 CHAPTER 1 IN WHICH THE NORTHPOLAR PRACTICAL ASSOCIATION RUSSES A DOCUMENT ACROSS TWO WORLDS Even Mr. Maston, you pretend that a woman has never been able to make mathematical or experimental science progress. To my extreme regret I am obliged to, Mr. Scorpit, answered J. T. Maston. That there have been some very remarkable women in mathematics, especially in Russia, I fully and willingly agree with you, but with her cerebral conformation she cannot become an Archimedes, much less a Newton. Oh, Mr. Maston, allow me to protest in the name of my sex. A sex, Mrs. Scorpit, much too charming to give itself up to the higher studies. Well, then, according to your opinion, no woman seeing an apple fall could ever discover the law of universal gravitation, so that it would have made her the most illustrious scientific person of the seventeenth century. In seeing an apple fall, Mrs. Scorpit, a woman would have but the single idea to eat it. For example, our mother Eve. So, I see very well that you deny us all aptitude for high speculations. All aptitude? No, Mrs. Scorpit, and in the meanwhile I would like to prove to you that since there are inhabitants on earth, and consequently women, there has not one feminine brain been found yet to which we owe any discoveries like those of Aristotle, Euclid, Kepler, La Place, etc. Is this a reason, and does the past always prove the future? Well, a person who has done nothing in a thousand years, without a doubt, never will do anything. I see now that I have to take our part, Mr. Maston, and that we are not worth much. In regard to being worth something, began Mr. Maston, with as much politeness as he could command. But Mrs. Evangelina, Scorpit, who is perfectly willing to be satisfied, answered promptly, Each one has his or her lot in this world. You may remain the extraordinary calculator which you are. Give yourself up entirely to the immense work to which your friends and yourself will devote their existence. I will be the woman in the case, and bring to it my pecuniary assistance. And we will owe you an eternal gratitude, answered Mr. Maston. Mrs. Evangelina, Scorpit, blushed deliciously, for she felt, according to her port, a singular sympathy for J. T. Maston. Besides, it is not the heart of a woman, an unfathomable gulf. It was really an immense undertaking to which this rich American widow had resolved to devote large sums of money. This scheme and its expected results, briefly outlined, were as follows. The Arctic regions, accurately expressed, include, according to Maltebrun, Roklu, Saint Martin, and other high authorities on geography, first, the northern Devon, including the ice-covered islands of Bethan Sea and Lancaster Sound, second, the northern Georgia, made up of banks and numerous islands, such as the islands of Sabine, Beham Martin, Griffith, Cornwallis and Bathurst. Third, the archipelago of Bethan Parry, including different parts of the circumpolar continent, embracing Cumberland, Southampton, James Somerset, Boothia Felix, Melville, and other parts nearly unknown. Of this great area, crossed by the 78th parallel, there are over 1,400,000 square miles of land, and over 700,000 square miles of water. In this area, intrepid modern discoverers have advanced to the 84th degree of latitude, reaching sea coasts lost behind the high chain of icebergs, which may be called the Arctic Highlands, given names to capes, to mountains, to gulfs, to bays, etc. But beyond this 84th degree is mystery. It is the terra incognita of the chartmakers, and nobody knows as yet whether behind it is hidden land or water for a distance of six degrees over impassable heaps of ice to the North Pole. It was in the year 1890s something that the government of the United States conceived the idea of putting the as yet undiscovered countries around the North Pole up at auction sale, and an American society had just been formed with the plan of purchasing this Arctic area, and has asked the concession. For several years, that is true, the Conference of Berlin had formulated a special plan for the guidance of such of the great powers as might wish to appropriate rights under the claim of colonisation or the opening of commercial markets. This code was not acceptable to all, and the polar region had remained without inhabitants. As that which belongs to none belongs to everyone, the new society did not wish merely to occupy it, but to purchase it outright, and so avoid further claims. There never is in the United States any project so bold as not to find people to regard it as practical, and back it with large amounts of money. This was well shown a few years ago when the gun-club of Baltimore tried to send a projectile to the moon, hoping to obtain a direct communication with our satellite. Was it not enterprising Americans who furnished funds for this undertaking? Large amounts were unnecessary for this interesting trial, and were promptly found. And had it been realised, would we not have to thank the members of that club who had dared to take the risk of this super-human experience? Should a Lesseps propose to dig a channel across Europe to Asia, from the banks of the Atlantic to the waters of China? Should a well-sinker offer to bore from the curb-stones to reach the beds of molten silicates to bring supply to your fireplaces? Should an enterprising electrician want to unite the scattered currents over the serves of the globe into one inexhaustible spring of heat and light? Should a bold engineer conceive the idea of putting the excess of summer temperature into large reservoirs for use during the winter in our then frigid zones? Should an anonymous society be founded to do any of a hundred different similar things, there would be found Americans ready to head the subscription lists, and a regular stream of dollars would pour into the company-saves as freely as the rivers of America flow into the ocean. It is natural to expect that opinions were very varied when the news spread that the arctic region was going to be sold at auction for the benefit of the highest and final bidder, particularly when no public subscription list was started in view of this purchase, as the capital had all been secured beforehand. To use the arctic region? Why, such an idea could only be found in the brain of a fool with a general verdict. Nothing, however, was more serious than this project. This was sent to the papers of the two continents, to the European publications, to the African, Oceanic, Asiatic, and at the same time to the American journals. The American newspaper announcement read as follows. To the inhabitants of the globe. The arctic region situated within the 84th degree could not hit a fool have been sold at auction for the very excellent reason that it had not been discovered as yet. The extreme points reached by navigators of different countries are the following. 82 degrees 45 minutes reached by the English explorer Perry in July 1847 on the 28th meridian west to the north of Spitsburg. 83 degrees 20 minutes 28 seconds reached by Markham with the English expedition of Sir John George Narris in May 1867 on the 15th meridian west in the north of Grinnell land. 82 degrees 35 minutes latitude reached by Lockwood and Brainard of the American expedition and the Lieutenant Greeley in May 1882 on this 42nd meridian west in the north of Narris land. The property extending from the 84th parallel to the pole on a surface of 6 degrees must be considered an undivided domain among the different states of the globe and not liable to be transformed into private property through a public auction sale. No one is compelled to live in this section and the United States relying on this non-ownership has resolved to provide for the settlement and use of the domain. A company has been founded at Baltimore under the name of the North Polar Practical Association representing officially the American Union. This company intends to purchase the set country according to the common law which should then give them an absolute right of proprietorship to the continent, islands, inlets, waters, rivers, etc. in fact of everything of which the Arctic region is composed. It is well understood by the law of nations that this title of proprietorship cannot be touched under any circumstances, no matter what shall happen. These conditions have been laid before all the powers. The Arctic region is to be sold at public auction for the benefit of the highest and last bidder. The date of the sale is set for the 3rd of December of the current year in the auction hall at Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America. As for information, Mr. W. S. Forster, temporary agent for the North Polar Practical Association, 93 High Street, Baltimore. The reader may imagine how this communication was received by the public at large. Most people considered it as an blurred idea. Some only saw in it a sample of characteristic American humbug. Others thought that the proposition reserved to be fairly considered and they pointed to the fact that the newly founded company did not in any way appeal to the public for pecuniary help, but was willing to do everything with its own capital. It was with its own money that it wanted to purchase the Arctic region. The promoters did not try to put gold, silver and banknotes into their pockets and keep them for their own benefit. Now, they only asked permission to pay for the land with their own money. Some people who claimed to know said that the company could have gone to work and taken possession of the country without any further ceremony, as it was their right as first occupants. But that is just where the difficulty came in, because until this time the Poles seemed to be forbidden ground to anyone. Therefore, in case the United States should give possession of the country, the company wanted a regular title to it, without trouble about the matter in the future. It was unjust to blame them in any way, as in such an affair too many precautions cannot be taken. Besides, the circular had a paragraph which provided for all future chances. This paragraph was capable of so many interpretations that the exact meaning of it could not be rendered even by those who studied it closely. It was stipulated that the right of proprietorship should not depend upon any chances or changes in the country, no matter whether these changes were in the position or climate of the country. What did this phrase mean? How could there ever be any changes in the geography or meteorology of a country like this one to be sold at auction? Evidently said some shrewd ones, there must be something behind it. The commentators had free swing and exercised it with a will. One paper in Philadelphia published the following pleasant notice. Undoubtedly, the future purchases of the Arctic region have information that the hard stone comet will strike this world under such conditions that its blow will produce geographic and meteorological changes such as the purchase of the Arctic region will profit by. The idea of a blow with a hard stone planet was not accepted by serious people. In any case it was not likely that the would-be purchases would have been informed of such a coming event. Perhaps, said a New Orleans newspaper, the new company thinks the precession of the equinox will in time favour the conditions likely to lead to the utilisation of this domain. And why not? Because this movement modifies the direction of the axes of our syroid observed another correspondent. Really, answered the scientific review of Paris. As Edemar has predicted in his book on the ocean currents, the precession of the equinox, combined with the movement of the earth's axes, will be such as to modify in a long period the average temperature of the different parts of the earth and the quantities of ice accumulated around the two poles. This is not certain, replied the Edinburgh Review. And besides, supposing that this would be the case, it's not a lapse of twelve thousand years necessary before Vega becomes our polar star in consequence of this movement, and the situation of the Arctic Territory consequently changed in regard to its climate. Well, said the Copenhagen Dagblad, in twelve thousand years it will be time to make preparations, and before that time risk nothing, not even a cent. It was possible that the scientific review was right with Edemar. It was also very probable that