And suppose I dont insist on carrying these things, what then?
Well, replied the Captain, in that case I wouldwell, let me seea little more of the bubble, Benjy.
Wouldnt you rather some of the squeak? asked the boy.
Both, lad, bothsome of everything. Well, as I was sayingand youve a right to know whats running in my head, seeing that you have to help me carry out the plansIll 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, dont 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. Youre sure, Anders, that you understood Chingatoks description of the place?
The interpreter declared that he was quite sure.
After that, resumed the Captain, Ill act according to the information the said Eskimos can give me. Dye 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 farvery farto 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 himthrough Anderswhen we first met, and from what he said I cant 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 dont scrape the bottom out of it. Theres 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 wont 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 grubs eated up, praps it would be as well to be goin an tacklin suffin else now.
Youre right, Butterface, cried the Captain, rousing himself from a reverie. What say you, comrades? Shall we turn in an have a nap? Its past midnight.
Im 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 shouldnt we?
Well, Ive no objection, rejoined the Captain, but we must work if we dont sleepso, 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 earnestintensely soand 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 floorone 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.
Tooloohas 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 prevalentbut Eskimos are smell-proof.
Mother, said the giant, raising his eyes from the flame to his parents smoke-encircled visage, they are a most wonderful people, these Kablunets. Blackbeard is a great mana grand manbut 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?
Yesat 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.
Noif 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 BlackbeardHow 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 boythe son I think of Blackbeardwho 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 Nothingthis Nort Pole. They are all mad, I think, about that thingthat Nothing!
The conversation was interrupted at this point by the sudden entrance of the giants 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 oomiakno wingsno 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 thisthisNort Pole.
No, mother, no, answered Oblooria thoughtfully, I saw not madness. They laughed much, it is truebut not more than Oolichuk laughs sometimes. YesI think again! There was one who seems madthe small boy, whom brother thinks to be the son of BlackbeardBenjay, 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 wellfor 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 Nothingthis Nort Pole, in my country?
Well, I cannot exactly say that I do, replied the Captain; you see, Im 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 dont 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 highthis wild chaos of ice which so effectually stopped some of those who went before me.