"Come, Johnson; go in at once, or you will be frost-bitten. Look
at your hands--they are white already! Come, come this minute."
"I am not worth troubling about, Mr. Clawbonny," said the old
boatswain. "Never mind me!"
"But you must come in, you obstinate fellow. Come, now, I tell
you; it will be too late presently."
At last he succeeded in dragging the poor fellow into the tent,
where he made him plunge his hands into a
bowl of water, which the heat of the stove kept in a liquid state,
though still cold. Johnson's hands had hardy touched it before it
froze immediately.
"You see it was high time you came in; I should have been forced
to amputate soon," said the Doctor.
Thanks to his endeavours, all danger was over in about an hour, but
he was advised to keep his hands at a good distance from the stove
for some time still.
That morning they had no breakfast. Pemmican and salt beef were both
done. Not a crumb of biscuit remained. They were obliged to content
themselves with half a cup of hot coffee, and start off again.
They scarcely went three miles before they were compelled to give up
for the day. They had no supper but coffee, and the dogs were so
ravenous that they were almost devouring each other.
Johnson fancied he could see the bear following them in the
distance, but he made no remark to his companions. Sleep forsook the
unfortunate men, and their eyes grew wild and haggard.
Tuesday morning came, and it was thirty-four hours since they had
tasted a morsel of food. Yet these brave, stout-hearted men
continued their march, sustained by their superhuman energy of
purpose. They pushed the sledge themselves, for the dogs could no
longer draw it.
At the end of two hours, they sank exhausted. Hatteras urged them to
make a fresh attempt, but his entreaties and supplications were
powerless; they could not do impossibilities.
[Illustration: ]
"Well, at any rate," he said, "I won't die of cold if I must
of hunger." He set to work to hew out
a hut in an iceberg, aided by Johnson, and really they looked like
men digging their own tomb.
It was hard labour, but at length the task was accomplished. The
little house was ready, and the miserable men took up their abode in
it.
In the evening, while the others lay motionless, a sort of
hallucination came over Johnson, and he began raving about bears.
The Doctor roused himself from his torpor, and asked the old man
what he meant, and what bear he was talking about.
"The bear that is following us," replied Johnson.
"A bear following us?"
"Yes, for the last two days!"
"For the last two days! You have seen him?"
"Yes, about a mile to leeward."
"And you never told me, Johnson!"
"What was the good!"
"True enough," said the Doctor; "we have not a single bail to
send after him!"
"No, not even a bit of iron!"
The Doctor was silent for a minute, as if thinking. Then he said--
"Are you quite certain the animal is following us?"
"Yes, Mr. Clawbonny, he is reckoning on a good feed of human
flesh!"
"Johnson!" exclaimed the Doctor, grieved at the despairing mood
of his companion.
"He is sure enough of his meal!" continued the poor fellow, whose brain
had begun to give way. "He must be hungry, and I dont see why we should
keep him waiting."
"Johnson, calm yourself!"
"No, Mr Clowbonny, sine we must die, why prolong the sufferings of the
poor beast? He is famished like ourselves. There are no seals for him to
eat, and Heaven sends hiim men! So much the better for him, thats all!"
Johnson was fast going mad. He wanted to get up and leave the hut, and
the doctor had great difficulty in preventing him. That he succeeded at
all, was not through strength, but by saying in a tone of absolute
conviction, "Johnson, I shall kill that bear to-morrow!"
"To-morrow!" said Johnson, as if waking up from some bad dream.
"Yes, to-morrow."
"You have no ball!"
"I'll make one."
"You have no lead!"
"No, but I have mercury."
So saying, he took the thermometer, which stood at 50° above zero,
and went outside and laid it on a block of ice. Then he came in
again, and said, "Tomorrow! Go to sleep, and wait till the sun
rises."
With the first streak of dawn next day, the Doctor and Johnson
rushed out to look at the thermometer. All the mercury had frozen
into a compact cylindrical mass. The Doctor broke the tube and took
it out. Here was a hard piece of metal ready for use.
"It is wonderful, Mr. Clawbonny; you ought to be a proud man."
"Not at all, my friend, I am only gifted with a good memory, and I
have read a great deal."
"How did that help you?"