the North Polar Practicals Association had never counted on this modification of climate due to the precession of the equinox. In fact, nobody had clearly discovered what this last paragraph in the circular meant, nor what kind of change it had in view. Perhaps to know it, it would suffice to write to the Secretary of the New Society, or particularly its President. But the President was unknown, unknown as much as the Secretary and all other members of the Council. It was not even known where the document came from. It was brought to the offices of the New York Newspapers by a sudden William S. Forster, a codfish dealer of Baltimore, a member of the House of Ardenna and Co. Everything was so quiet and mysterious in the matter that the best reporters could not make out what it was all about. This North Polar Association had been so anonymous that it was impossible even to give it a definite name. If, however, the promoters of this speculation persisted in making their personnel an absolute mystery, their intention was clearly indicated by the document spread before the public of two worlds. Really after all, the question was the purchase of that part of the Arctic regions bounded by the 84th degree, and of which the North Pole was the central point. Nothing very exact concerning this region was known. The modern discoverers who had been nearest to this parallel were Perry, Markham, Lockwood, and Brainard. In regard to the other navigators of the Northern Seas, they stopped far shorter the above mentioned point, such as Paillet, in 1874, to 82 degrees 15 minutes north of the land of Francis Joseph of New Zambal, Leu, in 1870, to 72 degrees 74 minutes above Siberia, the Longe in the Jeunette Expedition, in 1879, to 78 degrees 45 minutes around the islands which bear his name. Others went around New Siberia and Greenland to the end of the Cape Bismarck, but had not passed the 76th, 77th, or the 8th degree of latitude. The North Polar Practical Association wanted then a country which had never been touched before by mankind or discoverers, and which was absolutely uninhabited. The length of this portion of the globe, surrounded by the 84th degree, extending from the 84th to the 90th, making 6 degrees, which at 60 miles each make a radius of 360 miles and a diameter of 720 miles. The circumference therefore is 2,260 miles, and the surface is 407 square miles. This is about the tenth part of the whole of Europe, a very desirable slice of land indeed. The document, as we've seen, also stated that these regions were not yet known geographically, belonged to no one, and therefore belonged to everyone. But it could be foreseen that the adjoining states at least would consider these regions as the prolongation of their own possession towards the North, and would consequently claim the right of ownership. Their pretensions would have more justice than those of discoverers who operated upon the whole of the Arctic countries and made explorations only for the glory of their own nation. The Federal Government, represented in their new society, intended to make their rights valuable and to indemnify them for the price of their purchase. However it was, the partisans of the North Polar Practical Association did not announce. The proprietorship was clear, and nobody being compelled to live there could object to the auction sale of this vast domain. The countries whose rights were absolutely established, as much as those of any countries could be, were six in number, America, England, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Holland. Other countries could claim discoveries made by their mariners and their travellers. France could interfere, because some of our children had taken part in the expeditions sent out to conquer the territories around the pole. Among the others, the courageous Belot, who died in 1853 in the Islands of Bici, during the Phoenix Expedition, sent in search of Sir John Franklin. Nor must one forget Dr. Octave Pavie, who died in 1884 near Cape Sabine, while the Greeley Mission was at Fort Congeal, and the expedition which, in 1838-39, had gone to the Sea of Spitsburg with Charles Marmier, Bravais, and his courageous companions, would it not be unfair to forget them? But despite all this, France did not care to interfere in this commercial rather than scientific matter, and she abandoned all her rights for a share of the polar pie. The same of Germany. It had sent, since 1671, the Hamburg Expedition of Friedrich Martens to the Spitsburgern, and in 1869 and 1970 the expedition to the Germania and of the Hansa, commanded by Kullovey and Hagemann, which went as far as Cape Bismarck by going along the coast of Greenland, but even if they had made so many brilliant discoveries, they did not care to add a piece of the polar empire to that of Germany. The same was true with Austria, which was already possessor of the land of Francis Joseph, situated north of Siberia. In regard to Italy having no right to interfere, she did not interfere at all, which as as strange as it is true. Then also there were the Eskimo, which are at home in those places, and the inhabitants of Greenland, of Labrador, of Bethanzar Capillaco, and of the Ellucian Islands, situated between Asia and America, and also the tribe of Chukchish, who inhabited the old Russian Alaska, and who became Americans in 1867. These people, in reality, their real aborigines, had nothing at all to say about the matter. But how could these poor wretches have said anything, as they did not even have any sum of money, no matter how small, with which to pay for the land which the North Polar Practical Association was going to buy? Perhaps they could have paid a small sum by giving skins, teeth, or oil, and yet the land belonged to them more than to any others, as they were the first occupants of this domain, which was going to be sold on auction. But the Eskimo, the Chukchish, the Samoyeds, were not sold at all. So runs the world. CHAPTER II. In which the delegates from England, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, and Russia are presented to the reader. One thing was evident to the whole world at once, namely that if the new association should succeed in buying the Arctic regions, those regions would become absolutely the property of America, or rather of the United States, a country which was always trying to acquire something. This was not a pleasing prospect to rival governments, but nevertheless, as has been said, the different states of Europe and of Asia not neighboring to these regions refused to take part in the proposed auction sale, so long as its results seemed so problematical to them. Only the powers whose property touched the 84th degree resolved to make their rights valuable by the attendance of official delegates. That was all. They did not care to buy even at a relatively moderate price land the possession of which was only a possibility. In this, as in all cases, insatiable England gave orders to its financial agents to make an imposing showing. The session of the polar countries did not threaten any European trouble nor any international complication. Herr von Bismarck, the grand iron chancellor, who was yet living, did not even knit his happy brow. They remained only England, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Holland, and Russia to be present and make their bids to the commissioner of Baltimore against those of the United States. It was a difficult matter to fix prices for this polar earth cap, the business value of which was at least very problematic. Their main reason for presenting themselves at the sale was that some advantage might accrue to them. Sweden and Norway, proprietors of the North Cape, situated beyond the Seventy Second Parallel, did not conceal the fact that they thought they had certain rights of proprietorship on these vast lands which extended to Spitsbergen and from there to the North Pole. Denmark said that it had already in its possession islands and fjords on the line of the polar circle where their colonies had been founded, such as Disco Island in the Davis Channel. The settlements of Holstein, of Proven, of Godhaven, of Upper Navek in the Bath and Sea, and on the west coast of Greenland. Besides, did not the famous navigator Bering of Danish origin, although he was then in the service of Russia, in the year 1728, pass over the channel which afterwards carried his name before he started again, thirteen years later, and died miserably with thirty of his men on a little island which also carries his distinguished name. In the year 1619, did not the navigator Jean Monk explore the east coast of Greenland and discover several points formally totally unknown. Therefore, Denmark had, she thought, undisputable rights to be proprietor of these regions. In regard to Holland, there were her sailors Berence and Himeskirk, who had visited the Spitsbergen and the New Zealand about the end of the sixteenth century. It was by one of her children, too, Jean Mayen, through whose courageous campaign against the north, the island which carries his name, came in their possession. It is situated below the seventy-second degree of latitude. Therefore, Holland thought her past had given her rights of possession. In regard to Russia, with Alexis Cherikov having bearing under his command, with Polotsky, whose expedition advanced in 1751 beyond the limits of the ice pack, with Captain Martin Spangberg and Lieutenant William Walton, who dared to go into these unknown parts in 1739, she had taken a notable part in the search across the Gulf, which separates Asia and America. Furthermore, the position of the Siberian territories extending over one hundred and twenty degrees to the extreme limits of Kamchatka, the length of the Asianic coast, where the Samoyeds, Yakuts, and Chuckchees, and other conquered people lived. Did Russia not rule half the northern ocean? And then, on the seventy-fifth parallel to within less than nine hundred miles from the pole, did she not possess the islands of the new Siberia, the archipelago of Lyatka, discovered in the beginning of the eighteenth century? And finally, since 1764, before the English, before the Americans, before the Swedes, did not the navigator Chichchukov search a passage in the north to shorten the route between the two continents? However, notwithstanding this, it seemed that the Americans were more anxious to become possessors of this particularly inaccessible point of the globe than anyone else. They had often tried to obtain it by devoting themselves to the search of Sir John Franklin, with Grinnell, with Cain, with Hayes, with Greeley, with DeLong, and other courageous navigators. They could also plead the geographical situation of their country, which develops itself below the polar circle from the Bering Sea to Hudson's Bay. And were not all these countries, all these islands, Wollaston, Prince Albert, Victoria, King William, Melville, Cockburn, Banks, Baffin, not counting the thousand small pieces of the archipelago, like a leaf spreading to the 90th degree? And then supposing that the North Pole should be attached by an uninterrupted line of territory to one of the large continents of the globe, would it not be more to America than to Asia or Europe? Therefore, nothing was more natural than the proposition to purchase this region by the federal government for the benefit of an American society. If any power had undisputable modern rights to possess the polar domain, it was certainly the United States of America. It must also be considered that the United Kingdom of Great Britain, which possessed Canada and British Columbia, numerous sailors of which had distinguished themselves in these Arctic countries, urged very good reasons for annexing this part of the globe to their vast empire. And its journals discussed the matter at great length. Yes, without a doubt, answered the great English geographer Clip Tringen in an article in a London newspaper, which made a great sensation. Yes, the Danes, the Hollenders, the Russians and the Americans can be proud of their rights. As for England, she did not wish to let this country escape her. Did not the northern part of the continent already belong to them? Have not these lands, these islands which compose them, been discovered and conquered by English discovers since Willoughby, who visited Spitsburg and New Zealand in 1739, to