neither his father nor the people encouraged him.
The timid one was therefore left with Leo and Anders, who immediately
fitted up for her a separate screened-off apartment in the hut which was
assigned to them in the native village.
Even Koyatuk's mother did not befriend her son on this occasion. Merkut
had her own reasons for proving faithless to her spoilt boy, whom on
most occasions she favoured. Knowing his character well, the sturdy
wife of Grabantak had made up her mind that Koyatuk should wed a young
intelligent, and what you may call lumpy girl named Chukkee, who was
very fond of the huge and lazy youth, and who, being herself
good-natured and unselfish, would be sure to make him a good wife.
After one or two unavailing efforts, therefore, and a few sighs, the
heir-apparent to the throne of Flatland ceased to trouble Oblooria, and
devoted himself to his three favourite occupations--hunting, eating, and
repose.
"Misser Lo," whispered Anders, on the first night after landing, as they
busied themselves with the partition above referred to, "we 'scapes from
dis here land very easy."
"How, Anders?"
"W'y, you's on'y got wait for nort' vint, den up kite, launch boat,
an'--hup! away."
"True, lad, but I don't want to escape just yet."
"Not want to 'scape?"
"No. You see, Anders, we are now on very friendly terms with this
tribe, and it seems to me that if we were to remain for a time and
increase our influence, we might induce Grabantak to give up this war on
which he seems to have set his heart. I have great hopes of doing
something with Teyma. He is evidently a reasonable fellow, and has much
power, I think, with the chief--indeed with every one. Pity that he is
not to succeed Grabantak instead of that stupid Koyatuk. Besides, now I
am here I must explore the land if possible. It is a pity no doubt to
leave our friends, even for a short time, in ignorance of our fate, but
we can't help that at present. Light the lamp, Anders, and let's see
what we're about."
The summer was by that time so far advanced that the sun descended a
considerable way below the horizon each night, leaving behind a sweet
mellow twilight which deepened almost into darkness inside the Eskimo
huts. These latter, like those already described, were made of stone,
and the small openings that served for windows did not let in much light
at any time.
The hut which had been assigned by Grabantak to his prisoners--or
visitors, for as such he now seemed to regard them--was a large roomy
one, made chiefly of clay. It stood on a little mound a hundred yards
or so apart from the main village of Flatland, and was probably one of
the chief's private palaces. It was oval in form--like a huge oven--
about fifteen feet in diameter, and six feet in height. One-half of the
floor was raised about eight inches, thus forming the "breck," which
served for a lounge by day, and a couch by night. Its furniture of
skins, cooking-lamp, etcetera, was much the same as that of the Eskimo
huts already described, except that the low tunnel-shaped entrance was
very long--about twelve feet. Light was admitted by a parchment-covered
hole or window, with several rents in it, as well as by various
accidental holes in the roof.
When the lamp was lighted, and skins were spread on the breck, and Leo,
having finished the partition, was busy making entries in a note-book,
and Anders was amusing himself with a tobacco pipe--foolish man! and
Oblooria was devoting herself to the lamp, from which various charming
sounds and delicious smells emanated--as well as smoke--this northern
residence looked far more cheerful and snug than the luxurious dwellers
in civilised lands will readily believe.
"I wonder," said Leo, looking up from his book after a prolonged
silence, "I wonder what strange sounds are those I hear."
"P'r'aps it's de vint," said Anders, puffing a cloud from his lips in
sleepy contentment, and glancing upwards.
When he and Leo looked at the roof of the hut it shook slightly, as if
something had fallen on it.
"Strange," muttered Leo, reverting to his notebook, "it did not look
like wind when the sun went down. It must be going to blow hard."
After a few minutes of silence Leo again looked up inquiringly.
"Dere's anoder squall," said Anders.
"More like a sneeze than a squall. Listen; that is a queer pattering
sound."
They listened, but all was silent. After a minute or so they resumed
their occupations.
The sounds were, however, no mystery to those who were in the secret of
them. Knowing the extreme curiosity of his countrymen, Grabantak had
placed a sentinel over his guests' hut, with orders to let no one go
near it. The sentinel entered on his vigil with that stern sense of
duty-unto-death that is supposed to animate all sentinels. At first the
inhabitants of Flatland kept conscientiously away from the forbidden
spot, but as the shades of night toned down the light, some of them
could not resist drawing near occasionally and listening with distended
eyes, ears, and nostrils, as if they expected to drink in foreign sounds
at all these orifices. The sentinel grasped his spear, steeled his
heart, and stood in front of the door with a look of grand solemnity
worthy of the horse-guards.
At last, however, the sentinel's own curiosity was roused by the eager
looks of those--chiefly big boys--who drew ever nearer and nearer.
Occasional sounds from the hut quickened his curiosity, and the strange
smell of tobacco-smoke at last rendered it unbearable.
Slowly, sternly, as if it were part of his duty to spy, he moved to the
torn window and peeped in. He was fascinated at once of course. After
gazing for five minutes in rapt admiration, he chanced to withdraw his
face for a moment, and then found that nine Eskimos had discovered nine
holes or crevices in the hut walls, against which their fat faces were
thrust, while at least half-a-dozen others were vainly searching for
other peep-holes.
A scarcely audible hiss caused the rapt nine to look up. A terrible
frown and a shake of the official spear caused them to retire down the
slope that led to the hut.
This was the unaccountable "squall" that had first perplexed Leo and his
comrade.
But like tigers who have tasted blood, the Flatlanders could not now be
restrained.
"Go!" said the sentinel in a low stern voice to the retreating
trespassers, whom he followed to the foot of the slope. "If you come up
again I will tell Grabantak, who will have you all speared and turned
into whale-buoys."
The boys did not appear to care much for the threat. They were
obviously buoyed up with hope.
"Oh! do, _do_ let us peep! just once!" entreated several of them in
subdued but eager tones.
The sentinel shook his obdurate head and raised his deadly spear.
"We will make no noise," said a youth who was the exact counterpart of
Benjamin Vane in all respects except colour and costume--the first being
dirty yellow and the latter hairy.
The sentinel frowned worse than ever.
"The Kablunets," said another of the band, entreatingly, "shall hear
nothing louder than the falling of a snow-flake or a bit of eider-down."
Still the sentinel was inexorable.
The Eskimos were in despair.
Suddenly Benjy's counterpart turned and fled to the village on light and
noiseless toe. He returned immediately with a rich, odorous, steaming
piece of blubber in his hand. It was a wise stroke of policy. The
sentinel had been placed there without any reference to the fact that he
had not had his supper. He was ravenously hungry. Can you blame him
for lowering his spear, untying his eyebrows, and smiling blandly as the
held out his hand?
"Just one peep, and it is yours," said the counterpart, holding the
morsel behind him.
"My life is in danger if I do," remonstrated the sentinel.
"Your supper is in danger if you don't," said the counterpart.
It was too much for him. The sentinel accepted the bribe, and,
devouring it, returned with the bribers on tiptoe to the hut, where they
gazed in silent wonder to their hearts' content.
"Well, that beats everything," said Leo, laying down his book and
pencil, "but I never did hear a gale that panted and snorted as this one
does. I'll go out and have a look at it."
He rose and crawled on hands and knees through the tunnel. The spies
rolled off the hut with considerable noise and fled, while the sentinel
resuming his spear and position, tried to look innocent.
While he was explaining to Anders why he was there, Grabantak himself
walked up, accompanied by his lieutenant. They were hospitably
entertained, and as Oblooria had by that time prepared a savoury mess,
such as she knew the white men loved, the chief and Teyma condescended
to sup with their captive-guests.
Leo had not with him the great cooking machine with which his uncle had
effected so much in Poloeland, but he had a tin kettle and a couple of
pannikins, with some coffee, sugar, and biscuit, which did good service
in the way of conciliating, if not surprising, the chief of Flatland.
Both he and his lieutenant, moreover, were deeply interested in Anders's
proceedings with the pipe.
At first they supposed he was conducting some religious ceremony, and
looked on with appropriate solemnity, but, on being informed of the
mistake, Grabantak smiled graciously and requested a "whiff." He
received one, and immediately made such a hideous face that Anders could
not restrain a short laugh, whereupon the chief hit him over the head
with his empty pannikin, but, after frowning fiercely, joined in the
laugh.
Leo then began to question the chief about the land over which he ruled,
and was told that it was a group of islands of various sizes, like the
group which belonged to Amalatok, but with more islands in it; that most
of these islands were flat, and covered with lakes, large and small, in
which were to be found many animals, and birds as numerous almost as the
stars.
"Ask him from what direction these birds come," said Leo, pulling out
his pocket-compass and expecting that Grabantak would point to the
south; but the chief pointed to the north, then to the south, then to
the east, and then to the west!
"What does he mean? I don't understand him," said Leo.
"The birds come from _everywhere_--from all round. They come here to
breed," said the chief, spreading his hands round him and pointing in
all directions. "Then, when the young are strong and the cold season
begins, they spread the wing and go away there--to _every_ place--all
round."
"Anders," said Leo impressively, "do you know I think we have actually
arrived at the immediate region of the North Pole! What the chief says
almost settles the question. This, you see, must be the warmest place
in the Polar regions; the central spot around the Pole to which
migratory birds flock from the south. If voyagers, crossing the Arctic
circle at _all_ parts, have observed these birds ever flying _north_, it
follows that they _must_ have some meeting-place near the Pole, where
they breed and from which they depart in autumn. Well, according to
Grabantak, _this_ is the meeting-place, therefore _this_ must be near
the Pole! How I wish uncle were here!"
Leo had been more than half soliloquising; he now looked up and burst
into a laugh, for the interpreter was gazing at him with an expression
of blank stupidity.
"You's kite right, Missr Lo," he said at last, with a meek smile, "kite
right, no doubt; only you's too clibber for _me_."
"Well, Anders, I'll try not to be quite so clibber in future; but ask
Grabantak if he will go with me on an expedition among these islands. I
want very much to examine them all."
"Examine them all!" repeated the chief with emphasis when this was
translated; "tell the young Kablunet with the hard fist, that the
sunless time would come and go, and the sun-season would come again,
before he could go over half my lands. Besides, I have more important
work to do. I must first go to Poloeland, to kill and burn and destroy.
After that I will travel with Hardfist."
Hardfist, as the chief had styled him in reference to his late
pugilistic achievements, felt strongly inclined to use his fists on
Grabantak's skull when he mentioned his sanguinary intentions, but
recalling Alf's oft-quoted words, "Discretion is the better part of
valour," he restrained himself. He also entered into a long argument
with the savage, in the hope of converting him to peace principles, but
of course in vain. The chief was thoroughly bent on destroying his
enemies.
Then, in a state of almost desperate anxiety, Leo sought to turn him
from his purpose by telling him about God the Father, and the Prince of
Peace, and, pulling out his Bible, began to read and make Anders
interpret such passages of the Word as bore most directly on his
subject. While acting in this, to him, novel capacity as a teacher of
God's Word, Leo more than once lifted up his heart in brief silent
prayer that the Spirit might open the heart of the savage to receive the
truth. The chief and his lieutenant listened with interest and
surprise. Being savages, they also listened with profound respect to
the young enthusiast, but Grabantak would not give up his intention. He
explained, however, that he meant first to go to the largest and most
central island of his dominions, to make inquiry there of the Man of the
Valley what would be the best time to set out for the war.
"The Man of the Valley!" asked Leo, "who is that?"
"He is an Eskimo," replied Grabantak, with a sudden air of solemnity in
his manner, "whose first forefather came in the far past longtime, from
nobody knows where; but this first forefather never had any father or
mother. He settled among the Eskimos and taught them many things. He
married one of their women, and his sons and daughters were many and
strong. Their descendants inhabit the Great Isle of Flatland at the
present day. They are good and strong; great hunters and warriors. The
first forefather lived long, till he became white and blind. His power
and wisdom lay in a little strange thing which he called `buk.' How it
made him strong or wise no one can tell, but so it was. His name was
Makitok. When he died he gave _buk_ to his eldest son. It was wrapped
up in a piece of sealskin. The eldest son had much talk with his father
about this mystery-thing, and was heard to speak much about the
Kablunets, but the son would never tell what he said. Neither would he
unwrap the mystery-thing, for fear that its power might escape. So he
wrapped it up in another piece of sealskin, and gave it to his eldest
son, telling him to hand it down from son to son, along with the name
Makitok. So _buk_ has grown to be a large bundle now, and no one
understands it, but every one has great reverence for it, and the
Makitok now in possession is a great mystery-man, very wise; we always
consult him on important matters."
Here was food for reflection to Leo during the remainder of that night,
and for many hours did his sleepless mind puzzle over the mystery of
Makitok, the Man of the Valley.
This sleepless condition was, not unpleasantly, prolonged by the sounds
of animal life that entered his oven-like dwelling during great part of
the night. Evidently great numbers of the feathered tribes were moving
about, either because they meant to retire at dissipatedly late, or had
risen at unreasonably early, hours. Among them he clearly distinguished
the musical note of the long-tailed duck and the harsh scream of the
great northern diver, while the profound calmness of the weather enabled
him to hear at intervals the soft blow and the lazy plash of a white
whale, turning, it might be, on his other side in his water-bed on the
Arctic Sea.
Following the whale's example, Leo turned round at last, buried his face
in a reindeer pillow, and took refuge in oblivion.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
A GLORIOUS REGION CONTEMPLATED, AND A GLORIOUS CHASE PLANNED.
Leo did not slumber long. Very early in the morning he awoke with that
sensation about him which told that at that time further repose was not
attainable. He therefore rose, donned the few garments which he had put
off on lying down, crept through his tunnel, and emerged into the open
air.
And what a vision of glorious beauty met his enraptured eyes, while the
fresh sea-breeze entered, like life, into his heaving chest! It was
still a profound calm. Earth, air, water, sky, seemed to be uniting in
a silent act of adoration to their great Creator, while the myriad
creatures therein contained were comparatively quiet in the enjoyment of
His rich and varied bounties. It seemed as if the hour were too early
for the strife of violent passions--too calm for the stirrings of hatred
or revenge. Everything around spoke only of peace. Sitting down with
his back to a sun-bathed rock, and his face to the silver sea, Leo drew
out his Bible and proceeded to read the records of the Prince of Peace.
As he lifted his eyes from the words, "marvellous are thy works, and
that my soul knoweth right well," to the vision of beauty and life that
lay before him, Leo made the words and the thought, for the first time,
_his own_.
The prospect embraced innumerable islands of all sizes, studding like
gems the gently-heaving sea. Over these, countless millions of
sea-birds flew or sailed to and fro; some with the busy fluttering of
activity, as if they had something to do and a mind to do it; others
loitering idly on the wing, or dipping lightly on the wave, as if to bid
their images good-morning. Burgomaster, yellow-legged, and pink-beaked
gulls, large and small, wheeled in widening circles round him.
Occasional flocks of ptarmigan, in the mixed brown and white plumage of
summer, whirred swiftly over him and took refuge among the rocky heights
of the interior, none of which heights rose above three hundred feet.
Eider-ducks, chattering kittiwakes, and graceful tern, auks, guillemots,
puffins, geese, and even swans, swarmed on the islands, far and near,
while seals, whales, narwhals, dolphins, and grampuses, revelled in the
sea, so that the Arctic world appeared almost overcharged with animal
life.
Of course the noise of their cries and evolutions would have been great
had not distance lent enchantment to sound as well as view. To Leo
there seemed even a sort of restfulness in the voices of the innumerable
wild-fowl. They were so far off, most of them, that the sounds fell on
his ear like a gentle plaint, and even the thunderous plash of the great
Greenland whale was reduced by distance to a ripple like that which fell
on the shore at his feet.
