 Chapter 15 of North Pole Voyages by the Harrier A. Munch During the two days following the return of Peterson and Godfrey, we spent our working hours in building a wall about our hut. It was made of frozen snow, sold in blocks by our small saw. This wall served a double purpose, that of breaking the wind from our hut and as a defense against the ischimal. It gave our abode the appearance of a fort, and we called it fort desolation. John muttered, better call it fort starvation. This was in fact no unfitting designation. Our food was nearly gone. Those who alone could keep us from starving were seeking our lives. A feeble flickering light made the darkness of our hut visible, darkness and dampness, and destitution were within, and without were fears. We could not be blamed, perhaps, if the death, which threatened us, seemed more desirable than life. Yet we could not forget him, who had so often snatched us from the jaws of our enemies, cold hunger and savages, and we trusted him to again deliver us. And this he did. For the next day Calutuna and other hunter appeared. They did not come as enemies, but as angel messengers of mercy from the all merciful. The chief was at first shy, nor could he so far lay aside the cowardice of conscious guilt as to lay down for a moment his harpoon at other times left at the hut door. He brought, to conciliate us, a goodly piece of walrus meat. After spending an hour with us, he dashed out upon the ice on a moonlight hunt for bears. Peterson spent the day in making knives for the Eskimo in anticipation of restored friendship. With an old file he filed down some pieces of an iron hoop, punching rivet holes with the file and whittling a handle from a fragment of the hoop. Though the knife, when done, was not like one of the rogers best, it was no mean article for an Eskimo blubber and bear-meat knife. The next day four sledges and six Eskimo made us a call. One of them was our old friend the widow, with her bundle of birds under her arm. They were all shy at first, showing a knowledge, at least, of the wrong intended us, but we soon made them feel at home. It was indeed for our interest to do so. They bartered gladly walrus, seal, bear and birdmeat, a hundred pounds in all. It made a goodly pile, enough for four days. But alas, the duty of hospitality, which we could not wisely decline, compelled us to treat our guests with it, and they ate one-third. In three hours they were off toward Netflix. The next day an Eskimo man came from Northern Berlin Island. We had not seen him before, and he did not appear to have been in the council of the plotters against us. He sold us walrus-meat blubber and fifty little seafowl. Our health absolutely demanding a more generous diet. We ate three full meals, such as we had not had since leaving the ship. Our new friend's name was Kingik-Dog, which is, by interpretation, a rock. Mr. Rock was a man of few words and of very civil behaviour. We fancied him and courted his favour by a few presents for himself and wife. They were gifts well bestowed, for he at once opened his mouth invaluable and startling communications. He said that he and his brother Amal-A-Tok were the only two men in the tribe who were friendly to us. Amal-A-Tok was the man we met on Northern Berlin Island, who will be remembered as skinning a bird so adroitly and offering us lumps of fat scraped from its breastbone with his thumbnail. Mr. Rock's talk ran thus. He and his brother were in deadly hostility to Sipsu. The reason of this hostility was very curious. The brother's wife, whom we thought decidedly haggled like in her looks, was accounted a witch. Why she was so regarded was not stated. Now the law of custom with this people is that witches may be put to death by anyone who will do it by stealth. She may be pounced upon from behind a hammock and a harpoon, or any deadly weapon may deal the fatal blow in the back, but the face-to-face execution was not allowed. It was understood that Sipsu assumed the office of executioner and was watching the favoring circumstances. On the other hand, the husband and his brother, Mr. Rock, watched with courage and vigilance in behalf of the accused, while she lacked neither in her own watching. Thus the family had no fraternal relations with the villagers, though visits were exchanged between them. Concerning the conspiracy, Mr. Rock thus testified. Sipsu had for a long time counseled the tribe not to visit, nor sell food to the white men, hoping that they could not kill the bear, walrus and seal, and would soon starve, and so all the coveted things would fall into Eskimo hands. Kalutuna, on the other hand, held that their booms, guns, could secure them any game and that our poverty of food was owing to a dislike of work. There had arisen, too, a jealousy about the presents we gave. Sipsu's let-alone policy caused his wife to complain that she only of the woman was without even a needle. This drove him to a reluctant visit to us in which he got but little, so the matter was not bettered. Besides this, the condition of apparent starvation, in which the visitors found us from time to time, finally gave popularity to Sipsu's position and Kalutuna yielded to the older and stronger chief. When Peterson and Godfrey arrived at Netflix, Kalutuna went 50 miles to inform Sipsu at his home of the good occasion offered to kill them. Sipsu was to lead the attack and Kalutuna followed. The arrangement was as we have stated, but failed on account of Sipsu's fear of the oil-laid pistol. Having failed, his chagrin and anger led to the hot pursuit in which he intended to set the dogs upon our men, but this failed when he saw how near he must himself venture to the boom. This story agreed so well with what Peterson and Godfrey saw unsuspected, that we fully believed it. Mr. Rock left us in the morning, and that evening eleven natives, one of whom was Kalutuna, called upon us on their way from Akbar to Netflix. The Angikook was full of talk and smiles. He gave us a quarter of a young bear, for which we gave him one of Peterson's hoop iron knives. He was not pleased with it, for he had learned before the difference between iron and steel. He attempted to cut a piece of rose and liver with it, and it bent. He then bent it in the form of a U, and threw inspitefully away, grunting no good. We satisfied him with a piece of wood to patch his sledge. Among our guests were two widows having each a child. One of the little ones was stripped to the skin and turned loose to root at liberty. It was three years old, and plainly the dirt upon its greasy skin had been accumulating just that length of time. One of the hunters was attended by his wife and two children, a girl, four, and boy, seven years old. The fat fires of the several families were soon in full blaze, which added to the heat of nineteen persons, warmed our hut as it was never warmed before. The heat set the ceiling and walls dripping with the melted thrustwork, and everything was wet or made damp. Besides, the air became insufferable with bad odours. It was now fort misery. But the frozen meat, at which we had been nibbling, was soon thrown aside for hot coffee, steaming stew, and thawed blubber. Strips of blubber varying from three inches to a foot in length and an inch thick circulate about the hut. Strips of bear and walrus also go round. These strips are seized with the fingers. The head is thrown back, and the mouth is opened. One end is thrust in a convenient distance, the teeth are closed, it is cut off at the lips, and the piece is swallowed quickly, with the least possible chewing, that dispatch may be made, and the process repeated. The seven-year-old boy stood against the post, as tried a big chunk of walrus, naked to the waist, as all the guests were. He was sucking down in good style a strip of blubber, his face and hands besmeared with blood and fat, which ran in a purple stream of his chin, and from then streamed over the shining skin below. Our disconsolate widow subbed apart, as usual, on her supply of seafalls. Four, each about the size of a half-ground domestic hen, was all she appeared to be able to eat. We all ate, and had enough. Then followed freedom of talk, such as his want to follow satisfied appetites, and jokes and songs went round. Godfrey amused the women and children with negro melodies, accompanied by a fancy banjo. Dr. Hayes and Kalutuna tried to teach each other their languages. Bonsa looks on and helps. The chief is given, yes and no, and taught what Eskimo words they stand for. He tries to pronounce them, says, Is and Noe, and inquiringly says, Tima, right? Dr. Hayes nods. Tima was an encouraging smile, at which the chief laughs at the doctees' badly pronounced Eskimo. They try to count, and the ganga cook says, Une for one, strains hard at two, for two, and fails utterly at the three in three. The doctee tries the Eskimo one, gets patted on the back with Tima, Tima, accompanied with merry laughs. The chief tries again, gets prompted by punches and ribs, and significant commendation in twitches of his left ear. Having reached ten, the Eskimo numerals are exhausted. Sontag, with the help of Peterson, questions one of the hunters about his people's astronomy. The resulting part is as follows, and is very curious. The heavenly bodies are the spirits of deceased Eskimo, or of some of the lower animals. The sun and moon are brother and sister. The stars we call the dipper are reindeer. The stars of Orion's belt are hunters who have lost their way. The Pleiades are a pack of dogs in pursuit of a bear. Aurora Borealis is caused by the spirits at play with one another. It has other teachings on the science of the heavens equally wise, but they are close observers of the movements of the stars. We went out at midnight to look after the dogs, and Peterson asked Kalutuna when they intended to go. He pointed to a star standing over Sounder's Island in the south, passing his finger slowly around to the west. He pointed another star, saying, When that star gets where the other is, we will start. Our guests at last lay down to sleep, but we could not lie down near them, nor allow them our blankets, so we watched out the night. End of Chapter 15 Chapter 16 of North Pole Voyages The visitors left in the morning. We were now all well, except Stevenson. Though we had just eaten and were refreshed, in a few days we might be starving, so we renewed our planning. To open a communication with the advance seemed a necessity. Peterson volunteered to make another effort to open a communication with the advance Peterson volunteered to make another effort if he could have one companion. Bonsal promptly answered, I will be that companion, at which we all rejoiced, as he was the fittest man for the journey next to the Dane. A dog team and a sledge were an acquisition now most needed for the proposed enterprise. In a few days an old man came in, whom we had never seen, belonging far up whale sound, then came a hunter from Akbar with his family. Of these men after much bartering we purchased four dogs. Peterson commenced at once the manufacture of a sledge out of the wood left of the hope. All of his excellent skill was needed to make a serviceable article with his poor tools and materials. On the 20th of November the sledge was nearly