McClure, whose vessel made in 1853 the passage of the Northwest? And then were not Frobisher, Davis, Hall, Waymouth, Hudson, Baffin, Cook, Ross, Perry, Bessie, Belcher, Franklin, Mollgrave, Scoresby, McClinton, Kennedy, Nairs, Collinson, Archer, all of Anglo-Saxon origin? And what country could make a more just claim on the portion of these Arctic regions than that which these navigators had been able to acquire? Well, said a California journal, let us put the matter on its real point. And as there is a question of a more propray between the United States and England, let us ask if the English Markham of the Nairs expedition had gone 83 degrees 20 minutes of latitude, and the Americans, Lockwood and Brainard of the Greeley expedition, went to 83 degrees 35 minutes, to whom then does the honor belong of having come nearest to the North Pole? Such were the demands and explanations, but one could see that the struggle would only be active between American dollars and English pounds sterling. However, according to the proposition made by the North Polar Practical Association, all countries had to be consulted and given a chance at the auction. The sale was announced to take place December 3rd at Baltimore. The sum realized by the sale was to be divided among the states which were unsuccessful bidders, and they were to accept it as indemnity and renounce all their rights in the Arctic regions for the future. The delegates furnished with their letters of credit left London, the Hague, Stockholm, Copenhagen and St. Petersburg, and arrived three weeks before the day fixed for the auction sale. Up to this time America had only been represented by Mr. W. S. Forrester of the North Polar Practical Association. The delegates of the European powers who had been chosen were included in the following list. For Holland, Jacques Janssen, formerly Councilor of the Netherlands India, fifty-three years old, stout, short, well formed, small arms, small bent legs, round and floored face, gray hair, a worthy man, only a little incredulous on the subject of an undertaking the practical consequences of which he failed to see. For Denmark, Eric Baldenach, ex-sub-governor of the Greenlandish possessions, of medium height, a little bent over, large and round head, so short-sighted that the point of his nose would touch his books, not willing to listen to any claim denying the rights of his country, which he considered the legitimate proprietor of the northern region. For the Swedish Norwegian Peninsula, Jan Harald, Professor of Cosmography in Christiania, a genuine northern man, red-faced, beard and hair blonde, he regarded it as an established fact that the polar region, being only occupied by the Paleocrystic Sea, had absolutely no value. He was, however, not much interested in the matter and went there only as a duty. For Russia, Colonel Boris Karkov, semi-military man, semi-diplomat, a stiff, stubby mustache, seeming uncomfortable in his citizen clothes and feeling absentmindedly for his sword which he was accustomed to carry, very much puzzled to know what was hidden in the proposition of the North Polar Practical Association and whether it would not be the cause of international difficulties. Finally, for England, Major Donilon and his secretary, Dean Tudrink, the last two named represented all the tastes and aspirations of the United Kingdom, its commercial and industrial instincts, its aptitude to consider, by a law of nature, the northern regions, their own property, just as any country which did not belong to anyone else. If there ever was an Englishman, it was Major Donilon, tall, meager, bony, nervous, angular with a little cough, ahead a la Palmerston on bending shoulders, legs well formed after his 60 years, indefatigable, a quality he had well shown when he worked on the frontiers of India. He never laughed in those days and perhaps never had. And why should he? Did you ever see a locomotive or a steam engine or an elevator laugh? On this point the Major was very much different from his secretary, Dean Tudrink, a talkative fellow, very pleasant with large head and his hair falling on his forehead and small eyes. He became well known on account of his happy manner and his taste for fairy tales. But even if he was cheerful, he did not seem any less personally conceited than Major Donilon when he talked about Great Britain. These two delegates were probably going to be the most desperate opponents to the American society. The North Pole belonged to them. It always belonged to them. It was to them as if the Lord had given the mission to the English people to keep up the rotation of the earth around its axis, and as if it was their duty to prevent it passing into strange hands. It is necessary to observe here that France did not consider it necessary to send a delegate, but an engineer of France was present at the sale, just for the fun of it. We shall introduce him later on. The delegates of the northern European states had arrived in Baltimore on different steamers to give it the appearance that they had nothing at all to do with each other. They were really rivals. Each one of them had in his pocket the necessary means to fight against the American society, but they could not fight with equal force. One could dispose of a sum of money which amounted to nearly a million. Another could pass that amount. And really to purchase a piece of our globe to reach which seemed an impossibility, this ought still appear to be dear. In reality the best provided for was the English delegate to whose order the government had opened a very large credit. Thanks to this credit Major Donilon would not have very hard work to conquer his adversaries of Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and Russia. In regard to America, well, that was a different thing. It would be much more difficult to win against the fuselage of dollars. At least it was very probable that the mysterious society must have enough money on hand to go on in their work. Therefore the highest bidding, which might come to millions, was between America and England. As soon as the European delegates had landed, public opinion became more excited. The most singular stories were printed in the newspapers. False theories were established based on the purchase of the North Pole. What was the society going to do with it? And what could they do with it? Nothing. Or perhaps it was all done to corner the iceberg market. There was even a journal in Paris, The Figaro, which upheld this curious idea. But for this it would be necessary to pass south of the 84th parallel. Be it as it may, however, the delegates who had avoided each other during their passage over the Atlantic became more and more associated after having arrived in Baltimore. Here is the reason. Since his arrival, each one had tried to open communications with the North Polar Practical Association separately, unknown to the other. That which they wished to know were the motives hidden at the bottom of this affair and what profit the society hoped to make out of the sale. Now until the present time nothing indicated that the society had opened an office at Baltimore, no office, no employees, all that could be learned was, for information, address only William S. Forrester, High Street, Baltimore. And it did not look as though the honest consignee of Codfish knew any more in this respect than the lowest street porter of the city. The delegates could therefore learn nothing from him. They were accordingly compelled to rely upon the more or less absurd guesses of the public at large. Was the secret of the society going to be kept impenetrable as long as it did not make it known itself? This was the question. Without doubt it did not seem inclined to give any information on the subject until the purchase had been made. Therefore it came that the delegates finished by seeing and meeting each other. They made visits to each other and finally came in close communication with each other, perhaps with the idea of making a front against the common enemy, or, otherwise, the American company. And so it happened that one evening they were all together in the hotel woesley, in the suite occupied by Major Donaldin and his secretary, Dean Tudorink, holding a conference. In fact, this tendency to a common understanding was principally due to the advice of Colonel Boris Karkov, the best diplomat known. At first the conversation was directed to the commercial and industrial consequences which the society pretended to gain by purchase of the Arctic domain. Professor Jan Harald asked if anyone had been able to gain any information on that point. All finally agreed that they had tried to get information from Mr. William S. Forster, to whom all letters should be addressed. I have failed, said Eric Baldenach. And I have not succeeded, added Jacques Jonson. In regard to myself, answered Dean Tudorink, when I presented myself at the stores in High Street in the name of Major Donaldin, I found a large man in black clothes wearing a high hat with a white apron, which was short enough to show his high boots. When I asked him for information in the matter, he informed me that the South Star had arrived with a full cargo from Newfoundland, and that he was ready to furnish me with the fresh stock of codfish on account of Mature's Ardranel and Company. And, answered the former counselor of the Dutch Indies, always a little skeptical, it would be much better to buy a load of codfish than to throw one's money into the ice water of the North. This is not at all the question, says Major Donaldin, with a short and high voice. The question is not the codfish, but the polar region. Americans ought to stand on their heads, said Dean Tudorink, laughing at his own remark. That will make them catch cold, finally, said Colonel Karakoff. The question is not there, said Major Donaldin. One thing only is certain that, for some reason or another, America, represented by the NPPA, remarked the word practical, wants to buy a surface of 407 square miles around the North Pole, a surface which is actually, remarked the word actually, pierced by the 84th degree of latitude. We know it, Major Donaldin, and much more, said Jan Harald, but what we do not know is how the said company will make use of those countries or waters, if they are waters, from a commercial standpoint. This is not the question, answered for the third time, Major Donaldin. A power wants to purchase with money a large part of the globe which, by its geographical situation, seems to belong especially to England, to Russia, said Colonel Karakoff, to Holland, said Jacques Jonsson, to Sweden-Norway, said Jan Harald, to Denmark, said Eric Baldenach. The five delegates jumped to their feet, and it seemed as if the council would turn to harsh words when Dean Tudrink tried to interfere the first time. Gentlemen, said he, in a tone of reconciliation, this is not the question, following the expression of my chief, of which he made such frequent use. As long as it has been decided that the northern regions are going to be sold at auction, they will naturally belong to such representative who will make the highest bid for same. As long as Sweden, Norway, Russia, Denmark, Holland, and England have given large credits to their delegates, would it not be best for these nations to form a syndicate and raise a sum of money against which America could not make a bid? The delegates looked at each other. It was possible that Dean Tudrink had found the missing link, a syndicate. At present it is heard everywhere. Everything is syndicate nowadays. What one drinks, what one eats, what one reads, what one sleeps on, nothing is more modern in politics as well as business than a trust. But an objection was started, or rather an explanation was needed, and Jack Jonson tried to find out the sentiments of his colleagues by saying, and afterwards, yes, after the purchase of the region by the syndicate, then what? But it seems to me that England, said the Major in a rough voice, and Russia, said the Colonel with nostrils terribly dilated, and Holland, said the Counselor, as God has given Denmark to the Danish, observed Eric Baldenak, excuse me, there is only one country interrupted Dean Tudrink which has been given by our Lord, and that is the world. And why, said the Swedish delegate, did not the poet say, deus nobis heik odia fesit, said this merry man in