 Chapter 1 of North Pole Voyages Embracing sketches of the important facts and incidents in the latest American efforts to reach the North Pole from the second Greenell expedition to that of the Polaris by Zaharia A. Much. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Much. Chapter 1, Northward The readers who have been with us before, into the Arctic regions, will recollect the Good American Brig advance and her wonderful drift during five months in 1851 from the upper waters of the Wellington Channel until she was dropped in the Atlantic Ocean by the ice field which enclosed her. Dr. Cain, then her surgeon, took command of this same vessel in 1853 for another search for the lost Franklin. We have seen that the place of Franklin's disasters and death was found while Cain was away on this voyage, so the interest of the present story will not connect with that great commander except in the noble purposes of its heroes. The advance left New York on the 30th of May, having on board all counted 18 men. Cain's hearts and generous purses had secured for her a fair outfit in provisions for the comfort of the adventurers in facilities for fighting the ice and cold and in the means of securing desired scientific results. Of the thousands who waived them a kind adieu from the shore, many said, sadly, they will never return. We shall make the acquaintance of the officers and men as we voyage with them and a very agreeable acquaintance we are sure it will be, the rules by which all agreed to be governed were these and no others. Absolute obedience to the officer in command, no profane swearing, no liquor drunk except by special order. The voyagers touched at St. John's, and among other kindnesses shown them, was the gift by the governor of a noble team of nine Newfoundland dogs. At Fiskernies, the first Greenland port which they entered, they added to their company Hans Christian, an Eskimo hunter, nineteen years of age. Hans was expert with the Eskimo spear and kayak. He will appear often in our story and act a conspicuous part. He at once, however, prepossesses us in his favor by stipulating with Dr. Cain to leave two barrels of bread and fifty pounds of pork with his mother in addition to the wages he is to receive. The doctor made his cup of joy overflow by adding to these gifts to his mother the present for himself of a rifle and new kayak. The expedition next touched at Lichtenfels. Dr. Cain obtained here a valuable addition to his outfit of fur clothing. Stopping at Proven, a supply of Eskimo dogs was completed. Lying to briefly at Upernavik, the most northern port of civilization, their equipment in furs, ice tools and other necessary articles known to Arctic voyagers was rendered still more complete. At this last port the services of Carl Peterson were engaged for the expedition. We have met this intelligent, heroic Dane among our Arctic heroes. We will for a long time appear in the shifting scenes of our story. On the 27th of July the advance drew near to Melville Bay. The reader who has accompanied the earlier Arctic explorers into this region will remember their terrific experience in this bay. Every Arctic enemy of the navigator lurks there. Their attacks are made singly and in solid combinations. At one time they steal upon their victim like a Bengal tiger. At other times they rush upon him with a shout and yell, like a band of our own savages. Giant icebergs, fierce storms, cruel nips, silent, unseen, irresistible currents, with ever-changing treacherous packs and flows, and the all-pervading, relentless cold are some of these enemies. A favorite movement of these forces is to so adjust themselves, as to promise the advancing explorer or whaler a speedy and complete success, then suddenly changing front to crush and sink him at once, or to bind him in icy fetters, a helpless, writhing victim for days, weeks or months. And finally, perhaps, to bury both ship and men in the dark, deep waters of the bay. The advance was at this time treated by these guardians of the approach to the North Pole with exceptional courtesy. We suspect that they secretly purpose to follow them into more northern regions, and there to attack them at even greater advantage. This they certainly did. But just to show them what it could and was minded to do, the evil spirit of the bay invited them at one time to escape, impending danger, by fastening to a huge berg. This they did, after eight hours of warping, heaving and planting ice anchors, a labor of prostrating exhaustion. Hardly had they begun to enjoy the invited hospitality of the berg, when it began to shower upon them, like big drops from a summer cloud, pieces of ice the size of a walnut, accompanied by a crackling, threatening noise from above. A gale from out of its hiding place, on shore, came sweeping upon them at the same time, driving before it its icy supporter. Mischief was evidently intended. The advance retreated from the berg with all possible haste, and had barely gone beyond its reach, when it launched after it its whole broadside, which came crashing into the water with a roar, like a whole park of artillery. Could anything be rougher? But then it was true to its icebergy character. The advance was not injured, but the ice held as a trophy, more than two thousand feet of good whale line, which had to be cut in the retreat. These bergs, though thus harsh and treacherous as a rule, can do a generous thing. Maybe, like some people, they are all the more dangerous on account of exceptional generosity. The loose ice, soon after this incident, was drifting south, and would have borne the navigators with it back from whence they had come, perhaps for hundreds of miles. But a majestic berg came along whose sunken base took hold of the deep water current. And so, impelled by this current, it sailed grandly northward, sweeping a wide path through the rotten flows. It condescendingly offered to do tugboat service for the advance, and invited its captain to throw aboard an ice anchor. We wonder he dared to trust it, but he did, and grappling its crystal sides made good headway for a while, until other means of favorable voyaging were presented. Soon after the explorers parted from this bergy friend, the midnight sun came out over its northern crest, kindling on every part of its surface, fires of varied colors, and scattering over the ice all around, blazing carbon goals, sparkling rubies, and molten gold. August 5th, the advance, fairly clearing the hated Melville Bay, sailed along the western coast of the north water of Buffin Bay. At Northumberland Island, at the mouth of whale sound, their eyes were again delighted by an exhibition of beautiful colors, delicately tinted, but this time not made by a gorgeous sunrise over a gigantic iceberg. The snow of the island and its vicinity bore, over vast areas, a reddish hue, and great patches of beautiful green mosses broke its monotony, while here and there, the protruding sandstone threw in a rich shading of brown. So God paints the dreariest lands in colors of great beauty, and scatters over them profusely, at times, the richest sunlit gems. On the 6th of August, they passed the frowning headland of Smith Sound, known as Cape Alexander. It stands like the charged trunk and limbs of some mighty oak, at the entrance of an unexplored, gloomy forest, seen in the murky darkness. Cape Alexander seemed a mighty sentinel of evil purpose, to ward all who dared pass to the mysterious regions beyond. It inspired the sailors with superstitious fear, and admonished their officers, that eternal vigilance must be the price of safety in the waters beyond. Arriving at Littleton Island, our explorers built a monument of stones, as a conspicuous object from the sea, surmounted by the stripes and stars, put under it a record of their voyage thus far, and, two miles north and east, upon the mainland, deposited a metallic lifeboat, with provisions and various stores. These were for a resort in case of accident in their further progress. While making this deposit, they discovered the remains of Eskimo huts, and graves of some of their former occupants. The dead had been buried in a sitting posture, their knees drawn close to their bodies, the few simple implements belonging to the deceased were buried with them. In one grave was a child's toy spear. So even the rude Eskimo child has its toys, and no doubt the mother looks upon its trinkets, as she lays them beside its dead body with tearful interest. Soon after making these deposits in the lifeboat, the advance, while making a vigorous struggle with the broken ice, was born into a landlocked eye inlet, which Dr. Cain called Refugee Harbor. It was rather a cozy place for an Arctic shore, and in it the explorers waited for the movement of the ice. While here they were much annoyed by their dog's fifties in number, two bears had been shot, which were the only game which had been taken for them. They were now on short allowance and were as ravenous as wolves. They gulped down almost anything which could go down their throats, even devouring at one time a part of a feather bed. Dr. Cain's specimens of natural history fared hard at their jaws. He happened once to sit down in their way two nests of large seafowl. They were filled with feathers, fills, moss and pebbles, a full pack, but the dogs made a rush for them and gobbled down the hole. There were plenty of wolves not far from the brick, on which they delighted to feed, but the hunters had no luck in trying to take them. Rifle balls glanced from their thick hides, as if they had been pees from a toy gun. They needed the Eskimo Harpoon and the Eskimo skill. But fortunately a dead narwhal, or sea unicorn, was found. Under its soothing influence, when fed out to them, the dogs became more quiet. After remaining a few days at Refugee Harbor, a desperate push was made to get the vessel for their north and east. For twelve days they manfully battled with the ice and made forty miles. This brought them to the bottom of a broad shallow bay, which they named Force Bay. Here they fastened the brig to a shelving rocky ledge near the shore. End of chapter one. Chapter two of North Pole Voyages by the Harrier A. Mudge. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter two. Anchored at last. On Wednesday, August 17th, the heralds of a storm from the south reached the brick. They made their announcement by hurling against her sides some heavy flow pieces. Understanding this hint of what was coming, the explorers clung to their rocky breakwater by three heavy hosers. Louder and louder roared the blast, and more fiercely crashed the ice, which it curled against the ledge. At midnight one of the cables, the smaller of the three, parted, and the storm seemed to shout its triumph at this success, as it assailed the rising vessel more vigorously. But the ledge broke the power in the measure of the wind, and ice, and was indeed a godsend to the imperial men, so they put it down on their chart as godsend ledge. The next day the huge human-faced walrus came quite near the brick in great numbers, shaking their grim dripping fronts. The door were keys, some cheerful visitors scut past towards the land. Both walrus and fowls proclaimed in their way the terribleness of the increasing tempest. The place of the broken hoser has been supplied, and the worried craft strained away at three strong lines which held on bravely. Everything on board was stowed away, or lashed securely, which could invite an assault by the wind. Saturday, late in the afternoon, Dr. Cain, wet and weary, was watching, went below and threw himself for rest and warmth into his birth. Scarcely had he done this before a sharp, loud twang brought him to his feet. One of the six-inch hosers had parted. Its sound had scarcely been lost in the uproar, before a sharp and thrill, twang, twang, announced the snapping of the whale-line. The brick now clung to the ledge by a single cable, a new ten-inch manilla line, which held on grandly. The mate came battling down into the cabin, as the doctor was drawing on his last article of clothing to go to undec. Captain Cain, he exclaimed, she won't hold much longer, it's blowing the devil himself. All hands now gathered about the brave manilla line, of which their fate seemed to depend. Its deep eerie enchant mingled solemnly with the rattle of the rigging and the moaning of the shrouds, and died away in the tumult of the conflicting wind and sea. The sailors were loud in its praises, as they watched it with bated breath. It was singing its death-song, for, with the noise of a shot at gun, and a breath of smoke, it gave way, and out plunged the brig into the rushing current of the tempestous ice. Two hours of hard and skillful labour were bestowed on the vessel to get her back to the ledge, first by beating, or trying to do so, up into the wind, and then by warping along the edge of the solid flow, but all in vain. A light sail was then set, that they might keep command of the helm, and away they scud through a tortuous lead filled with heavy broken ice. At seven o'clock on Sunday morning the vessel was heading, under full way, upon huge masses of ice. The heaviest anchor was thrown out to stay her speed, but the ice torrent so crowded upon the poor craft, that a buoy was hastily fastened to the chain, and it was slipped, and away went the best bower, the sailors trusted friend in such dangers. The vessel now went banging and scrapping against the flows, one of which was forty feet thick, and many of which were thirty feet. These collisions smashed in her bulwarks, and covered her deck with icy fragments. Yet the plucky little brig returned to the conflict after every blow with only surface wounds. These assaults failing to turn back, or to destroy the little invading stranger, the arctic barriers now brought into the field their mightiest champions. Not far ahead, and apparently closing the lead, was a whole battalion of icebergs. It was an unequal light, and down upon them with unwilling haste came the advance. As it approached it was seen that a narrow line of clear water ran between the bergs and the solid high wall of the flow. Into this the vessel shot, with the high wind directly after it. The sailors, kept in hand, were almost ready to send to the baffled enemy a shout of triumph, when the wind died away into a lull, which amounted, for a moment, to almost a dead calm. But on that moment the fate of the expedition appeared to hang. The enemy saw his opportunity and began to close up. There seemed no possible escape for the brig. On one side was the steep ice wall of the flow, on which there could be no warping. On the other were the slowly but steadily advancing bergs in a compact line. Just in time the anxious, waiting and almost breathless crew hailed their deliverer. It was a broad, low, platform-shaped berg, over which the water washed. It came sailing swiftly by, and into it they planted an ice anchor attached to a tow line. A way galloped their crystal racer, outrunning the pale horse which followed them. So narrow became the channel between the bergs and flow, ever there reached the open water beyond. That the yards had to be squared, to prevent them from being carried away, and the boats suspended over the sides were taken on deck, to prevent them from being crushed. They came round under the lee of a great berg, making the enemy of a moment ago their protector now. Dr. Cain says, Never did heart-tried men acknowledge with greater gratitude their merciful deliverance from a wretched death. But the fight was not over. A sudden flow puffed the advance from its hiding-place, and drew it again into the drifting ice along the edge of the solid flow. Once she was lifted high in the air on the crest of a great wave, and, as it slipped from under her, she came down with tremendous force against the flow. Their masts quivered like reeds in the wind, and the poor craft groaned like a struck ballock. At last they reached a little pond of water near the shore. They had drifted since morning across Forth Bay, ten miles. A berg, with pretended friendliness, came and anchored between the brig and the storm. The situation seemed to warrant a little rest, and the men went below and threw themselves into their bunks. Dr. Cain was yet on deck, distrusting the treacherous ice. Scarcely had the men begun to sleep before the vessel received a thump and a jerk upward. All hands were instantly on deck. Great ice-tables, twenty feet thick, crowning forward from the shore side, with a force as from a sliding mountain pressed the vessel against the shore front of the berg. Had this been a perpendicular wall, no wood and iron wrought into a vessel could have prevented a general crash. But the unseen hand was apparent again. The berg was sloping, and up its inclined plain the vessel went in successive jerks. The men leaped upon the ice to await the result. Personal effects, such as could be carried and were deemed indispensable, were in readiness in the cabin for leave-taking. Sledge equipments and camping conveniences were put in order and placed at hand. The explorers had experienced a midnight assault and were ready for the flight. But Dr. Cain bears warm testimony concerning the coolness and self-position of every man. While awaiting the fate of the vessel, on which hung their own fate also, not a sound was heard, save the roaring of the wind, the crashing ice, and the groaning of the vessel's timbers, as she received shock after shock and mounted steadily up the ice-mountain. Having attained a cradle high and dry above the sea, the berg rested there several hours. Finally, she quietly settled down into her old position among the ice rubbish on the sea. When the escape was apparent, there was for a moment a deep breathing silence amongst the men, before the rapturous outburst of joyful congratulation. While this last thrilling incident had been transpiring, four of the men were missing. They had gone upon the ice some hours before to carry out a warp, and had been carried away on an ice raft. When the morning came, and the vessel grounded in a safe place, a rescue party was sent out, who soon returned with them. A little rest was now obtained by all. Chapter 3 of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Maj. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 3. Thrilling Incidents After a brief rest, our explorers continued their voyage. They warped the vessel round the cape, near which they found shelter, into a bay which opened to the north and west. Along the shore of this bay, they toiled for several days and reached its head. It seemed impossible to go farther, for the ice was already thick and the winter at hand. A majority of the officers, in view of these facts, advised a return south. But Dr. Cain thought they might winter where they were, or further north, if the vessel could be pushed through the ice, and their explorations be made with dog sledges. To learn more fully the practicability of this view, he planned a boat excursion. While this was in contemplation, an incident came near ending all further progress of the expedition. The brick grounded in the night, and was left suddenly by the receding tide on her beamans. The stow in the cabin, which was full of burning coal, upset and put the cabin in a blaze. It was choked by a pilot cloth overcoat, until water could be brought. No other harm was done than the loss of the coat and a big scare. About the 5th of September, the doctor and seven volunteers started in the boat for Lorne Hope to see the more northern shoreline. The boat was abandoned at the end of 24 hours, all the water having turned to ice, and the party trumped many a weary mile carrying their food and a few other necessary things. Dr. Cain attained an elevation of 1100 feet, from which, with his telescope, he looked north beyond the 80th degree of latitude, and through a wide extent of country east and west. From this observation he decided that sledging with dogs into and beyond this region was practicable. This had seemed doubtful before. He therefore returned with this decision to put the advance into winter quarters immediately. A few facts interesting to the scientific were learned on this excursion. A skeleton of a musk ox was found, showing they had been, at no distant time, visitors to this coast. Additions were made to their flowering plants, and up to this date 22 varieties had been found. The brick was now drawn in between two islands, and the mooring lines carried out. The explorers were in a sheltered and, as to the ice, safe winter home. They called it Rensselaer a harbour. Near them an iceberg had anchored, as if to watch their movements. A freshwater pond on the upland promised them its precious treasure, if they would cut for it. An island a few rods distant they named Butler Island, and on this they built a storehouse. A canal was cut from the brick to this island, and kept open by renewed cutting every morning. They then run the boat through this canal, thus transferring the stores from the hold to the storehouse. While one party was thus engaged, others were equally busy in other directions. The scientific corps selected a small island, which they called Fern Rock, and put up a rude observatory, from which not only the stars were to be watched, but the weather, the meteors, and the electric currents were to be noted. While this outside work was going on, Dr. Cain was taxing his ingenuity to arrange the brick, now made roomy by the removal of the stores, so as to have it combine the greatest convenience, warmth, and healthfulness. A roof was put over the upper deck, which was then made to answer for a promenade deck for pleasure and health. Even the wolfish ischimo dogs were remembered in this general planning. A nice doghouse, cozy and near, was made for them on Butler Island. But the dogs had notions of their own about their quarters. Though so savage at all times as to be willing to eat their masters if not kept in abject fear, yet they refused to sleep out of the sound of their voices. They would leave their comfortable quarters on the island, and huddled together in the snow, exposed to the severest cold, to be within the sound of human voices. So they had to be indulged with kennels on deck. While these matters were being attended to, the hunters scored the country to learn what the prospect was for game. They extended their excursions 90 miles, and returned with a report, not