finished and a breakfast on our last piece of meat assured us that what was done for our rescue must be done soon. But God's hand was as usual open to supply us. In the evening a fox was found in our trap. Stephenson, who had been cheered by our tea, received the last cup. We were reduced to stone moths boiled in blubber and coffee and a short allowance of these when two hunters left us three birds on which we subbed. We were now out of food. The Eskimo had most of them gone north, owing to the failure of game at the south. Soon all would be gone. Further discussion led us to the conclusion that they must all return to the advance and start soon unless we choose to die where we were. So we commenced preparations for the desperate enterprise. To carry out this plan it was absolutely necessary to have two more dogs for which we must trust our Eskimo visitors. A sledge drawn by six dogs could convey our small outfit and poor invalid Stephenson. We purposed to direct our course straight for Northumberland Island which we hoped to reach by lodging one night in a snow hut. For each person there must be a pair of blankets. Our closing was wholly insufficient for such a journey so we set at work to improve it the best we could. Our buffalo robes had been spread upon the stone brick for beds. They were of course frozen down. In some places solid ice of several inches thickness had accumulated into which they were embedded. When disengaged as they had to be with much care and great labour the underside was covered with closely adhering pebble stones. The robes were hung up to dry before we could work upon them. We now slept on a double blanket spread on the stones and pebbles a sleeping which refreshed us as little as our moss food. We now under the instructions of Peterson cut up the buffalo robes and sewed them into garments to wear on our journey. We refreshed ourselves with frequent sips of coffee of which fortunately we had a plenty and made out one meal at night on walrus hide, boiled or fried in oil as we fancied. It was very tough eating. At the close of the second day's tailoring four hunters came in from Akbar with five women and seven children. We sewed them all away for the night and gladly did so for the opportunity of purchasing forty-eight small birds a small quantity of dried seal meat and some dried seal intestines imperfectly cleansed but better if possible was the purchase of two dogs. Our team of six was complete. The hand of the great provider was plainly manifested. The visitors were soon gone but the four hunters came back the next day. They were bent on mischief. They stole or tried to steal whatever they saw and seemed glad to annoy us. Unfortunately for us close upon their heels came another party from the Thouse also and equally bent on mischief. Among them was an old evil-eyed woman whatever she saw she coveted and all that she could she stole. Going to her sledge as the party was about to start we found a mixed collection of our articles some of which could have been of no use to her but we had missed two drinking cups which we could not find we charged her with the theft but she protested innocence. We threatened to search her sledge and she straightway produced them and to conciliate us through down three seafowl we were gladly thus conciliated. The whole party became so troublesome that we were compelled to drive them away. The hunters lingered about intending we feared to steal our dogs two of which were purchased of them. We set a watch until they seemed to have left the vicinity but no sooner was the sentinels back turned that one of them and one of the dogs were seen scampering off together. Mansal seized his rifle and a sudden turn round a rock by the thief saved him from the salutation of an ounce of lead. On the 29th of November we were ready for a start our outfit was meager enough it consisted of eight blankets a field lamp and a kettle two tin drinking cups coffee for ten days eight pounds of blubber and two days meat this last consisted of seafowls boiled boned and cut into small pieces they were frozen into a solid lump we hoped to be at Northumberland Island in two days and get fresh supplies the sled was taken out through the roof of the hut loaded and the load well secured and poor stuff and son carried out and placed on top of it the dogs were then harnessed and they moved away the thermometer was 44 degrees below zero when we left the hut but it was calm and the moon shone with a splendid light we were weary and ready to faint at the end of one hour how then could we endure days of travel the sledge was a poor one the runners the best our material afforded were rough and the dogs could not drag the sledge without two of us pushed which we didn't turn we had thus gone about eight miles when Stephenson said he could walk this we refused to let him do knowing his extreme weakness but soon after he slid off the sledge Dr. Hayes assisted him to rise and supported his attempt to walk he had thus gone about a mile when he fell and fainted near us was an iceberg in whose side was a recess something like a grotto in this we bore our companion and added to the shelter by piling up blocks of snow the lamp was lighted to prepare him hot coffee for some time he remained insensible and when he came to himself he begged us to leave him and save ourselves he could never he said reach the advance and he might as well die then as at a later hour go without Stephenson we would not go with him seemed impossible in fact we were all too weary to take another step so we concluded to camp but this after unloading our sledge and making some effort we could not do we had no strength to make a hut and we were already bitten by the frost so we resolved to repack the sledge and return to the hut all arrived at the hut that day but how and exactly at what time we did not know only that some were an hour behind others and that several finished the journey by creeping on their hands and knees we had just enough consciousness left to bring in our blankets and spread them on those we left on the break and to close up the hole in the roof we then lay down and slept through uncounted hours when we awoke it was nearly noon though hungry cold and weak we were not badly frostbitten the first desirable thing was a fire the tinderbox with its thick things could not be found the one having it in charge remembered it was used at the burg and this we all knew and that was all anyone knew about it without this we could have no fire never before in all our exigencies was such a feeling of despair expressed on our countenances in this plight one in attempting to walk across the tent struck something with his foot we all knew the tinderbox by its rattle our lamp was soon lighted coffee was made and half of our meat warmed the other half was given to Peterson and Bonsal who started immediately to go as we had once before planned to the brig while the rest remained in the hut Dr. Hayes and Zontag accompanied them to the shore the last words of the noble Peterson were if we ever reach the ship we will come back to you or perish in the attempt so sure as there is a God in heaven four days passed after our companions left us of accumulating misery the hut was colder than ever and we were in utter darkness most of the time our food was now scraps of old hide so hard that the dogs had refused it in this our condition of absolute starvation three hunters with each a dog team came to us from Netflix one of whom was Kalutuna they entered our hut with only two small pieces of meat in their hands enough for a scanty meal for themselves we appropriated one piece to ourselves without ceremony the visitors frowned and protested but this was not a moment with us for words we soon satisfied or seemed to satisfy them by presents and those pieces were soon steaming Dr. Hayes renewed his proposal for the netlic people to carry us to the advance Kalutuna refused curtly would they let teams to us for that purpose? no the spirit of the refusal was we won't help you we know you must starve and we desire you to do so that we may possess your goods it was evident they understood our desperate condition perfectly these convictions of their purposes and feelings were confirmed when one of our number found buried in the snow near their sledges several large pieces of bear and walrus meat they were evidently determined we should not taste Kalutuna did not pretend that destitution or short supplies at netlic made a journey to the brig inconvenient but as if to taunt us said that a bear a walrus and three seals had been taken the day before the case then as we saw it stood thus six civilized men must die because three savages who had plenty choose to let them but they might be benefited by their death we at once and unanimously decided that it should not be so and that the Eskimo should not thus leave us not willing to do them unnecessary harm Dr. Hayes proposed to give them a dose of opium then to take the dogs and sledge and push forward to northern berlin island leaving them to come along at their leisure when they awoke we could we thought push forward fast enough to be out of the reach of any alarm that might reach netlic to this proposal all agreed to carry it into execution we became specially sociable and free with our presence to crown the freeness of our hospitality we set before them the stew just prepared into which Dr. Hayes had turned slyly when it was over the fire a small vial of laudanum to prevent anyone getting an overdose it had been turned out into three vessels an equal portion for each it was of course very bitter they at first swallowed it very greedily but tasting the bitter ingredient only ate half of it the next few moments were those of intense anxiety would it stupefy them soon however their eyes looked heavy and their heads drooped they begged to lie down and we tucked them up this time in our blankets we were in our traveling suits ready for a start dog whips at hand as a last act got free reached up to the shelf for a cup and down came its entire contents with the startling noise Dr. Hayes put out the light with his mitten and cuddled down instantly by the side of kalutuna the chief awoke as a steered granted and asked what was the matter the dog depended him and whispered he laughed, muttered something and was soon snoring fearing from this incident that we could not trust the soundness nor length of time of their sleep we carried off their boots, coats and mittens that they might be detained in the tent until relief came Stephenson was most fortunately better than he had been for some time being able to carry a gun and walk all the firearms being secured Dr. Hayes stood at one side of the door outside with a double-barreled shotgun and Stephenson on the other was a rifle the purpose was, if they awoke, to compel them at the mouth of the guns to drive us north son tag and the others brought up the most of the meat which was buried in the snow and put it in the passageway this would last five or six days and keep the prisoners from starving until help came the dogs being harnessed we mounted the sledges and once more turned our backs on fort desolation the dogs objected decidedly to this whole proceeding they especially disliked their new masters and