"Why, I just happened to recollect a fact related by Captain Ross
in his voyages. He states that they pierced a plank, an inch thick,
with a bullet made of mercury. Oil would even have suited my
purpose, for, he adds, that a ball of frozen almond oil splits
through a post without breaking in pieces."
"It is quite incredible!"
"But it is a fact, Johnson. Well, come now, this bit of metal may
save our lives. We'll leave it exposed to the air a little while,
and go and have a look for the bear."
Just then Hatteras made his appearance, and the
Doctor told him his project, and showed him the mercury.
The captain grasped his hand silently, and the three hunters went
off in quest of their game.
[Illustration: ]
The weather was very clear, and Hatteras, who was a little ahead of
the others, speedily discovered the bear about three hundred yards
distant, sitting on his hind quarters sniffing the air, evidently
scenting the intruders on his domains.
"There he is!" he exclaimed.
"Hush!" cried the Doctor.
But the enormous quadruped, even when he perceived his antagonists,
never stirred, and displayed neither fear nor anger. It would not be
easy to get near him, however, and Hatteras said--
"Friends, this is no idle sport, our very existence is at stake;
we must act prudently."
"Yes," replied the Doctor, "for we have but the one shot to depend upon.
We must not miss, for if once the beast took to his heels we have lost
all chance of him. He would outstrip a hare in fleetness!"
"We must go right up to him," said Johnson, "that is the only way. It is
risking ones life, of course; but what does that matter? Let me risk
mine."
"No, I wish to take the risk on myself," said the Doctor.
"I am the one to go," said Hatteras, quietly.
"But, captain, is your life not more necessary for the safety of all
than a stupid old mans like mine?"
"No, Johnson, let me go. Ill not risk myself unnecessarily. Besides, I
may possibly need your assistance."
"Hatteras," asked the Doctor, "do you mean to walk right up to the bear?"
"If I were certain of getting a shot at him, I would do that if it cost
me my head; but he might scamper off at my approach. No, Bruin is a
cunning fellow, and we must try and be a match for him."
"What plan have you got in your head?"
"To get within ten paces of him without letting him suspect it."
"And how will you manage that?"
"Well, my scheme is simple enough, though rather dangerous. You kept the
skin of the seal you killed, didnt you?"
"It is on the sledge."
"All right! Let us get back to the hut, and leave Johnson here to watch."
Away they went, while the old boatswain slipped behind a hummock, which
completely hid him from the bear, who continued still in the same place
and in the same position.
CHAPTER V.
THE SEAL AND THE BEAR.
"You know, Doctor," said Hatteras, as they returned to the hut,
"the polar bears subsist almost entirely on seals. They'll lie
in wait for them beside the crevasses for whole days, ready to
strangle them the moment their heads appear above the surface. It is
not likely, then, that a bear will be frightened of a seal."
"I think I see what you are after, but it is dangerous."
"Yes, but there is more chance of success than in trying any other
plan, so I mean to risk it. I am going to dress myself in the
seal's skin, and creep along the ice. Come, don't let us lose
time. Load the gun and give it me."
The Doctor could not say anything, for he would have done the same
himself, so he followed Hatteras silently to the sledge, taking with
him a couple of hatchets for his own and Johnson's use.
Hatteras soon made his toilette, and slipped into the skin, which
was big enough to cover him almost entirely.
"Now, then, give me the gun," he said, "and you be off to
Johnson. I must try and steal a march on my adversary."
"Courage, Hatteras!" said the Doctor, handing him the weapon,
which he had carefully loaded meanwhile.
"Never fear! but be sure you don't show yourselves till I
fire."
The Doctor soon joined the old boatswain behind the hummock, and
told him what they had been doing. The bear was still there, but
moving restlessly about, as if he felt the approach of danger.
In a quarter of an hour or so the seal made his appearance on the
ice. He had gone a good way round, so as to come on the bear by
surprise, and every movement was so perfect an imitation of a seal,
that even the Doctor would have been deceived if he had not known it
was Hatteras.
