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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. '.'^I t AI^ ARCTIC ADVENTURES BY WILLIAM II. G. KINGSTON AUTHOR 07 "ORi:\T .M-rjICAN' TIJAVF.I.I. CU'S," " PI(;P.Y IIEATHCOTR, " bUirWKiXKS ANIJ DI.ASirUS AT SI'A," ETC --i*.---**.- -% -■-> WITH FORTY ILLVSTRATIOys LONDON CKORCE ROUTLEDGK AND SONS, LlMlTllD r.KOAr»'>v\v, T.iPCAir, iiii.l 91843 BOOKS FOR BOYS BY W. H. G. KINGSTON. ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. With 42 Illustrations. ARCTIC ADVENTURES. With 40 lUiistraiions. ADVENTURES IN INDIA. With 36 Illustrations. ADVENTURES IN AUSTRAUA, With 34 Illustrations. ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. With 36 Illustrations LoH.lon. GEORGE ROUTLEDJE ^ SOXS, Limttd. y LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. .//•**«- 5ANM>S' STK<;r,At.I. 5 YARNS ..«••• i • Mir, I'.Arr. to 'niF: main iimck iiiK (AnnKi:!) wiiai.f. • AN' UNF.QirAl. I-NCOrNTIK " MIK FUI.I. MDON nUKST KdRTII IUOM AMMI TIIK CI.Ot'DS " IN KVF.KY DIKKCTION I.oFTV ICF.IlKKr.S ANO RNTF.NSIVF. FI OI S WF.RE SIII.I. TO IIF. SF.FN "A IIF.AVV SKA CAME ROI.I.INr, IJI', AI.Mi >sr 111. I. INC. I 111', l;0 A 1 " "IMF MEN DKAOr.EI) TIIF, liOAT MtMi: WAV IP rilF. SIRAMi" . '■.\MUK\V MAHE A SICNAI. I'O VV, !<> AIir.".\.|l CArilolMV" . SANDY SUri'OlMINO tUOII, IN HIS AUMS , niF. "hardy Norseman" MKKTlNr. OF WHALERS IN THE ARJ IIC SPAS AMONGST THE ICI r.ERf;S , , . S! IKINC. FOR AN Ol' TI.ET , . . . HIE SOLE Sl'RVIVOR OF THE I'.OA I 's CREW . , ■ . . I.ia-IN'S SHORT-I.IVED '1 1: 1 r N; ! H CIOSF. QUAE. IT RS , . , MAIH OF THE MATE A CRmcAL rosnioN "RWEN AND ' SAT TF HV IHE II'.HF <'P MM I \M| " . . . f.-.fiB 9 17 27 3-5 4« ■14 47 (•3 Co / ■) 79 9.) iO "3 ' ." ■> ' V) '45 //.ST OF II.LUSTKATIOX^. UI^Pl.F.AsAM horiliv . rKKrAuiNi; ro «.<• ashokk " NO I'l.ACI. I lUr. IIOMK 1 ■' . miii.iiiN<; orKUAiio.Ns r; i» t. A nANgilKl' <>!•• lU.llil'.l K IIUNTINC. Till', WAI.KI'S KSQl'IMAfX (IIASINO .SKALS . Mil. KAYACK . :'.i:scri:i» .... • • • • f • f • a tf • # • • • TAGR 167 171 >7J 179 iSi 1S5 187 ^"-fj I'AGB •5.^ . i6i ir.7 • 171 •73 • 179 iSi • . IS5 . 187 ARCTIC AUVENIURES. CHAPTER I. ,f,H^T- I HAD often dreamed of iceberg's and Polar bears, whales and rorquals, of walruses and seals, of ICsqui- niaux and La])landers anil kayaks, of the Aurora liorealis and the midnight sun, and numerous other wonders of the arctic regions, and here was I on board the stout ship the IlarJy XorscnKvi, of and from Dundee, Captain Hudson, Master, actually on my way to behold them, to engage in the adventun\s, and perchance to endure the perils and hardships which voyagers in those northern seas must be prepared to encounter. J»orn in the Highlands, and brought up by my uncle, the laird of Glenlochy, a keen sportsman, I had been accustomed to roam over my native hills, ritle in hand, often without shoes, the use of which 1 looked upon as effeminate. I feared neither th(3 biting '■old, nor the perils I expected to meet \\\\.\\. I had a motive also for undertaking the trip. My brother Andrew had become surgeon of the Hardy Norseman and we were both anxious to obtain tidings of our second brother David, vho had gone in the same 8 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. cap.iar the ship as we can. The weather looks a bit threatening, and the sooner we are alongside the better." We did as he advised, though we made but little progress. We had not gone far when another whale was seen spouting in an opposite direction to the ship. The temptation to try to kill it was too groat to be resisted, and, regardless of the threatening look of the weather, casting off from our prize we made chase. The whale sounded just before we got up to her, but we knew she would rise to the surface again before long, and we lay on our oars waiting for her appearance. "There she spouts, there she spouts !" cried Sandy, and we saw, not a quarter of a mile off, our chase. Again we gave way. As we got close to the monster Sandy stood up with his gun ready. lie fired, following up his shot with his hand harpoon. The lines ran out at a rapid rate until the ends were reached and we had no others to bend on. Instead of sounding, the whale swam along the surface, dragging the boat after her right in the wind's eye, while the foam in thick masses flew over us. The sea was getting up, and soon not only spray but the tops of the waves came washing over the gunwale. Still our only chance of winning the prize was to hold on, and we hoped, from the exertions the whale was making, that its strength would soon be ARCTIC ADVENTURES. '9 F-xtiausted. I lookod astern. Tlio ship was nowhere to be seen, nor could I distiiiiruish the llaj^ of the other whale. Our position was critical, and we had to depend entirely upon ourselves. At length the whale began to slacken its speed, and we began to haul in the lines. Sandy got another gun ready, and had half-a-dozen lances at hand to dart into the back of the monster when we should get up to it. We were within half-a-dozen fathoms when, suddenly raising its huge flukes, down it went again, dragging out the lines. Suddenly the man whose business it was to attend to the coil of the hand harpoon gave a loud (tv. J'x^fore anyone could stop him he was overl)oard, disappearing in an instant under the water. It was no use cutting the line, and, unless by a miracle the whale should return to the surface, his fate wao sealed. Out ran the lines, but a few fathoms re- mained in the tubs. " Get the axe ready, Tom," said vSandy to the man who had taken the other poor fellow's place. In vain he attempted to take a turn round the bollard, to check the monster's descent ; each time that he did so the bows dipped, and it seemed as if the boat must inevitably be drawn down, but as he let the line out her bows rose. vStill the hope of obtaining the whale made him hold on. We might also recover the body of our shipmate ; that he should be alive we knew was impossible. The line ran out, it was near tii3 bitter end. I sprang to the after-part of the boat to assist in counter-balancinr;* the pressure forward. Jjut this did not avail tdreacU' the- water was rushiny iO ARCTIC ADVENTURES. over the bows. Two sharp blows were given. The whale was loose. We mijjfht yet; however, recover the lines, as the wounds the monster had received must ultimately prove mortal. Again we took to our oars to keep the boat's head to the sea, while we v. atched for the reappoarance of the whale which we knew must soon riso to the surface. W'e had been too eagi^'ly engaged to pay attention to the appearance of the weather. It had now, we found, become very much worse than before. ICven should wo kill the whale we could not hoj)e to tow it to the ship. With bitter disappointment we had to acknowledge that our shipmate's life had been uselessly lost and our own labour thrown away, while we could only hope against hope that the weather would again moderate and that we should fall in with the whale we had before killed. We had now to consider our own safety, and to try to get back to the ship. We knew that she\.ould have beat up to the boats which had the whale in tow. We had the wind in our favour, but to run before the fast rising seas would soon be perilous in the extreme. It must be done, however, for we had come away without food or water, and hunger and thirst made us doubly anxious to get on board. Already the sun had set. We had been a far longer lime away than we had supposed. Night came down upon us. The boat's compass feebly lighted by the lantern would, however, enable us to steer a proper course. We bent to our oars, but, unaccustomed to pull in so heavy a sea, I had great difficulty in keep- ing mine moving. Every instant it seemed as if we j ARCTIC ADVENTURES. ?i en. The ■ recover rece ived ►at's head ■aranco of so to th(^ od to pay r. It had an bofore. )t hope to ntment we i had been way, while le weather fall in with and to try she \.ould lale in tow. before the le extreme, onie away 1st made us far longer :amc down |ted by the a proper istomed to in keep- h as if we must he overwhc^hncd by the foaming billows which rolled up astorn. Sandy had taken his place at the steering oar, and uilh cheerim;- words urged us to continue our exer- tiotis; but all liands by this time were j)n'tty well knocked up with what we had previously gone til rough. We tugged and tugged away ; now a sea roared up on one side, now on the other; now we plunged down into a deep gulf from which it seemed as if we should n(>ver rise. 1 had supposed it impossible that a boat could live in such tumultuous waters. Not a star could be discovennl over luvad, while around W(^ could only dimly discern dark li(iuid masses capped with hi. '.sing foam. How earnestly I longed for daylight and quiet, and to be once more on the deck of our ship! I knew too how anxious my hnHlnu* would be. Though tumbled and tossed, the boat still continued to float. Hour after hour passed by, they seemed to b(^ days or weeks. We had been pulling 1 fancied all night, and expected daylight every moment to appear, when Sandy exclaimed — ■ '* Hurrah boys, there's the ship's light. We shall get safe on board now." Although we could see the ship's light, we could not be seen from her deck, and she might be standing away from us. Sandy anxiously watched the light, then altered our course more to the eastward, whereljy the sei being brought on our beam rendered our condition even more dangerous than before. Sandy assured us, however, that we were getting nearer ; land at last, believing that we might be heard, we all 22 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. shouted together at the top of our voices, forgettinc; that the ratthnj^ of the blocks and dash of the sea against the sides of the ship would have rendered oui' cries inaudible. I had for long been pulling on mechanically, scarcely knowing what I was about, when I heard Sandy again shout out, " ITeave lad, heave," and looking round I saw the bowman stand- ing up with a rope in his hand. It had been hove to him, but the end must have been slack. We had now to regain the ship which was Hying from us, but could that be done, I askful myself. Again Sandy cheered us up ])y exclaiming, "She'll heave to, lads ; never dou])t it, she'll heave to." Of that I feared there was but little chance, for her dark hull quickly again disappeared, and I could no longer see even the least glinnner of light. Sandy, however, declared that he could, and on we pulled as before. I should have said that we passed another long hour before we once more saw the hull of tin.' shi]">, and her tall masts swaying to and fro against the sky. It was no easy matter to get alongside, halt full of water as was our boat. Thanks to the skill of I Sandy, we at length succeeded in hooking on, and the boat was hoisted on board, by which time I was morej dead than alive. My brother and Ewen carried me below, and I was I speedily restored by a basin of hot broth. Juven had begun to tell me what had happened to the otherl boats and the whale, when, eager as I was to know, ]| dropped off fast asleep. In the morning, when I awoke, I found a furiousl gale raging, and the ship hove to. It was a merc^j ARCTIC ADVEXTURES. »J wo li.itl g'ot on board when wo did, for if not we sliould in all probahilit}' li«»vo horn lost. Andn-w told nio tluit tho whalo had hcon lowed up aloni^-sidi^, but tliiit, bcf'on: liidf tho blul)bor had boon cut off, th(;y had boon coinpollod to cast it adrift. Th<» captain intended (o wait where we were in the hopes of a^^iin g^ettinj^' hold of it, and of pickinc,^ up the other whale we had kill^ The g"cilcs of those northern regions during the [summer though sharp are generally short. As soon as the weather moderated we made sail, to try and pick up the whales we had killed, or if unable to find I them to attack others The carpenter and his crew meantime were busily [employed in repairing damages and building another Ihoat in lieu of the one which had been lost. A sharp [look-out was kept from the crow's nest for the dead whales, or for any fresh whales whivh might be seen jpouting. " I am afr£ud it is like looking for a needle in a laystack," observed Sandy to me. *' Still there is lothing like trying ; one or two may be seen, to be >ure, but as to falling in with many, it's more than I xpect we shall do, for they are mostly, do ye sea i[one northward among the ice." Just as Sandy had delivered himself of this opinion, the second mate from the crow's nest shouted : — *' There she spouts ! There she spouts ! " and )ointed to the north-east. The loud stamping of the men on deck soon 26 A R CnC A D VE - \ 2 'o'A/iS. summoned those who were l)eh)w. The first mate! took charge of one b(jat, and tlie bo Uswain, witlij whom I went, of the other. Away we pullcil ai- fa>t| as we corM lay our backs to the oars, h(>|;in;.f to jr^'^\ up to the whale before she sound'Ml, Ijut we Vvcre dis- appointed ; down she went, and we iiad to wait forj her reappearance. It was uncertain where she woul'l* next come up. We saw the mate's boat paddling toj the northward. " She'll not come up there," observed Sandyj steering to the west. We kept our oars slowdy moving, ready to gi\ej way at an instant's notice. Tiie result proved that! neither was right, for the whal(3 appeared betweenj the two points. "There she spouts! " shouted Sandy, and away wi pulled as if our lives depended upon our exertionsj Our boat was somewhat nearer the whale than was the other, and Sandy was eager to have the honoui] of winning the prize. The whale was evidently one! of the largest size. It had discovered our approat-lil and seemed prepared for tlie encounter. NotwitliJ standing this we pulled on, Sandy standing in the bows with his gun ready to send his harpoon into tlu monster's side. He lired and, as the line ran oiitl seizing his spear, he was in the act of thrusting iJ not far from where he had planted his harpoon, wIk ij he shouted : — " Back of all i Back of all ! " it was indeed time, for Sand^' had observed by th^ movements of the whale that it was about to thro\J itself out of the water. Before we had pulled first matej vciin, with] 1(mI as fasti 4ii,t^ to grtj 3 wiTC dis- to wait fori i she woLikll jaddling tol ed SaiidyJ dy to give ) roved Ihatj !d between} id away we • exertions.! than wa^ he honour idently one! approarll Notwitli] ng in thJ )ii into th? e ran outJ irusting i| )oon, wh( J ved by tha t to thro\J i pulled O u w < wmm jS ARCTIC ADVENTURES. couple ot strokes it rose completely above the siirfacoj and, rapidly turning', down came its enormous flukes on the very centre of our boat, cutting it in two, as ifl a giant's hatchet had descended upon it. Those, wlioj were al^le sprang overboard and swam in all direc- tions for our lives. Two poor fellows in the centre o(| the boat had been struck by those ponderous flukesj and, without uttering a cry, sank immediately.l While Sandy, with a spear in his hand, still clung tol the bows imtil jerked off by a second blow, whicli| sent that part of the boat flying into the air. As I swam away I looked round with a horriblel dread of seeing the whale open-mouthed following me ; but, instead, I caught sight of its flukes raisoq high in the air^ and down it dived, carrying out the line still fast. Sandy shouted out to us to swim back to the wrcclJ to try and secure the end, that the mate's boat miglij get hold of it when she came up ; but just then the tut itself floated away and, as may be supposed, we wen all eager to get hold of whatever would assist to floaij us. Some clung to the fragments of the wreck others to the oars, until rescued by the mate's boatj which (juickly reached the scene of the disastc Had not our two shipmates lost their lives, thij accident was too common an occurrence to make u think much about the matter. No sooner were \\\ on board than we pulled away in the direction \\\ thought the whale would reappear, knowing that must soon come to the surface again to breathe.' As I lay exhausted in the bottom of the boat heard the cry of "There she spouts! " and 1 saw till A R CTIC A n I y: XI' if RES. aij :row rowing lustily away. I soon recovered suffi- ;irntly to look about me. The mate approached tautiously, to be prepared for any vicious trick the ^•'nale might play. He fired, and I heard the men 111 out: — "A fall, a fall!" Several lances were also stuck into it. The Ireature dived. A second line was bent on, but before it ran to the end it slackened, and we hauled [p ready to attack the whale with our lances. \\y this time a third boat had come up, and when |ie whale appeared it was attacked on both sides. .ftcr some violent struggles it turned over on its 5(lo. It was dead. Recollecting the loss of our two shipmates the liout of triumph was subdued, and the crews re- rained from singing as usual as we towed the (rize towards the ship, v.hich was bc^iting up to llM't US. I now saw the whole operation of "flensing," or itting off the blubber. A band was first formed )und the animal, between the head and fins, called i(3 " kent." To this a series of tackles, called the Ikent-purchase," was lixed, by which means, with [e aid of the windlass, the body of the whale could turned round and round. The blubber was then It off by spades and large knives, parallel cuts being lade from end to end, and then divided by cross cuts |to pieces about half a ton each. These being )isted up on deck were cut into smaller portions and )wed below in casks. The whole part of the lubber above water being cut off, the body was t \ 30 ARCTIC ADVFXTURE^. further turned round, so as to expose a newl portion ; and, tliis l)eing" slrijjped off, another turnl to the body vvas given. The kent was then un- rolled, and; the whalebone from the head being! extracted, the remainder of the mass, called thel ** kreng," was allowed to go adrift, affording a iinel feast to tiie molli(;s, which in countless numbers hadl been flying round us, ready to take possession of^ their prize. From its power of wing and its general! habits, the fulmar c^f tlie north may be likened tol the all)atross of the southern hemisphere. Why tliel fulmar is call<3d molly I could not learn. Sandyj assured me that many sailors believe the birds to bel animated by the spirits of the ancient Greenlandj skippers. " For because, do ye see," he remarked, " thel mollies have as great a liking for blubber as thosel old fellows had." The fulmars having gorged themselves flew awayj towards the nearest ice to the northward, in wlii(li| direction we now steered, the captain having aban- doned all hope of recovering the lost whales. Scarcely! had we got the blub])or stowed away than it againl began to blow hard, but v/e were still able to steorl northward, a constant look-out being kept for the ice, We were standing on when I heard '* Hard to star board,"* shouted, and on looking ahead I saw a hugoj mass of ice, of fantastic shape, rising out of thewatorj of sufilcient size, had we touched it and caused it tol overturn, to have crushed the .':hip. ScrajDing by wc found ourselves almost immediately afterwards sur- rounded by countless masses, differing greatly in size,! ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 3> po.'ie a new another turnj ,vas then un- i head behigl is, called thel -fording a fiiiel 5 numbers had| possession of xnd its general! be likened to ere. Why the learn. vSandy the birds to l)e ent Greenland ^marked, " the .ibber as those ves flew aw.n Ivard, in which' having aban- tales. Scarcely than it again II able to steer Icpt for the ice. I' Hard to stai*' I saw a huge Lit of the water, lid caused it to craping by we Ifterwards sur- greatly in size, most of them biiing loose drift-iro. Our stout ship, however, still continued her course, avoiding some masses and turning off other pieces from her well-pro- tected bows. Ev^ery mile we advanced, the ice was becoming thicker. Still on we went, threading our way through the heaving masses. At length, above jtlio ceaseless splashing sound, a roar increasing in oudness struck our ears. It was the ocean beating m the still fixed ice, and ever and anon hurling raiments against it with the force of battering rams. " The sea is doing us good service," observed the iat(% " for it will break up the floes." It seemed to me much more likely that the ship ivould be dashed to pieces. When, however, the fixed CO could be seen from the crow's nest, we hove to, to \'ait for calmer weather. There we lay, tossed about vith the huge slabs and masses of ice grinding to- (ther or rolling over each other around us, and lin/atening every moment to come crashing down on ur deck, while reiterated blows came thundering Ljainst our sides. Xight came on, and shortly afterwards the snow egan to fall thickly, covering our deck, while from Rfj side of the heavens the full moon burst forth from mid the clouds, lighting up the scene, increasing ther than diminishing its horrors. The snow circled thick eddies round us, the sea foamed and raged, jnd masses of ice in the wildest motion were swept ■; the timbers strained and creaked, while the ship ook under the reiterated shocks, sufiicient it seemed rend her into fragments, but the ice which had llected round her prevented her destruction THE FULL MOON BURST FORTH FROM AMID THE CLOUDS. ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 33 Kwen and I occasionally went on deck, for to sleep was impossible. "Are you sorry you came to sear" I asked. " No," he answered, " I wanted to know what a storm was like, and now I shall be satisfied, but I shall be glad when it's calm again." When I awoke a change had come over the scene. I went on deck, a perfect calm prevailed. All round us were piles of ice. The blocks and masses which stood out against the sky were cast into shades, while the level floes sparkled like silver in the rising sun. Far away to the southward we could still see the ocean heaving slowly. In a short time, however, leads between the bergs and floes opened out, the water being of the colour of lead. All hands were called up to make sail, and \ve stood on forcing our way between the floes, until open water was reached, though in every direction lofty icebergs and extensive Hoes were still to be seen. Many of the bergs were of the most fantastic form and brilliant colours. Some had arches of vast size, others caverns worn in them within which the ice appeared of the brightest blue and green, curtained with glittering icicles, all with- out being of stainless white. I should fill up the whole of my journal were I to attempt to describe all the wonders a.nd beauties of I the Arctic regions. Our object, when wh-ales were not to be met with, I was to kill walruses, and for this purpose our boats Uvere provided with the necessary gar. We had in each boat six harpoon-heads, and four shafts of white I pine. Each harpoon had fastened to its neck one end o mmm 34 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. of a line, twelve or fifteen fathoms long, the line being coiled away in its proper box. It is not necessary to have longer lines, because the walrus does not fre- quent water more than fifteen fathoms deep, and even should the water exceed that depth, owing to the pres- sure above him he is unable to exert his full strength. Besides these harpoons, we had four lances nine feet in length, to which the iron barbed heads were strongly fixed. As we were ap]:)roaching the ice, we caught sight of two hundred black heads, at least, swimming rapidly along. They were morse, or wal- ruses, and Andrew declared had got young with them I who would retard their progress. Three boats were instantly lowered with their proper gear. I went with Sandy, who was an experienced walrus-hunter, and at once took the lead. We made the boat fiy| through the water, while ahead wa^s the herd of wal- ruses bellowing, snorting, blowing, and splashing.] The herd kept close together, now diving, now re- apjiearing simultaneously. One moment we saw their] grizzly heads and long gleaming white tusks above the water, then they gave a spout and took a breath of fresh air, and the next moment their brown backs and huge flippers were to be seen and the whole herd were down. Sandy stood up in the bows with hisj harpoon ready for a dart. In a few seconds up again came the walruses, and we were in their midst. Thel harpoon flew from vSandy's hand deep into the body] of the nearest walrus. He then seized another har- poon and darted it into a "junger" which camel swimming incautiously by. Its mother, hearing itsl plaintive cry, rushed towards us with her formidablel ne being essary to not fre- and even the pres- strength. ices nine iads were le ice, we at lecist, e, or wal- vith them I oats were I went I is-hunter, e boat iiy| pd of wal- plashing.| now re- saw their I Ks above a breath wn backs ole herd with his up again Ust. The the body her har- ch came aring iisl rmidable h( R D 2 ARCTIC ADVENTURES, 37 tusks, endeavouring to recover it ; but before she had time to dig them in the side of the boat a shot from one of our guns and a plunge from Sandy's spear had terminated her existence. The "junger," which was only slightly wounded, uttered a whimpering bark, when a score or more of walruses swam fiercely towards us, rearing their heads out of the water, snorting and blowing, ready to tear the boat to fragments. Several were killed before the calf had ceased its cries, when they prudently retired to a distance to escape our bullets and the thrusts from our spears. We had secured six walruses; for, though others were wounded they sank. So well satisfied was the captain with the result of our chase, that, soon after the blubber and skins had been stowed away, he ordered the two boats to be prepared for another chase. Andrew, who wished to see the sport, went in the boatswain's boat, and Ewen got leave to accompany us, he being now able to pull an oar well. We could see the land to the westward, and., by keeping as close to it as the ice would allow, we hoped to fall in with plenty of game. We accordingly pulled away to the west where the sea was tolerably open. Our wish was to find the animals asleep on the ice where they could be more easily attacked and secured than in the water in which they have the means of exerting their great strength to the utter- most, whereas on the ice they were at our mercy. The days were now increasing in length so much I that we often forgot how many hours we had been out. Though the Arctic summer was approaching the 38 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. weather continued uncertain. We had killed two ordinary-sized walruses, when a third, an enormous fellow, was seen sleeping not far from the edge of the floe. We approached cautiously, hoping to kill him, or at all events to get a harpoon well secured in his body. Once he lifted up his head and winked an eye, but did not appear to apprehend danger. W ith bated breaths we urged the boat slowly forward. I\Iy brother fired and the bullet went crashing into the animal's head. Next instant Sandy, leaping out, drove his harpoon into its body. It was fortunate that he succeeded in doing this, as the walrus by a violent eftbrt rolled itself over into the water rapidly carrying out the line, the end of which was secured to the bollard. Sandy had barely time to leap back into the boat, when away we went, towed by the walrus, the bow pressed down in a way which threatened to drag it under water. Sandy stood ready, axe in hand, to cut the line to save us from such a catastrophe. Suddenly the line slackened. The walrus dived and shortly afterwards came up again. My brother fired and missed. The animal dis- appeared. We felt far from easy, for we knew that there was a great chance of its rising directly under the boat which it might too possibly capsize, or it might tear out a plank with its formidable tusks, when it would follow up the proceeding by attacking us as we struggled in the water. Happily, however, exhausted by the wounds it had received, it rose a short distance ahead, when a thrust from Andrew's spear finished its career. We hauled it up on the ice ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 39 by means of the tackles we carried for <"he purpose, to denude the huge body of the skin and blubber. We were so busily engaged in the operation, that we did not perceive the approach of a thick fog which quickly enveloped us, while the wind began to blow directly on the ice. It became important therefore to get a good ofting to avo^d the risk of the boat being dashed to pieces. We now steered in the direction we supposed the ship to lie, but as we could not see fifty fathoms ahead we knew well that we were very likely to miss her. The wind increased and the sea, getting up, threatened every instant to swamp the boat. "It must be done," cried Sandy; ** heave over- board the blubber and skins, better get back to the ship with an empty boat than not get back at all." His directions were obeyed and everything not absolutely required in the boat was thrown out of her. Notwithstanding this there was still the danger of being cast on a mass of floating ice, or of having one come toppling down on us, when our destruction would have been certain. We did our utmost to keep the boat's head to the sea, as the only hope we had of saving her from going down. What had become of the other boat we could not tell. We looked out for her, but she was nowhere visible. Our ship, too, was in no small peril, for she might — should she be unable to beat off the solid ice — be dashed against it and knocked to pieces. All night long we pulled on, amid the heaving Wa*es and tossing floes, sometimes narrowly escaping peing thrown on one of them. We could hear them 40 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. crashing and grinding together as one was driven against the other. I, for one, did. not expect to see another sun rise, nor did probably any of my com- panions. Few words were exchanged between us. Sandy sat at the ^ring oar, keeping an anxious look-out for dangei -head and occasionally cheering us up to continue our exertions. " Pull away, lads, pull away ; as the boat has kept afloat so long, there's no reason why she shouldn't swim till the gale is over," he cried out. Just then, however, a heavy sea came rolling up, and down it came right over our bows, almost filling the boat. " Never fear, bale it out, doctor," cried Sandy; and my brother and Ewen set to work, and, happily, before another sea struck us, got the boat free. None of the rowers, however, could venture to cease pulling for an instant ; not that we made much progress, but it was all-important to keep the boat's head to the sea. Looking up some few minutes after this, I fancied that I saw a peculiar light away to leeward. I was just going to draw Sandy's attention to it, when I discovered, close under our lee, a huge iceberg- towering up towards the sky. Had we been on the opposite side, it would have afforded us some shelter ^rom the gale, provided it did not topple over. As, however, we were to v*^indward, we had the greatest difficulty in escaping from being thrown upon it. Sandy's voice sounded almost like a shriek as he urged us to pull away, while he kept the boat off from the furious surf, which, with a sound of thunder, beat upon the lower portion of the berg. We did not need urging, for we all saw our danger. Though the s&t> A HEAVY SEA CAME ROU.ING UP, ALMOST FILLING THE UOAT.' 4« ARCTIC ADVENTURES. I! tumbled about much as before, we felt in compara- tive safety when the berg was passed. Still, other bergs or floes might have to be encountered, and we knew not at what moment we might come upon them. How anxiously we all wished for daylight I need not say. At length it came, presenting a wild scene of T:onfusion around us, the ocean as turbulent as ever. We had been mercifully preserved through it, and we trusted that our buoyant craft would carry us back to the ship. She, however, was not to be seen, but we made out, far off, a speck, now on the top of a wave, now disappearing in the trough, which Sandy declared was the other boat. Our spirits rose somewhat, but we were getting exhausted from hunger and thirst, for we had no food nor water with us, nor if we had could we have spared time to eat and drink. As day-light increased we made out the land, for which Sandy steered, as the other boat was apparently doing. The thought of setting foot on shore, and obtaining a short rest, encouraged us to renew our exertions. The ice had been driven away from us, and formed a barrier some distance off from the land. We were thus able to make better progress than during the n 'ght. We could now distinguish the other boat clearly over the starboard quarter. Mr. Patterson, the second mate, evidently considered — as did Sandy — that it would be hopeless to try and get on board the ship until the gale was over. Perhaps he feared, as we did, that she had been knocked to pieces on a floe or against one of the ice- bergs floating about. As we approached the land we S'lw that it was fringed with rocks and masses of ice, ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 43 ompara- [11, other and we )n them, leed not scene of as ever. , and we i back to I, but we a wave, declared I'hat, but id thirst, ' we had land, for parently re, and ew our rom us, |he land. ss than ihe other isidered I try and Js over. Id been the ice- land we of ice, between which it would be perilous in the extreme to make our way. Still, unless we could get round to the lee side, it must be done. Sandy stood up to look for the shore. A bay presented itself where the sea broke with less force. We stood on rocks and ice rising up amidst the seething waters, now on one side, now on the other. Sandy steered between them with consummate skill. Mr. Patterson's boat followed at some distance. A foaming wave came sweeping up, on the summit of which we were carried forward until we could hear the boat's keel grate on the beach. '• Jump out, jump out ! " cried Sandy to the men forward, who obeyed, and, carrying the painter, dragged the boat some way up the strand. We all followed, and, putting our shoulders to the gunwale, had her safe out of the power of the waves. We then ran to assist our shipmates, whose boat had suffered more than ours, and was almost knocked to pieces ; indeed, on examining her we found, to our dismay, that to make her fit for sea she would require more repairs than, without tools, we were able to give. We had thus only one boat in which to make our escape from the island, and she was insufficient to carry the whole of the party. wShould the ship not ippear, therefore, we should be compelled to remain, and perhaps have to endure the hardships of an arctic winter with very inadequate means for our support. We were, however, on shore, and at all events safe for the present ; but we were without food, fuel, or slK^lter, except such as our boat would afford us. Water we could procure from the fragments of ice'- A 1 ^ ■ 1 ' / / 1 1 w i ft* '|vf// -■ „ '' , ' ' r ... L''. 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 n :^-,^ A'^fl&il. ,rx,/. ^^ flH ^ \ m 'i 1' ''•'■■ "y ■ ""^ \ • ,,^ 'r^i 1 ,¥ \ 1 . if ^ 1 ^R 'SsKm f'. 'i ' 1 k '5ui -, 4 . r f;. k ■^ r-. m ^ . ■ N '^ k mmBH t/lrJ \ AkCTIC ADVENTURED. 45 bergs driven on the beach, but we were unlikely to obtain either walruses or seals, as they would have sought the shelter of the lee side of the island ; even the birds had deserted the shore on which we were driven. We determined, therefore, to make an excur- sion across the island, hoping, either to rciich the other side, or fall in with reindeer or other animals. vSeveral of the men, overcome with fatigue, pre- ferred remaining under the boats, waiting for the food we might obtain. My brother, Sandy, Ewen, and I, with the second mate and Charley Croil, a fine young lad of whom I have not yet spoken, set off; the mate, my brother, and I having our rifles, and Sandy his harpoon and lines, while the others carried lances. Though feeling somewhat weak from our long fast, hunger urged us on ; and in spite of the roughness of the ground, making our way to the westward, we soon lost sight of our companions on the beach. -.y*" ffr—- CHAPTER III. We found tramping across the rough ground very fatiguing, for in most places it was soft and spongy, except where we crossed more level ridges of bare rock. Already the grass was beginning to grow, and flowers were opening their petals, although most of the streams were partially frozen and we could only cross them by wading halfway up to our knees in slush. As yet we had not got sufficiently near to any deer to give us a chance of obtaining some venison, for which we were longing with the appetites of half- st^irvcd men, nor had we been able to catch any birds. " We shall have to get over to where the walruses are, and it will be hard if we don't get enough then to fill us up to the throats," observed Sandy, " though we may chance to find fowl rather scarce." On we trudged, mile after mile, drawing in our belts and keeping up our spirits, urged forward by hope. At last my brother Andrew, who was leading, reached the top of a high rocky ledge, which lay directly across our course, when he turned round and made a signal to us with his hand to approach cautiously. I followed, Sandy came next. We soon md very spongy, of bare row, and most of uld only cnees in ir to any venison, of half- ly birds, ^valruses gh then though in our vard by eading, lich lay and and pproach -Ve soon C/J O H D u u o oi a, a, «i; O H o H < o (/I w Q < Q m 48 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. climbed up the rock, when we saw before us a low shore and lofty hills in the distance. The ice was in great part melted. Near the shore were countless wild fowl, assembled in large flocks, — ^swans, geese, ducks, snipes, terns, and many others. Scramblinji' down the rock, we were soon blazing away right and left. In a few minutes we killed a sufficient number of birds to afford us an ample feast. The question was how to cook them, as the stems of the largest trees were less in circumference than our small fingers. We managed, however, to collect a sufficient quantity of moss and twigs to make up a diminutive fire, at which we browned, though we could not thoroughly cook, our fishy-tasting fowl. We were, indeed, too hungry to be particular. After we had satisfied our own hunger, we began to think of our companions. Two of the men volunteered to return with a supply of the birds sufficient for the crew, while the remainder of us con- tinued our route to the west. We had to make a wide circuit round the end of a lake. As may be supposed, we kept a bright look-out for deer. We had gone some distance, when we observed a couple in a small valley where the snow had melted. To have a better | chance of securing the reindeer, we divided; Mr. Patterson, Sandy, and Ewen making their way along | the side of the hill, while my brother and I proceeded up the valley, concealing ourselves among the rocks or in the gullies, hoping thus to get within shot of the deer. The wind came down the valley, so that we were to leeward, and had some prospect of gettmg close to the game without being perceived. Greatly ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 49 to our satisfaction we saw that the animals were coming towards us, browsing on their way. We, therefore, knelt down behind a rock, waiting until the deer should approach. At length we could hear the sound they made, munching the herbage as they tore off the moss and grass. At this Andrew rose and fired at one, and I, imitating his example, aimed at the other. Greatly to our disappointment, as the smoke cleared away, we could see both the deer scampering off up the valley, but one soon fell behind the other. It had been hit in the shoulder. Slower and slower it went ; we made chase, but it still kept a long way ahead of us. We both reloaded as we ran, hoping to overtake it and get another shot, should it not in the meantime come to the ground. Greatly to my delight, I saw the deer which I had shot suddenly stop, when presently over it fell. The other held on for some time longer, when that too rolled over. We had a long chase, though we scarcely knew how far we had gone. On looking round we could nowhere see our companions. I fired off my rifle to attract their attention, as we wanted them to assist us in cutting up the deer and to carry back the venison. Scarcely had I fired than I saw, coming out of a hollow in the side of the hill, a huge white monster, followed by two smaller creatures, which I at once knew must be a bear and her cubs. Her intention was evidently to appropriate our vein- son, an object which