were determined on mischief John and Godfrey were given by their team a ride a mile straight off the coast instead of alongside of it as they desired to go Dr. Hayes was worse used by his they drew in different directions went palmel first this way then that at one time carrying him back nearly to the hut finally they became subdued apparently and sped swiftly in the way they were guided the other sledges had in the meantime dropped into the desired course all seemed to be going well when, just as the doctor's dogs had shot by the other teams they suddenly turned round to the right and others to the left turning the sledge over backward and rolling the man into the snowdrift the doctor grasped firmly the upstander of the sledge and was dragged several yards before he recovered his feet as the dogs at this moment were plunging through a ridge of hammocks the point of the runner caught a block of ice the traces of all the dogs accepting too snapped and a way event the freed dogs to their imprisoned masters they yelped a tempting defiance as they disappeared in the distance the doctor and Mr. Stephenson taking each a dog went to the other teams and we were again on the fly leaving the third sledge jammed in the hammock we reached in safety the southern point of Cape Perry found a sheltering cave and camped End of Chapter 16 Chapter 17 of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Maj this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 17 back again we tarried in our camp for two hours we obtained a pot of hot coffee and rest the whips had been used so freely that they required repairing for without their efficient help there could be no progress all being in readiness we were about starting when three Eskimo came in sight they were those we had left to sleep in our hut Dr. Hayes and Mr. Sontag seized their guns and rushed down the ice food to meet them they stood firm until our men coming within a few yards leveled their guns at them they instantly turned around and threw their arms widely about exclaiming in a frantic voice Namik, Namik, Namik don't shoot, don't shoot, don't shoot Dr. Hayes lowered his rifle and beckoned them to come on this they did cautiously and with loud protestations of friendship by this time Whipple had come up each of our men seized a prisoner and marched him into the camp reaching the mouth of the cave the doctor turned Kalutuna around toward his sledge pointed to it with his gun and then turning north gave him to understand, mostly by signs that if he took that whip which lay at his feet and drove us to the Omniaksok ship he should have his dogs, sledge, coat, boots and mittens but if they did not do so that he and his companions would be shot then and there and to give emphasis to his words he pushed him away and leveled his gun the chief went sidling off crying Namik, Namik at the same time imitated the motion of a dog driving with his right hand and pointed north with the other his declaration was don't shoot, I will drive you to the ship Dr. Hayes, seeing he was understood told Kalutuna that the dogs and sledges were the white men's until the promise was fulfilled to which he answered all right, approaching with smiles and the old familiarity as though some great favour had be done him he could respect block and strength if nothing else the prisoners had been awakened by our escaped dogs which on arriving at the hut ran over the roof and howled at startling alarm their masters starting up found means of lighting a lamp and being refreshed by sleep on the food we left entered at once on the pursuit coming to the abandoned sledge they harnessed the dogs on their trail bringing away with them as many of our treasures as they could well carry they were rare looking eskimo just at this moment they had cut holes in the middle of our blankets and thrust their heads through one had found a pair of cast-off boots and put them on the others had bundled their feet up in pieces of blanket neither of them had suffered much from hold we expressed our confidence in their promises by restoring their closes they jumped into them happy as Yankee children on the 4th of July they were as obedient too as recently whipped spaniels they touched neither dogs sledge nor whip until they were bitten onward to netlic we shouted as we mounted our sledges and dashed away our distant approach was greeted by the howling of a pack of dogs which snuffled our coming in the breeze as we draw nearer and women and children ran out to meet us as soon as we halted 50 curious and wandering savages crowded around us pressing the questions why we were brought by their friends and why we came at all but our bearing was that of those who came because they pleased to come without condescending to give reasons why we told Kalutuna that three of us would go to each of the two hearts and stop long enough to eat and sleep and then we would continue our journey our renewed leveling at him of our guns and pointing northward brought out the prompt Tima giving the gaping bystanders a hint of the nature of our arguments for the services of the friends when we had entered the hearts the crowd rushed in too making quite too many for comfort or safety we told our hosts to order out all but the regular occupants of the hearts as many strangers had come in who were lodging in the adjoining snow huts they did not understand our right to give such a command until a hint about our booms convinced them ours was the right of self-preservation by superior strength we had traveled 15 successive hours making in the time 50 miles so weary were we even these eskimo dents affording as they did refreshment and rest without danger of freezing were delightful places of entertainment the woman kindly removed our mittens boots and stockings and hung them up to dry they then brought us frozen meat which intense hunger compelled us to try to eat but the air of the hut was 120 degrees warmer than that was out and we fell asleep with the food between our teeth having taken a short nap we were aroused by the mistress of the house who had prepared a plentiful meal of steaming bear steak we ate and slept alternately until the stars informed us that we had rested 27 hours we intimated to kalutuna that we would be going and in a few moments we had everything in readiness our next halting place was northumberland island at distance as we traveled of 30 miles which we made in six hours here we found two huts belonging to our old friends amalatuk and his brother mr. rock we divided ourselves into companies of threes as before and made ourselves at home in the two households mr. rock aided by his wife and the witch wife of his brother was kindly attentive our fair was varied by abundant supplies of sea birds which in their seasons form here we carried until our physical strength was sensibly increased we learned that petersen and bonsal had been at this hospitable halting place eaten and rested and pushed northward under the guidance of amalatuk our next run was to herbert island and passing round its north-western coast we struck across to the mainland and halted near cape robertsen at the village of karsuit we were on the northern shore of the maus of whale sound we had made a run of 50 miles halting to eat our frozen food only once we had walked much of the way to prevent being frozen and to lighten the load of the dogs over the rough way the village consisted of two huts half a mile apart one of them belonged to sipsu our old enemy he received us gruffly and felt that he must his only kindness was a fear of our booms the huts were crowded there being here as at netlik many stranger visitors from the south we were almost suffocated on entering passing as we did from a temperature of 50 degrees below 0 to 1.75 above our entertainers immediately laid hold of our closes and began to strip us they were much surprised at our persistence in retaining a certain part of them we feasted on seal flesh slept, were refreshed and encouraged our stay was short and our next run was to a double hut a distance of 30 miles which we made in 5 hours we had been joined at karsuit by an old hunter named Utinach we were on four sledges the dogs were in good condition the ice smooth the drivers full of merriment and shouts of ka ka by which their teams were stimulated onward our next run was to be one of 60 miles including the rounding of Cape Alexander and ending at Itach it was to be a terrific adventure we well knew at the mention of it our drivers shrugged our shoulders the natives dreaded the storms of this cape with their blinding snows as the venturing Arabs of the desert do a tempest cloud of sand the first 20 miles was made comfortably but we were yet many miles from the rocky fortress guarding the Arctic sea when we were saluted with a stunning squall it cut us terribly though it was but an eddy for the wind was at our backs it was only a rough hint of what we might expect when the giant of the cape sent his blasts squarely in our faces the night came on lighted only by the twinkling stars the ice was smooth and the wind at our backs drove our sledges upon the heels of the dogs who ran howling at the top of their speed to keep out of their way the cliffs a thousand feet above us through their frowning shadows across our path pouring upon the plain clouds of snow sand and shouting in the roaring wind their defiance at our approach yet we had swiftly on until a dark line was seen ahead with rest of frost smell curling over it emmerk emmerk shouted the eskimo water water echoed our men our teams rained up within a few yards of a recently open crack now 20 feet across and rapidly widening we were quite near Cape Alexander but between it and us was ice across which numerous tracks were opened against the Cape was open water whose silent surges fell dismally upon our ears it was plain that we could not go forward upon the flow to mount the almost perpendicular wall to the land above was impossible to turn back and thus face the storm would be certain death our case seemed desperate even the hardy eskimo shrunk at the situation and proposed the return trail against which to us at least ruinous course they could not be persuaded until the pistol argument was used in our peering through the darkness for some way of escape we caught a glimpse of the narrow ice foot hanging over the water at the bottom of the cliff along this we determined to attempt a passage we ascended this ice foot by a ladder made of the slidges then we ran along the closed surface and soon passed the open water below but we had advanced a short distance only before a glacier barred our progress and turned us to the flow again a short run on this brought us to another yawning crack with its impossible water we ran along its margin with torturing anxiety looking for an ice bridge finding a place where a point of ice spans a chasm Dr. Hayes made a desperate leap to gain the other side lighting upon this point it proved to be merely a loose small ice raft which settled beneath his feet endeavoring to balance himself upon it to gain the solid flow beyond he fell backward and would have gone completely under the water but Stephenson standing on the spot from which the doctor jumped caught him under the arms and drew him out as it was he had sunk