While he was meditating, Anders joined him and responded heartily to his
salutation, but Anders was not in a poetical frame of mind that morning.
His thoughts had been already turned to an eminently practical subject.
"I'm tole," said he, seating himself beside our hero, "dat Grabantak
holds a talk 'bout fighting."
"And a council of war," said Leo. "I know what the result of that will
be. When leaders like Grabantak and Amalatok decide for war, most of
the people follow them like a flock of sheep. Although most of the
people never saw this miserable island--this Puiroe--and know, and care,
nothing about it, you'll see that the Flatlanders will be quite
enthusiastic after the council, and ready to fight for it to the bitter
end. A very bitter end it is, indeed, to see men and women make fools
of themselves about nothing, and be ready to die for the same! Will
Grabantak allow us to be present at the council, think you?"
"Ho yis. He send me to say you muss come."
Leo was right. Nothing could surpass the impetuosity of Grabantak,
except the anxiety of many of the Flatlanders to be led by the nose.
Was not the point in question one of vital importance to the wellbeing
of the community--indeed of the whole Arctic world? Teyma mildly asked
them what _was_ the point in question, but not a soul could tell, until
Grabantak, starting up with furious energy, manufactured a "point," and
then explained it in language so intricate, yet so clear, that the whole
council stood amazed at their never having seen it before in that light,
and then said, more or less emphatically, "There, that's what we thought
exactly, only we could not state it so well as the great Grabantak!"
After this there was no chance for Teyma and his party--and he had a
party, even among northern savages,--who believed in men working hard at
their own affairs and letting other people alone, as far as that was
possible. But the peace-party in Arctic land was in a minority at that
time, and the council broke up with shouts for Grabantak, and
denunciations of death and destruction to the men of Poloeland.
But things do not always turn out as men--even wise men--arrange them.
From that day, during the brief period of preparation for the setting
out of an expedition to visit Makitok of Great Isle, Leo received daily
visits from the Prime Minister, who was deeply interested and
inquisitive about the strange "_thing_," as he styled the Bible, which
told the Kablunets about God and the Prince of Peace. Of course Leo was
willing and happy to give him all the information he desired, and, in
doing so, found a new and deep source of pleasure.
Teyma was not the man to hide his light under a bushel. He was a
fearless outspoken counsellor, and not only sought to advance the
pacific views he held, by talking to the men of his own party in
private, but even propounded them in public to Grabantak himself, who,
however, could not be moved, though many of his men quietly changed
sides.
With all this Teyma was loyal to his chief. Whatever he did was in the
way of fair and open argument. He was too loyal to help Leo when he
made a certain proposal to him one day.
"Teyma," said Leo, on that occasion, "you have been very friendly to me.
Will you do me a great favour? Will you send a young man in a kayak to
Poloeland with a message from me to my people? They must think I am
dead. I wish them to know that I am here, and well."
"No," replied Teyma promptly; "that would let the men of Poloe know that
we talk of going to attack them. I do not love war. I wish to let our
enemies alone, but if my chief decides for war, it is my duty to help,
not to frustrate him. If we go to war with Poloeland, we must take the
men of Poloe by surprise. That could not be if a young man went with
your message."
Leo saw the force of this, and respected Teyma's disinterested loyalty
to his chief; but felt inclined to argue that, fidelity to the best
interests of his country stood higher than loyalty to a chief. He
refrained, however, from pressing the matter at that time.
Not so Anders. When that worthy saw that Teyma would not act, and that
Leo from some inexplicable reason hesitated, he quietly took the matter
into his own hands, and so wrought on the feelings of a weak but amiable
youth of the tribe, that he prevailed on him to carry a message to the
enemy, explaining to him earnestly that no evil, but the reverse, would
result from his mission; that the Kablunets were men of peace, who would
immediately come over to Flatland and put everything right in a
peaceable and satisfactory manner.
"Tell the white men," said Anders, "that we are prisoners in Flatland--
alive and well--but they must come to help us quickly."
No difficulty was experienced in sending the messenger away. There was
unlimited personal freedom in Flatland. Young men frequently went off
to hunt for days together at a time, without saying anything about their
intentions, unless they chose; so the secret messenger set out. Thus
the interpreter lighted the fuse of a mine which was eminently
calculated to blow up the plans of Grabantak.
But another fuse had been lighted which, in a still more effectual
manner, overturned the plans of that warlike chief.
It chanced at this time that the Flatlanders ran short of meat. Their
habit was to go off on a grand hunt, gather as much meat as they could,
and then come home to feast and rejoice with their families until
scarcity again obliged them to hunt. Of course there were many among
them whose natural activity rebelled against this lazy style of life,
but the exertions of these did not suffice to keep the whole tribe
supplied. Hence it came to pass, that they often began to be in want
while in the midst of plenty. A grand hunt was therefore organised.
They were tired, they said, of ducks and geese and swans. They wanted a
change from seals and bears, walruses and such small fry. Nothing short
of a whale would serve them!
Once stirred up to the point of action, there was no lack of energy
among these northern Eskimos. Kayaks, lines, and spears were got ready,
and oomiaks were launched; for women and children loved to see the
sport, though they did not join in it. Everywhere bustle and excitement
reigned, and the hubbub was not a little increased by the agitated dogs,
which knew well what was a-foot, and licked their lips in anticipation.
Of course Leo and Anders prepared to go and see the fun. So did
Oblooria. It was arranged that Leo and the latter were to go in the
india-rubber boat.
That vessel had been the source of deep, absorbing interest and
curiosity to the natives. When our travellers landed, it had been
conveyed to the side of the hut assigned them, and laid gently on the
turf, where it was stared at by successive groups all day. They would
have stayed staring at it all night, if they had not been forbidden by
Grabantak to approach the Kablunets during the hours of repose. Leo
explained its parts to them, but made no reference to its expansive and
contractile properties. He also launched it and paddled about to
gratify the curiosity of his new friends, but did not show them the
kite, which, folded and in its cover, he had stowed away in the hut.
One night, fearing that the sun might injure the boat, Leo had squeezed
the air out of it, folded it, and stowed it away in the hut beside the
kite. The astonishment of the natives, when they came out next morning
to stare and wonder, according to custom, was very great. Leo resolved
to make a mystery of it, looked solemn when spoken to on the point, and
gave evasive replies.
When, however, the time came for setting off on this grand hunt, he
carried his boat, still bundled up in skins, down to the water's edge,
where kayaks and oomiaks in hundreds lay ready to be launched.
The news spread like wild-fire that the Kablunet was going to "act
wonderfully!"
Every man, woman, and child in the place hurried to the spot.
"It is destroyed!" exclaimed Grabantak, sadly, when he saw the boat
unrolled, flat and empty, on the sand.
We shall not describe the scene in detail. It is sufficient to say that
Leo did not disappoint the general expectation. He did indeed "act
wonderfully," filling the unsophisticated savages with unbounded
surprise and admiration, while he filled the boat with air and launched
it. He then stepped into it with Anders, gallantly lifted Oblooria on
board, and, seizing the oars, rowed gently out to sea.
With shouts of delight the Eskimos jumped into their kayaks and
followed. Their admiration was, however, a little calmed by the
discovery that the kayaks could beat the Kablunet boat in speed, though
the women in their oomiaks could not keep up with it. There was no
emulation, however; Leo carefully refrained from racing.
He had been supplied with a long lance and a couple of spears, to which
latter were attached, by thongs of walrus hide, two inflated sealskins
to act as buoys. These Leo had been previously instructed how to use.
He took the kite with him on this occasion, without, however, having
much expectation of being able to use it, as the calm still prevailed.
It was folded of course, and fixed in its place in the bow. The natives
thought it must be a spear or harpoon of strange form.
It was not long before a whale was sighted. There were plenty of these
monsters about, some coming lazily to the surface to blow, others lying
quite still, with their backs out of the water as if sunning themselves,
or asleep.
Soon the spirit of the hunter filled each Eskimo bosom. What appeared
to be an unusually large whale was observed on the horizon. Kablunets,
india-rubber boats, and all less important things, were forgotten for
the moment; paddles were plied with energy, and the chase began.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
IN WHICH A GREAT HUNT IS DESCRIBED, A WAR EXPEDITION FRUSTRATED, AND A
HERO ENNOBLED.
Now, in a fit of unwise ambition, Anders the interpreter resolved to
signalise himself, and display his valour on the occasion of this hunt.
He borrowed a kayak of one of the natives, and went as an independent
hunter. Leo, being quite able to row his boat alone, with Oblooria to
steer, did not object.
The whale which had been selected was a thorough-going Arctic monster of
the largest size, nearly a hundred feet long, which, while on his
passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific through Behring Straits, had
paused for a nap off the isles of Flatland.
The fleet of kayaks converged towards the fish like a flock of locusts.
Despite his utmost efforts, Leo could not do more than keep up in rear
of the hunters, for the sharp shuttle-like kayaks shot like arrows over
the smooth sea, while his clumsier boat required greater force to propel
it.
In a few minutes those Eskimos who were best paddlers crept ahead of the
rest. Grabantak and his son took the lead, whether because of right or
because of superior strength it was hard to say. Anders, who was a
powerful fellow, and an expert canoeman, kept close alongside of them.
Not content with this, he attempted to pass them; but they saw his
intention, put on what sporting men call a "spurt," and in a few seconds
left him several yards behind.
On nearing their victim, Grabantak and Koyatuk checked their speed and
got their spears ready. A few minutes later and a dozen of the
followers were up and prepared to act, but they all held back--all
except the excitable Anders--while the chief and his son glided
cautiously towards the fish, one on either side. Suddenly each grasped
a spear and drove it with all the force of both arms deep into the
whale's flesh. It was a rude awaking! Of course the fish dived
instantly. In doing so it flung its tail on high with a superb sweep,
sending tons of water, and the impatient Anders, into the air.
The interpreter came down in a cataract of spray, with his kayak doubled
up but himself uninjured, while the Eskimos greeted the event with a
shout of alarm. This changed into laughter when it was found that the
ambitious man was none the worse for his toss; and the women in one of
the oomiak; paddling quickly up, hauled the drenched and crestfallen man
out of the sea. They also picked up his spear with the sealskin buoy
attached. Giving him the place of honour in the bow, they put the spear
in his hand, and bade him keep up heart and do better next time.
Meanwhile the whale, having got over its first surprise, and feeling the
two large sealskin-floats a somewhat heavy as well as unusual drag, soon
came again to the surface, not far from the spot where Leo lay on his
oars, an amused as well as interested spectator of the scene.
"Ho!" shrieked Oblooria, whose eager little heart was easily excited.
She pointed to the fish, and gazed at Leo with blazing eyes.
You may be sure our hero did not lose time. The india-rubber boat
leaped over the water as if it had suddenly been endowed with life. The
smart little woman carefully arranged the spear and buoy ready to hand.
Several of the kayaks which chanced to be nearest to the whale rushed
towards it like sword-fish; but they had no chance, Leo being so near.
He did not check his speed on reaching the fish, but allowed the boat to
run tilt on its back. The smooth india-rubber glided up on the slippery
surface till more than half its length was on the creature's back. It
was thus checked without a shock--probably unfelt by the whale.
Leo seized the spear, leaped up, and, with both hands, drove it deep
into the flesh, just as the chief and his son had done. The force with
which he drove it was so great that it thrust the boat back into the
water. This was fortunate, for it enabled them narrowly to escape the
vortex that was instantly made by the diving of the now enraged monster;
a few back-strokes of the oars took them out of the sea of foam left
behind.
The masterly manner in which this was done called forth shouts of
admiration from the entire fleet, and it greatly surprised Leo himself,
for it was the first time he had attempted to use the harpoon.
"It _must_ have been chance," he muttered to himself as he again lay on
his oars awaiting the whale's reappearance, "a sort of happy accident.
I feel convinced I could not do it so well a second time."
The fish took a longer dive on this occasion, and when he retained to
the surface for another breath of air, was at a considerable distance
from all parts of the fleet. The instant he was seen, however, every
paddle flashed into the sea, and the kayaks darted away in pursuit.
They soon came up with their victim, and another spear, with its
accompanying sealskin buoy, was fixed in its side. Down it went a third
time, and reappeared in quite an opposite direction from that in which
it had been looked for.
This uncertainty in the movements of the whale was a matter of small
moment to the occupiers of the light kayaks, but it told rather heavily
on Leo in his clumsier boat. He therefore resolved to paddle gently
about, take things easy, watch the progress of the chase, and trust to
the chapter of accidents giving him another chance.
"You see, Oblooria," he said in the Eskimo tongue, which he was picking
up rapidly, "it's of no use my pulling wildly about in all directions,
blowing myself for nothing; so we'll just hang off-and-on here and watch
them."
As this remark called for no direct reply, Oblooria merely smiled--
indeed she more than smiled--but said nothing. It is just possible that
Leo's rendering of the phrase "off-and-on" into Eskimo may have sounded
ridiculous.
However this may be, the two sat there for some time, absorbed and
silent spectators of the chase.
"How long will they take to kill it?" asked Leo when he saw Grabantak
thrust somewhere about the thirty-fifth spear into the victim.
"All day," answered Oblooria.
"All day!" repeated Leo in surprise.
"If they could lance him far in," said the girl, "he would die soon, but
his flesh is thick and his life is deep down."
Leo relapsed into silence. The idea of remaining a mere spectator all
day was distasteful to his active mind and body. He had almost made up
his mind to ask one of the natives to lend him a kayak and change
places, when a puff of wind sent a few cats-paws over the hitherto
glassy sea.
He looked quickly in the direction whence it came, and observed a blue
line on the horizon. It was a coming breeze. Ere long it touched them,
blowing gently, indeed, but steadily. A glance upwards showed that it
was steadier and stronger in the upper regions, and blew towards the
south-east, in which direction the chase was being prosecuted with
unflagging activity.
"If there was only enough," muttered Leo, "to take the kite up, I'd soon
be alongside of the whale; come, I'll try. Lend a hand, Oblooria."
The Eskimo girl had, during her voyage to Flatland, become so well
acquainted with the operation of extending and setting up the kite, that
she was able to lend effective assistance. In less than ten minutes it
was expanded, and although Leo was nearly pulled into the water before
he got fair hold of the regulator, while Oblooria was thrown down by an
eccentric whisk of the tail, they managed at last to get it fairly over
their heads, and soon sent it shooting upwards into the stronger air
current above. Of course they began to rush over the sea at a pace that
would have quickly left the best kayak in the fleet far astern, but Leo
did not wish to act precipitately. He sat down in the bow to attend to
the regulator, while Oblooria held the steering-oar.
"Keep her away a bit, Oblooria; starboard--I mean to _that_ side. So,
we won't spoil their sport too soon."
He pulled the regulator as he spoke, and eased the pace, while the
Eskimo girl, with eyes glittering from expectancy and hope, turned the
boat off to the right.
Leo seemed to be meditative at first, as if uncertain how to proceed.
Soon this condition of mind passed. He let go the regulator, and,
taking up the long whale lance with which he had been provided, examined
its blade and point. The full force of the breeze filled the kite and
carried them along at not less than ten miles an hour.
Hitherto the Eskimos had been so intent on their prey that they had no
eyes for anything else. Again and again had the whale been pierced by
the stinging harpoons, and the number of inflated sealskins which he was
obliged by that time to drag down into the deep was so great that his
dives had become more frequent and much shorter. It was obvious that
the perseverance of his little foes would in the end overcome his mighty
strength. It was equally evident, however, that there was still a great
deal of fighting power left in him, and as some of the harpoons had come
out while several of the floats had broken loose, there was just a
possibility that he might yet escape if not vigorously followed up.