v;re were anxious to defeat. Andrew had seen her, and stood with his rifle ready for an encounter. I reloaded as rapidly as J could. We had neither of us shown ourselves first-rate shots, 50 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. and I was afraid that my brother mi^dit miss the bear, and that she mii,dit seize him before I could i>o to his rescue. The animal sat upon her haunches I snifiini^ the air; then, once more dropping down, she approached, resolved to carry off the ^ "*r or attack us should we attempt to prevent .»er. Andrew allowed her to get within twelve paces or so, when he tired at her head. The bear, instead of dropping as i| expected, to my horror rushed towards my brother. " Leap out of the way," I shouted, for I dared nol| fire as he then stood, lest I might hit him. He followed my advice, when I levelled my rifle, I knowing that his life, and probably my own, might depend upon the accuracy of my aim. The bear, growling terrifically, came on, and when about three yards from me rose on her hind legs -etching out her formidable paws, about to spring \ grasp me in her deadly embrace. I pulled the trigger, and as I did so jumped back with all the agility I possessed, knowing that should my shot fail to take effect, ll might — even though she were mortally wounded — bel torn to pieces by her teeth and claws before another minute was over. Great was my thankfulness when I saw her huge body sink slowly to the ground, where she lay without moving a limb; still, as I thought it possible that she might not be dead, l| joined Andrew, who was reloading a few paces off. The bear cubs, who had followed her a short dis tance behind, now came up, and began pulling awayj at her body, not understanding why she did notl move. We were soon convinced that she was per- fectly dead. What was now to be done with the! ARCTIC ADVENTURES. V liltlo animals ? When tlujy found that she would not move, thoy bfg'an biting at her savairdy. However, they so(jn scented out the deer, and, wliile we were (■ni|)loyed in eutting thtnn up, eaniti to us and eayerly d(;\oured the pieces we thnnv to them, they not sliowing- the slightest fear of us, nor anger at the way we tnjated their mother. W^e had now more meat than we could carry away, even with the assistance of the rest of the party; and, as they did not appear, we each took a heavy load and prepared to set off. Andrew, who was anxious to take the little creatures on board, suggested fastening some lines we had in our pockets round their necks to lead them with us, but no force would compel them to budge. I tried, however, to get them to move by putting a small piece of meat a short distance from their noses, when they both darted forward to catch it. I then gradually increased the distance between the pieces of meat, and got them out of sight of their mother. Following the traces left by the wounded deer, we were enabled to make our way with more certainty than we should otherwise have done. At last we caught sight of our shipmates, who were not a little astonished at seeing our two small shaggy com- panions, and highly delighted at finding that we had brought so fine a supply of meat. On hearing of the abundance we had left behind, they wanted us to return with them ; but we, having done our duty, preferred resting in a sheltered spot on the side of the hill, while they followed our tracks to bring away some more venison and bear's flesh« K 2 52 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. lil'ii m .J: In the meantime the little cubs gambolled together at our feet, occasionally coming up to get a suck at a piece of venis.on. The party at length arrived, each man staggering under as much meat as he could carry. They all sat down that we might consult in what direction we should proceed. Mr. Patterson wished, as we had gone thus far, to continue on to the lee side, where he believed that a harbour would be found into which the ship mig ht possibly have put, for he was certain she would not, if she could help it, approach the other side of the island. Should such be the case, we hoped to be able to get the boats round, either by the shore or by the ice. We had still three men who had accompanied us, and the boats' crews would by this time be in want of food. Mr. Patterson accordingly | sent back Sandy and two of them, each carrying a load of venijion and bear's flesh. He directed the boatswain, after provisioning the men, to search along the shore, and ascertain if there was any possibility] of getting the boat over it. " We had better take the little bears with us," saidj Sandy; "they'll amuse the men, and, if the worst] comes to the worst, we can eat them." Saying this, and adopting our plan, he threw a small piece of meat I before the noses of the little animals, who at once rushed forward to seize it, not aware that it was partj of the flesh of their parent. " You'll be gorging yourselves, ye little gluttons,"! observed Sandy, and, fastening a piece of meat to the line, he dragged it after him, whisking it away thej moment the creatures got up to it. Thus enticed, ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 53 they parted from us, their first friends, without the slightest sign of regret, eagerly following Sandy and the men. As it was important not to expend more powder and shot than we could help, we carried a larger supply of meat than we should otherwise have done, so that we might have food enough to last us for several days if necessary. Our progress was therefore somewhat slow, and it was not until the sun had set that we caught sight of the ocean, or rather of the fields of ice and bergs which covered it, with here and there a line of open water, showing that it was breaking up and being driven away from the coast. Descending from some high ground which we had been traversing, we found ourselves on the shores of a deep bay, on the northern side bordered by cliffs and rocks, but with a sandy beach at the inner end. It was already partially open, and although small Hoes floated about, some remained attach(«d to the shore. "This is just the place I hoped to find," observed Mr. Patterson, *' If we are compelled to remain here we shall be able to obtain a supply of fish, while it is the sort of spot walruses and seals are likely to frequent." We had now to look out for a sheltered nook in which we could pass the night. "We shall be able to have a fire too," I remarked, as I pointed to a quantity of drift-wood, which lay above high water-mark. " You and Ewen and Croil collect it then," he answered, " while the doctor and I search for a sheltered spot." ttbMBiiMtMwS 54 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. While picking up the wood I was separated from my companions, and found myself going in the direction Mr. Patterson and my brother had taken. Passing round some rocks, I saw several dark heads in the water, which I at once recognised as walruses. As I felt sure they would not land to attack me, I went on without hesitation. Presently I heard a shout. Looking round the rock I saw Mr. Patterson, with his rifle clubbed, engaged in what seemed to me a desperate conflict with a huge walrus. Though he was retreating, the creature, working its way on with its flappers, pressed him so hard that it was impossible for him to turn and fiy. I immediately anslung my rifle, which I had hitherto carried at my back, but dared not fire for fear of wounding him. I hurried on, endeavouring to get to one side of the walrus so that I might take sure aim, when, to my horror, the mate's foot slipped, and down he came with great force. The next instant the huge monster was upon him, and was about to dig its formidable tusks into his body, In another moment he might be killed. I was still nearly twenty paces off, but there was not a moment to be lost. Praying that my bullet might take effect, I lifted my rifle and fired. Then, without stopping to see the result of my shot, 1 dashed forward in the hopes of still being in time to drag the mate out of the way of the monster's terrific tusks. Thankful 1 was to see that the walrus was not moving, but still it might with one blow of its tusks have killed the mate. Shouting to Andrew, who was, I supposed, not far ofl", I sprang forward. The walrus was dead^ and sp ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 55 I feared was the mate. Not a sound did he utter, and his eyes were closed. It was with the greatest difficulty that I could drag him from under the body of the walrus. Again and again I tihouted, and at last Andrew appeared, his countenance expressing no little dismay at what he beheld. " He is still alive," he said, after he had examined the mate. "The walrus has not wounded him with its tusks, but has well-nigh pressed the breath out of his body, and may possibly have broken some of his ribs. We'll carry him to a dry cave I have just found, in which we can light a fire, and I hope he'll soon come round. Get Ewen and Croil to assist us." I hurried along the shore and summoned them. We all four managed to carry the mate to the cavern. While Andrew attended to him, Ewen, Croil and I brought the drift-wood we had collected, and getting some dry moss from the rocks to kindle a flame, we soon had a fire blazing. Andrew reported unfavourably of the mate. Two of his ribs were broken, and his legs fearfully crushed. " Much turns upon his having a good constitution to enable him to get over it,'' observed my brother. " He has been a temperate man, and that's in his favour, but I wish that he was safe on board, as he re- quires careful nursing, and that's more than he can obtain in this wild region." A restorative which the doctor always carried, at length brought the mate somewhat round, and he was able to speak. " Have you seen anything of the ship r " was the first question he asked. 56 ARCTIC ADVENTURES, **No, we did not expect her so soon," answered Andrew : " she will come here in good time, I dare say ! " **Then where are the boats ?" inquired the mate. " One is very much damaged," said Andrew ; " we must wait for a favourable opportunity for brinj^ing" the other to this side of the island. In the meantime you must try and go to sleep. In the morning we will see what is best to be done." The poor mate asked no further questions, but lay back in an almost unconscious state, while Andrew sat by his side, endeavouring to alleviate his sufferings. The rest of us, hiiving cooked some venison, made a hearty supper, but the mate was unable to eat a morsel. Andrew decided on sending Evren and rne back the next morning to obtain a cooking pot, in which he might make some brorh for the mate, as well as to bring the sail of the damaged boat, which might assist to shelter him from the cold. Should it be found impossible to get the boat round to the bay, he thought it would be best to leave her there, and to let all the men come across, bringing the gear of the two boats, and as much of the wood of the wrecked one as they could carry. His idea was to build a hut, or to make the cavern habitable. It was agreed that we should catch as many bears and walruses as we could, so that we might have materials for constructing the hut as well as for covering ourselves. " It will be wise at once to make preparations for the winter. We must provide shelter, food, clothing, and fuel, and this will fully occupy all hands until the cold weather sets in," said Andrew. " Had we been ARCTIC ADVENTURES. Vt cast on shore here at the end of the summer, we should in all probability have perished ; but now I hope that we shall be able to support existence until another spring, when we may expect the appearance of a ship to take us off." Our plans being arranged, Andrew told us to lie down and try and get some sleep, saying that he would keep watch in case any prowling bear should pay us a visit, besides which he wished to attend to the mate. I begged him, however, to let me sit up for a couple of hours, promising to call him, should I fancy that our injured companion required his assist- ance. He at last consented. In a few minutes he and the rest of the party were fast asleep. I carefully made up the fire, then, after some time, feeling drowsy, I took my rifle, and went outside the cavern. The night was tolerably light, indeed the darkness in that lati- sude was of short duration. As I lookixl in the direction where the body of the walrus lay, I fancied I saw two or three white objects on the rocks. At first! thought that they were piles of snow or ice ; but, watching them attentively, I observed that they were moving, and I had no doubt they were bears attracted by the body of the dead walrus, on which they expected to banquet, i now regretted that we had not had time to carry off the skin, which would of course be torn to pieces and rendered valueless. I was much tempted to try and shoot the bears, which I might easily have done while they were feasting, but I considered that I ought not to leave my post, and I did not like to awake Andrew, who required all the rest he could obtain. X therefore returned tp the Jijtfi B 58 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. IH: cave and sat down by the fire, thankful for the warmth it afforded. When I judged I had been on watch a couple of hours, I aroused my brother. " You were right in not trying to shoot the bears, for even had you killed one the others might have set upon you, and we cannot afford to lose another of our party," he said. " Lie down now, as you have a long journey before you ; and I shall be glad if you can bring the men over here before another night sets in." It was broad daylight when my brother awoke me and the rest. The mate appeared somewhat better, and, as he had no feverish symptoms, Andrew expressed his belief that he would recover. Having breakfasted and done up a portion of the cooked venison for provisions during our journey, Ewen and I set off, leaving Croil to assist my brother in taking care of the mate. Andrew charged us not to expend our powder on birds, or we might have shot as many z.^ we required. Every hour they were arriving in large flocks on their way to still more northern regions, where they might enjoy the long summer day without interruption. I will not describe the journey, which we managed to accomplish in about six hours. Sandy, who came to meet us, reported that the men were behaving well, thankful for the food we had sent them ; but, as far as he could judge, it would be impossible to get the boat round for the present, either over the ice or across the land. All hands therefore were ready to obey the directions Andrew had sent them. While Ewen and I rested, they made up the loads each man was to carry. As to launching the boq.t among the rocks which fringed that side of the ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 59 island, it was clearly impossible unless in the calmest weather, without the risk of her being knocked to pieces ; for the sea continually rolled in huge masses of ice, which with thundering sound were shivered into fragments. It seemed surprising that we had escaped, when we looked at the spot where we had landed. " We are all ready, and if you and Ewen think you can trudge back by the way you have come, we'll set out at once," said Sandy. "All right," we answered, springing to our feet and taking our rifles, with a few articles — all the men would let us carry — we led the way. The men, however, had not taken any of the shattered boat, or oars, or spars, and it would, there- fore, be necessary to make another journey to bring ihem across. The other boat was turned bottom up- most, out of the reach of the highest tide, with the things we had to leave placed under her. We took longer to perform the journey back than we had occupied in coming, as the men, with their heavy loads, could not proceed as fast as Ewen and I had done. On approaching the bay we looked out for Croil, whom we expected to see on the watch for us. He was nowhere visible. We shouted to give notice that we were near, but no reply reached us. " He is probably in the cave assisting the doctor," observed Ewen. " I hope the mate is not worse." On getting near the shore, however, we saw my brother, who had just come out of the cave. He A'aved to us to hasten on. "Thank heaven you are come ! " he said. " I am very anxious about young Croil. tie went away ^ S6 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. couple of hours ago to collect drift-wood, and has not returned. I could not leave the mate, who still con- tinues in a very precarious condition, to look for him, and I fear that some accident has happened ; probably he has been attacked either by a walrus or a bear, and, if so, I fear that he will be added to our list of casualties." "We must find him at all events," I answered. " Should he have been attacked by a bear, we shall discover some traces which will show what has happened to him." The men, having dejposited their loads, tired as they were, dispersed in all directions. Sandy, Ewen, and I went to the northward under the cliffs. Every moment I expected to see the mangled remains of the poor lad, or traces of his blood, should a bear have carried him off. Of one thing we felt sure, that he would have kept as close as he could to the beach, where he might hope to meet with drift-wood. Be- fore long, however, our progress was stopped by cliffs which jutted out into the sea, though we saw that there was a continuation of the beach farther on. We had, therefore, to climb up and try to find a way down again to the level of the water. It was no easy task to climb the cliff, but we accomplished it at last. We went on for some distance, but so precipitous were the cliffs that it seemed impossible that we should be able to descend with any safety. Every now and then we peered over them, and as I was doing so I thought I saw an object lying close to the base some way on. I felt almost sure that it was a human being, while not far from it was what looked ARCTIC ADVENTURES, 6i like the wreck of a boat. That it was poor Croil we could have little doubt, and that he had been killed by a fall from above appeared too probable. Sandy, who was of this opinion, told Ewen and me to wait while he hurried back to obtain a coil of rope which he had brought from the boat, as also the assistance of some of the other men should they have returned. Ewen and I accordingly went on, and, carefully looking over the cliff, to our sorrow dis- covered that it was indeed our poor shipmate. That he had fallen from such a height without being killed seemed impossible. "Take care that we do not share his fate," I ob- served to Ewen, as I got up to ascertain if there was any less precipitous part near at hand, by which we could descend without waiting for the rope. As far as I could discover there were no marks on the edge of the cliffs to show from whence he had fallen. Going on a little further I found a narrow ledge, which apparently sloped downwards. Very likely he had attempted to make his way by this ledge to the shore. From its extreme narrowness I felt that it would be folly to trust myself to it, and that I should probably fall as he had done. While looking about I heard Ewen exclaim — " He is moving, I saw him lift his hand ! " He then shouted out : " Hullo ! Croil, we are coming to help you." It was a great relief to know that the lad was alive, though it made us still more anxious for the return of Sandy. At last he appeared. Now came the ques- tion, Who should descend ? It was a hazardous task. ' 'WtT'^m.taum-'^ 62 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. Sandy insisted on going- down, but I felt that I would much rather descend than h^ive to h(jld the ro^e. *' No, no," said Sandy, " I'll trust you. I'll stick this stake into the gTound, and if you hold on to tht ui)per end the roj^e will be firm enough." While we were securing the rope as Sandy pro- posed, a man with another length of rope came run- ning towards us. It was fortunate he brought it, for the hrst was not sufficiently long to reach the bottom. Our preparations were speedily made, and Sandy, with the activity of a sailor, sliding over the edge of the cliff, glided down by the rope until he reached the spot where Croil lay. I fancied that I heard him shout out for help, so I told Ewen to hold on to the stake, and, taking hold of the rope, slid down as Sandy