translating, according to his fashion, the clothes of the sixth verse of the first echelog of Virgil. All began to laugh except Major Donilon, who stopped for the second time the discussion which threatened to finish badly. Then Dean Tudrink said, Do not quarrel, gentlemen, what good will it do us? Let us rather form a syndicate. And afterwards, asked Jan Harald. Afterwards, answered Dean Tudrink, nothing more simple, gentlemen, after you shall have bought the polar domain it will remain undivided among us, or will be divided after regular indemnity to one of the states which have been purchasers, but our purpose would have already been obtained, which is to save it from the representative of America. This proposition did some good, at least for the present moment, as very soon the delegates would not fail to fight with each other and pull each other's hair where there was any to-pull. It would be at the moment when it was necessary to elect a final buyer of this immovable region, so much disputed and so useless. In all cases, cleverly remarked Dean Tudrink, the United States will be entirely out of the question. It seems to me very sensible, said Eric Baldenach. Very handy, said Colonel Karkoff. Right, said Jan Harald. Mean, said Jack Gjansson. Very English, said Major Donilon. Each one had given his opinion, hoping to convince his colleagues. Then, gentlemen, it is perfectly understood that if we form a syndicate, the rights of each state will be absolutely reserved for the future. It is understood. There was only to be found out what credit the different delegates had received from their governments. It was supposed that the whole, when added up, would represent such an enormous sum that there would not be the least doubt that the NPPA would fail to surpass this amount of money. This question of funds was met by Dean Tudrink. Complete silence. Nobody would answer. Show your pocketbook. Empty their pockets into the safes of a syndicate. Make known in advance how much each country would bid at the sale. No haste was shown. And if there should be a disagreement in this new form syndicate in the future, and circumstances should compel, each one to make his own bids. And should the diplomat Karkov feel insulted at the trickery of Jacques Jonson, who would be insulted at the underhand intrigues of Jan Harald, who would refuse to support the high pretensions of Major Donilon, who himself would not stop to embroil each one of his associates, and now to show their credits, that was showing their play, when it was necessary to live up to it. There were really two ways only to answer the proper but indiscreet suggestion of Dean Tudrink. Either to exaggerate the credits, which would be very embarrassing because it would then be the question of the payment, or to diminish them to such a point that they would be ridiculous, and not to the purpose of the scheme. The ex-counselor had this idea first, but it must be said to his credit he did not seriously hold it. His colleagues, however, followed suit. Gentlemen, said Holland, through its mouthpiece. I regret, but for the purpose of the Arctic regions I can only dispose of fifty Reichstahler. And I of thirty-five Rubels, said Russia. And I of twenty Kronars, said Norway, Sweden. And I of fifteen Kronen, said Denmark. Well, said Major Donilon, in a tone well befitting the disdainful attitude so common and natural to the English character. Then it would be better that you make the purchase, gentlemen, as England can only put up at the most one shilling and six pence. And with this ironical remark the conference of the delicates of old Europe was at an end. CHAPTER III OF TOPSY TERVY by Jules Verne This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, visit LibriVox.org. TOPSY TERVY by Jules Verne CHAPTER III, in which the Arctic regions are sold at auction to the highest bidder. Why was this sale on the 3rd of December going to be held in the regular auction hall, where usually only such objects as furniture, utensils, tools, instruments, etc. or art pieces, pictures, metals, and antique objects were sold? Why so long it was a piece of reality was it not sold before a referee or a court of justice appointed for such sales? And why was the aid of a public auctioneer necessary when a part of our globe was going to be sold? How could this piece of the world be compared with any movable object when it was the most fixed thing on the face of the earth? Really, this seemed to be quite illogical, but it was not so since the whole of the Arctic regions was to be sold in such a way that the contract would be valuable. Did this not indicate that in the opinion of the NPPA, the immovable object in question contained something movable? This singularity puzzled even the most eminently sagacious minds to be found in the United States. On the other hand, there had been such a sale in the past already. One portion of our planet had been sold in the auction rooms with the help of a public appraiser to the highest public bidder. And this case had happened in America. It was some years before in San Francisco, California, an island of the Pacific Ocean, Spencer Island, was sold to the rich William W. Koldrup, who bid $500,000 in opposition to JR Tascinar of Stockton. This island had cost $4 million. It is true it was an island which had inhabitants only a few miles away from the coast with forests, water, productive and solid, with fields and prairies in condition to be cultivated, and not a vague wild region of water covered with eternal ice, defended by impenetrable icebergs, which very probably nobody would ever live in. It was thought therefore, that the unknown polar region would never bring so high a price if sold at auction. Nevertheless, on the day of the sale, a great many serious and curious people assembled to learn the end of the affair. The sale could hardly fail to be interesting. Ever since their arrival in Baltimore, the European delegates had found themselves very much gazed at and always surrounded by many people. Of course, they were much interviewed. In view of all this, it was only natural that the public of America should have become very much excited. One manner of expressing the public excitement, very characteristic of Americans, was to make bets upon the result, an example which Europe quickly began to follow. Divided as the American citizens were into those of New England, those of the Middle States, Western States and Eastern States, there was only one wish, and that was for the well-being of their country. But there was still a great deal of uncertainty. It was neither Russia, nor Sweden, nor Norway, nor Denmark, nor Holland, the chances of which they dreaded most. But it was England with its territorial ambitions, with its only two well-known tendency to swallow everything, and its world-known Bank of England notes. Large sums of money were placed on the result. Bets were made on America and Great Britain, the same as on race horses, and in almost all cases, even money was put up. Some offers were made of 12 and 13 and a half to one on Denmark, Sweden, Holland, and Russia, but none would take such an offer. The sale commenced at 12 o'clock. Since early in the morning, all business had stopped in the street on account of the large crowd. By telegraph, the papers were informed that most of the bets made by Americans had been taken up by the English, and Dean Tudrink immediately posted up a notice to that effect in the auction hall. The nearer the time came, the higher grew the excitement. It was reported that the government of Great Britain had placed large sums of money at the disposition of Major Donald. At the office of the Admiralty, observed one of the New York papers, the admirals pushed the sale as much as possible as they hoped to figure conspicuously in the expeditions fitted out. How much truth there was in these stories no one knew. But the most conservative people in Baltimore thought that it was hardly possible that the amount of money at the command of the NPPA could cover the amount which would be bid by England, and therefore a very strong pressure was put on the government of the United States at Washington to protect the interests of the society. In all this excitement, the new society was represented by the single person, its agent William S. Forster, who did not seem to worry at all over these rumors and seemed quite confident of success. As the time for the auction drew near, the crowd grew larger. Three hours before the sale, it was impossible to obtain admission to the auction hall. All the space set apart for the public was so much filled that there was danger that the building would fall in. There was only a small space left empty, surrounded by a railing, which had been reserved for the European delegates. They had just space enough to follow the progress of the sale and were not even comfortably seated. They were Eric Baldeneck, Boris Karkov, Jacques Jansen, Jan Herald, Major Donilon, and his secretary, Dean Tudrink. They formed a solid group standing together like soldiers on a battlefield. And were they not really going to battle for the possession of the North Pole? On the American side, apparently nobody was represented. Only the codfish dealer was present and his face had an expression of the most supreme indifference. He seemed little concerned and appeared to be thinking of his cargo, which was to arrive by the next steamer. Where were the capitalists represented by this man, who perhaps was going to start millions of dollars rolling? This was such a mystery as to excite public curiosity to the utmost. No one doubted that Mr. J. T. Mastin and Mrs. Evangelina Skorbet had something to do with the matter. But what could one guess on? Both were there, lost in the crowd, without any special place, surrounded by some members of the Baltimore Gun Club, friends of Mr. Mastin. They seemed to be the least interested spectators in the hall. Mr. William S. Forster even did not seem to recognize them. The auctioneer began by saying that contrary to the general rule, it was impossible to show the article about to be sold. He could not pass from hand to hand the North Pole. Neither could they examine it, nor look at it with a magnifying glass or touch it with their fingers to see whether the plating was real or only artificial, or whether it was an antique, which it really was, he said. It was old as stone, it was old as the world since it dated back to the time the world was made. If, however, the North Pole was not on the desk of the public appraiser, a large chart, clear in view of all the interested persons, indicated with marked lines the parts which were going to be sold at auction. 