"It is capital!" said Johnson, in a low voice. The bear had
instantly caught sight of the supposed seal, for he gathered himself
up, preparing to make a spring as the animal came nearer, apparently
seeking to return to his native element, and unaware of the
enemy's proximity. Bruin went to work with extreme prudence,
though his eyes glared with greedy desire to clutch the coveted
prey, for he had probably been fasting a month, if not two. He
allowed his victim to get within ten paces of him, and then sprang
forward with a tremendous bound, but stopped short, stupefied and
frightened, within three steps of Hatteras, who started up that
moment, and, throwing off his disguise, knelt on one knee, and aimed
straight at the bear's heart. He fired, and the huge monster
rolled back on the ice.
[Illustration: ]
"Forward! Forward!" shouted the Doctor, hurrying towards
Hatteras, for the bear had reared on his hind legs, and was striking
the air with one paw and tearing up the snow to stanch his wound
with the other.
Hatteras never moved, but waited, knife in hand. He had aimed well,
and fired with a sure and steady aim. Before either of his
companions came up he had plunged the knife in the animal's
throat, and made an end of him, for he fell down at once to rise no
more.
"Hurrah! Bravo!" shouted Johnson and the Doctor, but Hatteras
was as cool and unexcited as possible, and stood with folded arms
gazing at his prostrate foe.
"It is my turn now," said Johnson. "It is a good thing the
bear is killed, but if we leave him out here much longer, he will
get as hard as a stone, and we shall be able to do nothing with
him."
He began forthwith to strip the skin off, and a fine business it
was, for the enormous quadruped was almost as large as an ox. It
measured nearly nine feet long, and four round, and the great tusks
in his jaws were three inches long.
On cutting the carcase open, Johnson found nothing but water in the
stomach. The beast had evidently had no food for a long time, yet it
was very fat, and weighed fifteen hundred pounds. The hunters were
so famished that they had hardly patience to carry home the flesh to
be cooked, and it needed all the Doctor's persuasion to prevent
them eating it raw.
On entering the hut, each man with a load on his back, Clawbonny was
struck with the coldness that pervaded the atmosphere. On going up
to the stove he found the fire black out. The exciting business of
the morning had made Johnson neglect his accustomed duty of
replenishing the stove.
The Doctor tried to blow the embers into a flame, but finding he
could not even get a red spark, he went out to the sledge to fetch
tinder, and get the steel from Johnson.
The old sailor put his hand into his pocket, but was surprised to
find the steel missing. He felt in the other pockets, but it was not
there. Then he went into the hut again, and shook the blanket he had
slept in all night, but his search was still unsuccessful.
He went back to his companions and said--
"Are you sure, Doctor, you haven't the steel?"
"Quite, Johnson."
"And you haven't it either, captain?"
"Not I!" replied Hatteras.
"It has always been in your keeping," said the Doctor.
"Well, I have not got it now!" exclaimed Johnson, turning pale.
"Not got the steel!" repeated the Doctor, shuddering
involuntarily at the bare idea of its loss, for it was all the means
they had of procuring a fire.
"Look again, Johnson," he said.
The boatswain hurried to the only remaining place he could think of,
the hummock where he had stood to watch the bear. But the missing
treasure was nowhere to be found, and the old sailor returned in
despair.
Hatteras looked at him, but no word of reproach escaped his lips. He
only said--
"This is a serious business, Doctor."
"It is, indeed!" said Clawbonny.
"We have not even an instrument, some glass that we might take the
lens out of, and use like a burning glass."
"No, and it is a great pity, for the sun's rays are quite strong
enough just now to light our tinder."
"Well," said Hatteras, "we must just appease our hunger with
the raw meat, and set off again as soon as we can, to try to
discover the ship."
"Yes!" replied Clawbonny, speaking to himself, absorbed in his
own reflections. "Yes, that might do at a pinch! Why not? We might
try."
"What are you dreaming about?" asked Hatteras.
"An idea has just occurred to me."
"An idea come into your head, Doctor," exclaimed Johnson;
"then we are saved!"
"Will it succeed? that's the question."
"What's your project?" said Hatteras.
"We want a lens; well, let us make one."
"How?" asked Johnson.
"With a piece of ice."
"What? Do you think that would do?"
"Why not? All that is needed is to collect the sun's rays into
one common focus, and ice will serve that purpose as well as the
finest crystal."
"Is it possible?" said Johnson.
"Yes, only I should like fresh water ice, it is harder and more
transparent than the other."
"There it is to your hand, if I am not much mistaken," said
Johnson, pointing to a hummock close by.