had done. I saw him, as I reached the bottom, supporting Croil in his arms. " I did not want you to come, Hugh, but as you are here, you can help me in getting up the laddie. There is still life in him, but he has had a shaking which might have broken every bone in his body, though I cannot discover that any are broken. \Ve must hoist him up gently, for he cannot bear any rough handling, th^^^'s certain." I suggested that we should make a cradle from the wreck of the boat which had tempted Croil to try to reach the beach. Sandy had some small line in his pocket ; I also had another piece, and Dick Black — the man who had come to our assistance — had brought a whole coil, which he threw down to us. We soon formed a cradle, in which we placed the lad, securing it to the bANUY SUPrORIlNG CROIL IN KIS AKMS. 64 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. I'fi Mil, m end of the rope. We had, besides this, lines sufficient to enable me to stand below and assist to guide it in its ascent. Sandy then swarmed up to the top, and he and our two companions began to hoist away ivhile I guided the cradle from below. I was thank- ful to see Croil at length safely placed on the top of the cliff. The rope was then let down, and making a bow line in which I could sit, I shouted to the rest to haul away. I felt rather uncomfortable as I found myself dangling in mid-air, for fear the rope should get cut by the rocks, but I reached the top without accident. I was thankful to find that Croil had come to himself, though unable to describe how he had fallen. " We must mark this spot, to come back for that wood; it will be a perfect god-s6nd to us, for we shall want every scrap of fuel we can find," I observed. The cradle enabled us to carry Croil without difficulty to the cave, where my brother at once attended to him. Wonderful as it seemed, not a bone in his body I was broken, nor had his spine received any injury, which Andrew at first thought might be the case. He thus hoped that the lad might get round and in a short time be as well as ever. He was f-r more anxious about the mate, who sti^ ed in a I precarious condition. Supper over and a watch bi gset, e a lay down I inside the cave, with our feet tu the lire which blazed in front of it. And thus passed the Jiird night of our| residence on the island. CHAPTER IV. Sandy and my brother had now become the real leaders of the party, as the mate was too ill to issue orders. We speedily built a hut with sods and stones, and roofed it with the boat's sails. It proved a far more comfortable abode than the cavern. We also collected all the drift-wood we could find, including that of the wrecked boat which had so nearly cost Croil his life. On examining the quantity, however, we saw that it was utterly insufficient to last us through a winter. My brother, therefore, proposed that we should cut turf and dry it during the summer, and advised that the hut should be much increased in size, with two outer chambers, by which the inner room could be approached and but a small quantity of cold air admitted. A lamp of walrus' blubber or bear's grease would be sufficient to warm it at night, pro- vided that the walls were thick enough to keep out the cold. Our stock of powder being small it was necessary to husband it with the greatest care, and we therefore agreed to shoot only such animals as iWere necessary to supply ourselves with food. I killed three deer and a bear which one night paid 66 ARCTIC ADVENTURES, us a visit, and Sandy killed two walruses which he found asleep on the rocks. From the appearance of the ice Sandy hoped at length that he would be able to bring round the boat. For several days a huge mass had been seen floating by, carried on apparently by a strong current, while that in the bay had either melted or had been blown out by the wind. He accordingly set ofi" with the boat's crew, carrying provisions for several days' consumption. Ewen and I meantime made our way northward to explore the part of the island we had not yet visited. We saw that it was of far greater extent than we had supposed, and that we should perhaps have to camp out two or three nights if we persevered in our attempt. As Andrew^ had charged us to return before nightfall we were about to direct our steps homewards, when Ewen's sharp eyes discovered a peculiar looking mound at the top of a headland some distance to the north- ward. As it would not delay us more than an hour we hurried on. Below the headland was a bay, on the shores of which we saw a hut. Could it be m- nabited r If so we might meet with some one whosfl experience of the country would be of the greatest use. We were considerably disappointed on entering the hut to find it empty. It had apparently been for a long time deserted. Without delay we climbed up the top of the headland. We examined the cairn care fully, and found that it was built round and contained a bottle, on opening which I discovered a paper having a few lines apparently written with the burnt end of a stick. They were in English, but so nearly illegible that it was with difHculty I could read ARCTIC ADVEN2URES. 67 them. What was my surprise when I made out the words — "Left here by the whaler Barenh. Saw her drift out to sea, beset by ice. Fear that she was over- whelmed, and all on board perished. Spent the winter here. A sloop coming into the bay, hope to be taken off b}' her. "David Ogilvy." Here was a trace of 'my long-lost brother ; what had since become of him r Had he got off in the sloop and returned to Europe, or had she been lost r Had the former been the case, we should have heard of him before we sailed. We hurried eagerly back ""o discuss the subject with Andrew. It was dark before we reached the hut. We talked and talked, but could arrive at no conclusion. Andrew feared for the worst. The boat had not arrived, indeed we scarcely expected to see her that day. Next day passed by and she did not appear. Two more days elapsed. We were con- stantly on the look out for her. I proposed going over to try to ascertain what had happened. The mate was getting somewhat better, and I took Andrew's place that he might go out and take some exercise while in search of a deer. I was talking with Mr. Patterson, who spoke hopefully of getting away before the winter commenced, when Ewen rushed into the hut exclaiming — '* A sail, a sail! She's standing for the bay." *' Go and have a look at her," said i\Ir. Patterson ; " I was sure we should get off before long." 68 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. I rushed down to the beach, where I found the rest of the party collected, gazing at the approaching vessel. She was the Hardy Norseman^ trim and taut. There was no doubt about the matter. On she came, gliding over the now smooth ocean. A shout of joy burst from our throats. All our troubles were over, as we thought. She stood fearlessly on, evidently piloted by one who knew the harbour, and at length came to an anchor. Her sails were furled immedi- ately, and a boat approached the shore. As she got nearer we saw that the boatswain was steering. His boat had then got off and fallen in with the ship. Such, indeed, he told us, as he sprang on the beach, had been the case. Had he not done so she would have passed on, supposing that we had all been lost ; for, although short-handed, the captain had determined on prosecuting the fishery until the weather compelled him to return. Carrying the mate and Croil, who — as Andrew said — had turned the corner, we were soon on board, heartily welcomed by all hands. Our hut and store of fuel were left for the benefit of any other unfortu- nate people who might be cast on the island, but the meat and skins were, of course, carried with us. As the sea was now open to the northward, we sailed slowly on, the boats frequently being sent in to shoot walruses or seals, of which vast quantities were seen on the rocks and floating ice. We were now off the coast ot Spitzbergen. Passing some islands, we pulled on shore in expectation of obtaining some walruses. We had killed several, when we saw the rest caching id taut, le came, t of joy ire over, vidently t length immedi- va.in was fallen in e sprang lot done ; we had i captain ntil the irew said board, Ind store unfortu- I, but the IS. [^ard, we ;nt in to ;ies were now off ,nds> we g some e saw THE "HARDV NORSEMAN," 70 ARCTIC ADVENTURES, among the rocks a number of eider ducks which had just laid their eggs. The first mate and boatswain, who were in command of the boats, ordered us to land with the boat-stretchers in our hands, when we rushed in among the birds, knocking them over right and left. While they lay stunned, we were directed to pull off the down from their breasts. We were thus employed for several hours, during which we collected an enormous quantity of cider down, as well as a vast number of eggs. On returning on board, the skipper sent us back for a further supply. As we obtained nearly four hundred pounds of down, and as each pound is worth a guinea in England, the skipper was well pleased with our day's work, more so than were the poor ducks, deprived of their warm waist- coats and eggs at the same time. Happily the stern ice saves them from frequent visits of the same description. As we were pulling along w^e caught sight of a walrus asleep on a rock. Without disturbing the animal, Sandy and two other men landed. His harpoon wa:s ooon plunged into the side of the walrus, whih.' the end of the line still remained in the boat. A fierce struggle commenced. The walrus, rolling into the water with head erect and tusks upraised, came swimming towards the boat, regardless of the spears thrust at it, and had almost gained the victory, w^hen a shot throu^ i its head put an end to its existence. The next day, having again landed, we killed a number of seals by concealing ourselves behind the rocks on the shore, while they lay enjoying the warm sun on the ice. Andrew, Ewen, and I were some* ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 71 what ahead of the rest of the party, when we causrht sight of a bear lying down Lind(^r the shelter of a hummock. We were intending to stalk him, when we saw a seal sunning itself upon the ice, some distance off. The bear crept from behind his place of shelter, and began to roll about as if also' to enjoy the sun. The seal lifted up its head, when Bruin stopped, lying almost on his back, with his 7« ARCTIC ADVENTURES. legs in the air, and his eyes directed towards his expected prey. The seal dropped its head, and the bear began once more to move forward, again to stop and remain perfectly motionless until the seal's eyes were closed. Again Bruin advanced, when the seal, which must have been somewhat suspicious of the hairy creature, looked about it. For yet another time Bruin stopped, until, the seal's suspicions once more lulled, the bear got near enough with one leap to bound upon his prey, when, before the seal was dead, he began tearing away at its flesh. We deter- mined to put a stop to his supper. While he was thus employed and less on the watch than usual, we crept up to him and a shot through his hsad pie- vented him from gaining the water. We thus got both bear and seal. I forgot to mention the two young bears which had been carried on board, and had become great pets with the men. We added to our menagerie a couple of young walruses, which we caught after their mothers were slaughtered. One went by the name of Dick, the other Harry. They and the bears looked suspiciously at each other, but wisely kspt apart. The walruses were somewhat of a nuisance ; for, being of an independent character, they walloped about the deck, and at night roared far louder than did the bears, which, frightened at the loud noise, slunk into their kennels. We fed the walruses on! gruel, which seemed to suit them very well. At| length, one evening while Andrew and I were seated in the cabin, as Captain Hudson was on the point of going on deck, we heard a tremendous noise, as if ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 73 some huge body had fallen down, followed by a cry and some pretty severe expressions from the skipper. On rushing out, we found him sprawling on the floor with Master Dick, who had come rolling down the hatchway, walloping and flopping on the top of him. Having extricated the captain, who was for- tunately not much the worse for his tumble, we hauled the slippery little monster up on deck, and took it to its proper resting-place — a big tub in which it ought to have been confined. Though whales were somewhat scarce, we killed walruses and seals sufficient to satisfy the skipper, a good many bears, and a vast number of birds. We continued steering north, keeping away from the land, the sea being almost entirely open, with masses of ice and occasionally icebergs floating about. Not a creature of any sort was seen on the ice, but little auks and sea parrots in vast numbers rose and perched on the gently rippling sea. The wind having fallen we got out lines to fish for sharks, and soon caught one twelve feet in length. It was hoisted on board by a block and t£ickle, when, its liver being cut out, Sandy, blowing through a tube, inflated the stomach of the creature, which was then thrown overboard. The object of this was to prevent the body from sinking, when its brethren would have devoted their attention to its remains instead of to the blubber with which the hooks were baited. We caught several in the same way. Each liver yielded almost its entire weight of a fine fish-oil, andistinguishable from cod-liver oil, though I do not 74 ARCTIC ADVEATURES. know if it possosses the same qualities. ^ga,!!! a lii^ht breeze from the eastward siDringing up, wu made further progress. A hail from the crow's nest announcing that a sail was in sight made us all look out. Having a soldier's wind we were approaching each other from opposite directions. As the stranger drew near we watched her with much interest. Captain Hudson and the first mate were examining her through their glasses. " If that's not the Barcnfz it's her ghost ! " ex claim(Kl the captain. "It's c\ shij) of her size, at all events," obser\'^ed the mate; " she looks as if she had spent a long time in the ice." The moment I heard this, my heart leapt with joy at the thought that we should hnd our brother David on board, until I recollected the cairn and the docu- ment he had left behind him. Could he, after all, have got on board his ship, or could he have bei'ii lost while she had escaped? As the wind was very light a boat was lowered, and Andrew and I having jumped into her pulled away that we might as soon as possible learn whu. had happened. We were soon clambering up the I stranger's sides. On her deck stood a gaunt and famished crew. As our eyes ranged over their countenances we in vain sought that of our brother] David. "What ship is this?" was the first question we| put. " The BarentZy' answered her captain, stepping] forward. ^gain a 5 up, we -ow's nt'st IS all look proaching As the ith much nate were ost!'** ex ser\''ed the ng time in )t with joy ther David ■ "^ I the docu- , after all, ■ [^ have been |s lowered, her pulled learn whu. hg up the! b-aunt and I ver the lir brother I estion ^ stepping! t/5 < CO U 05 O o H (( « capt on s wan ice f been woul serve Or the c our rend( he re prom fresh The c ing oi his sh dition Thi have 1 Huds( on boi got hi ihut I should on boa among a bree suppos now fo ARCTIC ADVENTURES, 77 (( Is David Ogilvy on board ? " inquired Andrew. " I regret to say that he is not," answered the captain, at once quenching all our hopes. '' He was on shore, when we were driven off the land and after- wards carried northward, where we were beset in the ice from which we have only just escaped. Had he been with us, the lives of some of our poor people would have been saved, and the health of all pre- served." On hearing that our ship was the Hardy Norseman^ the captain expressed his wish to come on board in our boat, all his own having been lost, or been rendered utterly unserviceable. I need not say that he received a warm welcome, while Captain Hudson promised to supply him and his crew with all the fresh provisions and antiscorbutics he could spare. The captain of the Barentz was much grieved on hear- ing of our fears of David's fate. Still, as I looked at his ship, I could scarcely hope, in her battered con- dition, that she would reach port in safety. Thus, had my brother remained on board it might have been his lot to perish with all the rest. Captain Hudson suggested that he and his crew should come on board. This he positively declined doing. Having got his ship out of the ice and escaped after being ihut up for two winters, he fully believed that he should be able to take her home. Andrew again went on board the Baroitz and prescribed for the sick men among the crew. It was not until the next day, when a breeze sprang up, that we parted company, little supposing at the time what was in store for us. We now found ourselves constantly surrounded by dense 7& ARCT'C ADVENTURES. mists which made it difficult to avoid the enormous ic«iberg's and floes, which floated on the surface of the water. Hajjpily for us, the seavvas perfectly calm, or broken into light wavelets by the gentle breeze. The ceaseless and melancholy sound produced by the waste of ice disturbed the silence which would otherwise have reigned over the ocean world. wSad and solemn was the picture presented to us by the unbroken procession of icebergs, which, like the ghosts in Macbeth, floated by to disappear in the warmer regions of the south. Constantly, too, there came the roar of the ocean swell as it broke among the icebergs and caverns, or the splash of water like a distant cataract as it fell from the lofty summits of the bergs, mingling with the crackling noise emitted by the masses of ice as they struck each other or their summits were broken off. Sometimes an icebert,^ would overturn or the top come hurtling down with a crash into the sea, covering the water with foam, and sending the birds which had perched there flying in all directions to seek a more secure resting-place. We were now never without the light of the sun. According to its nearness to the horizon, the effects produced varied greatly. During the night the sky was of a dc^ep ultramarine, while the icebergs, clothed with a rosy hue, appeared to have gone to sleep. Even the cascades from the bergs ceased to flow, and few sounds broke the silence. Sea-gulls and divers could be seen sitting round the edge of a floe with their heads under their wings. The whole region presented a strange and weird aspect. On we sailed, the icebergs at every mile becoming more numerous mormous ,ce of the ' calm, or ize. The the waste Dthervvise to us by , liko the \r in the too, there vfc among iter like a lits of th'3 nitted by ;r or their iceberg vn with a oam, and Hying in lace. the sun. le effects the sky ;, clothed o sleep. ow, and d divers oe with 3 region e sailed, lumerous A&IONGST THE ICEBERGS. -'i*'i^"'V*«-*jfli„i, ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 8i and of larger dimensions. As I looked ahead it seemed impossible that we could force our way between them, or escape being crushed by the vast masses which ever and anon came toppling down from their summits, but the desire to obtain a full ship lured us on. As the sun rising in the heavens sent down his warm rays, we could see numerous seals basking on the floes, or on some projecting point of a berg. Some of the boats were constantly engaged in shooting or harpooning the creatures, while others were kept in readiness to go in chase of the walruses which frequently made their appearance, though we did not always succeed in getting near them, as, diving beneath a berg, they did not rise again until the opposite side was reached. The mate and Croil were now perfectly recovered, and enabled to take a part in everything going for- ward. Their services were required, for, in conse- quence of the hands we had lost, we all had work enough to do. I went in one of the l jats, whenever I could get a chance. I was bound otherwise to remain on board and assist in managing the ship while they were away. Frequently we had enough to do, as we floated among the bergs and floes, to escape those which came drifting towards us, driven on by some under-current, more