17 degrees below the polar circle was a red line, clearly seen on the 84th parallel, which marked the section on the globe put up for sale. It appeared that there was only water in this region covered with ice of considerable thickness. But this was the risk of the purchaser. In any case, he would not be disappointed in the nature of his merchandise by any misrepresentation. At 12 o'clock exactly, the public auctioneer entered by a little trap door cut in the boards of the floor and took his place before the desk. His crier, Flint, had already arrived and was walking up and down as agitated as a bear in a cage. Both were glad at the prospect as they thought that the sale would run up to an enormous sum and put a large and acceptable percentage in their pockets. Of course, the sale would have to be made under the regular real American rule, ready cash. The amount of money, no matter how large it would be, must be raised by the delegates. At this moment, a large bell ringing with vigor indicated that the bidding was going to begin. What a solemn moment! Many hearts quivered in that neighborhood. A minor riot spread among the crowd outside and reached into the hall and Andrew R. Gilmore, the auctioneer, had to wait until quiet was restored. He got up and looked steadily at his assistance. Then he let his eyeglasses fall on his breast and said in as quiet a voice as possible, gentlemen, according to the plan of the federal government, and thanks to the acquiescence given it by the European powers, we will sell a great fixed mass situated around the North Pole. All that is within the limits of the 84th parallel, continents, waters, bays, islands, icebergs, solid parts or liquid, whatever they may be. Then, turning towards the wall, he said, look at this chart which has been outlined according to the latest discoveries. You will see that the surface of this lot contains 407,000 square miles. Therefore, to make the sale easier, it has been decided that the bids should be made for each square mile. Each cent bid, for instance, will be equal to 407,000 cents in each dollar, 407,000 dollars on the total purchase. A little silence, please, gentlemen. This request was not superfluous because the impatience of the public had reached such a degree that the voice of a bidder would hardly be heard. After partial silence had been established, thanks to the industry of the crier, Flint, who roared like a foghorn, Mr. Gilmore resumed as follows. Before beginning, I will mention only one condition of the sale. No matter what changes should happen, either from a geographical or meteorological standpoint, this region after being sold to the highest bidder is absolutely his own beyond any dispute. And the other countries have no right of possession whatever, as long as the territory is not outside the limits of the 84th degree north latitude. Again, was this singular phrase mentioned at a very important moment. Some laughed at it, others considered it very seriously. The bids are open, said the public auctioneer in a loud voice, and while his little ivory hammer was rolling in his hand, he added in an undertone, we have offers at 10 cents the square mile, 10 cents or the 10th part of a dollar. This would make an amount of 40,700 dollars for the whole of this immovable property. Whether the auctioneer had such offers or not does not matter because the bid was covered by Eric Baldenach in the name of the Danish government. 20 cents, said he. 30 cents, said Jan Herald for Sweden Norway. 40 cents, said Colonel Boris Karkov for Russia. This represented already a sum of 162,800 dollars to begin with. The representative of England had not as yet opened his mouth, not even moved his lips which were pressed tightly together. On the other side, William S. Forester kept an impenetrable dumbness. Even at this moment he seemed absorbed in reading a newspaper which contained the shipping arrivals and the financial reports of the markets each day. 40 cents per square mile repeated flint in a voice which resembled a steam whistle. 40 cents. The four colleagues of Major Donaldin looked at each other. Had they already exhausted the credit allowed them at the beginning of the bidding? Were they already compelled to be silent? Go on gentlemen, said the auctioneer Gilmore. 40 cents, who goes higher? 40 cents, why the North Pole is worth much more than that? For it is guaranteed to be made of ice. The Danish delegate said 50 cents and the Hollandish delegate promptly outbid him by 10 cents. Nobody said a word. The 60 cents represented the respectable amount of 244,200 dollars. The lift given by Holland to the sale started a murmur of satisfaction. It seemed that the persons who had nothing in their pockets and nothing to their names were the most interested of all in this contest of dollars. At the moment Jacques Jensen made his offer, Major Donaldin looked at his secretary, Dean Tudorink, and with an almost imperceptible negative sign kept him silent. Mr. William S. Forster, seeming very much interested in his paper, made some pencil notes. Mr. J. T. Mastin only replied to the smiles of Mrs. Evangelina Skorbit with a nod of the head. Hurry up gentlemen, a little life, don't let us linger. This is very weak, very slow, said the auctioneer. Let me see, nobody says more. Mastin knocked down the North Pole at such a price, and as he spoke, his hammer went up and down just like the cross in a priest's hands when he wishes to bless his people. 70 cents, said Jan Harold, with a voice which trembled a little. 80 immediately responded Colonel Boris Karkov. Hurry up, 80 cents, said Flint, whose eyes were burning with excitement. A gesture of Dean Tudrink made Major Donilon jump up like a spirit. 100 cents, said he with a short and sharp tone, becoming in one who represented Great Britain. That one word made England responsible for $407,000. The Friends of the Bitter's for the United Kingdom made a great hurrah, which was repeated like an echo by the outside crowd. The Bitter's for America looked at each other with disappointment. $407,000. This was already a very large figure for such a region as the North Pole. $407,000 for ice, icebergs and ice fields? And the man of the NPPA did not say one word, did not even raise his head. Would he decide to make at last one overwhelming bid? If he wanted to wait until the Danish delegates, those of Sweden, Holland and Russia, had exhausted their credit, it would seem that the proper moment had come. Their faces plainly showed that before the 100 cents of Major Donilon, they had decided to quit the battlefield. 100 cents the square mile said the auctioneer for the second time. 100, 100, 100 cried out Flint, making a speaking trumpet of his half-closed hand. Nobody goes higher, questioned auctioneer Gilmore. Is it heard? Is it understood? No regrets afterwards? We will sell it now. And he took his position and looking at his clerks said once, twice, 110. Very quietly said William S. Forster, without even raising his eyes after having turned the page of his paper. Hip, hip, hip, shouted the crowd, who had put most of the money on America in the bets. Major Donilon was astonished. His long neck turned in all directions and he shrugged his shoulders while his lips worked with great excitement. He tried to crush this American representative with one look but without success. But Mr. Forster, cool as a cucumber, did not budge. 140 said Major Donilon. 160 said Forster. 180 said the Major with great excitement. 190 said Forster. 199 roared the delegate of Great Britain. With this, he crossed his arms and seemed to defy the United States of America. One might have heard a mouse run or a miller fly or a worm creep. All hearts were beating. A life seemed to hang on the lips of Major Donilon. His head, generally restless, was still now. Dean Tudrink had sat down and was pulling out his hairs one by one. Auctioneer Gilmore let a few moments run by. They seemed as long as centuries. The confish merchant continued reading his paper and making pencil figures which had evidently nothing at all to do with the question. Was he also at the end of his credit? Did he intend to make a last offer? Did this amount of 199 cents for each square mile or 793,000 for the whole of the fixture at sale seem to him to have reached the last limit of absurdity? 199 cents repeated the public auctioneer. We will sell it. And his hammer fell on the table before him. 199 cried the helper sell it, sell it. And everyone was looking at the representative of the NPPA. That surprising gentleman was blowing his nose on a large bandana handkerchief which nearly covered his whole face. Mr. J.T. Mastin was looking at him intently and so was Mrs. Evangelina Scorbid. It could easily be seen by their anxious faces how much they tried to suppress their violent emotion. Why was Forster hesitating to outbid Major Donilon? As for the imperturbable Forster, he blew his nose a second time then a third time with the noise of a real foghorn but between the second and third blow he said as quietly as possible with a modest and sweet voice 200 cents. A long shutter went through the hall then the American backers began to make such a noise that the very windows trembled. Major Donilon, overwhelmed, ruined, disappointed had fallen into a seat by the side of Dean Too-Drink who himself was not in a much better condition. 2,000 miles at this price made the enormous sum of 814,000 dollars and it was apparent that the credit of England did not permit them to overreach it. 200 cents, repeated the auctioneer. 200 cents, said Flint. Once, twice, said the auctioneer. Does anybody go higher? Major Donilon raised himself by a strong effort and looked wistfully at the other delegates. These only looked back their hope that by his bidding the Arctic region would escape the American better and would become the property of the European powers. But this was his last effort. The Major opened his mouth, closed it again, and in his person, England sat down on itself. Hip hip hurrah for the United States roared the winners for victorious America and in one instant the news of the purchase ran all over Baltimore and by telegraph all over the United States and by cable all over the world. Thus it was that the NPPA through the agency of William S. Forster became the proprietor of the Arctic domain including everything above the 84th parallel. The next day when Mr. Forster went to make his deposit for his purchase the name he gave was Impey Barbican and the name of the house was Barbican and Company. End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 of Topsy Turvey This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. Topsy Turvey by Jules Verne translation by Anonymous Chapter 4 in which old acquaintances appear to our new readers and in which a wonderful man is described Barbican and Company the president of a gunning club and really what had gunners to do in such an operation you will see. Is it necessary to present formally Impey Barbican president of the gun club of Baltimore and Captain Nicholl and J.T. Mastin and Tom Hunter with the wooden legs and the lively Billsby and Colonel Bloomsbury and the other associates? No, if these strange persons were twenty years older than at the time when the attention of the world was upon them they had always remained the same always as much incomplete personally but equally noisy, equally courageous, equally confusing when it was a question of some extraordinary adventure. Time did not make an impression on these gunners. It respected them as it respects cannons no longer in use but which decorate museums and arsenals. If the gun club had 1833 members in it when it was founded names rather than persons for most of them had lost an arm or leg if 30,575 corresponding members were proud to owe allegiance to the club these figures had not decreased on the contrary and even thanks to the incredible attempt which they had made to establish direct communication between Earth and Moon its celebrity had grown in an enormous proportion no one can ever forget the report on this subject which was made by this club and which deserves a few words of mention here A few years after the Civil War certain members of the gun club, tired of their idleness proposed to send a projectile to the Moon by means of a Columbia monster a cannon nine hundred feet long nine feet broad at the bore had been especially made at Moon City and had then been charged with 400,000 pounds of gun-cotton from this cannon a small cylindro conical bomb had been flung towards the stars with a pressure of six milliards pounds per square inch after having made a grand curve it fell back to the earth only to be swallowed up by the Pacific Ocean at 27 degrees seven minutes of latitude and 41 degrees 37 minutes of longitude west it was in this region that the frigate Susquehanna of the American Navy had fished it up to the surface of the ocean to the great comfort of its occupants occupants yes occupants for two members of the gun club its president Impey Barbican and Captain Nickel accompanied by a Frenchman well known for his boldness in such cases had been in this flying machine all three of them came back well and healthy from this dangerous trip but if the two Americans were here ready to risk any similar thing the French Michel Ardain was not on his return to Europe he brought a fortune with him although it established a good many people and now he is planting his own cabbage in his own garden eating them and even digesting them if one can believe the best informed reporters after this discharge of the cannon Impey Barbican and Captain Nickel had lived on their reputation in comparative quietness as they were always anxious to do another thing like it they dreamt and tried to find out something else money they had in plenty out of five millions and a half which had been raised for them by subscription they had nearly two hundred thousand dollars left this money was raised in the old and new worlds alike besides all they had to do was to exhibit themselves in their projectile in America and they could