deep into the cold stream filling his boots and wetting his pants in the meantime a better crossing was found and Dr. Hayes followed the last of the party to the other side we returned to the ice food and found a level insufficiently wide driveway and made good progress soon reaching and running along that part of the icy road which overlooked the open water below we met with no interruption until we came to the extreme rocky projection of the cape here the ice food was sloping and for several feet was only 15 inches wide 20 feet directly below was the icy cold dark water sending up its dismal roar as it waited to receive any whose foot might slip in attempting that perilous passage the wind howled fearfully as it swept over the cliff and along the ice food in our rear pelting us incessantly with its snow sand Holt was passed along the line and the whole party men and dogs crouched under the overhanging rocks seeming for the moment like beings doomed to die a miserable death in a hurried place there was no time for indecision and the pause was but for a moment Dr. Hayes taking off his mittens and clinging with his bare hands to the crevices of the rock was at the first to make the desperate experiment he shout announcing his safe landing on the broad belt beyond the dangerous place welling up as it did from a heart overflowing with emotions of joy and gratitude sent a thrill of gladness along the shivering and shrinking line of which even our poor dogs seemed to partake the teams each driven by its master were next brought up as near as safety permitted to the narrow slippery pathway the dogs were then seized by their colors and one by one dragged across safely next the sledges were brought forward turning them upon one runner they were pushed along until the dogs could make them feel the traces then a fierce shout from their drivers caused a sudden and vigorous spring of the animals which warled the sledges beyond the danger of sliding off the precipice cautiously one by one then came the remaining members of the party all holding their breath in painful suspense and each we trust in silent prayer until all were safe over the divine arm and eye had been with us we could not have gone back nor have turned to the right or left a few inches less of width in the ice foot or slightly more slope and we had all perished except some frostbites on our fingers every man was alright we had traveled 5 miles on the ice shelf above the foaming sea we now had a smooth, safe ice foot which conducted as soon to the solid ice field of Itawe across this 15 miles we scampered with joyous speed and arrived at the village of our old Eskimo friends a worn and weary but thankful party good news met us at the hut Peterson and Bonsal had we were told preceded us and arrived safely at the ship but our trials were not ended there was a sledge journey of 91 miles yet awaiting us Dr. Hayes frosted feet gave him intense pain and he could not sleep there was danger if the heat of the hut thought them that he would lose them all together so after only 4 hours rest he whispered his intention of a speedy departure towards the advance to Sontag who was to take charge of the party he then crept stealthily out of the hut accompanied by Utinach the faceful Eskimo from Karsuit Sontag was not to mention his departure to his comrades until they were rested and refreshed he had hardly started before the rest of our company were at his heels they did not wish their leader to endure the perils of the journey without them besides they too had reason for a desire to be speedily at the break the wind was high the flow full of hammocks the cold intense and altogether the journey was not unlike in its dangers that already endured Whipple, ere they had reached the end began to whisper that he was not cold and finally fell from the rear sledge benaumed and senseless and was not missed until he was a hundred yards behind he was lifted again to the sledge but others gave signs of the approach of the same insensibility but the track becoming smoother the drivers cracked their whips and shouted fiercely goading onward their teams to their utmost speed in the fearful race for life now all the familiar landmarks are passed the hull of the dismantled ship opens in the distance and its outlines grow clearer until we shout with feeble voices but in gladness of heart back again during the last 40 hours we had been in almost continual exposure with the thermometer 80 degrees below zero in which time we had traveled 150 miles during the run of 91 miles from Itach to the advance we encamped only once but failing to light our lamp or to secure any protection from the cold we immediately decamped and finished our run of 41 miles End of Chapter 17 Chapter 18 of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Maj this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 18 scares when the Eskimo arrived with Bonsal and Peterson Dr. Cain resolved at once to send them back with supplies for the remaining portion of Dr. Hayes company supposed to be if living at the miserable old heart Peterson and Bonsal were utterly unable to accompany them of the scanty ship's store he caused to be cleaned and boiled a hundred pounds of pork small packages of meat biscuit, bread, dust and tea were carefully sued up all weighing 350 pounds and the whole was entrusted to the returning convoy who gave emphatic assurances that these treasures more precious than gold to those for whom they were intended should be promptly and honestly delivered but this promise we have seen they did not keep and probably did not intend to keep they ate or wasted the whole this untrustworthy trait of the Eskimo character goes far to show that nothing but Dr. Hayes boom could have assured their help in his desperate necessities when Dr. Hayes arrived it was midnight Dr. Cain met him at the gangway and gave him a brother's welcome all were taken at once into the cabin Olsen was the first to recognize Hayes as he entered and kissing him he threw his arms around him and tossed him into the warm bed he had just left the fire was set ablaze coffee and meat biscuit soup were prepared and with wheat bread and molasses were set before them in the meantime their Eskimo apparel was removed and hung up to dry they ate and slept but many very days passed under skillful treatment by Dr. Cain unkind care by all they fully recovered from the strain of their terrible exposures and fearful journey when the returned comrades were duly cared for Dr. Cain turned his attention to the conciliation of the Eskimo who had accompanied them back they of course had their complaints to make and maybe meditated revenge though they were as usual full of smiles it was the white chief's policy to impress them with his great power and stern justice he assembled both parties the Hayes men and their Eskimo in conference on deck both were questioned as if it were a doubt who had been the offenders this done he graciously declared to the savage members of the council his approval of their conduct which he made empathic in the Eskimo way by pulling their hair all round the great nullilook having thus expressed his goodwill would it still further by introducing his guests now to be considered friends into the mysterious igloo below what they had not before been permitted to enter their joy was that of indulged children during a holiday they were seated in state on a red blanket four pork fat lamps burned brilliantly ostentatiously paraded were old worsted damask curtains hunting knives, rifles chronometers and beer barrels which as they glowed in the light astonished the natives with a princely air which no doubt seemed to the recipients almost divine he dealt out to each five needles a file and a stick of wood to the two headmen Kalutuna on Shunkhu knives and other extras were given a roaring fire was then made and a feast cooked this eaten buffaloes were spread stow and the guests slept they awoke to eat and ate to sleep again when they were ready to go the white chief explained that the sledge's dogs and some furs which his men had taken had been taken to save life and were not to be considered as stolen goods and he then and there restored them they laughed, voted him in their way a good fellow and in fine spirits dashed away shouting to their wolfish dogs they had taken special care however to add to the treasures so generously given a few stolen knives and forks as the whole company are now crowded into the little cabin and the darkness is without though that the days pass without much incident except that all are crowded with heavy burdens upon mind and body we will listen to a few of the yet untold stories of the earlier winter at one time Dr. Cain attempted a walrus hunt Morton, Huns, Othunia, Miok and a dark stranger, Avah Tuk accompanied him he took a light sledge drawn by seven dogs intending to reach the furthest point of Furs Bay by daylight but as the persistency of the Eskimo had overlaid in the sledge they moved slowly and were overtaken by the night on the flow in the midst of the bay. The snow began to drift before an increasing storm while driving rapidly they lost the track they had been following they could see no landmarks and in their confusion turned their faces to the floating ice of the sound the Eskimo usually at home on the flow but there by night or by day were quite bewildered the dogs became alarmed and spread their panic to the whole party they could not camp the wind blew so fiercely so they were compelled to push rapidly forward they knew not wither checking after a while their speed Dr. Cain gave each a tent pole to feel their way more cautiously for a murmur had reached his ear more alarming than the roar of the wind suddenly the noise of waves startled him turned the dogs he shouted while at the same moment a breath of frost smoke cold and wet swept over the whole party and the sea opened to them with its white line of foam about one fourth of a mile ahead the flow was breaking up by the force of the storm the broken ice might be in any direction they could now guess where they were and they turned their faces towards an island up the bay but the line of the sea with its foaming waves turned so rapidly that they began to feel the ice bending under their feet as they ran at the sides of the sledge the hammocks before them began to close up and they ran by them at a fearful risk as they hurried cautiously forward stumbling over the crushed fragments between them on the shore it was too dark to see the island for which they were steering but the black outline of a lofty cape was dimly seen along the horizon and served as a landmark as they approached the shore edge of the flow they found it broken up and its fragments surging against the base of the ice food to which they desired to climb being now under the shadow of the land it was densely dark Dr. Cain went ahead groping for a bridge of ice having a rope tied round his waist the other end of which was held by Utuniah at whose heels came the rest of the party the doctor finally succeeded in clambering upon the ice food and the rest one after another followed with the dogs the joy of their escape broke out into exaltation when they ascertained that the land was unwattook only a short distance from the