[Illustration: ]
"I fancy that is fresh water, from the dark look of it, and the
green tinge."
"You are right. Bring your hatchet, Johnson."
A good-sized piece was soon cut off, about a foot in diameter, and
the Doctor set to work. He began by chopping it into rough shape
with the hatchet; then he operated upon it more carefully with his
knife, making as smooth a surface as possible, and finished the
polishing process with his fingers, rubbing away until he had
obtained as transparent a lens as if it had been made of magnificent
crystal.
The sun was shining brilliantly enough for the Doctor's
experiment. The tinder was fetched, and held beneath the lens so as
to catch the rays in full power. In a few seconds it took fire, to
Johnson's rapturous delight.
He danced about like an idiot, almost beside himself with joy, and
shouted, "Hurrah! hurrah!" while Clawbonny hurried back into the
hut and rekindled the fire. The stove was soon roaring, and it was
not many minutes before the savoury odour of broiled bear-steaks
roused Bell from his torpor.
What a feast this meal was to the poor starving men may be imagined.
The Doctor, however, counselled moderation in eating, and set the
example himself.
"This is a glad day for us," he said, "and we have no fear of
wanting food all the rest of our journey. Still we must not forget
we have further to go yet, and I think the sooner we start the
better."
"We cannot be far off now," said Altamont, who could almost
articulate perfectly again; "we must be within forty-eight
hours' march of the Porpoise."
"I hope we'll find something there to make a fire with," said
the Doctor, smiling. "My lens does well enough at present; but it
needs the sun, and there are plenty of days when he does not make
his appearance here, within less than four degrees of the pole."
"Less than four degrees!" repeated Altamont, with a sigh;
"yes, my ship went further than any other has ever ventured."
"It is time we started," said Hatteras, abruptly.
"Yes," replied the Doctor, glancing uneasily at the two captains.
The dogs were speedily harnessed to the sledge, and the march
resumed. [Illustration: ]
As they went along, the Doctor tried to get out of Altamont the real
motive that had brought him so far north. But the American made only
evasive replies, and Clawbonny whispered in old Johnson's ear--
"Two men we've got that need looking after."
"You are right," said Johnson.
"Hatteras never says a word to this American, and I must say the
man has not shown himself very grateful. I am here, fortunately."
"Mr. Clawbonny," said Johnson, "now this Yankee has come back
to life again, I must confess I don't much like the expression of
his face."
"I am much mistaken if he does not suspect the projects of
Hatteras."
"Do you think his own were similar?"
"Who knows? These Americans, Johnson, are bold, daring fellows. It
is likely enough an American would try to do as much as an
Englishman."
"Then you think that Altamont--"
"I think nothing about it, but his ship is certainly on the road
to the North Pole."
"But didn't Altamont say that he had been caught among the ice,
and dragged there irresistibly?"
"He said so, but I fancied there was a peculiar smile on his lips
while he spoke."
"Hang it! It would be a bad job, Mr. Clawbonny, if any feeling of
rivalry came between two men of their stamp."
"Heaven forfend! for it might involve the most serious
consequences, Johnson."
"I hope Altamont will remember he owes his life to us?"
"But do we not owe ours to him now? I grant, without us, he would
not be alive at this moment, but without him and his ship, what
would become of us?"
"Well, Mr. Clawbonny, you are here to keep things straight anyhow,
and that is a blessing."
"I hope I may manage it, Johnson."
The journey proceeded without any fresh incident, but on the
Saturday morning the travellers found themselves in a region of
quite an altered character. Instead of the wide smooth plain of ice
that had hitherto stretched before them, overturned icebergs and
broken hummocks covered the horizon; while the frequent blocks of
fresh-water ice showed that some coast was near.
Next day, after a hearty breakfast off the bear's paws, the little
party continued their route; but the road became toilsome and
fatiguing. Altamont lay watching the horizon with feverish
anxiety--an anxiety shared by all his companions, for, according to
the last reckoning made by Hatteras, they were now exactly in
latitude 83° 35" and longitude 120° 15", and the question of
life or death would be decided before the day was over.
At last, about two o'clock in the afternoon, Altamont started up
with a shout that arrested the whole party, and pointing to a white
mass that no eye but his could have distinguished from the
surrounding icebergs, exclaimed in a loud, ringing voice, "The
Porpoise."