very encouraging. They saw a few reindeer, and numerous hares and rabbits. It was plain that hunting would not make large returns. The winter came on with its shroud of darkness. On the 10th of September the sun made but a short circuit above the horizon before it disappeared again. In one month it would cease to show its disc above the surrounding hills. Then would come a midday twilight for a few days, followed by nearly a hundred days of darkness in which no man could work. Even now at noon the stars glowed brightly in the heavens, though but few of them were the familiar stars of the home sky. While the work of which we had spoken was going on, Dr. Cain's thoughts were much upon the necessity of establishing, before the winter nights fully set in, provision depots at given distances northward for at least 60 miles. These would be necessary for a good start in the early spring of a dog-sledge journey north Polovod. For the spring work the Newfoundland dogs of which he had 10 were in daily training. Harnessed to a small, strong, beautifully made sledge called Little Willy, the doctor drew his team around the brig in gallant style. These Newfoundlanders were a dependence for heavy drought. The Eskimo dogs were in reserve for the long, perilous raids of the earnest exploration into darkness and over hammocks. While all this busy preparation was going on, the morning and evening prayers were strictly maintained, bringing with them a suzing assurance of the divine care. On the 20th of September the provision depot partly started on an experimental journey. It consisted of seven men in all, Magary and Vonsel officers. They carried about 1400 pounds of mixed stores for the cairns. They took these stores upon the strong, thorough-built sledge faith and drew it themselves by a harness for each man, consisting of a rouradi or shoulder belt and track line. The men's and generously did a service they would in future have the dogs do. While this party was gone, the home work went on, enlivened by several incidents involving the most appalling dangers, yet not without some comic elements. The first was occasioned by rats. What fright these creatures had in the expedition is not apparent, nor do we see what motive impaled them to come at all. If it was a mere love of adventure, they, as do most adventurers, found that the results hardly paid the cost. They were voted a nuisance, but how to abate it was a difficult question. The first experiment consisted of a removal of the men to a camp on deck for a night, and the fumigation below, where the rat remained, of a wild compound of brimstone, burned leather and arsenic. But the rat survived it bravely. The next experiment was with carbonic acid gas. This proved a weapon dangerous to handle. Dr. Hayes burned a quantity of charcoal, and the hatches were shut down after starting three stoves. The gas generated below rapidly, and nobody was expected, of course, to go where it was. But the French cook, Pierre Schubert, thinking his soup needed seasoning, stole into the cookroom. He was discerned by Morton, staggering in the dark, and, at the risk of his own life, he sprung to his relief, and both reached the deck, bewildered, the cook entirely insensible. Soon after this, Dr. Keynes thought he smelled a strange odor. The hatches were removed, and he went below. After a short tour between decks, he was passing the door, which led to the carpenter's room, and he was amazed to see three feet of the deck near it, a glowing fire. Beating a hasty retreat, he fell senseless to the floor, at the foot of the stairs, at the foot of the stairs, which led to the upper deck. The situation was critical. A puff of air might envelope the hold in flames, with the doctor an easy victim. But the divine hand still covered him. Mr. Brooks, reaching down, drew him out. Coming to the air, the doctor recovered immediately, and communicated his startling discovery quietly to those only near him. Water was passed up from the fire-hole alongside, kept open for just such emergencies. Dr. Keynes and Olsen went below, water was dashed on, and they were safe. The dead bodies of twenty-eight rats were the net result of this onslaught with carbonic acid gas. But there were but few among so many. The rat army was yet in fighting order. The other incident was less serious, yet quite on the verge of fatal consequences. Several Eskimo dogs became the mothers of nice little families. Now these young folks in the canals were considered intruders by the master of the vessel. There are their heart on them, since they were not to blame in the matter. But it happens with dogs as with the human race, that they sometimes suffer without fault of their own. Six puppies were thrown overboard. Two died for the good, their skins might do as mittens. And alas, seven died more dreadful death. They were eaten by their mamas. Whether these puppy calamities bore heavily upon the brains of the dog-mothers or not, we cannot tell, but the fact recorded is that one of them went distracted. She walked up and down the deck with a drooping head and staggering gait. Finally she snapped at Peterson, foamed at the mouse and fell at his feet. She is mad, exclaimed Peterson. Hydrophobia was the dreadful cry which passed about the deck. Dr. Cain ran for his gun. He was not a moment too soon in reappearing with it. The dog had recommenced her running and snapping at those near. The newfoundland dogs were not out of her reach, and the hatches leading below were open. But a well-directed shot ended at once her life and the danger. It was now the 10th of October. The sun, though just appearing above the horizon, to the surrounding country, only sparkled along the edge of the hilltops to the gazers from the advance. The depot party had been gone 20 days, and Dr. Cain was beginning to feel anxious about them. He harnessed four of his best newfoundlanders into the little willy and accompanied by John Blake started in search of them. For a little time the party progressed very well, but after a while the new ice between the broken flows was found thin. The seams thus frozen had to be leaped. Sometimes they were wide, and the dogs in their attempts to spring across broke in. Three times in less than as many hours one had received an arctic bath. The men trotted alongside, leaping, walking, running and shouting to the dogs. Extended and exhausting diversions were made to avoid impossible chasms or too steep hummocks. Thus four days had passed in a fruitless search for the missing ones. On the morning of the fifth day, about two hours before the transient sun showed his glowing disc, Dr. Cain climbed an iceberg to get the sight of the road ahead. In the dim distance on the snow a black spot was seen. Is it a bear? No, it now stretches out into a dark line. It is the sledge party. They see their leaders tend by the edge of a sinly frozen lead. Into this they launch their boat and come on, singing as they come. The doctor in breathless suspense waits until they draw near and counts them. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. They are all safe. Three cheers go up from both parties, followed by hearty handshaking and congratulations. The depot enterprise was a success. End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Mudge Chapter 4 Lost and Rescued The sun had disappeared, but the moon completed her circuit in the heavens with great beauty. Her nearest approach to the horizon was twenty-five degrees. For eight days after the return of the party to the vessel, it shone with almost unclouded brightness, as if to give them a joyful welcome. When November came, our explorers were well settled in their winter quarters. They had made them by judicious ventilation and a careful distribution of heat, tolerably comfortable. Below decks they had a uniform temperature of sixty-five degrees above zero, and under the housing of the upper deck it never went below zero, while outside the thermometer averaged twenty-five degrees minus. While shut up in the darkness, relieved only by the light from the sparkling stars and the glowing moon, the daily routine of the ship's duties were strictly performed. Each had his assigned work. The monotonous meals came at the stated hour, and the bell noted the changing watches. The morning and evening prayers and the religious observance of the Sabbath were pleasant and profitable promptures to serious thought. These became more and more needed as the inactive season progressed. The continued darkness without, made dense often by heavy clouds, wore upon the spirits of the men. Besides, their light within became less cheerful by the failure of the supply of oil. The lamps refused to burn poor lard, and muddy quarks and wads of cotton floating as tapers, in saucers, filled with it, gave but a lurid light, and emitted an offensive smoke and odor. It would be strange indeed, if in this ice-emprisoned company there were no homesick ones, however bravely the feeling might be suppressed. Hans, the Eskimo, at one time packed his clothes and shouted his rifle to bid the Bricks company goodbye. A desperate, lone journey homeward he would have had of it. It was whispered that in addition to his drawings to his mother, there was at Fiskernie's a lady-love. He, however, was persuaded to stay on ship-board, and Dr. Cain gave him for his sickness a dose of salt and promotion. They worked well, and he seems to have been very contended afterwards. The usual resort was head to dramatic performances, fancy balls, and the publication of a paper called the Ice-Blink. A favorite sport was the Fox Chase, in which each sailor in turn led off as fox in a run round the upper deck, followed by the rest in chase. Dr. Cain offered a currency shirt as a prize to the man who held out the longest in the chase. William Gottfrey sustained the chase for 14 minutes and wore off the shirt. November 27th the commander sent out a volunteer party under Bon Salle to see if the Eskimo had returned to the huts which had been seen in the fall. The darkness at Noonday was too great for reading, and the cold was terrible. The party returned after one night's encamping, the sledge having broken, and the tent and luggage being left behind. A few days after Morton started alone to recover the lost articles. In two days and a half he returned bringing everything. He trumped in that time with the cold 40 degrees below zero, 62 miles, making only three holds. The darkness during the time was such that a hammock of ice 50 paces ahead could hardly be seen. The effect of the darkness on the dogs was very marked, but so long as there was any sledging for them to do, their spirits kept up. One of the newfound lands named Grimm was a character. He was noted for a profound appreciation of his dinner, of which he never had enough, for a disrelish for work and remarkable knowledge of the arts of hypocrisy. His cunning phoning and the besieging wink of his eye procured for him warm quarters in the deckhouse and a bed on the captain's fur coat, while his fellows had to be content with their kennel. Though Grimm thus proved his knowledge of the best place at the dog table and the best bits it afforded, as well as the best place to sleep, he never could