familiar Eskimochatz God had guided them with his all-seeing eye to where they would find needed refreshment in less than an hour they were feasting on a smoking stew of walrus meat having eaten their stew and drank their coffees they slept slept 11 hours well they might after an unbroken ice walk of 48 miles and 20 homeless hours the Eskimochatz sang themselves to sleep with a monotonous song in compliment to the white chief that a praying of which was Naligak, Naligak, Naligak soak captain, captain, great captain without further special incident the party returned to the break at one time an alarm was brought to Dr. Cain that a wolf was prowling among the meat barrels on the flow believing that a wolf would be more profitably added to their store of meat than to have him take anything from it he seized a rifle and ran out yes there he is a wolf from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail bang goes the rifle whiz goes the ball making the hair fly from the back of one of the sledge dogs he was not hurt much but he came near paying with his life for the crime of running away from Morton's sledge the fox traps made occasion for many long walks great expectations of game and previous disappointment Dr. Cain and Hunts were at one time examining them about two miles from the brig they were unfortunately unarmed the doctor thought he heard the bellow of a walrus they listened no not a walrus but a bear hark hear him roar they sprung to the ice foot about ten feet above the flow another roar round and full he's drawing nearer he has a fine voice and no doubt is large and fat and savoury but then a bear must be killed before he is eaten and that is just where the difficulty lies it don't do for two men to run for that is an invited pursuit and bears are good runners Hunts exclaimed Dr. Cain run for the brig and I will play decoy Hunts is a good runner and this time he did his level best Dr. Cain remains on the ice foot alone it is too dark to see many yards off and the silence is oppressive for the bear says nothing and so Cain makes no reply he queries whether after all there is any bear how easy it is for the imagination to be excited amid these shadowy hammocks and this dreary waste through which the wind draws so disnally he gets down from his comparatively safe elevation upon the flow puts his hand over his eyes and peers into the darkness no bear after all but what is that rounded shadowy thing stained ice yes stained ice but the stained ice speaks with a voice which wakes the arctic eagles and charges on our explorer it is a hungry bear Dr. Cain's legs are scurvy smitten affairs but this time they credit the fleetness of those of the deer he drops a mitten and his pursuer stops to smell of it to examine it carefully and to show his disgust at such gain by tearing it to pieces these bears are famous for losing the bird by stopping to pick up his feathers the man stops not but drops another mitten as he flies and for these articles are duly examined he has reached the break Dr. Cain has escaped and the bear has lost his supper it is now Bruins turn to run for fresh hunters and loaded rifles are after him he does run and escapes but if there were fears without the break there were fighting with a fearful enemy within the crowded conditions of the cabin after the highest party returned made it necessary for the pork fat lamps to be set up outside the avenue in a room parted off in the hold for their use a watch was set over them but he deserted his post the fat flamed over and set the room ablaze eight of the men lay in their berth at the time helplessly disabled the fire was only a few feet from the tinder like moss which communicated with the cabin the men able to work seized buckets and formed a line to the well in the ice always kept open in the meantime Dr. Cain rushed into the flames with some fur robes which lay at hand and checked it for the moment the water then came and the first bucket full thrown caused a smoke and steam which prostrated him fortunately in falling he struck the feet of the foremost bucket man he was taken to the deck his beard, forelock and eyebrows singed away and set burns upon his forehead and palms nearly all received burns and thrust bites but in half an hour the fire was extinguished the danger was horrid and the escape wonderful neither wild beasts nor the flames hurt whom God protects end of chapter 18 chapter 19 of North Pole voyages by Zaharia A. Munch this LibriVox recording is in the public domain chapter 19 seeking the Eskimo December 25th Cain and our ice bound darkness enshrouded sick or in a measure health broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas they all sat down to dinner together there was more love than with the stalled ox the former times but of herbs none they tried at least to forget their discomforts and the blessings they still retained and to look hopefully on the long distance and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends immediately after Christmas a series of attempts were commenced to open a communication with the Eskimo at Itach 91 miles away the supply of fresh meat was exhausted the traps yielded nothing and hunts hunting could not go on successfully in the dark the scurvy smith and men were failing for the want of it and so everything must be perilled to make the journey the first thing to be done was to put the dogs if possible into traveling order there were now few in number for fifty had died and the survivors had been kept in short rations their dead companions which had been preserved in a frozen state were boiled and fed to them for fresh food dog did eat dog and relished and grew stronger on the diet Dr. Cain and Peterson made the first attempt starting on the 29th of December they had scarcely reached the forsaken huts of Anatuk the wind loved spot so often used as a resting place when the dogs failed a storm with a bitter pelting snow drift confined them a while an incident occurred here one of the many which happened to the explorers which shows plainly the unseen but ever present eye and hand which attended them they were just losing themselves in sleep when Peterson shouted Captain Cain the lamps out his commander heard him with a thrill of horror the storm was increasing the cold piercing and the darkness intense the tinder had become moist and was frozen solid the guns were outside to keep them from the moisture of the hut the only hope of heat was in relighting the lamp a lighted lamp and heat they must have Peterson tried to obtain fire from a pocket pistol but his only tinder was moss and after repeated attempts he gave it up Dr Cain then tried he says by good luck I found a bit of tolerably dry paper in my jumper and becoming apprehensive that Peterson would waste our few percussion gaps with his ineffectual snappings I took the pistol myself it was so intensely dark that I had to grope for it and in doing so touched his hand at that instant the pistol became distinctly visible a pale blueish light slightly tremulous but not broken covered the metallic parts of it the barrel lock and trigger the stock too was clearly discernible as if by the reflected light and to the amazement of both of us the someone too fingers was which Peterson was holding it the creases, wrinkles and circuit of the nails clearly defined upon the skin the phosphorous sense was not unlike the ineffectual fire of the glow warm as I took the pistol my hand became illuminated also and so did the powder rubbed paper when I raised it against the muzzle the paper did not ignite at the first trial but the light from it continuing I was able to charge the pistol without difficulty rolled up my paper into a cone coated with moss sprinkled over with powder and held it in my hand while I fired this time I succeeded in producing flame and we saw no more of the phosphorescence when the storm subsided they made further experiment to reach Itach but dogs and men found the wading impossible and they returned to the brig the dogs going ahead and the men walking after them waited the 44 miles of their circuitous route in 16 hours thus closed the year 1854 the three following weeks were mainly occupied by Dr. Cain in a careful preparation for another attempt to reach Itach this time with Hans old yellow one of the five dogs on which success in a measure depended stalked about the deck with his back up to say I must have more to eat if I'm going Jenny, a mother dog had quite a family of little ones yellow being very hungry and not seeing the use of such young folks gobbled one of them down before his master could say, don't you Dr. Cain taking the hint and thinking that the puppies would not be dogs soon enough for his use shared with yellow the rest of the litter so both grew stronger for the journey the next year, 1855 came in with a wail of darkness over the prospects of our explorers the sick list was large and threatened to include the whole party a fox was caught occasionally and beyond this stinted supply there was no fresh meat on Tuesday, January 23rd the commander enhanced with the dog team and their faces towards the eskimo all went well for a while until hope rose of accomplishing the journey getting savory walrus and cheering their sinking comrades suddenly big yellow in spite of nice puppy soup gave out and went into convulsions Toodla the next best animal failed soon after the moon went down and the dark knight was upon the best set of founded heroes groping for the ice food they trudged 14 wretched hours and reached the old igloo at Anatuk the inevitable storm arose with its burden of snow driven by a strange moistening southeast wind burying the hot deep and warm the temperature rose 70 degrees an oppressive sensation attacked Dr. Cain and Hans having symptoms were developed water ran down from the roof the doctor's sleeping bag of furs was saturated and his luxurious eider down God's wonderful cold defyre was a wet swab after two days in this comfortless hut the storm having subsided they once again pushed towards Itach their sick failing comrades were the spur to this desperate effort but it was in vain for the deep moist snow the hammocks and the wind defied even desperate courage they returned to the hut and spent another wretched night in the morning in spite of short provisions exhaustion continued snowing they climbed the ice food and for four hot less hours faced toward the eskimo but in vain Dr. Cain says my poor Eskimo Hans adventurous and buoyant as he was began to cry like a child sick, worn out strength gone dogs fast and floundering I'm not ashamed to admit that as I thought of the sick men on board my own equanimity was at fault Dr. Cain scrambled up a familiar hill that was near and reconnoitered he was delighted to see ending amongst the hammocks a level way he called Hans to see it with fresh dogs and fresh supplies they could certainly reach Itach so after another night at the hut they returned to the brig comforting the sick with the assurance that success would come on the next trial the months closed with only five effective men including the commander and of these they were about as much sick as well Dr. Cain could not be spared from his patience so February 3rd Peterson and Hans tried another Itach adventure in three days they