always realize large amounts of money they had earned all the glory which the most ambitious mortal would look for Impey Barbican and Captain Nickel would have been well able to keep quiet and idle if this very idleness did not torment them and it was simply no doubt to do something that they had gone to work and bought this part of the Arctic region but it must not be forgotten that if the purchase cost eight hundred thousand dollars and more that it was Mrs. Evangelina's scorebit who had put the necessary amount into this affair thanks to this generous woman Europe had been conquered by America since their return President Barbican and Captain Nickel had enjoyed a supreme celebrity but there was another man who deserved credit in the matter it is easy to guess that J.T. Mastin was the man of whom we speak the temporary secretary of the gun club did we not owe to this brilliant calculator all the mathematical formulae which enabled us to tell the story of the voyage to the moon if he did not accompany his two associates on their terrible journey it was not fear which kept him back no indeed it was only the injuries he had received during the war for really it would have made a bad impression on the inhabitants on the moon to see him in his disabled condition as a representative of our people and the moon only our humble satellite to his extreme regret Mr. Mastin was compelled to stay at home nevertheless he had not been idle after having constructed an immense telescope which was put on the mountain of Longspeak one of the highest mountains of the Rocky Range he went up there personally and after he had received the signal that the cannonball had been fired he did not once leave his post from his place of observation he assayed the task of following his friends firing across the vast space one might readily believe that his friends would be lost to the world that it was very easily possible that this projectile could be compelled by the attraction of the moon to become a subsatellite a deviation which one might call providential had changed the direction of the projectile and after having made one trip around the moon in place of touching it it was carried away in a terrible fall and returned to us with a speed of 576,000 miles a minute to the moment when it was swallowed up by the ocean happy it was that the great liquid mass had deadened the fall and that the American frigate Susquehanna was present at the fall as soon as the news reached Mr. Mastin the secretary of the gun club he rushed with all possible haste from his observation point at Longspeak to begin operations to save his friends divers were sent to the place where the projectile had fallen and Mr. Mastin even did not hesitate to put on a cork jacket to save and find his friends again it was unnecessary to go to so much trouble the projectile was found floating on the surface of the Pacific Ocean after having made its beautiful fall and President Barbican with Captain Nickel and Michel Ardain were found playing dominoes in their floating prison on the surface of the ocean to return to J. T. Mastin it is proper to say that his part in the affair deserves a good deal of credit it is certain that he was not pretty with his metallic arm he was not young 58 years old at the time we write this story but the originality of his character, the vivacity of his intelligence, the vigor which animated him, the ardor which he had in all such things had made him the ideal of Mrs. Evangelina Scorbet his brain carefully hidden under his cover of gutta percha was yet untouched and he would pass as one of the most remarkable calculators of his age Mrs. Evangelina Scorbet, although the least figurine gave her a headache had yet a great liking for mathematicians even if she had no taste for mathematics she considered them a higher and more endowed race of human beings heads where the X, Y, Z were mixed up like nuts in a barrel brains which played with signs of algebra hands which juggled with the integral triples these were what she liked yes these wise people seemed to her worthy of all admiration and support she felt herself drawn strongly towards them and J.T. Mastin was exactly that kind of man and one she adored and her happiness would be complete if they too could be made one this was the end of her mathematics this did not disturb the secretary of the gun club who had never found happiness in unions of this kind Mrs. Evangelina Scorbet was not young anymore she was 45 years old had her hair pasted on her temples like something which had been dyed and redied she had a mouth full of very long teeth with not one missing her waist was without shape her walk without grace in short she had the appearance of an old maid although she had been married only a few years before she became a widow she was an excellent person with all and nothing was lacking in her cup of happiness except one thing namely that she wished to make her appearance in the society of Baltimore as Mrs. J.T. Mastin her fortune was very considerable she was not rich like the Golds, Mackays, or Vanderbilts whose fortunes run into the millions and who might give alms to the Rothschilds neither did she possess 300 millions like Mrs. Stewart 80 millions like Mrs. Crocker and 200 millions like Mrs. Carper neither was she rich like Mrs. Hammersley Mrs. Hedy Green Mrs. Maffet Mrs. Marshall Mrs. Peran Stevens Mrs. Mintern and many others at any rate she had a right to take a place at that memorable feast at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York where there were only admitted as guests people who had at least five millions in brief Mrs. Evangelina Scorbet had four millions of good sound dollars or 20 millions of francs which came to her from John P. Scorbet who made his fortune both in the business of selling dry goods and salt pork well this fortune this generous widow would have been glad to use for the profit of J.T. Mastin to whom she would also bring a treasure of tenderness much more inexhaustible therefore when Mrs. Evangelina Scorbet had heard of the requirements of Mr. Mastin she had gladly agreed to put a few hundred thousand dollars in the affair of the NPPA without having the least idea of what they intended to do with it it is true she was convinced that as long as J.T. Mastin had something to do with the affair it could not help being grand, sublime, superhuman, etc. Thinking of the Secretary was for her future enough one might think that after the auction sale when it was declared that Barbican Inc. would be the name of the new firm and it would be presided over by the President of the Gun Club she would enjoy Mr. Mastin's whole confidence was she not at the same time the largest stockholder in the affair so it came about that Mrs. Evangelina Scorbet found herself proprietress of this polar region all beyond the line of the 84th parallel and what would she do with it or rather what profit would the society get out of it this was the question and if it interested Mrs. Evangelina Scorbet from a financial standpoint it interested the whole world more on account of the general curiosity about the whole mystery this excellent woman otherwise very discreet had often tried to get some information from Mr. Mastin on this subject before putting money at the disposal of the purchasers without a doubt there was a grand enterprise which as Jean Jacques said had never had its like before and would never have any imitation and which would far outshine the reputation made by the Gun Club in sending a projectile to the moon and trying to get in direct communication with our satellite but when she persists with her queries Mr. Mastin invariably replied Dear madam, have patience and if Mrs. Evangelina Scorbet had confidence before what an immense joy did she feel when the triumph which the United States of America had won over the combined European powers But shall I not finally know the object? asked she smiling at the eminent calculator You will soon know it! answered Mr. Mastin shaking heartily the hand of his partner, the American lady this calmed for the moment the impatience of Mrs. Evangelina Scorbet a few days afterwards the old and new world were shaken up quite enough when the secret object of the company was announced and for the realization of which the NPPA made an appeal to the public for a subscription the society had purchased this portion of the Circumpolar region to make use of the coal mines of the North Pole End of chapter Chapter 5 of Topsy-Turvy This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina Topsy-Turvy by Jules Verne translated by Anonymous Chapter 5 In which the possibility that coal mines surround the North Pole is considered Are there coal mines at the North Pole? This was the first question suggested to intelligent people Some asked why should there be coal mines at the North Pole? Others with equal propriety asked why should there not be? It is well known that coal mines are spread all over the world There are many in different parts of Europe America also possesses a great many and it is probable that the United States mines are the richest of all There are also many in Asia, Africa, and Australia The more our globe becomes known, the more mines are discovered We will not be in need of coal for at least hundreds of years to come England alone produces 160 million tons every year And over the whole world it is estimated 400 million tons are yearly produced Naturally, this coal output must grow every year in proportion with the constantly increasing industries Even if electricity takes the place of steam, it will still be necessary to use coal We are so much in need of it that the world might be called an animal of coal And therefore it is necessary to take good care of it Coal is used not only as a fuel, but also as a crude substance of which science makes great use With the transformations to which it has been submitted in the laboratory It is possible to paint with it, perfume with it, purify, heat, light with it, and even beautify a diamond with it It is as useful as iron or even more so It is fortunate that this last mentioned metal will never be exhausted, as really the world is composed of it The world might be considered a vast mass of iron as other metals, and either water and stone, stand far behind it in the composition of our sphere But if we are sure of a continuous supply for our consumption of iron, we are not so of coal, far from it People who are competent to speak and who look into the future for hundreds of years always allude to this coal famine But, say the opposing party, and in the United States there are many people who like to contradict for the mere sake of argument and who take pleasure in contradicting Why should there be coal around the North Pole? Why? answered those who took the part of President Barbican Because very probably at the geological formation of the world The sun was such that the difference of temperature around the equator and the poles were not appreciable Then immense forests covered this unknown polar region a long time before mankind appeared And then our planet was submitted to the incessant action of heat and humidity This theory the journals magazines and reviews publish in a thousand different articles Either in a joking or serious way And these large forests which disappear with the gigantic changes of the earth before it had taken its present form Must certainly have changed and transformed under the lapse of time and the action of internal heat and water into coal mines Therefore nothing seems more admissible than this theory and that the North Pole would open a large field to those who were able to mine it These are facts undeniable facts Even people who only calculated on simple probabilities could not deny them And these facts led many people to have great faith in them It was on this subject that Major Dunnellon and his secretary were talking together one day in the most obscure corner of the Two friends in Well said dean to drink There is a possibility that this barbecane who i hope may be hang someday Is right It is probable said major dunnellon and i will almost admit that it is certain There will be fortunes made in exploring this region around the pole If north america possesses so many coal mines and according to the papers New ones are discovered quite frequently. It is not at all Improbable that there are