Suddenly one of the Eskimos was seen to drop his paddle and point with
both hands to the sky, uttering at the same time a cry of surprise and
alarm. There was no mistaking the cry. Every paddle ceased to dip, and
every eye was turned to the sky. Of course every voice gave forth a
howl!
"A mystery!" shouted Grabantak.
"An evil spirit!" cried Koyatuk.
"A new kind of bird!" roared Teyma.
At that moment a cry louder than ever arose. Leo's boat was observed
coming like a narwhal over the sea, with the foam flying from its bows!
The "new kind of bird," so they at first imagined, had let down a long
thin tail, caught the boat of the white man, and was flying away with
it!
Into the midst of them the boat rushed. They dashed aside right and
left. Leo was standing in the bow. He moved not, spoke not, looked at
no one, but stood up, bent a little forward, with a stern frown on his
brow, his lips compressed, and the long lance held level in both hands
as if in the act of charging.
"Catch hold of him!" yelled Grabantak as they flew past. As well might
they have tried to catch a comet!
"Steer a little to the left," said Leo in a low tone.
Obedient, on the instant, the girl made a sharp stroke with the oar.
"Steady--so. Now, Oblooria, hold on tight for your life!"
They were going straight at the whale. Leo did not dare to think of the
result of his intended attack. He could not guess it. He hoped all
would be well. He had no time to think of _pros_ and _cons_. They were
close to the victim. On it, now, sliding over its back, while the sharp
lance entered its body with the full momentum of the charge,--deep down
into its vitals! Blood flew out like a waterspout. The lance was torn
from Leo's grasp as he fell backwards. Oblooria leaped up, in wild
excitement, dropped her oar, and clapped her hands. At that instant the
stout traction-line snapped, and the boat remained fast, while the kite
descended in a series of helpless gyrations into the sea. Next moment
the whale went down in a convulsive struggle, and the boat, with its
daring occupants, was whelmed in a whirlpool of blood and foam.
No cry proceeded from the Eskimos during this stupendous attack. They
seemed bereft alike of voice and volition, but, on beholding the closing
catastrophe, they rushed to the rescue with a united roar.
Before they could gain the spot, Leo was seen to emerge from the deep,
dripping with pink and white foam like a very water-god. Oblooria
followed instantly, like a piebald water-nymph. The boat had not been
upset, though overwhelmed, and they had held on to it with the tenacity
of a last hope.
Looking sharply round, as he gasped and swept the water from his eyes,
Leo seized the oars, which, being attached to the boat, were still
available, and rowed with all his might away from the approaching
Eskimos as if he were afraid of being caught by them. They followed
with, if possible, increased surprise at this inexplicable conduct.
They made up to him; some even shot ahead of him. Poor Leo was not a
moment too soon in reaching his kite, for these people were about to
transfix it with their whale-harpoons, when he dashed up and ordered
them to desist.
Having rescued the miserable-looking thing from the sea and hastily
folded it, he placed it in the bow. Then breathing freely, he began to
look about him just as the whale came again to the surface in a dying
flurry. It so chanced that it came up right under Grabantak's kayak,
which it tossed up end over end. This would not have been a serious
matter if it had not, the next moment, brought its mighty tail down on
the canoe. It then sheered off a hundred yards or so, leaped half its
length out of the water, and fell over on its side with a noise like
thunder and died.
Every one turned to the place where the chief's kayak lay a complete
wreck on the water. Its owner was seen swimming beside it, and was soon
hauled into one of the women's oomiaks. Evidently he had been severely
hurt, but he would not admit the fact. With characteristic dignity he
sternly ordered the fleet to lay hold of the whale and make for the
shore.
"Tell him his arm is broken," said Leo that evening to Anders, after
examining the chief's hurts in the privacy of his own hut, "and let him
know that I am a medicine-man and will try to cure him."
Grabantak received the information with a look of anger.
"Then," said he, "Amalatok must live a little longer, for I cannot fight
him with a broken arm. Go," he added, looking full at Leo with
something like admiration, "go, you have done well to-day; my young men
want to make your nose blue."
The peremptory nature of the chief's command forbade delay. Leo was
therefore obliged to creep out of his hut, wondering intensely, and not
a little uncomfortably, as to what having his nose made blue could mean.
He was quickly enlightened by Anders, who told him that the most
successful harpooner in a whale hunt is looked on as a very great
personage indeed, and is invariably decorated with what may be styled
the Eskimo order of the Blue Ribbon.
Scarcely had he received this information, when he was seized by the
young men and hurried into the midst of an expectant circle, where he
submitted with a good grace to the ceremony. A youth advanced to him,
made a few complimentary remarks, seized him by the right ear, and, with
a little wet paint, drew a broad blue line across his face over the
bridge of his nose. He was then informed that he had received the
highest honour known to the Eskimos of the far north, and that, among
other privileges, it gave him the right of marrying two wives if he felt
disposed to do so! Accepting the honour, but declining the privilege,
Leo expressed his gratitude for the compliment just paid him in a neat
Eskimo speech, and then retired to his hut in search of much-needed
repose, not a little comforted by the thought that the chief's broken
arm would probably postpone the threatened war for an indefinite period.
That night ridiculous fancies played about his deerskin pillow, for he
dreamed of being swallowed by a mad whale, and whisked up to the sky by
a kite with a broken arm and a blue stripe across its nose!
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
TELLS OF A WARLIKE EXPEDITION AND ITS HAPPY TERMINATION.
While these stirring events were taking place in Flatland, our friends
in the Island of Poloe continued to fish and hunt, and keep watch and
ward against their expected enemies in the usual fashion; but alas for
the poor Englishmen! All the light had gone out of their eyes; all the
elasticity had vanished from their spirits. Ah! it is only those who
know what it is to lose a dear friend or brother, who can understand the
terrible blank which had descended on the lives of our discoverers,
rendering them, for the time at least, comparatively indifferent to the
events that went on around them, and totally regardless of the great
object which had carried them so far into those regions of ice.
They could no longer doubt that Leo and his companions had perished, for
they had searched every island of the Poloe group, including that one on
which Leo and the Eskimos had found temporary refuge. Here, indeed, a
momentary gleam of hope revived, when Alf found the spent
cartridge-cases which his brother had thrown down on the occasion of his
shooting for the purpose of impressing his captors, and they searched
every yard of the island, high and low, for several days, before
suffering themselves to relapse into the old state of despair. No
evidence whatever remained to mark the visit of the Eskimos, for these
wily savages never left anything behind them on their war-expeditions,
and the storm had washed away any footprints that might have remained in
the hard rocky soil.
Amalatok--who, with his son and his men, sympathised with the Englishmen
in their loss, and lent able assistance in the prolonged search--gave
the final death-blow to their hopes by his remarks, when Captain Vane
suggested that perhaps the lost ones had been blown over the sea to
Flatland.
"That is not possible," said Amalatok promptly.
"Why not? The distance is not so very great."
"The distance is not very great, that is true," replied Amalatok. "If
Lo had sailed away to Flatland he might have got safely there, but
Blackbeard surely forgets that the storm did not last more than a few
hours. If Lo had remained even a short time on this island, would not
the calm weather which followed the storm have enabled him to paddle
back again to Poloe? No, he must have thought the storm was going to be
a long one, and thinking that, must have tried, again to face it and
paddle against it. In this attempt he has perished. Without doubt Lo
and Unders and Oblooria are in the land of spirits."
Eskimos of the far north, unlike the red men of the prairies, are prone
to give way to their feelings. At the mention of the timid one's name,
Oolichuk covered his face with his hands and wept aloud. Poor Alf and
Benjy felt an almost irresistible desire to join him. All the fun and
frolic had gone completely out of the latter, and as for Alf, he went
about like a man half asleep, with a strange absent look in his eyes and
a perfect blank on his expressionless face. No longer did he roam the
hills of Poloeland with geological hammer and box. He merely went
fishing when advised or asked to do so, or wandered aimlessly on the
sea-shore. The Captain and Benjy acted much in the same way. In the
extremity of their grief they courted solitude.
The warm hearts of Chingatok and the negro beat strong with sympathy.
They longed to speak words of comfort, but at first delicacy of feeling,
which is found in all ranks and under every skin, prevented them from
intruding on sorrow which they knew not how to assuage.
At last the giant ventured one day to speak to Alf. "Has the Great
Spirit no word of comfort for His Kablunet children?" he asked.
"Yes, yes," replied Alf quickly. "He says, `Call upon me in the time of
trouble and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.'"
"Have you not called?" asked Chingatok with a slight look of surprise.
"No; I say it to my shame, Chingatok. This blow has so stunned me that
I had forgotten my God."
"Call now," said the giant earnestly. "If He is a good and true God, He
must keep His promise."
Alf did call, then and there, and the Eskimo stood and listened with
bowed head and reverent look, until the poor youth had concluded his
prayer with the name of Jesus.
The negro's line of argument with Benjy was different and
characteristically lower toned.
"You muss keep up de heart, Massa Benjy. Nobody nebber knows wot may
come for to pass. P'r'aps Massa Leo he go to de Nort Pole by hisself.
He was allers bery fond o' takin' peepil by surprise. Nebber say die,
Massa Benjy, s'long's der's a shot in de locker."
At any other time Benjy would have laughed at the poor cook's efforts to
console him, but he only turned away with a sigh.
Two days after that the Eskimos of Poloe were assembled on the beach
making preparations to go off on a seal hunt.
"Is that a whale on the horizon or a walrus!" asked the Captain,
touching Chingatok on the arm as they stood on the edge of the sea,
ready to embark.
"More like a black gull," said Benjy, "or a northern diver."
Chingatok looked long and earnestly at the object in question, and then
said with emphasis--"A kayak!"
"One of the young men returning from a hunt, I suppose," said Alf, whose
attention was aroused by the interest manifested by the surrounding
Eskimos.
"Not so," said Amalatok, who joined the group at the moment, "the man
paddles like a man of Flatland."
"What! one of your enemies?" cried the Captain, who, in his then state
of depression, would have welcomed a fight as a sort of relief.
Evidently Butterface shared his hopes, for he showed the whites of his
eyes and grinned amazingly as he clenched his horny hands.
"Yes--our enemies," said Amalatok.
"The advanced guard of the host," said the Captain, heartily; "come, the
sooner we get ready for self-defence the better."
"Yis, dat's de word," said the negro, increasing his grin for a moment
and then collapsing into sudden solemnity; "we nebber fights 'cep' in
self-defence--oh no--_nebber_!"
"They come not to attack," said Chingatok quietly. "Flatlanders never
come except in the night when men sleep. This is but one man."
"Perhaps he brings news!" exclaimed Benjy, with a sudden blaze of hope.
"Perhaps," echoed Alf, eagerly.
"It may be so," said Chingatok.
It was not long before the question was set at rest. The approaching
kayak came on at racing speed. Its occupant leaped on shore, and,
panting from recent exertion, delivered his thrilling message.
"Prisoners in Flatland," said the Captain at the council of war which
was immediately summoned, "but alive and well. Let us be thankful for
that good news, anyhow; but then, they ask us to help them, _quickly_.
That means danger."
"Yes, danger!" shouted Oolichuk, who, at the thought of Oblooria in the
hands of his foes, felt an almost irresistible desire to jump at some of
the youths of his own tribe, and kill them, by way of relieving his
feelings.
"Rest content, Oolichuk," cried Amalatok, with a horrible grinding of
his teeth; "we will tear out their hearts, and batter in their skulls,
and--"
"But," resumed the Captain hastily, "I do not think the danger so great.
All I would urge is that we should not delay going to their rescue--"
"Ho! huk! hi!" interrupted the whole band of assembled warriors, leaping
up and going through sundry suggestive actions with knives and spears.
"Does my father wish me to get the kayaks ready?" asked Chingatok, who,
as usual, retained his composure.
"Do, my son. Let plenty of blubber be stowed in them, and war-spears,"
said the old chief; "we will start at once."
The promptitude with which these northern Eskimos prepared for war might
be a lesson to the men of civilised communities. We have already said
that the sun had by that time begun to set for a few hours each day.
Before it had reached the deepest twilight that night a hundred and
fifty picked warriors, with their kayaks and war material, were skimming
over the sea, led by the fiery old chief and his gigantic but
peace-loving son. Of course Captain Vane, Benjy, Alphonse Vandervell,
and Butterface accompanied them, but none of the women were allowed to
go, as it was expected that the war would be a bloody one. These,
therefore, with the children, were left in charge of a small body of the
big boys of the tribe, with the old men.
The weather was fine, the sea smooth, and the arms of the invading host
strong. It was not long before the sea that separated Poloe Island from
Flatland was crossed.
Towards sunset of a calm and beautiful day they sighted land. Gently,
with noiseless dip of paddle, they glided onward like a phantom fleet.
That same evening Leo and Oblooria sat by the couch of Grabantak,
nursing him. The injury received by the chief from the whale had thrown
him into a high fever. The irritation of enforced delay on his fiery
spirit had made matters worse, and at times he became delirious. During
these paroxysms it required two men to hold him down, while he indulged
in wild denunciations of his Poloe foes, with frequent allusions to
dread surgical operations to be performed on the body of Amalatok--
operations with which the Royal College of Surgeons is probably
unacquainted. Leo, whose knowledge of the Eskimo tongue was rapidly
extending, sought to counteract the patient's ferocity by preaching
forgiveness and patience. Being unsuccessful, he had recourse to a
soporific plant which he had recently discovered. To administer an
overdose of this was not unnatural, perhaps, in a youthful doctor.
Absolute prostration was not the precise result he had hoped for, but it
_was_ the result, and it had the happy effect of calming the spirit of
Grabantak and rendering him open to conviction.
Fortunately the Flatlanders were on the look-out when the men of Poloe
drew near. One of the Flatland braves was returning from a fishing
expedition at the time, saw the advancing host while they were yet well
out at sea, and came home at racing speed with the news.
"Strange that they should come to attack _us_," said Teyma to Leo at the
council of war which was immediately called. "It has always, up to this
time, been our custom to attack _them_."
"Not so strange as you think," said Anders, who now, for the first time,
mentioned the sending of the message to Poloeland.
Black looks were turned on the interpreter, and several hands wandered
towards boots in search of daggers, when the prime minister interfered.
"You did not well, Unders, to act without letting us know," he said with
grave severity. "We must now prepare to meet the men of Poloe, whether
they come as friends or foes. Let the young men arm. I go to consult
with our chief."
"You must not consult with Grabantak," said Leo firmly. "He lies limp.
His backbone has no more strength than a piece of walrus line. His son
must act for him at present."
"Boo!" exclaimed one of the warriors, with a look of ineffable contempt,
"Koyatuk is big enough, but he is brainless. He can bluster and look
fierce like the walrus, but he has only the wisdom of an infant puffin.
No, we will be led by Teyma."
This sentiment was highly applauded by the entire council, which
included the entire army, indeed the whole grown-up male part of the
nation; so that Koyatuk was deposed on the spot, as all incompetents
ought to be, and one of the best men of Flatland was put in his place.
"But if I am to lead you," said the premier firmly, "it shall be to
peace, not to war!"
"Lead us to what you like; you have brains," returned the man who had
previously said "boo!" "We know not what is best, but we can trust
you."
Again the approval was unanimous.
"Well, then, I accept the command until my chief's health is restored,"
said Teyma, rising. "Now, the council is at an end. To your huts,
warriors, and get your spears ready; and to your lamps, girls. Prepare
supper for our warriors, and let the allowance of each be doubled."