understand a call to the sledge harness. He always happened at such times to be out of the way. Once, when the dog team was about to start, he was found hid in a barrel and was bit joined the party. But Grimm was equal to the occasion. He went limping across the deck, as much as to say, would you have a poor lame dog-do? The joke was so cute that he was allowed to remain at home, and after that he became suddenly lame as soon as a movement toward the sledges was made. Grimm thus attained the usual success of shallow-brained, flattering hypocrisy, many favors and universal contempt. His end, too, was very befitting his life. His master, thinking he was becoming too fat in his lazy dignity, commanded him to join a sledge party. Grown presumptuous by indulgence, he refused and showed his teeth besides bleeding lameness. But the order was pre-emptory this time, and a rope was put round his body and attached to the sledge, and he was made to trot after his faithful fellows. At the first halt he contrived to break the rope, and carrying a few feet of it dragging after him, started in the darkness for the ship. Not having come home when the party returned, search was made for him with lanterns, as it was thought the rope might have caught and detain him in the hammock. His tracks were found not far from the vessel, and then they led away to the shore. Odd Grimm was never seen again. Grimm could be spared, but the explorers were much alarmed soon after his death by a strange disease among the whole pack. They were at times frenzied, and then became stupid. They were taken below, nursed, tended, and doctored with anxiety and care, for on them much depended. But all died except six. Their death threw a cloud over the prospect of further successful exploration. But a still darker event threatened the explorers. Every man was more or less touched with the scurvy, except two, and some were prostrate. It was with great joy, therefore, that on the 21st of January, 1854, they saw the orange-coloured tints of the sun faintly tracing the top of the distant hills. Daylight and game would be important medicines for the sick. A month later, Dr. Cain made a long walk, and a hard scramble up the projecting crag of a headland of the bay, and bathed in his welcome rays. It was about a week later before he was seen from the deck of the advance. A very busy company now was that on board the brig, making preparations for spring work. The carpenter was making and mending sledges, the tinker making and mending cooking apparatus for jujurnies. Many busy hands were at work on the furs and blankets, for a complete renewed outfit for wearing and sleeping. But though March had come, the average cold was greater than at any time before. Still, a sledge-party was in redness to start by the middle of the month. To carry provisions for a new deposit beyond those made in the fall. The party consisted of eight men. A new sledge had been made, smaller than the faith, and adapted to the reduced dog team. To this the load was lashed, a light boat being placed on top. The men harnessed in, but could hardly start it. The boat was then removed, and two hundred pounds off the load, and thus relieved, away they went, cheered by the heartache, God bless you, of their shipmates. Dr. Cain had added to their provisions, by the way, as an expression of goodwill, the whole of his brother's great bedding cake. But as they started their ever-watchful commander's thought, he saw more goodwill than ability to draw the load, and a suspicion, too, impressed him, that the new sledge was not all right. So he followed, and found them in camp only five miles away. He said nothing about any new orders for the morning, laughed at the rueful faces of some of them, and heard Peterson's defense of his new sledge as the bedding cake. He saw them all tucked away in their buffaloes, and returned to the brig. We have before referred to a sledge called the Faith. It was built by Dr. Cain's order, after an English pattern, except that the runners were made lower and wider. It had been thought too large for the present party. The doctor now called up all his men, the face was put on deck, her runners polished, lashings, a canvas covering, and track lines were adjusted to her. By one o'clock that night, the discarded two hundred pounds of provisions and the boat were lashed on, and away the men went for their sleeping comrades. They were still sound asleep when the feists arrived. The load of the new boat, was quietly placed upon it, all put in travelling order, and it was started off on an experimental trip with five men. The success was perfect. The sleepers were then awakened, and all were delighted at the either draught of the heavier load. Dr. Cain and his party returned to the vessel with the discarded sledge. Dr. Cain and his party returned to the vessel with the discarded sledge. Ten days slipped away, and no tidings from the depot party. The work of clearing up the ship and putting the finishing touch to the preparation for the distant northern excursion, which was to crown the efforts of the expedition, and unlock, it was hoped, at last, some of the secrets of the North Pole progressed daily. At midnight of the eleventh day a sudden tramp was hard on deck, and immediately Sontag, Olsen and Peterson entered the cabin. Their sudden coming was not so startling as their woe began bewildered looks. It was with difficulty that they made their sad tale known. Brooks, Baker, Wilson and Schubert were all lying on the ice, disabled, with Irish Tom Hickey, who alone was able to minister to their wants. The escaped party had come at the peril of their own lives to get aid. They had evidently come a long distance, but how far? And were they had left the suffering ones they could not tell, nor were they in a condition to be questioned? While the urgent necessities of the newcomers were being attended to, Dr. Cain and others were getting ready the little willy with a buffalo cover, a small tent, and a package of prepared meat called Pemmican. Olsen seemed to have his senses more than the others, though he was sinking with excursion, having been fifty hours without rest. Dr. Cain feeling that he must have a guide or fail to find the lost ones, Olsen was put in a fur bag. His legs wrapped up in dog skins and eyed her down, and then he was strapped on the sledge. Off dashed the rescue party, nine men besides their commander, carrying only the clothes on their backs. The cold was seventy-eight degrees below the freezing point. Guided by icebergs of colossal size, they hurried across the bay and travelled sixteen hours with some certainty that they were on the right track. They then began to lose their way. Olsen utterly exhausted had fallen asleep, and when awakened was plainly bewildered. He could tell nothing about the way nor the position of the lost ones. He had before said that it was drifting heavily around them when they were left. The situation of the rescue party was becoming critical, and the chance of helping the lost seemed small indeed. They might be anywhere within forty miles. Thus situated, Dr. Cain moved on ahead and clumbered up some ice piles and found himself upon a long, level flow. Thinking the provision party might have been attracted by this as a place to camp, he determined to examine it carefully. He gave orders to liberate Olsen, now just able to walk from his fur bag and to pitch the tent. Then, leaving tent, sledge and everything behind, except the small allowance of food taken by each man, he commanded the men to proceed across the flow at a good distance from each other. All obeyed cheerfully and promptly and moved off at the lively step to keep from freezing. Yet somehow, either from a sense of loneliness or involuntarily, there was a constant tendency of the men to huddle together. Exhaustion and cold told fearfully upon them. The stoutest were seized with trembling fits and short breath, and Dr. Cain fell twice fainting on the snow. They had now been eighteen hours out without food or rest, and the darkness of their situations seemed to have no ray of light, when Hans shouted that he thought he saw a sledge-track. Hardly daring to believe that their senses did not deceive them. They traced it until footsteps were apparent. Following these with religious care, they came after a while in sight of a small American flag fluttering from a hammock. Lowered down, they aspired a little Masonic banner hanging from a tent pole barely above the drift. It was the camp of the lost ones. It was found after an unfiltering march of twenty-one hours. The little tent was nearly covered by the drift. Dr. Cain was the last to come up, and when he reached the tent his men were standing in solemn silence, upon each side of it. With great kindness and delicacy feeling, they intimated their wish that he should be the first to go in. He lifted the canvas and crawled in, and in the darkness felt for the poor fellows who were stretched upon their backs. A burst of welcome within was answered by a joyful shout without. We expected you, said one, embracing the doctor. We knew you would come. For the moment all perils, hunger and exhaustion were forgotten amid the congratulations and gratitude. The company now numbered fifteen. The cold was intense, but one-half the number had to keep stirring outside while the rest crowded into the little tent to sleep. Each took a turn of two minutes and then preparations were made to start homeward. They took the tent first for the rescued party and food for fifty hours and abandoned everything else. The tent was folded and laid on the sledge. A bed was then made of eight buffalo skins, the sick having their limbs carefully sued up in reindeer skins, where then put in a reclining position on the bed. And other furs and blanket bags thrown around them. The hole was lushed together, allowing only a breathing place opposite the mouth. This embalming of the sufferers and getting them a good meal cost four hours of exposure in a cold that had become fifty-five degrees minus. Most of the rescuers had their fingers snipped by the frost. When all was ready, the whole company united in a short prayer. Now commenced the fearful journey. The sledge and its load weighed eleven hundred pounds. The hammocks were many, some of them were high, and long deviations round them must be made. Some, which they climbed over, lifting the sledge after them, were crossed all over the sledge. Lifting the sledge after them were crossed by narrow chasms filled with light snow, fearful traps into which, if one fell, his death was almost certain. Across these the sledge was drawn, some of them being too wide for it to bridge them, so it had to be sustained by the rope, and steadily too, for the sick could not bear to be lashed so tight as not to be liable to roll off, and the load was top heavy. In spite of these obstacles all went bravely for six hours. The abandoned tent was nine miles ahead, the sledge on which life depended bravely bore every strain, the new flow was gained, and the travelling improved, so that good hope was entertained, that the tent, its covert and rest, would be gained. Just then a strange feeling came over nearly the whole party. Some begged