returned with a sorrowful tale from poor Peterson of heroic efforts ending in exhaustion and defeat but God always sent many rays of light through the densest darkness besetting our explorers to cheer them and inspire hope the yellow tents of coming sunlight were at noonday faintly painted on the horizon the rabbits prophesied the spring by appearing abroad and two were shot they yielded a pint of raw blood which the sickest drank as a grateful cordial their flesh was also eaten raw and with great thankfulness following these moments of comfort came a dismal and anxious night thick clouds overspread the sky a heavy mist rendered the darkness appalling followed by the drifting snow and a fearful storm the wind howled and treaked through the rigging of the helpless battered brig as if in mockery of her condition and the sufferings of her inmates good fellow had gone inland with his gun during the brief day and had not returned Roman candles and blue lights were burned to guide him homeward all together it was a night to excite superstitious fears of the sailors and they proved to be not beyond the reach of such fears Tom Hickey, the cook having been on deck while the gale was in its full strength to peer into the darkness for him ran below declaring that he had seen Godfellow moving cautiously along the land ice and jumped down on the flow he hurried up his supper to give the tired messmate a warm welcome but no one came Dr. Cain went out with a lantern looked carefully around for some hundreds of yards but found no fresh footsteps Tom seriously insisted that he had seen Godfellow's apparition such was the state of things when one of the sailors went on deck there was hanging in the rigging an old seal-skin bag containing the remnant of the ship's furs its ghostly appearance in ordinary darkness had been the occasion of much jesting now to the excited imagination of the sailor it pounded the mast like the gloved fist of a giant boxer glowed with a ghastly light and muttered to him an unearthly story he did not stop to converse with it but hastened below was the expression of his fears his messmates laughed and jeered at his tail but their merriment was but the whistling to inspire their own courage the morning came and so did Godfellow none the worse for his night's experience the storm subsided hands killed three rabbits they all tasted a little and felt better and the seal-skin bag was never known from that time to utter award fears may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning Dr. Cain devoutly remarks see how often relief has come at the moment of extremity see still more how the bag has been strengthened to its increasing burden and the heart cheered by some unconscious influence of an unseen power End of Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Of North Pole Voyages by Zacharia A. Munch this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 20 Dissertors Hens had been for some time promising the hungry company a deer he had seen their tracks and he was watching for them with a good rifle and keen eye and a steady hand he came in on the evening of February 22nd with the good news that he had lodged a ball in one at a low range and that he went hobbling away he was sure he should find him dead in the morning the morning came and the game was found having staggered bleeding only 2 miles he was a noble fellow measuring in lengths 6 feet and 2 inches and 5 feet in girth he weighed about 180 pounds when dressed the enfeebled men with difficulty drew him on board his presence caused a thrill of joy and his luscious flesh sent its invigoration through their emaciated frames the following Sunday as Dr. Cain was standing on deck thinking of their situation he lifted up his eyes towards a familiar burg for many months routed in darkness and saw it sparkling in the sunlight the king of day was not yet above the intervening hills but sent his sheen to proclaim his coming glad as a boy whom the full mid-winter moon invites to a coasting frolic he started on a run climbed the elevations and bathed in his refreshing rays during the months of February Peterson, Hunts and Godfrey had been sent out on the track of the Eskimo but they returned and declared that it could not be reached their commander said by the 6th of March the break was again without fresh meat the sick were once more suffering for it and the well-growing feeble Hunts, the resort in such emergencies was given a light sledge the two surviving dogs and to him was committed the forlorn hope his departure called forth from his commander a God bless you and prayers followed him his story is simple and touching he lodged the first night in the wind-loved forsaken, desolate, yet friendly hut of Anatuk he slept as well as he could in a temperature 53 degrees below zero the next night he slept in a friendly hut at Itach the oft-tried feat was accomplished but he found the Itachites lean and hungry hollow cheeks and sunken eyes spoke of famine the skin of a young sea unicorn was all of food which remained to the settlement they had even eaten their light and fire blubber and were seated in darkness gloomingly waiting for the sun and the hunt they had eaten too all but four of their ample supply of dogs they hailed the coming of hunts with a shout he proposed to join them in a hunt but they shook their heads they had lost a harpoon online in their attempt to take a walrus the day before the ice was yet thick and the huge monster in his struggles had broken the line over a sharp edge hunts showed them his boom and beating them come on started for the hunting grounds Metek, Mr. Eiderdock speared a fair-sized walrus and hunts gave him five conical balls in quick succession from Marston rifle and he surrendered at discretion the return of the hunters caused great joy in the city of Itach whose two hunts poured out their inhabitants to greet their coming an aid in rendering due honors to the game itself as usual they laughed, feasted and slept to awake, laugh, eat and sleep again hunts and his boom were great in their eyes but the kabluna whose representative he was rose before their vision as the glorious sun shudders the long winter darkness hunts obtained a hunter's share and his appearance on the deck of the advance heralded by the helping of the dogs sent a thrill of joy through every heart as Dr. Cain grasped his hand on the deck and began to listen to his story he exclaimed speak louder hands that they may hear in the bunks the bunks did hear and feel too as the good news came home to the hunting dogs as the commander had requested hunts brought meok with him to assist in hunting the smart young hunter was delighted to be with the white man though his reaching fingers would secrete cups, spoons and other valuables which were made to come back to their proper places by sundry cuffs and kicks which though perhaps not altogether pleasant of themselves caused him to cuddle down in his buffalo his master's feet like a whipped spaniel and their relations grew daily more enjoyable hunts and meok made soon after an unsuccessful hunt this made the fresh meat question come up again with its empathic importance the fuel question too was becoming more and more a cause for concern the manila cable had been chopped up and burned and such portions of the brig could be spared her seagulling value had gone in the same way now the nine feet of solid ice in which she was embedded seemed to say that she would never float again so she might as well yield her planks to the fire but to see her thus used went to the hearts of her gallant men on the 19th of march hunts was dispatched to the eskimo well supplied with the first quality of cord for their harpoons and such other prompters too and helps in the walrus hunt as a cure to his commander he would bless thereby and please these starving people hoping that the blessing would return in the form of fresh walrus to him and his suffering men during the absence of hands there were unusual un-painful developments at the brig William Godfrey and John Blake had given Dr. Cain much trouble from the first they were now evidently bent on mischief and made constant watchfulness over them a necessity just as hands left they feigned sickness and were suspected of desiring rest and recruited strength for desertion their plan was believed to be to way lay hands and get his sledge and dogs Dr. Cain contrived so shrewdly to keep one of them at work under his eye and some other place that they did not perceive his suspicion of them one night Bill was heard to say that sometime during the following day he should leave and this was reported to the commander by a faithful listener he was of course watched and at six o'clock was called to prepare breakfast this he commenced doing uneasily stealing whispers with John finally he seemed at his ease to prepare breakfast Dr. Cain believed he meant to sleep out the first opportunity meet John on deck and desert he therefore armed himself threw on his furs made Bonsal and Morton acquainted with his plans and crept out of the dark avenue and hid near its entrance after an hour of cold waiting John crept out grunting and limping for he had been feigned lameness looked quickly round and seeing no one mounted nimbly the stairs to the deck ten minutes later Godfrey came out booted and foreclad for a journey as he emerged from the tossot his commander confronted him pistol in hand he was ordered back to the cabin while Morton compelled John's return and Bonsal guarded the door preventing anyone passing out in a few moments John came creeping into the cabin awful lame and terribly exhausted in his effort to breeze a little fresh air on deck he looked amazed as by the glare of the light he saw the situation the commander then explained to the company the offenses of the culprits giving from the logbook the details of their plotting he had prepared himself for the occasion and Bill the principal was punished on the spot he confessed his guiltiness and good behavior and in view of the few men able to work his handcuffs were removed and he was sent about his customary business in an hour after he deserted Dr. Cain was at the moment of a hunting and his escape was not noticed until he was beyond the reach of a rifle ball the next two weeks were weary anxious weeks though the ever watchful hand tendered in good time occasion for hope six sea fowl and three hairs were shot by Peterson and gave indispensable refreshment to the sick on the second of April just before noon a man was seen with a dog sledge lurking behind the hammocks near the brick Dr. Cain went out armed and meet him it proved to be Godfrey the deserter who seeing his old comrades left the sledge and ran leaving Bonsal with his rifle to make sure of the sledge the doctor gave chase and the fugitive seeing but one following stopped and turned around he said he had made up his mind to spend the rest of his life with Kalutuna and the Eskimo and that no persuasion nor force should prevent him a loaded pistol presented at his head did though persuade him to return to the brig when he reached the gangway he refused to budge another step Peterson was away hunting Bonsal and Dr. Cain were so weak that they could barely stand and all the other men, 13 were prostrated with the