This latter command caused no small degree of surprise, but no audible
comment was made, and strict obedience was rendered.
Leo returned to Grabantak's hut, where he found that fiery chief as limp
as ever, but with some of the old spirit left, for he was feebly making
uncomfortable references to the heart, liver, and other vital organs of
Amalatok and all his band.
Soon afterwards that band came on in battle array, on murderous deeds
intent. The Flatlanders assembled on the beach to receive them.
"Leave your spears on the ground behind you," shouted Teyma to his host;
"advance to the water's edge, and at my signal, throw up your arms."
"They have been forewarned," growled Amalatok, grinding his teeth in
disappointment, and checking the advance of his fleet by holding up one
hand.
"No doubt," said Captain Vane, who, with Benjy, Alf, and Butterface, was
close to the Poloe chief in one of the india-rubber boats, "no doubt my
young countryman, having sent a message, expected us. Surely--eh!
Benjy, is not that Leo standing in front of the rest with another man?"
The Captain applied his binocular telescope to his eyes as he spoke.
"Yes, it's him--thank God! and I see Anders too, quite plainly, and
Oblooria!"
"Are they bound hand and foot?" demanded Amalatok, savagely.
"No, they are as free as you are. And the Eskimos are unarmed,
apparently."
"Ha! that is their deceit," growled the chief. "The Flatlanders were
always sly; but they shall not deceive us. Braves, get ready your
spears!"
"May it not be that Leo has influenced them peacefully, my father?"
suggested Chingatok.
"Not so, my son," said the chief savagely. "Grabantak was always sly as
a white fox, fierce as a walrus, mean as a wolf, greedy as a black gull,
contemptible as--"
The catalogue of Grabantak's vices was cut short by the voice of Teyma
coming loud and strong over the sea.
"If the men of Poloe come as friends, let them land. The men of
Flatland are about to feed, and will share their supper. If the men of
Poloe come as foes, still I say let them land. The braves of Flatland
have sharpened their spears!"
Teyma threw up both hands as he finished, and all his host followed
suit.
For a moment or two the Poloese hesitated. They still feared deception.
Then the voice of Leo was heard loud and clear.
"Why do you hesitate? come on, uncle, supper's getting cold. We've been
waiting for you a long time, and are all very hungry!"
This was received with a shout of laughter by the Englishmen, high above
which rose a wild cheer of joy from Benjy. Amalatok swallowed his
warlike spirit, laid aside his spear, and seized his paddle. Chingatok
gave the signal to advance, and, a few minutes later, those warriors of
the north--those fierce savages who, probably for centuries, had been
sworn hereditary foes--were seated round the igloe-lamps, amicably
smearing their fingers and faces with fat, as they feasted together on
chops of the walrus and cutlets of the polar bear.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
THE GREAT DISCOVERY.
Friendly relations having been established between the Flatlanders and
the Poloese, both nations turned their attention to the arts of peace.
Among other things, Captain Vane and his party devoted themselves once
more, with renewed energy, to the pursuit of discovery and scientific
investigation. An expedition was planned to _Great Isle_, not now for
the purpose of consulting Makitok, the oracle, as to the best time for
going to war, but to gratify the wishes of Captain Vane, who had the
strongest reason for believing that he was in the immediate
neighbourhood of the Pole.
"Blackbeard says he must be very near nothing now," observed Chingatok
to Anders the day after their arrival.
"Near _nothing_!" exclaimed Teyma, who was sitting close by.
Of course the giant explained, and the premier looked incredulous.
"I wish I had not left my sextant behind me in the hurry of departure,"
said the Captain that evening to Leo. "But we came off in such hot
haste that I forgot it. However, I'll ask Amalatok to send a young man
back for it. I'm persuaded we cannot now be more than a few miles
distant from our goal."
"I quite agree with you, uncle, for when I looked at the north star last
night it seemed to me as directly in the zenith as it was possible to
imagine."
"Ay, lad; but the unaided eye is deceptive. A few miles of difference
cannot be distinguished by it. When did the Pole star become visible?"
"Only last night; I fancied I had made it out the night before, but was
not quite sure, the daylight, even at the darkest hour, being still too
intense to let many of the stars be seen."
"Well, we shall see. I am of opinion that we are still between twenty
and forty miles south of the Pole. Meanwhile, I'll induce Teyma to get
up an expedition to the island of this Maki-what?"
"Tok," said Leo; "Makitok. Everything almost ends in _tok_ or _tuk_
hereabouts."
"Who, and what, is this man?" asked the Captain.
"No one seems to know precisely. His origin has been lost in the mists
of antiquity. His first forefather--so tradition styles him--seems,
like Melchisedec, to have had no father or mother, and to have come from
no one knows where. Anyhow he founded a colony in _Great Isle_, and
Makitok is the present head of all the families."
Leo then explained about the mystery-thing called _buk_, which was
wrapped up in innumerable pieces of sealskin.
"Strange," said the Captain, "passing strange. All you tell me makes me
the more anxious to visit this man of the valley. You say there is no
chance of Grabantak being able to take the reins of government again for
a long time?"
"None. He has got a shake that will keep him helpless for some time to
come. And this is well, for Teyma will be ready to favour any project
that tends towards peace or prosperity."
Now, while preparations for the northern expedition were being made, our
friend Oolichuk went a-wooing. And this is the fashion in which he did
it.
Arraying himself one day, like any other lovesick swain, in his best, he
paid a ceremonial visit to Oblooria, who lived with Merkut, the wife of
Grabantak, in a hut at the eastern suburb of the village. Oolichuk's
costume was simple, if not elegant. It consisted of an undercoat of
bird-skins, with the feathers inwards; bearskin pantaloons with the hair
out; an upper coat of the grey seal; dogskin socks and sealskin boots.
That young Eskimo did not visit his bride empty-handed. He carried a
bundle containing a gift--skins of the young eider-duck to make an
undergarment for his lady-love, two plump little auks with which to
gratify her palate, and a bladder of oil to wash them down and cause her
heart to rejoice.
Good fortune favoured this brave man, for he met Oblooria at a lonely
part of the shore among the boulders.
Romance lies deep in the heart of an Eskimo--so deep that it is not
perceptible to the naked eye. Whatever the Poloe warrior and maiden
felt, they took care not to express in words. But Oolichuk looked
unutterable things, and invited Oblooria to dine then and there. The
lady at once assented with a bashful smile, and sat down on a boulder.
Oolichuk sat down beside her, and presented the bundle of
under-clothing.
While the lady was examining this with critical eyes, the gentleman
prepared the food. Taking one of the auks, he twisted off its head, put
his forefinger under the integuments of the neck, drew the skin down
backwards, and the bird was skinned. Then he ran his long thumb-nail
down the breast and sliced off a lump, which he presented to the lady
with the off-hand air of one who should say, "If you don't want it you
may let it alone!"
Raw though the morsel was, Oblooria accepted it with a pleased look, and
ate it with relish. She also accepted the bladder, and, putting it to
her lips, pledged him in a bumper of oil.
Oolichuk continued this process until the first auk was finished. He
then treated the second bird in the same manner, and assisted his
lady-love to consume it, as well as the remainder of the oil.
Conversation did not flow during the first part of the meal, but, after
having drunk deeply, their lips were opened and the feast of reason
began. It consisted chiefly of a running commentary by the man on the
Kablunets and their ways, and appreciative giggles on the part of the
woman; but they were interrupted at the very commencement by the sudden
appearance of one of the Kablunets sauntering towards them.
They rose instantly and rambled away in opposite directions, absorbed in
contemplation--the one of the earth, and the other of the sky.
Three days after that, Captain Vane and his party approached the shores
of _Great Isle_. It was low like the other islands of Flatland, but of
greater extent, insomuch that its entire circumference could not be seen
from its highest central point. Like the other islands it was quite
destitute of trees, but the low bush was luxuriantly dense, and filled,
they were told, with herds of reindeer and musk-oxen. Myriads of
wild-fowl--from the lordly swan to the twittering sandpiper--swarmed
among its sedgy lakelets, while grouse and ptarmigan were to be seen in
large flocks on its uplands. The land was clothed in mosses and grasses
of the richest green, and decked with variegated wild-flowers and
berries.
The voyagers were received with deep interest and great hospitality by
the inhabitants of the coast, who, it seemed, never quarrelled with the
neighbouring islanders or went to war.
Makitok dwelt in the centre of the island. Thither they therefore went
the following day.
It was afternoon when they came to the valley in which dwelt the
angekok, or, as Red Indians would have styled him, the medicine-man.
It was a peculiar valley. Unlike other vales it had neither outlet or
inlet, but was a mere circular basin or depression of vast extent, the
lowest part of which was in its centre. The slope towards the centre
was so gradual that the descent was hardly perceived, yet Captain Vane
could not resist the conviction that the lowest part of the vale must be
lower than the surface of the sea.
The rich luxuriance of herbage in Great Isle seemed to culminate in this
lovely vale. At the centre and lowest part of the valley, Makitok, or
rather Makitok's forefathers, had built their dwelling. It was a hut,
resembling the huts of the Eskimos. No other hut was to be seen. The
angekok loved solitude.
Beside the hut there stood a small truncated cone about fifteen feet
high, on the summit of which sat an old white-bearded man, who intently
watched the approaching travellers.
"Behold--Makitok!" said Teyma as they drew near.
The old man did not move. He appeared to be over eighty years of age,
and, unlike Eskimos in general, had a bushy snow-white beard. The thin
hair on his head was also white, and his features were good.
Our travellers were not disappointed with this strange recluse, who
received them with an air of refinement and urbanity so far removed from
Eskimo manners and character, that Captain Vane felt convinced he must
be descended from some other branch of the human family. Makitok felt
and expressed a degree of interest in the objects of the expedition
which had not been observed in any Eskimo, except Chingatok, and he was
intelligent and quick of perception far before most of those who
surrounded him.
"And what have you to say about yourself?" asked the captain that
evening, after a long animated conversation on the country and its
productions.
"I have little to say," replied the old man, sadly. "There is no
mystery about my family except its beginning in the long past."
"But is not _all_ mystery in the long past?" asked the Captain.
"True, my son, but there is a difference in _my_ mystery. Other Eskimos
can trace back from son to father till they get confused and lost, as if
surrounded by the winter-fogs. But when I trace back--far back--I come
to one man--my _first father_, who had no father, it is said, and who
came no one knows from where. My mind is not confused or lost; it is
stopped!"
"Might not the mystery-bundle that you call _buk_ explain matters?"
asked Alf.
When this was translated, the old man for the first time looked
troubled.
"I dare not open it," he said in an undertone, as if speaking to
himself. "From father to son we have held it sacred. It must grow--
ever grow--never diminish!"
"It's a pity he looks at it in that light," remarked Leo to Benjy, as
they lay down to sleep that night. "I have no doubt that the man whom
he styles first father wrapped up the thing, whatever it is, to keep it
safe, not to make a mystery of it, and that his successors, having begun
with a mistaken view, have now converted the re-wrapping of the bundle
by each successive heir into a sacred obligation. However, we may
perhaps succeed in overcoming the old fellow's prejudices. Good-night,
Benjy."
A snore from Benjy showed that Leo's words had been thrown away, so,
with a light laugh, he turned over, and soon joined his comrade in the
land of dreams.
For two weeks the party remained on _Great Isle_, hunting, shooting,
fishing, collecting, and investigating; also, we may add, astonishing
the natives.
During that period many adventures of a more or less exciting nature
befell them, which, however, we must pass over in silence. At the end
of that time, the youth who had been sent for the Captain's sextant and
other philosophical instruments arrived with them all--thermometers,
barometers, chronometers, wind and water gauges, pendulums, etcetera,
safe and sound.
As the instruments reached _Cup Valley_, (so Benjy had styled Makitok's
home), in the morning, it was too early for taking trustworthy
observations. The Captain therefore employed the time in erecting an
observatory. For this purpose he selected, with Makitok's permission,
the truncated cone close to the recluse's dwelling. Here, after taking
formal possession and hoisting the Union Jack, he busied himself, in a
state of subdued excitement, preparing for the intended observations.
"I'll fix the latitude and longitude in a few hours," he said.
"Meantime, Leo, you and Benjy had better go off with the rifle and fetch
us something good for dinner."
Leo and Benjy were always ready to go a-hunting. They required no
second bidding, but were soon rambling over the slopes or wading among
the marshes of the island in pursuit of game.
Leo carried his repeater; Benjy the shot-gun. Both wore native Eskimo
boots as long as the leg, which, being made of untanned hide, are, when
soaked, thoroughly waterproof. (See Note.)
Oolichuk and Butterface carried the game-bags, and these were soon
filled with such game as was thought best for food. Sending them back
to camp with orders to empty the bags and return, Leo and Benjy took to
the uplands in search of nobler game. It was not difficult to find.
Soon a splendid stag was shot by Leo and a musk-ox by Benjy.
Not long after this, the bag-bearers returned.
"You shoots mos' awful well, Massas," said Butterface; "but it's my
'pinion dat you bof better go home, for Captain Vane he go mad!"
"What d'you mean, Butterface?" asked Leo.
"I mean dat de Capp'n he's hoed mad, or suffin like it, an' Massa Alf
not mush better."
A good deal amused and surprised by the negro's statement, the two
hunters hastened back to Makitok's hut, where they indeed found Captain
Vane in a state of great excitement.
"Well, uncle, what's the news?" asked Leo; "found your latitude higher
than you expected?"
"Higher!" exclaimed the Captain, seizing his nephew by both hands and
shaking them. "Higher! I should think so--couldn't be _higher_.
There's neither latitude nor longitude here, my boy! I've found it!
Come--come up, and I'll show you the exact spot--the _North Pole
itself_!"
He dragged Leo to the top of the truncated cone on which he had pitched
his observatory.
"There, look round you," he cried, taking off his hat and wiping the
perspiration from his brow.
"Well, uncle, where is it?" asked Leo, half-amused and half-sceptical.
"Where! why, don't you see it? No, of course you don't. You're looking
_all round it_, lad. Look down,--down at your feet. Leonard
Vandervell," he added, in sudden solemnity, "you're _on it_! you're
standing on the North Pole _now_!"
Leo still looked incredulous.
"What I you don't believe? Convince him, Alf."
"Indeed it is true," said Alf; "we have been testing and checking our
observations in every possible manner, and the result never varies more
than a foot or two. The North Pole is at this moment actually under our
feet."
As we have now, good reader, at last reached that great _point_ of
geographical interest which has so long perplexed the world and agitated
enterprising man, we deem this the proper place to present you with a
map of Captain Vane's discoveries.
"And so," said Benjy with an injured look, "the geography books are
right after all; the world _is_ `a little flattened at the Poles like an
orange.' Well, I never believed it before, and I don't believe _yet_
that it's like an orange."
"But it is more than flattened, Benjy," said Leo; "don't you see it is
even hollowed out a little, as if the spinning of the world had made a
sort of whirlpool at the North Pole, and no doubt there is the same at
the South."
Chingatok, who was listening to the conversation, without of course
understanding it, and to whom the Captain had made sundry spasmodic
remarks during the day in the Eskimo tongue, went that night to
Amalatok, who was sitting in Makitok's hut, and said--
"My father, Blackbeard has found it!"
"Found what, my son?--his nothing--his Nort Pole?"
"Yes, my father, he has found his Nort Pole."
"Is he going to carry it away with him in his soft wind-boat?" asked the
old chief with a half-humorous, half-contemptuous leer.
"And," continued Chingatok, who was too earnest about the matter to take
notice of his father's levity, "his Nort Pole is _something_ after all!
