The Giant of the North: Pokings Round the Pole - Robert Michael Ballantyne 8 стр.

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 moments noticeor 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 birds-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 birds-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, dye see nothing on the horizon away to the norard? Isnt 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.

Chingatoks opinion was that the water-sky indicated the open sea. He knew that sea wellhad 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 Eastard in a very decided manner. Now, if that was only the shore of a bay, and the land again ran off to the norard, 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 Chingatokat 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.

Wed better spread our wings then, father, and be off at once, said Benjy; for its quite certain that well 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 openingsnarrow lanes, as it werewinding 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 Vanes 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 Butterfacethe 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 Vanes 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 Captains dogs had broken into a gallop. On turning suddenly round a spur of a glacier about as big as Saint Pauls 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, Im soaked from top to toe!

Yes, youve 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:

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 hes rader a strong remdy, massa, don you tink? Not bery easy to git up a gleefoo shout when ones down in de mout bery bad, eh!

Alfs 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 weathers warm, anyhow, and thats a comfort, remarked Benjy, as he settled down in his wet garments. We cant 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.

Its 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 northaway 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.

Its 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 Captains 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.

Itll do him good, lad, replied the Captain. Hard work is just what my Benjy needs. Hes not very stout, to be sure, but there is nothing wrong with his constitution, and hes 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.