CHAPTER VI.
THE PORPOISE
It was the 24th of March, and Palm Sunday, a bright, joyous day in
many a town and village of the Old World, but in this desolate
region what mournful silence prevailed! No willow branches here with
their silvery blossom--not even a single withered leaf to be seen
--not a blade of grass!
Yet this was a glad day to the travellers, for it promised them
speedy deliverance from the death that had seemed so inevitable.
They hastened onward, the dogs put forth renewed energy, and Duk
barked his loudest, till, before long, they arrived at the ship. The
Porpoise was completely buried under the snow. All her masts and
rigging had been destroyed in the shipwreck, and she was lying on a
bed of rocks so entirely on her side that her hull was uppermost.
They had to knock away fifteen feet of ice before they could even
catch a glimpse of her, and it was not without great difficulty that
they managed to get on board, and made the welcome discovery that
the provision stores had not been visited by any four-footed
marauders. It was quite evident, however, that the ship was not
habitable.
"Never mind!" said Hatteras, "we must build a snow-house, and
make ourselves comfortable on land."
"Yes, but we need not hurry over it," said the Doctor; "let us
do it well while we're about it, and for a time we can make shift
on board; for we must build a good, substantial house, that will
protect us from the bears as well as the cold. I'll undertake to
be the architect, and you shall see what a first-rate job I'll
make of it."
"I don't doubt your talents, Mr. Clawbonny," replied Johnson;
"but, meantime, let us see about taking up our abode here, and
making an inventory of the stores we find. There does not seem a
boat visible of any description, and I fear these timbers are in too
bad a condition to build a new ship out of them."
"I don't know that," returned Clawbonny, "time and thought
do wonders; but our first business is to build a house, and not a
ship; one thing at a time, I propose."
"And quite right too," said Hatteras; "so we'll go ashore
again."
They returned to the sledge, to communicate the result of their
investigation to Bell and Altamont; and about four in the afternoon
the five men installed themselves as well as they could on the
wreck. Bell had managed to make a tolerably level floor with planks
and spars; the stiffened cushions and hammocks were placed round the
stove to thaw, and were soon fit for use. Altamont, with the
Doctor's assistance, got on board without much trouble, and a sigh
of satisfaction escaped him as if he felt himself once more at
home--a sigh which to Johnson's ear boded no good.
The rest of the day was given to repose, and they wound up with a
good supper off the remains of the bear, backed by a plentiful
supply of biscuit and hot tea.
[Illustration: The poor fellows felt like colonists safely arrived
at their destination--P.57]
It was late next morning before Hatteras and his companions woke,
for their minds were not burdened now with any solicitudes about the
morrow, and they might sleep as long as they pleased. The poor
fellows felt like colonists safely arrived at their destination, who
had forgotten all the sufferings of the voyage, and thought only of
the new life that lay before them.
"Well, it is something at all events," said the Doctor, rousing
himself and stretching his arms, "for a fellow not to need to ask
where he is going to find his next bed and breakfast."
"Let us see what there is on board before we say much," said
Johnson.
The Porpoise has been thoroughly equipped and provisioned for a long
voyage, and, on making an inventory of what stores remained, they
found 6150 lbs. of flour, fat, and raisins; 2000 lbs. of salt beef
and pork, 1500 lbs. of pemmican; 700 lbs. of sugar, and the same of
chocolate; a chest and a half of tea, weighing 96 lbs.; 500 lbs. of
rice; several barrels of preserved fruits and vegetables; a quantity
of lime-juice, with all sorts of medicines, and 300 gallons of rum
and brandy. There was also a large supply of gunpowder, ball, and
shot, and coal and wood in abundance.
Altogether, there was enough to last those five men for more than
two years, and all fear of death from starvation or cold was at an
end.
"Well, Hatteras, we're sure of enough to live on now," said
the Doctor, "and there is nothing to hinder us reaching the
Pole."
"The Pole!" echoed Hatteras.
"Yes, why not? Can't we push our way overland in the summer
months?"
"We might overland; but how could we cross water?"
"Perhaps we may be able to build a boat out of some of the
ship's planks."
"Out of an American ship!" exclaimed the captain, contemptuously.