the privilege of sleeping. They were not cold, they said, they did not mind the wind now, all they wanted was a little sleep. Others dropped on the snow, and refused to get up. One stood bolt upright, and with closed eyes could not be made to speak. The commander boxed, jeered, argued, and reprimanded his men to no purpose. A halt was made, and the tent pitched. No fire could be obtained, for nobody's fingers were limber enough to strike fire, so no food or water could be had. Leaving the company in charge of Hungary, with orders to come on after few hours' rest, Dr. Cain and Guthrie went forward to the tent to get ready a fire and cooked food. They reached the tent in a strange sort of stupor. They remembered nothing, only that a bear trotted leisurely ahead of them, stopping once to tear a jumper to pieces, which one of the men had dropped the day before, and pausing to toss the tent contemptuously aside. They set it up with difficulty, crept into their fur bags, and slept intensely for three hours. They then arose, succeeded in lighting the cooking lamp, and had a steaming soup ready when the rest arrived. Refreshed with food and rest, the feeble readjusted, they commenced the home stretch. Once, the old sleepiness came over them, and they in turn slept three minutes by the watch and were benefited. They all reached the brig at one o'clock p.m. All were more or less delirious when they arrived, and could remember nothing of what had happened on the way, with slight exception. The rescue party had been out seventy-two hours. Of this time, only eight hours were spent in halting. They had traveled about eighty-five miles, most of the distance dragging their sledge. Dr. Hayes took the sick in hand, two lost one or more toes, and two, Jefferson Baker, a boyhood play-fellow of Dr. Cain, and Pierre Schubert, the French cook, died. End of Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Mudge Chapter 5 More heroic excursions On the 7th of April, a week after the return of the party just noted, our explorers were startled by shouts from the shore. Dark figures were seen, standing along the edges of the land ice, or running to and through in wild excitement. It was not difficult to make them out as a company of ischemos. Dr. Cain, seeing by their wild gesticulations that they were unarmed, walked out and beckoned to a brony savage who seemed to be a leader to approach. He understood the sign and came forward without fear. He was full ahead taller than the doctor, and his limbs seemed to have the strength of those of a bear. He was dressed with a fox skin hooded jumper, white bearskin trousers, and bearskin boots tipped with the claws. Though he had evidently never before seen a white man, he manifested no fear. His followers soon crowded around and began to use great freedom, showing an inclination to rush on board the ship. This they were made to understand they must not do. Peterson came out and acted as interpreter, and matters went on more smoothly. The leader, whose name was Metek, was taken on board while the rest remained on the ice. They brought up from behind the flows fifty-six dogs and their sledges, and thrusting a spear in the ice picketed them about the vessel. While Dr. Cain and Metek were having their interview in the cabin, word was sent out that others might come on board. Nine or ten mounted the ladder with boisterous shouts, though ignorant of how Metek had fared. They went everywhere, handled everything, talked and laughed, incessantly, and stole whatever they could. Finally all hands had to be mustered and restrained laid upon the eskimo to keep them within due bounds. This they took good naturally, ran out and in the vessel, ate, and finally sat down like tired children, their heads drooping upon their breasts and slept, snoring the wild most famously. In the morning, before they departed, the commander assembled them on deck for an official interview. He enlarged upon his wonderful qualities as a chief and the great benefits to his visitors of his friendship. He then entered into a treaty with them, the terms of which were very few and simple, that it might be understood, and the benefits mucho, that it might be kept. He then showed his beneficence by buying all their spare walrus meat and four dogs, enriching them in compensation with a few needles, beads and treasures of old cask-staves. The eskimo were jubilant. They voted in their way, Dr. Cain a great captain, promised vociferously to return in a few days with plenty of walrus meat and loaned their dogs and slidges for the great northern journey, all of which they never remembered to do. When the visitors had gone, it was ascertained that an axe, a saw and some knives had gone with them. Besides, the storehouse on Butler Island had been entered, and a careful survey of the vicinity revealed the fact that a train of slidges were slightly waiting behind some distant hammocks for a freight of its treasures. All this had a hard look for friendly relations with the eskimo, but our explorers felt that conciliation with quiet firmness was their best policy. The savages could do their sledge excursions much harm, and if they would, could greatly aid them. The next day there came to the vessel five natives, two old men, a middle-aged man and two awkward boys. They were treated with market kindness. Some presents were given them, but they were told that no eskimo would in future be admitted to the brig until every stolen article was restored. They were overjoyed at the gifts and departed lifting up their hands in holy horror on the mention of theft. Yet, in passing round Butler Island, they bore away a coal barrel. Amgari was watching them, and he hastened their departure by a charge of fine shot. Northwithstanding all this, one of the old men, known afterwards as Shung Hu, made a circuit round the hammocks and came upon an India rubber boat, which had been left upon the flow, and cut it in pieces and carried off the wood of a framework. Soon after this, a spritely youth, good-looking with a fine dog team, drove up to the vessel in open day. When asked his name, he replied promptly, Myok, I am. He spoke freely of his place of residence and people, but when asked about the stolen articles, he affected great ignorance. Dr. Cain ordered him to be confined in the hold. He took this very hard, at first, refusing food. He soon after began to sing in a duller strain, then to talk and cry, and then to sing again. The hearts of his captors were made quite tender toward him, and when, in the morning, it was found that the prisoner had lifted the hatches and fled, taking his dogs with him, even the commander secretly rejoiced. April 25th, M. Gorey and five men started with the sledge face on another exploring excursion. They took a small stock only of provisions, depending on the supply depots which had been made in the fall. The plan, but this time was to follow the eastern coastline, a while, which run north and west, cross over Smith Sound to the American side, where it was hoped smooth ice would be found. And once on such a highway, they anticipated that the polar sea would greet their delighted vision, and maybe speak to them of the fate of the lost Franklin. Two days after M. Gorey's party left, Dr. Cain and Gorey, followed with the dog's sledge, loaded with additional comforts for the journey, the men trotting by its side. Only three dogs remained of the original supplies, which, harnessed with the four purchased of the Eskimo, made a tolerable team. Ten men, four in health and six invalids, were left to keep the vessel. Orders were left by the commander to treat the Eskimo should they come again with fairness and consolation, but if necessity demanded to use firearms, but to waste no powder or shot. The credit of the gun must be sustained as a bearer of certain death to the white man's enemies. Dr. Cain and his companions overtook the advanced party in two days. They pushed forward together with tolerable success for four days more, when they all became involved in deep snowdrifts. The dogs floundered about nearly suffocated and unable to draw the sledge. The men were compelled to take the load on their backs and kick a path for the dogs to follow. In the midst of these toils, the scurvy appeared among the men, and some of the strongest were ready to yield the conflict altogether. The next day, May 4th, Dr. Cain, while taking an observation for latitude, fainted and was obliged to ride on the sledge. Still the party pushed on, but they soon met with an obstacle no heroism could overcome. They were without food for further journeying. The bears had destroyed their carefully deposited stores. They had removed stones which had required the full strength of three men to lift. They had broken the iron meat casks into small pieces. An alcohol cask which had caused Dr. Cain a special journey in the late fall to deposit was so completely crushed that the whole stave could not be found. On the 5th of May, Dr. Cain became delirious and was lashed to the sledge, while his brave, though nearly fainting men, took the back track. They arrived at the brig in nine days and their commander was born to his birth, where he lay for many days between life and death with the scurvy and defoied fever. Thus closed another effort to unlock the secrets of the extreme polar region. Hunts made himself exceedingly useful at this time. He was promoted to the post of Hunter and excused from all other duties. He was besides promised presents to his lady-love on reaching his home at Fiskarniz. He brought in two deer, the first taken on the day of the special appointment. The little snowbirds had come, of which he shot many. The seal too were abundant and some of them were added to the fresh provisions. These wonderfully improved those touched by the scurry. One day Hunts was sent to hunt towards the Iskimo hats that he might get information concerning the nearness to the brig of clear water. He did not come back that night and Dr. Hayes and Mr. Olsen were sent with the dog sledge to hunt him up. They found him lying on the ice about five miles from the vessel, rolled up in his furrows and sound asleep. At his side lay a large seal, shot as usual in the head. He had dragged this sail seven hours and getting weary had made his simple camp and was resting sweetly. May 20th Dr. Hayes and Gottry started with the dog team to make another attempt to cross Smith's Strait and reach along the American side, the unknown north. The doctor was a fresh man not having been with any previous party. The dogs were rested, well fed and full of wolfish energy. The second day he fortunately struck into a track free from heavy ice and made fifty miles. But this success was after the arctic fashion made to give bitterness to immediate failure. On the third day they encountered hammocks piled in long ridges across their paths. Some of them were twenty feet high. Over some of these they climbed dragging after them both sledge and dogs. Long diversions were made at other times and their paths became in this way so very tortuous that in making ninety miles advance northward they traveled two hundred and seventy miles. Snow blindness sees Dr. Hayes in the midst of these toils. But nothing