than by the wind. The broken state of the ice induced our captain to believe that we should as easily get out of it as we had made our way into its midst. He was more inclined to this opinion, when we suddenly found ourselves in the open sea with scarcely a floe or berg in sight. ]lad we met with whales we might have cruized about in G 8a ARCTIC ADVENTURES. chase of them, and not proceeded further, but only a few appeared ahead to the northward, and those we failed to kill. " Never fear, lads," said the captain as the boats returned on board, the men looking blank at their want of success. " We shall fall in with plenty more in the course of a day or so, or it may be in a few hours, and we may still get a full ship, and be south again before the summer days begin to shorten." The pack-ice. Captain Hudson told us, was this year much further north than he had ever known it, but he thought that a good sign, and he hoped to find lanes through which we might make our way into ponds seldom reached by whalers, where we might kill the fish faster than we could flense them. Voyagers during the Arctic summer day require sleep as much as at other times, though often it has to be obtained at very unequal int^;rvals. Having been awake for the best part of twenty hours, I had turned in — I don't know whether to call it one night or one day— -when I was aroused by a tremendous blow on the ship's bows, which made her quiver from stem to stern. I was rushing on deck with my clothes in my hands, not knowing what miglu aappen, when I found that she was forcing her way through a stream of ice, and that ice surrounded her on every side. A strongish breeze was blowing, and the canvas was being reduced to prevent another such encounter, which might produce serious consequences. Finding that nothing was really the matter, I quickly dived below again to put on my cloth-es, when I once more hurried on deck. As I was looking round my eye was ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 33 attracted by a dark object at some distance on the starboard bow. I pointed it out to the captain, whose glass was directed towards it. " It is a vessel of some sort. A Russian or Norwegian sloop. She has been nipped probably, for she seems to lie on the ice, out of the water; but whether her crew are still on board, or have made their escape in their boats, it is hard to say." "We must go and ascertain," exclaimed Andrew; " our brother David was taken off by a vessel of that description, and for what we can tell, he may be on board." " It will be impossible to reach her," answered the captain; "there is no lane leading in that direction. If you attempt to cross the ice it may open at any moment, giving you little chance of escaping with your lives." Still Andrew entreated that he might go, and pro- posed making an expedition, three or four of us join- ing ourselves together by a long rope. We consulted the boatswain, who at once volunteered to form one of the party, as did Ewen and Croil. The captain, after ascending to the crow's nest to examine the ice, gave us leave, and allowed us to take one of the boats which would carry us part of the way, charging us, however, not to delay a moment longer than was necessary. Quickly procuring a long rope, we jumped into the Vioat and pulled ahead of the ship, along a lane which opened out to the eastward. Our further progress was soon stopped. Having fastened our- selves together at the distance of four or five fathom**, each provided with a long pole, we leapt on the ice, Sandy taking the lead, we three lighter ones followed, C 2 84 ARCTIC ADVENTURES, and my brother brought up the rear. We had some hummocks to climb over, but generally the surface was level, and we made rapid progress, but still the sloop appeared much farther off than I had supposed. I saw Sandy try the ice when he was doubtful of its consistency, as he went along ; but, satisfied that it would bear him and consequently any of us, he pushed forward. I eagerly looked out expecting to see some people appear on the deck of the sloop. As we drew nearer I uttered a loud shout in which my companions joined, but no one replied. Could all those on board be dead, or had she, as the captain supposed, been deserted ? I asked myself; and the dread seized me that we should find David frozen or starved to death. Such things had too often occurred before, and might have hap- pened in this instance. In my eagerness I could not help shouting to Sandy to go on faster. " More speed the less chance we shall have of get- ting there, my boy," he answered, stopping to strike the ice in front of him with his pole. He drove it through. " There, you and I should probably have had a cold bath," he observed as he turned aside to find more secure footing. We had to make a considerable round to a sort of bridge, where two floes had overlapped. We crossed safely, and now the sloop appeared not a (juarter of a mile ahead, her dark hull partly heeling over, and her shattered m.ast standing out si- ;irply against the white back-ground. The distance was soon passed o\'T. i Once more we shouted out before we began to clamber on herded Sandy and I, being tho first up, eagcrlv ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 8S looked down into her after cabin. It was half full of water. No one could be seen ; so hurrying on to the other hatchways, we peered down them. It was tolerably evident that no one, alive or dead, was there. So far, then, our worst fears were not realized. "Look here!" said Sandy to me, "the crew may have made their escape in their boats and have been picked up by another craft. vSee, the sails are unbent and all the ropes carried off. If it was worth while getting a wetting we should find that nothing remains of value below, either fore or aft." That such was the case, a further examination fully convinced us. Still Andrew and I would have been thankful if we could have discovered some traces of our brother, should this have been the sloop he had got on board. The boatswain, however, remarked that numbers of vessels of the same description came northward during the summer, that it was just as likely he had never set foot on her deck, and that we might find he had got home safe before us. According to our promise, the instant our inspection was over, we commenced our return journey. As the ice was becoming firm, we cast off the ropes and separated f om one another, each man taking his own course. I thus got to a considerable distance from my companions. I was still some way off the edge of the floe, though in sight of the ship, and could make out the boat approaching to take us oft^ \vhen up started from behind a hummock a huge polar bear, which probably mistook me for a walrus or seal, and therefore its lawful prey. My first impulse was to run, instead of standing still and facing my enemy as T ought to have 86 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. done. I had very nearly chained the edge when whaf was my horror to see that the bear was within twent} paces of me. A glance round showed me the boat, still some way off, while my companions were at too great a distance to afford me assistance. I now did what I should have done at first, stopped and rammed a bullet into my rifle. The bear stopped also, sittini( up on Its haunches, to examine nie more particularly. Could I have got off my shaggy coat, I would have thrown it at him, to attract his attention, for I guessed his next movement would be to bound upon me and press me in his terrific embrace. All I could do, how- ever, was to throw my cap at him, when, dropping down on all fours, he began to smell at it. Now was my time to fire a shot which I hoped might kill him. Should I miss, I knew too well thiit I hud not the re- motest chance of escapt\ Mustering all my nerve, I levelled my rifle and pulled the trigger. The bulU't must have gone through his brain, for, without making another move, he rolled over and giving one struggle was dead. I should have fallen on the ice and rendered thanks to heaven for my preservation, but in realit} I could not for some seconds move a muscle. I could scarcely persuade myself that the huge monster, which had just before appeared so terrible, was now a mass of flesh. The shouts of my companions in the boat who had seen the occurrence aroused me, and, soon arriving, with the rest of the party, they hauled the huge carcase on board the boat, and we returned in triumph to the ship. CHAPTER V After visiting the unfortunate sloop, a fair lead ap- peared, with a pool of considerable size to the north- ward. IMaking" all sail we stood on, hoping- to find whales sporting within it. Before, however, we reached the pool the wind dropped, and the boats were sent ahead to tow the ship. This mode of pro- gression was, however, before long rendered impos- sible, by the closing of the floes. We had continued to warp her along by carrying out ice anchors, and working the windlass. We looked anxiously ahead, for the lane was becoming closer and closer, and it seemed nvOt impossible that we should be compelled to form a dock to save the ship from being nip^jcd. Saws were got ready, and every other preparation made for cutting a space in the ice sufficient to hold the ship. At length the captain seeing that the pool itself was contracting, gave the word to commence the work. All hands were required for the task, some u.^ed the saws, and others hauled away the blocks as they were cut out. It was hard work, but no one grumbled, as oar lives might depend upon our getting it accomplished in time. Scarcely was it finished, 88 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. than the floes closed, not with such force as we cxr- cted, but with quite enough to have crushed our stout ship into a pancake. Instead of such being the case, we floated free from harm in the basin we had formed. Here we were doomed to lie until the ice should open again and set us free. Some dark objects, which we guessed were seals, were seen on the edge of the pool. To employ our time, we set off to try and kill some of them. Ewen had been eager to distinguish himself as a harpoonor, and he and I went together. Observing a couple of seals, we crawled towards them so cautiously, that we got near enough, without v/aking them, to dart our weapons. As we rose to our feet, I struck mine with all my force into the head of the animal nearest me, almost pinning it to the ice. Ewen was not so fortunate, for although he fixed his harpoon into the animal's body, before he had time to take a turn with the line round a rough point of ice near at hand, the seal plunged into the water, and he, holding on to the rope, was dragged after it. I shouted out to him to let go, which, as may be supposed, he right willingly did, and fortunately was able to catch hold of my line which I threw to him, when I hauled him up safe again on the ice. His first impulse was to look over the edge, hoping to re- cover the line, but that, with the harpoon, had disappeared. " Thank you, Hugh, for saving my life," he said, " but I wish you could have caught the harpoon and line, for I shall be laughed at as a bungler." I did my best to console him, and Sandy, who soon ARCTIC A n VENTURES. . % 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 f^^ ^ n 9* ARCTIC ADVENTURES. here piled into immense masses, huge fragments of glaciers detached from the neighbouring shores either of Greenland or Spitzt 3rgen ; there broken hummocky slabs resting against each other in every variety of form ; or else vast level plains, over which it appeared that a sleigh might travel for miles without impt'di- ment ; but water there was none, and I could scarcely hope that that frozen expanse would ever again break up sufficiently to allow us to f^rce our way through. We knew that at all events we should have to en- counter, to the southward, the numberless icebergs and the dense floes through which we had before passed. Had we found my brother David I fancied that I should have been happy, but his fate was still shrouded in mystery, and even if we escaped we should have to roturn without him. The sun now remained between two and three hours below the horizon, but, short as was the night, the holes we had bored to obtain water were frozen over in the morning. Still we hoped that an equi- noctial storm might break up the ice-fields and set us free. Before, however, we had been many days in this position, a dark streak was seen to the south- ward. " There's water there," observed the captain with confidence in his tone ; " it may be the open ocean." Almost immediately afterwards other tracks were seen indicating leads through the ice, and at length some appeared so near that the captain determined to open a passage through our floe to reach them by blasting and sawing. Hope revived within us that we should get through. Laborious as was the pro- SEEKING FOR AN OUTLET. w 1: cess fane wish brok spre; sout blow mine obtai gone ahoa( destr of a The\ whicl" violer might boats I w distan and ir ing-up our he a lane thickn far ah( was ri; the wi than b the mi our de that tb ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 95 cess, we persevered. Every fathom gained made u» fancy that we were so much nearer liberty. The wished-for storm at length began to blow; the ice broke up. All the sail the ship could bear was spread, and away we steered with her head to the southward. What cared we now for the thundering blows received on her stout bows. We were deter- mined to be free. Freedom we believed we should obtain, when to our dismay the first mate, who had gone aloft, announced a dense floe with icebergs ahead : to run against it would have ensured our destruction, and we were compelled to steer to leeward of a floe, when, furling all sail, we made fast to it. The wind falling, a dense fog came on. The sounds which reached us showed that the ice was still in violent commotion, and, in the hopes that a passage might be found, the captain dispatched two of the boats to try and find a way. I went with the first mate. We had gone some distance, when he announced that he saw an opening, and immediately headed the boat towards it. Look- ing up we could see a huge iceberg towering above our heads. We had great hopes that we had entered a lane through which the ship might pass, but the thickness of the atmosphere prevented us from seeing far ahead. The mate however was convinced that he was right, and we were about to put back when again the wind began to blow with a violence far greater than before, and the sea tossed' and tumbled, moving the mass of ice about in a manner which threatened our destruction. The turbulence of the waters proved that the mate was correct in regard to there being an ii'i 96 ARCTIC ADVEi\TURES, fki open sea to the southward, and we bent to our oars with all our strength, that we might return to the ship, and take advantage of the open: ng. I remember that we were passing close under an iceberg, when I heard a terrific crash, and all was dark, and I knew that I was beneath the water. By a violent effoi-C I rose to the surface, and the next instant found I was clinging to the ice. The force ot the sea threw me still further on the berg until I was beyond the reach of the waves. My position was awful in the extreme. The snow began to fall, driving against me with fearful force. I looked round but could nowhere see the boat or my companions. I alone had been saved from instant death, to perish, I believed, in a more lingering manner. I expected ere long to drop off into the sea or to be frozen to death, still I resolved to struggle for life. How the time passed I could not judge. Every moment seemed an hour. Looking round, the fall of snow seemed lessened, and I caught sight of the ship. It appeared to me in the indistinct light that she was being dashed furiously against the berg, and that her destruction was inevitable. Should she founder I knew that my chance of life was slight indeed. I felt inclined to slip off and terminate my suffering at once, rather than attempt to cling on until over- powered by the cold ; but I felt that it was my duty to prolong my existence to the last, and I did my best to secure myself by placing my feet on a ledge below me. I was conscious, however, that my mental and physical powers were both failing raa I look'^^^ fli ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 97 for the ship, but could nowhere see her. Had she, with my Ijrothor and all hands, foundered ? Such appeared too probable. Dreadful was the thought. I was fast sinking into insensibility when I heard a hail, and on looking down saw Sandy with an ice- pole in his hand, clambering up the berg towards me. In another moment his arm was around my waist, and I knew no more until I found myself in the boat and heard my preserver shout — " Shove off, lads, he'll come round in time." Opening my eyes I saw that the boat was pulling away from the berg, but I could nowhere perceive the ship. Were my fears then for her realized ? I wanted to ask vSandy, but it seemed as if the power to speuk had left me. Again and again I tried, but my lips refused to move. "What is it, laddie r" asked Sandy, perceiving the efforts I was making, as he bent down his ear for a moment to my mouth. I managed to utter " The ship." "She's all right," he returned; ".-she managed to weather the berg, and is now brought up to leeward of the floe, but she had a narrow scrape of it, and we thought for certain that she'd be knocked to pi<;'ces." My mind felt greatly relieved, but Sandy having to attend to the steering of the boat I could not again attract his attention. I was anxious to know what had become of the boat. I did not suppose it possible that she could have escaped. After some time I managed to utter the word " boat " loud enough for him to hear me. 98 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 4 " It is a sad business, the poor fellows are all lost. We saw the wreck dashing against the base of the floe, and that drew our attention to you. Although we saw you at a distance we at first took you for a seal." I asked no further quc^stions. Some twenty minutes or more passed away before we reached the side of tharl\'. ] tnd Croil to reload and to stand by me with his rillo, that 1 might use it should my next shot not take effect. I prayed that my aim might be steady, and tired. Croil and Kvven raised a shout of joy as they saw vhe bear roll over, kicking his legs in the air. We let lim kick, while I again got my rifle ready for action. We then advanced, intending to put the bear out of its misery, while Ewen, slipping down from the top o the ice- hill, ran to possess himself of his gun. Tie bear's struggles, however, soon ceased, and we had noc to expend any further powder and shot upon hin. *'Ilow are we to get him to the ship?" evclaimed Croil. " Where is the ship, rather r" I asked. " I saw her clearly enough from the top of the hum- mock," said Ewen. " I was going to cry ou. when 1 saw the bear. We may drag the carcase part of the way, and then get some of the men to come and cut it up, and transport the remainder on their shoilders," said Ewen. This plan was agreed to ; by going round the hum- I3RU1NS SHr)RT-I.IVEI) rkHMI':!. io6 ARCTIC ADVENTURES, mock we could see the ship, though she appeared a long way off. We hoped, hovever, by returning with so valuable a prize, we should be excused for havini^"^ gone further than we ought to have done. We found that it was no easy matter to drag along the hutre carcase over the ice, even where the surface of the flo(i was perfectly smooth. At last we had to give up tlio tapk, but how we vv^ere to find our way back to whoro we had left the bear was the difficulty, as the fur could not be distinguished at any great distance. At last Croil produced a red handkerchief from his pocket, which we secured to the end of a pole we had carried for the purpose of trying the ice. He then stuck it through the bear's body, with the iron head fixed in the ice. Though the bear could not be seen, the handkerchief could be distinguished at a long distance off. We were pretty well tired when we got back to the ship, and the captain was beginning to find fault with us for having gone so far, when we told him of the bear, and he immediately sent four hands, under the com- mand of Sandy, to bring it in, or at all events the skin, and as much of his flesh as they could carry. We three offered to set off with them, but I was secretly not sorry when the captain remarked that we had taken enough exercise for one day, and ordered us to go below and get some rest. It was getting dark when Sandy's party returned with our prize, cut up, however, into bits. They were received with a cordial welcome, as 'all hands were glad to get some fresh meat, which we had not tasted for many a long day. ;■«' speared a ning with )r havinj^f We found the hui^e Df the flo(i ve up tlip to whero ; fur could . At last is pocket, carried for it through n the ice. idkerchief off. We the ship, It with us the bear, the com- s the skin, rry. We s secretly we had red us - to our end the iiedings. He pro- ished to 3rgo the •n shore. Lred that iiid that officer — ,man ';et watched n of ice, 11 finally workinj,^ labilcible d killed the fat lere vvat: bt a few \e could 'e could ;o such Is of the ts which les, but :er than round. i, and ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 137 les, lie and look after the hut, employing himself in either cooking or scra})ing- the bear's skin to make it lit for use as a covering. Should we kill a sufficient number of bears, we intended to fasten the skins of some of thorn together so as to form a roof to our hut, while others would make great-coats or bed coverings. Soon after Sandy and his companion had departed, Ewen and I took our guns both for the sake of exercise and to try and shoot bears, reindeers, or musk oxen which we thought it possible might be f )und in that region. We were not aware that the latter animals had migrated southward by that time, or indeed that they were likely to be found only on level ground where the depth of the snow was not sufli- cient to prevent them from getting at the moss or lichens beneath. I was thankful to have Ewen as my companion. lie had greatly improved since he Came on board and .