Clawbonny was prudent enough to make no reply, and presently changed
the conversation by saying--
"Well, now we have seen what we have to depend upon, we must begin
our house and store-rooms. We have materials enough at hand; and,
Bell, I hope you are going to distinguish yourself," he added.
"I am ready, Mr. Clawbonny," replied Bell; "and, as for
material, there is enough for a town here with houses and streets."
"We don't require that; we'll content ourselves with imitating
the Hudson's Bay Company. They entrench themselves in fortresses
against the Indians and wild beasts. That's all we need--a house
one side and stores the other, with a wall and two bastions. I must
try to make a plan."
"Ah! Doctor, if you undertake it," said Johnson, "I am sure
you'll make a good thing of it."
"Well, the first part of the business is to go and choose the
ground. Will you come with us Hatteras?"
"I'll trust all that to you, Doctor," replied the captain.
"I'm going to look along the coast."
Altamont was too feeble yet to take part in any work, so he remained
on the ship, while the others commenced to explore the unknown
continent.
On examining the coast, they found that the Porpoise was in a sort
of bay bristling with dangerous rocks, and that to the west, far as
the eye could reach, the sea extended, entirely frozen now, though
if Belcher and Penny were to be believed, open during the summer
months. Towards the north, a promontory stretched out into the sea,
and about three miles away was an island of moderate size. The
roadstead thus formed would have afforded safe anchorage to ships,
but for the difficulty of entering it. A considerable distance
inland there was a solitary mountain, about 3000 feet high, by the
Doctor's reckoning; and half-way up the steep rocky cliffs that
rose from the shore, they noticed a circular plateau, open on three
sides to the bay and sheltered on the fourth by a precipitous wall,
120 feet high.
This seemed to the Doctor the very place for this house, from its
naturally fortified situation. By cutting steps in the ice, they
managed to climb up and examine it more closely.
[Illustration: ]
They were soon convinced they could not have a better foundation,
and resolved to commence operations forthwith, by removing the hard
snow more than ten feet deep, which covered the ground, as both
dwelling and storehouses must have a solid foundation.
This preparatory work occupied the whole of Monday, Tuesday, and
Wednesday. At last they came to hard granite close in grain, and
containing garnets and felspar crystals, which flew out with every
stroke of the pickaxe.
[Illustration: ]
The dimensions and plan of the snow-house were then settled by the
Doctor. It was to be divided into three rooms, as all they needed
was a bed-room, sitting-room and kitchen. The sitting-room was to be
in the middle, the kitchen to the left, and the bed-room to the
right.
For five days they toiled unremittingly. There was plenty of
material, and the walls required to be thick enough to resist summer
thaws. Already the house began to present an imposing appearance.
There were four windows in front, made of splendid sheets of ice, in
Esquimaux fashion, through which the light came softly in as if
through frosted glass.
Outside there was a long covered passage between the two windows of
the sitting-room. This was the entrance hall, and it was shut in by
a strong door taken from the cabin of the Porpoise. The Doctor was
highly delighted with his performance when all was finished, for
though it would have been difficult to say to what style of
architecture it belonged, it was strong, and that was the chief
thing.
The next business was to move in all the furniture of the Porpoise.
The beds were brought first and laid down round the large stove in
the sleeping room; then came chairs, tables, arm-chairs, cupboards,
and benches for the sitting-room, and finally the ship furnaces and
cooking utensils for the kitchen. Sails spread on the ground did
duty for carpets, and also served for inner doors.
[Illustration: ]
The walls of the house were over five feet thick, and the windows
resembled port-holes for cannon. Every part was as solid as
possible, and what more was wanted? Yet if the Doctor could have had
his way, he would have made all manner of ornamental additions, in
humble imitation of the Ice Palace built in St. Petersburgh in
January, 1740, of which he had read an account. He amused his
companions after work in the evening by describing its grandeur, the
cannons in front, and statues of exquisite beauty, and the wonderful
elephant that spouted water out of his trunk by day and flaming
naphtha by night--all cut out of ice. He also depicted the
interior, with tables, and toilette tables, mirrors, candelabra,
tapers, beds, mattresses, pillows, curtains, time-pieces, chairs,
playing-cards, wardrobes, completely fitted up--in fact, everything
in the way of furniture that could be mentioned, and the whole
entirely composed of ice.