dawned after short holds in which his sight improved he pushed on. But Gottry soon broke down though one of the hardest of explorers. Their dogs too began to droop the provisions were running low and so the homeward track was taken. Before they reached the vessel they were obliged to lighten their load by throwing away fifty pounds weight at first the heaviest of which had been used as sleeping bags. This excursion resulted in valuable additions to the extreme northern coastline survey. On the afternoon of June 4th M. Gottry with four men started on a lost desperate effort to push the survey on the Greenland side a hundred miles further by which Dr. Cain sought the limits of the ice in that direction might be reached. Morton, one of the company was to keep himself as fresh as possible so that when the rest came to a final hold he might be able to push on further. Hans was kept at the vessel until the tenth four days later when he started light with the dog sledge to join them. His part was to accompany Morton on the final run. The hunter of the vessel being gone Dr. Cain who was now much better took his rifle to try his skill at seal hunting. This animal is not easily taken by unpracticed game seekers. He lies near the hole which he keeps open in the ice and at the slightest noise plunges out of sight. Seeing one lying lazily in the sun the doctor laid down and drew himself along softly behind the little knobs of ice. It was a cold, tedious process but finally getting within a long rifle shot the seal rolled sluggishly to one side raised his head and strained his neck as if seeing something in an opposite direction. Just then the doctor saw with surprise a rival hunter a large bear lay like himself on his belly creeping stealthily towards the game. Here was a critical position if he shot the seal the bear would probably have no scruples about taking it off his hands and perhaps by way of showing that might makes right take him before his rifle could be reloaded. While the doctor was debating the matter the seal made another movement which stirred his hunter blood and he pulled the trigger. The cap only exploded. The seal alarmed descended into the deep with a floundering splash and the bear with a few vigorous leaps stood a disappointed hunter looking after him from the edge of the hole. Brune and Dr. Cain were now face to face. By all the rules of game taking the bear should have eaten the man. He was the stronger party the gun was for the moment useless he was hungry and had lost his dinner probably by the intrusive coming of the stranger and as to running there was no danger of his escape in that way but the bear magnanimously turned and ran away not to be outdone in courtesy Dr. Cain turned and ran with all his might in the opposite direction. On the 26th Emgary, Bonsal, Hickey and Riley returned the snow had almost made them blind otherwise they were well. They had been gone about three weeks and made valuable surveys and fully satisfied the expectations of their commander. Hunts caught up with them after two weeks of heroic travel alone with his dogs and sledge. He and Morton had, in accordance with the program pressed on farther northward. The returned party had their adventure with the bear to tell. They had all lain down to sleep in their tent after a very some day of travel. The midnight hour had passed when Bonsal felt something scratching at the snow near his head and starting up ascertained that a huge bear was making careful observations around the outside of the tent. He had, in looking round, already observed, no doubt the important fact that the guns and everything like a defensive weapon were left on the sledge some distance off though perhaps the importance to him of this fact he did not appreciate. There was consternation, of course, in the camp and a council of war was called. It had hardly convened before Brun as a party concerned thrust his head into the tent door. A volley of Lucifer matches was fired at him and a paper torch was thrust into his face. Without minding these discourteous acts the bear deliberately sat down and commenced eating a seal which had been shot the day before and happened to be in his way. By the laws of Arctic hospitality this should have been considered fair by the tent's company for strangers are expected to come and go as they please and eat what they find not even saying by your leave. But the stranger did not conform to the usage of the country. Tom Hickey cut a hole in the back of the tent seized a boat hook which made one of its supporters and attacked the enemy in the rear. He turned on his assailant and received a well-aimed blow on his nose by which he was persuaded to retire beyond the sledge and there to pause and consider what to do next. While the bear was thus in council with himself Hickey sprang forward seized a rifle from the sledge almost under the nose of the enemy and fell back upon his companions. Bonsal took the deadly weapon and sent a ball through and through the bear and the disturber of the rest of our explorers afforded them many bountiful repast. End of Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Of North Pole voyages by the Harrier A. Mudge the Slybry Vox recording in the public domain Chapter 6 The Open Sea Morton and Hans return to the brig on the 10th of July after having been on their separate exploration three weeks and a half their story is full of thrilling incidents and important results. The first day they made 28 miles and were greatly encouraged. The next day the arctic enemies of exploration appeared on the field skirmishing with deep snow through which dogs and men had to wait. Next came a compact host of icebergs. They were not the surface-worn, dingy-looking specimens of Baffin Bay but fresh productions from the Grand Glacier near which they lay. Their color was bluish-white and their outlines clearly and beautifully defined. Some were square, often a quarter of a mile each side. Others were not less than a mile long and narrow. Now and then one of colossal size lifted its head far above its fellows like a grand observatory. Between these giant bergs were crowded smaller ones of every imaginable size and form. Through these our explorers had to pick their way. Beginning one night at eight they dashed along through a narrow lane turning this way and that for seven hours. Then they came against the face of a solid ice cliff closing the path altogether. Back they urged their weary dogs and their own weary selves looking for an opening by which they might turn north but none appeared until they reached the camp from which they had started. Resting a while they commenced anew. Sometimes they climbed over an ice hillock making a ladder of their sledge. Morton would climb up first and then draw up the dogs around whose bodies Hans tried a rope. Then the load was passed up. Lastly Hans mounted and drew up the sledge. Having broken through the burgy detachment of their arctic foes and reached smoother ice other opposing columns met them. Then smists giving evidence of open water chilled and bewildered them but the welcome birds giving other proof of the nearness of the polar sea cheered them on. The next attack was in the form of insecure ice. The dogs were dashing on in their wild flight when it began to yield beneath them. The dogs trembled with fear and lay down as is their habit in such cases. Hans by a skilful mingling of force and coaxing succeeded in getting the party out of the danger. At one time a long wide channel presented its protest to their further progress. To this they were obliged so far to yield as to go 10 miles out of their way to reach its northern side. Their right of way was also challenged by seams in the ice often four feet deep filled with water and too wide for their best jumping ability. These they filled up by attacking the nearest hammocks with their axes and tumbling the fragments into it until a bridge was made. This work often caused hours of delay. The signs of open water became more and more apparent. The birds were so plenty that Hans brought down too at one shot. Soon they struck the icy edge of a channel. Along this they coasted on the land side. It brought them to a cape around which the channel run close to a craggy point. Here they deposited a part of their provisions to lighten the sledge. Morton went ahead to learn the condition of the land ice round the point. He found it narrow and decaying so that he feared there would be none of their return. Yet forward was the word. The dogs were unloosed and driven forward alone. Then Hans and Morton tilted the sledge edge-wise and drew it along. While far below the gurgling waters were rushing southward with a freight of crushed ice. The cape passed. They opened into a bay of clear water extending far and wide. Along its shore was a wide, smooth ice belt. Over this the dogs scampered with their sledge and men with wonderful fleetness making sixty miles the first day. The land grew more and more sloping to the bay as they advanced until it opened from the sea into a plain between two elevated rocky ranges. Into this they entered, steering north until they struck the entrance of a bay. But the rugged ice across their paths forbid farther sledge travel in that direction. So they picketed securely as they sought. The dogs took each a back load of provisions and went forward. Their trusty rifles were in hand and their boat hook and a few scientific instruments were carefully secured to their persons. Thus equipped they had dreamt about nine miles from the last camp when an exciting scene occurred. It was a bear fight. Shaded this time was the tender and tragic. A mother bear and her child came inside. They were a loving couple and had plainly been engaged in a frolic together. Their tracks were scattered previously about like those of school children at recess in a recent snow. There were also long furrows down the sloping side of an ice hill upon an around which the footprints were seen. Morton declared that they had been coasting down this slope on their haunches and this opinion was supported by the fact that Dr. Kayne did at another time see bears thus coasting. Five of the dogs had broken away from their cords and had overtaken their masters. So they were on hand for the fight. Mother and child fled with nimble feet and the dogs followed in hot pursuit. The bear, being overtaken by their enemies began a most skillful and heroic skirmishing. The cub could not keep up with its mother so she turned back, put her head under its haunches and threw it some distance ahead intimidating to it to run while she faced the dogs. But the little simpleton always stopped just where it alighted and waited for Mama to give it another throw. To vary the mode of operation she occasionally seized it by the nape of the neck and flung it out of harm's way and then snapped at the dogs with an earnestness that meant business. Sometimes the mother would run a little ahead and then turn as if to coax the little one to run to her watching at the same time the enemy. For a while the bear contrived to make good speed but the little one became tired and she came to a halt. The men came up with their rifles and the fight became unequal yet