It is not nothing, for I heard him say he is standing on it. No man can
stand on nothing; therefore his Nort Pole which he stands on must be
something."
"He is standing on my outlook. He must not carry _that_ away," remarked
Makitok with a portentous frown.
"Boh!" exclaimed Amalatok, rising impatiently. "I will not listen to
the nonsense of Blackbeard. Have I not heard him say that the world
stands on nothing, spins on nothing, and rolls continually round the
sun? How can anything spin on nothing? And as to the sun, use your own
eyes. Do you not see that for a long time it rolls round the world, for
a long time it rolls in a circle above us, and for a long time it rolls
away altogether, leaving us all in darkness? My son, these Kablunets
are ignorant fools, and you are not much better for believing them.
Boo! I have no patience with the nonsense talk of Blackbeard."
The old chief flung angrily out of the hut, leaving his more philosophic
son to continue the discussion of the earth's mysteries with Makitok,
the reputed wizard of the furthest possible north.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note. The writer has often waded knee-deep in such boots, for hours at
a time, on the swampy shores of Hudson's Bay, without wetting his feet
in the slightest degree.
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.
TELLS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, OF A NOTABLE DISCOVERY.
Soon after this, signs of approaching winter began to make their
appearance in the regions of the North Pole. The sun, which at first
had been as a familiar friend night and day, had begun to absent himself
not only all night, but during a large portion of each day, giving sure
though quiet hints of his intention to forsake the region altogether,
and leave it to the six months' reign of night. Frost began to render
the nights bitterly cold. The birds, having brought forth and brought
up their young, were betaking themselves to more temperate regions,
leaving only such creatures as bears, seals, walruses, foxes, wolves,
and men, to enjoy, or endure, the regions of the frigid zone.
Suddenly there came a day in October when all the elemental fiends and
furies of the Arctic circle seemed to be let loose in wildest revelry.
It was a turning-point in the Arctic seasons.
By that time Captain Vane and his party had transported all their
belongings to Great Isle, where they had taken up their abode beside old
Makitok. They had, with that wizard's permission, built to themselves a
temporary stone hut, as Benjy Vane facetiously said, "on the very top of
the North Pole itself;" that is, on the little mound or truncated cone
of rock, in the centre of the Great Isle, on which they had already set
up the observatory, and which cone was, in very truth, as nearly as
possible the exact position of that long-sought-for imaginary point of
earth as could be ascertained by repeated and careful observations, made
with the best of scientific instruments by thoroughly capable men.
Chingatok and his father, with a large band of their followers and some
of their women, had also encamped, by permission, round the Pole, where,
in the intervals of the chase, they watched, with solemn and unflagging
interest, the incomprehensible doings of the white men.
The storm referred to began with heavy snow--that slow, quiet,
down-floating of great flakes which is so pleasant, even restful, in its
effect on the senses. At first it seemed as if a golden haze were mixed
with the snowfall, suggesting the idea that the sun's rays were
penetrating it.
"Most beautiful!" said Leo, who sat beside the Captain and his friends
on the North Pole enjoying the view through the open doorway of the hut,
and sipping a cup of coffee.
"It reminds me," said Alf, "of Buzzby's lines:--
"`The snowflakes falling softly
In the morning's golden prime,
Suggestive of a gentle touch
And the silent flight of Time.'"
"Behold a more powerful reminder of the flight of Time!" said Benjy,
pointing to the aged Makitok, who, with white beard and snow-besprinkled
person, came slowly towards them like the living embodiment of "Old
Father Christmas."
"Come," said Leo, hastening to assist the old man, "let me help you up
the Pole."
Leo, and indeed all the party, had fallen in with Benjy's humour, and
habitually referred thus to their mound.
"Why comes the ancient one here through the snow?" said Captain Vane,
rising and offering Makitok his seat, which was an empty packing-case.
"Surely my friend does not think we would forget him? Does not Benjy
always carry him his morning cup of coffee when the weather is too bad
for him to come hither?"
"Truly," returned the old man, sitting down with a sigh, "the Kablunets
are kind. They never forget. Bunjee never fails to bring the cuffy,
though he does sometimes pretend to forget the shoogre, till I have
tasted it and made a bad face; then he laughs and remembers that the
shoogre is in his pouch. It is his little way. But I come not to-day
for cuffy; I come to warn. There is danger in the air. Blackbeard must
take his strange things," (thus he referred to the philosophical
instruments), "away from here--from--ha!--from Nort Pole, and put them
in my hut, where they will be safe."
The Captain did not at once reply. Turning to his companions he said--
"I see no particular reason to fear this `danger in the air.' I'll go
and consult Chingatok or his father on the point."
"The ancient one, as you call him," said Benjy, "seems to be growing
timid with age."
"The youthful one," retorted the Captain, "seems to be growing insolent
with age. Go, you scamp, and tell Amalatok I want to speak with him."
Whatever faults our young hero had, disobedience was not one of them.
He rose promptly, and soon returned with the chief of Poloeland.
Amalatok confirmed the wizard's opinions, and both opinions were still
more powerfully confirmed, while he was speaking, by a gust of wind
which suddenly came rushing at them as if from all points of the
compass, converging at the Pole and shooting upwards like a whirlwind,
carrying several hats of the party with volumes of the now wildly
agitated snow up into the sky.
There was no room for further hesitation.
"Why, Massa Bunjay, I thought my woolly scalp he hoed up 'long wid my
hat!" cried Butterface, leaping up in obedience to the Captain's hurried
order to look sharp and lend a hand.
In a short time all the instruments were removed from the observatory
and carefully housed in Makitok's hut. Even while they were thus
engaged the storm burst on them with excessive violence. The snow which
had been falling so softly, was caught up by the conflicting winds and
hurled high into the air, or driven furiously over the valley in all
directions, for the gale did not come from any fixed quarter; it rose
and swooped and eddied about, driving the snow-drift now here, now
there, and shrieking as if in wild delight at the chaotic havoc it was
permitted to play.
"Confusion worse confounded!" gasped Leo, as he staggered past Alf with
the last load on his shoulder.
"And yet there must be order _everywhere_," observed Chingatok, when,
after all were safely housed in Makitok's hut that evening, he heard Leo
repeat that sentiment.
"Why do you think so, Chingatok?" asked the Captain with some curiosity.
"Because there is order even in my hut," returned the giant. "Pingasuk,
(referring to his wife), keeps all things in perfect order. Is the
World-Maker less wise than Pingasuk? Sometimes, no doubt, when Pingasuk
is cooking, or arranging, things may seem in disorder to the eye of my
little boy Meltik and the small one, (referring to baby), but when
Meltik and the small one grow older and wiser, they will see that it is
not so."
While Chingatok was speaking, a gust of wind more furious than ever
struck the hut and shook it to its foundations. At the same time a loud
rumbling sound was heard outside. Most of the men leaped up, caught
hold of spears or knives, and rushed out. Through the driving drift
they could just see that the observatory, which was a flimsy structure,
had been swept clean away, and that the more solid hut was following it.
Even as they gazed they saw its roof caught up, and whirled off as if
it had been a scroll of paper. The walls fell immediately after, and
the stones rolled down the rocky cone with a loud rattling, which was
partially drowned by the shrieking of the tempest.
For three days the storm lasted. During that time it was almost
impossible to show face in the open air. On the night of the third day
the fury of the wind abated. Then it suddenly became calm, but when
Butterface opened the door, and attempted to go out, he found himself
effectually checked by a wall of snow. The interior of the hut was
pitch dark, and it was not until a lamp had been lighted that the party
found they were buried alive!
To dig themselves out was not, however, a difficult matter. But what a
scene presented itself to their view when they regained the upper air!
No metamorphosis conceived by Ovid or achieved by the magic lantern; no
pantomimic transformation; no eccentricity of dreamland ever equalled
it! When last seen, the valley was clothed in all the rich luxuriance
of autumnal tints, and alive with the twitter and plaintive cry of
bird-life. Now it was draped in the pure winding-sheet of winter, and
silent in the repose of Arctic death. Nothing almost was visible but
snow. Everything was whelmed in white. Only here and there a few of
the sturdier clumps of bushes held up their loads like gigantic
wedding-cakes, and broke the universal sameness of the scene. One raven
was the only living representative of the birds that had fled. It
soared calmly over the waste, as if it were the wizard who had wrought
the change, and was admiring its work.
"Winter is upon us fairly now, friends," said Captain Vane as he
surveyed the prospect from the Pole, which was itself all but buried in
the universal drift, and capped with the hugest wedding-cake of all; "we
shall have to accommodate ourselves to circumstances, and prepare for
the campaign."
"I suppose the first thing we shall have to do is to build a
snow-house," said Benjy, looking ruefully round, for, as usual, he was
depressed by first appearances.
"Just so, Benjy; and the sooner we go to work the better."
Now, the reader must not hastily conclude that we are about to inflict
on him or her a detailed narrative of a six months' residence at the
North Pole. We have no such fell design. Much though there is to
tell,--much of suffering, more of enjoyment, many adventures, numerous
stirring incidents, and not a few mishaps--we shall pass over the most
of it in total silence, and touch only on those points which are worthy
of special notice.
Let us leap, then, into the very middle of the Arctic winter. It is
continuously dark now. There is no day at all at the Pole; it is night
all round. The last glimmer of the departing sun left them months ago;
the next glimmer of his return will not reach them for months to come.
The northern Eskimos and their English visitors were well aware of that,
nevertheless there was nothing of gloom or depressed spirits among them.
They were too busy for that. Had not meat to be procured, and then
consumed? Did not the procuring involve the harnessing of dogs in
sledges, the trapping of foxes and wolves, the fighting of walruses, the
chasing of polar bears; and did not the consuming thereof necessitate
much culinary work for the women, much and frequent attention and labour
on the part of the whole community, not to mention hours, and sometimes
days, of calm repose?
Then, as to light, had they not the Aurora Borealis, that mysterious
shimmering in the northern sky which has puzzled philosophers from the
beginning of time, and is not unlikely to continue puzzling them to the
end? Had they not the moon and the stars, which latter shone with a
brilliancy almost indescribable, and among them the now doubly
interesting Pole star, right overhead, with several new and gorgeous
constellations unknown to southern climes?
Besides all this, had not Captain Vane his scientific investigations,
his pendulum experiments, his wind-gauging, his ozone testing, his
thermometric, barometric, and chronometric observations, besides what
Benjy styled his kiteometric pranks? These last consisted in attempts
to bring lightning down from the clouds by means of a kite and cord, and
in which effort the Captain managed to knock himself down, and well-nigh
shattered the North Pole itself in pieces!
Moreover, had not Leo to act the part of physician and surgeon to the
community? a duty which he fulfilled so well that there never had been
before that time such a demand for physic in Flatland, and, it is
probable, there never will be so many sick people there again. In
addition to this, Leo had to exercise his marvellous powers as a
huntsman. Benjy, of course, played his wonted _role_ of mischief-maker
and jack-of-all-trades to the entire satisfaction of everybody,
especially on that great occasion when he succeeded in killing a polar
bear single-handed, and without the aid of gun or spear or any lethal
weapon whatever;--of which great event, more hereafter. Anders, the
southern Eskimo, made himself generally agreeable, and Butterface became
a prime favourite, chiefly because of his inexhaustible fund of fun and
good humour, coupled with his fine musical qualities.
We have not said much on this latter point hitherto, because we have
been unwilling to overwhelm the reader with too sudden a disclosure of
that marvellous magazine of power which was latent in our band of
heroes; but we feel it to be our duty now to state that the negro sang
his native melodies with such pathos that he frequently reduced,
(perhaps we should say elevated), the unsophisticated Eskimos to floods
of tears, and sometimes to convulsions of laughter. As, at Benjy's
suggestion, he sometimes changed his moods abruptly, the tears often
mingled with the convulsions, so as to produce some vivid illustrations
of Eskimo hysteria.
But Butterface's strong point was the flute! No one who had not
witnessed it could adequately conceive the poutings of thick red lips
and general contortions of black visage that seemed necessary in order
to draw the tones out of that simple instrument. The agonies of
expression, the hissing of wind, and the turning up of whites of large
black eyes,--it is past belief! The fruitless efforts of the Eskimos to
imitate him were as nothing to the great original, and their delight at
the sound was only equalled by their amazement at the sight.
Alf assisted the Captain scientifically and otherwise. Of course he was
compelled, during the long winter, to lay aside his geological hammer
and botanical box; but, then, had he not the arrangement and naming of
his specimens? His chief work, however, was to act the unwonted, and,
we may add, unexpected work of a lawgiver.
This duty devolved on him thus:
When Grabantak recovered health--which he was very long in doing--his
spirit was so far subdued that he agreed--somewhat sulkily, it is true--
to all that his prime minister had done while he held the reins of
government. Then he was induced to visit Great Isle, where he was
introduced to his mortal foe Amalatok, whom he found to be so much a man
after his own heart that he no longer sighed for the extraction of his
spinal marrow or the excision of his liver, but became a fast friend,
and was persuaded by Alf to agree to a perpetual peace. He also took a
great fancy to Chingatok, who begged of Alf to read to the chief of
Flatland some of the strange and new ideas contained in his little book.
Alf willingly complied, and for hours these northern savages sat in rapt
attention listening to the Bible story.
"My son," said Grabantak one evening to Chingatok, "if we are henceforth
to live in peace, why not unite and become one nation?"
"Why not?" echoed Chingatok.
When Amalatok and Makitok heard the question propounded, they also said,
"Why not?" and, as nobody objected, the thing was settled off-hand then
and there.
"But," said the prime minister of Flatland, starting a difficulty, "who
is to be _greatest_ chief?"
Amalatok, on whose mind the spirit of Christianity had been gradually
making an impression, said promptly, "Let Grabantak be chief. He is
wise in council and brave in war."
Grabantak had instantly jumped to the conclusion that _he_ ought to be
_greatest_ chief, and was about to say so, when Amalatok's humility
struck him dumb. Recovering himself he replied--
"But there is to be no mere war! and I have been a warrior. No, let
Amalatok be great chief. He is old, and wisdom lies with age."
"I am not so sure of _that_!" muttered Captain Vane to himself in
English; then to the giant in Eskimo, "What says Chingatok?"
"May I speak, my father?" said the giant, dutifully, to Amalatok.
"You may speak, my son."
"Then," continued Chingatok, "I would advise that there should be three
chiefs, who shall be equal--my father, Grabantak, and Makitok. Let
these consult about our affairs. Let the people appoint twelve men to
hold council with them, and what the most of them agree to shall be
done."
After some further talk this compromise was agreed to.
"But the laws of Poloeland and those of Flatland are different," said
Amalatok, starting another objection. "We must have the same laws."
"My brother chief is wise," said Grabantak. "Let us have new laws, and
let that wise young Kablunet, Alf, make them."
"Both my brother chiefs are wise," said Makitok. "Let it be done, and
let him take the laws out of the little thing that speaks to him."
(Thus they referred to the Bible, having no word in their language by
which to name it.)
Great was the surprise of Alf at the honour and labour thus thrust upon
him, but he did not shrink from it. On the contrary, he set to work at
once with notebook and pencil, and set down the two "Great
Commandments:" "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind;" and, "Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself," as the first law in the new code. He set down as
the second the golden rule, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto
you, do ye even so to them."
Proceeding from these as a basis, he worked his way gradually down the
code till he had embraced nearly all the possibilities of Eskimo life--a
work which kept him busy all the winter, and was not quite finished when
"time and tide" obliged him and his companions to quit the land.
Now, not long after this eventful council, Benjy Vane burst rather
irreverently into his father's hut with excited looks, holding what
looked like an old book in his hand.