It was on Easter Sunday, the 31st of March, when the travellers
installed themselves in their new abode and after holding divine
service in the sitting-room, they devoted the remainder of the day
to rest.
Next morning they set about building the storehouses and powder
magazine. This took a whole week longer, including the time spent in
unloading the vessel, which was a task of considerable difficulty,
as the temperature was so low, that they could not work for many
hours at a time. At length on the 8th of April, provisions, fuel,
and ammunition were all safe on terra firma, and deposited in their
respective places. A sort of kennel was constructed a little
distance from the house for the Greenland dogs, which the Doctor
dignified by the name of "Dog Palace." Duk shared his master's
quarters.
All that now remained to be done was to put a parapet right round
the plateau by way of fortification.
[Illustration: ]
By the 15th this was also completed, and the snow-house might bid
defiance to a whole tribe of Esquimaux, or any other hostile
invaders, if indeed any human beings whatever were to be found on
this unknown continent, for Hatteras, who had minutely examined the
bay and the surrounding coast, had not been able to discover the
least vestiges of the huts that are generally met with on shores
frequented by Greenland tribes. The shipwrecked sailors of the
Porpoise and Forward seemed to be the first whose feet had ever trod
this lone region.
CHAPTER VII.
AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.
While all these preparations for winter were going on Altamont was
fast regaining strength. His vigorous constitution triumphed, and he
was even able to lend a helping hand in the unlading of the ship. He
was a true type of the American, a shrewd, intelligent man, full of
energy and resolution, enterprising, bold, and ready for anything.
He was a native of New York, he informed his companions, and had
been a sailor from his boyhood.
The Porpoise had been equipped and sent out by a company of wealthy
merchants belonging to the States, at the head of which was the
famous Grinnell.
There were many points of resemblance between Altamont and Hatteras,
but no affinities. Indeed, any similarity that there was between
them, tended rather to create discord than to make the men friends.
With a greater show of frankness, he was in reality far more deep
and crafty than Hatteras. He was more free and easy, but not so
true-hearted, and somehow his apparent openness did not inspire such
confidence as the Englishman's gloomy reserve.
[Illustration: ]
The Doctor was in constant dread of a collision between the rival
captains, and yet one must command inevitably, and which should it
be! Hatteras had the men, but Altamont had the ship, and it was hard
to say whose was the better right.
It required all the Doctor's tact to keep things smooth, for the
simplest conversation threatened to lead to strife.
At last, in spite of all his endeavours, an outbreak occurred on the
occasion of a grand banquet by way of "house-warming," when the
new habitation was completed.
This banquet was Dr Clawbonny's idea. He was head-cook, and
distinguished himself by the concoction of a wonderful pudding,
which would positively have done no dishonour to the cuisine of the
Lord Chancellor of England.
Bell most opportunely chanced to shoot a white hare and several
ptarmigans, which made an agreeable variety from the pemmican and
salt meat.
Clawbonny was master of the ceremonies, and brought in his pudding,
adorning himself with the insignia of his office--a big apron, and
a knife dangling at his belt.
As Altamont did not conform to the teetotal régime of his English
companions, gin and brandy were set on the table after dinner, and
the others, by the Doctor's orders, joined him in a glass for
once, that the festive occasion might be duly honoured. When the
different toasts were being drunk, one was given to the United
States, to which Hatteras made no response.
This important business over, the Doctor introduced an interesting
subject of conversation by saying--
"My friends, it is not enough to have come thus far in spite of so
many difficulties; we have something more yet to do. I propose we
should bestow a name on this continent, where we have found friendly
shelter and rest, and not only on the continent, but on the several
bays, peaks, and promontories that we meet with. This has been
invariably done by navigators and is a most necessary proceeding."
"Quite right," said Johnson, "when once a place is named, it
takes away the feeling of being castaways on an unknown shore."
"Yes," added Bell, "and we might be going on some expedition
and obliged to separate, or go out hunting, and it would make it
much easier to find one another if each locality had a definite
name."
[Illustration: ]
"Very well; then," said the Doctor, "since we are all agreed,
let us go steadily to work."
Hatteras had taken no part in the conversation as yet, but seeing
all eyes fixed on him, he rose at last, and said--
"If no one objects, I think the most suitable name we can give our
house is that of its skilful architect, the best man among us. Let
us call it 'Doctor's House.'"