many yet to be discovered I may add that professor Nordenskjul has found many kinds of different stones Which contain a great variety of fossil plants in his researches in the arctic region Higher up Asked dean to drink Higher up or rather further up in a northerly direction answered the major The presence of coal is practically established and it seems as if you would only have to bend down to pick it up Well if coal is so plentiful on the surface of these countries It is right to conclude that its beds must go all through the crust of the globe He was right Major dunnellon knew the geological formation around the north pole well And he was not a safe person to dispute this question with And he might have talked about it at length if other people in the inn had not listened But he thought it better to keep quiet after asking Are you not surprised at one thing? One would expect to see engineers or at least navigators figure in this matter While there are only gunners at the head of it It is not surprising that the newspapers of the civilized world Soon began to discuss the question of coal discoveries at the north pole And why not? asked the editor of an american paper who took the part of president barbecane When it is remembered that captain narris in 1875 and 1876 at the 82nd degree of latitude Discovered large flower beds, hazel trees, poplars, beach trees, etc And in 1881 and 1884 added a scientific publication of new york During the expedition of lieutenant greeley at lady franklin bay Was there not a layer of coal discovered by our explorers a little way from fort conger near waterhouse? And did not dr. Pavey say that these countries are certainly full of coal Perhaps placed there to combat at some day the terrible masses of ice which are found there Against such well-established facts brought out by american discoverers The enemies of president barbecane did not know what to answer And the people who asked why there should be coal mines began to surrender to the people who asked Why should there be none? Certainly there were some and very considerable ones too The circumpolar ice cap conceals precious masses of coal contained in those regions Where vegetation was formerly luxuriant And if they could no longer dispute that there were really coal mines in this arctic region The enemies of the association tried to get revenge in another way Well said major dan ellen one day after a hard discussion which had arisen in the meeting room of the gun club And during which he met president barbecane face to face All right, I admit that there are coal mines. I even affirm it There are mines in the region purchased by your society But go and explore them That is what we are going to do said impi barbecane Go over the 84th degree beyond which no explorer has yet has been able to put his foot We will pass it reach even the north pole said he We will reach it And after hearing the president of the gun club answer with so much coolness With so much assurance to see his opinion so strongly so perfectly affirmed Even the strongest opponent began to hesitate They seemed to be in the presence of a man who had lost none of his old time qualities Quiet cold and of an eminently serious mind Exact as a clock adventurous but carrying his practical ideas into the rashest enterprises Major dan ellen had an ardent wish to strangle his adversary But president barbecane was stout and well able to stand against wind and tide And therefore not afraid of the major His enemies his friends and people who envied him knew it only too well But there were many jealous people and many jokes and funny stories went round in regard to the members of the gun club Pictures and caricatures were made in europe and particularly in england where people could not get over the loss Which they suffered in the matter of pound sterling Ah said they this yankee has got it in his head to reach the north pole He wants to put his foot where up to the present time no living soul has yet been He wants to build palaces and houses and perhaps the white house of the united states In a part of the world which has never yet been reached While every other part of the world is so well known to us And then wild caricatures appeared in the different newspapers In the large show windows and news depots as well in small cities of europe as in the large cities of america There appeared drawings and cartoons showing president barbacane in the funniest of positions trying to reach the north pole One audacious american cut had all the members of the gun club Trying to make an underground tunnel beneath the terrible mass of immovable icebergs To the 84th degree of northern latitude each with an ax in his hand In another impie barbacane a company of my mr. J. T. Mastin and captain nickle Had descended from a balloon on the much desired point and after many unsuccessful attempts and at the peril of their lives Had captured a piece of coal weighing about half a pound This fragment was all they discovered of the anticipated coal fields There were also pictures made of J. T. Mastin who was as much used for such purposes as his chief After having tried to find the electric attraction of the north pole The secretary of the gun club became fixed to the ground by his metallic hand The celebrated calculator was too quick-tempered to find any pleasure in the drawings which referred to his personal confirmation He was exceedingly annoyed by them and mrs. Evangelina scorebit It may be easily understood was not slow to share his indignation Another drawing in the lantern of brussels Represented the members of the council and the members of the gun club tending a large number of fires The idea was to melt the large quantities of ice by putting a whole sea of alcohol on them Which would convert the polar basin into a large quantity of punch But of all these caricatures that which had the largest success was that which was published by the france Sherry varry under the signature of its designer stop In the stomach of a whale impi barbecane and j. T. Mastin were seated playing checkers and waiting their arrival at a good point The new Jonah and his secretary had got themselves swallowed by an immense fish And it was in this way after having gone under the icebergs that they hoped to gain access to the north pole The president of this new society did not care much about these pictures and let them say and write and sing whatever they liked Immediately after the concession was made and the society was absolute master of the northern region Appeal was made for a public subscription of 15 million dollars Shares were issued at one hundred dollars to be paid for at once And the credit of barbecane and company was such that the money ran in as fast as possible The most of it came from the various states of the union So much the better said the people on the part of the mppa The undertaking will be entirely american So strong indeed were the foundations upon which barbecane and company were established That the amount necessary to be subscribed was raised in a very short time and even thrice the amount Everybody was interested in the matter and the most scientific experts did not doubt its success The shares were reduced one third And on december 16 the capital of the society was 15 million dollars in cash This was about three times as much as the amount subscribed to the credit of the gun club When it was going to send a projectile from the earth to the moon end of chapter Chapter six of topsy-turvy This is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit libravox.org Recording by brinn phillips topsy-turvy by jules verne Translated by anonymous chapter six In which a telephone communication between mrs. Corbett and jt mastin is interrupted President barbecane was not only convinced that he would reach his object when the amount which had been raised Took another obstacle out of his way had he not been perfectly sure of success He would not have made an application for a public subscription And now the time had come when the north paul would be conquered It was felt certain that president barbecane and his council of administration had means to succeed where so many others had failed They would do what neither franklin nor cane nor dalong nor nears nor grily had been able to accomplish They would pass the 84th parallel They would take possession of the vast region purchased at an auction sale They would make this country the 39th star in the flag of the american union Fake was all that the european delegates and their friends in the old world could say Nothing was more true. However, and this practical logical means of conquering the north paul Which was so simple that it was almost childish was one which jt mastin had suggested to them It was that brain where ideas were constantly evolving which had laid out this great geographical project in a way which could not but succeed It cannot be too often repeated that the secretary of the gun club was a remarkable calculator We might say a postgraduate calculator, but a single day was needed by him to solve the most complicated problems in mathematical science He laughed at these difficulties, whether in algebra or in plain mathematics You should have seen him handle his figures the signs which make up algebra the letters in the alphabet Representing the unknown quantities the square or cross lines representing the way in which quantities are to be operated All signs and lines and radicals in this complex language were perfectly familiar to him And how they flew around under his pin or rather under the piece of chalk Which he attached to his iron hand because he preferred to work on a blackboard And this blackboard six feet square This was all he wanted. He was perfectly at home in his work Nor was it figures alone which he used in his calculations His figures were fantastic gigantic written with a practiced hand His two and three were as nice and as round as they could be His seven looked like a crutch and almost invited a person to hang on it His eight was as well formed as a pair of eyeglasses And the letters with which he established his formulas the first of the alphabet A b c which he used to represent given or known quantities and the last x y z which he used for unknown quantities to be discovered Particularly the z and those greek letters delta omega alpha Really an archimedes might have been well proud of them and those other signs Made with a clean hand and without fault. It was simply astonishing His plus sign showed well that his sign meant an addition of one object to the other His minus sign if it was a little smaller was also in good shape His equal sign two showed that mr. Madsen lived in a country where equality was not a vain expression At least amongst the people of the white race Just as well were his greater than sign and his less than sign and his double colon used in expressing proportions And the radical which indicated the root of a certain number or quantity It was to him a mark of triumph and when you completed it with a horizontal line along the top It seemed as if this outline on the blackboard would compel the whole world to submit to his figuring But do not think that mr. J. T. Maston's mathematical intelligence was confined to elementary algebra. No No matter what figurini had to do it was a light familiar to him And with a practiced hand he made all the signs and figures and even did not hesitate at an integral sign Which looks very simple But behind which lays a great deal of calculation The same with the sign sigma which represents the sum of a finished number Also the sign infinity by which the mathematicians designate the incomplete And all those mysterious symbols which are used in this language and which are unknown to the common people This astonishing man was able to do anything even in the very highest grades of mathematics Such was J. T. Maston And therefore it was that his associates had such perfect confidence in him when he set out to figure the most difficult problems in his audacious brain This it was which led to the gun club to trust him with a difficult problem of sending a projectile to the moon And this was why mrs. Evangeline escorbit jealous of his fame felt for him an admiration which ended in love In this present case that is how to solve the conquering of the north pole J. T. Maston had but to begin to think and dream