scurvy so that they could not compel him by physical force as the doctor was desirous not to hurt him he left him under the guardianship of Bonsal's weapons while he went below for irons just as he returned to the deck Godfrey turned and fled Bonsal presented his pistol which exploded the cap only Cain seized a rifle but being affected by the cold it went off in the act of cocking a second gun fired in haste at a long range missed its mark so the rebel made good his retreat he had come back with hand sledge and dogs and reported him sick at Itach from over exhaustion but there was one consolation in the affair it was loaded with walrus meat the feast that followed revived the drooping men wonderfully they ate, were thankful and looked hopefully on the future Godfrey was suspected of having come back to get John the desertion of two well men when so many were sick would imperil the lives of all the commander felt that the safety of the whole required the facefulness of each man he therefore explained the situation to the men and declared his determination to punish desertion or the attempt to desert by the sternest penalty hence became now the subject of anxiety some unfair dealing toward him on the part of Godfrey was feared it was thought but just that he should be sought and if in trouble relieved but who should go Dr. Cain finally resolved to go after him himself besides the question of more walrus was again pressing April 10th the doctor was off the first 11 hours dogs carried him about 64 miles a most remarkable speed for their short rations whilst us speeding along far out on the flow he spied a black speck in shore away to the south what did some cheat of refraction he paused, took his gun and cited the object as a tactic travelers to battle refraction it is an animal yes a man away went the dogs 10 miles an hour while the rider cheated them the shout a bear in a few moments hence and the doctor were in grateful earnest talk he had really been sick he had been down 5 days and as he expressed it still felt a little weak and was placed on the sledge and both went to the friendly hut at Anatuk where hot tea and rest prepared both for the return to the brick end of chapter 20 chapter 21 of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Munch this LibriVox recording is in the public domain chapter 21 closing incidents of the imprisonment hence had his story of adventure by Latitakh but the most important item in his estimation and that which might prove far reaching in its results was the fact that a young daughter of Tsunghu appointed herself his nurse during his sickness bestowing upon him care, sympathy and bewitching smiles she had evidently done what Godfrey tried in vain to do she had entrapped him at the expense too the Eskimo Lady at Upernavik Hans had been successful in the hunt and besides what he had sent by Godfrey had deposited some walrus at Littleton Island he was at once sent after this and entrusted at the same time with an important commission Dr. Gaine had been for some time meditating another trip towards the polar sea to do this he desired more dogs the Eskimo had been reducing their stock to keep away starvation but Kalutuna had retained four these and such others as he could find Hans was authorized to buy or hire at almost any price this northern trip made the next move might be towards the abandonment of the advance she could never float it was plain for now late in April the open water was 80 miles south while Hans was gone, the sick yet numbering two-thirds of the whole and in a measure all of the other third except the commander were without fresh food as they had been for several days yet the sunshine and the occasional supplies had put them all on the improving list they could sit up sew or job a little making themselves useful and keeping up good spirits but Hark, what sound is that breaking on the still clear air it comes nearer bim, bim, bim sounds upon the deck it is Hans, whose coming is ever like the coming of the morning a rapid stew and valrous liver follow his arrival and over such royal dainties good cheer pervades the family circle Hans brought Metek with him and Metek's young nephew Paulik, a boy of fourteen Metek and Hans spoke sadly of the condition of the extremal settlements we have seen that the escaping party found those of the south flying northward from starvation the report now was that they had huddled together at northumberland island until that yielded to the famine and now they had come farther north it was a sad sight to see men, women and children fleeing over the icy desert before their relentless foe yet, says Hans, they sang as they went careless of present want and saltless of the moral many had died and thus year by year these few scattered, improvident people decline giving earnest that in a few years all will be gone though light hearted death did bring its sorrows to these benign heathen Kalutuna lost the sister her body was sued up in skins not in a sitting posture but extended and her husband unattended carried it out to burial and with his own hand placed upon it stone after stone making at once a grave and a monument a blubber lamp was burning outside the hut while he was gone and when he returned his friends were waiting to listen to his rehearsal of the praises of the dead and to hear the expressions of his sorrow while they showed their grief by dismal chantings if sorrow did not keep the deceased in the memory of the living imposed self-denials did the Angacook or medicine man as our Indians would call him determines the penance of the mourner who is sometimes forbidden to eat the meat of a certain bird or beast under the idea that the spirit of the departed has entered into it at another time the mourner must not draw on his hood but go with uncovered head or he may be forbidden to go on the bear or walrus hunt the length of time of these penances may be a few months or a year the reader will recollect the widow with her birds who appeared so often in the narrative of the escaping party though thus mourning for the dead these Eskimoa do not hold life as a very sacred trust the drones and the useless are sometimes harpooned in the back merely to get rid of them infants are put out of the way when they greatly annoy their parents Hans on one of his returns from Itach had a story to tell illustrative of this Awachtuk, a young man of 22 had a pretty wife pretty as Eskimoa beauty goes sister of Kalutuna and about 18 years old Dr. Cain had regarded this couple with some interest and the husband stuck to him as a plaster their first born was a fine little girl well Hans reported with becoming disgust an indignation that they had buried it alive under a pile of stones when Dr. Cain next visited Itach he inquired of his friend's Awachtuk and his wife after the health of the baby affecting not to have heard about its hard fate they pointed with both hands earthward but did not even shed that cheap customary tear the only reason reported for this murder was that certain of its habits common to all infants were disagreeable to them such is the mildest heathenism without Christianity these and other similar gross sins are common amongst the south Greenland Eskimoa but have disappeared before the teachings of the Moravian missionaries Hans returned with the walrus he had deposited a little town island but he had made no progress in getting dogs so Dr. Cain resolved to go to Itach for that purpose himself besides having learned that Godfrey was playing a high game there and defying capture and covering his influence over the friendly relations of the Eskimoa he resolved to bring him back to the brig Metek was just starting for Itach so he invited himself to return with him while Polik his nephew remained with Hans this arrangement affected Dr. Cain was soon approaching Itach perfectly disguised in the hood and jumper of Polik whose place on the sledge he occupied the whole city ran out to meet their chief among whom was the deserter who shouted and then threw up his arms with the most savage of them he did not perceive his commander until a certain well understood summons entered his ear and a significant pistol barrel gleamed in the sunlight near his eyes he surrendered to this boom argument without discussion and trotting or walking he kept his assigned place ahead of the sledge through the 80 and more miles to the brig halting only at Annaatuk we hear nothing of further attempt at desertion a little later Dr. Cain made another visit to Itach the hunt could become successful and the famine was broken all was activity and good cheer the women were preparing the green hides for domestic use great piles of walrus stashes were preserved for various useful purposes some of these the children had selected as bats and were engaged in merry sport their game was to knock a ball made of walrus bone ups a slanting side of a hammock and then in turn hit it as it rolled down and so keep it from reaching the flow they shouted and laughed at the game went on much as our boys do over their sports Dr. Cain observed on this trip a way of taking walrus which has not, we think, been noted before the monster at this early season sometimes finds the ice open near a burg only he comes on the ice to sun himself finds the change from the cold sea very agreeable stays too long the water freezes solid and he cannot return as he is unable to break the ice either waits for the current about the burg to open the ice again or works himself clumsily to some already open place in this helpless state the dogs send him a far off and the hunters following their lead make him an easy prey hunts came in on the 24th of April accompanied by kalutna, shanghi and tateret each of the eskimo having sledges and hunting dogs in all hunts had been sent to Cape Alexander where kalutna was to invite him to the brig in order to secure his aid in the proposed northern trip he was fed well and propitiated by a present of a knife and needles he said thank you and added I love you well which might uncharitably be taken to mean I love your presents well the result of the presents feasting and flattery was a start north by the three eskimo with dr. kane and hunts all the dog teams accompanying the old route across kennedy channel to the west side and so north poleward was attempted first came a very fair progress then came the hammocks over which by the aid of their dogs they clambered until 30 miles from the brig had been made then shanghi burrowed into a snow bank and slept the cold being 30 degrees below zero the rest camped in the snow and launched just as a fair start was again made the party neared a huge male bear in the act of launching on seal in vain the doctor attempted to control either dogs or drivers nanook nanook shouted the eskimo as they clung to the sledges and the dogs flew over the ice in wild and reckless pursuit after an exciting chase the bear was brought to a halt into a fight which the rivals and spears soon terminated against brun a feast by dogs and men and a night's halt on the ice followed to dr. kane at least both vexatious and comfortless the next day he would press on to the north but bear tracks were everywhere and the savage chiefs preferred hunting to exploring besides they had they said their families