"What have you got there, lad?"
"I've got it at last, father! You know I've been trying to wheedle old
Makitok into letting me open his mysterious bundle. Well, I prevailed
on him to let me do it this afternoon. After unrolling bundle after
bundle, I came at last to the centre, and found that it contained
nothing whatever but this book, wrapped up in an old cotton
pocket-handkerchief. The book is _very_ old, father. See, 1611 on the
first page. I did not take time to glance at more than that, but
brought it straight away to you."
"Hand it over, Benjy," said the Captain eagerly. "This accounts for the
mysterious `buk' that we've heard so much about."
He received the little book with a look of tender curiosity and opened
it carefully, while Leo, Alf, and his son looked on over his shoulder.
"1611, sure enough," he said, "though not very legible. The characters
are queer, too. Try, Alf, what you can make of it."
Alf took the book. As he did so old Makitok entered, somewhat anxious
as to what they were doing with his treasure. Being quieted by the
Captain with a draught of cold tea, and made to sit down, the
examination of the book proceeded.
"It is much worn, and in places is almost illegible, as might be
expected," said Alf. "Let me see. `Coast of Labrador, (something
illegible here), 1611. This day the mutineers took possess ... (can't
make out what follows), and put Captain Hudson, with his son, myself,
the carpenter, and five sick men into the dinghy, casting us, (blank),
with some, (blank), and one cask of water. I begin this diary to-day.
It may never be seen by man, but if it does fall into the hands of any
one who can read it, he will do a service to ... by conveying ...
England.--John Mackintosh, _seaman_.'
"Can it be possible?" said Alf, looking up from the relic with an
expression of deep solemnity, "that we have found a record of that great
Arctic explorer, the unfortunate Henry Hudson?"
"It seems like it, Alf; read on," said Leo, eagerly.
We will not further trouble the reader with Alf's laboured deciphering
of this curious and ancient notebook, which was not only stained and
worn, but in many places rudely torn, as if its owner had seen much hard
service. We will merely run over a few of the chief points which it
cleared up. Unfortunately, it threw no additional light on the fate of
poor Hudson. Many of the first pages of the book which no doubt treated
of that, had been destroyed and the legible portion began in the middle
of a record of travelling with a sledge-party of Eskimos to the north of
parallel 85 degrees 20 minutes--a higher northern latitude, it will be
observed, than had been reached by any subsequent explorer except
Captain Vane. No mention being made of English comrades, the
presumption remained that they had all been killed or had died--at all
events that Mackintosh had been separated from them, and was the only
survivor of the party travelling with the Eskimos.
Further on the journal, which was meagre in detail, and kept in the dry
form of a log-book, spoke of having reached a far northern settlement.
Reference was also made to a wife and family, leading to the conclusion
that the seaman had permanently cast in his lot with the savages, and
given up all hope of returning to his native land.
One sentence near the end caused a considerable sensation, and opened
their eyes to a fact which they might have guessed if they had not been
too much taken up with the spelling out of the faded pencilling to think
of it at first.
Alf read it with difficulty. It ran thus:--
"Another boy born to-day. His name is Igluk. It is only the eldest boy
of a family, in this tribe, who bears his father's surname. My eldest
alone goes by the name of Mackintosh. His eldest will bear the same
name, and so on. But these Eskimos make a sad mess of it. I doubt if
my Scotch kinsmen would recognise us under the name of Makitok which is
the nearest--"
"Makitok!" shouted Benjy, gazing open-eyed at the white-bearded wizard,
who returned the gaze with some astonishment.
"Why, old boy," cried the boy, jumping up and seizing the wizard's hand,
"you're a Scotsman!"
"So he is," said the Captain with a look of profound interest.
"And I say," continued Benjy, in a tone so solemn that the eyes of all
the party were turned on him, "we _did_ find him _sitting on the North
Pole_!"
"And what of that, you excitable goose?" said the Captain.
"Goose, father! Am I a goose for recognising the fulfilment of an
ancient prophecy? Has it not been a familiar saying, ever since I was
born, that when the North Pole was discovered, a Scotsman would be found
sitting on the top of it?"
"Unfortunately, Ben," returned Alf with a laugh, "the same prophecy
exists in other lands. Among the Germans, I believe, it is held that a
Bohemian and a Jew will be found on the top of it."
"That only confirms the correctness of prophecy in general," retorted
Benjy, "for this man unites all these in his own person. Does not this
notebook prove him to be a Scot? Have we not just _found_ him? which
proves him to be one of a `lost tribe'--in other words, a Jew; and,
surely, you'll admit that, in appearance at least, he is Bohemian enough
for the settlement of any disputed question. Yes, he's a Scotch
Bohemian Jew, or I'm a Dutchman."
This discovery seemed almost too much for Benjy. He could not think or
talk of anything else the remainder of that day.
Among other things he undertook to explain to Makitok something of his
origin and antecedents.
"Ancient one," he said earnestly, through the medium of Anders, when he
had led the old man aside privately, "you come of a grand nation. They
are called Scots, and are said to be remarkably long-headed and
wonderfully cautious. Great warriors, but greater at the arts of peace.
And the fellow you call your _first father_ was a Mackintosh, (probably
chief of all the Mackintoshes), who sailed nearly 270 years ago to
search for this very `North Pole' that _we_ have got hold of at last.
But your first father was not the leader, old boy. He was only a
seaman. The leader was Henry Hudson--a man who ranks among the foremost
of Arctic explorers. He won't be able to understand what that means,
Anders, but no matter--translate it the best way you can. This Henry
Hudson was one of the most thorough and extensive searchers of these
regions that ever sailed the northern seas. He made many important
discoveries, and set out on his last voyage intending to sail right over
the North Pole to China, which I daresay he would have done, had not his
rascally crew mutinied and cast him and his little son, with seven other
men, adrift in a little boat--all of whom perished, no doubt, except
your first father, Makitok, my ancient tulip!"
He wound up this summary by grasping and shaking the wizard's hand, and
then flung off, to expend his feelings on other members of the
community.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.
A RUNAWAY JOURNEY AND A TREMENDOUS EXPERIMENT.
As winter advanced, Captain Vane continued to keep up the interest of
the Eskimos, and to increase their respect for the Kablunets, by
gradually unfolding the various sources of power which were at his
command.
He did this judiciously, just giving them a taste of the marvellous now
and then to whet their appetites. He was particularly careful, however
not to practise on their credulity or to pass himself off as a conjuror.
He distinctly stated that all his powers were derived from
God,--_their_ father and _his_,--and that he only excelled them in some
matters because of having had better opportunities of acquiring
knowledge.
Among other things, he effected an adaptation of his kites which
produced results so surprising that we feel bound to describe them
particularly.
During the winter he found, as he had expected, that the average
temperature at the Pole was not nearly so cold as that experienced in
lower latitudes. As far as mere feeling went, indeed, the cold seemed
severe enough; nevertheless it was not sufficiently intense to freeze
the great ocean, which remained an "open basin" all the year round,--a
result which was doubtless owing to the upflow of the warm
under-currents from the equator, referred to in a previous chapter.
This, however, did not apply to the waters lying directly around the
Poloe and Flatland groups. In these archipelagos the waters being
shallow, the frost was quite intense enough to cool them to the bottom.
Hence the sea immediately round the islands was covered with a thick
coat of solid ice, which resembled in all respects the ordinary Arctic
sea-ice, being hummocky in some places, comparatively smooth in others,
with a strong iceberg here and there caught and imprisoned amongst it.
As this ice surrounded all the Polar land, and stretched out to sea far
beyond the reach of vision, it followed that there was little or no
difference between the winter experience of our discoverers and that of
all other Arctic voyagers. This realm of what we may style island-ice
stretched away, all round, in the direction of the Arctic circle,
getting thinner and thinner towards its outer margin, until at last it
became sludgy, and, finally, melted away into the open sea. This open
sea, in its turn, stretched southward, all round, to the known Arctic
regions. Thus the Arctic basin was found to be a zone of open water,
surrounded by ice on the south, and with a patch of ice and land in its
centre.
Now, it was a strong desire on the part of Captain Vane to visit the
southern edge of this central ice-patch on which he dwelt, that induced
him to try the kite adaptation before referred to.
"Benjy, my boy," said he, one fine winter day, when the galaxy of stars,
the full moon, and an unusually brilliant aurora, diffused a strong
light over the undulations of Cup Valley, "I have a notion of taking a
trip to the s'uth'ard soon."
"Which s'uth'ard d'you think of going to, father?" asked the boy.
In case any reader should hastily exclaim, "What a ridiculous question;
there can be only _one_ southward!" we beg leave to point out that at
the North Pole _every_ direction lies to the southward, and that, as
there is necessarily no east or west at all, there is therefore no
possibility of stating by compass to what part of the south one intends
to go. Of course it was open to the Captain to have said he intended to
descend south on one of the degrees of longitude, or between any two of
them, and then, immediately on quitting the Pole the old familiar east
and west would, as it were, return to him. But he found it more
convenient, on the whole, having got beyond all latitude, to indicate
his intended route by well-known objects of the land.
"I'm going to steer for the starboard side of Poloeland," he said, "pay
a short visit to Grabantak and Amalatok in passing, and then carry on
south to the open water."
"It'll be a longish trip, father."
"Not so long as you expect, my boy, for I mean to go by express."
Benjy's eyes twinkled, for he knew that some new device was working in
his father's brain, which brain never failed to bring its plans to
maturity.
"What is it to be, father?"
"You go and fetch two of the kites, Benjy, and you'll soon find out.
Overhaul them well and see that everything is taut and shipshape. Let
Butterface help you, and send Alf and Chingatok to me. I suppose Leo is
off after musk-oxen, as usual."
"Yes; he pretends that the camp wants a supply of fresh meat. He'd
pretend that as an excuse for hunting even if we were all dying of
surfeit."
Soon afterwards the Captain was seen, followed by his usual companions
and a company of Eskimos, dragging two sledges to the upper ridge of Cup
Valley. One sledge was lightly, the other heavily, laden.
"You've brought plenty of supplies, I hope, Alf?" asked the leader.
"Yes, enough for three weeks. Will that do?"
"Quite enough, lad; but it may not be wanted, as I'm going south in a
direction we've not yet tried, where I expect to find the open water
close to us. It's well, however, to have enough of meat at all times."
"No fear of its being too much, father," said Benjy. "When Butterface
goes with us, a three weeks' allowance usually disappears in a
fortnight."
"Nebber mind, Massa," said the negro seriously. "You've plenty for tree
weeks dis time, 'cause I's off my feed. Got Polar dimspepsy, or suffin'
o' dat sort, I tink."
"You've brought the electrical machine, of course, and the dynamite,
Alf?" asked the Captain.
"Of course. I never prepare for a trip without these. There's no
saying, you see, when we may require them--either to blow up
obstructions or astonish the natives."
"The natives are past astonishing now," remarked Benjy; "nothing short
of a ten thousand jar battery would astonish Chingatok, and I'm quite
sure that you couldn't rouse a sentiment of surprise in Oolichuk, unless
you made him swallow a dynamite cartridge, and blew him inside out.
But, I say, daddy, how long are you going to keep us in the dark about
your plans? Don't you see that we are in agonies of suspense?"
"Only till we gain the ridge, Benjy. It will be down-hill after that,
and the snow-crust comparatively smooth as well as hard."
Arrived at the ridge, one of the kites was unfolded and sent up. The
breeze was steady, and sufficiently strong. It took twenty Eskimos to
hold it when allowed full play, and even these it jerked about in a
manner that highly diverted them. These Eskimos were very fond of
kite-flying, for its own sake, without reference to utility!
"I knew you were going to try it on the sledge," exclaimed Benjy, with
sparkling eyes.
"Why did you ask me about it, then?" returned the Captain.
"Do let _me_ make the first trial, father!"
Captain Vane was fastening the drag-line to the fore part of the light
sledge, and refused, at first, to listen to the boy's entreaties,
fearing that some accident might befall him.
"You know how accustomed I am to manage the kites, father. There's not
the least fear; and I'll be superhumanly cautious."
There was no resisting Benjy's tone and eyes. He was allowed to take
his place on the sledge as manager. Butterface sat behind to steer.
Steering was to be managed by means of a stout pole, pressed varyingly
on the snow on either side.
"Don't go more than a mile or so, my boy," said the Captain, in a
serious tone. "It's only a trial, you know. If it succeeds, we'll
divide the loading of the sledges, and make a fair start in company."
Benjy promised to manipulate the check-string with care. The struggling
natives were ordered to let the kite straighten the slack of the line
gradually.
"Are you ready, Ben?"
"All right, father."
"Got your hand on the check-string? Mind, it will pull hard. Now--let
go!"
The natives obeyed. Benjy at the same instant hauled sharply on the
check-string, intending to tilt the kite well forward, and start in a
slow, stately manner, but there was a hitch of some sort somewhere, for
the string would not act. The kite acted, however, with its full force.
Up went the fore part of the sledge as it flew off like an arrow from a
bow, causing Butterface to throw a back somersault, and leaving him
behind.
Benjy held on to the head of the sledge, and made violent efforts to
free the check-string. Fortunately, the surface of the snow was smooth.
"After him, lads," roared the Captain, setting a brave example, and for
some time heading the natives in the chase; but a few moments sufficed
to prove the hopelessness of the race.
Tug as Benjy would at the regulator, it refused to act. Fortunately,
being made of silk, it did not break. By this time the kite had
attained its maximum speed, equal, as the Captain said, to a twenty-knot
breeze. At first the surface of the snow was so smooth and hard, that
Benjy, being busy with the obdurate regulator, did not appreciate the
speed.
When he gave up his attempts with a sigh of despair, he had leisure to
look around him. The sledge was gliding on with railway speed. One or
two solitary hummocks that looked like white sentinels on the level
plain, went past him with an awful rush, and several undulations caused
by snow-drift were crossed in a light leap which he barely felt. Benjy
was fully aware of his danger. To meet with a hummock no bigger than a
wheelbarrow, would, in the circumstances, have entailed destruction; he
therefore seized a pole which formed part of the sledge-gear, and tried
steering. It could be done, but with great difficulty, as he had to sit
in the front of the sledge to keep it down.
Recklessly jovial though he was, the boy could not contemplate his
probable fate without misgiving. Nothing was visible in all the white
illimitable plain save a hummock here and there, with a distant berg on
the horizon. He could not expect the level character of the ice to
extend far. Whither was he going? South he knew; but in that
direction, his father had often told him, lay the open sea. The moon
seemed to smile on him; the aurora appeared to dance with unwonted
vigour, as if in glee; the very stars winked at him!
"What if a chasm or a big hummock should turn up?" thought Benjy.
The thought seemed to produce the dreaded object, for next moment a
large hummock appeared right ahead. Far away though it was, the awful
pace brought it quickly near. The poor boy struggled--he absolutely
agonised--with the pole. His efforts were successful. The hummock went
past like a meteor, but it was a horribly close shave, and Benjy felt
his very marrow shrink, while he drew himself up into the smallest
possible compass to let it go by.
A bump soon after told that the ice was getting more rugged. Then he
saw a ridge before him. Was it large or small? Distance, the uncertain
light, and imagination, magnified it to a high wall; high as the wall of
China. In wild alarm our hero tugged at the regulator, but tugged in
vain. The wall of China was upon him--under him. There was a crash.
The sledge was in the air. Moments appeared minutes! Had the vehicle
been suddenly furnished with wings? No! Another crash, which nearly
shut up his spine like a telescope, told him that there were no wings.