the mother's courage was unabated. She sat upon her haunches and took the cub between her hind legs and fought their dogs with her paws. Never, says Morton, was any more distressed. Her roaring could have been heard a mile. She would stretch her neck and snap at the nearest dog with her shining teeth whirling her paws like the arms of a windmill. Missing her intended victim she sent after him a terrific growl of baffled rage. When the men came up the little one was so far rested as to nimbly turn with its mother and so keep front of her belly. The dogs, in heartless mockery of her situation continued a lively frisking on every side of her torturing her at a safe distance for themselves. Such was the position of the contending parties when hunts threw himself upon the ice, rested upon his elbows, took deliberate aim and sent a ball through the heroic mother's head. She dropped, rolled over, relieved at once of her agony and her life. The cub sprung upon the dead body of its mother and for the first time showed fight. The dogs, thinking the conflict ended rushed upon the prostrate foe tearing away mousles of hair but they were glad to retreat with whole skins to their own backs. It growled hoarsely and fought with genuine fury. The dogs were culled off and hunts sent a ball through its head yet it contrived to rise after falling and climbed again upon its mother's body. It was mercifully dispatched by another ball. The men took the skin of the mother and the little one for their share of the spoils and the dogs gorged themselves on the greater carcass. After this incident the journey of our explorers soon ended. Hunts gave out and was ordered to turn leisurely aside and examine the bend of the bay into which they had entered. Morton continued on towards the termination of a cape which rose abruptly two thousand feet. He tried to get round it but the ice-food was gone. He climbed up its sides until he reached a position four hundred and forty feet commanding a horizon of forty miles. The view was grand. The sea seemed almost boundless and dashed in noisy surges below while the birds coveted and screamed above. Making a flug-staff of his walking stick he threw to the wind a Grinnell flag. It had made the far southern voyage with Commodore Wilkes and had come on the second Arctic voyage. It now floated over the most northern known land of the globe. Feasting his eyes with the scenery for an hour and a half Morton struck his flag and rejoined Hunts. The run home had its burrows and narrow escapes but was made without accident and with some additional surveys. End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Mudge This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 7 An Important Movement It was now well into July. The last proposed survey was made and all hands were on shipboard but the Arctic fetters still bound the advance with no signs of loosening. The garb of midwinter was yet covering land and sea and in every breeze there was a dismal whisper to the explorers of another winter in the ice. The sort was appalling to both officers and men. They had neither health, food nor fuel for such an experience. To abandon the vessel and try to escape with the boats and sledges was impossible in the prostrate condition of the men. Having carefully studied the situation, Dr. Cain resolved to try to reach Beachy Island and thus communicate with the British Exploring Expedition or by good luck with some whaler and so secure relief. This island we have often visited in our voyages with the Arctic heroes. It is, it will be recollected at the mouth of Wellington Channel. When this plan was announced to the officers, it was approved cordially. Both officers and men were ready to volunteer to accompany him. He chose five only, Mgarry, Morton, Riley, Hickey and Hans. Their boat was the old forlorn hope. The outfit was the best possible, though poor enough. The hope was mounted on the sledge face. The provisions were put on a St. John's Sledge. The face started off ahead, the smaller sledge to which Dr. Cain and two of the men attached themselves followed. It took five days of incessant toil with many head flows to reach the water and launch the hope, though the distance from the brig was only 20 miles. The boat behaved well and they reached Littleton Island where they were rejoiced to see numerous ducks. Watching their course as they flew away, the explorers were led to several islets whose rocky ledges were covered with their nests and around which they hovered in clouds. The young birds were taking their first lesson in flying or were still nestling under their mother's wings. In a few hours over 200 birds were taken. The gun bringing down several at one shot and others were knocked over with stones. But the men were not the only enemies of the ducks. Nearby was a settlement of a large, voracious species of gull. They swooped down, seized, gobbled up and bore away to their nests the young aiders without seeming to doubt that they were doing a fair and to themselves a pleasant business. The gulls would seize little aiders with their great yellow bills, throw their heads up and then their victims would disappear down their throats and in a few moments after, they would be ejected into their nests and go down the throats of their young. The ducks fought the gulls bravely in the interests of their brood but the victory was with the stronger. Our voyagers pitied of course the bereaved aider mothers despised the cormorant gulls but gladly increased their stock of needed provisions with both. They filled four large India rubber bags with these sea fowl after cleaning and rudely boning them. Leaving this profitable camping place the boat was soon in the open seaway. One day's pleasant sailing was quite as much in that way as experience taught them to expect. A violent storm arose, the waves ran high and their clumsy boat trembling under the strain was in danger of sinking at any moment. The safety of the whole company depended entirely upon the skill and nerve of Amgari. For twenty-two successive hours he held in his strong grasp the steering oar and kept the head of the boat to the sea. A break of the oar or a slip from his hand and all was lost. They finally grappled an old flow in a slightly sheltered place and rode out the storm. For twelve days heroic exertions were made to get the boat through the pack which now beset them with the view of working south and west. Little progress was made and the men, wet, weary and worn, began to fail. In view of this state of things the commander directed his course to Northumberland Island near which they were coasting. Here they found three recently occupied but now forsaken Eskimo Hatz. The foxes were abundant and their young ones greeted the strangers with vociferous barking. They found here, too, what was more valuable the scarwy grass. Rest, fresh fowl and cochlearia greatly refreshed the whole party. Seeing the utter impossibility of going south they made the best of their way back to the brig. It was a sad and joyful meeting with their old comrades. Their return safely was joyful but the return spoke of another winter. By great exertions the brig was loosened from her icy cradle and warped to a position more favourable for an escape should the open water reach the vicinity. On the 17th of August instead of a glad breaking up of the old ice came the formation of new ice thick enough to bear a man. The question of an escape of the brig seemed settled. The allowance of wood was fixed to six pounds a meal. This gave them coffee twice a day and soup once. Darkness was ahead and if the fuel utterly failed it would be doubly cheerless. The sabbathrest and devotions became more solemn. The prayer, Lord accept our gratitude and bless our undertakings was changed to Lord accept our gratitude and restore us to our homes. A fierce looked so dark came deemed it wise to leave a record of the expedition on some conspicuous spot. A position was selected on a high cliff which commanded an extensive view over the icy waste. On its broad, rocky face the words AD 1853-54 were painted in large letters which could be read afar off. A pyramid of heavy stones was built above it and marked with a cross. Beneath it they evidently buried the bodies of their deceased companions. Near this a hole was worked into the rock and a paper enclosed in a glass vessel sealed with lead was deposited. On this paper was written the names of the officers and crew the results in general thus far of the expedition and their present condition. They proposed to add to the deposit a paper containing the date of their departure should they ever get away and showing their plans of escape. Now, more earnestly than ever the winter and what to do was looked in the face. Some thought that an escape to South Greenland was still possible and even the best thing to do. The question of detaching a part of the company to make the experiment was debated but the commander arrived at a settled conviction that such an enterprise was impracticable. In the meantime the ice and tides were closely examined for a considerable distance for the slightest evidence of a coming liberation of the poor ice-bound craft. As early as August 24th all hopes of such a liberation seemed to have faded from every mind. The whole company, officers and crew were assembled in council. The commander gave the members his reasons in full for deeming it wise to stand by the vessel. He then gave his permission for any part of the company who choose to do so to depart on their own responsibility. He required of such to renounce in writing all claims upon the captain and those who remained. The role was then called and nine out of the seventeen decided to make the hazardous experiment. At the head of this party was Dr. Heis and Peterson. Besides the hope of a successful escape they were influenced in the course they were taking by the thought that the quarters in the brig were so straightened that the health and comfort of those remaining would be increased and the causes of disease and death diminished by their departure and still further if the withdrawing party perished an equal number was likely to die if all remained. The decision having been made Dr. Cain gave them a liberal portion of the resources of the brig a goodbye blessing was written assurances for brother's welcome should they return. They left August 28 those who remained with Dr. Cain were Brooks, Emgari Wilson, Godfellow Morton, Olson, Hickey and Hans. The situation of these was increasingly dreary on the departure of half of their companions. They felt the necessity of immediate systematic action to drive away desponding thoughts as well as to make the best possible preparation for the coming struggle with darkness, cold, poverty and disease. The discipline of the vessel with all its formality of duties was strictly maintained. The ceremonies of the table the religious services the regular watching in which every man took his turn unless prevented by sickness the scientific observations of the sky the weather and the tides the detailed care of the fire and the lights all went on as if there was no burdens of mind to embarrass them. In view of the small stock of fuel they commenced