-.howed that he possessed qualities uliicli I did not before suspect, so that I felt for him as I should for a brother. Tlie atmosphere had become calm and comparatively warm though the snow remained hard and crisp. Ewen and I kept under the cliffs and were tempted to m£ike our way much further south than we had hitherto gone, in the hopes of discovering some opening into the interior of the country. We at last reached a part of the cliffs where, though very rugged, they were less precipitous than in other parts. The sun was sinking behind them, but we still had abundance of daylight for exploring. Ewen offered to climb to the top in the hopes of obtaining an extens'"^ view and perhaps of finding level ground i 138 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. V^K 7i3 where we should have the chance of finding deer 01 oxen. There was no reason why we should both run the risk, for a risk there was, though a slight one. " Let me make the attempt alone, while you remain below jnd point out to me the best path to take," he said. I did not much like to do this, but he declared that if 1 insisted on going he would give up the expedition. As I -^aw th.^ sense of his proposal, I consented, and he coinineiKcd rlimbing up, rifle in hand. He had gone sorae f "Stance when I saw a creature creeping a'nng the rod-..-- ^bove his head, and directly after- wai'ds, a.j it ^^vv. ^rf into sight, I saw that it was a huge bear. I shoai ea ,:\^ uim, to draw his attention to it, should he not have discovered the animal. Hu stopped and began to descend to a position from whence he could take a steady aim at the monster, should it come within his reach. Wh£it was my horror directly afterwards to see two other bears crawling out from among the rocks by which they had hitherto been concealed, evidently having dis- covered him. It seemed impossible that he should escape. I shouted to him, when he again began clambering up the rock. To my dismay, as he did so the first bear crawled down and seated itself on a 2)oint so as to intercept him. The two other creatures got closer and closer with the evident intention of seizing him. I trembled for his safety, and hurried to the nearest spot from which I could take a steady aim. t( •' Never mind the fellow above you," I shouted. If you will .shoot the one nearest to you, I will deer oi 30th run one. X remain ake," he ired that pedition. ted, and lie had creep! ni; ■ly after- ; it was a tion to it, nal. Hu ion from monster, was my e.r bears ich they ing dis- should began le did so elf on a )ser with ibled for \m which shouted, lu, I will A CRITICAL POSITION. 140 ARCTIC ADVENTURES manai^&the other, and we will then tackle the third if he iittempts to come down." I could well enter into Ewen's feelincfs. It was surprising, in the perilous position in which he was placed, that he should have retained any presence of mind. Following my advice, he sat himself down on the rock £ind took aim, waiting until I should fire. *' Now ! " I cried, and we both pulled our triggers at the same moment. I own that I trembled lest either one or both of us might miss, in which case it seemed impossible that he should escai^e destruction. As the smoke cleared away from before my eyes, I saw the bears in motion, but insteiid of advancing they both fell back and came tumbling down the cliff close to where I was standing. I rapidly loaded, as did Ewen. We had still another antagonist to contend with, whom he must tackle alone, for I could not help him. just as I expected to see the bear crawling down the rocks to seize my friend, to my infinite satisfac- tion, the creature, alarmed by the reports, turned tail and began ckimbering up the cliff. I shouted to Ewen not to shoot, as, should he only wound the bear, it might in its rage turn and attack him. I also had to look after one of the others, who though wounded, was not dead, and recovering from its fall, was looking about apparently for the foe who had injured it. On espying me it began to advance, growling furiously. As blood was flowing from be- hind its shoulder, I hoped that it might soon drop, but in the meantime it might tear me to pieces, and ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 141 the third It was 1 he was isence of n on the triggers )th of us ible that 3 cleared I motion, lack and re I was We had i^hom he ig down satisfac- •ned tail he only i attack 3rs, who ig from be who dvance, om be- drop, es, and perhaps treat Ewen in the same way. To run from a boar is at all times very dangerous, unless to gain protection of some sort at no great distance ; for the i)oar — clumsy as it looks — can run much faster than a man. I, therefore, having reloaded my rifle, stood with it ready to send a shot through the animal's head. I waited until the wounded b(^ar was aluKxst dose upon me, and I could not refrain from uttering a shout of satisfaction as it rolled over perfectly dead. Ewen in the meantime, approaching the other, had finished it by firing a bullet through its head. " 1 wish that we had the sledge; to take homo the meat and skins," observed Ewen, *'but we must carry as much as we can." Our fear was that, should we leave the meat, other bears, of whom there appeared to be a whole colony in the neighbourhood, would come and devour it. AVe managed to get off the skins, which were likely to prove most valuable to us ; and, loaded witli them and a portion of the meat, we returned to the hut, where we found Croil anxiously looking out for us. lie too, had seen a couple of bears moxing across the bay, and was afraid that we might havr; been attacked by them, and suffered the fate of the poor mate. I CHAPTER VIII. ■viWiftr- — We now waited in anxious expectation for the arrival of our shipmates, but they did not appear. The days were getting shorter, the nights longer. The cold was increasing. Often and often we gazed out over the ice. As far as we could judge no change had taken place in it. A vast snow-covered plain, with here and there mountainous heights of ice could be seen extending as far as the horizon. Unfor- tunately we had not brought a telescope, or we thought that we might have discovered our friends. At length we began to entertain the most serious apprehensions as to their fate. We had one evening turned in, and, having closed the door of the hut, had lighted our lamp and com- posed ourselves to sleep, when Ewen roused me up. "I heard a shout!" he exclaimed, "they must be coming." We slipped into our day clothing, and hurried out, carrying our rifles in our hands, for we never moved without them. Again there was a shout : we replied to it with all our might. Some one was evidently approaching. it!" ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 143 for the appear. 5 longer. \re gazed change d plain, ice could Unfor- or we friends, serious Ig closed nd com- le up. lust be |ied out, moved with all [aching. More clearly to show our position, I fired off my rifle, and sent Croil in to light a small piece of drift-wood the only thing we possessed to serve as a torch. Again and again we shouted : at length we caught sight through the gloom of night of "some dark spots moving over the snow. " Hurrah ! " cried Ewen, " there are our ship- mates ! " Soon after he had spoken I discovered three of the dogs dragging the sledge and two men following them. The one was Sandy, the other Hans the seaman. Hurrying forward we led them up to the hut. Sandy could scarcely speak. " We are well-nigh starved, and I thought we should never get back," he said at length. " Where are our shipmates ? Why haven't they come ? " I asked. " I'll tell you all about it when we have had some food and rest. Can you give us something to eat ? " " Plenty," I answered, leading him and Hans into the hut, while Ewen and Croil unharnessed the poor dogs, who looked well-nigh famished. Ewen gave them some bears' flesh, and they devoured it with a g^reediness which showed that they had gone long without a meal. We soon had some slices of meat frying on our stove and some snow melting. After the two weary travellers had eaten, and drank some hot coffee, Sandy gave us the alarming intelligence that he had been unable to reach the camp. On arriving at the edge of the land-ice, what was his dismay to discover a wide gap between it and the field in the mjf^st of .V*. (44 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. ft \vlii( h our friciuls \vcm*(3 oncnnij^cd, and which was in motion driftiiij^'' southward. Still, hoiiiiii^' that i; miij;"lit aLTain ronv' in contact with th(^ hmd-ico, hi' (h^tcrmincd to nio\<' in the same direction. Ilc^cau'jhl si^fht indeed of- a ilai,'' and what ho took to be a portion of the wreck, thou^-h at so o-r(\at a ilistanc(! tliat he did not'sujjposo tin; sound of his rilh^, which he lired off, would bo hoard. No object indeed would have l)een trained had it been so, as it would hav- been inipossil^h; for one party to communicati; with the other. J'Or two days he followecl the floe, but the distance between it and th(3 hand-ice increased. At hmj^'th the ice ov^er which he was travelliuL;' becauK; so rouj^di that he could ])roceed no further; he lost sight of the iloe and its living freight, and was re- luctantly compelled to return for want of food. One of the dogs gave in and it was killed and eaten. The last morsels had been consumcMl the day before he and Hans reached the hut. TlK.'ir joy at finding us still there may be imagined, for had we by any chance fallen in with natives and accompanioid them to the south, th> y fully expected to perish. As soon as the meal was over, the two weary travellers lay down to sleep. Croil imitated their example, while {{wen and I sat up by the light of the lamp, 1 mending clothes and my friend engaged in preparing a small tub for holding bear's grease to serve us for fuel. Our conversation naturally took a melancholv turn. The thought that the floe on which were my brother and his companions might be dashed to pieces, and that they would perish miserably, was painful in the extreme. We thought more of them, %f*y h was in ■ that ii d-ice, li'' fe (^aui^lu to be a (listancf! 1o, which ('(1 would >uUl ha\<' :ato with ', l)Lit the iseiL At 4" liocamt; ■ ; ho lost 1 was ro- fod. Onf on. Th<3 brtbro ho ndinq" us TV chance ni to the ^o weary Itcd thrir •ht of tlie |«'-a''(Ml in rc^ase to lly took a Ion which )o dashed [ibly, was of them, " EWEN AND I SAT UP BY THE LIGHT OF THE LAMP." 1 . Jk Stl?i ; ) .8 H^^-'M'-' 1' '- 8 R£f H^^'-^; BmS;^>^a', 4-fl ^rail ^H L ''^S N^';.'>;e ARCTIC ADVENTURES, M7 indeed, than of ourselves, though our position was truly perilous. Our only shelter during the intense cold of an Arctic winter was an ice hut. Hitherto the bears we had shot had afforded us food and fuel ; but they might take their departure, and we should then have no other food on which to depend, until the return of spring should enable us to kill walruses and seals. No ships, even in the summer, were likely to penetrate so far north, for few whalers had got so near the pole as the Hardy Norseman had done, and destruction had overtaken her. " Still I have heard that people have wintered in Nova Zembla and Spitzbergen, even with fewer means of supporting themselves than we possess," observed Ewen. *'We must not despair, Hugh, but trust in God; Sandy's return to us is greatly to our advan- tage ; for with his harpoon, when our powder is ex- pended, he will be able to kill seals, and furnish us with food." " I am thinking of my brother Andrew, and the hopelessness of finding David," I replied. " But we do not know that he and the rest of the party are lost, and if your brother David is alive he may still make his escape wherever he may be." At last Ewen and I, having trimmeJ the lamp that it might keep alight, and maintain sufficient warmth in the hut, carefully closed the door and lay down to sleep. There was no necessity for keeping a watch as was the case on the floe, nor had we the dread of an attack from hostile natives, for no human beings were likely to come near us. We should have been heartily I, 2 11 148 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. ready to welcome any Esquimaux should they find us out. I awoke at the usual hour, just before day-break, and getting up trimmed the lamp which had almost gone out, and set to work to prepare breakfast for my companions. After a time I called up Ewen and Croil, but we allowed Sandy and Hans to sleep on, keeping the breakfast ready to give them the moment they should awake. It was noon before they opened their eyes, when having taken the food we offered them they fell asleep again. It was several days, indeed, before they got over the fatigue of their journey. Sandy, when once himself again, was as anxious as any of us to make preparations for passing the winter. We talked of pushing southward to seek a more level region, but the lofty hills in the distance, without the appearance of any spot on which we could land, made us hesitate. As the days were now only of three hours' duration, we feared that we should not have light for more than a very short journey, and it was impossible to endure the cold for any length of time after the sun had gone down. We had already a good supply of bear's meat, but it was important to get more. Our store we had buried in a pit close to the hut, so that no roving bears could get at it. They are in no way particular, and would quite as readily feast on the flesh of their relatives as on any other meat. We had frequently seen their tracks made during the night close out- side the hut, but they must have taken their depar- ture, Jijve spirits of another world, before dawn. They ARCTIC ADVENTURES, 149 were not as hungry at this time of the year as they would be further on, when no seals were to be caught and the deer and other animals had migrated south- ward. At length the sun sank beneath the horizon, not again to rise until the end of a long winter's night. The cold too had become so intense that we could only iceep ourselves warm in the hut with the door closed and the lamp alight, but then it was almost too hot. We had, therefore, to make a window through which we could admit fresh air, without the necessity of opening the door; but when there was any wind we were obliged to fill up the aperture with snow, for the smallest orifice admitted a draught of air which pierced the hand like a needle when held up to it. The poor dogs had to be taken inside, for though we had built kennels for them close to the hut, there was a great risk of their being carried off by bears while we were asleep. 'J hose •' monarchs of the realms of ice," as they are poetically called, had scented us out, and scarcely an hour passed but one made his appearance. Sometimes they got off, though we killed no inconsiderable number, thus adding to our stock of food, while their skins enabled us to make our beds as warm as we could desire. At length, however, they became more daring and troublesome, so that none of us could go out of the hut alone lest we should be carried off. We had expended by this time so much of our powder that we had resolved to use no more of it until the return of spring, when we should require it on our journey southward. How the winter went by I can scarcely describe. - * ' «So ARCTIC ADVENTURES. K>- We had no books, but were never idle, being always employed in manufacturing articles with our knives, either from bones or pieces of drift-wood, or making shoes and clothing from the bears' skins. We were thus employed, having opened the window to admit some fresh air, and a few rays of the re- turning light of day, when, looking up, what should I see but the snout of a bear poked through the aper- ture, evidently enjoying the odours arising from some steaks frying on our stone. Not at all disconcerted by the shouts we raised, for the sake of getting the savoury morsels, he began scraping away at the snow walls, in which, with his powerful claws, he could speedily have made an alarming breach. Sandy, jumping up with his harpoon, which he had been polishing, in his hand, darted it with all his might at the bear. Fortunately his weapon did not stick in the animal's throat, or he might, I confidently believe, have pulled down the whole structure in his struggles. Uttering a roar of pain, the bear started back. His roar was repeated by several other bears outside, who must have joined it from sympathy, echoed by the dogs from the inside, who jumped about eager to attack their foes. Ewen was about to open the door, when Sandy stopped him. " Let us see how many of these gentlemen there are outside, for I've a notion there are more than we should wish to tackle," he observed. He and I looked out of the window, when we saw y always r knives, making 5 window ■ the re- Lt should ;he aper- om some aised, for le began with his made an :h he had h all his did not nfidently ire in his ck. His side, who X by the eager to Sandy there are than we we saw ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 151 no less than three huge bears close to the hut, while the fellow we had wounded and several others were visible further off, watch int*- the proceedings of their friends, whose evident intention it was to break in it they could, to eat the savoury steaks we were cooking, and us into the bargain. Notwithstanding our in- tention of not usi'ig our fire-arms, we must either kill iSa ARCTIC ADVENTURES, the boars if we could not drive them off, or run the risk of being torn to pieces by them. As they seemed resolved to pull our hut down for the sake of getting at us, we loaded our fire-arms and prepared for the defence of our fortress. Sandy desired me to take my j^ost at the window, and to shoot down as many as I could, while he with the rest of the party opened the door and sallied out to attack the invaders. I advised him, however, to wait and see the result of my shots, unless the bears should actually begin to tear down the walls. Taking aim at the nearest, I fired. The thitk smoke prevented me for some seconds from seeing the effect of my shot. Great was my satisfaction when I perceived the bear struggling on his back in the snow. Ewen then handed me up his rifle, and while he reloaded mine, I took aim at the next bear, which I knocked over in the same fashion as I had the first ; but strange to say, their companions, instead of being frightened £ind ruiining away, came growling up as ii resolved to revenge their deaths. On