"Just the thing!" said Bell.
"First rate!" exclaimed Johnson, "'Doctor's House!'"
"We cannot do better," chimed in Altamont. "Hurrah for Doctor
Clawbonny."
Three hearty cheers were given, in which Duk joined lustily, barking
his loudest.
"It is agreed then," said Hatteras, "that this house is to be
called 'Doctor's House.'"
The Doctor, almost overcome by his feelings, modestly protested
against the honour; but he was obliged to yield to the wishes of his
friends, and the new habitation was formally named "Doctor's
House."
"Now, then," said the Doctor, "let us go onto name the most
important of our discoveries."
"There is that immense sea which surrounds us, unfurrowed as yet
by a single ship."
"A single ship!" repeated Altamont. "I think you have
forgotten the Porpoise, and yet she certainly did not get here
overland,"
"Well, it would not be difficult to believe she had," replied
Hatteras, "to see on what she lies at present."
"True, enough, Hatteras," said Altamont, in a piqued tone;
"but, after all, is not that better than being blown to atoms like
the Forward?"
Hatteras was about to make some sharp retort, but Clawbonny
interposed.
"It is not a question of ships, my friends," he said, "but of
a fresh sea."
"It is no new sea," returned Altamont; "it is in every Polar
chart, and has a name already. It is called the Arctic Ocean, and I
think it would be very inconvenient to alter its designation. Should
we find out by and by, that, instead of being an ocean it is only a
strait or gulf, it will be time enough to alter it then."
"So be it," said Hatteras.
"Very well, that is an understood thing, then," said the Doctor,
almost regretting that he had started a discussion so pregnant with
national rivalries.
"Let us proceed with the continent where we find ourselves at
present," resumed Hatteras. "I am not aware that any name
whatever has been affixed to it, even in the most recent charts."
He looked at Altamont as he spoke, who met his gaze steadily, and
said--
"Possibly you may be mistaken again, Hatteras."
"Mistaken! What! This unknown continent, this virgin soil----"
"Has already a name," replied Altamont, coolly.
Hatteras was silent, but his lip quivered.
"And what name has it, then?" asked the Doctor, rather
astonished at Altamont's affirmation.
"My dear Clawbonny," replied the American, "it is the custom,
not to say the right, of every navigator to christen the soil on
which he is the first to set foot. It appears to me, therefore, that
it is my privilege and duty on this occasion to exercise my
prerogative, and--"
"But, sir," interrupted Johnson, rather nettled at his sang
froid.
"It would be a difficult matter to prove that the Porpoise did not
come here, even supposing she reached this coast by land,"
continued Altamont, without noticing Johnson's protest. "The
fact is indisputable," he added looking at Hatteras.
[Illustration: "I dispute the claim," said the Englishman,
restraining himself by a powerful effort.--P.72]
"I dispute the claim," said the Englishman, restraining himself
by a powerful effort. "To name a country, you must first discover
it, I suppose, and that you certainly did not do. Besides, but for
us, where would you have been, sir, at this moment, pray? Lying
twenty feet deep under the snow."
"And without me, sir," retorted Altamont, hotly, "without me
and my ship, where would you all be at this moment? Dead, from cold
and hunger."
"Come, come, friends," said the Doctor, "don't get to words,
all that can be easily settled. Listen to me."
"Mr. Hatteras," said Altamont, "is welcome to name whatever
territories he may discover, should he succeed in discovering any;
but this continent belongs to me. I should not even consent to its
having two names like Grinnell's Land, which is also called Prince
Albert's Land, because it was discovered almost simultaneously by
an Englishman and an American. This is quite another matter; my
right of priority is incontestable. No ship before mine ever touched
this shore, no foot before mine ever trod this soil. I have given it
a name, and that name it shall keep."
"And what is that name?" inquired the Doctor.
"New America," replied Altamont.
Hatteras trembled with suppressed passion, but by a violent effort
restrained himself.
"Can you prove to me," said Altamont, "that an Englishman has
set foot here before an American?"
Johnson and Bell said nothing, though quite as much offended as the
captain by Altamont's imperious tone. They felt that reply was
impossible.
For a few minutes there was an awkward silence, which the Doctor
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