himself into the arctic regions To reach the solution the secretary had but to undertake certain mathematical problems Very complicated perhaps but over which in all cases he would come out ahead It was safe to trust mr. J. T. Maston Even where the smallest and simplest mistake would have meant a loss of millions Never since the time his useful brain began to think of mathematics had he committed a mistake Not even one of a thousandth of an inch In his calculations or made up the length of an object if he had made a mistake of only the smallest amount He would have torn his get a perch a cap from his head Now let us see him while engaged in his calculations and for this purpose. We must go back a few weeks It was about a month before the publication of the circular address to the inhabitants of the old and new worlds That mr. Maston had undertaken to figure out the elements of a scheme in which he had promised to his associates the greatest success For a number of years. Mr. Maston had lived at number 179 Franklin street one of the most quiet streets in baltimore Far away from the center of business for which he did not care anything far away from the noise of the great crowd which disgusted him There he occupied a modest little house known by the name of ballistic cottage Having for his income only his pension allowed to him as a retired officer of artillery And the salary which he received as secretary of the gun club He lived alone served by his negro fire fire This negro was not an ordinary servant He was rather an appreciative friend and treated his master as if he were his own brother Mr. Maston was a decided bachelor having an idea that being a bachelor was the only sensible way of living in the present world He knew the proverb a woman can draw more with one hair than four oxen at the plow And he disproved it if he had occupied his cottage alone It was only because he wished to do so We know that he only had to make the motion to change his solitude of one to a company of two and his small income to an income of a millionaire He did not doubt it. This is evangelina scorbate would have been only too happy to but up to this time Mr. Matson had not been happy to And it seems certain that these two beings so well made for the other at least this was the opinion of the tender widow Would never reach the transformation period. The cottage was a simple one A ground floor with a veranda and a floor over it a small parlor and dining room With a kitchen and another room in an outbuilding stand at the back of the garden Upstairs his sleeping room and his working studio looked on the garden And where the noise of the outer world could never penetrate Within these walls there had been made calculations, which would have made newton euclid or laplace jealous How different was the mansion of mrs. Evangelina scorbate situated in the richest quarter of new park With façade of balconies Finished in the finest architecture half romanesque half gothic with its richly furnished apartments Its grand halls its picture galleries in which french artists held the highest places Its magnificent staircase its great number of domestics its stables its coach houses Its garden with the finest of flowers statues fountains and the tower on top of the building On which the blue and gold coat of arms of the scorbate family was upon a glittering banner Three miles three long miles at least separated the palace at new park from the ballistic cottage But a private telephone wire connected there and an answer to hello hello A conversation could be carried on between the mansion and cottage If the persons could not look at each other they could at least hear each other It will astonish none to hear that time upon time mrs. Scorbate began talking and ringing on the telephone to mr. Mastin when he was busily engaged with his figures Then the calculator had to quit his work with some reluctance He received a friendly How do you do for mrs. Scorbate which he answered with a grunt which was sweetened into a kindly greeting by the distance over the telephone After a conversation he was glad to go back to his figures It was the third of december after a long and last conference that mr. Mastin took leave of his friends and members of the club to begin to do his share of the work It was a very important work with which he had charged himself for it was the question of figure mechanical appliance Which would enable him to gain access to the north pole And which would allow him to make use of those large fields of snow now covered with impenetrable ice He estimated that he needed at least a week to accomplish this mysterious calculation Exceedingly complicated and delicate to handle involving several deep and important problems Therefore to avoid all unnecessary annoyance It had been decided that the secretary of the gun club should retire to his cottage and that he should not be disturbed by anyone This was a great disappointment for mrs. Evangelina scorbate, but she was compelled to accept it while president barbecane Captain nickle and his associates the jolly bills v Colonel bloomsbury tom hunter with his wooden legs were all saying their goodbyes to him and wishing him success Mrs. Evangelina scorbate appeared and made her last visit to mr. Mastin You will succeed my dear she said at the moment of separation and above all do not make a mistake added president barbecane A mistake he exclaimed mrs. Scorbate No more than god has made a mistake in putting together this world Modestly answered the secretary then after shaking hands all around and after a few more sides and wishes of success and suggestions Not to make too severe a work of it The calculator was left alone The door of the ballistic cottage was closed and fire fire had orders to admit none Not even if the president of the united states should ask admission During his first two days of seclusion J.T. Mastin thought and thought without even touching the piece of chalk upon the problem which he had taken on himself He consulted certain books relative to the elements the earth its size its thickness its volume its form its rotation upon its axis All elements which he had to use as the basis of his calculations The principles of these elements which he used and which we put before the reader were as follows Form of the earth an ellipsis of revolution the longest radius of which is 6,377,398 meters The shortest 6,356,080 meters The circumference of the earth at the equator 40,000 kilometers surface of the earth approximate estimate 510 million of square kilometers bulk of the earth about 1,000 milliards of cubic kilometers That is a cube having a meter in length height and thickness density of the earth about five times that of water Time of the earth on the orbit around the sun 365 days six hours nine minutes 10 seconds 37 sond teams This gives the globe a speed of 30,400 miles traveled over by the rotation of the earth upon its axis For a point of its surface situated at the equator 463 meters per second These were the principal measures of space time bulk etc Which mr. Mastin used in his calculations It was the 5th of october about five o'clock in the afternoon It is important to mention when this remarkable work was begun when jt Mastin began to work upon it He began his calculation with a diagram representing the circumference of the earth around one of its grand circles Say the equator The blackboard was there in a corner of a study upon a polished oak easel with good light shining on it coming by one of the windows nearby Small pieces of chalk were on the board attached to the stand The sponge was near the hand of the calculator His right hand or rather his right hook was already for the placing of figures which he was going to use Standing up mr. Mastin had a large round circle which represented the world the equator He marked by a straight line Then in the right corner of the blackboard he began to put the figures which represented the circumference of the earth 40 million This done he began figuring on his problem. He was so much occupied by it that he had not observed the weather without For an hour a storm had raved through the country which affected all living beings It was a terrific storm the rain was falling in torrents Everything seemed turned upside down in nature two or three times lightning had illuminated the scene around him But the mathematician more and more absorbed in his work saw and heard nothing Suddenly an electric bolt attracted by the lightning outside Sparkled in his room and this disturbed the calculator Well said mr. Mastin If unwelcome visitors cannot get in by the door they come by telephone A nice invention for people who wish to be left alone I will go to work and cut off the electric wire. So I will not be disturbed again while my figuring lasts With this he went to the telephone and said sternly Who wants to talk to me just make it short the reply came back Did you not recognize my voice my dear mr. Mastin it is I mrs. Scorbet Mrs. Scorbet she will never give me a moment's rest uttered mr. Mastin to himself in a low voice that she could not hear Then he thought he could at least answer her in a polite manner and said Oh, is that you mrs. Scorbet? Yes, my dear master Mastin And what can I do for your mrs. Scorbet asked Mastin I went to tell you that a terrible storm and lightning is destroying a large part of our city Well, he replied I cannot help it But I wanted to ask whether you have thought to close your windows Mrs. Scorbet had hardly finished her sentence when a terrible thunderbolt struck the town It struck the neighborhood of the ballistic cottage and the electricity passing along the wire with which the telephone was provided Through the calculator to the floor with a terrible force j team Mastin made the best somersault he ever did in his life His metal hook had touched the live wire and he was thrown down like a shuttlecock The blackboard which he had struck in his fall was sent flying to another part of the room Then the electricity passed into other objects and disappeared through the floor The stupefied mr. Mastin got up and touched the different parts of his body to assure himself that he was not hurt internally This done he resumed his cold calculating way He picked everything up in his room put in the same place where it had been before and put his blackboard on the easel Picked up small pieces of chalk and began again his work which had been so suddenly interrupted He noticed that on account of the fall the number which had been made on the right side of the blackboard was partly erased And he was just about to replace it when his telephone again rang with a loud noise Again said jt Mastin and going to the telephone he exclaimed Who is there mr. Scorbet and what does mrs. Scorbet want did not this terrible thunderbolt strike ballistic cottage I have good reason to think so. Ah great god the thunderbolt Don't be alarmed mrs. Scorbet. You have not been injured mr. Mastin Not at all he replied you are sure you have no injuries whatever said the lady I am only touched by your kindness towards me replied mr. Mastin thinking of the best way to answer Good evening dear mr. Mastin. Good evening dear mrs. Scorbet returning to his work. Mr. Mastin said sado voce To the devil with her if she had not handled the telephone at such a time I would never have run the risk of being hurt by electricity Mr. Mastin did not wish to be interrupted in his work again and so it took down his telephone and cut the wire Then taking again as basis the figure which he had written He added different formulas of it and finally a certain formula which he had written on his left side And then he began to figure in all the language of algebra A week later on the 11th of october This magnificent calculation was finished and the secretary of the gun club brought his solution of the problem With great pride and satisfaction to the members of the gun club who were awaiting it with very natural impatience This then was the practical way to get to the north pole mathematically discovered Here was also a society under the name of the npa to which the government of washington had accorded a clear title Of the arctic region in case they should buy it on auction And we have told of the purchase made in favor of american buyers and of the appeal for a subscription of 15 million dollars end of chapter