seeing this, Sandy, who was looking over my shoulder, calling the rest of the party, opened the door, and fired a volley, all hands shouting at the same time at the top of their voices. One of the bears fell ; the rest, terrified and pursued by the dogs, who bolted out, took to flight. We called off our canine attendants, who were, however, very unwilling to return, coming slowly back, and every now and then facing round and barking furiously at the retreating bears. Four of the animals had been killed, and we had run the lown for Tms and Sandy , and to with the 3d out to •, to wait rs should dng aim trevented :t of my )erceived while he which I he first ; of being- up as ii )ver my tned the at the jpursued It. We [owever, |ck, and )arking we had UNPLEASANT SOCIETY, JO th m, th de sh( ag ( w wh Cr( rat If( an( ap anc evi as 1 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 155 made, as Sandy observed, " a good morning's work." It took us some time to cut them up and stow the flesh away in our pit, while the preparation of the skins gave us abundant occupation, though not a pleasant one in the confined hut. Day after day went by ; the sun remained longer and longer above the horizon ; while the warmth sensibly increased, when there happened to be no wind, although the air was still cold enough to make our thick clothing indispensable. We now began to make preparations for our journey southward, which must be performed before the land-ice should begin to break up. I suggested that some of the party should first make a trip with part of our provisions, sufiicient for three or four days, to the south, and there form a depot, so that we might npt run the risk of starving should we fail to kill any animals, and this was agreed to. Sandy and I drew lots which of us should go, and which remain at the hut. The lot fell on him to go, and he chose Hans and Croil to accompany him. I confess that I would far rather have gone, but having agreed to the proposal, I felt bound to yield to his wishes. The party set off the next morning with the tent, and as much bear's meat as they chose to carry, and a portion of the remainder of our other stores. Ewen and I saw them off, not without some forebodings of evil, and then returned to our hut to employ ourselves as usual. We never allowed the time to hang heavily on our »56 ARCTIC ADVENTURES, hands, though we would have given a great deal for a book of any description, especially for a Bible, for that could have been read over and over again with advantage, whereas any other book would have been quickly got through. We calculated that Sandy would be absent a week or ten days at the utmost. The ten days had elapsed, and Sandy had not appeared ; a fearful snow-storm, with a violent wind, had, however, come on, and confined us to the hut, and we concluded that he and his companions had pitched their tent, and had halted until it should be over, and that we might thus expect to see them at any hour. Still days went by after this, and they did not come. " Can they have deserted us ? " asked Ewen. " I am sure that they have not willingly done so," I replied. *' Some serious accident I fear may have happened to prevent them from returning." Our position had now become critical in the extreme. In a short time the ice might leave the shcre, and our esciipe from the bay would be impossible. We resolved at once to set out. Should the party be returning, we might perhaps meet them. If not, we must push on as long as our strength lasted. Having accordingly packed up our meat, our lamp, our stock of oil, and our ammunition, we set out. We might find shelter in some cavern in the cliffs, or if not we could build a snow-hut of sufficient size to contain us. We might even venture to sleep out on calm nights, covered up in our blankets. Before quitting the spot we closed the door of our ;al for a ible, for lin with ,ve been : Sandy utmost, lad not nt wind, the hut, ions had hould be them at did not in. lone so," nay have extreme, and our he party If not, lasted, ir lamp, )Ut. hie cliffs, lient size pleep out )r of our ARCTIC ADVENTURES, >57 hut, to prevent the ingress of bears, for we might possibly have to return to it, though as the warmth of the sun increased it would melt away. We trudged on manfully, both feeling in better spirits than we had done for some days. On our right rose lofty cliffs, and occasionally vast masses of ice formed into glaciers a mile or more in extent, while on the left stretched out a vast field of ice, out of which rose numerous bergs of fantastic shapes, but no open water could we discover. For the first day we got on very well. As the light decreased we built a snow-hut in which we could comfortably rest, with an entrance so small that no bear could have suddenly pounced upon us, while we kept our rifles ready to shoot the intruder should one appear. Next night we did the same, though we felt very tired when the work was over, and but little inclined to start the next morning at sunrise. We had, indeed, miscalculated our strength. It seemed easy enough to walk straight ahead over the ice for several hours a day ; but we found that, though the ice was sometimes smoooth, we had frequently to clamber over hummocks, so that our progress was slower than we had expected. At last Ewen declared that, unless we could take a whole day's rest, he could go no farther. My fear was lest, while we were inside our hut, Sandy and his companions might pass us. I agreed to take a short journey only, and offered to watch while Ewen slept. This he did not like to let me do, but I over persuaded him, and, while he turned in, I walked about the outside of the hut, sometimes 158 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. climbing to the top of a hummock near at hand in the hopes of seeing" our friends. The day closed in, how- ever, without a single object appearing, and the next morning, Ewen saying that he felt stronger after his rest, we continued our journey. We had been travelling for a couple of hours or more, when we reached a point beyond which a deep bay appeared. Should we go round it, or cross fiom one side to the other r As far as we could discern, there was nothing to tempt us to go out of our course. The cliffs were more precipitous and lofty than those we had hitherto seen, with intervals of vast glaciers of equal height. We had hitherto had the cliffs to guide us, but now should the snow fall, or the weather become thick, we should not be able to distinguish them. Clear weather was, therefore, of the utmost import- ance, so, praying that it might continue, we pushed forward. Though we travelled all day, with but a few minutes' rest to take our food, the opposite side of the bay appeared no nearer than at first. Darkness came on, and not the faintest outline of the cliffs could we dis- cover. It seemed to us, as we crept into our hut, that we were in the midst of the frozen sea. Fatigue happily brought us sound sleep. When we got up the morning, what was our dismay to fir ' violent storm was blowing, and that the > vv w.. falling so thickly that we had great difficulty in lorcii g our way out of the hut. In a short time we shou 1 have been enclosed in what might have proved our tomb. To trav©^ was next to impossible; although I id in the in, hovv- the next after his hours or :h a deep ross from discern, ir course, lan those t glaciers 3 us, but r become ish them, t import- e pushi'd minutes' the bay came on, we dis- hut, that Fatiguf^ |got up »' UiforciT 4 re shoi 1 proved lalthough ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 59 } on starting we knew the direction to take, we were aware that we might very soon go wrong should the wind change. We therefore remained in our hut, occasionally digering away the snow to keep the passage clear. At la^ the snow ceased, and as we could make out » the fair utlines of the cliffs to the southward, we at once, >uldering our packs, pushed forward. It 1 60 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 1 seemed, however, that we had made no progress when again we had to halt and build a hut. The three next days were but a repetition of those I have described ; bwt now our provisions had greatly decreased, as had our strength. The cliffs on the othCi side of the bay had not been reached, and when we got there, what wers we likely to find r We had to confess to each other that we should not have strength to go much farther. Still, we resolved to struggle OP as long as life remained. The snow had again begun to fall, but not with suificient thi(^kness to compel us to stop. At last Ewen suddenly declared that not another step could he stir. I offered to take his rifle and his pack, but, when I made the attempt to carry them, I found that I was unable to bear an additional load to my own. Poor Ewen sank down. '* Go on," he said; "you may reach human beings, but I f(;arthat you will not." I could not l)ear the thought of leaving my friend. F"en should I reach the shore and find a settlement, hk would be dead before I could return. I proposed again encamping, but he had not strength even to assist in building a hut. While I was endea\'ouring to encourage him, I fancied that I saw in the distance to the westward some objects moving over the ice. They might be bears — reindeers would scarcely have left the land. I looked more attentively. While I was gazing, the snow almost ceased falling. " Look, Ewen, look ! " I shouted, *' those are men and sledges. They must be Sandy's party, but they are too far off to see us. They are coming nearer, m ss when ■ those I greatly on the id when We had ot have )lved to low had hickness declared . to take attempt bear an yoii ^1 ill not." y friend, tlement, )roposi'd even to him, I estward liyht be land. I ng, the [re men )ut they nearer, oi o ■< O o o o M ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 163 however. Rouse up, old fellow; let us try to meet them." Ewen's strength seemed suddenly to return. We hurried forward, but we both feared that they might pass by without discovering us. As we got nearer to them we shouted, but our voices were hollow and low, and too probably would not be heard. " I'll fire my rifle ! " I exclaimed. " I wonder that I did not think of doing so at first." The report had the desired effect. As we watched the strangers, to our joy we saw that they were direct- ing their course towards us. In a short time we were among a party of Esquimaux, who seemed very much surprised at seeing us, though -what they said we could not make out. From the direction they had been travelling, we concluded that they were bound to some place on the north side of the bay for the purpose of spending the summer there. We tried to make them understand that if they would turn back and carry us to some place where we should find Europeans , we would give them our rifles, and anything else in our power. After liolding a consultation, during which they looked fre- quently at the sky, they agreed to my proposal. 'J'wo of the party, unloading one of the smaller sledges, made signs that Ewen should get upon it. They then packed some provisions they had brought, together with some of our loads and rifles, and signified tliat they were ready to set off. Having rubbed noses with their friends, who con- tinued their route to the northward, we started in the opposite direction. < .M 7 CHAPTER IX -^-'^jytsr- i; t Having no load to carry, I was able to keep up vvith the Esquimaux and their dog-sledge till it was time to encamp, when Ewen, who had recovered his strength more rapidly than I could have supposed possible, offered to assist me in building a snow-hut. We tried in viiin to learn from the Esquimaux whether they had seen Sandy and his party, but they failed to understand our signs as we did theirs. They were merry fellows, though not pleasant companions in a snow-hut in one sense. Notwithstanding this, we spent the night with a feeling of greater security than we had enjoyed for some time. The following day wo were passing close to an ice- Ijerg which, from its appearance, I should have sup- posed could have withstood the fury of the most violent storms. I was admiring its fantastic form, when one of the Esquimaux seized my arm, while the other urged on the dogs at redoubled speed. We had got a hundred } ards from it, when without any warning it suddenly capsized, and shivered into frag- ments, which glided along the ice towards us. In an instant we were surrounded by pieces of ice, pools of! ARCTIC ADVEXTURES. 165 water and fissures, into which it required the greatest care to avoid falling. We pushed on without stopping to look behind us, ^■'ifw. ) keep up :ill it was overcd his supposed snow-hut. IX whether 3y failed to Ihey were nions in a this, we curitvthan r (> to an ice- have sup- the most [astic form, ), while the Lpeed. We Ivithout any |d into frag- us. In an lice, poolb of IN. until wo were at a considerable distance from the spot. The Esquimaux did not appear to think the occurrence at all unusual ; but after tliis they kept at a respectful distance from other icebergs of similar appearance. It was a sign to u^^ that the sun was 166 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. gaining strength, and we could not help fearing that the whole field of ice might before long break up. At lengtli we approached the shore, the cliffs which had hitherto fringed the coast running back some distance inland before they again appeared to tlie southward. The Esquimaux pointed to the land towards which they directed the sledge. We could, however, see no signs of dwellings, though we discovered some objects moving about, which we supposed were human beings. On ap- proaching we saw a number of dogs in front of a snow-hut which rose just above the ground. On seeing our canine friends they rushed forward, barking a welcome, though I am not certain how they would have treated us had not our Ivsquimaux guides driven them off Directly afterwards a number of mquimauK a number .heir huts inquiring ir settle- key began us up to It was our )ulcl meet ms. The we could it gave us lain with iir friends, w o w u < o ?5 k a ir cc sr 8l; an fee on ou ret ico wir \er oil Item |lon< A liiu'l dim the jacce Ihavi Tl ARCTIC ADVENTURES. 169 immediately set off to rejoin the party we had met proceedinjjc northward. This mad»i us believe that they expected the ice would soon break up, and that the object of their journey was to secure sununer quarters, when the rest would rejoin them in their kayacks. Our new friends at once set to work to build for us an igloo, or hut of ice, each block being about six inches in thickness, and a couple of feet in length, cemented by snow. The domed roof was made of snow, the key piece at the top being a large square slab. Our dwelling was about sixteen feet in diameter and seven in height, with a passage of about twenty feet, of sufficient height to allow a person to creep in on his kiees, having a small chamber at the end. While four of the men were engaged in building our hut, two others set off into the interior, and soon returned with a large piece of fresh-water transparent ice which was placed over the door to serve as a window. The whole was completed within an hour, and a very comfortable abode it was when lined with skins of bears and deer. We judged from the advancing I tempore re, however, that it would not last very long. After we had been settled in our abode, our hosts linvited us to come into one of their huts of still larger dimensions to enjoy a banquet, as we understood by Ithe signs they made. Not wishing to offend them we accepted their invitation, though we would gladly ave remained away. The hut was crowded, and w^e could barely find // R' C 77 C A n I ■/•.XTURES. 171 r^K M siltincf-room. A lan,»"e mass of meat and blubber froiu a wah'us wliich had just Ix^fore been caught, w.is ])laced in the centre, when our friends, seating" theni' selves, cut off long strips of blubber, and applied tl^; ends to thcMr nu)Uths. It was wondi'rful to see the enormous c^uantity they swallowed, cutting- off with their knives the portion they were unable to engulf between their teeth. With smiles they invited us to imitate their example. Hungry as we were, it was some time before wo could bring ourselves to put the horriijle morsels into our mouths ; but, finding that we were not likely to get any other sort of food, we at length managed to eat a few small pieces, our hosts appearing as much astonished at the smallness of our appetites as we u(M"e at the hug(i c[iiantities of the oleaginous food liiey managed to consume. Aftcn- eating a few pieces, we overcame the nausea we liad at first felt, and contrived to get down a tolerable meal. For an hour or more our hosts con- tinuinl eating, when each took a draugiit of soukj gicasy looking soup which had been boiling over tlni lamp in the centre of the hut. It was offered to us, but we preferred some plain water which had Iteen Iproduced from snow melted over their lamp. 01)serving that we declined to take any more of |t1i( ir dainty fare, they made signs that they intended to go to sleep, by stripping off their outer garment,* nd stretching themselves on the skin-covered couche.s jivhich surrounded the hut. AVe gladly took the hint, md retired to our own abode, which, although very Inuch colder than the one we left, had a decided '1' 172 ARCTIC Al)\'l':.\ I'LKl-.S. advantayc in bu'ing" free irom the horrible odour pervading' tlio other. When our tloor was clos(»d our lamp sofjn broucrht the teniperatun; \\\s t*) a comfort abl(» warmth, and wo slept with a sen.^e of security we had not for lon^- enjoyccl. 'J'he next day we tried to induce our hosts to accom- pany us to the south. 'Jhey could understand our signs, but had evidently made up their minds not to go. They were very friendly, however, and allowed us to move al)Out as we pleased. A\'e, being unwil- ling to become a burd(Mi to them, determined if pos- sible to kill a bear, or a deer, or walrus should wej fail to find any of the former animals. We accord- ingly started off with our guns, lea\ing our i^ack'^ behind us to show that we intended to return. As the country to the southward appeared lessl rugged than that to the north, we proceeded in thel former direction, but fijuiul after a shoit time that wej could make but slow progress, so we descended to th( ice, intending to strike inland should we observe n( more practicable country. We had not proceeded far, however, before a heavy snow-storm came on] which not only obliterated our tracks, but shut ou| even the land from our sight. " We shall be wise to turn back," observeij ]Lwen, *' for if we don't we may easily become b( wildered." I agreed with him, and we at once determined tl retrace our steps. We walked on and on, supposinj that we had the land on our left side. The ice w tolerably level. AVe fancied tliat we had gone fd enough to reach the Esquimaux settlement. Still bl(; odour closed our a comfort of security s to accom- zTStand our linds not to uul allowed oinj^' unwil- lincd if pos- s should we We accord - j; our pack^ turn. ppearod less (X'ded in the' time that we ;ended to th observe n l>t proceedct nn came on, |but shut oul /' observe become b [ctermined tl ^n, supposin The ice ws had gone f; bnient. Stilj // A CTIC AD VENTURES. »75 though wo listened attentively, we could not hear the voices of the inhabitants. We had scarcely taken note of time, and we now, somewhat to our dismay, found that it was rapidly growing dark. We hurried on, every now and then uttering a shout In the expec- tation of hearing a reply. No reply came, however, and we arrived at the alarming conclusion that we should have to spend the night on the barren shore. To reach it we turned to the left, but after going on 'some distance, we still failed to see the cliffs. " We must stop here, for I can go no further," exclaimed Kwen. ** It would be better to build a hut than to wander about and at last perish with cold." I agreed with him, and although without any instruments save the butts of our rifles, from which we withdrew the charges, we commenced operation^>. As there was hy this time abundance of snow, we were not long in forming a hut of suflicient size to iiold us both, either lying down or sitting up. It would at all events prevent us being frozen to death ; though there was the risk, should the snow contuiue to fall, that we might be buried alive. To prevent tliis, we agreed that one of us should sit up and keep open a hole by thrusting through it the barrel of a Irille. -After I had had my sleep, Ewen roused me up. IKndeavour'ng to keej> awake I every now and then Poized mv rifle and thrust the barrel throup-h the hole, pien I was startled by hearing a creature scratching [iway at the entrance of our hut. Ihat it was a bear had no doubt, and should the animal succeed in )reaking in, it might seize one or both of us, as, lying 176 ARCTIC ADVENTURED. clown with our weapons unloaded, we should be com- pletely at its mercy. I roused up Ewen and advised him to reload his rifle while I did the same, and I hoped that we should liave time to shoot the intruder, before he could seize us. We were, however, completely in the dark, though I expected to get sight of our assailant directly it had torn away the front of the hut. " Perhaps if we shout we may drive it off," said Ewen. I agreed with him, and we together raised our voices, but scarcely had we done so than they were repli(^d to by a loud bark, while the scratching was continued with increased vehemence. " Why, that must be a dog! " cried Ewen. •*Aiid I know the voice," I said; "it is that of| Bruno, our own St. Bernard." I called his name, when I was answered by aj peculiar bark and whine of recognition. No sooner had we arrived at this conclusion than,! seconding the efforts of the dog, we soon made ani opening in the snow, and Bruno crept in and began! licking our faces and uttering barks to show hii delight. *' lie must have scented us out in spite of tl snow, and followed us here," I exclaimed. " Can our ship- mates be near r " That such was the case we had little doubt, and wi agreed that should Bruno show a wish to conduct usj we would accompany him. Scarcely had we resolve(| on this, than Bruno ran out of the hut, and then cam( ba<.k pulling at our trousers and leaving no doubt A R CTIC AD VEXTURRS. 