turning the brick into something like an Eskimo igloo or hut a space in the cabin measuring 20 feet by 18 was set off as a room for all hands. Every one then went to work and according to his measure of strength gathered moss with this an inner wall was made for the cabin reaching from the floor to the ceiling. The floor itself was coked with plaster of Paris and common paste then two inches of manila was thrown over it and upon this a canvas carpet was spread. This room an avenue three feet high and two and a half feet wide was made. It was 12 feet long and descended four feet opening into the hold. It was moss lined and closed with a door at each end. It answered to the Tossut of the Eskimo hut or the sort of tunnel through which they creep into their one room. All ingress and egress explorers were through this avenue on their hands and knees. From the dark hold they groped their way to the main hatchway up which by a stairway of boxes they ascended into the open air. The quarter deck also was well padded with turf and moss. When this was done no frost king but the one presiding over the polar regions could have entered. Even he had to drop his crown of icicles at the outer door of the avenue. The next step was to secure so far as possible a supply of fuel for the coming darkness. A small quantity of coal yet remained for an emergency. They began now September 10th to strip off some of the extra plunking outside of the deck and to pile it up for sto use. Having thus put the brick itself into winter trim they were diligently to work to arrange its immediate vicinity on the flow. Their beef house came first which was simply a carefully stowed pile of barrels containing their water soaked beef and pork. Next was a kind of block house made of the barrels of flour, beans and dried apples from a flagstaff on one corner of this fluttered a red and white and sign which gave way on Sundays to a grinnell flag. From the block house opened a traveled way which they called New London Avenue. On this were the boats. Around all this was a rope barrier which set to the outside world thus far only shall still come. Outside of this was a magnificent block made of barrel frames and snow for the special use of Eskimo visitors. It was in great danger of tearing down for its coveted wood. End of Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Of North Pole Voyages by the Harrier A. Mudge The Slippery Works recording is in the public domain. Chapter 8. Treaty Making The stock of fresh provisions was now alarmingly low. To secure a fresh supply Dr. Cain and Hans started with the dog team on a seal hunt. The doctor was armed with his Kentucky rifle and Hans was a harpoon and attached line. They carried a light Eskimo boat to secure the prey if shot. They expected to find seal after a 10 miles run but the ice was solid until they had travelled another hour. Now they entered upon an icy plain, smooth at the house floor. On the dogs galloped in fine spirits seeming to anticipate the shout which soon came from Hans Posse Posse Mot Seal Seal Just ahead were crowds of seals playing in the water but the joy of the hunters was instantly turned into a thrill of horror. The ice was bending under the weight of the sledge unrolling in wavy swells before it, as if made of leather. To pause was certain death to dogs and men. The solid flow was a mile ahead. Hans shouted fiercely to his dogs and added the merciless track of his whip to give speed to his team. But the poor creatures were already terror-stricken and rushed forward like a steam-car. A profound silence followed as painful as the hush of the wind before the destructive tornado. Nothing more could be done. The faithful dogs were doing their utmost to save themselves and their masters. They passed through a scattered group of seals which, breast-high out of water, mocked them with their curious complacent gaze. The rolling, crackling ice increased its din and when within 50 paces of the solid flow the frightened dogs became dismayed and they paused. In went the left runner and the leading dog then followed the entire left-hand runner. In the next instant Dr. Cain, the sledge and dogs were mixed up in the snow and water. Hans got stepped off on ice which had not yet given way and was uttering in his broken English piteous moons while he in vain reached forward to help his master. He was ordered to lay down, spread out his hands and feet, and draw himself to the flow by striking his knife into the ice. The doctor cut the leader's harness and let him scramble out for he was crying touchingly drowning his master by his caresses. Relieved of the dog he tried the sledge but it sunk under him. He then paddled round the hole endeavoring to mount the ice but it gave way at every effort thus enlarging the sphere of operation most uncomfortably and exhausting his strength. Hans in the meantime had reached solid footing and was on his knees coherently in English and Eskimo and at very crushing in of the ice which plunged his master afresh into the sea exclaimed, God! When the fatal crisis was just at hand deliverance came by a seeming accident. How often does God deliver by such seeming accidents? One of the dogs still remained attached to the sledge and in struggling to clear himself drew one of the runners broadside against the edge of the circle it was the drowning man's last chance. He threw himself on his back so as to lessen his weight and placed the nape of his neck on the rim of the ice opposite to but not far from the sledge. He then drew his legs up slowly and placed the ball of his moccasin foot against the runner pressing cautiously and steadily listening the while to the sound of the half-yielding ice against which the other runner rested as to a note which proclaimed his sentence of life or death The ice holding the sledge only faintly yielded while he felt his wet fur jumper sliding up the surface now his shoulders are on now his whole body sends he is safe Hans robbed his master with frantic earnestness until the flesh glowed again the dogs were all saved but the sledge, Eskimo boat, tent, guns and snowshoes were all left frozen in to await a return trip a run of twelve miles brought them, worn and weary but full of gratitude to the brig the fire was kindled one of the few remaining birds cooked a warm welcome given so that the peril was forgotten except in the occasion it gave for increased love to the deliverer we have had no occasion to notice the Eskimo since the escape from prison of young Miok soon after Dr. Hayes party left three natives came they had evidently noted the departure of half of the number of the strangers and came to learn the condition of those left behind it was Dr. Cain's policy to conciliate them while carrying toward them a steady and when needed as it was often a restraining hand these visitors were quartered in a tent in the hold a copper lamp, a cooking basin and a full supply of fat for fuel was given them they ate, slept, awoke ate and slept again Dr. Cain left them eating at two o'clock in the morning when he retired to the cabin to sleep they seemed soon after to be sleeping so soundly that the watch set over them also slept in the morning there were no Eskimo on board they had stolen the lamp, boiler and cooking pot used at their feast to these they added the best dog the only one not too weary from the late excursion to travel besides finding some buffalo robes and an India rubber cloth accidentally left on the flow they took them along also this would not do the savages must be taught to fear as well as to respect and love the white man Morton and Riley two of the best walkers in a hot pursuit reaching the hut at Anuatok they found young Mjok with the wives of two absent occupants the latter making themselves delightfully comfortable having tailored already the stolen robes into garments worn on their backs by searching the cooking utensils and other articles stolen from the brig but not missed were found the white officers of the law acted promptly as became their dignity they stripped the women of these stolen goods and tied them they were then loaded with all the articles stolen to which was added as much walrus meat of their own as would pay their jail fees the three were then marched preemptorily back to the brig though it was 30 miles they did not complain neither did their police guardians walking the twice thirty it was scarcely 24 hours after these thieves had left the brig with their booty before there were prisoners in the hold a dreadful white man was placed over them as keeper who never spoke to them except in words of terrifying reproof and whose scowl exhibited a studied variety of threatening and satanic expressions the women were deprived of the comfort of even miyok's company he was dispatched to metek headman of itach and others with the message of a melodramatic tyrant to negotiate for their ransom for five long days the women sighed and cried and sung in solitary confinement though their appetites continued excellent at last the great metek and another eskimo notable arrived following quite a sledge-load of returned stolen goods now commenced the treaty making there were big talks and a display on the part of Dr. Cain of the splendors and resources of his capital it's arts and sciences not forgetting the fire death whose terrific power so amazed the idaho dignitaries on the part of the eskimo there were many adjournments of the diplomatic conferences to eat and sleep this was well for the explorers no doubt as plenty of sleep and a good dinner are very pacific it is well known in their influence even on savages in the final result the eskimo agreed not to steal to bring fresh meat to sell or lend dogs to attend the white men when desired and to show them where to find the game on the part of Kaplu Nach the white men Dr. Cain promised not to visit the inuit eskimo with deser sorcery to shoot for them on the hunt to welcome them on board the ship to give them presents of needles, pins two kinds of knives, a hoop three bits of hard wood some kinds of fat, an owl and some sewing thread to trade with them of these and all other things they might want for walrus and seal meat of the first quality Dr. Cain sent Hanson Morton to Itach on the return of Matek as his representatives and this treaty was there ratified in a full assembly of its people this treaty was really of much importance to the famishing, ice-bound scurvy smith and strangers it was facefully kept on the part of the natives and it was believed that the example of the white man's prodigious power given by Morton and Riley in the tramp of 60 miles in 24 hours had quite as much to do with its faceful observance as any regard to their promise they might not understand the binding nature of promises however solemnly made but they could comprehend the meaning of strong arms and swift feet having made peace with Itachites Dr. Cain sent Mgari and Morton to the hut at Anuatok on a like errand they found there of men Miok, Otunyach and Avatok seal-bloodder who were at first shy the rogue Miok suspected their visit might mean to him another arrest seeing it did not all went merry as a marriage bell the treaty was ratified by acclamation End of chapter 8