to support and there was no use trying to cross the channel so high up the English of it was we are going in for the bears and you might help yourself a day more was spent in a wild hunt among the birds and the party returned to the break a little later still another attempt was made to unlock further the secrets of the extreme icy north this time by only kane and morton with a six dog sledge the explorers walking this the last effort of the kind ended in the usual way accepting some additions to the surveys end of chapter 21 chapter 22 of north pole voyages by the harrier a much the slibrivox recording isn't the public domain chapter 22 homeward bound the final escape from the break must now be commenced from the early fall its necessity had been sought of and preparations for it commenced since the sick had begun to improve the work in reference to it had been going on with a system coverlets of either down beds or furs which could be used as such boots moccasins a full supply to meet emergencies were prepared provision bags were made and filled with powder ship bread pork fat until all melted down and cooked concentrated bean soup the flour and meat biscuit were put in double bags two boats had been made from the ship's beams 26 feet long seven feet across and three feet deep incredible toil by weak and sick men had been expended upon these boats a neat housing of light canvas was raised over each of them one other boat the red eric was in readiness there was no assurance that either of these boats would long float yet all was done which the circumstances allowed to make them seaborthy the three boats were mounted on sledges the necessary outfit so far as they could bear was to be stowed away in them everything being in readiness a vast amount of thinking having been employed by the commander in reference to all contingencies a preemptory order of march was issued for the 17th of may the men were given 24 hours to get ready 8 pounds of such personal effects as they choose from the date of starting the strictest discipline and subordination was to be observed which came hard upon the long indulged moving sequence the perfectness of the preparations had a good effect yet there were many moody doubters some insisted that the commander only meant to go further south holding the brick to fall back upon some thought he would get the sick nearest hunting grounds others believed that his purpose was to secure some point of lookout for the English explorers or whaling vessels the terrible day of departure came the boats were in the cradle on the sledges and the men with straps over their shoulders and drag ropes from these to the sledges started for the ice food along which they were to travel they had not yet received their loads so they glided off easily exciting a smile on some rueful countenances in 24 hours the boats were laden the elevated driveway covered with their canvas roof and with a jaunty flag flying were ready for a final leave the next day the exhausted men for nearly all of them were yet invalids returned to the vessel ate the best supper the supplies afforded turned in prepared for their first effort at dragging the boat laden sledges but one sledge could be moved at once with all hands attached the first day they made two miles only was this one for several days they made short distances and returned early to a hearty supper and warm beds in their old quarters so that they marched back to the drag ropes in the morning refreshed the weather was by the kind overruling hand superb the final leave taking was somewhat ceremonious all the men were assembled in this mantled room which had been so long both a prison and providential home it was Sunday all listened to a chapter of the Bible and prayers then all silently standing the commander read a prepared report of what had been done and the reasons for the step about to be taken he then addressed the company honestly conceding the obstacles in the way of escape to them that energy and subordination would secure success he reminded them of the solemn claims upon them of the sick and wounded called to their minds the wonderful deliverance granted them thus far by the infinite power and exhorted them still confidently to commit all to the same helper the response to this appeal was most cheering to Dr. Cain the following engagement was drawn up by one of the officers and signed by every man quote the undersigned being convinced of the impossibility of the liberation of the brig and equally convinced of the impossibility of remaining in the ice a third winter do fervently concur with the commander in his attempt to reach the south by means of boats knowing the trials and hardships which are before us and feeling the necessity of union and discipline we have determined to abide facefully by the expedition and our sick comrades and to do all that we can as true men to advance the objects in you end quote the party now went on deck hoisted the flag and hold it down again and then marched once or twice around the vessel the figurehead the fair Augusta the little blue girl with pink cheeks the men and added to their load she had been nipped and battered by the ice and a common suffering made her dear to them when Dr. Cain remonstrated against the additional burden they said she is at any rate would and if we cannot carry her far we can burn her the final departure was too serious for cheers and when the moment came they all hurried off to the boats and the drag ropes the men were sick and had to be carried and Dr. Cain was with the dock team the common carrier and courier as we shall see so that there were but 12 men to the boats these were organized into two companies six each for the two sledges M. Garry having command of the faith and Morton command of the hope each party was separate in matters of baggage sleeping, cooking and eating both were concentrated in turns upon each sledge under the command of Brooks both morning and evening of each day all gathered round with uncovered heads to listen to prayers everyone had his assigned place at the track line each served in turn as coke except the captains from an early day of the preparations Dr. Cain had been at work they're fitting and furnishing the broken down for a second hut at Anoa took for this purpose many trips were made to it with the dock team it was made tight as possible the fills carefully removed cushions and blankets were spread upon the raised floor at the sides and a stove set up blankets were hung up against the walls and the hole made to look as cheerful as possible while the sledges were approaching this place by short stages Dr. Cain was his team brought to the hut the four sick men they were Godfellow, Wilson, Whipple and Stephenson Dr. Hayes yet limping on his frozen food bravely adhered to the sledges when the sick entered the hut none could wait upon the others except Stephenson who could barely light the lamp to melt the snow and heat the water but Dr. Cain made them frequent visits supplying their wants and reporting daily progress toward them of their whole company they grew better and were able to creep out into the sunshine besides carrying the sick to Anoa took Dr. Cain had with his dogs conveyed there and stocked near the hut most of the provisions for their march and voyage 800 pounds out of the 15 were now there and he proposed to convey the rest this was done to relieve the overladen sledges the red boat red Eric joined the party on the flow a few days after the start increasing their burden but assuring them of increased comfort and safety when they reached the open water one incident of this period will illustrate its hardships and the Christian courage was which they were met it was soon after the last sick man was born to the hut that Dr. Cain having in one of his docked in trips camped on the flow came upon the boat party early in the morning they were at prayers at the moment and as they passed to the drag ropes he was pained at the evidence of increased scurvy and depression Brookes legs were sadly swollen and highs ready to faint with exhaustion they must have more generous meals thought the noble hearted commander taking Morton he hastened back to the break as they entered a raven flew croaking away he had already made his home there lighting the fires in the old cook room they melted pork cooked a large batch of light bread without salt salaratus or shortening gathered together some eatable though damaged dried apples and beans and the dogs having fed hastened back to the men on the flow distributing a good supper to their comrades as they passed and taking Godfrey along with them they hastened to the hut the poor fellows confined in it were rejoiced to see them they had eaten all their supplies their lamp had gone out the snow had piled up at the door so that they could not close it and the arctic wind and cold were making free in their never too warm abode the poor fellows were cold sick and hungry the coming of their commander was as the coming of an angel messenger of good tidings he closed their door made a fire of tarred rope dried their clothes and bedding cooked them a porridge of pea soup and meat biscuit and set their lamp wick ablaze with dripping pork fat then after all had joined in prayer of thankfulness a well relished meal was eaten this was followed by a cheerful chat and a long refreshing forgetfulness in their sleeping bags of all privations when they awoke the gale had grown more tempestuous with increasing snow but they went on burning rope and fat until every icicle had disappeared and every frost mark had faded out on their arrival at the hut the night before Dr. Cain seeing the condition of things sent Godfrey forward to Itach for fresh supplies of game after a time he returned with Metek and the two sledges well laden with meat a part of this was hurried off to the toilers at the drag ropes having blessed by his coming these weary voyagers Dr. Cain with Morton, Metek and his sledge went once more to the brig they baked 150 pounds of bread and sent it by Metek to Mr. Brooks and the faithful messenger having delivered it returned immediately for another load while he was gone 100 pounds of flour pudding was made and two bagfuls of pork fat tried out this done the three lay down upon the curled hair of the old mattresses they having been ripped open and their contents drawn out to make the most comfortable bed the place afforded they slept as soundly as vagrants on a haystack the next day they set their faces towards the sledge company and Anna took both sledges having heavy loads which included the loss of the 1500 pounds of provisions Dr. Cain had made one of his last trips to the brig he would return for provisions only but all his specimens of natural history collected with much toil his books and many of his well tested instruments he was compelled to leave his six dogs had carried him during the fortnight since the company left the brig between 7 and 800 miles averaging about 57 miles a day but for their services the sick could scarcely have been saved and the rest would have suffered more intensely leaving as usual a part of the food with Mr. Brookes party they hastened on to replenish the stores and cheer the hearts of the lonely dwellers in the hut End of chapter 22