177 L be coir.- eload his tve should Duld seize -k, though :tly it had off," said raised our they were tching was n. , is that of I 'ered by a I lusion than, ,n made an| and began lo show his| lof tV snow, Ln our ship- [ubt, and we conduct usi I we resolve^^ d then cam( no doubt to his intentions. We therefore kept up alongside him as fast as we could move. He regulated his pace to suit ours, otherwise in his delight he would evidently have* bounded away before us. At length, however, through the still falling snow, we caught sight of what we concluded was the land, though in the indistinct light we could not be certain that it was not a berg. We shouted, expecting to hear a reply from our shipmates ; but, instead, a voice answered which we knew to be that of an h'squimaux. Presently we found ourselves at the village we had left. Several of our friends came out of their huts, uttering ex- clamations of surprise at Bruno, and driving back their dogs, who began furiously barking iit him. He had evidently conducted us to the nearest human habitations. Still we were convinced that vSandy's party could not be far off. As verbal explanations were impossible, we tried to show by signs that we had lost our way, and that the dog had found us. They then, guessing that we must be starving, brought us a large piece of walrue^ ilesh, the greater portion of which, as may be sup- posed, we afterwards bestowed on our faithful dog, who crept after us into our hut. Having eaten enough of the meat to satisfy the cravings of himger, we lay down and were soon fast asleep. In the morning I was awakened by hearing the loud sound of the rending and crashing of ice. On looking out 1 saw that the part of the iai on which wif had v»'anaered was separated from that 5i/t,tached to the shore, and rvas, with all the pieces beyoRd^ in violent commo- 1/8 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. tion. Had we remcaincd on it a few hours longer, we should inevitably have perished. Our friends seemed highly pleased. We saw them preparing their harpoons and lines. Some dark objects appeared on the edge of the ice, and several of them immediately started off, one of whom wo followed, keeping, however, at some distance, so as not to interfere with his proceedings. The objects we had S(M}n wen; walruses. 'J'hough they immediately afterwards slid off into tin; water, the Esquimaux continued his course towards the spot with his eyes fixed on the water. J le stopped ; we saw him lift his harpoon, and immediately afterwards the head of a huge walrus appeared above the surface. It was but for a moment. The hunter darted his weapon with all his force, and then unwound a long line which he ciirried on his shoulder, ^\''ith wonder- ful df^xterity he played the monster as a fisherman does the salmon he has hooked. Sometimes the creature dived, and at others came up to the surface and looked as if lie intendf^d to get on the ice and charge his enemy, but the hunter retreated, keeping his line taut. The hunter, seeing wo wore watching liis proceed- ings, made a sign to us to approach. As I did so, having my riiie in my hand, I fired, and the shot entering the creature's head its struggles ceased. The Esquimaux, highly delighted, thanked me for the assist- ance I had given him. It was not until several of his companions arrived that we were abh^ to haul the walrus upon the ice. Soon afterwards Ewen shot another in the same manner, tlms raising us high in ,1 1( ngcr, we taw them me darl \ several vhoni we CO, so as 'JMioiigh lie water, s the spot pped ; we ifterwards le surface, darted his and a long :h wonder- fisherman times the .li ll Aven sliot nUNTKNo iiiL UAL 1 ■ i; us high in K J i8o ARCTIC AD I'JiA^ UKET,. llic estimation of our hosts. Tlie other hunters wen tHjually successful, and there was great rejoicing ii the villag^e at the abundange of meat which had beer l)rought on shore. Several kayacks were now brought out of a hut where they had been sheltered during the winter, and being car/ied over the ice, were launched into the oper water. I'hey were made of skins and entirely coverec over, with the exception of a small hole large enougl to admit a man's legs and the lower part of his body liach hunter was provided with a double paddle anc harpoon. To the harpoon was attached by \x. line i float made of a leathern bag inflated with air. One end of the harpoon line was secured just belov it, the other end being made fast to the head of th( harpoon. About half-a-dozen hunters had takei their seats, for they had observed, what we had not, i whole shoal of seals not far off. They immediate ' made chase. We eagerly watched their proceeding Presentlv the seals came to the surface, when t Msquimaux, paddling on, soon got into their midst The harpoon being darted, the shaft, which w shaken out of the head, was allowed to be towed wi the float after the seal. One after the other the hunters launched the v.'oapons, and the seals were seen swimming away a vain endeavour to escape. The nimble kaya( c{uickly overtook them, and the second harpoon seldo failed to wound them mortally. Although they san on being killed, the floats serv^ed to show where tht had gone down. One of the most wonderful parts the performance was the way in which the Ksqutmai a hor hunters were ■eat rejoicing in t which had been ht out of a hut, the winter, and, led into the open d entirely covered ole large enor.gh part of his body, ouble paddle and ached by n line a [ with air. ecured just below o the head of the inters had taken ;hat we had not, a They immediate y their proceedings, surface, when the into their midst, shaft, which was i to be towed with rs launched their winimine awav in i nimble kayacks nd harpoon seldom Ithough they sank ' show where they wonderful parts of ch the EsQuimaux ■ ARCTIC ADVENTURES. lb hauled up the big seals and placed their bodies across their canoes ; when, sniging- songs of triumph, they returned to the ice, where friends stood by to tako possession of their prey. Without even getting out of their canoes, they again darted off, and few returned without another seal. When we expressed our admiration of their kayacks, our friends showed us several wonderful feats wliich they could perform in them. Two of them started off together, oik;; at right angles to the other, and almost in a moment, without upsetting, the latter forced his canoe di tly over it. We saw a still more extraordinary feat. A man, having secured him- self tightly in his canoe with an apion fastened round his body, with a blow of his paddle upset it, and with another brought it right again ; and thus he continued, turning round and round full twenty times or more, so rapidly, that we could just catch sight of his paddle in the air before it disappeared. Our friends liad another kind of boat which they called an " oomiak." It was straight- sided, flat, and Sfjuare-ended. 'Jhe framework was made of whale- bone and covered over with seal-skin, almost trans- parent. It was three feet deep, about twenty-five long, and eight wide. It was propelled by two paddles, while an old man sat with another paddle in the stern to steer. On seeing this primitive sort of boat, the idea struck us that by its means we might be conve3-ed southward. We tried by every means in our power to induce our friends either to lend us one or to go with us. We had already promised them our rifles, the value iS4 ARCTIC ADVENTURI'S. of \vlii( h was greatly [increased now that tboy had seen their power. They had also takcMi a great fancy to Bruno, and they at length gave us to understand that, if we would make him (jver to them and give them a couple more rilies with powder and shot, they would convey us as far as we wishtul to go. We were sorry to have to part with Jiruno, hut, at the same time, we were convinced that he would be perfectly ha])py and well-fed in the realms of snow, where he might revel to his heart's delight. We accordingly started the next morning with two men to paddle, and a third to steer. 'Hu; boat was also fitted with a very short mast, stepped in the.' fore-part, and a sail composed of the intestines of the walrus split oj)en so as to form strips about four inches wide. These strips wx^re sewn together, and thus made a sail of great strength and lightness. When the wind was favourable we were al>le to hoist it, £ind it drovi^ the oomiak along at a far greater speed than I should have supposed possible. The people allowed us to take our rifles, having no doubt, apparently, that we would give them up at the end of the voyage. 'J he whole tribe stood ready on the ice to see us off, and vociferously uttered their farewells, which we returned in like manner. The weather was remarkably fine, and, although icebergs and floes innumerable covered the surface of the water, we had no difliculty in making our way between them. W^hen one floe approached another, we with ease jumped out and carried our light boat beyond the power of our assailant. As we proceeded the floes became fewer and fewer, and we made moro hoy had Lit fancy lorstand nd .t,nvo lot, tlu'Y ), but, at ,ould be of snow, with two was also "orc-piirt, o walrus les wide. made a the wind it drove I shouUl ;ivin£^ no up at the ready on red their although iurface of our way another, ght boat roceeded ide more Mirk...... ,11 ' ■ I ■ - I -, S V ^V m >• iiiiiiag'K:ri:F''Ti y'iL IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) i/j fe 1.0 I.I 1^ 128 ■« I 12.5 2.2 2.0 1.8 1-25 1.4 11.6 « 6" ► v: m / % ;^ /A / '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 *:<¥ 1 86 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. \\ rapid progress. At night wo cithor lamlod on thn shore or on a fixed floe, and, creeping under th« oomiak, slept on our bear-skins. We harpooned a couple of seals and shot a bear, which afforded us abundance of food. We w(jre standing along the shore one evening when, under a cliff, what was our astonishment to see a light. The Kscpiimaux were inclined to avoid the place ; for, pulling away, evidently alarmed, they assured us that the spot would not afford comfortable camping- ground. We, however, were anxious to ascertain by what the light was produced, feeling certain that some jierson must be on the shore who was making a signal. At last we persuaded them to turn the boat's head towards the beach. As we approached, what was our astonishment to see a man standing at the mouth of a cave, and hold- ing 1. torch which, in his eagerness, as we drew near, he flung into the air. '* Who are you r " shouted Ewen. *' An Englishman," was the answer. We quickly leaped on the beach, and the stranger, advancing to meet us, stretched out his hands. *' Thank Heaven you have come, for I was very near perishing," he exclaimed. "My powder and shot were expended, and I had consumed the last remnant of the meat of the last deer I had killed." I replied that we had sailed in the Hardy Norse man y that she had been lost on the ice, and that we had been separated from our companions. I lI on llio nder the t a bear, Wo w(ir« , under a rht. The iace ; for, isured us camping- 1 by what that some making a the boat's shmcnt to and hold- rew near, stranger, ids. was very )wder and lumed the ler I had \ Norse man y Lit we had RESCUED. iS8 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. % *' Why, that ship belonged to Dundee, the port 1 sailed from in the Barcntz." "Are you, then, her surgeon, David Ogilvy?" 1 asked in a trembling voice. *' I am," he answered. " Then I am your younger brother," was my reply, and we threw ourselves into each other's arms. After recovering ourselves, I introduced Ewen, when my brother invited him and the Esquimaux into his cavern. Though the entrance was small, the interior was of considerable size, and had been made habitable by means of skins and the wreck of the very sloop in which he had escaped. Most of her crew, he told us, had left her in search of walruses, when a storm arose, and she was driven among the ice on to the coast, the remainder of his people perishing. He had providentially been able to save two rifles and all the ammunition on board, together with the larp:er part of her provisions. After finding shelter in the cavern, he had discovered a path which led to the heights above. Erom thence he had been able to make excursions into the interior, where he found reindeer and musk-oxen in considerable numbers, together with mosses and several herbs, with the qualities of which being acquainted he was able to vary his food. The next morning we loaded the oomiak with as many of the skins as she could carry, and proceeded on our voyage. To our disappointment we found our further progress stopped by a large field of ice, which had been driven against the shore or had remained fixed to it since the winter. We must either cross it ARCTIC Ani'EXrURES. 1^9 my reply, •ms. :ed Ewen, imaux into small, the been made reck ot the ^ost of her 3f walruses, among the his people able to save rd, together iter finding path which tie had been r, where he lonsiderable eral herbs, nted he was liak with as [d proceeded found our jf ice, which I remained ither cross it — and it mit^ht extend for several miles, besides being covered with hummocks — or we must paddle out sea- wards and try to get round it. The latter proceeding did not appear to suit, the ideas of the Esquimaux. Rather than be delayed, however, they consented to make the attempt, as we persuaded them that a passage might be found further out. After we had gone a short distance, on looking seaward, great was our astonishment to catch sight of a flag. Presently afterwards we saw some dark dots on the floe, which had apparently come in contact with the field of ice at present impeding our progress. " Can it be possible that those are our shipmates r " exclaimed Ewen. *' I have no doubt about it," I answered. " I see three persons ; perhaps they are Sandy, Croil, and Hans. I trust that the poor fellows have escaped." To make sure I fired off my rifle, when the shot was replied to, though the sound but faintly struck our ears. The Esquimaux had now not the slightest hesitation of paddling out. As we drew nearer other figures appeared who came to the edge of the floe. Among them was my brother Andrew. ** It is our crew. The whole have escaped then," exclaimed Ewen, as we made him out. To our infinite satisfaction, Sandy himself was the next person wo distinguished, and several otliers w lio had seen the oomiak came hurrying across the ice. I have not time to describe the meeting of us three brothers, thus so wonderfully preser\'ed and reunited. Sandy had come upon the floe while for a short time 19© ARCTIC ADVENTURES. it remained fixed to tlio hmd-ice, and had arranged to return the next morning to rescue us, when, to his dismay, he found that it was in motion, and that any communication with the land was impossible. The boats, being damaged, were unfit at present to be launched, but the carpenters were very busily employed in repairing them. It was the captain's intention to land as soon as they could get opposite the settlement of Friedrichsihal, should the floe hold together so hmg, or, should its disruption bo threatened, to make the voyage in the boats. Wo, of course, were willing to share the fortunes of our friends. On returning to the oomiak we bestowed the rifles and ammunition we had promised on the honest Esquimaux, to which we added several other articles of a sort they valued. David, Ewen, and I were cordially welcomed by the captain, vSandy, and the rest of the crew, who appeared to have suffered little from their lonp- exposure on the floe. The wreck of the Hardy No/scman^ however, had broken offhand gone to the bottom. We had now the boats alone to depend upon. Scarcely had the Esquimaux taken their departure and paddh^l away than the floe l)f'gan to move. As it did so 1 could not help seeing our perilous position, for at any moment it might drive against a berg, which might topple over and crush us. The wind, too, which had until now been favourable, changed, and thcM'e appeared ^reat probability of our being again driven north- ward. Two days had thus passed, when the look-out, who was stationed at a flag-stafi on the top of i^ hummock, shouted, ARCTIC ADlliXTUKILS. 191 .rranged to hen, to his d that any uble. The sent to be y employed ntention to ; settlement together so )d, to make ^ere willing ;d the rilles the honest [her articles omed by the 10 appeared Dsure on the //, however, ,Ve had now cly had the iddltnl away 1 could not nv moment ight topple \ had until •e appcarcc] iven north- le look-out, he top of ^ "A sail, a sail ! ' All hands quickly joined him, wlicn wt' behold tlie joyful sight of a ship standing towards us, some way ' — I , - — M »»iy^t^ *^^£* ^^i^r* - -■», to the southward. She could not possibly fail, we thought, to see our flag. Wc wen> not mistaken. On she came. As if to haston her progress, some of us fired off our guns, others shoutcfl. Several of the men 193 ARCTIC ADVENTURES. danced and clapped their hands, and others wept and rushed into each other's arms. Then, as the sh'n approached and began to shorten sail, we ran dow to the side of the floe on which she was approaching, and waved our caps and cheered. As the floe was steady, she glided up alongside, and threw her ice- anchors on to it. "She's the Barenfz!" exclaimed David, " though her appearance has changed greatly for the better since I last saw her." The Barentz she was. Having been refitted, she had been the first ship to sail from Dundee in search of us, her captain calculating that, having escaped with our lives, we should be found not far off fiom the spot where providentially he had fallen in with us. The remaining stores and skins, together with those belonging to my brother, and everything of value, were quickly hoisted on board, and the BarentZy having already caught several whales, before long obtained a full ship. Her head was then turned southward, and, after all our wonderful adventures and hairbreadth escapes, we reached in safety the port of Dundee. llir, END. I-KINTED BY LOVB AND WYMAN, LTD., GREAT QUEEN STREET, W.C. irs wept and as the sh'n ve ran dow .pproaching", the floe was *ew her ice- id, " though J better since refitted, she ee in search ing escaped off fiom the 1 with us. er with those ng of value, the BareyttZy before long then turned I adventures n safety the PREET, W.C<