His teeth came together with a snap. Happily his tongue was not between
them! Happily, too, the sledge did not overturn, but continued its
furious flight.
"Oh, you villain!" exclaimed Benjy, shaking his fist at the airy monster
which was thus dragging him to destruction.
If Benjy had been asked to state the truth just then, he would have
found it hard to say whether consternation or delight were uppermost.
It _was_ such a glorious rush! But then, how was it to end? Well, he
did not dare to think of that. Indeed he had not time to think, for
troubles came crowding on him. A violent "swish!" and a sudden deluge
told him that what he had taken for glassy ice was open water. It was
only a shallow pool, however. Next moment he was across it, and bumping
violently over a surface of broken ice.
The water suggested the fear that he must be nearing the open sea, and
he became supernaturally grave. Fortunately, the last crash had been
passed without dislocating the parts of either sledge or rider. A long
stretch of smooth ice followed, over which he glided with
ever-increasing speed.
Thus he continued to rush over the frozen sea during a considerable part
of that night.
Poor Benjy! he became half-mad with excitement at last. The exaltation
of his little spirit at the risky neck-or-nothing dash, coupled with
horror at the certainty of a terrible climax, was almost too much for
him. He gave vent to his feelings in a wild cheer or yell, and, just
then, beheld an iceberg of unusual size, looming up on the horizon
before him. Knowing by experience that he would soon be up to it, he
used his pole with all his might, hoping to steer clear of it. As he
drew nearer, he saw a dark line on either side of the berg. A feeling
of deadly alarm filled him. It was the open sea! and he had to choose
between being plunged into it or dashed against the berg. It occurred
to him then, for the first time, that a third resource was open--he
might cut the rope, and let the kite go free! Amazed at his stupidity
in not thinking of this before, he took out his clasp-knife, but before
applying it, made a last effort to move the regulator. Strange to say,
the silken cord yielded to the first pull, as if nothing had been wrong
with it at all! The head of the runaway kite was thrown forward, and it
came wavering down in eccentric gyrations, while the sledge gradually
lost way, and came to a standstill not fifty yards from the berg.
Up to this point what may be termed the northern island-ice continued
unbroken, but beyond the berg it was broken up into floes, and, not six
hundred yards out, it tailed away to the southward in what whalers term
stream-ice. The berg itself was obviously aground.
The first object that met Benjy's eyes, after coming to a halt, was an
enormous polar bear. This was no strange sight to the boy by that time,
but it was awkward in the circumstances, for he had neither gun nor
spear. Even if he had possessed the latter he was too young and light
to cope successfully with the shaggy white king of Arctic beasts.
From the attitude of the animal it appeared to be watching something.
In truth, it was so intently engaged with a sleeping seal that it had
not observed the approach of the sledge. Profiting by this, Benjy
quietly moved away round a colossal buttress of the berg, and took
refuge in an ice-cave. But such refuge, he knew, could avail him
nothing if the bear should scent him out and search for him. Looking
hastily round and up into the dark blue cavern, he espied a projecting
ledge of ice about thirteen feet above the level of the floor. On this
he resolved to perch himself.
His first care was to examine the contents of the sledge. We have said
it had been lightly laden at starting, which was the reason of the
tremendous pace at which it travelled. Although there was neither spear
nor gun, the anxious boy was somewhat comforted to find an axe strapped
in its accustomed place; also a blanket, sleeping-bag, and musk-ox skin,
besides a mass of frozen blubber, but there was nothing else of an
eatable nature. There was, however, a box containing the captain's
sextant, the electrical machine, and a packet of dynamite cartridges.
Regarding these latter objects with a sigh of disappointment, Benjy
seized the axe and hastened towards the ledge of ice, muttering to
himself in a confidential tone--
"You see, old boy, if that bear takes a fancy to call on you, it will be
as well to be able to say, `Not at home,' for he could make short work
of you, much though you think of yourself. Yes, this ledge is high
enough to bid you defiance, mister bear, and it's long and broad enough
to hold me and my belongings. The knobs by which to climb to it, too,
are easy--too easy--but I'll soon rectify that. Now, then, look alive,
Benjy, boy, for if that bear don't catch that seal he'll be sure to look
you up."
Ceasing to speak, he actively conveyed the contents of the sledge to his
shelf of refuge. Then he cut away the knobs by which he climbed to it,
until there was barely sufficient for his own tiny toes to rest on.
That done, he went to the mouth of the cavern to look about him.
What he saw there may be guessed from the fact that he returned next
moment, running at full speed, stumbling over ice lumps, bumping his
shins and knees, dropping his axe, and lacerating his knuckles. He had
met the bear! Need we add that he gained his perch with the agility of
a tree-squirrel!
The bear, surprised, no doubt, but obviously sulky from the loss of the
seal, entered the cave sedately with an inquiring look. It saw Benjy at
once, and made prodigious efforts to get at him. As the monster rose on
its hind legs and reached its paws towards his shelf, the poor boy's
spirit seemed to melt, indeed his whole interior felt as if reduced to a
warm fluid, while a prickly heat broke out at his extremities,
perspiration beaded his brow, and his heart appeared to have settled
permanently in his throat.
These distressing symptoms did not, however, last long, for he quickly
perceived that the bear's utmost stretch did not reach nearer than three
or four feet of him. Some of the alarm returned, however, when the
creature attempted to climb up by his own ladder. Seven or eight times
it made the attempt, while the boy watched in breathless anxiety, but
each time it slipped when half-way up, and fell with a soft heavy thud
on the ice below, which caused it to gasp and cough. Then it sat down
on its haunches and gazed at its little foe malignantly.
"Bah! you brute!" exclaimed Benjy, whose courage was returning, "I'm not
a bit afraid of you!" He leant against the wall of his refuge,
notwithstanding this boast, and licked the ice to moisten his parched
lips.
After a rest the bear made another trial, and twice it succeeded in
planting the claws of one huge paw on the edge of the shelf, but Benjy
placed his heel against the claws, thrust them off, and sent the bear
down each time howling with disappointment.
Sailing softly among the constellations in the aurora-lighted sky, the
moon sent a bright ray into the cavern, which gleamed on the monster's
wicked eyes and glistening teeth; but Benjy had begun to feel
comparatively safe by that time, and was becoming "himself again."
"Don't you wish you may get me?" he asked in a desperately facetious
spirit.
The bear made no reply, but turned to examine the contents of the
ice-cave. First he went to the hatchet and smelt it. In doing so he
cut his nose. With a growl he gave the weapon an angry pat, and in so
doing cut his toes. We fear that Benjy rejoiced at the sight of blood,
for he chuckled and made the sarcastic remark, "That comes of losing
your temper, old fellow!"
That bear either understood English, or the very sound of the human
voice caused it irritation, for it turned and rushed at the ice-ledge
with such fury that Benjy's heart again leaped into his throat. He had,
however, recovered sufficiently to enable him to act with promptitude
and discretion. Sitting down with his right foot ready, and his hands
resting firmly on the ice behind him, he prepared to receive the charge
in the only available manner. So fierce was the onset that the monster
ran up the ice-cliff like a cat, and succeeded in fixing the terrible
claws of both feet on the edge of the shelf, but the boy delivered his
right heel with such force that the left paw slipped off. The left heel
followed like lightning, and the right paw also slipped, letting the
bear again fall heavily on the ice below.
This was more than even a bear could bear. He rushed savagely about the
cavern, growling hideously, dashing the sledge about as if it had been a
mere toy, and doing all the mischief he could, yet always avoiding the
axe with particular care--thus showing that polar bears, not less than
men, are quite awake to personal danger, even when supposed to be blind
with rage! At last he lay down to recover himself, and lick his bloody
nose and paw.
While Benjy sat contemplating this creature, and wondering what was to
be the end of it all, a bright idea occurred to him. He rose quickly,
took the electrical machine out of its box, and happily found it to be
in good working order--thanks to Alf, who had special charge of the
scientific instruments, and prided himself on the care with which he
attended to them. The bear watched him narrowly with its wicked little
eyes, though it did not see fit to cease its paw-licking.
Having arranged the machine, Benjy took the two handles in his left
hand, pressed his knee on the board of the instrument to hold it steady,
and with his right hand caused it to revolve. Then he held down the
handles as if inviting the bear to come and take them.
The challenge was accepted at once. Bruin cantered up, rose on his hind
legs, and stretched his neck to its utmost, but could not reach the
handles, though the boy stretched downward as far as possible to
accommodate him. The dirty-white monster whined and snickered with
intense feeling at thus finding itself so near, and yet so far, from the
attainment of its object.
Sympathising with its desires, Benjy changed his posture, and managed
just to touch the nose of his enemy. The bear shrank back with a sort
of gasp, appalled--at least shocked--by the result! After a little, not
feeling much the worse for it, the brute returned as if to invite
another electric shock--perhaps with some sinister design in view. But
another and a brighter idea had entered Benjy's brain. Instead of
giving the bear a shock, he tore off a small bit of seal-blubber from
the mass at his side, which he dropped into its mouth. It swallowed
that morsel with satisfaction, and waited for more. Benjy gave it more.
Still it wanted more.
"You shall have it, my boy," said Benjy, whose eyes assumed that
peculiar glare of glee which always presaged some desperate intention.
He opened another small box, and found what he wanted. It was a small
object scarcely a couple of inches in length. He fastened the wires of
the electric machine quickly to it, and then imbedded it in a small
piece of blubber which he lowered, as before, to the bear.
"You'll probably break the wires or smash the machine, but I'll risk
that," muttered Benjy through his set teeth. "I only hope you won't
chew it, because dynamite mayn't be palatable. There--down with it!"
The bear happily bolted the morsel. The wires seemed to perplex him a
little, but before he had time to examine the mystery, the boy gave the
instrument a furious turn.
Instantly there was a stupendous crash like a very thunderbolt. The
bear burst like an overcharged cannon! Benjy and the berg collided, and
at that moment everything seemed to the former to vanish away in smoke,
leaving not even a wrack behind!
CHAPTER THIRTY.
LEO IN DANGER NEXT! A NOVEL MODE OF RESCUE.
When the catastrophe described in the last chapter occurred, Captain
Vane and his friends, following hard on the heels of the runaway,
chanced to be within two miles of the berg in the bosom of which Benjy
had found refuge.
"There he is!" shouted the Captain joyfully, as the flash of the
explosion reached his eyes and the roar of the report his ears.
"Blessed evidence! He's up to mischief of some sort still, and that's
proof positive that he's alive."
"But he may have perished in this piece of mischief," said Alf,
anxiously glancing up at the kite, which was dragging the heavily-laden
sledge rather slowly over the rough ice.
"I hope not, Alf. Shake the regulator, Butterface, and see that it's
clear."
"All right, Massa. Steam's on de berry strongest what's possible."
"Heave some o' the cargo overboard, Alf. We must make haste. Not the
meat, lad, not the meat; everything else before that. So. Mind your
helm, Chingatok; she'll steer wildish when lightened."
Captain Vane was right. When Alf had tumbled some of the heavier
portions of lading off the sledge, it burst away like a wild-horse let
go free, rendering it difficult at first for Chingatok to steady it. In
a few minutes, however, he had it again under control, and they soon
reached the berg.
"The dynamite must have gone off by accident," said the Captain to Alf,
as they stumbled over masses of ice which the explosion had brought down
from the roof of the cavern. "It's lucky it didn't happen in summer,
else the berg might have been blown to atoms. Hallo! what's this? Bits
of a polar bear, I do believe--and--what! not Benjy!"
It was indeed Benjy, flat on his back like a spread-eagle, and covered
with blood and brains; but his appearance was the worst of his case,
though it took a considerable time to convince his horrified friends of
that fact.
"I tell you I'm all right, father," said the poor boy, on recovering
from the state of insensibility into which his fall had thrown him.
"But you're covered from head to foot with blood," exclaimed the anxious
father, examining him all over, "though I can't find a cut of any sort
about you--only one or two bruises."
"You'll find a bump on the top of my head, father, the size of a
cocoa-nut. That's what knocked the senses out o' me, but the blood and
brains belong to the bear. I lay no claim to them."
"Where _is_ the bear?" asked Alf, looking round.
"Where is he?" echoed Benjy, bursting into a wild laugh.
"Oh! Massa Benjy, don't laugh," said Butterface solemnly; "you hab no
notion wot a awful look you got when you laugh wid sitch a bloody face."
This made Benjy laugh more than ever. His mirth became catching, and
the negro's solemn visage relaxed into an irrepressible grin.
"Oh, you japan-jawed porpoise!" cried Benjy, "you should have seen that
bear go off--with such a crack too! I only wish I'd been able to hold
up for two seconds longer to see it properly, but my shelf went down,
and I had to go along with it. Blown to bits! No--he was blown to a
thousand atoms! Count 'em if you can."
Again Benjy burst into uproarious laughter.
There was indeed some ground for the boy's way of putting the case. The
colossal creature had been so terribly shattered by the dynamite
cartridge, that there was scarcely a piece of him larger than a man's
hand left to tell the tale.
"Well, well," said the Captain, assisting his son to rise, "I'm thankful
it's no worse."
"Worse, father! why, it _couldn't_ be worse, unless, indeed, his spirit
were brought alive again and allowed to contemplate the humbling
condition of his body."
"I don't refer to the bear, Benjy, but to yourself, lad. You might have
been killed, you know, and I'm very thankful you were not--though you
half-deserve to be. But come, we must encamp here for the night and
return home to-morrow, for the wind has been shifting a little, and will
be favourable, I think, in the morning."
The wind was indeed favourable next morning, we may say almost too
favourable, for it blew a stiff breeze from the south, which steadily
increased to a gale during the day. Afterwards the sky became overcast
and the darkness intense, rendering it necessary to attend to the kite's
regulator with the utmost care, and advance with the greatest caution.
Now, while the Captain and his friends were struggling back to their
Polar home, Leo Vandervell happened to be caught by the same gale when
out hunting. Being of a bold, sanguine, and somewhat reckless
disposition, this Nimrod of the party paid little attention to the
weather until it became difficult to walk and next to impossible to see.
Then, having shot nothing that day, he turned towards the Pole with a
feeling of disappointment.
But when the gale increased so that he could hardly face it, and the sky
became obliterated by falling and drifting snow, disappointment gave
place to anxiety, and he soon realised the fact that he had lost his
direction. To advance in such circumstances was out of the question, he
therefore set about building a miniature hut of snow. Being by that
time expert at such masonry, he soon erected a dome-shaped shelter, in
which he sat down on his empty game-bag after closing the entrance with
a block of hard snow.
The position of our hunter was not enviable. The hut was barely high
enough to let him sit up, and long enough to let him lie down--not to
stretch out. The small allowance of pemmican with which he had set out
had long ago been consumed. It was so dark that he could not see his
hand when close before his eyes. He was somewhat fatigued and rather
cold, and had no water to drink. It was depressing to think of going to
bed in such circumstances with the yelling of an Arctic storm for a
lullaby.
However, Leo had a buoyant spirit, and resolved to "make the best of
it." First of all he groped in his game-bag for a small stove lamp,
which he set up before him, and arranged blubber and a wick in it, using
the sense of touch in default of sight. Then he struck a light, but not
with matches. The Englishmen's small stock of congreves had long since
been exhausted, and they were obliged to procure fire by the Eskimo
method, namely, a little piece of wood worked like a drill, with a thong
of leather, against another piece of wood until the friction produced
fire. When a light had been thus laboriously obtained, he applied it to
the wick of his lamp, and wished fervently for something to cook.
It is proverbial that wishing does not usually achieve much. After a
deep sigh, therefore, Leo turned his wallet inside out. Besides a few
crumbs, it contained a small lump of narwhal blubber and a little
packet. The former, in its frozen state, somewhat resembled hard
butter. The latter contained a little coffee--not the genuine article,
however. That, like the matches, had long ago been used up, and our
discoverers were reduced to roasted biscuit-crumbs. The substitute was
not bad! Inside of the coffee-packet was a smaller packet of brown
sugar, but it had burst and allowed its contents to mingle with the
coffee.
Rejoiced to find even a little food where he had thought there was none,
Leo filled his pannikin with snow, melted it, emptied into it the
compound of coffee and sugar, put it on the lamp to boil, and sat down
to watch, while he slowly consumed the narwhal butter, listening the
while to the simmering of the pannikin and the roaring of the gale.
After his meagre meal he wrapped himself in his blanket, and went to
sleep.
This was all very well as long as it lasted, but he cooled during the
night, and, on awaking in the morning, found that keen frost penetrated
every fibre of his garments and every pore of his skin. The storm,
however, was over; the moon and stars were shining in a clear sky, and
the aurora was dancing merrily. Rising at once he bundled up his traps,
threw the line of his small hand-sledge over his shoulder, and stepped
out for home. But cold and want of food had been telling on him. He
soon experienced an unwonted sense of fatigue, then a drowsy sensation
came over him.
Leo was well aware of the danger of giving way to drowsiness in such
circumstances, yet, strange to say, he was not in the least afraid of
being overcome. He would sit down to rest, just for two minutes, and
then push on. He smiled, as he sat down in the crevice of a hummock, to
think of the frequent and needless cautions which his uncle had given
him against this very thing. The smile was still on his lips when his
head drooped on a piece of ice, and he sank into a deep slumber.
Ah, Leonard Vandervell! ill would it have been for thee if thou hadst
been left to thyself that day; but sharp eyes and anxious hearts were
out on the icy waste in search of thee!
On arriving at his winter quarters, and learning that Leo had not yet
returned, Captain Vane at once organised an elaborate search-expedition.
The man who found him at last was Butterface.
"Oh, Massa Leo!" exclaimed that sable creature on beholding the youth
seated, white and cold, on the hummock; but he said no more, being fully
alive to the danger of the situation.
Rushing at Leo, he seized and shook him violently, as if he had been his
bitterest foe. There was no response from the sleeping man. The negro
therefore began to chafe, shake, and kick him; even to slap his face,
and yell into his ears in a way that an ignorant observer would have
styled brutal. At last there was a symptom of returning vitality in the
poor youth's frame, and the negro redoubled his efforts.
"Ho! hallo! Massa Leo, wake up! You's dyin', you is!"
"Why--what's--the--matter--Butterf--" muttered Leo, and dropped his head
again.
"Hi! hello! ho-o-o!" yelled Butterface, renewing the rough treatment,
and finally hitting the youth a sounding slap on the ear.
"Ha! I be tink dat vakes you up."
It certainly did wake him up. A burst of indignation within seemed to
do more for him than the outward buffetings. He shut his fist and hit
Butterface a weak but well intended right-hander on the nose. The negro
replied with a sounding slap on the other ear, which induced Leo to
grasp him in his arms and try to throw him. Butterface returned the
grasp with interest, and soon quite an interesting wrestling match
began, the only witness of which sat on a neighbouring hummock in the
form of a melancholy Arctic fox.
"Hi! hold on, Massa Leo! Don't kill me altogidder," shouted Butterface,
as he fell beneath his adversary. "You's a'most right now."
"Almost right! what do you mean?"
"I mean dat you's bin a'most froze to deaf, but I's melted you down to
life agin."
The truth at last began to dawn on the young hunter. After a brief
explanation, he and the negro walked home together in perfect harmony.
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.
THE LAST.
In course of time the long and dreary winter passed away, and signs of
the coming spring began to manifest themselves to the dwellers in the
Polar lands.
Chief and most musical among these signs were the almost forgotten
sounds of dropping water, and tinkling rills. One day in April the
thermometer suddenly rose to eighteen above the freezing-point of
Fahrenheit. Captain Vane came from the observatory, his face blazing
with excitement and oily with heat, to announce the fact.
"That accounts for it feeling so like summer," said Benjy.
"Summer, boy, it's like India," returned the Captain, puffing and
fanning himself with his cap. "We'll begin this very day to make
arrangements for returning home."
It was on the evening of that day that they heard the first droppings of
the melting snow. Long before that, however, the sun had come back to
gladden the Polar regions, and break up the reign of ancient night. His
departure in autumn had been so gradual, that it was difficult to say
when night began to overcome the day. So, in like manner, his return
was gradual. It was not until Captain Vane observed stars of the sixth
magnitude shining out at noon in November, that he had admitted the
total absence of day; and when spring returned, it was not until he
could read the smallest print at midnight in June that he admitted there
was "no night there."
But neither the continual day of summer, nor the perpetual night of
winter, made so deep an impression on our explorers as the gushing
advent of spring. That season did not come gradually back like the
light, but rushed upon them suddenly with a warm embrace, like an
enthusiastic friend after a long absence. It plunged, as it were, upon
the region, and overwhelmed it. Gushing waters thrilled the ears with
the sweetness of an old familiar song. Exhalations from the moistened
earth, and, soon after, the scent of awakening vegetation, filled the
nostrils with delicious fragrance. In May, the willow-stems were green
and fresh with flowing sap. Flowers began to bud modestly, as if half
afraid of having come too soon. But there was no cause to fear that.
The glorious sun was strong in his might, and, like his Maker, warmed
the northern world into exuberant life. Mosses, poppies, saxifrages,
cochlearia, and other hardy plants began to sprout, and migratory birds
innumerable--screaming terns, cackling duck, piping plover, auks in
dense clouds with loudly whirring wings, trumpeting geese, eider-ducks,
burgomasters, etcetera, began to return with all the noisy bustle and
joyous excitement of a family on its annual visit to much-loved summer
quarters.
But here we must note a difference between the experience of our
explorers and that of all others. These myriads of happy creatures--and
many others that we have not space to name--did not pass from the south
onward to a still remoter north, but came up from all round the
horizon,--up all the meridians of longitude, as on so many railway lines
converging at the Pole, and settling down for a prolonged residence in
garrulous felicity among the swamps and hills and vales of Flatland.
Truly it was a most enjoyable season and experience, but there is no joy
without its alley here below--not even at the North Pole!
The alloy came in the form of a low fever which smote down the stalwart
Leo, reduced his great strength seriously, and confined him for many
weeks to a couch in their little stone hut, and, of course, the power of
sympathy robbed his companions of much of that exuberant joy which they
shared with the lower animals at the advent of beautiful spring.
During the period of his illness Leo's chief nurse, comforter, and
philosophical companion, was the giant of the North. And one of the
subjects which occupied their minds most frequently was the Word of God.
In the days of weakness and suffering Leo took to that great source of
comfort with thirsting avidity, and intense was his gratification at the
eager desire expressed by the giant to hear and understand what it
contained.
Of course Alf, and Benjy, and the Captain, and Butterface, as well as
Grabantak, Makitok, and Amalatok, with others of the Eskimos, were
frequently by his side, but the giant never left him for more than a
brief period, night or day.
"Ah! Chingatok," said Leo one day, when the returning spring had begun
to revive his strength, "I never felt such a love for God's Book when I
was well and strong as I feel for it now that I am ill, and I little
thought that I should find out so much of its value while talking about
it to an Eskimo. I shall be sorry to leave you, Chingatok--very sorry."
"The young Kablunet is not yet going to die," said the giant in a soft
voice.
"I did not mean that," replied Leo, with the ghost of his former hearty
laugh; "I mean that I shall be obliged to leave Flatland and to return
to my own home as soon as the season permits. Captain Vane has been
talking to me about it. He is anxious now to depart, yet sorry to leave
his kind and hospitable friends."
"I, too, am sorry," returned Chingatok sadly. "No more shall I hear
from your lips the sweet words of my Great Father--the story of Jesus.
You will take your book away with you."
"That is true, my friend; and it would be useless to leave my Bible with
you, as you could not read it, but the _truth_ will remain with you,
Chingatok."
"Yes," replied the giant with a significant smile, "you cannot take
_that_ away. It is here--and here." He touched his forehead and breast
as he spoke. Then he continued:--
"These strange things that Alf has been trying to teach me during the
long nights I have learned--I understand."
He referred here to a syllabic alphabet which Alf had invented, and
which he had amused himself by teaching to some of the natives, so that
they might write down and read those few words and messages in their own
tongue which formerly they had been wont to convey to each other by
means of signs and rude drawings--after the manner of most savages.
"Well, what about that?" asked Leo, as his companion paused.
"Could not my friend," replied Chingatok, "change some of the words of
his book into the language of the Eskimo and mark them down?"
Leo at once jumped at the idea. Afterwards he spoke to Alf about it,
and the two set to work to translate some of the most important passages
of Scripture, and write them down in the syllable alphabet. For this
purpose they converted a sealskin into pretty fair parchment, and wrote
with the ink which Captain Vane had brought with him and carefully
husbanded. The occupation proved a beneficial stimulus to the invalid,
who soon recovered much of his wonted health, and even began again to
wander about with his old companion the repeating rifle.
The last event of interest which occurred at the North Pole, before the
departure of our explorers, was the marriage of Oolichuk with Oblooria.
The ceremony was very simple. It consisted in the bridegroom dressing
in his best and going to the tent of his father-in-law with a gift,
which he laid at his feet. He then paid some endearing Eskimo
attentions to his mother-in-law, one of which was to present her with a
raw duck, cleaned and dismembered for immediate consumption. He even
assisted that pleased lady immediately to consume the duck, and wound up
by taking timid little Oblooria's hand and leading her away to a hut of
his own, which he had specially built and decorated for the occasion.
As Amalatok had arrived that very day on a visit from Poloeland with his
prime minister and several chiefs, and Grabantak was residing on the
spot, with a number of chiefs from the surrounding islands, who had come
to behold the famous Kablunets, there was a sort of impromptu gathering
of the northern clans which lent appropriate dignity to the wedding.
After the preliminary feast of the occasion was over, Captain Vane was
requested to exhibit some of his wonderful powers for the benefit of a
strange chief who had recently arrived from a distant island. Of course
our good-natured Captain complied.
"Get out the boats and kites, Benjy, boy," he said; "we must go through
our performances to please 'em. I feel as if we were a regular company
of play-actors now."
"Won't you give them a blow-up first, father?"
"No, Benjy, no. Never put your best foot foremost. The proverb is a
false one--as many proverbs are. We will dynamite them afterwards, and
electrify them last of all. Go, look sharp."
So the Captain first amazed the visitor with the kites and india-rubber
boats; then he horrified him by blowing a small iceberg of some
thousands of tons into millions of atoms; after which he convulsed him
and made him "jump."
The latter experiment was the one to which the enlightened Eskimos
looked forward with the most excited and hopeful anticipations, for it
was that which gratified best their feeling of mischievous joviality.
When the sedate and dignified chief was led, all ignorant of his fate,
to the mysterious mat, and stood thereon with grave demeanour, the
surrounding natives bent their knees, drew up elbows, expanded fingers,
and glared in expectancy. When the dignified chief experienced a tremor
of the frame and looked surprised, they grinned with satisfaction; when
he quivered convulsively they also quivered with suppressed emotion.
Ah! Benjy had learned by that time from experience to graduate very
delicately his shocking scale, and thus lead his victim step by step
from bad to worse, so as to squeeze the utmost amount of fun out of him,
before inducing that galvanic war-dance which usually terminated the
scene and threw his audience into fits of ecstatic laughter.
These were the final rejoicings of the wedding day--if we except a dance
in which every man did what seemed best in his own eyes, and Butterface
played reels on the flute with admirable incapacity.
But there came a day, at last, when the inhabitants of Flatland were far
indeed removed from the spirit of merriment.
It was the height of the Arctic summer-time, when the crashing of the
great glaciers and the gleaming of the melting bergs told of rapid
dissolution, and the sleepless sun was circling its day-and-nightly
course in the ever-bright blue sky. The population of Flatland was
assembled on the beach of their native isle--the men with downcast
looks, the women with sad and tearful eyes. Two india-rubber boats were
on the shore. Two kites were flying overhead. The third boat and kite
had been damaged beyond repair, but the two left were sufficient. The
Englishmen were about to depart, and the Eskimos were inconsolable.
"My boat is on the shore,--"
Said Benjy, quoting Byron, as he shook old Makitok by the hand--
"And my kite is in the sky,
But before I go, of more,
I will--bid you--all--good-b--"
Benjy broke down at this point. The feeble attempt to be facetious to
the last utterly failed.
Turning abruptly on his heel he stepped into the _Faith_ and took his
seat in the stern. It was the _Hope_ which had been destroyed. The
_Faith_ and _Charity_ still remained to them.
We must draw a curtain over that parting scene. Never before in human
experience had such a display of kindly feeling and profound regret been
witnessed in similar circumstances.
"Let go the tail-ropes!" said Captain Vane in a husky tone.
"Let go de ropes," echoed Butterface in a broken voice.
The ropes were let go. The kites soared, and the boats rushed swiftly
over the calm and glittering sea.
On nearing one of the outer islands the voyagers knew that their tiny
boats would soon be shut out from view, and they rose to wave a last
farewell. The salute was returned by the Eskimos--with especial fervour
by Chingatok, who stood high above his fellows on a promontory, and
waved the parchment roll of texts which he grasped in his huge right
hand.
Long after the boats had disappeared, the kites could still be seen
among the gorgeous clouds. Smaller and smaller they became in their
flight to the mysterious south, until at last they seemed
undistinguishable specks on the horizon, and then vanished altogether
from view.
One by one the Eskimos retired to their homes--slowly and sadly, as if
loath to part from the scene where the word farewell had been spoken.
At last all were gone save Chingatok, who still stood for hours on the
promontory, pressing the scroll to his heaving chest, and gazing
intently at the place on the horizon where his friends had disappeared.
There was no night to bring his vigil or his meditations to a close, but
time wore him out at last. With a sigh, amounting almost to a groan, he
turned and walked slowly away, and did not stop until he stood upon the
Pole, where he sat down on one of the Captain's stools, and gazed
mournfully at the remains of the dismantled observatory. There he was
found by old Makitok, and for some time the giant and the wizard held
converse together.
"I love these Kablunets," said Chingatok.
"They are a strange race," returned the wizard. "They mingle much folly
with their wisdom. They come here to find this Nort Pole, this nothing,
and they find it. Then they go away and leave it! What good has it
done them?"
"I know not," replied Chingatok humbly, "but I know not everything.
They have showed me much. One thing they have showed me--that behind
all _things_ there is something else which I do not see. The Kablunets
are wonderful men. Yet I pity them. As Blackbeard has said, some of
them are too fond of killing themselves, and some are too fond of
killing each other. I wish they would come here--the whole nation of
them--and learn how to live in peace and be happy among the Eskimos.
But they will not come. Only a few of their best men venture to come,
and I should not wonder if their countrymen refused to believe the half
of what they tell them when they get home."
Old Makitok made no reply. He was puzzled, and when puzzled he usually
retired to his hut and went to bed. Doing so on the present occasion he
left his companion alone.
"Poor, poor Kablunets," murmured Chingatok, descending from his
position, and wandering away towards the outskirts of the village. "You
are very clever, but you are somewhat foolish. I pity you, but I also
love you well."
With his grand head down, his arms crossed, and the scroll of texts
pressed to his broad bosom, the Giant of the North wandered away, and
finally disappeared among the flowering and rocky uplands of the
interior.
THE END.
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